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Elk River Star News
Elk River City Council denies permit for home occupation with findings of fact
The Elk River City Council received a findings of fact for denying a conditional use permit at its Nov. 6 meeting. The permit application was for home occupation including outdoor storage of work vehicles for a home on Yankton Street. The council discussed the permit at a previous meeting, where council members said the proposed use of the site as a painting business didn’t fit in with the residential neighborhood.
Bradford Park final plat approved Nov. 6
The Elk River City Council approved a final plat of Bradford Park on Nov. 6 on its consent agenda. The preliminary plat was approved in July. The plat includes 314 buildable parcels, the first phase of which will include 82 single-family homes. The first phase won’t include park amenities, but the second and third phases will develop the city’s vision for park amenities, according to
Elk River's Clayton Hofteig, 12, wins 2023 Minnesota Micro Sprint championship and Rookie of the Year
In 2015, at just 4 years old, Spectrum Middle School seventh grader Clayton Hofteig began to compete in go-kart races. Hofteig, who is now 12, has since won five Minnesota Micro Sprint championships, including this year. He is also the 2023 Minnesota Micro Sprint Rookie of the Year. He started winning championships at the age of 7. In his most-recent race, Hofteig finished first in the Topless Nationals race at Oglivie Speedway in Oglivie, Minnesota on Saturday, Oct. 21. He has won two Maxxis races...
Rogers volleyball wins consolation championship at state tournament
by Erik Nelson Sports Reporter For the first time in program history, the Royals won the last match of the season. Even though it wasn’t the state championship, No. 7 Rogers defeated No. 8 Eagan 3-2 in the Class 4A consolation final on Saturday, Nov. 11, at Xcel Energy Center. The Royals won the first...
To hell and back and there again with PTSD
Founder of Soldier 6 awards service dogs to those who have served in the military and/or public safety careers and suffer from PTSD by Jim Boyle Editor The annual military appreciation dinner hosted by Elk River’s chapter of Beyond the Yellow Ribbon will add another avenue for the organization to help honorably discharged veterans, retirees...
Ask a Trooper: Does the Minnesota State Patrol have K-9s?
Ask a Trooper with Sgt. Jesse Grabow of the Minnesota State Patrol Question: Does the Minnesota State Patrol have K-9s? What purpose do they serve? Answer: The Minnesota State Patrol K-9 unit is currently staffed with 15 K-9 teams trained to detect the odor of narcotics, and one team trained to detect explosives. The State Patrol’s dogs are not trained in other typical police functions, such as apprehension or tracking....
Elk River police report: Pursuit ends with crashed and abandoned vehicle; 8 vehicles tampered with; and driver gets a DWI after going into ditch
by Joni Astrup Associate Editor A police pursuit that came into Elk River ended with the suspect vehicle crashing and being abandoned. The Big Lake Police Department had pursued the vehicle at high speeds and came into Elk River around 12:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 6. ...
Level 3 sex offender moving to Zimmerman area
A Level 3 sex offender is moving to a Sherburne County residence, and a public meeting has been scheduled to inform residents about him. Brent Murray Spafford, 43, was convicted of sexually abusing a vulnerable child in 1999 when he was 19, and he has served his prison sentence. He is moving to a residence in the vicinity of 245th Avenue Northwest, southeast of Zimmerman, in mid-November, according to Sheriff Joel Brott. A community notification meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Zimmerman Public Safety Building, 26750 Fifth St. W in Zimmerman. Law enforcement officials will be present to discuss Spafford and answer questions from residents.
Shoppers get their steps in at Elk Pride Craft Bazaar
by Jim Boyle Editor Visitors of the Elk Pride Craft Bazaar got their steps in on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Elk River High School to the delight of more than 170 vendors who filled three gymnasiums and the school commons area. Vendors were happy with traffic, and most boasted of robust sales. The money raised...
Downtown Elk River's tree lighting ceremony coming up on Wednesday, Nov. 15
by Jim Boyle Editor Excitement over Halloween in downtown Elk River has barely died down, and members of the Downtown Elk River Business Association and the city of Elk River are at it again to create a Hallmarkesque Christmas holiday setting. Deana McLean, a downtown salon owner and chair of DERBA, and Karen Wingard, the...
Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce announces 2023 business award honorees
The Elk River Chamber Board of Directors announced the recipients of the 2023 PACE Business Awards and the Volunteers of the Year. These awards honor a diverse array of businesses in terms of size, type, and unique attributes. In all award categories, the focus remains on how the nominees have contributed to the chamber’s mission of cultivating a robust, vibrant business community that enriches the entire region. Their commitment to chamber involvement and positive impact on the community are what set them apart. A panel...
Churches collecting shoebox gifts for Operation Christmas Child
Several area churches will be collecting Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts for the Samaritan’s Purse project during National Collection Week, Nov. 13-20. Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts — filled with school supplies, personal care items and toys — to children worldwide since 1993. The project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver the gifts to children in need. ...
New Sherburne County park now has a name
by Joni Astrup Associate Editor A new county park in western Sherburne County now has a name. Two Inlets at Bdé Heháka - Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans Regional Park was approved as the name in a 5-0 vote by the Sherburne County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Nov. 7. The 430-acre parkland is located on Big Elk...
15,886 sandhill cranes counted at refuge
Sandhill crane numbers have exceeded 15,000 birds at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, according to single-day counts conducted each week during the fall migration. The survey results for Nov. 8 were 15,886 sandhill cranes, down from 17,979 on Nov. 1. There were 12,063 on Oct. 24, 9,401 on Oct. 18 and 7,655 on Oct. 11. The Nov. 8 count is the final one of the fall migration. Sandhill cranes stop at the refuge, located near Zimmerman, on their fall migration journey. Typically, migrating populations of sandhill cranes can be seen from mid-September to mid-November, according to the refuge website.
Salvation Army needs volunteer bell ringers
The Twin Cities Salvation Army kicked off the red kettle season on Nov. 10, and thousands of additional bell ringers are needed. “Bell ringers are vitally important to our campaign, because a kettle that has an actual bell ringer with it will raise between $60 and $90 an hour,” said division commander Lt. Colonel Randall Polsley. “That’s an enormous help in supporting our feeding and housing programs, because an unattended kettle won’t raise any funds.” ...
Government center lit green for veterans
There’s a reason why the lights in front of the Sherburne County Government Center in Elk River are green this week. The Sherburne County Board of Commissioners has proclaimed Nov. 6-12 as Operation Green Light for Veterans Week. It’s an initiative to shine a light on the plight of veterans who are having a hard time connecting with benefits after serving their country, according to a memo to the board from Sherburne County Veterans Service Officer Bruce Price. By shining a green light, the county lets veterans know they are seen, appreciated and supported.
Narcan now available at Coborn’s stores
Coborn’s, Inc. has announced that over-the-counter Narcan nasal spray, an opioid overdosing reversal drug, is now available at all Coborn’s, Cash Wise Foods, and Marketplace Foods grocery stores at the Guest Services counter. This addition to the stores gives guests and the local community access to potentially life-saving medication. In March, the FDA approved Emergent BioSolution’s Narcan to be sold without a prescription. The nasal spray contains the drug naloxone, which binds to opioid receptors and reverses or blocks the effects of other opioids, according...
Sherburne County to meet with MnDOT commissioner
Sherburne County officials were to meet on Thursday, Nov. 9, with the Minnesota Department of Transportation commissioner regarding the proposed Highway 169-County Road 4 interchange project in Zimmerman. “We’re working on the last around $15 million for that project,” Board Chair Lisa Fobbe said at the Tuesday, Nov. 7, county board meeting. In a related matter, Minnesota Senate Capital Investment Committee members were to be in Coon Rapids that same day as part of the 2023 bonding tour. Sherburne County officials also planned to be at that event to discuss the Zimmerman project. “Those are great signs that we’re still on their radar,” Fobbe said.
Rogers OKs purchase agreement for former Hardee’s site
The Rogers City Council has approved a $675,000 purchase agreement for the acquisition of property at 14086 Northdale Blvd., formerly the Hardee’s site. The council also approved a $1 million purchase agreement for acquisition of three parcels of vacant land surrounding the site.
Sherburne County establishes parks, trail committee
The Sherburne County Board of Commissioners has established a Parks and Trails Advisory Committee and authorized county staff to advertise for committee member applications, in action Tuesday, Nov. 7. The committee is envisioned as having seven voting members and two ex-officio non-voting members.
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Elk River Star News serves the Elk River, Otsego, Rogers and Zimmerman communities dating back to 1872. Published Saturdays by APG of East Central Minnesota. 24/7 local coverage found online at www.erstarnews.com
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