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Forest Lake Times
Fight breaks out at county fair
A fight involving over 50 juveniles and young adults broke out at and then near the Washington County Fairgrounds late on Friday, Aug. 4. According to Washington County Public Information Manager Laura Perkins, the outbreak of fighting took place in the carnival area, just after 10:30 p.m. Washington County deputies at the fair intervened and dispersed the initial fighting, but some of the group reconvened at the Holiday gas station across the street and engaged in another altercation, Perkins said. Two people were cited in the incident. Two boys both of Stillwater, ages 15 and 18, were cited for misdemeanor assault, and disorderly conduct, respectively. Everything was cleared and under control before midnight, Perkins stated. No weapons were used, and no significant injuries requiring medical attention resulted. Initial reports do not indicate why or how the incident began.
Columbus Council looks to remove residential zone business code
Broadening a current zoning code, city staff say, would replace the former zoning code The years-long debate surrounding Columbus’s residential zone business ordinance is coming a close with a deletion of residential zone business use entirely from the city code. In its place, however, the city plans to redefine “home occupation” – a lower-impact business within a residence – to include elements of residential zone businesses that the City Council and planning commission discussed at length during the 12-month moratorium that ran from November 2021...
St. Croix Watershed now in drought warning
As drought conditions worsen across Minnesota, the St. Croix Watershed is now in a drought warning, which means public water suppliers in the watershed must implement water restrictions. The Minnesota portion of the St. Croix Watershed includes all or parts of Washington, Anoka, Isanti, Chisago, Pine, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Carlton and Aitkin Counties and an extreme northeast portion of Ramsey County. Water restrictions were put in place in across much of the state in 2021; affected areas included the entirety of the Forest Lake area....
O’Brien State Park to expand after land sale
Over the past few years, Lester Rydeen has been helping his neighbor – and lifelong friend – Myron Lindgren clean up his property. It’s been a family farm for generations that’s since gone defunct, but instead of selling the farmland which backs up to O’Brien State Park to a private buyer, Lindgren decided to sell it back to the state to be incorporated into the park. “Myron’s just a common guy. … This is kind of big time anti-greed for a common man,” Rydeen said. ...
Columbus aims to ban public marijuana use, but clears tobacco
Council looks to change fencing requirements on pools Columbus may be behind the eight-ball when it comes to considering a public use ban on marijuana products, as the law went into effect on Tuesday, Aug. 1, allowing people to use marijuana in public spaces unless cities institute a ban, similar to how cities are allowed to do so with alcohol and tobacco. But the city will likely soon have a ban on the drug’s use in public spaces after the council gave the green light...
‘Puffs’ adds humorous take on famed wizarding franchise
For fans of the “Harry Potter” franchise, references of the popular story are sure to land in Theatre Intensive’s “Puffs” – a parody take on the famed wizarding world through the lens of the Hufflepuff house, one of the four dwellings of hopeful wizards placed there by categorizing them. “It really is just another look into this series that a lot of people love,” said Bryce Melton, who is playing Oliver Rivers. ...
‘We had more potential’: Forest Lake Brewers’ hitting catches up to them in playoff loss
Forest Lake’s season ends with loss to Redbirds, Game 2 took four hours and 12 innings to complete The Forest Lake Brewers felt the urgency and pressure during Game 2 of a best-of-three series against the Coon Rapids Redbirds at Wintercrest Park on Sunday, Aug. 6. Team manager Adam Gallatin could be heard saying “It’s now or never” during the third inning because the Brewers found themselves down 1-0 in...
Forest Lake's Matt Wallner thriving in latest call-up with Twins
A walk-off and opposite-field home run headline Forest Lake grad’s latest achievements Matt Wallner checked another first off his list with his hometown Twins this past weekend when he blasted a two-run home run over the wall at Target Field for his first career walk-off, delivering Minnesota a 5-3 win and series sweep over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Wallner, 25, described it as “pretty cool” in a postgame interview with Bally...
Two Rangers fishing anglers compete at nationals
The Forest Lake Rangers fishing team had two anglers, Jack Gross and Jacob Proferl, compete at the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports and Outdoors, which took place at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina, on Thursday through Saturday, July 27-29. While the duo didn't take a spot in the top 100, they caught a 2-pound, 11-ounce fish.
Cities are beginning to implement marijuana ordinances
Confusion remains over state’s new law, definitions of marijuana products Cities are beginning to implement marijuana ordinances With the passage of recreational marijuana legalization legislation at the state capitol this last session comes some confusion as cities begin to pass ordinances about marijuana usage and businesses within their cities. Wyoming and Scandia both had ordinance...
Slain teen remembered for her love of others and animals
Sarath Vath recently received some somber wisdom about how to cope with the death of a child from someone who had also experienced it. “She told me ‘You’ll never get over it, but you’ll learn how to cope,’” Sarath said. Sarath’s 17-year-old daughter Darisha Tela Bailey Vath was killed early on Sunday, July 16, at Lakeside Memorial Park in an alleged hit-and-run collision. Looking at Darisha’s memorial site against a...
Chisago County community makes the best of the fair
This year, the Chisago County Fair was filled with live music, motocross, demolition derby, 4-H events, and a parade. There was much laughter, food and drinks, making for a great fair. Here is a look at the 2023 Chisago County Fair thanks to photos by Nikki Hallman and Jorge Perales.
Forest Lake Brewers ‘trending upward’ despite three straight losses
Forest Lake has two games left ahead of playoffs The Forest Lake Brewers played one of their toughest stretches of the season last week with a game against each of the Metro Minny League’s top three teams in the standings. The schedule proved to be a challenge for the Brewers ahead of the playoffs next week as they left the week with losses in all three of them. The Brewers...
C.J. Suess closer to home with new contract after season of milestones
Forest Lake grad reaches 100 pro points and 200 games When C.J. Suess signed a two-year contract on July 10 with the Manitoba Moose — the Winnipeg Jets’ American Hockey League affiliate — it came with familiarity, job security and close proximity to his hometown of Forest Lake, where he graduated from in 2012. “It’s always nice to have some insurance on a two-year deal,” Suess told The Times. ...
Missing teen found safe, man charged in connection with teen’s disappearance
More than two months after she went missing after leaving her home, 14-year-old Desiray Kappes was found safe in Pine County on Friday, July 21, and a man who helped her run away is being charged in connection with her disappearance. Shawn Bellach, 36, of Dalbo, has been charged with depriving custodial and parental rights, to cause a child being a runaway. Kappes left her home, on the 900 block of 11th Avenue Southwest in Forest Lake, on her bike around 9:30 a.m. May 19....
Missing Forest Lake teen found safe
More than two months after she went missing after leaving her home, 14-year-old Desiray Kappes has been found safe, according to the Forest Lake police department. The department said no further information will be given throughout the weekend due to the ongoing investigation. A statement by the police department said, "We are grateful for the numerous law enforcement agencies, organizations, and those with information who have assisted in locating Desiray." ...
General fund balance hits a low for school district
Despite help from Legislature, declining enrollment means likely cuts A far lower general fund balance than planned left school board members in a bit of a shock during the school board’s meeting on Thursday, June 29. Director of Business Services at the Forest Lake Area School District Chrissy Rehnberg-Eide brought a budget adjustment to the school board for approval during the meeting, which left the general fund balance at $104,311...
Therapy alpaca brightens Meadows residents’ days
Once a month, the Meadows on Fairview residents, memory care and transitional care patients spend their afternoons with a special guest. “I love dogs, cats that come in, but this is just something so different. You can hear them talking about it at meals like, ‘Did you see Holly was here today?’” said Lori Norman, Meadows on Fairview campus director of activities. Holly indeed isn’t a dog or a cat...
Forest Lake Brewers defeat Anoka in 12-inning game for Fox 9 Townball Tour crowd
Game, event drew crowd of over 1,200 people There wasn’t a shortage of excitement on or off Schumacher Field — which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year — on Wednesday, July 12, when the Fox 9 Townball Tour stopped in Forest Lake for the Brewers’ Metro Minny League showdown against the Anoka Bucs. There were games and activities off the field, a live broadcast booth, and vendors, which included...
Forest Lake fishing qualifies four anglers for state
Seniors Jack Gross, Jacob Proferl claim conference gold When A.J. Hansen took over as the head coach of the Forest Lake Rangers fishing team this summer from Jake Mastell, he had a specific goal in mind: build a family-like atmosphere. That isn’t always easy to do, he said, since fishing is more of an individual sport with teams made up of pairs. But it worked through having opportunities for them...
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Forest Lake Times has been serving Forest Lake, MN since 1902. Published Thursdays by APG of East Central Minnesota with 24/7 local coverage found online at forestlaketimes.com
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