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Forest Lake Times
Rangers drop to 3-1 in close contest against Woodbury
Forest Lake heads to Eagan for penultimate game of regular season A sluggish night full of penalties and self-inflicted wounds ended with a close 17-14 loss for the Forest Lake Rangers football team on Friday, Oct. 6, against the Woodbury Royals. A close game throughout, the Rangers had trouble sustaining consistency in their offensive drives, which came to a halt multiple times throughout the course of the game. ...
Columbus approves preliminary levy decrease
Tax rate to decrease by 16% The Columbus City Council unanimously approved its 2024 preliminary levy at $4,213,336, a minor $400 decrease from last year’s levy at $4,213,719. “I couldn’t plan it this close if I tried,” City Administrator Elizabeth Mursko joked with council during its Wednesday, Sept. 27, meeting. She explained that city staff...
North Lakes Academy hires new part-time executive director
Director Cecelia Dodge will work with teacher-team admin model North Lakes Academy’s months-long search for an executive director came to a close Friday, Sept. 29 when it appointed Cecelia Dodge as the part-time executive director. NLA had previously offered the role to Randy Vetsch, who ended up declining the offer due to a salary match with his previous school. Then NLA turned to then-upper school lead Jamie Goulet as interim...
New Pathways uses new path to tackle local homelessness
New Pathways, the Cambridge-based resource to help families experiencing homelessness, had some unique visitors recently. The Minnesota Legislature’s Capital Investment Committee visited its current location at 310 Ashland St. on Tuesday, Sept. 26, as part of its two-day tour of potential funding projects. It was the latest step in a process that New Pathways, which offers services to area residents including Chisago County, expects to transform from the program that...
Scandia approves preliminary levy increase of 7.22%
Tax rate to increase 0.4% Scandia City Council approved its 2024 preliminary levy at $3,021,852, a $218,295 increase from last year’s levy at $2,803,557. Mayor Christine Maefsky was absent from the meeting, but it was approved in a 4-0 vote on Tuesday, Sept. 19. That increase marginally impacts the tax rate, which is projected to increase 0.4%, from 26.46% in 2023 to 26.86% in 2024. ...
Forest Lake passes 17.77% preliminary levy increase
Council and staff work to adjust preliminary levy amount down nearly 5% from originally proposed levy After a workshop to discuss the city staff’s proposed 22.5% levy increase, the Forest Lake City Council approved a preliminary levy increase of 17.77%, totaling $15,458,262, an increase of $2,331,908. The passed preliminary levy is almost a 5% decrease from the 22.5% that had been proposed earlier in September. ...
Scandia Fire Department memorializes its predecessors
After years of fundraising and tracking down the history of the Scandia Fire Department founders and members, Assistant Chief Bill Havener is excited to debut the memorial walkway honoring those who cultivated the department. “It’s real easy for a third generation to forget the first generation, and that’s what I was concerned was happening,” Havener said. The fire department was founded in 1952 by some local Scandia Township residents and...
Girls tennis team beats WBL and Park
The Forest Lake girls tennis team finished off the season in strong fashion with a pair of wins, defeating White Bear Lake 4-3 and Park of Cottage Grove by the same score. On Wednesday, Sept. 29, the Rangers played host to White Bear Lake in a match that had previously been rescheduled due to weather conditions. The singles format would get the sweep across the board in the match. The singles consisted of Lucy Saari, Maeta Williams, Volly Johnson and Maren Kaas. ...
Sports Briefs - Oct. 5, 2023
The Forest Lake volleyball team picked up a 3-1 road win against Stillwater on Wednesday, Sept. 27. The Rangers would drop the first set by just 2 points to be down 1-0 before ripping off three straight set wins to claim the match victory. The Rangers then traveled to Chanhassen on Saturday, Sept. 30, for the Storm Invitational. Forest Lake dropped the first two games against Edina and Rosemount before taking the third matchup 2-0 against Cretin-Derham Hall, whom they beat 3-0 in a home match the week prior. The Rangers would close out the tournament with a loss to...
Rangers fall short against Stillwater in tight game
Metro East showdown finishes after midnight due to lightning delay There were missed opportunities — and likely some missed curfews — by the time Forest Lake was turned away by the Stillwater Ponies 21-17 in a Metro East Sub-District football showdown on Friday, Sept. 29 at Stillwater Area High School. After trading the lead several times throughout the lengthy game, Forest Lake’s late efforts fell short after two incomplete passes...
Rangers boys soccer take two losses this week as regular season nears end
The Forest Lake boys soccer team took home two losses last week against Park of Cottage Grove at home and then at White Bear Lake. The Rangers were defeated at home by Park 4-0 on Tuesday, Sept. 26. The Rangers came out playing tough defense and not allowing Park any early opportunities. Momentum started to gather for Forest Lake before letting in a goal on a corner kick that was mishandled, finding themselves down 1-0 at the with 27 minutes left to go. Head coach...
Sports Briefs - Sept. 28, 2023
The Forest Rangers boys soccer team lost on the road to Roseville on Tuesday, Sept. 19, by a final score of 2-0. Forest Lake had multiple opportunities to score but couldn’t convert while surrendering a goal in both halfs. The Rangers looked to flip the switch, but they ultimately lost at East Ridge 5-0 on Thursday, Sept. 21. The Rangers were at home against Park of Cottage Grove on Tuesday, Sept. 26, in a contest that was not completed by press time. The Rangers are now 1-8-2 on the year. ...
Rangers tennis heads into last regular season games
Forest Lake bounces back after loss to Mounds View with sweep over Woodbury The Forest Lake Rangers girls tennis team rebounded from a defeat by Mounds View on Tuesday, Sept. 19, by defeating Woodbury 7-0 on Thursday, Sept. 21. The Rangers’ 5-2 loss to the Mustangs came from struggling to find consistency with the doubles teams, with freshman pair Volly Johnson and Maeta Williams tallying on the only win of...
Rangers cruise past WBL in homecoming victory
Forest Lake prepares to take on Stillwater The Forest Lake Rangers secured a homecoming victory over White Bear Lake with a final score of 28-10 on Friday, Sept. 22. The defense once again stepped up in moments that proved to be crucial down the stretch, allowing only one touchdown for White Bear, which came midway through the first quarter. Forest Lake would continue to rely on their running game led...
Columbus sees payoff of new businesses with upcoming decreased tax rate
Columbus’ levy for the upcoming year is projected to remain relatively flat compared to last year and set to decrease the tax rate in the upcoming year for residents and business owners. City Administrator Elizabeth Mursko didn’t have an official levy number at the special meeting but calculated a levy of around $4,215,000 after council asked for it during the meeting. That projection would be a slight increase from last year’s levy at $4,213,719. ...
From pastor to chaplain
Faith Lutheran’s John Klawiter’s story from civilian to Army chaplain John Klawiter hit the peak of Table Top Mountain in North Carolina at an elevation of 3,425 feet in mid-August. It was an grueling 11-mile trail run, but one that came with a beautiful view. That trek he took with fellow army chaplain trainees was one of the final trail runs before Klawiter, who serves as the head pastor at Forest Lake’s Faith Lutheran Church, completed his chaplain basic training for the Minnesota Army National...
Tight labor market impacts NLA’s executive director search
Interim director Christopher Stewart charts teacher-centered path forward When the North Lakes Academy School Board didn’t renew the executive director contract with Cam Stottler, the hunt to find someone to fill that role began. Despite a tight labor market resulting in two unforeseen departures, the board remains confident in its new interim executive director, Christopher Stewart, as it continues its search. “While this is a tough time to find educators...
‘She’s got a super big heart’: Meet Katie Brandl, the Rangers’ fearless leader
Forest Lake’s fourth-year starting setter aims for 3,000th assist Forest Lake’s senior volleyball star Katie Brandl is chasing down a remarkable feat this fall in her fourth season as the team’s starting setter: 3,000 setting assists. It’s the latest accolade Brandl, who made the team as a freshman, is hoping to achieve in her accomplished career as a Ranger after amassing 2,000 setting assists last season. And while the program...
Forest Lake football tramples Mounds View
Rangers defense credited for big part of 24-8 victory The Rangers won in dominant fashion as they toppled the Mounds View Mustangs on Friday, Sept. 15, by a final score of 24-8. The defense of Forest Lake proved worthy throughout the entirety of their home opener, allowing just 8 points that came late in the fourth quarter. ...
Rangers volleyball notches win against North Branch
The Forest Lake volleyball team notched its second consecutive win by defeating North Branch at home on Thursday, Sept. 14, in three straight sets, bringing the Rangers to a record of 4-5. The Rangers appeared sluggish to begin, allowing the Vikings to keep it close. In a quick turnaround in momentum for Forest Lake, the Rangers would rip off five straight points to take back command of the first set. Consistency was a battle, as North Branch kept clawing their way back into the game....
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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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