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Forest Lake Times
Video of shirtless Sen. Cal Bahr goes viral
Bahr said he was glad he could offer levity with gaff Sen. Cal Bahr (R-Dist. 31) went viral on May 1 when during a Legislative Audit Commission livestream he appeared shirtless and in bed on the Zoom call. Bahr was responding to a roll call vote when he appeared on screen, a still frame of Schoolhouse Rock’s “I’m Just a Bill” serving as a background, before his camera switched off to show only his name. Sen. Mark Koran (R-Dist. 28) can be seen on screen...
Catch ‘em all – Charges filed in Pokéman card heist
More than a year after two men allegedly stole nearly $250,000 worth of Pokéman cards from Punch Out Gaming in Forest Lake, the store and the Forest Lake Police Department helped “Catch ‘em all.” Two men, from Forest Lake and Duluth, have been charged with felony third-degree burglary for the heist that occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 10, 2022. According to the charges, Dustin Wittern, of Forest Lake, and Matthew Cuypers Jr., of Duluth, both 40, together broke into the store by using a...
Study shows Linwood school forest positively impacting students
Principal Gretchen Mattson looks toward new teaching model When Linwood Elementary Principal Gretchen Mattson began her job in the summer of 2020, she had a suspicion that the school forest has a positive impact on students’ behavior and learning. This year, through student surveys and studying test data, she was able to put that theory to the test as a final project for the two-year Minnesota Principals Academy program. When...
Emma Halweg leading Forest Lake Rangers girls lacrosse this spring
Rangers record improves to 3-7 Whether it be scoring on the field for the Forest Lake Rangers girls lacrosse team or helping lead what head coach Jenna Brown says is the youngest team she’s ever had, senior Emma Halweg is making an impact as a Ranger this season off the field as much as she is on. Not only has Halweg drawn up plays with a board and marker for...
Forest Lake Rangers boys tennis learning the mental side of the game
The Rangers finished the regular season strong ahead of sections this week Junior Simon Goolsby’s typical pre-match routine involves a drive to Kwik Trip with a group of three teammates, sometimes four, for a chicken sandwich and a drink like a Gatorade or water. It’s how he and some of his teammates mentally prepare for each match, and it’s good bonding experience. After all, they’re a young team still learning the mental aspect of tennis. ...
Forest Lake Rangers track and field teams finish high at home True Team Section Meet
Both teams place in the top three The Forest Lake Rangers girls and boys track and field teams saw success at the 5AAA True Team Section Meet hosted at home on Tuesday, May 9. Both Forest Lake girls coach Shane Swanberg and boys coach Andy Richardson said it was exciting to host the meet and showcase the school’s facility, just a year after it opened for track and field events...
Sports Briefs: Forest Lake Rangers softball win streak mounts to five & more
The Forest Lake Rangers softball team (14-3) won 14-2 against Irondale at home on Thursday, May 11, after also winning 14-2 at Irondale on Wednesday, May 10. The Rangers then won two more homes games to extend the win streak to five: a 6-0 shutout win over East Ridge on Friday, May 12, and a 4-0 shutout win against Roseville on Monday, May 15. Forest Lake registered 44 hits during those four wins in the past week with freshman Karianne Drury (six), seniors Bethany Weiss...
Forest Lake Council considers levy jump for road improvements
Council kicks sales-tax option around again, but acknowledges challenges The Forest Lake City Council is grappling with a sense of sticker shock after seeing two proposals to increase levy dollars to help fund road improvements in the city during its Monday, April 17 meeting. The first proposal would raise the tax levy at varying increments to fund the improvements from 2023’s budget of $13.13 million to $27.02 million by 2032....
Bus contract approved by school board
All seven board members approved the negotiated bus driver and aide contract at the Thursday, May 4, board meeting. The district and negotiators and representatives of the bus driver and aide union came to an agreement on Friday, April 28, which was approved by the union on Monday, May 1 – a day before a proposed strike could have begun. Wage increases were at the top of the union’s list...
‘Having an instrument is like having a friend’
Scandia violist wins Schubert Club scholarship When Sam Anderson of Scandia began taking viola lessons, he had no idea how he’d connect with playing an instrument and excel as a performer. “It kind of started out as a hobby that sort of gave me a personality and then it also helps me when I’m lonely. It’s kind of like a friend – like having an instrument is like having a...
Progress: Local RN/aestethician opens med spa Artistry Aesthetics
After years working as an aesthetician for La Grande, Corina Duran went back to school to become an RN to learn the skills to become an injector. It’s been five years since Duran departed La Grande to start her own business, and after several years, she’s found a home for her company Artistry Aesthetics (previously named Wandering Beauty), a full service med spa offering botox, fillers, micro-needling, customizable facials, and laser treatments. Duran said she was always interested in skin and beauty. ...
After stall, Wyoming takes step forward in new public safety building
Project expected to go to bid, though council doesn’t commit to pulling trigger Less than four months after the Wyoming City Council suspended moving forward with the final stages of designing its new public safety building, the project seems to have revived as a near-term possibility. The council, with an informal split vote of 3-2, indicated it was interested in pursuing a new design option put forth by project design...
Forest Lake clay target hosts community event
The Forest Lake clay target team hosted their second annual Back Your Buddy Community Fun Shoot event last weekend at the Forest Lake Sportsman Club on Saturday, May 6. Forest Lake, as well as the Lakes International Language Academy and Chisago Lakes teams, partnered with law enforcement, fire, emergency medical technicians and military within the Forest Lake and Chisago Lakes school districts.
Progress: Mike’s Bait on 8 celebrates 40 years
It’s been 40 years since Mike Waltz open Mike’s Bait on 8. He was the original “Mike.” Nine years ago, Mike Traylor acquired the local bait shop on the edge of Forest Lake and Wyoming. When asked what drew him to the business, he said with a laugh, “Well, it had my name on it,” adding he thought it would be fun to own a bait shop. (He also owns a moving and storage business.) Originally from Kansas, Traylor grew up fishing. He moved to...
Progress: Odelia Boutique opens seasonal shop in Marine
Eclectic boutique features local artists When Christina Larsen and her partner moved to Marine on St. Croix in November 2022, she knew she loved the community and wanted to start a gift shop in the area. “My in-laws are from Forest Lake and we really wanted to be in a more nature-centric place. When we found this place in Marine it was so great. We can walk into downtown and...
Sports Briefs: Forest Lake Rangers boys lacrosse wins first game, girls end losing streak
The Rangers won their first game of the season on Monday, May 8, beating non-conference opponent Spring Lake Park / Coon Rapids 12-6 at home after losing the first six games of the season. The Rangers lost twice last week: a 14-5 loss to Mounds View on Wednesday, May 3, and a 12-3 loss to Woodbury on Friday, May 5. Studier led the way offensively against Mounds View with two goals. Seniors Michael Mayer and Wyatt Hawes and sophomore Ethan Coleman each scored against Woodbury. ...
From the ice to the court: Forest Lake’s Malachi McKinnon drafted by Fargo Force
Sophomore hockey standout will have tryout in early June FOREST LAKE — The first phase of the annual United States Hockey League – a top junior hockey league for players ages 16-21 – draft took place on Tuesday, May 2, at 4 p.m., which happened to occur during the Forest Lake Rangers boys tennis team’s match at 3:30 p.m. in Woodbury. A number of USHL teams connected with Forest Lake...
LILA archery claims western national titles in historic feat
The Residence Inn by Mariott had all the makings for the best place to celebrate. The courtyard in the center of the grounds outside the hotel featured a swimming pool, hot tub, fire pit and a prime grill setup. Not to mention the pickleball court, or breakfast area that perfected the board and card game experience. The weather made the post-tournament cookout even better. It marked the first celebration of many with another party planned at Lakes International Language Academy in the coming week. After...
Forest Lake student athletes sign National Letter of Intent
Twelve more Forest Lake student-athletes signed their national letters of intent at a ceremony on Monday, May 8. Brianna Thompson (soccer at Hamline University), Brady Thompson (pole vault at the University of Wisconsin-Stout), James Oberholtzer (soccer at Bethel University), Vince Valentini (football at Bethel University), Jake Deeb (football at Gustavus Adolphus College), Bryson Mohs (baseball at Dakota County Technical College), Jake Tobritzhofer (baseball at the University of Minnesota-Morris), Marcos Gallegos (baseball at the College of St. Scholastica), Maddie Eichinger (dance at the College of St....
Progress: Ma and Paws Pet Grooming opens new shop in historic building
Marie Mottaz, owner of Ma and Paws Pet Grooming, had a change of career from a corporate setting to animal groomer years ago and hasn’t looked back. “I was kind of done with people, but I love dogs,” she joked. After pivoting in her career, she opted to go back to school to learn more about the grooming industry and better understand animal diseases in order to offer more specialized...
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