Columbus
Laker Pioneer
Minnetrista OKs farm winery, with restrictions
Minnetrista is set to welcome a new farm winery, though visitors won’t have the opportunity to purchase wine on-site. Following a lengthy discussion, the Minnetrista City Council narrowly approved a conditional use permit (CUP) for a farm winery at 3330 Highland Road during its June 3 meeting. The applicant, Barry Trebil, had requested permission to conduct two activities on his property: 1) To produce and bottle wine year-round for sale to local liquor stores and restaurants; and 2). To open the winery to 25 people...
Your print newspaper transitioning to paid
As a valued subscriber, you have been receiving the print version of the Laker Pioneer in your mailbox every week for free. We hope that you have found it to be a valuable resource. Now we need your support. After Aug. 6, you will need to purchase a subscription, at a greatly reduced rate, to continue receiving all the news and information about your community. Why is this happening now?...
Salt for hockey
The annual solar salt fundraiser to benefit the Mound Westonka – Watertown Mayer Boys Hockey team has started, with orders due by June 30. Bags of the Sun Soft salt will be delivered July 24-28 and can be placed in a basement or utility room upon request. Prices per 40-pound bag are $8.75 for extra coarse salt, $9.25 for pellets and $9.75 for pellets with rust remover. To order, contact Ashley Cody at 612-991-4273. Orders will be directed to a player near you. Funds raised help offset the cost that players pay for equipment, jerseys, meals and other team expenses. (Submitted photos)
2 White Hawks earn state titles, 8 earn honors
The Mound Westonka track and field team ended its historic 2024 season at the AA State Track and Field Meet, held June 7 and 8 at St. Michael-Albertville High School. The White Hawks had eight All-State Athletes (finishing in the Top 9 in the state meet) and two state champions. The White Hawks boys team finished in seventh place at state, tying the second-best finish by a Westonka track and field team in school history (fourth place 2023, seventh place 1975). ...
Orono to assume responsibility for most of Navarre area in July
As has been planned for months, the Orono Fire Department (OFD) will begin operations in the Casco Point and Tonkawa areas on July 1. With a hire made on June 10, the department is currently staffed by 11 paid on-call, 10 part-time firefighters, and Chief James Van Eyll. The OFD will operate out of two stations: a temporary storage facility, called Navarre Garage, located beside the Navarre water tower at...
Entities partner for new youth sports facility in Independence
The City of Independence and the Minnesota Twins have teamed up with Orono Softball and Baseball Associations to support the creation of a new youth sports facility in Independence. The City of Independence has approved development on the land for this project, and the Minnesota Twins have provided a $100,000 grant, both underscoring their commitment to fostering youth sports and community development. The impact of this grant will allow for development to move forward of a four-field facility which will feature a state-of-the art four-plex,...
Women’s golf tournament to benefit WeCAN
The 7th Annual Timber Creek Women’s Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, July 13, at Timber Creek Golf Club in Watertown. This public event is open to women of all ages and skill levels and is a fundraiser benefiting Western Communities Action Network (WeCAN). The event is a four-woman, 18-hole scramble. Groups registering for a threesome or twosome will play together and be paired to make a foursome. Singles are extremely welcome and will be paired to complete a foursome. Green fees, shared riding...
Orono breaks ground on golf pavilion
The official groundbreaking for the Orono Orchard Golf Course’s newest amenity addition was held this on May 28. The 1,000 sq. ft. pavilion/picnic shelter will be utilized by golfers and visitors to the golf course. The Orono Lions Organization donated $40,000 of the $80,000 cost, and is handling construction of the project as well. Ritchie Anderson and North Shore Marina also contributed $2,500 towards the project. During the 100 year anniversary celebration this June the pavilion/picnic shelter will be dedicated to the Leo Feser family. Leo Feser was the first superintendent of Woodhill Golf Course and helped build the original Orono Orchard Golf Course. Feser and his family ran the golf course for Orono for the first 40 years of its existence.
Greenhouse project at Hilltop instills beneficial skills
A new greenhouse and gardening project at Hilltop Primary School this spring is designed to provide students with beneficial tools to help increase feelings of calm and relaxation. “Gardening and exploring outdoors helps to quiet the body’s nervous system, giving students a chance to increase their coping skills while in that environment,” said Hilltop social worker Lori Springer. The project came about thanks to a grant from the Westonka District...
Annual CARPFest celebrates community, conservation
The Harrisons Bay Association (HBA) is inviting Westonka residents and friends to join in its second annual CARPFest, a community event dedicated to raising awareness about carp overpopulation and its impact on local waterways. The concert on the bay will take place on Saturday, June 15, starting at 2 p.m. CARPFest 2024 promises an afternoon filled with great local music, featuring performances by talented musicians Benny James starting at 2 p.m., Sweet Briar about 3 p.m., and The Abiders around 4:15 p.m. ...
Maple Plain moves forward with street, infrastructure work
The Maple Plain city council is moving forward to finance its 2024 street improvement projects, according to the latest city council meeting on May 28. Late last year, plans were devised to improve Independence Street, Bryant Street between Budd Avenue and Howard Avenue, and Wyman Avenue. All roads will undergo full reconstruction, including replacing water main and sanitary sewer pipes and services, and will be paved with a new bituminous pavement. Independence Street will get a new storm sewer, concrete curb and gutter. ...
Orono board OK’s calendar for next school year
Schools across Minnesota continue to implement the Department of Education’s Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act, and Orono schools remain ahead of the curve, though there’s still a long road ahead. The READ Act, signed by Gov. Tim Walz on May 24, replaces the existing Read Well By Third Grade (RWBTG) program, and intends “to have every Minnesota child reading at or above grade level every year, beginning in kindergarten, and to support multilingual learners and students receiving special education services in achieving their...
Long Lake amends rules around recreational vehicles
In a May 20 meeting that lasted just 18 minutes, the Long Lake city council unanimously passed an ordinance that amended Zoning definitions, distributed its triennial Pay Equity report, and approved longtime Public Works employee Don “Luke” Laakkonen’s resignation. With lake season in full swing, definitions surrounding boating equipment and storage are essential for Long Lake to sort out. Effective as of June 1, Long Lake now defines recreational vehicles...
Orono public works building gets another cash infusion
The new Orono Public Works building at 365 Old Crystal Bay Road is nearing completion, the council learned at the May 28 city council meeting. With an Open House slated on June 13 from 3-5 p.m., the facility has been under construction since December, 2022. The council approved a bid by Ebert Construction in October 2022 for $16,067,000 after rejecting what it determined were high bids earlier that year. After...
BeLikeTommy event tops Mound council agenda
At its May 28 meeting, the Mound Council was introduced to the BeLikeTommy Project, created by Kevin and Nicole Nash following the sudden and tragic loss of their son Tommy to cardiac arrest in December 2021. Kevin Nash explained that the BeLikeTommy Project aims to care for the hearts of others, both physically and emotionally. One way it seeks to make a difference is by donating Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machines to Mound Westonka High School (MWHS), where the Nash’s daughters attend and where Tommy...
Races take shape for primary, November elections
Races for federal and state offices have taken shape after the filing window for those offices closed on Tuesday, setting most ballot matchups for the November election. The highest profile race that will require a primary will be the race for U.S. Senator, as Democratic incumbent Sen. Amy Klobuchar faces multiple challengers from both sides. On the Republican side, candidates who have filed to run for senator include Loner Blue, Raymond D. Petersen, Christopher Seymour Sr., Patrick D. Munro, John Berman, Alycia R. Gruenhagen, Joe...
Westonka’s Sunnarborg qualifies for state golf meet
The boys golf 5AA Section Tournament was held at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker. May 30 was the qualifier, where teams and individuals competed for a chance to play in the final round on June 3. Mound Westonka battled throughout day one, climbing as high as third, but eventually ending up in sixth, only seven strokes from advancing to day two. Eighth grader Leif Kellner and freshman Hudson Pundsack each ended their seasons strong shooting 89. Sophomore Wes Foley had his best round of...
Trinity Lutheran sets schedule for summer events
Trinity Lutheran Church in Long Lake has announced the lineup for a community-wide series of free events, set to take place on Wednesday nights from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. between June 12 and August 14. Trinity Lutheran is dedicated to organizing family-friendly meals and activities designed to bring people together. Join us for great food, games, music, and a positive atmosphere, all aimed at fostering connections and encouraging meaningful conversations. All are invited to share in community and fun. ...
Laker Pioneer
1K+
Posts
1M+
Views
Laker Pioneer serves the Mound, Minnetrista, Spring Park, Navarre, Long Lake, Orono, Maple Plain, Independence and Minnetonka Beach communities. Published Saturdays by APG of East Central Minnesota since 1974. 24/7 local coverage found online at www.lakerpioneer.com
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.