LOCAL
North Branch Homecoming Royalty
The North Branch student body chose their 2025 Homecoming King and Queen Friday September 26 and students enjoyed a few days this week of related festivities. Allen Everett and Jade Knoespel are the King and Queen, above. The big game is Friday, October 3 at 6 p.m. where the Vikings …
Watershed District 2026 preliminary levy set
The managers on the Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District Board voted 5-0 last week to set a preliminary levy hike for 2026 of 23 percent. There were about a half-dozen taxpayers attending this meeting in Forest Lake. An additional levy session will be scheduled for October to continue public input …
North Branch council ups firefighter payout and sets early levy
The main discussion topic on the North Branch City Council agenda last week was the 2026 preliminary budget and levy action — but it took an hour and a half just to get there.
School on the move
The relocation of the historic Sunrise Schoolhouse last week, from its site north of Highway 95 in the Town of Sunrise, traveled east to the Almelund Threshing Show grounds under ideal weather conditions. The move along Highway 95 was observed by many.
Water Festival educates local youth
The Chisago County Children’s Water Festival is put on every fall and hundreds of fifth graders attend. This year Wild Mountain Recreation Area hosted. Volunteers from environmental agencies, scientists and outdoor enthusiasts lead the students through a host of learning stations, games and hands-on experiences. The day is meant to …
Soup with the Superintendent puts spotlight on array of testing
A group of about a dozen visitors to last week’s Soup with the Superintendent program, at Lindstrom’s Wildcat Community Center were reminded of when they were attending school and the dreaded pop quiz came from out of nowhere. To be sure, no grades were riding on the outcome of this …
Recycling, apology and crow
This weekend, Mark and his crew at AAA Recycling will be holding their annual fall clean up and recycling event in Center City. The event is Saturday and will run from 8am to 2pm and is always held in the lower parking lot of Chisago Lake Lutheran Church.
Bobbing for apples this week!
Maybe I jumped the gun on pumpkins this year and skipped apples?
Chisago City preliminary 2026 levy under 10 percent increase
Faced with a $532,000 increase in 2026 operating expenses, the Chisago City Council has decided to use Local Government Aid (LGA) dollars to help keep the city’s 2026 levy hike under 10 percent, filling in the gap to get to the 16.4 percent proposed increase.
Taylors Falls Council votes in favor of 14 percent levy increase
The main item on the council agenda last week in Taylors Falls was action adopting a preliminary maximum levy for 2026 and the budget plan. Council voted 5-0 for the proposed 14 percent increase and scheduled the taxation public hearing for November 24 at 6 p.m. at city hall.
Chisago City approves new logo; seeks applicants for fire department, park, cable commissioners
The Chisago City Council on Sept. 23 approved a new city logo that’s been months in the making.
Agenda at Lindstrom levy meeting packed with items
Lindstrom City Council met September 17 for a regular meeting. Council member Greg Krueger was absent.
