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Vogel, Thunstrom Testify in Support of TH 47 Water Line Funding to Senate Committee

Sen. Andrew Matthews, R-Princeton, has introduced a bill that would provide St. Francis with a $3 million grant for water and sewer improvements along Highway 47 from Cree Street to 241st Avenue. The funding, which would come from state bonding, was presented to the Senate Transportation Committee on April 22. St. Francis Mayor Mark Vogel, testifying before the committee, said the city needs to replace existing water and wastewater lines, some of which date back to 1979. ...

Kreun, Kirkham, McPherson Testify to Senate Committee on Bunker/65

The Senate Transportation Committee heard legislation April 22 aimed at addressing safety concerns at the intersection of Highway 65 and Bunker Lake Boulevard, according to a press release. The bill, authored by Sen. Michael Kreun, would direct funding from the Trunk Highway Fund toward redesign and construction of the intersection. “This is Anoka County’s top transportation priority for a reason,” Kreun said. “The intersection is widely considered one of the most dangerous in the county, and it’s unsafe for every single person who travels that corridor.” ...

Nowthen Selects Hoium for Planning Commission Over Former Mayor Pilon

The Nowthen City Council voted 3-2 April 14 to appoint Michael Hoium to the Planning Commission, choosing him over former Mayor Jeff Pilon after a divided discussion over the interview process and the future of planning and zoning in the city. Mayor Shane Hybben and Council Members Mary Rainville and Dan Swenson voted for Hoium. Council Members Ken Glaser and Dan Breyen opposed the appointment and favored Pilon. Glaser said that after watching the Planning Commission meeting, he understood Pilon to be the members’ primary choice. Hybben confirmed that everyone had voted for Pilon and that some had also voted for Hoium. ...

Nowthen Approves Cannabis IUP for Rhinestone St Farm

Nowthen’s first small cannabis cultivation business is moving forward, but its owner told the City Council the operation will look less like an industrial grow site and more like a “glorified garden.” The City Council unanimously approved an interim use permit April 14 for Matthew and Rhiannon Paradise to grow cannabis on a 7,000-square-foot portion of their 39.5-acre farm at 19420 Rhinestone St. NW. The cannabis would be grown outdoors and sold to dispensaries, according to the applicants. ...

WB: Piper the Cat Takes Over for Elliot Steeves (As a Penance)

Hello. This is Piper the cat writing. I belong to Madeline, the girlfriend of Elliot Steeves, who works for this paper and recently moved in with her. As I stand here for the brief amount of time I have to type on this keyboard, I want to inform you all of one very simple fact: I am utterly beautiful. I am a proper calico — a domestic longhair, most likely — with long, white-spotted fur and fabulous nails. My biscuit-making skills with my paws are so amazing that I can type on a keyboard. ...

Bethel Haunted Forest a Perfect Biking Trip for the Family

In Bethel, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the woods became haunted — transformed by an idea that made use of leftovers from a spooky fire department event and grew into a trail that attracted not only bikers, but hikers as well. Former council member Boe Wiitala saw the potential after looking over the trail area where the Bethel Fire Department, which has since merged with St. Francis, once hosted a haunted trail event. ...

St Francis Approves First Reading of 5G Broadband Ordinance

The St Francis City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance on small cell technology at their April 20 meeting. The item, per Public Works Director Paul Carpenter, was a housekeeping move designed to keep up with 5G broadband technology. St Francis currently does not have an item related to this in their code. The ordinance gives St Francis the ability to control aesthetics, safety and the cost recovery of small technology in the city. ...

Blaine Ratifies Local 49 Public Works Contract, Approves Goddard School Setback Change

Blaine public works employees will see changes to pay, benefits and work rules under a new three-year labor agreement ratified on April 20 by the Blaine City Council, which also approved a site change for the Goddard School. The council voted 5-0 to ratify the Local 49 public works labor agreement for 2026 through 2028 and separately approved a conditional use permit reducing parking lot setbacks at 12612 Central Ave. NE. ...

East Bethel Council Split on Planning Commission Appointment

The East Bethel City Council voted 3-2 on April 13 to appoint Lindsay Crescenzo to the Planning Commission over current Economic Development Authority President Julie Lux, despite the Planning Commission’s own 3-2 recommendation for Lux. Council Members Tim Miller, Jim Smith and Suzanne Erkel voted for Crescenzo. Mayor Ardie Anderson and Council Member Brian Mundle voted for Lux. City Administrator Matt Look said the city solicited applications to fill the seat after Tanner Balfany stepped down from a term set to run through Jan. 31, 2027. The appointment fills the remainder of that term. ...

East Bethel Declares Dog Potentially Dangerous After Alleged Lethal Cat Injury

The East Bethel City Council on April 13 unanimously declared a dog potentially dangerous after hearing testimony about a February incident in which the dog was reported to have fatally injured a neighbor’s cat. City Administrator Matt Look said the hearing request stemmed from a Feb. 23 dog attack report from the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office. According to that report, a pit bull-mastiff named Tucker approached and lethally injured a domestic cat belonging to resident Brenda Burke. ...