Running Aces Harness Track in Columbus will be allowed to simulcast thoroughbred horse racing under legislation afoot in the Minnesota State Legislature. A Senate subcommittee on Wednesday, Feb. 20 approved for full-committee consideration of a bill by Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, that would allow for the harness track to expand its simulcasting menu.

Columbus Planning Commission Chair John Mastel, far right, and Mayor Mel Mettler, testify before a Senate Subcommittee on Feb. 20 supporting a bill that would allow simulcast betting at the Running Aces Harness Track in Columbus that is set to open on April 11.

(Photo By Tim Budig) 

There are times during the winter months when Forest Lake Fire & Rescue is called to the lake ice where a fishhouse is on fire. But fires of the like in parking lots don't happen that often. But local firefighters had just such a call Thursday night in Forest Lake.

Fire crews were called to the parking lot at Wal-Mart, 200 SW 12th St., shortly before 10:30 p.m. where a fishhouse was on fire. According to police and fire department reports, a passerby saw smoke and flames coming from the fishhouse which was in the trailer bed of a pickup truck. The man was able to drag the burning fishhouse from the truck before it could do serious damage to the vehicle.

The fishhouse, valued at $500, was a total loss. The truck had minor damage to its bed-liner. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. 

The 87-year-old Forest Lake man who was found outside on his doorstep in the early-morning cold on Feb. 20 remains in critical condition at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, according to Chief of Police Clark Quiring on Friday. The man is being treated for frostbite and hypothermia. He was found lying on his front doorstep in the 22000 block of Jason Ave. N. around 9 a.m. Wednesday after the man's sister went to look for him when he failed to return to the house.

Quiring said it appeared the man had gone out to walk his dog and had somehow fallen on the front steps. He said it is likely the man was outside for about 30 minutes in the minus 11 degree temperature that saw wind chills approaching minus 30 degrees. The dog was found safe. The chief said the man was unconscious but breathing when city police officers arrived on the scene.

The man was transported to North Memorial by a North Air Care helicopter that landed at the Third Lake public access.

Katie Henslin almost knows what it’s like to be a millionaire. After all, it was literally within her grasps.

Forest Lake resident Katie Henslin may not have won $1 million as a contestant on the popular NBC game show “Deal or No Deal” but she did take home $449,000. Host Howie Mandel seemed eager for her to win the top prize, which has yet to be attained by any contestant over the past three years.

(Photo by Jennifer Larson)

The official tallies are yet to come in, but last Saturday’s Fishapalooza Ice Fishing Contest brought in an estimated 7500 participants to First Lake of Forest Lake, who were competing for more than $175,000 in prizes.

Arnie Rudenick, right, of Columbus, was the big winner in last Saturday's Fishapalooza on Forest Lake.  His 5 pound plus northern pike was the largest fish caught in the competition and snared a 2008 Ford pickup as a reward. Some 7500 people reportedly took part in the fishing contest sponsored by Forest Lake VFW Post 4210.

( Photo by Glen Strandberg)

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