Thanks to a generous donation from Wal-Mart in Forest Lake and four surrounding stores, the winter clothing inventory of the Forest Lake Area Children’s Fund has been replenished. Duane Nelson, left, store manager in Forest Lake, presents FLCF President Julie Ohman with a sample of the boots. When the Forest Lake store learned that the volunteer organization had lost its United Way funding, Nelson got involved and solicited donations from neighboring Wal-Mart stores. And the call was heard. A total of 100 new winter jackets, 25 pair of boots and 50 caps, gloves and mittens were donated from 2007 closeout store inventory at no cost. The FLCF is now soliciting donations from the public to assist with its November-December program of providing winter clothing to area children who may otherwise go without. Donations can be sent to the Forest Lake Area Children’s Fund, P.O. Box 772, Forest Lake, MN 55025.

(Photo By Cliff Buchan) 

The number of motorists who have been tagged for driving while intoxicated continues to mount in Forest Lake.

With March and the first three months of 2008 in books, police in Forest Lake have issued 39 tickets for driving while intoxicated or driving while impaired, Chief Clark Quiring said this week.

Running Aces Harness Park in Columbus won't officially open the 2008 racing season until Friday, but several hundred area residents took part in open houses on Friday and Saturday. The two-day event was sponsored by the track as a fund-raiser for the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau and to give the facility's new staff some experience. Visitors toured the facility and learned about harness racing and the card games that will start in early July at the end of the first 50 days of racing. During Friday's tour, local residents Mary Preiner, Sue Fraley and Jenny Van Canneyt, left to right, met Mellow Road, a seven-year-old standardbred mare that has qualified to run at Running Aces. The horse is owned by Ron Lingle of Cottage Grove. Post time on Friday night is 6 p.m. with a full card of races planned. Running Aces is west of the I-35-TH-97 (CR-23) intersection.

(Photo By Cliff Buchan) 

Forest Lake School Board Member Eric Langness has launched his campaign for Washington County Commissioner District 1.  He is currently serving his third year on the Forest Lake Area Schools Board of Education and will be seeking the office held by Dennis Hegberg.

Langness is a Republican and recently was elected as a congressional district and state delegate. He has not accepted endorsement of any political group and has not decided if he will during the campaign. “Dennis Hegberg has served the Washington County area for a long time and in recent years has lost touch with the citizens,” Langness said.

“The two major areas are transportation and funding. Mr. Hegberg supported the heavily unpopular downtown Forest Lake Broadway Avenue roundabout plan and voted for the tax increase to Washington County residents for a metropolitan counties transportation improvement board. This plan will increase .25 percent sales tax and increase fees on sales of automobiles in Washington County. The revenue generated by this tax will not be dedicated to fund projects within our county and will support light rail transportation and bus services that are not projected to impact our county. These are two areas where the majority of Washington County residents and I disagree with Dennis Hegberg. These are the motivating factors for seeking the commissioner district seat.  I’ve proven to be a fiscal conservative both during a campaign and more importantly when I vote on issues.” 

District 1 covers the cities Birchwood, Dellwood, Forest Lake, Grant, Hugo, Mahtomedi, Marine-on-St. Croix, Pine Springs, Scandia, White Bear Lake and Willernie.

By way of a 3-2 vote on Tuesday, the Washington County Board of Commissioners agreed to impose the .25 percent  county sales  tax  to support transit needs. The sales tax is comprised of two components: •A transportation sales and use tax at a rate of one-quarter of one percent on retail sales and uses taxable under Minnesota Statutes 297A.992, and  •An excise tax of $20 per vehicle purchased or acquired from any person engaged in the business of selling motor vehicles at retail within Washington County.

The board approved Washington County’s participation in the Metropolitan Transportation Area and authorized entering into the Joint Powers Agreement to establish the Counties Transit Improvement Board.  The county board then adopted a resolution authorizing Washington County to impose a one-quarter of one percent sales and use tax.  Both resolutions passed 3 to 2 with Commissioners Dennis C. Hegberg, Myra Peterson, and R. H. “Dick” Stafford voting “yes” and Commissioners Gary Kriesel and Bill Pulkrabek voting “no.” 

Diane Finnemann is proof that if you work hard  enough, you can accomplish your goals.

Ron Lasiuta is proof that if you have patience, good things will happen, even if you have to wait nearly 40 years.

The two Forest Lake residents were at the center of a positive conclusion on Saturday as they took part in Forest Lake’s first Vietnam Veterans Day celebration. It was the first official observance in Minnesota of the newly created state holiday.

Saturday was a day to remember and honor veterans as the first Vietnam Veterans Day event was celebrated at the Hardwood Creek Branch Library. Monica Leach, right, intently with two of her daughters, Jacquie Krismer, center, and Colleen Page, as their son and brother, Skip Schmidt, Marine veteran from Vietnam, was remembered. 

(Photo By Cliff Buchan) 

With members of the American Legion Post 225 color guard looking on, Army CWO Bob Dettmer, who is also a state representative in District 52A from Forest Lake, talks to students at Columbus Elementary School during a Liberty Day program on March 27. The annual program is sponsored by the Forest Lake Lions Club and is in partnership with area schools and military service organizations.

(Photo by Cliff Buchan )

The pain of $1,250,000 in general fund budget cuts has yet to be felt in ISD 831, but one program slated for a damaging blow has been spared the paid.

The school board on Thursday, March 27 ratified its final budget cutting plan to bring expenses in line with revenues for the 2008-2009 school year. Along with the cuts, the district will utilize $500,000 of fund balance to achieve the $1.75 million budget adjustment.