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Mora woman sustains life-threatening injuries in single-vehicle crash
A 32-year-old Mora woman was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries following a single-vehicle crash in Kanabec County on Tuesday morning. According to the state patrol incident report, a Honda Civic was traveling westbound on 195th Avenue at Mahogany Street in Mora around 11:45 a.m. The vehicle went off the road and onto the shoulder, overcorrected, struck a tree and rolled onto its roof, and caught fire. The report states that passersby pulled the driver from the burni
erikvanrheenen
Nov 11, 20251 min read
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'It's been quite a year': East Central Regional Library's executive director an open book about highlights, challenges in 2025
With the page slowly turning on 2025, East Central Regional Library executive director Carla Lydon was an open book in sharing highlights and challenges from the library system in an interview last week. "It's been quite a year," said Lydon, who has been in the position since 2017. Lydon said ECRL started 2025 with a new strategic plan, and progress on those goals included a growing readers program piloted by the Mora Public Library. The program connects a student in grades 1
erikvanrheenen
Nov 11, 20254 min read
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Missing Isanti County woman located safely
UPDATE: The alert has been canceled after the missing party was located safely. The Isanti County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help in locating a missing 37-year-old woman. According to an alert from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Erin Severson left her rural Isanti County residence between Oct. 20 and Oct. 25. Severson is described as five-foot-eight and weighing 118 pounds, with black hair and hazel eyes. Her vehicle is a black 2016 Buick Enclave
erikvanrheenen
Nov 7, 20251 min read
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Hinckley I-35 bridge replacement project nearing completion
Work on Hinckley's I-35 bridge replacement project is nearing completion. According to the MnDOT project website, lane closures will be removed at noon on Friday, Nov. 7. A northbound lane closure will be put back in place on Monday, Nov. 10. That work is expected to last through the evening of Nov. 14. All work on the project, which carries a $25.6 million price tag, is expected to be complete by the end of November.
erikvanrheenen
Nov 6, 20251 min read
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Braham moving forward with property purchase for compost site
The Braham City Council unanimously voted to authorize a purchase of a vacant lot for the purpose of establishing a compost site at Tuesday's meeting. City administrator Kevin Stahl explained that the property is about six acres, located on Hupp Street in Stanchfield Township. "As you're going out Second, you'd take a right, and it's about a city block, roughly, on the right side of the road," Stahl explained. "It's a wedge, and it's about six acres." The council previously a
erikvanrheenen
Nov 6, 20251 min read
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Structure fire on Highway 65 in Athens Township under investigation as arson case
The Isanti County Sheriff's Office and Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office are investigating a Tuesday structure fire in Athens Township as an arson case. According to a news release from the Isanti County Sheriff's Office, law enforcement responded to a structure fire in the 25600 block of Highway 65 NE just before 5:30 p.m. The structure was an abandoned residence, and there is no threat to the public. The sheriff's office received information from a witness who reported
erikvanrheenen
Nov 5, 20251 min read
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2025 Election Results: Referendum attempts fail in Cambridge-Isanti, Princeton, Willow River school districts
Here are the preliminary results from local elections. Cambridge-Isanti School District referendum Question 1: 4,481 voted no (59.6%), 3,038 voted yes (40.4%). Cambridge: 2,005 voted no, 1,720 voted yes. Isanti: 2,476 voted no, 1,318 voted yes. Question 2: 4,931 voted no (65.73%), 2,571 voted yes (34.27%) Cambridge: 2,253 voted no, 1,462 voted yes. Isanti: 2,678 voted no, 1,109 voted yes. Willow River School District referendum 305 voted no, 190 voted yes. Princeton Public Sc
erikvanrheenen
Nov 5, 20251 min read
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New executive director Reiser shares opportunities, challenges for A Place For You
New A Place For You executive director Anna Reiser has hit the ground running in the position. "I'm on week six, and learning as much as I possibly can about our programming there, so it's been an adventure," Reiser said. Opening in 2012, A Place For You is a transitional homeless shelter for single adults, serving six counties: Pine, Kanabec, Isanti, Chisago, Mille Lacs, and Carlton. "We are able to have people stay up to 90 days," said administrative assistant Kaitlyn Matti
erikvanrheenen
Nov 3, 20254 min read
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Man sentenced to over 76 years in prison in 2023 shooting that injured five law enforcement officers near Princeton
A Glendorado Township man was sentenced by a Benton County judge on Friday to more than 76 years in prison for a 2023 shooting that injured five members of the Sherburne County Drug Task Force just west of Princeton. According to a Sherburne County Sheriff's Office news release, 66-year-old Karl Holmberg had previously been convicted of seven counts of attempted murder of a police officer and assault and drug charges. He was sentenced to 918 months in prison. In October of 20
erikvanrheenen
Nov 2, 20251 min read
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Mora's Maple Avenue project in final stretch; full opening expected on Wednesday
Mora's Maple Avenue reconstruction project is in the final stretch, according to public utilities general manager Joe Kohlgraf. "We are finally there, after many, many months here," Kohlgraf said on Friday. "We have a few more days, and unfortunately, they're going to be longer than what seems like the whole summer." Kohlgraf explained that blacktop completion was anticipated to be finished on Friday, with striping taking place on Monday. The rest of the traffic control signa
erikvanrheenen
Oct 31, 20251 min read
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Area winter parking regulations to take effect Nov. 1
Winter parking regulations will be enforced once again starting on Saturday, Nov. 1. Here's a look at what that entails for municipalities across east-central Minnesota: Pine City: There is no parking on any city streets from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. from Nov. 1 through March 31. Vehicles left on city streets during those restricted times are subject to being towed at the owner's expense. Any damage incurred by towing will be the owner's liability. Mora: A city ordinance prohibits ve
erikvanrheenen
Oct 30, 20252 min read
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Area voters to decide on school board, referendum elections on Nov. 4
Area voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 4 to decide on school board races and referendum elections. Here's a look at what will appear on area ballots. Ogilvie School Board Susan Brown, Michael (Snowy) Crnobrna, and Amanda Stevenson are on the ballot to fill a vacancy on the Ogilvie school board. Jim Hanna, who served on the board for 14 months, vacated his seat due to moving out of the school district earlier this year. The seat's term expires on Jan. 1, 2029. Eas
erikvanrheenen
Oct 29, 20252 min read
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'Anything helps': Area food shelves work to meet community needs amid shutdown challenges
With  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits not being issued for November, area food shelves are working to meet increasing community needs. Patrick Felker, director of food equity and access at Family Pathways, discussed the shutdown's impacts on the nonprofit in an interview on Tuesday. Family Pathways has food shelves in Pine City, Sandstone, Cambridge, Chisago City, Forest Lake, North Branch, and Onamia, and two Wisconsin locations in Frederic and
erikvanrheenen
Oct 28, 20253 min read
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Mora Public Schools faces substitute bus driver shortage
Mora Public Schools is experiencing a significant shortage of substitute school bus drivers. According to a notice from Chip Brandt, the district's director of transportation, the shortage means that if even one of the regular drivers is unavailable, an entire route may be left temporarily without coverage. In situations where an unexpected absence isn't able to be immediately filled, a "double run" for morning and afternoon routes may be implemented. A driver would complete
erikvanrheenen
Oct 28, 20251 min read
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MnDOT completes bridge repair project on Highway 169 in Princeton
MnDOT has completed bridge repairs on Highway 169 in Princeton, and all lanes, bridges, and access ramps are now open between Baxter Road and 313th Avenue. According to a MnDOT news release, the project repaired and replaced the surface on eight bridges over North Rum River Drive, the West Branch Rum River, First Street, and South Rum River Drive. The project took six months to complete and cost $7.3 million. The release states that the upgrades will reduce long-term maintena
erikvanrheenen
Oct 28, 20251 min read
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Resources available in Kanabec County as shutdown impacts food benefit programs
Kanabec County is navigating impacts from the federal government shutdown, including a program that helps support more than 800 households. Due to the shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits will not be issued for November. According to Kanabec County Family Services director Chuck Hurd, the county currently has 836 active households receiving SNAP benefits, which is about 1,355 people. Kanabec County also has about 60 households in the Minnes
erikvanrheenen
Oct 27, 20251 min read
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'We're almost there': Mora's Maple Avenue reconstruction project nearing completion
Mora's Maple Avenue reconstruction project is nearing completion, according to public utilities general manager Joe Kohlgraf. "It's getting really close," Kohlgraf said on Friday. "They finished most of the sidewalks last week, and a few little punch list items this week. They're raising irons in the street, and anything that was blacktopped behind the sidewalks and lots, that's all been completed, so we are getting there. We're almost there." Kohlgraf said Oct. 31 is the ten
erikvanrheenen
Oct 24, 20252 min read
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Mora City Council receives update on library needs analysis study
The Mora City Council received an update on a library needs analysis study at Tuesday's meeting, including a potential concept for a new facility. Mauri Solomon, a facility assessment manager with Kraus-Anderson, said the current library rated as poor on the facility condition index. "We found about $1.5 million in needs over a ten-year period," Solomon said. Solomon added that the building's electrical system is original from its 1974 construction. "There's just a lot of cod
erikvanrheenen
Oct 22, 20253 min read
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Isle Police Department seeking assistance in locating missing teen
The Isle Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating a missing 17-year-old girl. According to a notice from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Lucinia Sam left her Isle residence in the morning of Oct. 21. Investigators believe she may be in the Twin Cities metro area. Sam is described as five-foot-five, weighing 160 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the Isle Police Department.
erikvanrheenen
Oct 22, 20251 min read
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Mora accepts treasurer's resignation; taps Kohlgraf as temporary city administrator
The Mora City Council and Public Utilities Commission accepted the resignation of treasurer Charles Hippen-Koch at a special meeting on Oct. 14. According to the draft minutes of the meeting, the council and PUC held a closed session to discuss allegations made against Hippen-Koch. Mora Human Resources Director Mandi Yoder confirmed that no disciplinary action was taken. The city council also unanimously voted to appoint public utilities general manager Joe Kohlgraf as the te
erikvanrheenen
Oct 20, 20251 min read
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