Saint Francis, MN Events and More

Anonymous donor gives $5,000 to help Monticello Middle School students

MONTICELLO — An anonymous donor is helping ensure that financial hardship doesn’t prevent Monticello Middle School students from having the essentials they need or participating in school activities. The Monticello School Board unanimously accepted a $5,000 donation designated for middle school students in need during its Nov. 2 meeting. The money will primarily help cover basic necessities, including clothing, essential school supplies and equipment. It will also help offset costs for families so students can participate in field trips and grade-level activities. According to the district, the donation comes from a longtime supporter who has made similar contributions in the past. “The donor met with our Student Center team this fall to learn more about current student needs. They have generously provided similar donations in the past,” Monticello Middle School Principal Jeff Scherber said. “During our meeting, the team shared how previous funds were used and highlighted the positive impact on our students. We are deeply grateful to have community members who are so committed to supporting our schools and helping families overcome basic needs barriers.” The money will be managed through a dedicated account alongside other student-support grants. Families and students who need assistance can contact school counselors directly,

Monticello, MN · 1d

Press & News

partner publisher · 460 followers

Anoka-Hennepin Schools sees enrollment decline

Enrollment is down at Anoka-Hennepin Schools. According to the district’s Oct. 1 report, kindergarten through 12th grade saw a decrease of 367 students from last year compared to their projected decrease of only seven students. Although enrollment fluctuates as the school year progresses, Oct. 1 enrollment numbers help determine school staffing needs and are reported to the state to determine funding received for the following year. This year, the K-12 population is 36,051, which is 274 less students than reported in 2020 near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.. “This is our second year of enrollments coming underneath projections, and that’s a trend that we’re anticipating for upcoming years as well,” said Nick Herman, the district’s data integration manager. Many school districts in the county have attributed a downward trend in kindergarten enrollment to lower birth rates across the state, which was predicted by the state demographer in a 2024 report. “We have fifth grade classes going to middle school that are relatively large, and they are not being replaced by kindergarten and they’re not being fully replaced by growth throughout from K to five,” Herman said. “Last year was a record low for kindergarten, and we came in four

Anoka, MN · 1d

Sun ThisWeek

Football playoffs: Irish, Cougars advance to quarterfinals

Class 6A teams now playing for trips to U.S. Bank Stadium Rosemount defensive coordinator Parc Williams watched with admiration as the Irish offense plowed through St. Michael-Albertville for yet another first down. “I’m loving this,” he said. With good reason. Rosemount’s offense was giving Williams’ defense an extended break, and it was bleeding the clock in the second half as the Irish finished off a one-sided 35-7 victory in the second round of the Class 6A football playoffs Nov. 6. St. Michael-Albertville (4-6) shut out three of its previous four opponents, but Rosemount (7-3) quickly eliminated that possibility by driving 72 yards in 10 plays – all on the ground – for a touchdown on the game’s first possession. The Irish kept on rolling, gaining 430 yards – 347 on the ground – in reaching the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2023 and 14th time overall. They will play Prior Lake at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at Maple Grove High School. With Rosemount’s rushing game dominating, that meant the Irish offensive linemen were having a good time. “It’s a great offense to block for,” said senior Max Meger, the Irish’s center. “Of course, it’s fun running down

Rosemount, MN · 1d

KSTP 5 Eyewitness News Minneapolis-St. Paul MN

partner publisher · 23.4K followers

Agritourism booming in Minnesota

It’s a sign of the changing seasons. The pumpkins from the patch now food at Joyer Adventure Farm at Waldoch Farm in Lino Lakes.

Lino Lakes, MN · 2d

patriotnewsmn.com

partner publisher · 716 followers

BL Twp. completes the work begun at the last meeting

The Big Lake Township Board of Supervisors meeting held on Wednesday, October 28 took up some unfinished business from its last meeting. Last meeting, with the recommendation of Supervisor Dean Brenteson, the board voted to cancel all bids received for 2026-2027 snow and ice removal. Brenteson had said that the township had tried to do a three-year contract, but there were too many complications and unknown variables that had to be accounted for.

Big Lake, MN · 1d

Forest Lake Times

Rangers football finally breaks through

The Forest Lake football team made some history last week in their 29-14 trouncing of Eagan in a Class 6A second-round game played at home on Friday, Oct. 6, as the Rangers earned their second berth in the state playoffs in program history and their first in over three decades. What makes this year’s state berth especially sweet was that it came after second-round playoff losses in each of the past four seasons. “It’s like a monkey off our back,” head coach Brad Beeskow said. “We’ve had four straight years where we’ve reached this point and felt we had teams good enough to get to the state tournament, and not quite getting there. This year, the guys had a look in their eyes — all the adversity that we went through, with injuries and tough losses. I thought everybody picked up the slack and did an amazing job to get us to this point. I’m proud of them.” The last time Forest Lake advanced to the state quarterfinals was 35 years ago in 1991. “An unreal feeling,” senior defensive back Brooks Rohne said of going to state. “Since youth football we’ve been working for that.” Fellow senior defensive back Ndifor

Forest Lake, MN · 2d

takemetotn.com

partner publisher · 19.4K followers

Step Into This Minnesota Car Museum And Feel Like You’ve Driven Straight Into The 1950s

Somewhere off a busy road in Rogers, Minnesota, rows of polished classic cars sit waiting under one roof. Every single one of them has a price tag. That twist turns an ordinary afternoon into something halfway between a museum trip and a very tempting shopping spree. Vintage collectors, weekend car fans, and anyone who grew up hearing stories about tail fins and chrome bumpers will find plenty to talk about here.

Rogers, MN · 1d

Minnesota Now

Here’s How to Score Free Chicken Salad For a Year in Minnesota

The first 100 people in line win free chicken salad for a year, and the family behind this new Minnesota restaurant includes a Lynx player and a former NBA star. Here’s everything you need to know, including the rules.

Minnesota · 3d

Press & News

publisher · 601.2K followers

Maple Grove hopes for grant for 82nd Avenue/Main Street project

At its Nov. 2 meeting, the Maple Grove City Council approved support of the city’s Local Road Improvement Program grant application for funding for the 82nd Avenue and Main Street Area Rehabilitation Project. In May 2025, the council initially approved improvements to Main Street between Lakeview Drive and Weaver Lake Road, Lakeview Drive and 82nd Avenue (near Life Time and the Maple Grove Library). These plans were paused after developments at the Maple Grove Community Center and a possible performing arts center area. A feasibility report was ordered in February. The plans for the area includes new bituminous roadways, roundabouts at Main Street and 82nd Avenue and Main Street and Lakeview Drive, walking paths along the roadways, and new landscaping. These improvements would help with future traffic flows from the Maple Grove Community Center’s expansion and the Maple Grove Performing Arts Center located in the road project area. Proposed construction costs for the project area estimated at $5.95 million. City staff is looking to apply for $1.5 million in MnDOT 2026 Local Road Improvement Program grant funds to help pay for the project. According to city staff, “The grant program provides funding assistance to local agencies for constructing or reconstructing

Maple Grove, MN · 2d

People

After Small Town Mayor’s Race Ends in Tie, Winner Is Picked by... Drawing a Name Out of a Bag

One candidate said the process to break a tie was “not the way I would have preferred to have done it” and “really weird”

Spring Lake Park, MN · 1d

Union-Times

Voting confirms new mayor and council members across towns

BALDWIN/MILACA/PRINCETON — Voters in local communities made their voices heard on Tuesday, Nov. 3 as they selected their next mayors and city council members in the years to come. The communities of Baldwin, Bock, Foreston, Milaca, Pease and Princeton all had their mayor and two city council seats up for election this year. Princeton City Council also held a special election for a third council seat to serve a two-year term. Below is an overview of how the communities voted. Baldwin Mayor Jay Swanson was re-elected, beating out opponent Cartrell Cooper. Swanson received 1,555, or 51.47% of votes to Cooper’s 1,452, or 48.06%. For the open council seats, two newcomers were elected to the roles. Mark Mason earned the highest number of votes at 1,468, or 30.84% with Bruce West not far behind at a total of 1,400 votes, 29.41%. Candidates Rosemaire Walker ended the night with 1,089 votes, 22.88%, and Clarence E. Mattson, Jr. received 783, or 16.45%, of votes. Bock With only one candidate for Mayor on the Ballot, incumbent Adam Booth was re-elected to the position having earned 28 votes. The two candidates running for city council were also elected to the subsequent open seats. Grace Marie

Princeton, MN · 1d

Press & News

STMA School Board reviews CACR, talks fall enrollment

The St. Michael-Albertville School Board approved a Comprehensive Assessment and Civil Readiness Plan, discussed fall enrollment and heard from Wright Technical Center Director Brian Nutter at a meeting on Nov. 2. Comprehensive Assessment and Civil Readiness Plan The School Board approved the district’s annual Comprehensive Assessment and Civil Readiness Plan. Director of Teaching and Learning Jennifer Kelly said the CACR examines school test scores, graduation rates and makes goals for the next school year. “We've had some unfortunate years where we needed to make some hard decisions, and so that systemically just has an impact on things that happen within our educational system. We've had some real reading challenges,” Kelly said. But one of the goals the district met was increasing the graduation rate. It increased from 94.1% to 97.3% for the class of 2025, which met the CACR’s goal of a 2.8% increase. As for testing, the percentage of students taking the preACT went down from 58% in 2025 to 54.6% in 2026. But the percentage of students who took the ACT increased from 33.9% in 2025 to 48.9% in 2026. Fall enrollment Executive Director of Business Services Kris Crocker said that the current enrollment in STMA Schools was

Albertville, MN · 1d

northshorejournal.co

State Experience Fuels Bright Future for North Shore Storm Cross Country Team

State Experience Fuels Bright Future for North Shore Storm Cross Country Team. The future of North Shore Storm cross country was on display at the Class AA State Cross Country Championships. Competing against a field of 160 of Minnesota’s fastest runners, freshman Sophia Schut and sophomores Sam Swartz and Atley...

Minnesota · 1d

ccxmedia.org

Additional Costs Found for Future Osseo Brewery Renovations

For months, Osseo residents have watched construction transform an old building into a new brewery. Plans for Heavy Rotation Brewery to relocate into a new building started earlier this year and an agreement with the city helped to make sure the move would happen. Construction on the space began after...

Osseo, MN · 1d

Press & News

Crimson football falls in round of 16 to Sabers

The Maple Grove football team saw its season end on Nov. 6 in a 31-0 loss to Shakopee. The Crimson lost 31-0 to the top seed in their region, ending their season with a 5-5 record in the round of 16 of the Class AAAAAA state tournament. The two teams battled it out in the first quarter and the Crimson kept it close. Neither team scored, but the Sabers wouldn't stay down for long. With 11 points in the second quarter, the Sabers went into the halftime break with a two-possession lead. That only got worse with a third quarter touchdown and extra point, making it 18-0. The Crimson offense totaled just 165 yards as the Sabers put the game away in the fourth quarter. They scored 13 to the Crimson's none and won 31-0 at home to head to the state quarterfinals. Graham Greseth threw for 145 yards on 11-17 passing, but had an interception and no touchdowns to show for it. The rushing attack was completely stunted for the Crimson. Luke Smith went for just 18 yards on seven attempts, Luca Maciej had two yards on six attempts and Greseth ran for no yards on three attempts. The

Maple Grove, MN · 2d

Monticello Times

partner publisher · 2.3K followers

Special education cooperative explores expansion in Monticello

MONTICELLO — A special education cooperative serving three area school districts is exploring an expansion at the Minnesota Workforce Center in Monticello to accommodate students with intensive needs and potentially bring more of its specialized programs under one roof. The Sherburne Northern Wright Special Education Cooperative, which serves Monticello, Big Lake and Becker, is conducting preliminary assessments of available space at the facility, where most of its programs for students requiring the highest levels of support are already housed. John Weekley, the cooperative’s director of special education, outlined the space challenges during an Oct. 19 presentation to the Monticello School Board. The cooperative hopes to relocate Foundations 1, an elementary program for students with significant emotional and behavioral needs, from Monticello Middle School to the Pathways Education Center at the Workforce Center facility. Foundations 2, which serves secondary students with similar needs, is already located there, along with several other specialized programs. Weekley said bringing the programs together could improve access to specialized instruction, behavioral support and shared staffing resources. “Having more options to support student needs is very important,” he told the board. “It allows us to be really fiscally responsible as well.” The cooperative is also examining whether

Monticello, MN · 1d

County News Review

Shockman and Rueter finish seasons on state stage

Audi Shockman tried to block out the crowd before the gun sounded. She took deep breaths and thought about how she had made it to the state cross-country meet in the first place. The Braham freshman was nervous, grateful and surrounded by runners and spectators at Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake. By the time her race was over on Saturday, she had completed a first for her school and found a crowd of her own waiting to celebrate. Shockman finished 73rd in the Class A girls race in 20 minutes, 26 seconds. North Branch sophomore Caleb Rueter also closed his season at state, placing 32nd in the Class AA boys race with a personal-best time of 16:11.0. The two underclassmen left with experiences to build on next fall. For Shockman, that meant navigating the largest stage of her season. Rueter followed a race plan he and coach Norm Nagel had discussed while walking the course the day before. Shockman is the first Shockman became the first Braham runner, boy or girl, to compete at the Minnesota State High School League state cross-country meet, according to head coach Ray Abraham and coach Eddie Cease. The milestone was still sinking

Ham Lake, MN · 1d

Monticello Times