The Laker & Pioneer

06/03/2025

“Oh my god,” senior Greta Rolfzen said, reflecting on the moment she won a Gold Key Award from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. “It’s cool to just get my work out there and have other people read it. Finding out I actually won– I didn’t think that this would happen, let alone that I had the talent to have this happen.”

Office finance worker Amy Rolfzen is still at the outset of her life’s journey. She’s happily married to her husband Brian, with whom she raises their four-year-old daughter, Stephanie. In

06/03/2025

“Minnesota law is clear that sheriffs do not have authority to make arrests for civil immigration matters,” said ACLU-MN Staff Attorney Ian Bratlie. “Carver County cannot be allowed to violate our laws and Federal Constitution simply to attack minority groups. We are better than that.”

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on March 5 against the Carver County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Jason Kamerud the alleged “illegal detainment” and subsequent handing over of

05/03/2025

“The law requires the City hold a special election. The law allows the special election to take place in May. The law lets the people decide,” Judge Susan N. Burke wrote in her decision.

The special election is set for May 13 with early voting slated to begin March 28.

A Hennepin County judge on March 3 denied former Orono mayor Dennis Walsh’s petition to cancel the city’s planned May 13 special election to fill former council member Matt Johnson’s

03/03/2025

“Our goal isn’t to change the essence of the property, but to elevate it,” said Good Times Hospitality general partner Zach Sussman. “We want to make it more current and functional while preserving its charm.”

After purchasing The Woods Chapel property for a reported $1.8 million in July 2024, new ownership group Good Times Hospitality is rebranding the southern Orono space as The Woods Retreat.

27/02/2025

Original design plans called for a 2025 budgeted $1.3 million cost to complete the project, but cost-reducing options are being explored, including potentially opting for a fabric salt storage building. Numbers are not final, but City Administrator/Engineer Adam Edwards said cost-reductions could shave off $300,000.

After recommending city staff to downsize plans last month, the Orono City Council approved seeking a design proposal for a commodities area at the new public works facility. The structure

27/02/2025

The crash occurred Wednesday morning, just before 8 a.m., according to authorities.

A crash Wednesday morning in Independence has left an 11-year-old girl dead, according to the West Hennepin Public Safety Department.

24/02/2025

Per court filings shared with the Laker Pioneer, the Upper Midwest Law Center and the former mayor assert the new council “violated Minnesota Election Law… in calling for a special election for a city council seat when there is no current or anticipated vacancy…”

The Orono City Council on Feb. 10 called for a special election on May 13 despite threats of a lawsuit supported by a former mayor. The election pertains to Claire

24/02/2025

“[The last week of January], at least six vehicles went through the ice on Lake Minnetonka, contributing to a total of more than ten reported incidents this winter,” HCSO Water Patrol Lt. Rick Rehman reported. “It is important to note that not all occurrences are reported to the HCSO Water Patrol.”

So far this winter, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office has been notified of 10 cars going through the ice on Lake Minnetonka, six of which were in the last week of January. (Natalie Cierzan/Sun Sailor)

22/02/2025

Save the date!

https://ourlifemn.com/

17/02/2025

There's a lot going on in the North Star State and we’re covering many of the most interesting stories you may have missed. As a subscriber to Laker Pioneer you get free online access to our Sunday Minnesota This Week e-edition. Yes, you get access to this great new state edition at no additional charge. Just go to this link and enjoy.
https://lakerpioneer-mn.newsmemory.com/
It’s just one more way we’re bringing you more state, metro, sports and outdoors news from the communities you love.

17/02/2025

“First of all, we need to patch things up and work together as one unit, not two separate fire departments,” said Long Lake Fire Chief Mike Heiland in January, noting that initial conversations with recently seated Orono council members have “gone well.”

The Long Lake city council has agreed to name Mayor Charlie Miner and Todd Newcomer to its Fire District Discussions committee, with Miner and Jahn Dyvik heading up a separate

13/02/2025

Second-grader Mya Johnson raised a total of $1,463.35 by creating some fun messages on social media and creating a slime event. Third-grader Lily Smith raised $1,100 in another fantastic effort. All students who raised over $100 will be invited to the Shirley Hills Campout this spring.

Shirley Hills Primary School students raised $20,000 for the American Heart Association (AHA) in January, having lots of fun and learning in the process.

07/02/2025

Isiah James Pero, 41, served his sentence and was released in February 2007. According to a release from the Orono Police Department, Pero has a history of s*xual contact with known female teenage acquaintances, including one victim he gained access to through a church youth group.

The Orono Police Department received notification on Jan. 29, that a Level 3 predatory s*x offender has moved into a local community.

06/02/2025

In a recent analysis, ProPublica reported that the public health risks from formaldehyde are greater and more prevalent than widely understood — and that in most of the country, formaldehyde contributes more to outdoor cancer risk than any other toxic air pollutant. Minnesota has many sites in the Twin Cities with high risk levels. Some area communities like St. Bonifacius and Spring Park also have elevated concentrations, although not extremely high risk.

If there’s not enough to worry about from an air quality and human health perspective from smoke, other particulate matter, ozone related to vehicle exhaust, carbon monoxide and radon to

03/02/2025

After losing both of her sisters to breast cancer, founder Barbara Hensley witnessed firsthand the financial hardships that breast cancer patients and their families endure. The foundation’s mission is to provide immediate support for the most critical daily needs of Minnesota’s breast cancer patients and their families, including housing, transportation, utilities, food, and adult/child care.

February marks National Cancer Prevention Month, a time to spread awareness and hope, celebrate medical advances, and honor the resilience of cancer patients. Since 2001, the Hope Chest for Breast

30/01/2025

Back this year better than ever on Feb. 1 with activities planned from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., the 38th SnowBall Open features classic and new activities alike. Opening with a 9 a.m. brunch at Birch’s on the Lake, golfers interested in hitting the icy links of Long Lake have available tee times from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The course is 18 holes, with local sponsors setting up tents equipped with fires and goods of their choosing for golfers.

For over 30 years, the Orono Lions put on a day of ice golf, festivities, and music at its SnowBall Open. With minimal ice last year, that run of hosting

27/01/2025

The in-person open house is set for Wednesday, Jan. 29 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Orono City Hall, 2750 Kelley Parkway in Orono.

Hennepin County is redesigning the North Arm Public Water Access on Lake Minnetonka to repair important infrastructure and improve access for all users.