More local news

Newport Park Survey presented March 6

Presented at the March 6 Newport Council meeting, a resident survey by Morris Leatherman Company showed strong public support for a river access park, among other takeaways. The City also heard input …
A time lapse camera on site shows construction progress as of March 3.

New Washington County Central Service Center coming to Woodbury

What if going to the DMV was the highlight of your day? Sound far fetched? It might not be with new Central Service Center planned for Woodbury. Currently located on Radio Drive in a building …

Public invited to open house March 18 on Valley Creek Road corridor study

The public is invited to an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, on a corridor study of County Highway 16 (Valley Creek Rd.) from Interlachen Parkway to State Highway 95 (Manning Ave.) The …

Annual medallion hunt on in Cottage Grove

It happens once a year—and it’s back. Taking place once a year, the annual medallion hunt in Cottage Grove began March 10 and runs through Friday, with clues posted daily at the Parks and …
Crime
Michael Dennis Jerry.

A St. Paul Park man was taken into custody after leading police on a 28-minute pursuit at speeds up to 100 mph on Dec. 12.

Michael Dennis Jerry, 55, St. Paul Park, was charged with fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, a felony carrying a maximum sentence of three years in cancelation and a fine of up to $5,000. A …
On the calendar
Business

Christmas at the Courthouse Holiday Bazaar returns Nov. 23-24

Experience the splendor of the holiday season with Washington County’s Christmas at the Courthouse Holiday Bazaar Saturday, Nov. 23, and Sunday, Nov. 24. For 31 years, visitors have begun the …

Government

CG Council approves rezone, preliminary plat for Lochridge housing development

City planner Samantha Pierret presented on a new development to be named Lochridge, planned on the Cottage Grove-Woodbury border.

More new homes are coming soon to Cottage Grove. Meeting Feb. 19 at City Hall, the Cottage Grove City Council approved a rezone and preliminary plat request for Lochridge, a 183-unit mixed single …

Community News
Obituaries
EPSON MFP image
Lois Larson (Johnson)
Lois Joanne Larson (Johnson), age 96, was called to her heavenly home on Wednesday Dec. 4, 2024. She was surrounded by her loving family who sang to her and prayed for her as she was slipping from …
Michael Kriel
Michael R. Kriel Age 81, of Newport passed away on Aug 19, 2024. Survived by wife Linda, children Kelly (Angela) Christopher (Tracy), step-son Theodore Sitz, grandchildren and canine companions. …
Earnestine Watson
Earnestine Watson, aged 73, of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, September 20, 2024, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Her life began on May 19, 1951, in …
Bill 'Billy' Rhode
Bill (Billy) Rhode passed away at his home in Hastings, MN on June 8, 2024, at the age of 64. He is survived by his loving wife, Kristi, son, Matt Doublin of Minneapolis, MN, and his furbaby, …
Lynette Shablo
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved wife, mother, sister and grandmother, Lynette Ann Shablo (Schinke), who departed this world on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 82 years …
Local sports

Park girls roll Apple Valley, now 6-2

Park’s players whoop it up as a win over Apple Valley winds down Friday.
What a difference a year has made for the Park High girls basketball team. A year ago. This season, the Wolfpack are not only winning, they’re dominating. Park rolled visiting Apple Valley …
Park senior guard Anthony Giadyu gets a lift from teammates post-game after breaking the 1,000 points scored mark.

Park tops Rosemount, but falls to Apple Valley

The Wolfpack knew playing at top-seeded and eighth-ranked Apple Valley in the Section 3AAAA semifinals was going to be a challenge, and it was. Apple Valley went to 22-6 on the season with an …
His two swims at state over, Park High senior Parker Jeseritz chatted with his coaches, then did a quick interview. Then he changed his mind. He had more to say. “One thing I’d …
It was quite a tournament. The South Washington County Thunderbolts were close to playing for a state championship on Saturday. On the other hand, they were also a few minutes away from …
High school basketball ended for two Park seniors Wednesday night at Hastings. But with everyone else on the roster eligible to return next season, the future for Park girls basketball looks …
It’s back to state for the South Washington County Thunderbolts. The Thunderbolts easily qualified for the 2025 adapted floor hockey state tournament with a convincing 12-5 win over …
Education

School board elects new board officers at Jan. 2 meeting

South Washington County Schools has new board officers, following a board meeting Jan. 2 at the District Service Center. “At this time we will elect school board officers for 2025,” board …

Features
Police Chief Peter Koerner (left) and Mayor Myron Bailey (R) presented the birthday boy, Don Tietz with two City of Cottage Grove Challenge Coins and a special Military Appreciation patch for his 104th birthday.

Cottage Grove man celebrates 104th birthday

As of 2021, a study of US records showed that out of 336,996,624 people in the US, 89,739 were Centenarians or someone who is 100 years old or older. At that time, Don Tietz was part of that special …

Opinion

My View: Road tripping

My kids have changed. First of all, they aren’t kids anymore. They’re adults. It used to be at this time of the year, we’d be scheming some kind of a family trip. Now, our travels …

My View: Remember Little Fat Boy

I grew up in less politically correct times, to say the least. When I was a kid, you had to do chores, even if it meant walking a five-mile paper route when it was 10 below zero. Your dad pretty much …

My View: Culinary adventures

I’m preparing myself to go on a culinary adventure, to a place I’ve never before been. Our purchases of eggs these days are pretty sporadic. I think we went through one $5.99 dozen of …
Web Extras
From catfishing to catphishing: The evolution of a romance scam
Spokeo explains how catfishing + phishing leads to catphishing, which happens when the grift goes from messing with your heart to messing with your identity, and maybe even your bank account.
Gen Z is finding love the old fashioned way: 77% met their match IRL
Hims reveals that while swiping left and right have become synonymous with dating culture among younger generations, the vast majority of people, young and old, are still meeting in real life (IRL).
America's most liked cars
Edmunds lists the most liked cars in 2024 based on performance, comfort and reliability.
The top retail trends in 2025
Square explores the evolving retail industry, from innovations in e-commerce to physical stores and alternative business models.
El reembolso promedio de impuestos del año pasado fue superior a $3,000: Aquí te decimos por qué debes presentar tu declaración ahora
(BPT) - Con la fecha límite para la declaración de impuestos a solo unas semanas, el 15 de abril, los expertos dicen que es esencial presentar tu declaración lo antes posible. …