Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application He loved spending time at the family cabin in northern Minnesota where he created countless memories with his family His work in social services made a profound impact on many lives In his early years he worked with high-risk youth in Duluth and then with agencies serving adults with developmental and mental challenges He facilitated international adoption at Lutheran Social Services and Children’s Home Society and worked at the Minnesota Health Department implementing statutory programs in vital records. As the Executive Director/CEO of Family Pathways Rich’s leadership and expertise ensured that services addressing food insecurity and support of teens were available for countless individuals in the community Alyssa (James) McArthur and Eric (Danie); grandchildren and love for his family will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him Family will be greeting friends one hour prior to the service at the church Interment at Faith Lutheran Church Memorial Prayer Garden.  In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Family Pathways Mattson Funeral Home & Cremation Service Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text Faith Lutheran Church Memorial Prayer Garden This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Anoka County is planning to build an overpass at Hwy. 65 and Bunker Lake Boulevard. Last month, a Jeep driver heading west on Bunker Lake Boulevard in Ham Lake pulled into the right-turn lane to bypass a line of cars that had stopped for a red light at the intersection with Hwy. 65. The impatient Jeep driver did not turn right, instead going straight and smashing into another vehicle that was completing a legal left turn. An Anoka County Sheriff’s Office deputy on routine patrol witnessed the “significant motor vehicle crash,” in which the Jeep flipped upside down and left the front end of a minivan mangled. The Sheriff’s Office posted a video of the wreck recorded by the deputy’s squad dashcam on its Facebook page with the admonition, “Break the habit, not the law at the red light.” Law enforcement has seen too many dangerous traffic violations such as running red lights, and “it needs to stop,” the post continued. The Minnesota Department of Transportation reports there have been 13 wrecks this year at Hwy. 65 and Bunker. That’s on top of the 103 crashes at the intersection between 2014 and 2023, the agency said. Traffic volume has increased on both Hwy. 65 and Bunker in recent years, and the intersection is “beyond capacity,” said Joe MacPherson, an Anoka County traffic engineer. “With so much green time on Hwy. 65 for north-south traffic, vehicles on the side leg [Bunker] are getting more gutsy.” That includes motorists like the Jeep driver who are taking chances, said MnDOT spokesman Kent Barnard. Westbound traffic often backs up in the mornings as many drivers cross Hwy. 65 to reach nearby schools, and “drivers are choosing to go straight in the right-turn lane to make the signal, which is illegal,” Barnard said. “We would like to stress to drivers that they can’t go straight in the westbound right-turn lane.” Anoka County is looking to remove that temptation by putting in an overpass that would carry Hwy. 65 drivers up and over Bunker. Any construction is likely four to five years down the road, MacPherson said. The county succeeded in getting $10 million toward the project as part of this year’s Metropolitan Council’s Regional Solicitation grants to fund transportation needs. MacPherson estimated the entire project would cost between $37 million and $42 million. It would include the new interchange; cutting off direct connections to Hwy. 65 including at 133rd Avenue; and routing traffic along a service road to tie in with the new intersection. The County Board last month approved a contract with Bolton and Menk to begin preliminary designs to improve the intersection, along with associated corridor improvements in Ham Lake and Blaine. The county plans to get things started then hopes to partner or hand it off to MnDOT, which is already in the midst of a big overhaul of the north metro highway through Spring Lake Park and Blaine. MacPherson said drivers and those who live in the area will have “plenty of time” to weigh in once public engagement sessions and open houses begin sometime over the winter or next spring. No one was injured in the Sept. 17 crash at Bunker and Hwy. 65, and the Jeep driver was issued a citation by the Minnesota State Patrol, said Tierney Peters, a spokeswoman with the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office video ended with a reminder to all drivers everywhere: “Don’t gamble with lives. Stop at the red light.” Tim Harlow covers traffic and transportation issues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and likes to get out of the office, even during rush hour. He also covers the suburbs in northern Hennepin and all of Anoka counties, plus breaking news and weather. Culture Hyperlocal cable TV stations that broadcast everything from high school sports to city government meetings confront a perilous existence The state’s 61st Teacher of the Year is the first from the Eden Prairie school district to win the award Staffing in Hennepin County to help residents navigate Medical Assistance hasn’t kept pace with the increasing number of people seeking long-term care Minnesota Lottery announced the ticket purchased at Network Liquors for the Jan 13 drawing matched four of the first five winning numbers plus the Powerball number to win $50,000 because the purchaser added Power Play to their ticket for an extra $1 their prize was multiplied by two to win $100,000 The winning Powerball numbers drawn on Jan The ticket holder can now claim their prize in person at Minnesota Lottery headquarters in Roseville The Powerball jackpot is an estimated $303 million for Wednesday’s drawing saying he'd killed the mother of his child which features a swimming beach and splash pad in the venerable Farmers and and Mechanics Savings Bank building M&A Seminar on Preparing Your Company for Sale Presented by Maslon LLP and Northborne Partners The Ham Lake building acquired by Global Distribution was developed in 2001 on 5.39 acres 14203 Lincoln Ave (Submitted photo: Premier Commercial Properties) Just Sold: E-cigarette wholesaler heads to Ham Lake Lakeville Court Apartments sold for $6.83M as affordability rules near expiration After a modest $4.5 million debut acquisition in February Buhl Investors’ new income fund has picked up som[...] Two Maple Grove properties sell for $9M following an unsolicited offer including a business center and a manu[...] Peter have struggled for years with its cramped After more than a year of discussions with local business folks and city leaders in New Ulm A small group of private investors has paid $6.85 million for the 65-room Country Inn & Suites-Baxter Sign up for your daily digest of Minnesota News Efforts to reform Minnesota zoning laws fail again as local opposition blocks a bill limiting parkin[...] will break ground this summer on The Dorian a 190-unit apartment complex in Lake Elmo af[...] The University of Minnesota plans to sell 60 acres at UMore Park for $8.1M to North Wind Test for a [...] The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged despite political pressure from Pre[...] The Trump administration is swiftly remaking housing policy as the U.S Department of Housing and Ur[...] construction job openings dropped by 38,000 in March signaling slowing labor demand amid tarif[...] Trump's trade demands stretch beyond tariffs Performance contracting helps governments and schools cut energy costs is now an official city after a local vote Milwaukee Mitchell Airport will start a $95.2M international terminal project this summer after dela[...] Listen here analysis and commentary on Minnesota business We are the only independent daily newspaper dedicated to business reporting Get our free e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions to Albert & Erna; Bob was the youngest of 4 He was a proud graduate of Central High School (La Crosse Bob worked at La Crosse Auto Parts in billing for four years before proudly enlisting in the U.S he attended Control Data Technical Institute (Minneapolis Bob was a dedicated computer programmer for Honeywell for most of his working years Bob was a Christian singer-songwriter and was always involved with music He continued to play his guitar and most recently was involved with the Memory Lane Singers he enjoyed tending to his lawn and flower gardens I would be remiss not to mention Bob’s countless years of service as worship leader at Way of the Cross (known now There’s no doubt he entered the gates of heaven …Well done good and faithful servant…Matthew 25:21 Bob is survived by his loving wife Grace; children The family will greet friends from 4:00-7:00pm Thursday A celebration of his life will be held at 11:00am 2024 (with a greeting 10:00-11:00am) at Bridgewood Community Church Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Al graduated from Ogden High School where he played football and sang in the choir Paul Bible College where he met the love of his life and wife for 51 years His enjoyment of music began at a very young age and continued throughout his life where he used his musical giftings to serve in many ways Al was always a hard worker and joyfully provided for his family for 35+ years at NuAire Al and Gloria enjoyed traveling to many locations with family and friends.  mother and father-in-law George and Lorraine Mills brothers Monty (Bonnie) Newton and John (Sherri) Newton He always had a smile and a hug for everyone at Crossroads Evangelical Covenant Church 17445 Notre Dame St  Family will be greeting friends one hour prior to the service at the church.  Burial at West Immanuel Cemetery gifts can be made to The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Leroy George Goldeman passed away peacefully on Friday He graduated from Mounds View High School in 1958 before proudly serving four years in the United States Marine Corps where they would plant their roots and create a home filled with love and laughter for nearly six decades Leroy was deeply involved in the Ham Lake community coaching both baseball and wrestling for his sons’ local youth teams and serving as a Webelos Scout troop leader and Leroy made it a priority to be present at every game Whether it was watching his granddaughters at gymnastics meets He especially treasured the annual men's Boundary Waters trip Leroy shared a special bond with each of his daughters-in-law He loved them as his own and felt blessed to welcome Penny and friendship they brought into his life and often expressed how grateful he was for the wonderful women his sons had married Leroy was the family’s beloved jokester often pulling silly faces in photos and always ready with a light-hearted comment or spending time in nature on his Boundary Waters trips Leroy was also an avid hunter and cherished the time he spent in the woods sharing those experiences with family and friends A familiar request to any grandkid passing by would be Leroy and Linda created a home filled with warmth and hospitality The kitchen table was their gathering spot Leroy also shared a special bond with his siblings They were not just family—they were the closest of friends Leroy will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him Carl “Sonny” Goldeman; his beloved wife of 59 years Linda Carleene Goldeman and great-granddaughter Sunny DaniLee Hanna and Evan Goldeman; and his great-grandchildren  A Celebration of Leroy's life will be held at 11:00 AM following the burial at the Coon Lake Community & Senior Center A man who worked at a Ham Lake gymnastics studio was arrested Friday after reportedly exposing himself in front of children Charging documents from Anoka County show Kyle Pekula of Isanti is facing a criminal charge of fifth-degree sexual conduct Blaine police met with a woman and her 12-year-old son who told officers he had been sitting on a picnic table with his brothers when an adult man approached them sat with the kids and began talking with them Reportedly Pekula then exposed his penis from a leg hole of his shorts and grabbed a Cheeto asking the kids if they wanted to “feed the animals.” The children said no Pekula invited them to attend his class at Jam Hops Gymnastic Studio if they got permission from their parents Officers went to Jam Hops and met with Pekula who police said matched the child’s description as an older The documents state that Pekula admitted to being at the park and speaking with children but denied that he had exposed himself Pekula faces up to a year in prison and a $3,000 fine His bail was set at $6,000 with no conditions for release or $5,000 with conditions was arrested by the Blaine Police Department on charges of criminal sexual conduct with minors in a public park Kyle has been terminated and is barred from entering our facility or contacting our students Our kids and families are incredibly important to me Safety is our most important responsibility We are doing everything we can to help police with this investigation and we immediately reported this situation to our safety governing body procedures and training programs in place to protect our students This includes background checks on all employees and background checks every two years for competitive coaches We know this has shaken trust and created concerns among parents and the community Jam Hops was founded on a passion not only for gymnastics and dance but also for inspiring kids to be life champions We are communicating regularly with parents continuing to cooperate with law enforcement and working to implement further safety enhancements to ensure we are always creating a safe environment for our gymnasts.  Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KSTP via our online form or call 651-646-5555 a wonderful and caring man to all who knew him He was adopted into the loving home of Dean and Kathy Collins Illinois until 1977 when they moved to River Falls Tom was a bright student and excelled in sports—football was his favorite and these many friendships carried on throughout his life In addition to his many friends while growing up he was a dedicated uncle who loved and supported his two nieces Tom attended the University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse and the University of Wisconsin – Platteville Tom was a highly respected Civil Engineer since 1996 where he served as the City Engineer for 28 years Tom had a passion for the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman from a young age He was exceptional in archery and firearms and has countless mounts displaying his success Wisconsin while Julie was visiting her cabin and Tom was fishing with his friend Bruezy Their union and loving relationship spanned 23 years Tom’s adventurous spirit wore off on Julie and their lives were filled with endless activities including camping and hanging out with friends in Tom’s shed Most important to Tom and Julie was spending time with their family and friends Tom was preceded in death by his grandparents Paul and Katherine Mueller and Arthur and Clara Collins Courtney Collins and Michelle Frame; great-nieces Caitlin Collins and Kaiylee Schlussler; great-nephews Liam Kephart and Tony Schlussler; as well as many aunts Tom was deeply loved and will be remembered forever for his love of life 2025 from 10-11AM at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church is Balsam Lake Submit A Story or Press Release: DrydenWire@gmail.com Advertising QuestionsGeneral QuestionsDrydenWire Insider Questions This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page From humble hometowns to larger than life productions Twinkling lights dancing to the tune of holiday music can be found near and far this year Festivities include new events such as themed nights at Miracle at Big Rock that will admit dogs and “Winter Woods” at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum that will feature a camp scene with glowing tents And familiar favorites such as Glow Holiday Festival is back at CHS Field in St most light destinations and city tree lighting events are accepting nonperishable food items and new/unused toy donations tree lighting ceremony or a million-plus light production each event is sure brighten your holiday spirit Glow Holiday Festival: An illuminated extravaganza with attractions that include the Enchanted Forest, Giant Snowy Slide, Penguin Playground, Santa’s Shed and sElfie Plaza. 5-9 p.m. select evenings through Jan. 5. $12.75-$21.75. CHS Field, 360 Broadway, St. Paul. glowholiday.com Magic of Lights: Stay cozy and warm in your vehicle for this drive-through light display with holiday scenes and characters using LED technology and digital animations. 5:30-9 p.m. Mon.-Thu.; 5:30-10 p.m. Fri.-Sun through Jan. 5. $25-$75 per vehicle. 2685 Vikings Circle, Eagan. magicoflights.com The Spirit of Winter: With the grapes hibernating for the winter, Sovereign Estate Winery has been transformed into an illuminated treasure. Stroll the grounds and enjoy attractions including a snow maze, boot hockey arena and Santa’s sleigh. 4-8 p.m. Sun., Tue.-Thu. & Dec. 23; 4-9 p.m. Fri.-Sat. through Dec. 29. $15, ages 5 and under free. 9950 North Shore Road, Waconia. sovereignestatewine.com Winter Lights: The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is transformed into a woodland-themed wonderland of light displays inspired by nature. New this year is “Winter Woods,” a camp scene with glowing tents, campfires and a twinkling moose and deer. Runs through Jan. 5. $20. Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska. arb.umn.edu Sever’s: Holiday vignettes are along a half-mile display with more than 2.5 million lights. Wander through the Woods Walk, where trees come to life with light. 5-9 p.m. through Dec. 29. $10-$60 per vehicle. 3121 150th St. W., Shakopee. seversfestivals.com Sam’s Christmas Village and Light Tour: It includes light displays and entertainment. For an enhanced experience, guests can reserve s’mores cabins for sweet treats and a toasty fire. There’s also a sledding hill, trading post and vendor market. Drive-through and walk-through nights through Jan. 1. $12-$25, ages 3 and under free. 710 Spring St., Somerset, Wis. samschristmasvillage.com Miracle at Big Rock: There’s no shortage of attractions at this glowing event that has more than 25 million lights. Throughout the season enjoy carolers, story time with a princess, live reindeer, wagon rides and sledding and live entertainment. Fireworks pop off every Friday night and New Year’s Eve. Drive-through and walk-through nights through Jan. 4, see schedule for times. $15-$30. 1674 WI-87, St. Croix Falls, Wis. miracleatbigrock.com Minneapolis Holidazzle: The event includes light displays, pop-up markets and entertainment. Each night will have performances, visits with Santa and roller skating. Free. 4-9 p.m. Dec. 18-20; noon-9 p.m. Dec. 21; noon-6 p.m. Dec. 22. Nicollet Mall between 6th and 11th streets. holidazzle.com Illuminate Isanti: Walk through this outdoor holiday light wonderland. Weekends feature vendors and food trucks and Santa makes an appearance Saturdays before Christmas. 5-10 p.m. through Dec. 1-31. Free. Bluebird Park, 201 Isanti Pkwy., Isanti, Minn. cityofisanti.us Afton: Afton Village Holiday begins with the tree lighting Dec. 6, then continues through the weekend with a Christmas market, crafts, workshops, cookie decorating and more. 5-8 p.m. Dec. 6; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 7; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 8. Downtown Afton. exploreafton.com Albertville: Sponsored by the Albertville Lions, this holiday tree lighting includes warm beverages and horse-drawn wagon rides. 2-6 p.m. Dec. 1. Central Park, 5801 Main Av. NE., Albertville, Minn. albertvillelions.com Anoka: Horse-drawn trolley rides, bonfires, music and countdown to lighting of the tree. 3-7 p.m. Dec. 7. Anoka City Hall Plaza-2015 2nd Av. N., Anoka. anokachamber.com Blaine: Mayor Timothy Sanders will flip the switch for this tree lighting and there will be holiday music and s’mores by the fire. 4-6:30 p.m. Dec. 1. Tom Ryan Park, 10802 Town Square Drive NE., Blaine. blainemn.gov Buffalo: The city’s Deck the Halls event will have reindeer, hot chocolate and visits with Santa. 3-5 p.m. Dec. 7. Sturges Park, 505 2nd Av. S., Buffalo, Minn. buffalochamber.org Champlin: “Christmas at the Crossings” will have a performance from the Champlin Park High School Choir and complimentary cocoa. 4-7 p.m. Dec. 6. Mississippi Crossings, 307 East River Pkwy., Champlin. ci.champlin.mn.us Chanhassen: Due to construction of the new civic campus this year’s tree lighting will be at a new location. In addition, enjoy treats and meet Santa and his reindeer. Nonperishable food items will be collected for Bountiful Basket Food Shelf. 5 p.m. Dec. 7. City Center Park, 7700 Market Blvd., Chanhassen. chanhassenmn.gov Chaska: Santa visits and guests can stay cozy by a bonfire and make s’mores. 6-7:30 p.m. Dec. 8. Firemen’s Park, 3210 Chaska Blvd., Chaska. chaskamn.gov Coon Rapids: Fireworks, live music, fire pits and kids’ activities are part of the tree-lighting festival. 3:30-6 p.m. Dec. 14. Boulevard Plaza, 11002 Crooked Lake Blvd., Coon Rapids. coonrapids.gov Eagan: The tree-lighting itinerary includes a speech by Mayor Mike Maguire along with luminaria walk, bonfire, s’mores and vendor gift expo. 4:30-7 p.m. Dec. 3. Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Pkwy., Eagan. cityofeagan.com Edina: View the holiday retail window contest and vote for your favorites at Light Up the Night. Enjoy sleigh rides, carolers and cookies and cocoa with Santa. 3-6 p.m. Nov. 30. 50th and France, Edina. 50thandfrance.com Forest Lake: Support the community by shopping from local craft and food vendors. Kids can cuddle with animals at a petting zoo and enjoy performances. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 6. Lakeside Memorial Park, 95 E. Broadway, Forest Lake. facebook.com Hastings: Holiday Hoopla supports local businesses and features Breakfast With Santa, stocking stuffing, ornament making and craft and vendor fair. 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Nov. 30. hastingsdba.com Hugo: At Santa’s party, activity bags will be given to the first 50 kids. 5-7 p.m. Dec. 4. Lions Volunteer Park, 5524 Upper 146th St. N., Hugo. ci.hugo.mn.us Inver Grove Heights: A tree-lighting ceremony will kick off Holidays in the Heights. 6 p.m. Dec. 6. Veterans Memorial Community Center, 8055 Barbara Ave, Inver Grove Heights. ighmn.gov Lake Elmo: At Light Up Lake Elmo, family activities like cookie decorating and a scavenger hunt will lead up to the tree-lighting ceremony. 3-5 p.m. Dec. 7. Downtown Lake Elmo. connectlakeelmo.org Minnetrista: New this year at the holiday tree-lighting is a fireworks show. See decorated fire trucks and sip on warm cider or cocoa. 5-7:15 p.m. Dec. 5. City Hall, Minnetrista. cityofminnetrista.com North Loop: Santa and his elves will be present at the third annual tree-lighting on the Nordic Plaza and so will free food, beverages and prizes. 5-7 p.m. Dec. 10. 729 Washington Av. N., Mpls. northloop.org Osseo: “MiniDazzle” starts with an illuminated parade through downtown Osseo and culminates with the tree-lighting ceremony and a visit from Santa in Boerboom Veterans Park. 6 p.m. Dec. 6. 416 Central Av., Osseo. discoverosseo.com Prior Lake: A tree-lighting kicks off “Decembrrr Dazzle” with fireworks and caroling. 5-8 p.m. Dec. 6. Lakefront Park, 5000 Kop Pwy. SE., Piror Lake. priorlakemn.gov Ramsey: Festivities include holiday-themed crafts, cookies and photos with Santa. 6-8 p.m. Dec. 3. Ramsey Municipal Center, 7550 Sunwood Drive NW., Ramsey. ci.ramsey.mn.us Robbinsdale: The Chamber of Commerce and Robbinsdale Ambassadors offer carols and treats at the annual tree-lighting. 6 p.m. Dec. 3. Robbinsdale City Hall, 4100 Lakeview Av. N., Robbinsdale. robbinsdalemn.com Rogers: The tree-lighting ceremony includes caroling, cookies and themed activities. 6-8 p.m. Dec. 6. 21st Century Bank Event Center, 12716 Main St., Rogers. rogersmn.gov St. Michael: Winterfest hosts family activities including a snowman hunt, Elf Hut Mini Putt, Santa’s Sleigh Relay and more. 2-5 p.m. Dec. 7. Town Center Park, 11800 Town Center Drive NE., St. Michael. shopstma.com Savage: Mayor Janet Williams and city officials will preside over the countdown of the tree-lighting ceremony. There also will be a bonfire and holiday music. 5:30 p.m. Dec. 5. City Hall, 6000 McColl Drive, Savage. cityofsavage.com Shakopee: The holiday fest will feature the tree-lighting, vendor market, photos with Santa and fireworks. 2-5 p.m. Dec. 7. 1st Av. E., downtown Shakopee. shakopee.org Stillwater: At the Twinkle party, attendees will receive twinkle lights. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive before the tree-lighting ceremony. 4 p.m. Dec. 7. 100 Main St., Stillwater. greaterstillwaterchamber.com Union Depot: The 2025 St. Paul Winter Carnival button will be revealed at the tree-lighting celebration along with a holiday performance and screening of “Elf.” 5-9 p.m. Dec. 7. 214 E. 4th St., St. Paul. uniondepot.org Waconia: Santa arrives to light up the tree. There also will be caroling with holiday characters and festively dressed llamas. 6 p.m. Fri. City Square Park, 52 S. Pine St., Waconia. destinationwaconia.org Watertown: Christmas music and greetings from Santa will welcome attendees before the tree is lit. 4:30 p.m. Dec. 7. City Center Park, Watertown. watertownareachamber.com Wayzata: Take photos with reindeer, write your letter to Santa and participate in a candy hunt at the Light up the Lake celebration. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Fri.. Panoway Plaza, Wayzata. wayzatachamber.com Wyoming: A lighting of the holiday trees, light displays and refreshments are all part of the event. 4:30-6 p.m. Dec. 7. Railroad Park, 26755 Faxton Av., Wyoming, Minn., wyomingmn.org Baxter: The Brainerd Area Sertoma Club’s light display is in its 18th year and includes a drive-through tour of more than 80 animated displays. 5:30-8 p.m. Thu.-Sat. through Dec. 31; nightly Dec. 24-31. $15-$20 per vehicle. Sertoma Winter Wonderland, Northland Arboretum, 14250 Conservation Drive, Baxter, Minn. brainerdnoonsertoma.org Byron: ZooDazzle lights up Zollman Zoo for an evening of treats and activities. According to elf rumors, Santa might make an appearance. 4-8 p.m. Dec. 13-14. Free. Zollman Zoo, 5731 County Road 105 NW., Byron, Minn. friendsofoxbow.org Mankato: The Kiwanis annual holiday lights production gives spectators the option of driving or walking through the illuminated displays and scenes. 5-9 p.m. Sun.-Thu.; 5-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. through Dec. 31. Free. Sibley Park, Mankato, 900 Mound Av., Mankato. kiwanisholidaylights.com Scandia: Vinterlights at the Gammelgarden Museum of Scandia at the community center along with fire pits, cookies and hot chocolate. 5 p.m. Dec. 1. Free. 20880 Olinda Trail N., Scandia, Minn. gammelgardenmuseum.org Things To Do Gioachino Rossini’s comic opera plays at the Ordway Music Theater in St Fiction: Rickey Fayne’s debut novel traces the descendants of an African woman who is enslaved in America Strike Life Tributes A memorial service will be held on Monday July 8th 11:00 AM at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church MN with visitation one hour prior to service Memorials preferred to Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church LaVerne graduated from North High in 1954 and cosmetology school in 1955 and began work at Jackie Ann’s Salon in North Minneapolis They had 4 children and moved to Ham Lake in 1965 where they joined and became active members of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church which she continued until her death LaVerne was a stay at home mom for the most part but worked part time as a beautician and did substitute work as a cook with the Anoka Hennepin School District During LaVerne and Erwin’s married life they were involved with Boy Scouts Ham Lake Lions Club and enjoyed camping and traveling throughout the US with the family They also enjoyed many activities such as fishing They especially enjoyed traveling to Denmark Erwin passed away from cancer in April 1982 LaVerne continued her travels with friends to Europe LaVerne returned to work as a beautician and especially enjoyed working at Fridley Convalescent Center in the beauty shop housekeeping and in laundry for 17 years until her retirement in 2000 LaVerne co-founded singles club at Our Saviour’s where she met Richard (Dick) Pottsmith They spent the next 33 years together living in Ham Lake building a house in Mississippi and spending winters there The Pottsmith family became an extended family to LaVerne LaVerne’s health deteriorated Christmas Eve 2021 when her kidney’s shut down necessitating dialysis three times per week This stopped her travels to Mississippi but it did not stop her social life LaVerne’s health continued to decline and she elected to go on hospice May 25th This was demonstrated by the countless phone calls cards and letters she received the last weeks of her life LaVerne made her final journey home in the early morning of June 4th with Dick granddaughter Amanda and husband Michael at her side LaVerne is preceded in death by her beloved husband Nancy (Doug) Scholz and Cassandra (Tom) Bakeman; 8 grandchildren Amanda (Michael) Ives and Emily Scholz; 4 great grandchildren Pearl Riska and Irene Pieper; many nieces and nephews extended family members and friends; and by her loving partner Was a second mom to me while growing up next door Was so hard to visit after her decision to quit her dialysis It was beautiful all her family and friends were able to come see her and talk and laugh! I am so happy I was able to visit with LaVerne at the old Ham Lake house the week before she passed Its been almost 24 years since I saw her last but she was still the same LaVerne Chatting away about old neighborhood friends and people from 50+ years ago just like it was yesterday their families and all the grands and great grand kids the last of the Ham Lake moms who kept us all safe and well loved What a beautiful tribute to wonderful woman We certainly miss her at our coffee table after church So glad I visited her a few days before she went home to be with Jesus Video Copyright © 2025 Strike Life Tributes An Anoka County sheriff’s deputy was injured Tuesday after attempting to assist with an incident near Highway 65 Northeast in Ham Lake The sheriff’s office reports the deputy was driving a marked vehicle and was approaching the incident when they were involved in a crash with two other motor vehicles Tuesday night The deputy was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries and was later released The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating the crash Rainy weather pushed the work from June to this month. A short but busy segment of a north metro highway will close Tuesday morning and drivers will be detoured for the rest of July. At about 1 a.m. Tuesday, Minnesota Department of Transportation crews will close all lanes of Hwy. 65 in both directions between 187th Lane NE. and Viking Boulevard NE. between Ham Lake and East Bethel. The highway will be closed through July 31 as crews work to replace a culvert under Hwy. 65 near Viking Boulevard. “Drivers who regularly use Hwy. 65, are encouraged to use an alternate route if possible, such as I-35W or Hwy. 47 to avoid congestion and delays,” the agency said. During the closure, access to business and residences north of Constance Boulevard to 187th will be maintained, MnDOT said. The work is part of a larger project in which MnDOT is repaving 16 miles of Hwy. 65 between Spring Lake Park and East Bethel, repairing bridges and installing cable median barriers. No Section Peek inside homes for sale in the Twin Cities area After falling behind 17-0 at halftime and being dominated most of the game the Bulldogs may have locked up a spot in the College Football Playoff May He see you through the many challenging days ahead Very shocked and saddened to hear of Brian’s passing We had a lot of great times in high school and after Thoughts and prayers for all of his friends and family I was Brian’s neighbor for a time as a teenager and remember his energy and enthusiasm My thoughts and prayers go out to Brian’s family friends and all those who had the opportunity to interact with him I had the chance to work with Brian when he was finishing his degree in accounting He would pop into my office and give me updates I remember a passionate man who loved his family and the outdoors Prayers for the Aldinger family from the Duke family in Washington State Brian was a good friend in school may his memories live on We heard about this tragedy yesterday in church Annette and I are sorry for your loss and wish you One of the nicest and thoughtful young man I had as a student at Cambridge-Isanti HS Prayers for God to carry you all through this in which girls and women in elaborate gowns ride side-saddle on a horse and perform choreographed Esmeralda Garcia Del Rio’s back was aching from falling off a horse the previous week But that didn’t stop her from participating in the first Escaramuza competition in Minnesota “I never imaged becoming an Escaramuza,” said Garcia Del Rio Escaramuza is an event in a Mexican rodeo (a charreria) where groups of eight girls and women ride side-saddle in carefully choreographed traditional sombreros and ruffled undergarments under beautiful dresses All of the competitors must dress identically and their horses must also be dressed alike has been a tradition among men in Mexico for hundreds of years and has grown in popularity in the United States This is the first year Minnesota has held an official competition who has been training young girls in the sport since 2016 Escaramuza teams compete throughout the year, and the competition culminates in a tournament in November in Mexico, where the rodeo is considered the national sport. “It’s a very complex sport and it is important for the choreography to be precise because you are riding at a fast speed on the horse and any errors can be dangerous,” Maldonado said. If you’d like to see it for yourself, will compete at halftime during a Charreria on Aug. 24 at 55431 305th Lane NW. in Cambridge, Minn. (The rodeos begin at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.) $20 per carload. Lifestyle in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area near Ely  A memorial service will be held at 2 PM on Thursday A visitation will follow the service and continue until 5 PM at the church He graduated from Blaine High School with the class of 2001 Jesse joined the US Army Infantry Division proudly serving in Kuwait he was united in marriage to Bethany Irene Lohse in Anoka He owned and operated Rock Solid Plumbing which he started with his wife in 2011 BMX racing and spending time with his wife and son he graciously served his community and was an active youth leader at his church in Ham Lake Jesse will be remembered for his “Rock Solid” character a man of profound integrity and his patriotic heart trustworthy and loved by all who had the privilege of meeting him Samuel (Janette) Haugen and their children  He is preceded in death by his uncle Randy Haugen and grandparents Rock solid guy 🫶🏼 our condolences to Beth Jesse will be truly missed but he will be forever present in everyone’s hearts I knew him from Health and Healing Chiropractic when I worked there Been so many years but such great childhood memories I was honored to work with Jesse and call him my friend He will be forever missed and never forgotten humble man whom I didn’t hear you complain about much of anything loved and cared for Bethany and Isacc in such a way a terrible tragedy and I hope your family can find peace and love in this time Jesse is with Jesus and Jesus is with you guiding you thru this time By the way Bathany spoke of you I know you were an amazing man and although you’re in heaven in perfect peace your physical absence is felt deeply here Continuing in prayer for the entire family Our deepest condolences go out to your family Jessie is a great man and will be forever in our hearts Jesse you are a solid man with an amazing love for Christ May your never ending smile continue to shine on your family Jesse You were an amazing man and will live on in so many hearts Notwithstanding the fact that I haven’t spoken directly to Jesse in several years since Germany as he was a dear friend and wonderful person but I am certain he smiles now from the Kingdom It’s been a long time since I ran around with the Lohse sisters and I was very sad to hear this news I think every guy at St Francis had a crush on Bethany and when she met Jesse everyone knew they had been defeated haha Heartfelt condolences from myself and my extended family I won’t be able to attend the service but will be praying for the families throughout the day Jesse and I both subcontracted work for the same general contractor May you find comfort knowing Jesse is at peace in Heaven residing eternally with the other Blue Spaders who have preceded him; his spirit is being well cared for now Jesse was a great guy and he will be sorely missed I had the pleasure of serving with him in Germany and Iraq He played paintball with us (Sniper Section) a few times and was always smiling and happy My sincerest condolences to his family and friends Jesse was a great guy and I am thankful that I knew him My deepest condolences to the family and those others who are impacted by this tragic loss I hope you know how much you were loved and respected I’m thankful for your friendship throughout high school and the years after I’ll never forget the memories we shared and the kindness you showed me when my parents passed away Such great memories of picking up Jesse to go to BMX tracks with my son and watching all their accomplishments and friendship over the years I am one of Jesse and Bethany’s midwives I am heartbroken by this unbelievable tragedy along with all the family and friends who loved this generous and hard-working man Jesse will be dearly missed and we were lucky to have known him and worked with him I am thankful for Heaven and the comfort of Jesus May He wrap His everlasting arms around you and be your peace Though we only briefly crossed paths in high school It’s clear he was a beloved outdoorsman His incredible spirit was evident in every aspect of his life My condolences to his family during this difficult time I enjoyed teaching Sunday school with Jesse at Horizons & he always had a smile for everyone Bethany & Isaac my thoughts & prayers are with you My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time I loved seeing him on Wednesday nights for student ministries in Ham Lake Because of him the lives of those kids have been brought closer to God and they will forever be changed I had the pleasure of serving along side Jesse in the same platoon as new privates He was an outstanding man and great friend So sorry for your loss it’s truly heartbreaking to see such a young soul taken early Till we meet again Brother Blue Spaders Lead The Way Till Valhalla my friend… RIP God Bless I’m so sorry to hear of the tragic loss of Jesse my wife and I send our deepest sympathies and know that Jesse will be well taken care of on the other side of life on earth Isaac and extended family 💔Thoughts and prayers with you We prayed much for you at our church prayer service last night❤🙏 Serving with you in the armed forces was a great honor Thank you for all your crazy jokes and love for life Louis County Sheriff’s Office reported Tuesday that they are continuing search efforts with the St Louis County Rescue Squad in Curtain Falls for the missing canoeists “Conditions for searching remain very challenging due to water volume in and around the falls,” explained a social media post for the Sheriff’s Office “Crews have been working tirelessly over the weekend and will continue to do so moving forward through the end of the week.” The office said additional updates will be forthcoming as they become available Original Story: Search crews have set up camp in the Boundary Waters expecting to spend the weekend continuing the search for two missing canoeists have been gone since two canoes went over Curtain Falls on May 18 Louis County Sheriff’s Office says efforts are difficult due to the weather Over a dozen crew members are on the ground and several others are working in the air and at command posts Louis County Rescue Squad had “an influx of assistance” from the Minnesota National Guard RELATED STORY: Gov. Walz authorizes National Guard to help with BWCA search they brought in both personnel and equipment like boats (Zodiacs and Canoes) RELATED STORY: Authorities ID missing Boundary Waters canoeists a 43-year-old also from Ham Lake were airlifted out The injured individual was flown to Essentia Duluth with serious but not life-threatening injuries Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public file should contact Vicki Kaping at vkaping@wdio.com or (218) 727-6864 a surviving canoe paddler and a rescue captain recount the Curtain Falls tragedy and its aftermath Erik Grams saw he was at a point of no return His canoe pulled into the mouth of a 30-foot waterfall he was tossed into boulders and cascading current Grams was thrown underwater at the base of the falls Struggling and clawing to the surface in the current Grams had gone to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness — and remote Curtain Falls on the Canadian border — in mid-May along with his younger brother Reis and three companions and expected this one to be no different: walleyes on a stringer and friends Jesse Haugen and Kyle Sellers were nearby in another They were fishing on Crooked Lake’s pool above Curtain Falls the lake’s calm water turned the tables on their canoes he caught a glimpse of Haugen — but never saw his brother again “I was grieving while I was underwater,” he said Now, more than three weeks later and more than a week after the bodies of Haugen, 41, and Reis Grams, 40, were recovered from the wilderness For nearly 24 hours — from the early light of May 18 into the overnight hours of May 19 — a fishing trip with a long family history and so much promise had descended into an epic BWCAW rescue-and-search operation west of Crooked Lake and their connector: picturesque Curtain Falls The group had spent the previous night camping on Nina Moose Lake after entering the BWCAW late in the afternoon at the Moose/Portage River north entry off the Echo Trail and northwest of Ely Good fishing was on the minds of the five friends Erik and Reis Grams co-own Touchdown Tile in Blaine They’ve worked construction projects with Haugen and Lohse of Rock Solid Plumbing in Cambridge The Grams brothers had made near-annual trips to the Curtain Falls area for the past 17 years Haugen had made five or six trips with the Gramses they steered clear of the pool on Crooked Lake above the falls The group reached their Iron Lake campsite about noon on the southeast corner of Three Island Then the Grams brothers prepared their fishing gear and set off ahead of their companions for the moving water below the falls Reis caught a few walleyes before he and Erik portaged around the falls on the U.S favorable wind blew out of the west as the men fished Erik Grams said they always kept a distance from the edge of the falls At one point each of the brothers had on big walleyes but worked together to safely control their canoe while landing the fish when the Grams brothers took a short break on shore With plans of a walleye dinner soon back at camp they went back on the water for a few last casts The brothers were positioned about 40 to 50 feet from the falls Haugen and Seller’s canoe was closer — and then got too close and was parallel to the falls Haugen and Seller’s canoe began to tip and then suddenly flipped before landing upright appeared to have perched on a rock in the current at the middle of the falls outstretching an arm toward the Grams brothers Erik and Reis Grams inched toward their friend we are not going to be able to pull off this impossible save.” In that instant Erik was submerged in 10 feet of water and trying to swim to the surface “I have revisited this so many times,” he added Grams has acknowledged none of the four was wearing life vests The turbulence sucked Erik’s running shoes from his feet he grabbed hold of a flat rock on the Canadian side of the lower falls he moved barefoot through brush down the shoreline for the next 15 minutes He saw the stern of one canoe on an island and shouted He heard a voice but didn’t know who it was He was prepared to make a 50-foot swim across the current when a solo paddler named Nick appeared as if from nowhere Erik’s own pain intensified — he learned later that he had multiple pelvic fractures A friend of Nick’s also appeared in a solo canoe (Both men requested not to be fully identified and Using a satellite device, one of the good Samaritans reported the emergency, while they cared for the two injured paddlers. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s office said it received the distress call at 7:20 p.m. The two rescuers were searching for the missing pair when Erik saw a return message on the satellite device screen Could the paddlers make it out under their own power they scrambled to get Grams and Sellers airlifted out The two paddlers were on a small island about an acre in size and about a third of a mile west of the falls pilot Grace Zeller landed a Department of Natural Resources helicopter on the small island and plucked Sellers for transport to Ely and the DNR pilot returned for them around 2 a.m before being taken by ambulance May 20 for care in Duluth Haugen’s body was recovered May 31; Reis Grams’ on June 2. Causes of their deaths are being determined. All told, 59 personnel were involved in the operation, whose cost hasn’t been determined. “This will rank among the top three rescue squad calls in terms of challenge and complexity,” Slatten said. Slatten said he and his team had to consider multiple possibilities while searching for Reis Grams and Haugen. The rescuers’ focus was 1½ miles of water and shoreline. Searchers also got more details from Erik Grams to inform their strategy. The team used its swift boat — an inflatable-type vessel — drones, special remote-controlled mini-submarine devices, and even a K-9 unit. Angie Grams said her husband, Reis, was where he was meant to be before their lives changed forever. Reis made his first trip to the BWCAW when he was 7 and more followed with his father, Bart, and other family members. “He was instantly addicted,” she recalled. There were multiple trips most years. During their courtship, Angie got her first experience on the big water of Brule Lake. Now their boys, August, 10, and Teddy, 8, are veterans, too, and, she added, already determined to continue their dad’s legacy by taking a planned trip in August. The Lino Lakes family is always on the move, from outdoors endeavors to youth sports to family trips to state parks. Angie said they had visited 27, with a goal of visiting every one and of heading down along the Mississippi River later this summer. “We were always doing something,” she said. Perhaps Reis Grams’ most meaningful trips were in a different direction, in service to low-income people in Mexican villages near Ensenada, south of Tijuana. There he and his family have helped build homes through Walk the Talk Missions. He and Angie made several trips since 2018, and the family was together there last October. “In the 17 years I knew Reis, I only saw him cry when he talked about Mexico,” she said. “It brought him so much joy.” The tragedy is especially painful because Reis Grams and Haugen had been friends since they were kids. A father and husband, Haugen was an Army veteran, an angler and hunter, and a BMX racer. He was known for his “profound integrity and his patriotic heart,” according to his obituary. A GoFundMe account has been set up to support the families of Reis Grams and Haugen. After the tragic event May 18, Erik Grams received an arresting photo in a text from Nick, who came to his aid. Taken at 3 a.m., just after Grams was airlifted, the moon’s glow radiates over Three Island and Iron Lake — a moment of transcendent beauty that belies the harrowing day. Grams has made several wall prints to share. He said the image has given him peace. Like Angie Grams, he sounded undeterred about his commitment to a region that until May 18 had brought them so much joy. He plans to fix his shattered canoe and to stand in for his brother when Reis’ family, including August and Teddy, takes their BWCAW trip in August. “I feel like I am close to God in God’s country,” he said. “It’s what we lived for, and we did it for that reason.” Bob Timmons covers news across Minnesota's outdoors, from natural resources to recreation to wildlife. Wildfire Today Ten years ago today an ember blew out of a fire a camper left at Ham Lake in northeast Minnesota and started a blaze that burned 75,000 acres in the Superior National Forest and Ontario’s Quetico Provincial Park across the Canadian border the man indicted as being responsible for the fire died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home The suicide came a day after a federal magistrate denied motions challenging key aspects of the charges filed Below is an article about the fire released by the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center All of these photos of the Ham Lake Fire are from their archives Recollections: Tenth anniversary of the Ham Lake Fire dead-end road surrounded by the Boundary Canoe Area Wilderness the Superior National Forest and eventually across the Canadian border “We didn’t expect that type of fire activity at that time of year Often there is still snowpack,” said Tom Lynch an initial attack responder and 30-year wildland firefighter “When we got the call most of us were in our civilian clothes We grabbed what we could and hurried up there,” said Lynch who recalls prioritizing kayak and canoe removal in the midst of structure protection decisions A 30,000-foot smoke plume was visible from hundreds of surrounding cabins an outfitting business and 61 residences were destroyed “The Ham Lake Fire was human-caused and ignited near the Gunflint Trail area of the Superior National Forest,” said Kris Reichenbach “The fire spread quickly in areas of extreme fuel loading with dead and downed timber.” Heavy fuels resulted from a severe 90-mph windstorm in 1999 that downed nearly 500,000 acres of forested land. Seven years later, the lightning-ignited Cavity Lake Fire burned more than 31,500 acres directly west of the 2007 Ham Lake Fire area. A Superior National Forest report indicated that “when the fire reached large prescribed fire treated areas it was extinguished and became readily suppressed with direct attack Treatments were concentrated to the west of the Gunflint Trail wildland-urban interface area resulting in stopping the fire’s progression toward homes.” Canadian and Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS) personnel joined forces The Gunflint Volunteer Fire Department was instrumental in the initial attack phase Nearly two dozen Minnesota fire departments were involved as unified command came together Aside from the magnitude and intensity of the Ham Lake Fire it became a lessons learned instructional aid More than 100 homeowners along the Gunflint Trail installed sprinkler systems after the 1999 blow down due to increased fire danger Estimates are that the sprinklers saved at least 50 structures “The big thing that stood out was that it was a super demonstration of proactively planning a lead public information officer who was first on the fire The implementation of those sprinklers saved a lot of structures It was a very good example of community preparedness and wildfire prevention.” Typos, let us know HERE, and specify which article. Please read the commenting rules before you post a comment Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email Firefighters and deputies responded to a fire in Ham Lake according to the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office A Minnesota Department of Transportation traffic monitoring camera spotted the fire which broke out at Bendtsen’s Transmissions Ham Lake firefighters told a 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS photographer at the scene that the shop was open when people saw the fire in a corner of the structure and then evacuated the building The building appears to have been destroyed by the fire More information on the incident will be shared when it becomes available A Tweet from the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office can be seen below The Ham Lake Fire Department and Anoka County Sheriff’s Office are responding to a structure fire near the 13600 block of Johnson St NE in Ham Lake. More information to come at a later time when it becomes available. pic.twitter.com/l4uEYseU6J A Ham Lake man who is currently serving time in prison for a series of sexual assaults in Minneapolis over a span of several months has now been charged for an incident that allegedly took place in Andover back in 2013 37-year-old Jory Daniel Wiebrand, who is currently serving a 45-year-sentence for previous incidents is now charged by warrant with one count of First-Degree Attempted Criminal Sexual Conduct one count of Kidnapping and one count of First-Degree Aggravated Robbery RELATED: Ham Lake man pleads guilty to 5 counts of criminal sexual conduct, will be sentenced to over 45 years in prison An official with the Anoka County Attorney’s Office says by issuing the complaint as a warrant that will allow a hearing to be heard sooner than a summons date deputies with the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office were called to the 800 block of County Road C shortly after 5 p.m The complaint states a 16-year-old girl told deputies a man ran up behind her and grabbed her around the waist before pulling her into a wooded area while walking home from Bunker Overlook Park That’s when the victim told officers the man Documents state Weibrand then choked the victim until she passed out She then woke up to see Weibrand running away Despite having a description of the attacker as well as DNA from a water bottle which had been discarded nearby police weren’t able to connect Wiebrand to the incident until a profile was created due to a string of sexual and physical assaults in Minneapolis RELATED: Police arrest suspect in connection with series of sexual assaults in Southeast Minneapolis the complaint states the DNA taken from the bottle then matched Wiebrand’s DNA profile each charge carries the following maximum sentences: ‘He will do a lot of time’: Hennepin County attorney on suspect facing charges in series of assaults New charges bring total to 9 against suspect in series of Minneapolis sexual assaults More charges filed against suspect in series of Minneapolis sexual assaults Cases linked to alleged Minneapolis serial rapist keep stacking up Burglary, criminal sexual conduct charges filed against suspect in series of Minneapolis sexual assaults the Bible doesn't mention 10-gallon hats or roping cattle Minnesota's first cowboy-themed church is thriving in Ham Lake The Open Range Cowboy Church drew 60 wildwest worshippers last Sunday to hear a rootin'-tootin' straight-shootin' sermon they moseyed out to linger under a corrugated metal roof and sip coffee from a chuck wagon the yippee-ki-yay style of worship would be a natural But Pastor Joe Penrose was asked if there are any real cowboys in Minnesota Adamczak chimed in: "You don't have to be in Texas to be a cowboy." Penrose joined the American Fellowship of Cowboy Churches a Texas-based group with more than 200 parishes After three months' training offered through the association In a dirt-floor horse barn in northern Minnesota Penrose delivered his first sermon -- to a congregation of five we knew it was time to move," said his wife transferred to a heated building in Isanti Penrose heard plenty of snide comments when he started "'How many 'yahoos' did you give last Sunday?'" "They just wanted to tease me a little bit but it was a little more than just joking," Penrose said He preaches a no-nonsense message that he says is straight from the Bible "We want men to be leaders in their families," Penrose said "But in so many other churches the wife goes to church and the husband stays home I have heard from several men's wives saying 'Because my husband has grown so much here Last Sunday worshippers gathered at the church They were hit with the smell of particle board They then walked past a western-style storefront facade flanked by hay bales A six-piece band twanged through the hymns lifted by the soulful warbling of a pedal-steel guitar Penrose stepped up to a lectern made of horseshoes the spittin' image of a movie cowboy in hat boots and a silver belt buckle the size of a pancake He launched into the sermon called "Winning the Battle Inside of Me." "There are three enemies that want to mess up your life: the flesh a worldly view and doubt," he told the crowd "God can take care of anything that needs taking care of," Penrose said "That's right!" someone yelled in response Ushers passed a cowboy hat for the offering The closing hymn was an obvious choice: "Happy Trails," the theme song of TV cowboy Roy Rogers the group drifted into the foyer to talk and sip coffee Linda Penrose said the church's country-western vibe gives it immediate appeal "It is the uniqueness of the church that brings people in," she said "They are informal and practical -- straight-shooting from the Bible," Linda said A Ham Lake man was sentenced to nearly 16 years on Friday in connection with an attempted sexual assault that happened in Andover in 2013 Jory Daniel Wiebrand, 38, was initially charged with one count of first-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct one count of kidnapping and one count of first-degree aggravated robbery in October of 2022 The charges were filed while Wiebrand was already serving a 45-year-long prison sentence after being convicted of a series of sexual assaults in Minneapolis that happened over several months Wiebrand pleaded guilty to kidnapping and aggravated robbery in October of 2023 in exchange for the dismissal of the criminal sexual conduct charge He was sentenced on Friday to 189 months and 129 months for each of those convictions The judge also credited him with 999 days for time served officers from the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office were called to Bunker Overlook Park on County Road C on a report of an abduction A 16-year-old girl told officers that she had been walking home from the park when a man ran up to her put the girl into a headlock and choked her until she passed out The girl said she was passed out for likely a minute before waking up to see the man running away with her cell phone The girl had injuries to her eyes consistent with being choked DNA from a water bottle taken from the scene matched Wiebrand’s DNA which was in the system from previous convictions May 10, 2007JPEG Along the Minnesota-Ontario border, the Ham Lake Fire was billowing a thick cloud of smoke toward the east on May 10, 2007, when Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image Places where MODIS detected actively burning fire are outlined in red According to reports from the National Interagency Fire Center on May 11 the fire was burning in timber and dead fuel the blaze was threatening residences and commercial property and had forced evacuations in surrounding communities The large image provided above has a spatial resolution (level of detail) of 250 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response Team provides twice-daily images of the region in additional resolutions and formats including an infrared-enhanced version that highlights the burn scar on the ground View this area in EO Explorer