Author: admin

Mara Bain
Guest Columnist
There is no question the Washington County Sheriff’s Office is a professional organization. Sheriff Hutton and Chief Deputy Starry lead a team of dedicated deputies, and Forest Lake residents benefit daily from the services they provide. The question before our city is whether the Forest Lake Police Department should be disbanded and primary law enforcement services contracted through WCSO. I would contend there are five primary reasons why a compelling case has not been made.broadstreet.zone(48036);
We lose local control.
Currently, Forest Lake residents, through their election of city officials, control every aspect of services provided by the Forest Lake Police Department. We control budget, leadership, staffing, policies and day-to-day operations. Under a WCSO contract, this control is transferred to the Washington County Sheriff and Board of Commissioners, all elected officials with very few ties to Forest Lake.
Cost differences are not significant or guaranteed.
As of press deadline for this column, only

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Ben Winnick
Guest Columnist
There have been so many rumors, misunderstandings, and yes, lies spread around about the county proposal for police service that I need to set the record straight.broadstreet.zone(48036);
First of all, we have never thought of a police shutdown; that is ridiculous! It is a basic requirement of the proposal to have equal or more patrols in Forest Lake.
Secondly, at no time would the officers be driving from Stillwater. All officers would be stationed right here in Forest Lake, just as they are now; response times would be the same or better.
Thirdly, this is not about saving money. It is about getting the best service for the best value. The City Council puts public safety as its No. 1 priority, and this is why we asked for a proposal from the Sheriff’s Office. Forest Lake is no longer a small town, but a growing city; crime does not stop at

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Photos by Terry Traver TitleSmart’s Forest Lake team, including Shari McLagin, co-owner Cindy Koebele, and Inge Andre are ready to serve.
Terry Traver
Contributing Writer
Professional real estate closers TitleSmart Inc. recently opened a location in Forest Lake at 207 Lake St. N. The business is headquartered in White Bear Lake, it has six locations total, and it will celebrate its 10th anniversary this month.broadstreet.zone(48036);
President and CEO Cindy Koebele is co-owner with her sister, Vice President and Executive Closer Angela Shackle. They started the title insurance business in 2007 in Maplewood with a $30,000 loan from their parents (paid back in the third year of business) and three employees: Koebele, her sister and a friend. By 2009, they employed nine people, and currently there are 66 employees, including three who work at the Forest Lake branch.
“TitleSmart is a strictly local business of mostly women,” Koebele said. “We have 9,067 square feet at the

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Lakes International Language Academy has received funding for student health and wellness initiatives and worksite wellness efforts through Living Healthy in Washington County grants, supported by the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership through the Minnesota Department of Health. SHIP helps the state create better health by reducing obesity and tobacco use, in partnership with schools, health care settings, worksites, and communities across Minnesota.
LILA plans to use the funds provided through SHIP’s school strategy area to support healthy after school snacks, “Smarter Lunchroom” grab-and-go options, an innovative aeroponic indoor school garden, and physical education enhancements and active recess gear such as soccer balls and spike ball sets at the upper school, as well as new soccer nets and art chalk for the lower school.broadstreet.zone(48036);
SHIP funding as part of the partnership’s worksite wellness focus will help LILA launch healthy snack stations for staff at LILA’s lower and upper schools, providing storage, small refrigerators,

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Arik “The Anarchist” Cannon will wrestle Scott Story for the Minnesota Independent Championship belt in the main event of Forest Lake Fights 2 at the American Legion April 22 at 8 p.m.
What began as a passionate appreciation of professional wrestling from the perspective of a fan turned into a full-time career for Wyoming resident and 2000 Forest Lake Area High School graduate Arik Cannon.
Cannon will wrestle Scott Story for the Minnesota Independent Championship belt in the main event of Forest Lake Fights 2 at 8 p.m. April 22 at the American Legion.broadstreet.zone(48036);
“I was a total nerd for wrestling back in the day,” Cannon said. “I was all about it and I knew it was something I wanted to do.”
Luke Greenwald, Cannon’s friend and classmate at FLAHS, happened to have a sister with a connection. Cannon was eager to get the hook up.
“Luke had a sister named Norah who graduated from

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