Category: The Latest From Forest Lake Times

NOTICE OF
PUBLIC HEARING broadstreet.zone(48036);
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held before the Planning Commission of the City of Forest Lake in the Council Chambers of the City Hall, 1408 Lake Street South, Forest Lake, Minnesota on June 14, 2017 at 7:00 oclock p.m. The hearing will be conducted to hear all persons present upon the Conditional Use Permit Amendment application to replace an existing cement silo with a 70 foot tall cement silo at 1621 11th Avenue SW, in the City of Forest Lake, Washington County, Minnesota. The applicant is Knife River North Central, whose main office is located at 4787 Shadow Wood Drive NE, Sauk Rapids, Minnesota.
Dated this 25th day of May, 2017
Donovan Hart
Zoning Administratorbroadstreet.zone(50962);
Published in the
Forest Lake Times
June 1, 2017
694972

See Full Post >>

Lois J. Bowman, age 87 of Forest Lake, MN passed away May 31, 2017.
Preceded in death by first husband, Thomas A. Haugen; second husband, Warren Bowman; parents, Betsey and William Carlson; siblings, Bernice, Elodis, Kermit, Virgil and Lawrence; great-granddaughter, Esme Freeman.
Survived by children, David, Mick, John, Nancy and Diane; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Memorial service Wednesday, June 7th, 11 a.m. at Cremation Society of MN, 4343 Nicollet Ave. South, Mpls. Reception to follow service.

See Full Post >>

Photos by Stuart Groskreutz.
The Forest Lake synchronized swimming team competed in the state championship meet at the University of Minnesota on May 25 and 26, earning a third-place finish.
The Rangers earned many high finishes in the various competitions held over the two days, including two state championships. In the showpiece competition, the extended team division, the Ranger “Kung Fu” routine (Brecken Carr, Kenzie Klein, Fallon Olson, Megan Palmer, Michelle Perkins, Mika Peterson, Paige Thurnbeck and Lacey Wedell) placed third overall with 65.582 points. A second Ranger show, performed by Lydia Bergeron, Bridget Beynon, Meghan Ihfe, Lacresia Meyer, Emily Ostercamp, Amanda Pothen, Dani Sardeson and Moriah Ulbricht, placed seventh (62.135). Perennial champions Wayzata won the division with 68.097.broadstreet.zone(48036);
In the long team division, a Ranger group finished second (62.713). That routine included Ella Anderson, Lindsey Biebl, Jane Burk, Elizabeth Campbell, Tessa Crohn, Mckinley Leavitt, Bridget Olson and Alise Ostercamp.
The high finish in

See Full Post >>

A Forest Lake man was sentenced last month to 12 years in prison for first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Timothy Gordon Deflorin, 62, was originally charged in late 2015 after allegations surfaced that he had repeatedly raped a young girl who was cared for at his wife’s day care center in the early 2000s.
Deflorin could be eligible for conditional release after five years.broadstreet.zone(48036);
According to court documents, a female in her late teens recalled the abuse after recent happenings triggered repressed memories of the abuse, which reportedly took place in the early 2000s at the day care center run by Deflorin’s wife, Debbie, in the 1500 block of 12th Street Southeast (Debbie Deflorin has since died). The teen told police the abuse, which lasted from when she was 2 years old to her fifth birthday, involved Deflorin taking her to his truck to have sex with her. The teen said that though

See Full Post >>

The Forest Lake VFW and American Legion hosted the city’s annual Memorial Day service May 29 at Lakeside Memorial Park. The service included a rifle salute, patriotic songs, the dedication of new pavers honoring veterans and more.broadstreet.zone(48036);

See Full Post >>

James “Jim” Edmond Banta, devoted husband, loving father, master gardener, and faithful servant of God, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2017, at the age of 80.
A longtime Forest Lake/Wyoming resident, James had been a farmer, materials management consultant, and international entrepreneur. He was a member of Forest Lake Christian Church and served in local ministry and on several Christian Church missions boards throughout his career.
Preceded in death by parents, Edmond and Mildred Banta; stepfather, Everett Glockzin.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Carolyne; daughters, Joy (Bruce) Carlson, Jan (Patrick) Flowers; grandchildren, Seth (Marla) Carlson, Ethan (Natasha) Carlson, Paul (Angela) Flowers, Hannah Flowers; siblings, Niel (Barb) Banta, Carolyn (Al) Quijada, Mary Banta; and first great-grandchild on the way.
Funeral service 11 a.m., Thursday, June 1, 2017 at Forest Lake Christian Church, 420 W. Broadway Ave., Forest Lake. Visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment at Wyoming United Methodist

See Full Post >>

Raymond “Ray J” Babcock, age 88 of Fort Meyers, Florida, formerly of Forest Lake, passed away on March 28, 2017.
Preceded in death by brother, Francis; sister, Katherine Finn.
Survived by wife, Judith; daughters, Susan (Tom) Perry, Jody (Daryl) Babcock Hadisch, Lisa Reeck, Erin (Dean) White, step-sons, Paul and Mark Deal; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandson; many dear friends.
Ray was in sales and real estate in Forest Lake for many years. He then retired to the Lexington Country Club in Fort Myers where he enjoyed golf and bocce.
A Celebration of Ray’s Life 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 7th at Vannelli’s by the Lake, 55 Lake St. S., Forest Lake. Memorials preferred to Hope Hospice, 9470 Healthpark Circle, Fort Myers, FL.

See Full Post >>

Hot summer days are just around the corner, but volunteers of the Forest Lake Area Children’s Fund have their minds focused on the cold weather months that will follow.
At its spring meeting on April 26, the organization’s board discussed fundraising plans for its next program of providing winter coats, boots and snow pants to students within the Forest Lake School District 831 boundaries who are in need. A major hurdle for the coming season will be fundraising.broadstreet.zone(48036);
During its 2016 program a total of 204 students received warm winter clothing. The drive resulted in expenditures of just over $11,000. At the spring meeting, board members learned the organization has just under $4,300 on hand and likely will need to raise another $7,000 if needs in 2017 rise to the level of the needs last year.
The coat fund got its start in 1987 with a small drive in Columbus that soon expanded

See Full Post >>

Forest Lake Area High School teacher Paul Kendrick received the Fox 9 Top Teacher Award on May 11 during the Emergency Medical Technician class’ skill assessment day. Kendrick has taught the EMT course for about five years, and he also teaches physical education and health.
The Fox 9 Top Teacher Award recognizes nine teachers throughout the state who do a phenomenal job preparing students to be successful not only in the classroom, but also in life. Former Forest Lake School Board Member Joe Grafft, who teaches the EMT courses with Kendrick, nominated him for the award. Grafft, in his nomination, called Kendrick “an exceptional human being.”broadstreet.zone(48036);
“He expects them to go beyond their perceived abilities and encourages them to reach out to others less fortunate,” wrote Graff. “He stresses the following; ‘It’s not about you – It is not about me; It is about the patient!’”
As part of the honor, Kendrick received

See Full Post >>

Amy Doeun
Linwood Reporter
Linwood Township is looking at adding tablets or a similar piece of technology to its arsenal of office equipment. Town Clerk Pam Olson reported to the board that she and other city officials recently sampled some Nextbooks.broadstreet.zone(48036);
“It was a great price (at $75),” she said. “We weren’t impressed with them, honestly, though. They kept dropping the Wi-Fi. I don’t think this quite the tool for us. I don’t think you will be happy with them long term.”
Next, Olson plans to try out a few other tablets to see how they work in the township building.
“I think that it is good to start with the most inexpensive,” Supervisor Mike Halliday said. “Sometimes we start with all the bells and whistles, and then there is no going back.”
Halliday added that the board will have to decide on Google vs. iPad systems and that maybe supervisors didn’t have to have all

See Full Post >>