Category: The Latest From Forest Lake Times

Gordy Grubbs, age 65 of Stacy, Minnesota, died on April 17, 2017 after battling cancer.
Gordy proudly served his country in the United States Navy.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and wife, Kathy in 2010.
Survived by children, Travis (Arianne), Misty Grubbs (John), Pat (Janet) Heinen; nine grandchildren; brother, Norman; sister, Gloria Anderson; brother, Kenny; and several other extended family.
Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. with Memorial Service at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 21, 2017 at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 N. Shore Drive, Forest Lake, MN.
Cards and memorials may be directed to Mattson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 343 N. Shore Drive, Forest Lake, MN 55025. Online condolences may be made at www.mattsonfuneralhome.com.

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The Forest Lake Area School Board expects to select the school district’s next superintendent at its April 20 board meeting. That decision will come after a round of interviews with three finalists on April 19 (after press time).
After initially working with the Minnesota School Board Association to promote the job opening, which will replace current Superintendent Linda Madsen when she retires in July, the board received 30 applications.broadstreet.zone(48036);
During the first week of April, board members scrutinized those applications and eventually identified six candidates who they felt met their expectations. The board met April 8 to discuss the choices, review applicants’ information and determine finalists.
Included in the first-round interview process on April 10 and 11 were Randi Anderson, director of personalized learning and instruction, Eden Prairie Schools; John-Paul Jacobson, principal, Century Junior High School, Forest Lake Area Schools; Steven Massey, principal, Forest Lake Area Senior High School; Steven Sallee, superintendent, St.

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The residents of Forest Lake got a closer look at the details of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office proposal for contract law enforcement in the city during an open house at the Forest Lake City Center April 18.
The open house took place after press time, but the city provided The Forest Lake Times with the details of its presentation ahead of deadline.broadstreet.zone(48036);
The open house information was collected and curated by city staff, principally City Administrator Aaron Parrish and Police Chief Rick Peterson. The information examines the pros and cons of switching Forest Lake to a contract law enforcement model (which would lead to the disbanding of the Forest Lake Police Department), as well as to keeping the city’s public safety model as is.
The open house was also set to look at comparative costs and services between the contract law enforcement proposal and the current public safety plan, as well as

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A fatal crash involving a pedestrian was one of multiple injury crashes tackled by the Minnesota State Patrol in the last week in Forest Lake and the surrounding area.
The pedestrian crash happened in Wyoming around 1:45 a.m. April 14. According to the state patrol, a Chevrolet Tahoe driven south on Interstate Highway 35 by Micheal Quigley, 64, of East Bethel, was exiting onto Viking Boulevard from the highway when Kory William Klein, 32, of Hugo, crossed in front of the vehicle’s path and was hit.broadstreet.zone(48036);
He was taken to Fairview Lakes Medical Center but died from his injuries. According to the state patrol, alcohol appeared to play a factor in him entering the path of the Tahoe, and Quigley was not under the influence of alcohol.
The Forest Lake Police Department assisted with two other state patrol-managed crashes in the city.
The first occurred around 4:40 p.m. April 16 when Gregory Stream, 32,

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Submitted photo
G. Howard Ruggles was a community pillar in Forest Lake, the owner of two long-running businesses and a former Forest Lake City Council member.broadstreet.zone(48036);
During parts of five decades, G. Howard Ruggles was a fixture in the Forest Lake business community. He spent the better part of four decades running a sporting goods store and a hardware store while becoming deeply involved in community affairs.
It may not have been that way had Ruggles elected to put his college education to work and not return to the only place he ever called home.
Ruggles, who died on Sunday, April 9, at age 84, was far more than a business owner. A native of Forest Lake, Ruggles lived most of his life here, short of four years at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter and four years in the military, including two years of his service and two years in California as a

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Connie Nylund and Christie Mix opened Beauty and Bronze Spahhh in February with renters Logan Opsahl and Jayme Wolkerstorfer.
A Craigslist offer of a tanning business for sale paved the way for Forest Lake’s newest beauty business at 1650 11th Ave. SW in the space formerly occupied by Golden Tones and Tan NV. Beauty and Bronze Spahhh is the brainchild of Christie Mix and Connie Nylund, who boast a combined experience of nearly 10 years in the eyelash extension indust
ry.broadstreet.zone(48036);
“We started looking for our own space last spring,” Nylund said. “We officially acquired this space in December and were open for business in February.”
The first month of operation featured Mix and Nylund along with Logan Opsahl and Jayme Wolkerstorfer, who rent space from the business owners. The four filled their schedules with eyelash extension appointments, and in March they launched the tanning side of the operation.
“We have a total of eight

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Lavonne Alford, age 87, of Chisago City, passed away peacefully on February 9, 2017.
She was born on November 5, 1929 to John and Matilda (Valrath) Steffens in Fairmount, North Dakota.
Preceded in death by her parents and husband, Daniel.
She is survived by her sons, Steve, Mark, John (Denyce); six grandchildren; sister, Helen Fundom; brothers, Jerome (Katherine) Steffens, Lavern Steffens; many other relatives and friends.
A Celebration of Lavonne’s Life will be held from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, 2017 at Coon Lake Community and Senior Center, 182 Forest Rd., Coon Lake (Wyoming). Private interment at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.
Cards and memorials may be directed to Mattson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 343 N. Shore Drive, Forest Lake, MN 55025. Online condolences may be made at www.mattsonfuneralhome.com.

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Loving Father, Grandfather, Great-GrandfatherFrancis Laqua, age 91 of Forest Lake, formerly of Williston, ND, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on April 17, 2017.
Francis was a proud World War II Army Veteran. He served in the 25th Infantry division and was a Purple Heart recipient.
Preceded in death by wife, Lovella; son-in-law, Jerry LeDosquet.
Survived by children, Loren (Karen), Jeanette (Richard) Hahn, Delary (Jean), Patricia (Ted) Ferriter, Phyllis LeDosquet, Melanie (John) Baehr; 12 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
A Celebration of Francis’ Life will be 11 a.m. Thursday, April 27th at Faith Lutheran Church, 886 N. Shore Dr., Forest Lake, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Burial at Scandinavian Cemetery, Forest Lake with Military Honors performed by the Forest Lake American Legion. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to Faith Lutheran Church.

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Nikki Lyons performed a Native American dance complete with traditional costume at the Forest Lake Area High School’s Festival of Cultures.broadstreet.zone(48036);

Fabiola Diaz, Jesus Nicolas, and Elizabeth Diaz represented the performing group Mexico Lindo.

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Washington County Parks is planning to conduct controlled prairie burns this spring at Big Marine Park Reserve, Lake Elmo Park Reserve, St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park, and along County Road 18 between 13th and 18th street.
In addition, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources staff will be conducting a controlled burn at the Bayport Wildlife Management Area.
The controlled burns help preserve prairies and woodlands by encouraging the growth of native plants and reducing unwanted woody vegetation. Ultimately, these burns enhance wildlife habitat, recycle plant nutrients, and improve nectar resources for pollinators.broadstreet.zone(48036);
The controlled burns are planned with the assistance of local fire departments and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. They will occur on a weekday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. only when weather conditions permit a safe and effective burn. Trained personnel with fire-fighting equipment are on-site until the fire is extinguished.
For additional information, call the Washington County Natural Resources Coordinator

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