Staff Writer Ken Francis   More than 50 community stakeholders gathered at the Monticello Community Center Wednesday morning to get an update about the future of energy from Xcel. State legislators, county and city officials and members of law enforcement listened as representatives from Xcel Energy talked about their commitment to keep the area supplied with clean, reliable and affordable power. Chris Clark, Xcel president of Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota, spoke about how the power landscape is changing.   “There’s a tremendous transformation happening in our industry. We are ad ..read more

Editor Gary W. Meyer CAR AND BOAT-TRAILER access charges have funded maintenance at Big Lake’s Lakeside Park for many years. Some residents want that policy changed. (Photo by Gary W. Meyer)   Dave Dennis, city resident, has been knocking on doors for four months, attempting to secure signatures to a petition.    The petition, which is to be presented to the Big Lake City Council at some time in the future, is intended to motivate them to ban parking fees for cars, boats and trailers at Lakeside Park.    Dennis has secured 100 signators so far and is hoping with some publicity to g ..read more

Editor Gary W. Meyer The West Sherburne Tribune is suspending publication, effective with this issue.    The end for the newspaper comes after 40 years and four months of continuous publication, in most years, a Saturday newspaper.    We’ve enjoyed a prosperous experience for most of our years in running the newspaper.    But, things have changed in recent years. We will write briefly about them. The Depression which ravaged our community from 2006 to 2015 was disasterous. People lost their jobs, then their homes through mortgage foreclosure. Good sign - most of the ..read more

Editor Gary W. Meyer BLHS ASST. PRINCIPAL ANGIE FOLCH AND BLHS Social Worker Megan Brown met with the Big Lake Board of Education last week to talk about their vaping program. (Photos by Gary W, Meyer) PAM CHAFFEE, 33-year instructor with Big Lake Schools, some years at Independence and some at Liberty, was recognized on her retirement by the Big Lake Board of Education last week.    A diversion program - designed to promote students’ understanding of the health impacts of vaping and tobacco use - was outlined to the Big Lake Board of Education last week.     BLHS Asst ..read more

Staff Writer Ken Francis Solar farms continue to dot the Sherburne County landscape, but not without controversy. Tuesday, the county board approved four new one-megawatt solar farms during the planning and zoning agenda of the meeting. But earlier, during the public comment period, Mary Weber of Clear Lake and her brother, Big Lake City Councilman Paul Knier asked the commissioners to consider the long term-implications of solar farms before making their decision. Weber said there are already too many solar farms in her area at 92nd Street and 58th Ave. “There are so may solar panels that as ..read more

Staff Writer Ken Francis SHERBURNE COUNTY SHERIFF Joel Brott addresses the crowd during the Ed Foley Memorial ceremony Tuesday. THE MEMORIAL DEDICATED to Deputy Sheriff Ed Foley, the only Sherborne County deputy ever killed in the line of duty. (Photos by Ken Francis) Dozens of people gathered at the lobby of the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office Monday to pay tribute to former Deputy Sheriff Edward Foley. Foley is the only Sherburne County deputy ever killed in the line of duty. Sept. 27 marked the 100th Anniversary of his death. With the office and lobby packed with ..read more

Editor Gary W. Meyer MARK MUNICH of Big Lake is LISI’s longest-term employee, 43 years. He has served as a machine operator and machine maintainer, design and build and IT system administrator. He is pictured with Terry Anderson, also a Big Lake, who works with him as a machinest. (Photos by Gary W. Meyer)    (EDITOR’S NOTE: The following story has been compiled by Editor Gary W. Meyer with cooperation of Hanna Klimmek, city development director. The focus below is on four firms who are opening their doors to tours in celebration of Minnesota Manufactuers W ..read more

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Staff Writer Ken Francis JANELLE GERDTS returning a volley.     The Big Lake girls tennis team lost matches to Cambridge-Isanti and Chisago Lakes this week. CI 7, Big Lake 0 Singles No. 1 - Chloe Hajek, CI def. Ari Laun, 6-0, 6-2. No. 2 - Ashley Ladd, CAI def. Ella Dotzler, 6-0, 6-1. No. 3 - Natalie Randall, CI def. Lilly Stolte, 6-3, 6-0. No. 4 - Ava Lowman, CI def. Sophie Jones, 6-0, 6-1. Doubles No. 1 - Maddie Pynes - Mckenzie Rafftery, CI def. Sophie Wesolowski - Emmy Bowne, 6-0, 6-2. No. 2 - Sarah Baker - Maddie Lawrence, CI def. Brynn Mossak - Janelle Gerdts, 6-2, 6 ..read more

Staff Writer Ken Francis SOPHIA LANGE scored Big Lake’s only goal in a 2-1 loss to undefeated Chisago Lakes Tuesday. (Photo by Ken Francis.)    The Big Lake girls soccer team won a game and lost two over the past week.    Tuesday, they fell to undefeated Chisago Lakes, 2-1.    The Wildcats (11-0-1) scored the first goal early in the first half.    The Hornets tied the game later in the first half on a goal by Sophia Lange with an assist by Reagan Sternquist.    But Chisago Lakes scored again 6:03 into the second half. Big Lake goalkeeper Taylor Moen made the initial save, b ..read more