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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026 VOL. 23 NO. 13 www.readthecitizen.com $1.50
HUGO: Neighbors, business owners defend local business PAGE 8
Leukemia patient needs help Sunday at Kelly’s Korner BY LOGAN GION STAFF WRITER
PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Resident veterans honored during ceremony A group of veterans, from left, Roger Strand, Army; Picollo “Cola” Mathison, Marines; Roger Holmstrom, Army Air Corps; and Roger “Big Bob” Marx, Marines, were recently honored during a pinning ceremony at Good Life Senior Living in Hugo. WWII Veteran Roger Holmstrom flew top secret, moonlit, night missions as a tail gunner on a B-24 bomber, delivering humanitarian aid behind enemy lines. Holmstrom’s daughter Jenny Nelson and his son Bob Holmstrom, a Vietnam War veteran, joined the 100-year-old at the ceremony.
Lino Lakes resident Mitch Kisch makes sure his neighbors feel less alone. According to his friend, Matt Hyden, Mitch has done one-off jobs around his community since he was a kid—building pools, moving furniture, mowing lawns. If someone needs a helping hand, Mitch is there to support them. “He always makes sure you feel seen,” Toni Williams, Mitch’s friend, said. “He makes sure your birthdays are special. He’s just been a very genuine human being.” Even after his diagnosis of acute leukemia in 2021, Mitch has continued doing fix-it projects when he can. “If somebody needs help, they’ll call him. He’s got his truck, and he’s there,” said Sandy Kisch, Mitch’s mother. Now, however, Mitch needs
CONTRIBUTED
Mitch Kisch undergoes another round of treatment.
someone to be there for him. He needs a bone marrow transplant and a way to pay his hospital bills. That is why Mitch’s friends are holding a public benefit from 2-4 p.m., Sunday, June 28, SEE LEUKEMIA BENEFIT, PAGE 11
Hugo Fire Department makes some changes to Capital Equipment Plan HUGO — A truck committee, which was tasked with evaluating the Hugo Fire Department’s (HFD) equipment Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), is recommending the city make some changes to the plan moving forward. One of the City Council’s goals for 2026 is to evaluate the CIP to accommodate future fire department engines. The truck committee, appointed by Chief Jim Compton Jr., completed a review of the department’s fleet, including maintenance costs, number of fire apparatus and replacement options. The committee has made some recommendations to the council including which vehicles should be phased out
and replaced with new vehicles with different capabilities. The recommendation also includes a new strategy that should equate to long-term cost savings for the city. “They looked at a lot of different aspects of these trucks,” Compton said. He added that, per the city’s CIP, a large apparatus should last 30 years; a small apparatus, 20 years; and a chief squad, 10 years. Up next for replacement will be Brush 2 in 2026, Tender 1 in 2032 and Rescue 1 in 2034. The committee is recommending that the city council consider a re-chassis strategy for its large apparatus. That means the stainless-steel truck box, SEE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT PLAN, PAGE 7
$15.00 OFF
CONTRIBUTED $7.00 any 10" Hanging Basket The Hugo Fire Department (HFD) will purchase a 2024 brush/light rescue Ford F550 from CET (Reg. value HFD $32.99) in Canada. will purchase the truck from Fire Safety USA for $250,000. The department
expects to take delivery of the truck in July. The original price tag was $310,000
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