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ARTS & CULTURE: WB high school jazz band’s Night Club scales up PAGE 10
2026 Legislative preview
Minnesota Snow Drag Tour makes first-ever stop in Hugo
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The Hugo American Legion Shootout is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28 on Egg Lake. The event will kick off at 9 a.m. with a drivers meeting and is expected to run all day. BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
For the first time in its threeyear history, the Minnesota Snow Drag Tour will stop in Hugo. The Minnesota Snow Drag Tour will partner with Hugo American Legion Post 620 to host the
first-ever “Hugo American Legion Shootout” on frozen Egg Lake. Chet Atkinson, a 2012 White Bear Area High School grad, is one of the three co-founders of Minnesota Snow Drag Tour. “I grew up in Hugo, and I’ve always wanted to hold a race in Hugo at some time. I felt like this
year was going to be the year to do it,” he said. “We needed some assistance with some of the liabilities and to help take care of the liquor license, and we figured the Legion would be a good place to partner with.”
Karin Housley
The 2026 Minnesota legislative session kicks off this week. Key topics are expected to include elections, public safety and environmental protection. All 134 House and 67 Senate seats are up for election in 2026. Learn about local lawmakers’ priorities for 2026 in Press Publications’ Legislative Preview. SEE LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW, PAGE 5
SEE SNOW DRAG TOUR, PAGE 14
Maplewood Development submits sketch plan for Frenchman Village
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Maplewood Development Inc. plans to soon submit a formal application for a development to be known as Frenchman Village, which will be located on the property located south of Frenchman Road/County Road 8 and west of Highway 61.
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HUGO — Marvin LaValle has signed a contract with Maplewood Development Inc. to develop “Frenchman Village” on the property located south of Frenchman Road/ County Road 8 and west of Highway 61. The approximately 97-acre property is currently guided commercial, low-density residential and mixed use. Maplewood Development has requested review and comments on a sketch plan for the
clubhouse and pool. “The plan significantly reduces the amount of commercial land to be developed along the county road. However, it does show commercial uses at the intersections of Oneka Parkway and County Road 8 and at the corner of Highway 61 and County Road 8,” Juba said. “The applicant states the property has been marketed for several years with the current land use plan, and a project has not been able to work with the
development of the property with residential and commercial uses. “These are informal, nonbinding comments to the applicant on the plan, but it gives them a good idea of how they should move forward with the project,” explained Community Development Director Rachel Juba. The sketch plan shows 140 single-family homes, 150 townhomes and various commercial spaces totaling 95,000 square feet. The plan also includes a 4-acre public park, off-street trails and a private
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BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR