Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Scan for deals on page 2
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN
THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2026 VOL. 23 NO. 17 www.readthecitizen.com $1.50
ARTS AND CULTURE: Bald Eagle Art Crawl gears up for year 3 PAGE 7
Hugo seeks bridge funding for 2027 project BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
of the community,” Menne said, noting that the featured music acts are much the same. This past week, the farm hosted local teen trio The Mothers Band for their final show. “We’ve had them out for the past couple of years, and they bring such a lovely sound and ambiance. It’s a whole experience,” said Menne. The Mothers Band—White Bear Lake Area High School graduating seniors Freya
The city of Hugo is hopeful it can secure nearly $1.15 million from state bridge funds for the reconstruction of two bridges next construction season. City Engineer Mark Erichson explained that the Forest Road bridge and the Fable Hills bridge are both in need of replacement. The Forest Road bridge is over 100 years old. It is located just north of 175th Street, just west of Highway 61 and the Hardwood Creek Regional Trail. The Fable Hills bridge located over Clearwater Creek, constructed in 2004, is not nearly as old but its treated timber deck is starting to fail. Initially, the projects were slated for construction in 2028 but city staff chose to switch things around in hopes of securing state funding for the projects for 2027. “We altered our plan a bit and switched to try to take advantage of the opportunity when there is funding available,” Erichson explained. “We moved it up to try to construct the bridge with the neighborhood together with the funding.” The Minnesota Local Bridge Replacement Program provides state funding to local governments for the replacement, rehabilitation and removal of deficient bridges on local roads. The costs are typically funded at up to 50% for projects on state aid streets and up to 100% for projects on municipal streets. Erichson noted that both the Forest Road bridge and the Fable Hill bridge are located on municipal streets and eligible for up to 100% funding for qualifying costs. The 2026 bonding bill
SEE FLOWER FARM, PAGE 16
SEE BRIDGE RECONSTRUCTION, PAGE 15
LOGAN GION | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
From left: Freya Sanders, Luisa Maruyama and Holly Flood — the members of the Mothers Band perform their final song, “Home.”
T and Nae Flower Farm in Hugo helps businesses and talent bloom BY LOGAN GION STAFF WRITER
Every Wednesday this month, T and Nae Flower Farm— owned and operated by sisters Taryn Menne and Renee Neeser—hosts makers and bakers as well as a local music act. “We used to go to different farmers markets selling flowers, and thought, ‘Why don't we just create this at our space and have people come to us?’” said Menne. “(We) have all different sorts of local, small
businesses. Some people are just getting started. There’s some little kids selling little bracelets all the way up to well-established community businesses.” Established businesses include 350 Degrees Bakery in Mahtomedi and Egg Roll Queen Food Truck. Menne and Neeser’s uncle also sells beef, from 715 Neeser Family Farms Beef, at the flower shop, which Menne says is perfect for summer grilling. “They just keep coming back because they enjoy being part
White Bear Schools to launch only student-run credit union branch BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
White Bear Lake Area High School will be the only school in the state this school year to offer a student-run Royal Credit Union branch to students. Royal has operated its School $ense program for over 30 years in Wisconsin, but is looking to get the program up and running in Minnesota. Royal previously had a school site at Eden Prairie High School, but it is no longer operating. White Bear Lake Area High School marks the 31st school site. “We have a huge commitment to financial education and working with schools,” said Deb Paulsen,
Royal financial education supervisor. “White Bear Lake has been a really great partner for us … so it was a natural evolution to partner more with them on some of the things that we have expertise in.” The partnership between the credit union and school district took off a couple years ago through the launch of the Test Drive Reality Fair, which gives high school students a real-life simulation of money and finances and lets them “test drive” their future to see what it takes to make it on their own. SHANNON GRANHOLM | PRESS PUBLICATIONS Four students from the district were selected for White Bear Lake Area High School students Amiya a paid internship with Royal forany the10" 2026-27 schoolBasket $7.00 Hanging Scott-Waddington and Louie Blomgren are two of four
(Reg. value $32.99)
SEE CREDIT UNION, PAGE 8
FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1923
GARDEN
interns selected to be student tellers for a new partnership between the school district and Royal Credit Union.
LANDSCAPING with LebenScape. Call for consultation NOW!
CENTER
16155 Forest Blvd, Hugo (Highway 61)Visit us On CIRCULATION 651-407-1234 ppcirc@presspubs.com
863983
GARDEN WIDE SALE Perennials, Trees, Shrubs • 651-488-6707
NEWS 651-407-1230 citizennews@presspubs.com
ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com
CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com
PRODUCTION 651-407-1253 artmanager@presspubs.com