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County continues to plan for regional trail expansion BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
A major regional trail project continues to move forward. Once a one-mile extension is complete, there will be continuity from Ramsey County up to Chisago County. The Hardwood Creek Regional Trail is a 10-mile multiuse trail that stretches through Forest Lake and Hugo. From the north to south, the existing trail follows the Burlington Northern Railroad corridor, adjacent to Highway 61, from the Chisago County border in the north to 140th Street in Hugo in Washington County, where it stops. There is currently a one-mile gap in the trail where the rail line remains active. “By extending the trail south from 130th Street N to 120th Street N, the gap will be addressed, and the trail will have continuity from Ramsey County up to Chisago County,” explained Erin Blaylock, Washington County design engineer/business liaison. A master plan was approved for the trail nearly a decade ago (2013), and the city of Hugo undertook a preliminary feasibility study for the corridor in 2019. The county also performed a feasibility study for the project in 2022. At the time, the council approved a letter of support for the final extension of
PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Pre-Easter bunny sighting Hundreds of children recently scrambled across the athletic fields at Podvin Park during two Easter Egg hunting sessions, sponsored by the White Bear Lake Police Department and managed by CERT volunteers. The Easter Bunny made an appearance and three gold, prize winning eggs were included among the hundreds of eggs distributed across the fields for each egg hunting session. Easter will be celebrated this year on Sunday, April 5.
SEE REGIONAL TRAIL, PAGE 9
Minnesota cities call on Legislature to deliver 2026 small-business relief plunge. One business closed for a rental assistance and $10 million in month and a half due to staffing partially forgivable small business shortages, resulting in close to loans for those who experienced $4,000 in substantial food losses revenue alone. Other losses businesses during the are falling surge. behind The on rent in coalition amounts says the ranging disruption from $15,000 has hit to $45,000. small Mike Krachmer Business businesses Mayor, Vadnais Heights owners especially across the hard. coalition described maxing out Accounts from local business credit cards to stay af loat. owners describe conditions as While the coalition continues to "worse than COVID." Restaurants, assess the full scope of economic markets and salons saw foot traffic
Cities for Safe and Stable Communities is urging lawmakers to pass small-business relief bills this session to stabilize local economies in the aftermath of Operation Metro Surge. The Senate Jobs committee heard testimony on the topic, specifically SF 4527 and SF 4535. Preliminary coalition data shows an estimated 150,000 immigrant and foreign-born community members were directly affected by the surge, which directly impacted hundreds of local businesses. Businesses in the coalition cities reported revenue losses of 50% to 100% during the operation. This comes on the heels of Gov. Tim Walz’s budget proposal, which included $33 million in emergency
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damage and is supporting additional policy changes to prevent similar disruptions in the future, Vadnais Heights Mayor Mike Krachmer voiced his concern. “The pending actions by the state government are important for communities and businesses to begin the process of rebuilding, (and) the day-to-day needs of many families continue to go unmet in the wake of Operation Metro Surge,” said Krachmer. He encouraged residents to seek out more readily available resources that can help bridge the gap in the meantime. A Vadnais Heights’ immigration resources webpage is available at: https://www.cityvadnaisheights. com/1072/Immigration-Resources.
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