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POLICE CHIEF: Announces retirement planned for May PAGE 8
2026 Legislative preview
Couple Q&A: Valentine’s Day edition Press Publications asked local couples a few questions about their love story. Dennis and Kathy Erno
Q: What was your first impression of him? A: “Handsome. A little forward, a little suspicious because I was a little younger.”
Q: How long have you been married? A: “57 years. We met in college. University of Wisconsin River Falls. We were exchanging classes. She was coming from a class, and I was going to a class. And we met on the stairs, and I wanted to meet her because I was attracted to her, so I asked her if she had a sister that went here, which was my opening line. So I asked her out. Our first date was at a Sadie Hawkins dance, which was supposed to be girls-ask-boys. That's how our relationship started.”
Q: What’s the secret to that many years of marriage? A: “Just to know each other very well and don't give up. Discuss if you have a conflict and try to come up with a compromise or whatever.” “We have shared values. We’re both, I’d say, moderate progressives, and we have the same moral and religious and social values.” “And we love each other.”
Joshua Duckett and Kelly Jacobson
Patti Anderson
Q: What's the secret to happiness in a relationship? A: “We have so much fun. I feel like we allow ourselves to be like the young and funny side and I think the really honest side.”
Q: How did you meet? A: “It'll be three years [of dating] on Valentine's Day exactly. We met online and I asked her out. She declined.” “At first because my friend also didn't have someone, so we wanted to have a girls Valentine's Day.” “So I convinced her to still have that girl's Valentines and come out.” “And it ended up being a really amazing night. We moved in with each other I want to say like a year later and we've been really, really happy.”
Karin Housley
Q: What do you guys do for your Valentine's Day anniversary? A: “Sometimes we go back to the first place that we met. Nico's Tacos. But we mix it up depending on weather.” “Nothing too crazy.”
Brion Curran
Heather Gustafson
Judy Seeberger
The 2026 Minnesota legislative session is scheduled to convene on Tuesday, Feb. 17. 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 more on page 9
SEE 2026 LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW, PAGE 14
VFW salutes courage and commitment of firefighter, police officer WHITE BEAR LAKE — The Keep-Zimmer VFW Post 1782 has made its picks for the firefighter and police officer of the year awards. “Veterans, firefighters and police officers have much in common, so much more so than wearing uniforms and a military-like chain of command. Training that includes teaching muscle memory and being able to calmly respond under pressure is a thing that gives us a common bond,” explained VFW Cmdr. Gary Carlberg. Each year, the VFW works closely with the police
chief and fire chief to determine who should receive the award. “We in White Bear Lake have some outstanding people to choose from,” Carlberg said. Firefighter/paramedic Josh Cermak and police officer Cole Campbell were selected for the honor.
Josh Cermak
Cermak will celebrate his 10th anniversary with the White Bear Lake Fire Department this April. Cermak, who grew up in White Bear Lake, attended the University of North Dakota for physical therapy. After he SEE ANSWERING THE CALL, PAGE 11
GEORGE BROWN | CONTRIBUTED
Josh Cermak, center, is the Firefighter of the Year. Also pictured are Fire Chief Greg Petsrson and VFW Cmdr. Gary Carlberg.
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