Shawn Hogendorf

The Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Food Truck Extravaganza is happening today at Stillwater Area High School. The Food Truck Extravaganza includes 18 food trucks, a market place, live music, a business area, kid’s activities, bingo, a military row and a pizza eating contest at 3 p.m. The Chamber’s newest event is Saturday, June 24 from 11 a.m. t0 6 p.m.

“We are excited to launch this new community event” Chamber Director Robin Anthony said. “We hope to make this an annual community event and grow this event to be one of the biggest food truck events in the state.” Continue Reading →

Filed under: Around Town

Former Stillwater Area High School boys hockey coach Phil Housley has been named head coach of the Buffalo Sabres. Housley was drafted by the Sabres in the first round (6th overall) of the 1982 NHL Draft. He went on to play 21 seasons in the NHL, and be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Housley’s 1,232 career points (338 goals and 894 assists) rank third among American players and fourth among defensemen all-time. He is also the Sabres’ career and individual-season leader in goals, assists and points by a defenseman, according to NHL.com. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Around Town

Washington County is celebrating 150 years since the groundbreaking of the county’s Historic Courthouse, the 100th anniversary of the Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument and special dedication of its 2017 Time Capsule. The 150th Anniversary Celebration will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at the Historic Courthouse. There will be a time capsule ceremony, live music, Civil War re-enactors, $1 hot dogs, old-fashioned candy, picnicking on the lawn and a Civil War exhibit grand opening. The public is invited to enjoy a picnic on the Washington County Historic Courthouse lawn. A program by Arn Kind, “Minnesota in the Civil War,” will be presented at 11 a.m. Civil War reenactor Ken Martens will be on hand at 12:30 p.m. giving a speech on Sam Bloomer, a Stillwater area soldier who fought with the First Minnesota in the Civil War. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Around Town

The Stillwater Lift Bridge has reopened to motor vehicle traffic after a cabin cruiser trying to make the 7 p.m. lift hit the bridge. The boat struck the Lift Bridge as it was coming down from the up position, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. The vessel, a 1967 37-foot cabin cruiser was driven by a Marine on the St Croix resident at the time of the crash, according to the Sheriff’s Office. As the boat travelled under the bridge, the upper portion of the boat struck the bridge and was sheered off. A Stillwater woman was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to the sheriff’s office. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Around Town

The Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce celebrated the 150 year anniversary of the Washington County Historic Courthouse on May 30 in Stillwater at a ribbon cutting ceremony. Groundbreaking for the construction of the building took place in 1867, and the Courthouse opened in 1870. It is the oldest standing courthouse in the state of Minnesota. Commanding a beautiful view of Stillwater and the St Croix Valley, the Washington County Historic Courthouse portrays the substance and elegance of a bygone era and offers public tours that include courtroom, jail, and history exhibits. The public is invited to attend a 150th anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 3 from 11am – 3pm. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Around Town

Every week this baseball season, we will announce Stillwater Area Baseball Weekly Stars here on Stillwater Current. Here’s our weekly award winners for the week of May 28. Cameron Parent is the Pitcher of the Week after throwing three sharp, scoreless innings for the win over Red Wing in a tournament. Despite the cold and steady rain, Cameron gave up just one walk and had no wild pitches. He also picked off two baserunners and struck out five! Continue Reading →

Filed under: Around Town

There have been a few black bear sightings in — and around Stillwater — this week. Thomas Stanislaw posted several photos in the Pictures of Stillwater Facebook group of a black bear he spotted Wednesday morning a couple blocks from the Harbor Bar off of Mckusick Road. The black bear was also spotted Wednesday morning near County Road 5 and Wilkins Street, and at Fifth Street and Laurel on the North Hill. Useful Links:

DNR: Living with Bears

DNR lists tips for avoiding conflicts with bears

This photo taken by Brynna Turnau‎, and posted to the Pictures of Stillwater group was taken Wednesday morning on Mckusick (County 64) next to Oak Glen where the Brown’s Creek Trail crosses. This video and photo were posted by Karen Arai at Fairy Falls:

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources:

“Most bears are wary of people and will usually leave when encountered. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Around Town

Stillwater’s Memorial Day ceremony to honor St. Croix Valley casualties of war will begin at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 29 at the Veterans Memorial. The ceremony will include a wreath laying to recognize the fallen soldiers from each of the branches of the armed forces. The ceremony will include music by the Stillwater Wind Symphony and the Croix Chordsmen, a T-6 Thunder Flight Team flyover and a rifle salute by local Veterans of Foreign War members. The guest speaker for this year’s event is Lieutenant Colonel Bill VandenBergh, U.S. Army. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Around Town

Summer Tuesdays just announced the 2017 music and movie lineup. Now in its 15th year, Summer Tuesdays will run from July 11 through Aug. 22 along the banks of the St. Croix River in downtown Stillwater. Summer Tuesdays will feature a marketplace that opens at 5 p.m., live music will begin at 6 p.m. and a movie that will start 10 minutes after sunset in north Lowell Park. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Around Town

Every week this baseball season, we will announce Stillwater Area Baseball Weekly Stars here on Stillwater Current. Here’s our weekly award winners for the week of May 14. Ben Jackels, playing for the 13AAA team is the Stillwater Motors Player of the Week. Ben pitched 2 no-hit innings with one K, and at the plate had a key double, with an RBI and a run scored. Erik Anderson is the Dave’s Sport Shop Umpire of the Week. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Around Town

Lakeview Hospital has signed a purchase agreement for 68 acres of land on the north side of Highway 36, east of Manning Avenue, in Stillwater. The hospital anticipates closing on the purchase before year-end. “There are no immediate plans—or timelines—for the property,” said Ted Wegleitner, President and CEO of Lakeview Hospital. “Securing the land is a step toward preparing for the anticipated growth of our community and ensuring that we’ll be able to provide quality health care to Stillwater and surrounding community residents for decades to come.”

The hospital purchased two-thirds of the 68-acre parcel from Crescent Development LLC, and the other one-third from Paul Bergmann, a farmer and long-time Stillwater resident whose family has owned land in the area since the 1950s. Because the hospital’s timeframe to use the property is long-term, Bergmann will continue farming and operating his business – Bergmann’s Greenhouses Farm Market – on the land. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Around Town

Earlier this afternoon Stillwater Area Public Schools families may have received an email from a district staff member attempting to share a Google doc. The district is warning parents not to open these emails. “Google has identified this as a nationwide issue and is currently working to resolve it,” an email from Stillwater Schools Technology Team reads. “Our technology team has stopped the further spread of the emails from Stillwater Area Public Schools.” It is a good idea for everyone to change their Google password at this time to prevent further issues. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Around Town