Shawn Hogendorf

The St. Croix River Crossing will open to traffic at 8 p.m. today, Gov. Mark Dayton announced at a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning. Three MnDOT vehicles will be the first to cross, Kevin Gutknecht, an agency spokesman told the Pioneer Press. Mark Desch, a longtime Stillwater business owner and classic-car collector, will be the last to cross the Stillwater Lift Bridge driving his 1931 Stutz DV-32 Convertible Sedan. The city of Stillwater will commemorate the official closing of the Lift Bridge with the Cruisin’ to Closure event beginning at at 6 p.m. in Lowell Park. Continue Reading →

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The Minnesota Department of Transportation closed the Highway 243 bridge between Franconia Township and Osceola this afternoon after a hole was discovered in the deck. MnDOT bridge maintenance staff are on the scene and are assessing bridge damage. It will remain closed through the weekend until repairs are made. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes to reach their destinations. It is recommended that travelers use the Highway 8 bridge at Taylors Falls/St. Continue Reading →

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Stillwater Lumberjack Days 2017 is on. The vendor market, activities and the Lumberkids area open at 10 a.m. Friday. The Shackletons, Porcupine, Crankshaft and HALEY close out the night on the main stage. Here’s a look at Friday’s schedule:

11 a.m.-6 p.m. — Helicopter Rides (Riverside Park – just South along the trail)

Noon-6 p.m. — Pontoon and Gondola Rides ($5 each)

1-4 p.m. — Bingo in the Park (Beer Garden)

1 p.m. — Reading of 2nd Clue for the Medallion Hunt at the Warden’s House Museum

2-5 p.m. — Lumberjack Days Down Hill Derby on 2nd Street

4-7- p.m. — Lumberjack Demonstrations

Live Music:

Michelle Katz: National Anthem 5
 p.m.

The Shackletons 5-6 p.m.

Porcupine 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Crankshaft 8-9:15 p.m.

HALEY 9:45-11 p.m.

Continue Reading →

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The Stillwater Lumberjack Days Historic Medallion Hunt is on. The first clue was read Thursday night at the Ice Cream Social. Here it is:

Clue #1

Good Evening Hunters! The time is upon us

To play the giant game of clues and discuss. We hunters are a curious breed

We seek out of fun, not out of need. Continue Reading →

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Stillwater Lumberjack Days kicks off Thursday with an Ice Cream Social at the Washington County Historic Courthouse. The Ice Cream Social begins at 5 p.m.

The first clue in the Lumberjack Days Historic Medallion Hunt will be read at 7 p.m. during the Ice Cream Social. Buttons will be sold until 6:59 p.m.

There will be live music by Scrapegoat Skin & Bones and Blue Groove Bluegrass, as well as a petting zoo, children’s games and activities. The Civil War exhibit is open in the Historic Courthouse, and you can take jail tours. There will also be hotdogs and brats, $.50 root beer floats, doughnuts and penny candy. Continue Reading →

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The Locals are still looking for volunteers to help with Lumberjack Days. The Locals are looking for help setting up the Lumberjack Days music stage at the corner of Water and Myrtle streets starting at 10 a.m. Thursday. The Locals are also looking for help as set-up and tear-down crew members, volunteers for the downhill derby, music stage hands and helping with the parade. Check out the available times and positions, and sign up to help

Lumberjack Days is happening this week, July 21-23, in downtown Stillwater. Continue Reading →

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Stars of the Week for July 16:

The Dave’s Sport Shop Hitter of the Week is Isaac Schlichting. Isaac hit a clutch lead-off triple in the bottom of the last inning of a tied game and eventually scored the winning run walk-off style. Sam Olson and Andy Wiederholt are the Stillwater Motors Players of the Week. The 12A players played with the 13A team who needed a couple players and combined for 3 hits, 7 RBI’s and a fantastic catch in CF. Reece Bastyr is the Bayport Printing House Sportsmanship Star of the Week. Continue Reading →

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Powerful storms that moved through the area early Wednesday morning left thousands of people without power. Xcel Energy reported that about 14,000 customers in Washington County were without power, including more than 5,700 in the Stillwater area. Crews are working to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. You can check the Xcel Energy Power Outage map for updates. Continue Reading →

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Stillwater announced plans for a couple of events to celebrate the closure of the Stillwater Lift Bridge to automobile traffic next month. “We don’t know what time MnDOT will throw up the ‘Bridge Closed’ sign and do the permanent traffic shift, but we’ll be downtown celebrating until they do,” Kozlowski said in a news release. “This is a significant moment in the history of our town, and we know people are going to want to get together and be part of it. It’s going to be one of those events that you’ll tell your grandchildren you attended.”

City leaders will reconvene in south Lowell Park at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 2 for a public festival being called “Cruisin’ to Closure.”

Cruisin’ to Closure adds to the already-scheduled Cruisin’ on the Croix classic car show, to accommodate the large crowds expected to gather downtown for the final closure of the bridge to automobile traffic. Continue Reading →

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Needed: Your nominations for stars of the week. Even though regular season and tournament season are now ending, we will continue Stars of the Week for the next two weeks through playoffs and state tournaments. Please continue to submit nominations at goo.gl/GzAhkJ. Stars of the Week for July 9:

Quinten Howe is the Bayport Printing House Sportsmanship Star of the Week. Quinten is enthusiastic, never loses his smile, the first to cheer his teammates on. Continue Reading →

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Summer Tuesdays kicks off this week in Lowell Park with LEGO Batman on the big screen, and music by Lars Carlson & the Secondhand Hipsters. The Summer Tuesdays marketplace opens at 5 p.m. Live music begins at 6 p.m. and the movie starts about 10 minutes after sunset in north Lowell Park. Now in its 15th year, Summer Tuesdays will run through Aug. 22. Here’s a look at this year’s lineup:

July 11

Music: Lars Carlson & the Secondhand Hipsters

Movie: LEGO Batman

July 18

Music: Scrapegoat

Movie: Princess Bride

July 25

Music: 40 Below

Movie: Moana

August 1

Music: Vinny Rose

Movie: Trolls

August 8

Music: Tommy Bentz Band

Movie: Finding Dory

August 15

Music: Third Wheel Project

Movie: Sing

August 22

Music: Army Band

Movie: The Sandlot Continue Reading →

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If you’re planning on taking in Fourth of July fireworks from a boat on the St. Croix River on Tuesday, you’ll want to note these changes to the Stillwater Lift Bridge schedule. Link: The 411 on Stillwater’s Fourth of July Celebration: Fireworks, Music, Parking and Parades

To accommodate an increase in downtown vehicle traffic, the Stillwater Lift Bridge will remain in the down position at 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4. The 10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. lifts will still take place. The fireworks will start at about 10 p.m. Continue Reading →

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MnDOT crews worked through the night, and were able to temporarily repair the Stillwater Lift Bridge to reopen for Wednesday morning’s commute. The Lift Bridge reopened just before 4:30 a.m. The normal lift schedule also resumed this morning. The bridge will close again at 10 p.m. tonight to allow crews to make permanent repairs to the bridge’s main power cable. The Lift Bridge will remain closed until 6 a.m. Thursday. In the case of inclement weather, the permanent repairs will be postponed until Thursday night. Continue Reading →

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MNDoT crews will work through the night in an attempt to get the Stillwater Lift Bridge working before Wednesday morning’s commute. “Well…it’s a good news, bad news situation tonight with the Stillwater Lift Bridge,” said Kent Barnard, a MnDOT spokesperson. Crews were able to fix the damaged electrical meter and socket before 8:30 p.m. and were testing the bridge when additional electrical problems were discovered. “Although power was restored to the bridge shortly before 8:30 p.m., after workers lowered the bridge and then attempted to lift it again, the lift span halted halfway up and remains in that position,” Barnard said. Several employees from MnDOT’s Electrical Services Section (ESS) and the bridge tender were on the bridge when it became stalled the second time. Continue Reading →

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Updated at 8:40 p.m.

The Stillwater Lift Bridge remains closed to traffic due to a power outage. A malfunction in an electrical meter socket that monitors power usage at the Stillwater lift bridge failed shortly after noon, and abruptly disrupted the scheduled noon lift, said Kent Barnard, a spokesperson for MnDOT. The lift span of the bridge was on its downward journey at approximately 12:05 p.m. Tuesday when the meter socket failed and cut electricity to the bridge. The bridge stopped about 30 feet above the water, and remains in that position. (The entire span lifts a total of 42 feet). Continue Reading →

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Congratulations to the 15AAA team who won the Gopher State Midsummer Classic, the 14AA team placed 2nd in the Cheesehead Championships in Wisconsin Dells and the 13AA Red team took 3rd in Owatonna. Stars of the Week for June 25:

Tony Ingram is the Stillwater Motors Player of the Week. Tony hit 2 home runs  in the Cheesehead Championships for his 14AA team, going 6-13 with 10 runs batted in (RBIs) and 5 runs. He was voted MVP of the national tournament by the other coaches. Alex Oberg is the Umpire of the Week. Continue Reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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A ribbon cutting ceremony for the long anticipated St. Croix River River Crossing is set for Wednesday, Aug. 2. The ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony will start at 10 a.m., Wednesday Aug. 2 on the eastbound Highway 36 approach ramp spanning Highway 95 in Oak Park Heights. Continue Reading →

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What a weekend for Stillwater Area Baseball! The 15AAA, 13AA Black and 13AAA teams all won their tournament championships. The 10A team took second, and 13AA Red and 11AA placed third. Way to go Stillwater Area Baseball! Here’s our weekly award winners for the week of June 11. Continue Reading →

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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 →

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