On an ordinary afternoon when Cambridge Primary School’s end-of-day dismissal rings, there is a cacophony of noise from students rushing to their buses or pick-up location. On Friday, May 26, the only sounds were those of shuffling feet, backpacks rustling, the wind blowing, and birds chirpi…
North Branch City Councilmember Kelly Neider was officially censured and will no longer serve as a liaison to the North Branch Water & Light Commission after her colleagues determined she violated their code of conduct. The council also informally requested Neider apologize to former cou…
Social media has become a major part in the lives of children and teenagers, and its possible impact on mental health is a growing area of conversation. Earlier this week, the American Psychological Association issued recommendations for guiding teenager’s use of social media for the first time.
After years, even decades, of the Northern Lights Express project looking like a distant pipe dream, it now appears the passenger train project that would link the Twin Cities with Duluth via railway is preparing to pull into the station.
A parade, petting zoo, pony rides, and musical performances are on tap for the annual Braham Area Chamber of Commerce Appreciation Day.
As summer approaches, more people are spending time outside and in the sun. Skin cancer, including melanoma, is one of the most common types of cancer in the United States.
Isanti Municipal Liquor Store Manager Keith Lusk presents Azure Davis, Executive Director of Ruff Start Rescue with a check from their April “round up” campaign.
Join Miss Margaret from the Cambridge Public Library for a special Storytime Around Town event at the Isanti County Historical Society. We will be reading on the porch of the 1870s cabin on Wednesday, June 14, from 10:45-11:15 a.m.
Cambridge Lutheran Church is hosting Vacation Bible School again this August. Gather, Grow, Go is for all kids aged 4 - grade 5 (completed). VBS is offered August 7th - 10th, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. An extended day option is available from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. for those in grades 1-5. Register by June 2…
Hey kids, get your hands dirty and learn about plants!
Firefighting efforts in Isanti County just received a vital upgrade in its arsenal, which could mean the difference between life and death during a structure fire. Each of the four law enforcement departments in Isanti County is now equipped with unique fire suppression devices, thanks to a …
We have another great Viking tradition to celebrate. Last Friday marked the 14th Community Service Day at North Branch Area Public Schools and students of all ages were again in our communities working to make a difference.
North Branch author Marie T Paleck is a woman of faith whose passion for writing has led her to be part of the new “Chicken Soup for the Soul 101 Feel Good Stories An Anthology of Humorous Tales,” from writers around the world. This is one of three “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books that Pale…
Shrinking snow banks and school board meetings are sure signs of summer, and the season is on its way in North Branch.
All five downtown businesses who applied to be a part of Cambridge’s new fire suppression program will be able to participate in it thanks to lower than expected bids to do the work.
Join us as we celebrate storytelling in its many forms at East Central Regional Library’s first-ever StoryCon event on Saturday, June 10. This is a free, all-day event full of fun activities for the whole family. It will be taking place at the Braham Event Center (655 8th St SW, Braham, MN 5…
Kids are invited to join us for a special craft time series called “Crafternoons” this summer at the North Branch Area Library! The crafts are intended for ages 8 and up. Some of the crafts may involve paint and other messy substances, so please dress accordingly. If weather allows, we may c…
Our Isanti Outreach Library, located in Isanti City Hall, 110 NW 1st Ave., Isanti, MN 55040, is open every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is a sizable number and variety of items available there. You can also search for and request items on the East Central Regional Library web site …
Join us as we kick off our Summer Discovery Program- Find Your Voice!- with five-time GRAMMY Nominee Justin Roberts at the Cambridge Public Library on Tuesday, June 13 at 10:30am and North Branch Area Library on Tuesday, June 13 at 1 p.m.
North Branch Area Middle School 8th grade art students were challenged to design a poster to promote “Bike to School Day” through the Minnesota Safe Routes to School initiative. This year’s theme was “how does biking make you feel?” and it was up to students how they wanted to interpret and …
The list of possible successors to Julia Lines in the second round of the search for a new Isanti County Administrator has been whittled down to a final five, with again a couple names familiar to the area.
As of July 22, Isanti County will have a new face leading its auditor/treasurer department for the first time since 2015 as current Chief Financial Officer/Auditor/Treasurer Chad Struss has tendered his resignation.
Dozens of dancers and twice as many attendees filled the room for the first-ever Indigenous Spring Drum and Dance at the North Branch Area High School.
The Isanti County Board of Commissioners is entering the home stretch of the second round of the selection process for naming a new permanent county administrator.
The North Branch City Council continues to balk at the cost of the investigation they ordered of City Administrator Renae Fry, which could lead to a $28,564 overage in the yearly city attorney budget.
Representatives from the Isanti County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Patrol, and Cambridge and Isanti Police Departments placed wreaths to honor peace officers who were killed in the line of duty during Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 16 as part of National Police Week. First photo, a…
The hunter-gatherer lifestyle was the standard way of living for humans until around 11,000 to 10,000 years ago according to National Geographic. The hunter-gatherer lifestyle focuses on hunting wild animals or game and collecting or harvesting vegetation for food, medicine, clothing, or too…
Making a conscious effort to throw the right things into the trash, and not the wrong things, can make all the difference in the world for those in the solid waste industry. One example of what can, and does often happen, occurred recently just north of Pine City.
Before digging on your property for plantings, fencing or other projects, homeowners are encouraged to think about safety first. Hitting an underground electrical wire or gas line could be dangerous and costly.
Seventh and eighth grade students from The Arts and Science Academy toured the Isanti-Chisago County Star Newspaper office and press area to learn more about the process of writing, editing, printing and publishing a weekly newspaper.
East Central Minnesota Pride will hold the 18th ‘Pride in the Park’, Saturday, June 3, 2023, from noon to 5 p.m. in Robinson Park, downtown Pine City. The event is a celebration of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning) community of Pine, Isanti, Chisago, K…
East Central Energy is proud to announce that construction for ECE Fiber started on May 8, 2023. Construction will consist of installing both overhead and underground fiber lines, starting in the Dalbo area before moving to Ogilvie, Braham, and Pine City throughout the remainder of the year.
Savannah Jorgenson and Lacie Mohs, pictured with the scissors, are joined by family and friends, plus Cambridge City Administrator Evan Vogel at the ribbon cutting hosted by North 65 Chamber of Commerce celebrating the opening of The Babe Cave located at 1001 1st Ave E, Suite 180 in Cambridge.
Wayne and Angi Butt (with scissors) are surrounded by City of Isanti officials and members of the North 65 Chamber of Commerce of Commerce at the ribbon cutting for the Circle B Wedding & Event Venue located at 27498 Railroad Ave, in Isanti.
The county is excited to invite the community to engage with the Imagine 2045 Isanti County Comprehensive Plan process. The Comprehensive Plan is the County’s guiding document for development and decision making – and your input is needed to create the plan. Your input will shape the County…
North Branch Area High School Air Force JROTC Viking Cadets Rayne Yang and Jasmin Suppon earned medals at the National All-Service High School Junior ROTC Drill Team Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida on May 6. Yang, 5th, and Suppon, 10th, earned national medals during the Unarmed Knock…
Create a cross-stitched self-portrait from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 17 at the North Branch Area Library. Participants will create their own pattern using provided samples, select their floss colors, and begin stitching in class. They will be sent home with materials and instructions f…
Seniors who need help with basic technology skills can receive one-on-one support at the Cambridge library. A weekly program offering personalized tech help has been introduced to help seniors navigate tasks such as sending emails, accessing eBooks, and eAudiobooks.
The North Branch Chamber of Commerce only has enough money on hand to meet less than three months worth of expenses. That is the grim reality presented to Chamber members by Chamber President Frank Gomes during a “State of the Chamber” presentation during its May luncheon.
From her classroom in Isanti Middle School where Yuliya (pronounced Julia) Pais works as an ELL IA, the monthly tornado siren tests makes her heart race with fear and anxiety. For Pais, the sound is a reminder of Russian missile attacks and Iranian Shahed drones flying overhead.
In the same spirit as senior student-athletes are recognized for signing on to continue competing in their chosen sports in college, Cambridge-Isanti High School is recognizing students who have signed on to serve their country in one of the branches of the military.
A public hearing for the North Branch City Council has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 24 at 6 p.m. to address alleged violations of the City Code of Conduct made by Councilmember Kelly Neider.
Meteorologist Brandon Weatherz demonstrates the effects of electricity at the Cambridge Library during his recent “Weatherz School” program. The event is one of many fun, educational offerings at all the ECRL branches. Go to www.ecrlib.org and click on “Read, Play, Learn” for an updated ca…
Library Storytime at Veterans
Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 21st, 2023 at 2 pm to celebrate Spring as you and your family join the East Central Grad Band in concert. The concert will be held at the Cambridge-Isanti High School - Hardy Center, featuring everything from “Bubbling Woodwinds”, “Slim Trombones”, “Strike…
Three of the Isanti County Commissioners had the final say regarding the proposed First Amendment “Right to Read” proclamation — and they said it without saying a word.
As the old saying goes, “The show must go on!”
