News Flash

New AH Schools Superintendent Named

The Anoka-Hennepin School District has selected its next superintendent. On Wednesday night, the School Board voted 5-1 to hire Cory McIntyre for the role pending successful contract negotiations.McIntyre, who currently serves as superintendent of Osseo A...

New Tool Helps Police Catch Retail Thieves

Coon Rapids is home to one of the biggest retail areas in Anoka County. And while Riverdale Village is rolling out the welcome mat to shoppers this holiday season, mall management is teaming up with police to crackdown on thieves."We have a lot of pe...

Giant Spruce Arrives for Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Festival

The giant, 40 foot tall Norway Spruce tree has stood in the front yard of Kathy and David Carlin's home in Coon Rapids for nearly four decades. But on Tuesday, the Carlins donated their tree to the Coon Rapids Community Strength Foundation for th...

Project Lead the Way Executives Visit CRHS

Local industry leaders joined executives from Project Lead the Way (PLTW) on Nov. 10 to tour classrooms at Coon Rapids High School, which are in the school’s Center for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering program.The classes empower students who...

Anoka Co. Veterans Court Marks 10th Anniversary

A special celebration inside the Anoka County Courthouse this month as Anoka County Veterans Court marked a decade of accountability and compassion."I've been at the Veterans Treatment Court from the beginning, clearly the most important thi...

Local Principal Serves as Navy Reservist

As students arrive in the morning at Adams Elementary, school principal, Ann Herlofsky greets them outside."That's one of the best pieces of my job," Herlofsky said.Herlofsky supports students at school, while also serving her country, ...

RSV Cases Surging in Minnesota

At the Allina Clinic in Ramsey, pediatrician, doctor Eric Barth says he has seen more cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, in his patients.

"Patients are presenting with fever, cough, congestion, runny nose, headache, those types of symptoms ...

Improvements Made at Bunker Hills Dog Park

Construction is almost done on the Bunker Hills Dog Park. The improvements began in September and included paving over the existing gravel parking lot. There's a new concrete sidewalk which leads up to the dog park entrance.Inside the large dog p...

Final Open House for Hwy. 610 Interchange Project

Dozens of people turned out Thursday night for the final open house for the Highway 610 and East River Road interchange project. The City is still waiting for MnDOT approval for the layout, which proposes a "NE loop" as the off-ramp fro...

Bunker Hills GOLFTEC Being Remodeled

GOLFTEC at Bunker Hills Golf Club started its golf operations back in 2013. It’s the only GOLFTEC location in the Twin Cities area to offer both indoor and outdoor instruction. Now, for the first time, the center's indoor facility is getting a remodel, ac...

Thousands Attend Rocky's Pumpkin Patch

Thousands of people turned out at Sand Creek Park this past weekend for Rocky's Pumpkin Patch. The annual event includes free pumpkins, activities and trick or treating.Lots of boys and ghouls, dressed in Halloween costumes, stood in line while y...

Push Continues for Hwy 65. Safety Improvements

Officials from Blaine and Anoka County invited lawmakers from the state and federal level to take a closer look at a dangerous stretch of State Highway 65, which cuts through Blaine."Five of those intersections (between 93^rd Avenue and County Road 14...

Expansion Project Underway at Recycling Center

Construction at the Coon Rapids Recycling Center begins Wednesday, Oct. 12. The Recycling Center is expected to remain open during construction, but please be prepared for significant changes to the facility layout as work progresses.

 Limited Gat...

Firefighters Visit Local Elementary Schools

Elementary school students across Coon Rapids are getting some important lessons from the Coon Rapids Fire Department this week.On Tuesday, students at Eisenhower Elementary got a special visit from Sparky the Fire Dog along with firefighters for Fire Pre...

CRHS Student Prepares for National Miss Juneteenth Pageant

In the Bel Canto choir at Coon Rapids High School, junior DaMaris Jones hit a high note this summer when she was crowned the first-ever Miss Juneteenth of Minnesota."There are so many expectations for women of color and so me, winning Miss Juneteenth...

Mediation & Restorative Services Celebrating 35 Years

This year, Mediation and Restorative Services, is celebrating their 35^th anniversary. The non-profit organization serves residents in and around Anoka County.Coon Rapids resident, Lonni McCauley, was a key founder of the organization back in 1987. To this...

Garden Helps Students at Local School

To make a difference in the lives of their students, special education paraprofessional, Emily Drevlow, and special education elementary teacher, Amanda Reinarts, made a $500.00 donation to the River Trail Learning Center. The gift to the school started a...

Battle Against Emerald Ash Borer Ramping Up

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a destructive insect that harms ash trees. It was discovered in Minnesota for the first time in 2009 and made its way to Coon Rapids by 2017. The pest won’t be going away anytime soon. So far in 2022, City For...

City Council Candidates Take Part in Forum

Candidates running for the Coon Rapids City Council took part in a forum Wednesday night sponsored by the local chapter of the League of Women Voters.The candidates running for mayor and city council seats in Ward 3 and Ward 5, took turns answeri...

Business Spotlight: Bach to Rock

If you are looking for a music school to help you, or your child, learn a favorite instrument, then you will want to check out Bach to Rock.Co-owner, Jake Shoulak said, "We really try and teach kids what they want to learn, hence the name Bach to Roc...

Building Improvements at Sand Creek Elementary

As students returned to the classroom this week at Sand Creek Elementary, they saw big changes in the former library. Media specialist Cindy Bailey got to introduce the third graders to the new, giant interactive smart board with a word cloud.“I...

Police Explorers Looking for New Recruits

The Coon Rapids Police Explorers are looking for new recruits to join the program with the Coon Rapids Police Department.Police Explorers must be between the ages of 14-20, must maintain a C average or better in school, and have an interest in law enforce...

Paladin Opens New School in Coon Rapids

Paladin Career and Technical High School held a ribbon cutting, on Thursday, September 1, to celebrate its new home in Coon Rapids. During the event, school principal, Brandon Wait, recognized the support of public officials and the community."So I j...

Battalion Chief - and Face of CRFD Facebook - Retires

After serving more than 27 years with the Coon Rapids Fire Department, retiring Battalion Chief Tim Gilsrud is getting the axe – a golden axe, as is custom in the fire service.

Like other firefighters, Gilsrud wore many hats while working in the ...

Firefighters Golf in Charitable Tournament

Firefighters in Coon Rapids will be swinging their golf clubs in just a few weeks for the Coon Rapids Fire Department Community Fund golf tournament. The annual event raises money to help those who experience loss due to a house fire. Over the years, the ...

Input Wanted on Al Flynn Park Redevelopment Plans

The City of Coon Rapids is looking for additional feedback from the public related to the planned redevelopment of Al Flynn Park.Al Flynn Park is located off 100th Lane behind Lilli Putt and is one of the oldest parks in Coon Rapids. Improvements could in...

One-on-One with Interim Superintendent Kate Maguire

The new school year is almost here. This week, we sat down with interim superintendent Kate Maguire of the Anoka-Hennepin School District for a wide-ranging interview just hours after 300 new teachers gathered for their first workshop. Topics included job...

Local Veteran Celebrates 100th Birthday

Harold Nelson, of Ramsey, has always been a numbers guy. He worked for years as an accountant. Now, at age 100, his friends at the Coon Rapids Senior Center held a balloon parade to mark his decades of digits.Harold was recognized for his military service...

Asphalt Rejuvenator Product Applied to Local Roads

Crews applied an asphalt rejuvenator product to several Coon Rapids streets this week in the area of 121st Avenue and Butternut Street. A lime screening was then spread out over the top to help tack it down to the road surface.The streets treated on Tuesd...

Business Spotlight: Mindful Wellbeing

As the weather warms up, summer is often a slower time for therapists in Minnesota including Mandy Wannarka, owner of Mindful Wellbeing in Coon Rapids. But when the pandemic hit in 2020, nothing slowed down.“The demand just outpaced what I could...

Rise, Inc. Showcases Artwork of Clients

Rise, Inc. recently held an open house and art exhibit at its Coon Rapids location to showcase the works of their clients who are a part of the art therapy program. Rise serves adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. According to...

Major Renovation Project Complete at ARCC

Anoka-Ramsey Community College marked the completion of a major renovation project Thursday afternoon with a ribbon cutting ceremony. For more than a year, the college has been overhauling its 31,150 square foot Business and Nursing Building.&...

Green Homes Program Rewards Energy Efficiency

Green Homes is a home energy efficiency incentives program. Coon Rapids wants to help residents reduce their utility bills and increase the energy efficiency of their homes. Not only does increasing the efficiency of your home help save you money on utili...

Residents Brave Heat for Night to Unite

Residents across Coon Rapids braved the heat and humidity Tuesday night for food and fun during the annual 'Night to Unite' celebration. Members of the police and fire departments made stops at the various parties around the cit...

Great Turnout for Multicultural Night to Unite

For the fifth Multicultural Night to Unite Kickoff, people of Coon Rapids with heritage spanning the globe got a chance to share their cultures right in our community at Sand Creek Park on Monday night. This event has seen its attendance triple since it s...

Big Weekend for Golf in Blaine

The golf spotlight is shining on Blaine this week with the 3M Open in town. With the pro tour right in our backyard, spectators are out in full force not passing up the chance to see some of the best golfers in the world.This year marks the tournament's f...

USA Cup Welcomes Back International Competitors

There are over 950 teams playing in this year's USA Cup at the National Sports Center in Blaine. The largest youth soccer tournament in North America generates about $25 million for the local economy. The tournament welcomed back international te...

Building Renovation Project Nearly Complete at ARCC

After working for more than a year on the project, the renovations on the Nursing and Business building at Anoka-Ramsey Community College are nearly compete. ARCC’s director of facilities recently showed off the new classrooms."This is one ...

New Police Substation Opens at Riverdale Village

Officer Josh Pirkola has been on the retail beat at the Riverdale Village Center for just over two years."Theft is our number one reported crime here in Coon Rapids so being able to be up here and be on top of it and know the people that are going to...

Bee Keeping Pilot Program Underway in Coon Rapids

Coon Rapids resident Jennifer Pelton has been a beekeeper for many years.  It’s a time-intensive hobby she first learned as a young girl from her father, while growing up on an apple orchard."I really enjoy being outside and just, ...

Dr. Kate Maguire Named Interim Superintendent

Business Booming at Riverdale Village

Business is booming in the Riverdale Village Retail Center. At the height of the pandemic, more than 300,000 square feet of retail space sat vacant."Going through the pandemic, working with our leasing team out in West Palm Beach, we put tog...

Coon Rapids Selects New Police Chief

Coon Rapids Police Chief Brad Wise will retire at the end of June after a distinguished 27-year career with the Coon Rapids Police Department. Following a competitive selection process, the City chose Coon Rapids Police Captain John Stahnke as the next ch...