News Flash

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

Miss C.R. Outstanding Teen to Compete in Nat'l Competition

In March, 17-year-old Julia Schumacher became the first Miss Coon Rapids Outstanding Teen ever to win the state title as Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen."It was definitely an unreal moment,” Julia Schumacher said. “I&am...

Primary Election Required for 2 City Council Seats

Three Coon Rapids City Council seats are on the ballot this fall and in two of those races there will be a primary election in August. The entire Anoka County Board is also up for re-election due to redistricting. Here's a rundown of the races (N...

Bach to Rock Opens Location in Coon Rapids

A brand new music school is now open in Coon Rapids. The business community gathered Tuesday afternoon for the official ribbon cutting ceremony at Bach to Rock.The school, which also has a location in Plymouth, gives lessons on a variety of instr...

Business Spotlight: ACE Hardware

ACE Hardware has been a staple in Coon Rapids for decades. But at the end of 2020, the ownership changed hands.“We were flirting around with the idea of buying another store,” said Tim Owata. Owata and his wife, Elena Nelson, ...

Coon Rapids Residents Attend Public Works Open House

Dozens of residents turned out on Saturday for the Coon Rapids Public Works Department's first open house since 2019."It's nice to show them what we have,” said Tim Himmer, Public Works Director. “We thank them f...

New Program Helps Homeowners Struggling with Payments

HomeHelpMN is a federally funded program dedicated to assisting homeowners who are at risk of default, foreclosure or displacement as a result of a financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program includes financial assistance for mortgage ...

3 City Council Seats on Ballot

Filings for public office open on Tuesday, May 17. Coon Rapids voters will elect a Mayor and Councilmembers in Wards 3 and 5 at the General Election on Tuesday, November 8.People interested in running for office must file an affidavit of candidacy and pay...

District 11 Announces Timeline for Superintendent Search

The Anoka-Hennepin School Board is planning an extensive search for a new superintendent to replace David Law, who is leaving at the end of this school year for the superintendent position with Minnetonka Public Schools. On Monday night, the Scho...

City Breaks Ground on New Fire Station

Construction will soon be underway on a new fire station in Coon Rapids. On Monday, local dignitaries along with City staff members officially broke ground on the project."It's a reaffirmation of our commitment to public safety and our fire departmen...

Kris Niebler Retires After 26 Years with Senior Center

It was a full house at the Coon Rapids Civic Center April 22 for the retirement ceremony of Senior Services Program Specialist Kris Niebler. She was recognized for her years of service by family, coworkers and the many seniors she served." I have lov...

Old Pederson Floral Building Demolished

A fixture for decades on Coon Rapids Boulevard is no more. On Tuesday, the old Pederson Floral  building was demolished to make way for the expansion of U-Haul which is located next door. Pederson Floral opened the flower shop back in 1...

Superintendent David Law Leaving Anoka-Hennepin Schools

DARE Students Get Life-Saving Lesson

Coon Rapids DARE officer Bryan Platz led Sand Creek Elementary School fifth graders through the DARE decision-making model when faced with the question of being the help. Today, he's teaching a lesson on compression-only CPR. It's a life...

Police Dept. Adds Mental Health Professional

She may not wear a badge or uniform, but Amanda Terwey starts her day alongside members of the Coon Rapids Police Department as an embedded mental health professional. While on-duty, Terwey is partnered with a police officer and responds to calls...

Buff City Soap Opens in Coon Rapids

From bath bombs and bar soap to body butter and laundry soap, a new shop in town has it all. This week, representatives from the Metro North Chamber of Commerce helped Buff City Soap celebrate its new location at the corner of M...

Firefighters Rally Around Co-worker After Cancer Diagnosis

A pop-up barbershop took place Wednesday inside Coon Rapids Fire Station One. In a show of solidarity, 21 firefighters took turns getting their head shaved in support of fellow firefighter Christian Worby."This is amazing, like, I had no idea that th...

Pedestrian Safety Improvements Planned Near CRHS

State funding has been secured to make some safety improvements along Northdale Blvd. in front of Coon Rapids High School. A grant from the Safe Routes to School program will provide about $458,000 to make several changes including relocating the main cro...

Popular CRHS Music Teacher Honored

It was an emotional send-off Monday night for a popular music teacher at Coon Rapids High School.Rick Geiger, who recently accepted a new position at his church, received a standing ovation during the annual "Sing Into Spring" choir concert. In ...

Hwy. 10 Construction Begins in Anoka

Highway 10 in Anoka was reduced to one lane in each direction on Monday eastbound from Sunfish Lake Boulevard in Ramsey all the way to Highway 47/Ferry Street. You can expect single lane traffic all summer and into the fall."It is going to be congest...

ACBC Food Shelf Needs Donations

Like a beacon of hope, the ACBC Food Shelf stands poised and ready to meet food insecurity in the community. The Anoka-based food shelf has been under the direction of Stephanie Lehman, who joined the operation in July of 2020."Families coming in ha...

Major Reconstruction Project on Hwy. 10

Get ready for a slower commute if you travel Highway 10 through Anoka. Starting this spring, a two year construction project will reduce traffic to one lane in each direction.On average, Highway 10 in Anoka carries over 60,000 vehicles per day. Peak westb...

Yoga on Ice at Crooked Lake

During the cold winter months, ice fishing takes over the frozen lakes of Minnesota. But have you heard of ice yoga?Two years ago, Coon Rapids resident and yoga instructor Jamie Bartlett was inspired to create an ice yoga class behind her home on Crooked ...

Anoka Co. Attorney Tony Palumbo Retiring

District 11 Targeting Job Seekers

Job seekers met recruiters on Wednesday during a job fair at the Educational Service Center in Anoka. The Anoka-Hennepin School District wants to hire both part-time and full-time workers in a variety of positions including paras, assistants and...

Big Honors for CRHS Concert Choir

The Coon Rapids High School concert choir is gearing up for a big performance this month.On Tuesday, the voices of the concert choir came together in harmony, inspired by fame. The choir got a visit from world renowned composer, Jake Runestad, who gave a ...