Southwest metro area students competed in the 2022 SkillsUSA State Championships in downtown Minneapolis April 8-10. 
Controlled burns scheduled for refuge land
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will begin prescribed burning on refuge units and Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) of Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Wetland Management District this month. 
CDA seeks board member
The Carver County Community Development Agency Board seeks a member from District 5. This includes residents of the cities of Carver, Cologne, Hamburg, New Germany and Norwood Young America, as well as the Townships of Benton, Camden. Dahlgren, Hancock, Laketown… 
Hy-Vee ditches plans for five stores, including Chaska
Hy-Vee has scrapped plans for stores in five metro-area cities, including Chaska, saying the sites do not fit into a new company strategy that centers around building larger stores and putting more distance between future locations. 
Grammy nominated jazz vocalist at CDT
JazzMN returns to the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres Main Stage on Monday evening, April 25, under the artistic direction of JC Sanford. 
The dance of the greater sage grouse
Looking up into the dark Wyoming night sky, all the stars in the Milky Way were shining so brightly it looked like white paint had been splashed across the sky from horizon to horizon. 
Charter merges with Nicolet
Nicolet Bankshares, Inc. and Charter Bankshares, Inc., recently announced a merger agreement. 
Chaska is expecting to be contenders in the conference, section
The Chaska baseball team has the talent back to contend in Section 2AAAA this spring. 
Chanhassen hopes to take one more playoff step this spring
Can the Chanhassen baseball team go one step further in Section 2AAAA this spring? 
Commentary: How to avoid feeling panicked by deadlines
Today we’re covering a very important topic that we’ve been meaning to write about for some time, but we keep putting it off. At times, it can affect all of us. The topic is — procrastination. 
Facilities in Shakopee, Chanhassen and New Prague to monitor for ‘forever chemicals’
Hundreds of sites across Minnesota will begin monitoring for a class of manmade substances known as ‘forever chemicals’ under a new plan announced by state regulators last month. 
Savage woman attends White House signing after advocating for ACA change
At a White House ceremony on April 5, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to close a loophole in the Affordable Care Act that has kept people from obtaining insurance if another family member happened to be insured. 
Library: Official kickoff of the 2022 seed library
Join us for the official kickoff of the 2022 Chaska Seed Library on Saturday, April 30 anytime between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 
Chaska family shares the importance of organ donation
Commentary: Practice fine art of forgiveness
I continue to value the opportunity to write a column about joy and compassion. 
Commentary: Preserving Andrew Peterson’s legacy
Do you know who Andrew Peterson is? For parts of 48 years, dating back to 1850 and covering the first years he and his family came to Carver County (around 1855), we’re lucky to have his diary records to know… 
Paid letter: Minnesota has lost a champion of justice
Washington County Attorney Pete Orput, 66, died recently after receiving a stomach cancer diagnosis less than two weeks before his death. 
Victoria Lions to host rib cookoff as spring fundraiser
Mitch Volkers says he isn’t one to miss a good plate of ribs, which is why he plans to buy multiple tickets for the Victoria Lions Rib Cookoff late this month. 
Paid letter: Minnesota has lost a champion of justice (copy)
Washington County Attorney Pete Orput, 66, died recently after receiving a stomach cancer diagnosis less than two weeks before his death.
Paid letter: How long do we wait?
Two years ago, I wrote a letter to the editor pointing out that women receive less Social Security money in retirement because they earn thousands less than men over their careers.