Twelve men in a huddle and a devastating interception on Sunday evening became thorns in the side of Minnesota Vikings fans everywhere, but painful as they were one local mayor remains high on the future of the Minnesota Vikings.

Doug Anderson, the mayor of Dayton, has been stoking the flames of the latest speculation that the Minnesota Vikings will consider suburban locations to build a new stadium. See more in Editor Jim Boyle's Star News story.

The 80-year-old Harris woman who struck and seriously injured Deputy Chad Meyer (pictured) as he directed traffic at an accident scene in December 2008 has received a suspended jail term and lost her driving privileges for at least one year.

It was about 5 p.m. December 13, 2008 as Deputy Meyer was directing traffic at a two-vehicle injury crash at Hwy. 95 &  Co. Rd. 48 in North Branch Twp., that he was struck by a car driven by Elizabeth Louise Richards and thrown 110 feet into the air. See more in Evelyn Puffer's Isanti County News story.

Adam Goldhammer, right, of Burnsville, an attorney, is one of 11 young Minnesotans with a disability participating in a Capitol fellowship program with the Minnesota Senate. Goldhammer will work in the office of Sen. John Marty, left, DFL-Roseville, and hopes to gain writing experience and a better understanding of the legislative process. The idea of the program is to highlight the contributions of people with disabilities in the workforce, change perceptions on how they can be integrated, while providing a quality intern experience for participants. The 2010 legislative session opened this morning (Thursday, Feb. 4). Goldhammer and Sen. Marty met with the media this morning to outline more about the program. (Photo by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has announced that the Hwy. 95 bridge—crossing the Rum River just north of the smaller Second Avenue SW bridge—is scheduled for replacement in 2013.

The Cambridge City Council on Feb. 1 received word of this and other area projects, which were presented Jan. 25 at the East Central Regional Development Commission Legislative Forum in Kanabec County. See more in Isanti County News story by Jon Tatting.

In most years, the Forest Lake Lions Club would be happy to grab one first-place winner in the Lions District 5M-7 Drug Awareness Poster Contest.

So you can imagine the smile on El Ewert’s face when students from the Forest Lake area won two of the top six places in the district contest. Ewert may never have been so tickled in the 15 years that he has co-chaired the event for the local club. See more in Forest Lake Times story by Editor Cliff Buchan.

A former editor and reporter for the Forest Lake Times has died.

Irma Belshaw, who covered community and family news for the weekly newspaper in the early 1970s, died on Friday, Jan. 29, 2010 after battling cancer. She was 85. Belshaw was a housewife in Forest Lake when she joined the newspaper in mid-1969 as “Family Page” editor. See more in Forest Lake Times story by Cliff Buchan.

Apple Valley officials recognized the city’s newest royalty at the Jan. 28 City Council meeting.

Tiffany Cotterman, this year’s Miss Apple Valley International, and Larissa Marschel, Miss Teen Apple Valley International, were presented banners by Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland at the meeting.

“The young women who participate in this program have an opportunity to get involved with this community … to find their passion and learn how to be a spokesperson,” Hamann-Roland said.

See more in ThisweekLive story by Andrew Miller.

This year’s Miss Teen Apple Valley International Larissa Marschel, left, and Miss Apple Valley International Tiffany Cotterman, right, were presented banners by the City Council on Jan. 28. Pictured with Nancy Paradeise, 2004 Mrs. Minnesota International, the pair will compete in their respective state pageants March 6-7 in St. Cloud. (Photo by Andrew Miller)

Nominations are now being accepted for the top two community awards presented by the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau of Forest Lake.

The Lakes Area YSB’s Board of Directors is seeking candidates for the annual LAYSB service to youth awards. The winners will be honored at a special presentation in front of family, friends and community members and in local publications. See more in Forest Lake Times story.