Mikal Anton, a detective for the Burnett County Sheriff's Office, announced his candidacy for sheriff in the upcoming 2026 election on Sunday. Anton has worked for the Burnett County Sheriff's Office since starting as a deputy in 2001. He was promoted to detective in 2019, with a focus on narcotics-related investigations. Anton's announcement reads in part: "As both a member of the Sheriff’s Office and the community, I see firsthand the challenges we face, including mental he

A man was cited after allegedly firing gunshots into ice on the Snake River in Pine City on Dec. 27. According to Pine County Sheriff Jeff Nelson, deputies responded to reports of gunshot sounds near the river access in Challeen Park. Nelson said a male party at the scene initially denied involvement, but admitted to firing rounds to determine ice thickness after law enforcement determined he was carrying a pistol and located evidence of shooting. "Eventually, the individual

The Pine City Council approved pay raises for the city’s firefighters and fire officers at a meeting on Wednesday. Fire chief Tom Miller proposed a 10% increase in compensation for the firefighters, fire officers, and department secretary.  The pay raise brings the city's firefighters up to $25.76 for all meetings, drills, and the first two hours of a fire call. After the initial two hours, that pay goes to $12.88/hour. Miller said the last raise for fire department personnel

Welia Health released its 2026-2028 Community Health Needs Assessment on Tuesday, Jan. 6, which offers a comprehensive review of health needs and priorities for Pine and Kanabec County residents. According to a news release, the assessment is completed every three years in collaboration with community organizations, public health leaders, and health care partners. In total, 37 community representatives participated in the online key informant survey to weigh in on health issu