A 42-year-old Pine City man has been charged with multiple felony drug-related charges after investigators determined he was operating an illegal cultivation and dispensary operation. Alan Mosio was charged with 1st-degree possession of 50 kilograms or more of cannabis flower; 2nd-degree possession of 5 kilograms or more of cannabis concentrate; 2nd-degree possession of 50 grams or more of amphetamine/PCP/hallucinogens; and a 1st-degree charge of unlawfully cultivating more t

Pine City Public Works supervisor Maury Montbriand is resigning from his position with the city, effective Feb. 11. Montbriand submitted his resignation letter on Jan. 12. The letter reads in part: " I am incredibly grateful for my team, the opportunities, and the community that I have had the past 17 years. I value everything that I have learned and accomplished from my time here." He also stated he is committed to ensuring there is a smooth transition, and will be happy to

Emergency personnel responded to an explosion near Willow River on Friday afternoon. According to a news release from the Pine County Sheriff's Office, dispatch received multiple 911 calls reporting explosions around 1:45 p.m. An explosion was reported in a rural area west of Willow River. Law enforcement, EMS personnel, and several fire departments were dispatched to the scene, and determined a larger gas line was involved.  The damaged line was a Northern Natural Gas inters

The historic Sandstone school building known colloquially as "The Rock" has been rechristened amid an ongoing housing redevelopment project. According to a news release from Minneapolis-based historic redevelopment firm Jillpine, the 32-unit rental housing project will officially be called The Bookmatch. “The name The Bookmatch comes directly from the building itself,” Meghan Elliott, founder and principal of Jillpine, said in the release. “In stoneworking, bookmatching means

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

Lakeside Pub in Pine City has concluded operations and is no longer in business as of Jan. 1, according to a news release from ownership. The release states that the property will transition from a public bar and restaurant model to a retreat and event venue branded as Lakeview Shores, "designed to host private retreats, weddings, and special events." According to the release, design updates and operational planning are underway at the site, with details about amenities, book

The Pine City Council was presented with recommendations from a water rate study at a meeting on Dec. 17. The council voted to move forward with water and sewer rate studies in April of 2025, after multiple Pine City businesses petitioned the city to consider a discounted commercial water rate aimed at small businesses. The water rate study was conducted by financial consulting firm Ehlers, and presented by representative Jason Aarsvold. Aarsvold explained that the city's cur

Pine County Public Health and the Pine City, Hinckley-Finlayson, East Central, and Willow River school districts have announced that all registration fees for school-sponsored after-school activities for students in 7th through 12th grade will be fully covered using opioid settlement funds. According to a news release, students will continue to register through their schools as usual, with no separate application or request for funding. The registration fee is covered for spo

A 39-year-old Chisago City man was taken into custody on Tuesday after barricading himself inside a business and threatening to set it on fire. According to a news release from the Lakes Area Police Department, the Chisago County Communications Center received a report of a person having a mental health crisis at a Liberty Lane business around 11 a.m. Nearby businesses and residences were evacuated "out of an abundance of caution" due to chemicals stored on-site. The incident

The Hinckley-Finlayson school board accepted the resignation of Superintendent Brian Masterson — effective June 30, 2026 — at a special meeting on Monday. Masterson submitted his formal resignation in a letter to the board on Dec. 19. He served as the district's superintendent for the past four years, after previously serving as high school principal for 11 years. The board voted to move forward with a full superintendent search at Monday's meeting. The resignation letter rea

Paraprofessional hiring practices have been in the spotlight for the local AFSCME Council 65 union and the Pine City school district. In late November, Local 1647-3 President Elizabeth Perreault sat down for an interview with WCMP to share the union’s perspective. “It appears that the school district has adopted a sort of new hiring practice from what we’ve been used to in previous years, and it’s causing a lot of frustration among our current staff,” Perreault said. Perreaul

A deceased man was located at a Chisago City park on Monday afternoon. According to a news release from the Lakes Area Police Department, the Chisago County Communications Center received a report of a person laying on the ground at Paradise Park around 2:45 p.m. The calling party believed the individual was dead. Responding officers located the individual near a park shelter and confirmed he was deceased. The 63-year-old male's identity is currently being withheld, pending n

A 35-year-old Chisago City man was charged on Monday with one count of second-degree murder related to the death of a security guard at a Wyoming hospital. According to a news release from the Chisago County Attorney's Office, Wyoming Police Department officers were dispatched to the M Health Fairview Lakes Hospital regarding a male party identified as Jonathan Winch leaving the emergency department, contrary to a medical hold. On arrival, the responding officer observed an M

Some locations in east central Minnesota and western Wisconsin saw over half a foot of snow during Sunday's winter storm. According to snowfall reports from the National Weather Service , 6.8 inches of snow accumulation was reported in Cambridge. Webster, WI, saw 6.5 inches, and Chisago City recorded 6 inches. 5.9 inches were reported in Rush City, with North Branch recording 5.5 inches, Wyoming recording 5, and Princeton recording 4.8. Other totals include: Grantsburg: 5.7 i

A hospital security guard died after allegedly being assaulted by a patient at a Wyoming hospital on Dec. 25. According to a news release from the Wyoming Police Department, law enforcement was dispatched to the report of a patient who had run from the emergency department at M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center after being placed on a hold. The Wyoming officer encountered a 35-year-old male suspect in the medical center's parking lot. The suspect was non-compliant and resi

The Pine Center For the Arts will host the "Scenes of Serenity" exhibition throughout the month of January. The exhibition, featuring the works of artists Katie Wagner and Brainerd resident Eric Twait, will open with an artists' reception from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 2. According to a news release from the Pine Center For the Arts, Twait will feature acrylic paintings in the gallery. Twait said he draws inspiration from nature, and hopes his artwork conveys a sense of cal

The city of Rock Creek is anticipating a fire substation opening early in 2026. In June, the Rush City Council approved a resolution signaling intent to enter a joint powers agreement with Rock Creek to establish a fire substation in the city. Rock Creek began contracting with the Rush City Fire Department for fire protection services in January of 2024. The city also started construction on a new public works building in 2024, with work wrapping up in 2025. During that proce