The Hinckley-Finlayson school board has unanimously selected five semifinalists to interview for the superintendent position. According to a news release from the district, the candidates are Hinckley-Finlayson High School principal Joseph Lattimore; Rush City Schools superintendent Brent Stavig; Rockford Area Schools director of business operations Mike McNulty; Renville County West School District superintendent Brad Johnson; and Country Services, Inc. chief financial offic

On Monday, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development announced more than $367,000 in funding for an expansion project for Broekema Beltway USA in Pine City. According to a news release from DEED, the proposed project will establish a new manufacturing line at the current Pine City facility. The project is expected to cost $5.6 million total and create 12 jobs in the first three years. $167,500 of the funding comes from DEED’s job creation fund, and $200,

After about a year of negotiations, the Pine City school board voted to approve the contract for the district's principals at Monday's meeting. The contract sets the contracted days for the high school, junior high, and elementary school principals at 260 days with a daily rate of $484.50, for a flat salary of $125,970 in the 2025-2026 school year. The contracted days are up from 230 for the high school principal, 225 for the elementary school principal, and 210 for the junio

This weekend's snowstorm brought less accumulation than was initially forecast, according to snowfall reports from the National Weather Service . Chisago City was on the high end of accumulation tallies, with separate locations reporting 6.4 and 6.2 inches, respectively. Isanti was one of multiple municipalities reporting over 4 inches of snow, with 4.9. Others include Foreston with 4.4 inches, Pine City with 4.3, and Milaca and Luck with 4. Other area snowfall totals include

Braham's Hometown Liquor Store will be closed until Monday, March 16 after a vehicle drove into the building on Saturday afternoon. According to a news release from the Braham Police Department, a personal injury accident was reported at the liquor store just after 1:30 p.m. Braham's police and fire departments responded to the scene and located a vehicle inside the building, with a male driver still stuck in the vehicle. The release states that emergency crews pulled the veh

A winter storm warning is set to take effect from 10 p.m. Saturday through 7 p.m. Sunday in much of east-central Minnesota, according to the National Weather Service. Kanabec and Mille Lacs counties could see total snow accumulations between 5 and 10 inches, with between 10 and 15 inches possible in Chisago and Isanti counties. The National Weather Service also says winds could gust as high as 40 miles per hour. According to the NWS, the heaviest snow is expected on Saturday

The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management launched a statewide listening tour on Thursday with a meeting with Pine County officials. OCM Executive Director Eric Taubel joined WCMP for an interview about Pine County's position in the state cannabis industry, the goals for the listening tour, and what's coming for OCM in 2026. "The office is starting its 2026 connecting with community listening tour, where we're going around the state talking to local officials, cannabis lice

Unofficial results from Pine County township elections on Tuesday, March 10. This story will be updated as more results become available. Bremen Township Supervisor (3 year term): Dwaine Bednar 12 votes, Gary Stewart 1 vote Chengwatana Township Supervisor (3 year term): Matthew Merrick 71 votes, Bill Thompson 37 votes Clerk (2 year term): Katy Overtoom 95 votes Munch Township Supervisor: (3 year term) Bill Bethel 7 votes, Micheal Kubesh 11 votes Clerk: (2 year term) Jill

Here's a look at township polling sites and election times in Pine County, courtesy of the Pine County Auditor-Treasurer's office; results will be posted as they become available on Wednesday. Arlone: Cloverdale Senior Citizen Center, 38736 Cloverdale Road, Hinckley; 2-8 p.m. Arna: Town Hall, 50252 1st Ave., Markville; 5-8 p.m. Barry: Odd Fellows Lo dge #154 , 104 Old Hwy 61 North, Hinckley; 5-8 p.m. Birch Creek: Town Hall, 1930 Birch Valley Road, Denham; 5-8 p.m. Bremen

The Pine City Council tabled a vote on applying for grant funding to rehabilitate the Hillside Court Apartments and discussed the future of the city's Housing and Redevelopment Authority at Wednesday's meeting. Pine County economic development coordinator Lezlie Sauter explained that the city was selected to submit a full application for a grant through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's small cities development program. The funding request woul

The Pine City Council officially declared a vacancy at Wednesday's meeting after council member Gina Pettie resigned from her seat on Feb. 18. Pettie, who was also the council's most recent acting mayor, first joined the council in 2017. On Wednesday, the council voted 3-0 to designate council member Dan Swanson as acting mayor. Council member Dave Hill was absent from the meeting. The acting mayor performs the duties of the mayor when the mayor is temporarily absent or unabl

Art in the Park will return to Robinson Park in downtown Pine City on Friday, May 22, and the Pine City Arts Council has announced the 2026 lineup. The summer concert series will kick off at 6:30 p.m. with a performance by the Pine City High School jazz band. Art in the Park will bring live music to Robinson Park each Friday at 6:30 p.m. through Aug. 15. Arrowhead Transit will continue offering free rides to the weekly event. The Pine County Fairgrounds event center will be u

Conversations are continuing regarding the future of the Snake River Fur Post. In September, the Snake River Fur Post made changes to its programming as part of the state historical society’s efforts to address a structural deficit. According to the MNHS, the site shifted its focus to "free, self-guided outdoor interpretive experiences and occasional special programming." At the Pine County board meeting on Feb. 17, commissioner Steve Hallan said the Minnesota Historical Soci

The Pine Center For the Arts will celebrate and support young artists in the community with its annual Youth in the Arts gallery during March. The exhibition opening will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 6. The gallery, featuring works from artists between the ages of 3 and 18, will remain open through the month of March. It's free and open to the public; hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The exhibition is mad

Burnett County officials are warning residents about a fraudulent email scheme targeting property owners and applicants involved in zoning and variance proceedings. According to a news release from county administrator Matt Ehalt, the county has received reports of individuals and businesses receiving emails that falsely claim to originate from the Burnett County Land Services and Zoning Department. The emails reference real property addresses, acreage, and applicant names to

Rush City native Max Hageman is often known to east-central Minnesota venues as Relax With Max, but as the musician continues to write and release original songs — with plans to put out an album in 2026 — his work ethic outpaces his stage name. "I've been playing music since I was about six years old, playing guitar," Hageman said in an interview with WCMP on Feb. 18. "I got my first band when I was 14, and I've been playing music ever since." Hageman said he picked up his in

The Pine City School Board unanimously voted to appoint Scott Milliman to fill a vacancy at Monday's meeting. The board acknowledged the resignation of Shaune Macho on Feb. 2. Milliman was the only applicant for the empty seat. "I know you're heavily involved in our community, so I think you'll be a good addition to our board," said board chair Lezlie Sauter. Board member James Foster added that Milliman "got pretty dang close" to getting elected when previously running for a

Pine City's Pizza Pub will host a free community pizza night on Tuesdays through March 31, thanks to the generosity of local donors. In an interview on Monday, Pine City Pizza Pub owner Travis Anglo said "there's not really a big backstory" for the weekly event: A local donor reached out a few weeks ago without "necessarily a real rhyme or reason." Anglo explained that the goal of the community pizza nights is "just to bring people together." "I think with everything going on

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has completed a bridge replacement and road improvement project on the Net River Forest Road in the Nemadji State Forest. According to a DNR press release issued on Thursday, the project marked the final phase of a multiyear effort to reconstruct the road to make it safer and more accessible for recreation and forest management. The project was paid for with funding from the Get Out MORE initiative, a one-time investment of $150 m

The Pine City Council clarified that the city's source water did not contribute to the action level for copper being exceeded at Wednesday's meeting. A letter from the Minnesota Department of Health dated Dec. 3 states: "We believe your source water did not contribute to the prior action level exceedance." "It does say that our source water, which is our towers, our main lines, all of that, did not exceed the copper or the lead," said Pine City utility billing specialist Lisa