On Sunday, crews expect to open the new south frontage road extension between Phil's Tara Hideaway restaurant and Stagecoach Trail on Hwy. 36 to detour traffic that otherwise would cross the Beach Road bridge. The bridge will close while crews build a new Beach Road bridge as part of the overall St. Croix River bridge project.

Motorists should expect traffic delays at the Osgood Av. intersection, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) said.

Drivers and trucks traveling between Hwy. 36 and Hwy. 95 are encouraged to use the signed alternate routes to avoid congestion, MnDOT said. Local traffic to businesses and residences was advised to use the new south frontage road. The new Beach Road bridge will open later this fall.

Road construction this month in Oak Park Heights and Stillwater is unusually busy, leading to detours in both cities. In Oak Park Heights, portions of Hwy. 36 remain off limits to motorists. In Stillwater, the second phase of County Road 23 construction is beginning. That street, also known as Orleans, divides Stillwater and Oak Park Heights.

Another project, underway at the Washington County Government Center to replace crumbling pavement, has detoured heavy traffic at the complex.

Maps and other details of the bridge project are available at www.dot.state.mn.us/stcroixcrossing/.

Forest Lake

City launches new electronic news site

The city of Forest Lake has a new electronic news service that allows residents and anyone else interested in city matters to receive e-mail notifications of events and other developments.

A link to arrange notifications is available at www.ci.forest-lake.mn.us/. Any of 17 categories can be selected, or all of them. Selections include the City Council; Airport, Planning and Human Rights commissions; arts, farmers market, park board and the city's Economic Development Authority.

Anyone receiving notifications under the old e-mail system will have to do so again under the new one, said Chantal Doriott, the city's deputy clerk.

Mahtomedi

Money assists college in low-income programs

Century College this month received the largest grant given to a Minnesota college by the Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corp. to help students overcome financial and other barriers to graduation.

Century's $551,000 grant will provide 270 first-generation, low-income college students with academic services such as tutoring, mentoring and intensive advising, the college said. These services will help students learn skills to stay in college and achieve goals.

The one-year grant begins this fall.

Stillwater

Volunteer Expo set for Aug. 27

Community Thread, in partnership with the United Way of Washington County-East, will host the 4th annual Building Better Lives Volunteer Expo on Tuesday, Aug. 27. The expo will take place at Stillwater High School and will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Expo attendees can shop for volunteer opportunities from more than 20 nonprofit organizations around the St. Croix Valley.

Washington County

Extra immunizations offered before school

The Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment is offering extra appointments for children who need their immunizations updated before the start of the school year. The clinics are for school-age children who do not have medical insurance or whose insurance doesn't cover immunizations.

A $12 administration fee is requested for each immunization, but no one who is eligible for the clinics will be turned away if they are unable to pay the cost, the county said.

• Monday, Aug. 26: Cottage Grove Service Center, WIC Clinic, 13000 Ravine Parkway, Cottage Grove, by appointment only, 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. Call 651-430-4036 to schedule an appointment.

• Wednesday, Aug. 28: Washington County Government Center. fourth floor WIC Clinic, 14949 62nd St. N., Stillwater, by appointment only, 2 to 5 p.m. Call 651-430-6655 to schedule an appointment.

For any questions, call 651-430-6655 to speak with a public health nurse.

scandia

Company addresses disability foster care

Washington County will contract with M.R. Welty Homes to provide foster care in Scandia for up to four people with disabilities. The company provides corporate foster care to clients eligible for home and community-based services through medical assistance.

Although there has been a moratorium on corporate foster care development since 2009, the Scandia site is being created using "banked beds" that Washington County had set aside for future development. Two of the four clients who will move into the home are living in a M.R. Welty Home elsewhere and have asked to move back to Washington County.

M.R. Welty Homes operates two other sites in Carver and Wright counties.

Oakdale

Oak Meadows hires home care provider

Lifesprk CEO and Founder Joel Theisen has announced that Edina-based Lifesprk is now partnering with Oak Meadows in Oakdale. The senior living housing — which provides independent, assisted living and memory care services — contracted with Lifesprk as its new in-house home care provider for tenants as of July 1.

"In today's market it is more important than ever to break the roller coaster of crises for people because it not only helps prevent costly and preventable hospital readmissions, but also is the right thing to do to empower more people to remain in control and living life on their terms," Thiesen said.

Kevin Giles