Briefs: Stoplight approved for Washington County school

A busy intersection near a charter school and an expanding neighborhood will get a stoplight for safety as traffic grows on Stagecoach Trail, the County Board decided last week.

The intersection sits at the entrance to St. Croix Preparatory Academy, which now has more than 1,100 students in grades K-12, said county engineer Wayne Sandberg.

Across Stagecoach Trail, also known as County Road 21, the Inspiration housing development also has a growing number of residents who use the intersection, he said.

Washington County placed temporary stop signs at the intersection when school started. Construction of a new St. Croix River bridge also changed traffic patterns, Sandberg said, with hundreds of fully loaded gravel trucks using Hwy. 21 every day.

Commissioners approved a $133,000 bid from Egan Co. for the signal installation and pedestrian improvements. The county will pay half the cost. Bayport and Baytown Township will split the balance.

Only a prolonged shutdown of federal government will hurt residents who depend on Washington County for food support and other human services programs, Administrator Molly O'Rourke told the County Board last week.

State officials advised the county that federal funds needed to sustain programs through the county's Community Services division would remain intact at least through October, O'Rourke said.

The Washington County Attorney's office has received a $68,000 grant from the state of Minnesota for its victim/witness program. The money will be used to offset personnel costs of the county's victim/witness coordinators, County Attorney Pete Orput said.

The Stillwater Public Library is offering a class on using the Library Edition of Ancestry.com online genealogical resource from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at the library.

The class is co-sponsored by the Washington County Historical Society. Space is limited, so it is necessary to register ahead of time. For more information, call 651-275-4338, ext. 111, or visit www.stillwater library.org.

Holly Brabeck has joined the Youth Service Bureau's Stillwater office as a chemical health specialist.

"Holly plans to expand our Chemical Health services in the Stillwater Area Public Schools by offering more classroom presentations and support groups for the students," said Michael Huntley, program director and youth and family therapist.

The Christian Cupboard Emergency Food Shelf will be celebrating its 30th anniversary of serving residents in Woodbury, Oakdale, South Maplewood and Landfall.

The gala will be held Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. at Guardian Angels Church, 8260 4th St. N. in Oakdale. Guests are invited to hear about the organization's history, from its founding in 1983 by seven Woodbury-area churches to its ongoing mission.

Tickets are $75. Visit www.christiancupboard.org for more information.

Washington County Public Health and Environment Director Lowell Johnson has been honored for his contributions to the community health field.

Johnson was presented with the Jim Parker Leadership Award Sept. 25 at the annual Community Health Conference in Brainerd. The award, named after a former CHS director, is given annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to the organization "through their commitment to CHS development and their leadership in promoting the philosophy and purposes of CHS," according to its website.

Previously, the County Board approved using money from Land and Water Legacy bond funds to purchase 17 acres of land if it is able to negotiate a sale of the property owned by Central Bank at the intersection of County Road 15 (Manning Avenue) and Hwy. 96.

The county would provide up to $84,000 of the Land and Water Legacy bond funds as a portion of the purchase.

Lake Elmo is inviting local hunters to enter the city's deer hunting lottery designed to help control overpopulation in the Lake Elmo Park Reserve and Sunfish Lake Park.

Eight people will be chosen at random to participate in the coordinated hunt, which will take place Nov. 9-10. Both parks will be closed during the hunt.

Those interested are asked to bring a valid deer hunting permit and proof of address to City Hall, at 3800 Laverne Av. N., by Oct. 18. For more information, call 651-747-3900.

The event begins at 10 a.m., with buggy rides and nature walks at 11 a.m., Belwin's annual update at 1 p.m., Arden's presentation at 2 p.m., another buggy ride and nature walk at 3 p.m., and closing at 5 p.m. Sign-up for rides and walks at the Education Center. To register for the free event, call 651-436-5189 or e-mail events@belwin.org.