A new full-time director position at Anoka County's booming Medical Examiner's Office in Ramsey has been added to help keep up with the facility's growing workload.

County officials voted March 26 to appoint Gary Alberts, who for years has worked as the office's part-time administrator, to the role.

Alberts will earn about $157,000, according to his new contract.

Since the Ramsey facility opened in 2009, the office has expanded its medical examiner work from eight counties to contracting with more than 20 in recent years — growth that Alberts has helped foster, county officials said.

It's now one of the largest medical examiner's offices in the state.

Hannah Covington

Three Rivers

Park district wins environmental award

The Three Rivers Park District has received an Environmental Innovation Award for a series of educational programs about climate change held in Three Rivers parks.

The award was presented by the Minnesota Environmental Initiative, a nonprofit organization that works with business, nonprofit and government leaders to develop collaborative solutions to Minnesota's environmental problems.

The annual award recognizes partnerships fostering environmental breakthroughs in Minnesota.

Climate Conversations is a two-year series presented in Three Rivers parks to discuss how changing climate is affecting parks and natural resources.

The Three Rivers Park District serves suburban Hennepin, Carver, Dakota, Scott and Ramsey counties.

KATY READ

PRIOR LAKE

Shakopee Sioux send aid to flood victims

Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community staff members returned Monday from the Santee Sioux Nation reservation in northeastern Nebraska, an area hit hard by flooding.

The Prior Lake-based tribe sent its mobile medical unit there to provide basic medical care after the Santee Sioux Nation's health clinic flooded. The two staff members also brought supplies, donating a total of 12,468 freeze-dried meals and 4,320 bottles of water.

"We were devastated by floods," said Stuart Redwing, tribal secretary of the Santee Sioux Nation's Tribal Council. Redwing said that the Shakopee tribe didn't hesitate to help.

"We are the mother tribe of the Shakopee so we were very grateful to see them extend a helping hand," he said.

Erin Adler

May Township

Township combines clerk, treasurer jobs

Voters in May Township voted this month to combine the positions of township clerk and treasurer.

Of the 74 people who voted in the township election, nearly three-fourths supported the measure.

"The notion of combining the positions provides the town with more flexibility," said Bill Voedisch, the township's board chairman.

According to the Minnesota Association of Townships, 125 of the 1,781 townships in Minnesota had a combined clerk and treasurer position in 2015.

Mara Klecker