Aundrea Kinney

For about six months, Maplewood has been home to LuxNova Stone, a company which, according to the owner, is at the forefront of the stonework and home design industries.

The Oakdale City Council recently named lifelong Oakdale resident Jodi Christensen as the city’s volunteer of 2017.

“It seemed like it was always supposed to be a coffee shop,” said Sarah Marshall, co-owner of Lake Elmo Coffee, the new coffee shop that opened in downtown Lake Elmo mid-November. 

Residents organize to join the fight.

A specialized unit within the Washington County Attorney’s Office has recovered and provided assistance to more than 60 victims of sexual trafficking since 2016. 

The morning of Dec. 12, a passerby discovered the body of a man on the Maplewood side of Battle Creek Regional Park, which straddles the border between Maplewood and the East Side of St. Paul.

 A journey through 2017

Lake Elmo residents can expect a 22 percent increase in the city portion of their 2018 property taxes, in contrast to 2017’s 5.2 percent reduction.

The Maplewood City Council unanimously passed a 2018 property tax levy with an increase of about 3.5 percent over 2017. 

The Oakdale City Council unanimously passed an $11.6 million property tax levy for 2018, which will result in a 1.26 percent reduction in the city tax rate, compared to this year.

A roughly five-mile section of Interstate 694 was closed the week of Dec. 3 due to a cracked Oakdale water main, causing frustration for drivers as winter weather hit the area.