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Prior Lake News Compass

Prior Lake News Compass

Informed. Engaged. Connected.

Prior Lake News Compass

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Former Laker basketball star on team UConn

Former Laker basketball star on team UConn

Laurie Hartmann
April 16, 2025

Former Prior Lake High School basketball coach Mike Gidley had his eye on a spunky second-grader who would be on the floor shooting hoops just for fun during breaks in a game. He knew then that McKenna Hofschild had what it took to be a fantastic hoopster...

Matt Arends has been putting in long days readying Spring Lake Farm for this year's busy season.

From farm to table, PL native returns to roots

Laurie Hartmann
April 9, 2025

Matt Arends is an environmentalist and entrepreneur, but he is best known for taking a small garden plot of land and within a short time, turning it into a thriving business committed to organic growing practices. Arends operates Spring Lake Farm located...

Drew Hennen is flanked by his sister and mother following his race in Turin, Italy. Submitted photo / Hennen family

Prior Lake man exudes Olympic spirit

Laurie Hartmann
April 2, 2025

To say that Drew Hennen excels at sports would be an understatement. He is, in fact, a Special Olympic competitor and silver medalist. Hennen competed in the Special Olympics World Winter Games held in Turin, Italy in March. The 20-year-old local resident...

Mayor Kirt Briggs and City Manager Jason Wedel outlined major projects from 2024 and what's to come this year. Laurie Hartmann / PL News Compass

City recaps major 2024 projects, what’s in store for this year

Laurie Hartmann
March 26, 2025

Prior Lake Chamber of Commerce members learned at its monthly luncheon held March 19 about major projects that have commanded the city's focus in the past year, along with what is planned in the near future. Mayor Kirt Briggs and City Manager Jason...

Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools superintendent Michael Thomas explains the next steps for the district's budget process at a town hall meeting at Prior Lake High School on Jan. 29, 2025. Robb Jeffries / PL News Compass

School board reaches consensus on $4.1 million in budget cuts

Robb Jeffries
February 28, 2025

When a bond measure in 2024 to raise funds for the district failed, leaders within the Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools district set forth on the difficult task of finding budget cuts to keep the district on track. After months of deliberation and with...

The Prior Lake City Council recognized the 2024 police department support staff person of the year, Diana Schuetz (third from left), and officer of the year, Sgt. Jake Lannon (fourth from left) at the council's meeting on Feb. 26, 2025. Courtesy photo / City of Prior Lake

City honors current police work, plans for the future

Chris Mosley
February 27, 2025

A detailed study of Prior Lake’s police department shows a need for increased staffing for both sworn officers and support staff. At the city council’s work session on Tuesday, Feb. 25, members of the council and Police Chief Liam Duggan were presented...

Taking the plunge

Laurie Hartmann
February 19, 2025

Saturday afternoon on Prior Lake was anything but typical. Those gathering around Sand Point Beach on the north end of the lake were treated to a parade of colorful costumes worn by many of the more than 1,100 "plungers" of all ages who voluntarily...

A Scott County Sheriff's Office vehicle. Courtesy photo / Scott County Sheriff's Office

A new future for emergency training?

Chris Mosley
February 13, 2025

An aging infrastructure at the county’s training facility has Prior Lake city leaders looking for a new home to train its emergency responders. The answer may come with a price tag of more than $34 million. During the city council’s Feb. 11 work...

PLSAS to St. Paul: Fix the funding formula

PLSAS to St. Paul: Fix the funding formula

Renee Winick
February 12, 2025

During its latest meeting, the Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools board refined its legislative platform, opting to call on the state to update its 54-year-old education funding formula. The platform will be used when board members and district officials...

Holly Auringer volunteers weekly at the Prior Lake Library. Laurie Hartmann / PL News Compass

Everyday Hero: Holly Auringer

Laurie Hartmann
February 4, 2025

Editor's note: The News Compass features nominated residents as Everyday Heroes in an ongoing series. To nominate someone you know in the community that goes above and beyond to make Prior Lake a better place, send us their name and the reason you are...

State delegation provides legislative update to PLSAS board

State delegation provides legislative update to PLSAS board

Renee Winick
January 29, 2025

Three members of Prior Lake and Savage’s delegation in the state legislature joined the Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board Jan. 27 to discuss their education priorities for the 2025 session. Rep. Jessica Hanson, DFL-Burnsville, Rep. Ben Bakeberg,...

Members of the Prior Lake High School Student Advisory Group took turns reciting "The Hill We Climb," written by Amanda Gorman.

Community celebration honors MLK Jr.

Laurie Hartmann
January 22, 2025

Hundreds of local residents braved below-zero temperatures Monday morning, Jan. 20 to pay tribute to the life and lasting works of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The celebration was held at Prior Lake High School and featured a variety of presentations...

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