It’s that time of the year again when the Patriot re-visits some of the top stories we featured in the 2025 calendar year.
General News
Bodie Moore, a 2021 Becker graduate was promoted to Lance Corporal in the Marines in early January.
G-Will Liquors completed their upgrades and renovations and reopened their store in December of 2024.
Tayla List of Becker annually celebrates her own birthday in January by performing random acts of kindness or charity and last year she and her family committed to create 24 care packages but instead created 48 grief care packages for families and patients at Mayo Hospital’s palliative care unit.
NATCOM Bancshares, Inc., and its wholly-owned subsidiary, National Bank of Commerce (collectively “NBC”), announced the completion of their acquisition of Great River Holding Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, RiverWood Bank in February.
Thirty-one-year-old Becker Teacher, Amanda Nieman of Milaca died in a crash in Benton County March 5.
The Sherburne County Board of Commissioners in late April appointed Dawn Nyhus as County Attorney to replace Kathleen Heaney, who retired April 30 after more than 30 years with Sherburne County.
Nearly 2,500 sheep flooded the grounds of Xcel Energy’s Sherco Solar 1 site in Clear Lake, MN in early June, to graze on native, pollinator-friendly forage.Vegetation management is a necessity for any solar installation, so that operators on site can access the equipment for inspections and maintenance.
Stethoscopes and stuffed animals were in abundance at the Clearwater Library last July during Wright Co. Public Health’s ‘Teddy Bear Clinic’ program.
In mid-August, the Sherburne County Attorney’s Office filed court papers to dismiss their case against Matthew Walker Anderson, a Minnesota gun owner who was facing multiple felony charges for possessing firearms that did not have serial numbers.
Minnesota Alliance With Youth announced in September that Rebecca Anderson of Big Lake was selected to serve on the Minnesota Youth Council.
Nathan Soltau, a 31-year-old Becker resident published his first book—From Depression & Suicidal Thoughts to Purpose and had a book signing in October.
A Benton County judge last November sentenced a Glendorado man, Karl Thomas Holmberg, 66, to more than 76 years in prison for a shooting in 2023 that injured five members of the Sherburne County Drug Task Force.
Three men from Big Lake are facing felony burglary charges after allegedly using a tunnel system to enter a local business office from a pizza restaurant.
Politics
Sen. Andrew Mathews (R-Princeton) announced last January that he will serve as the Republican Co-Chair on the Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate Committee while the 33-33 power sharing agreement is in effect.
Last February, the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Dept. said farewell to Capt. Ken Hanson, who spent more than 28 years with them before retiring as the head of their Criminal Investigations Division.
The MN Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Council announced in March that they are studying a proposal to replace the trains with buses amid a precipitous decline in ridership.
The Clearwater City Council’s April meeting included an impressive agenda item; recognition of Clear Lake fifth-grader Winward Nicol, one of the winners of the recent Mayor for a Day essay competition sponsored by the League of MN Cities (LMC).
Officer Sam Norlin of the Big Lake Police Dept. received the Chief’s Letter of Recognition for his swift, professional, and supportive actions during a medical emergency that took place back in March.
Becker Police Lt. Chris Lindbloom was hired by the City of Becker to serve as Police Chief back in June.
MN Congressman Tom Emmer paid a visit to Ralphie’s Minnoco in Clear Lake Thursday, July 10. Emmer visited with store owner Brian Brehmer and local residents.
Sen. Bruce Anderson passed unexpectedly in late July. Bruce was a dedicated public servant, loving family man, and dear friend to many at the Capitol and in Buffalo.
On Sept. 10, activist, author, and media personality Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a rally he assembled on the campus of the Utah Valley University. As the words, “transgender shooters, mass shooters,” exited his mouth during a Q&A, a shot rang out and Kirk crumpled to the ground with blood gushing from his neck wound.
Clearwater area residents and business owners stopped by MnDOT’s Hwy. 24 corridor project public meeting in October to see the final construction plans laid out.
Charges filed in November alleged that three former employees of the City of Clear Lake defrauded the city of over $200,000 from late 2022 through 2023. The former employees were: Kari Koren (former clerk), Chad Koren (retired firefighter) and Dustin Luhning (former public works director).
Sports News
Becker’s varsity robotics team, FRC 4607 - The Coalition of Independent Students won the state title back in May. This victory marked Becker’s fourth overall state title and an impressive back-to-back championship streak, having previously won in 2013, 2022, 2024, and now 2025.
Jose Acuna, a senior wide receiver and linebacker on the Big Lake football team, was selected by the Minnesota Vikings as their male nominee for the 2024 NFL Latino Youth Honors program in January. Acuna was one of just 64 students in the entire country to have been selected.
The Becker dance team traveled to Target Center last February to compete at their fourth consecutive state dance tournament. The team took 10th in jazz on Friday and eighth in kick on Saturday despite dancing with nearly one third of the team being first-year dancers.
Becker soccer player Asher Olson was informed in March he was selected to participate on the US Youth Soccer 2008 (birth year) National Select Team, which competed last summer in Italy.
Troy Robinson, Becker Football assistant coach, was presented with the Butch Nash Award at this year’s Minnesota Football Coaches Awards banquet in April.
Baseball, food, fun, and community spirit was front and center on May 13, as Big Lake hosted its 4th Annual Baseball Youth Night at the Field.
The Hornets girls flag football team had their season end in the opening round of the playoffs during their inaugural season in Minnesota in June. The team was plagued by turnovers in a 31-25 loss to Sartell.
The Big Lake Chamber of Commerce held their 7th Annual BLCC Golf tournament on July 10 at Pebble Creek in Becker.
Becker Blast 12U Navy team won the 12U Monsta National Tournament this in August.
The 15th annual Haitian Hustle took place in Becker last September, and while the skies opened up just as the race began, runners and walkers still splashed their way through the streets — and raised a record-breaking $21,000 for students in Haiti.
The Pebble Creek Women’s Club officially ended the 2025 season at their October Fall Banquet where final champions were announced and a newly elected Board of Directors was elected.
Kenna Hennessey hit a milestone on September 25 at Becker’s volleyball game by officially reaching 1,000 career digs!
Lupulin Brewing in Big Lake was filled with Vikings fans last December who were present not only to watch the Vikings play the Seattle Seahawks, but also to support Skol for Skolarships, a fundraising event to help raise money for Minnesota youth athletes. During the event, Lupulin donated $1 from every pour to Sportsline Photography’s “Share Your Favorite Sports Memory” youth scholarship program.
