Cougar sighting reported near Minnetrista
A Minnetrista resident allegedly saw a large cougar on Highway 7 near Grimm Road around 9 p.m. on May 28.
Though rare, with just 107 Minnesota DNR confirmed sightings throughout the state since 2004, transient cougars from the Dakotas have been spotted in every corner of the state.
Minnetrista OKs backyard chickens, welcomes new police chief
With egg prices climbing, Minnetrista is allowing hens to come home to roost—no farm zoning required. After multiple work sessions, the City Council voted 3-2 on May 19 to approve an ordinance allowing homeowners to keep up to three hens on residential lots of at least half an acre. The hens must be kept in a fully enclosed, rodent-proof environment, and roosters are not allowed. The ordinance will be complaint-driven, meaning the city will enforce it only when complaints are received, rather than through proactive inspections.
Virtual meeting on Highway 7 shares improvement ideas ranging from no changes to many
Community members got an inside look at the ideas percolating within the Minnesota Department of Transportation as officials brainstormed ways to potentially make Highway 7 safer.
MnDOT, among other project partners, hosted the virtual community meeting via Zoom on May 20. Representatives shared possible solutions for the safety issues that have chronically plagued the 18-mile length section of Highway 7, split along two sections east of Highway 41 and west of Highway 41.
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Everly Farms Winery Is a Family Affair
When husband-and-wife team Frank and Esther Weigel closed on their Minnetrista orchard and winery in 2021, they were diving into a true passion project. “We really had no experience with wine, except that we like to drink wine,” Frank says. Their family—which includes three young-adult children and now 6-year-old twins—was dividing time between home base in California and a vacation home on Lake Minnetonka. When COVID-19 began, they found themselves spending more and more time in Minnesota. “Then, this orchard came up for sale, just six minutes from our house,” Frank says. “I was going to retire and had always wanted an orchard.”
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Life Lessons
”My dad [Gary Marquardt], was teaching my son Frank [now 15] how to drive an inboard boat, and it was a gorgeous night, so my mom and I decided to tag along for the lesson,” says Jennie Oko, explaining the photograph’s scenario. “My dad plays taps at sunset in Spring Park Bay, so he brought his trumpet and played from the boat that night. This picture was taken on the way home.”
It’s often interesting to understand what photographers appreciate about their photos. “I love the colors on the water, but I also really like what you can infer from the picture,” the Minnetrista resident says.
Trista Day draws crowds despite soggy, cold weather
The City of Minnetrista hosted its annual Trista Day on May 17, with many attendees braving what may have been the event’s chilliest weather yet. First launched in 2001, the family-friendly gathering was designed to share safety information with local kids and strengthen community connections.
Dozens of community organizations and businesses took part, including the Minnetrista Public Safety Department, Mound Fire Department, St. Bonifacius Fire Department, and horseback-mounted Special Deputy Volunteers from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office, which recently opened a new facility in Plymouth, was also on-site promoting its upcoming Open House, set for today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Minnetrista moves forward with street, watermain plans
As 2025 street projects are set to get underway, the Minnetrista City Council is turning its attention to the next round of improvements planned for 2026. At its May 5 meeting, the council approved a task order with its engineering firm, WSB, for design and bidding services and authorized a feasibility report for the 2026 street improvement projects.
The 2026 improvements, aimed at extending pavement life, will address several areas, including North and South Saunders, Lakeside Drive, Lakeside Circle, Pinnacle Way, and Game Farm Road. Portions of North Saunders Lake Drive, Basswood Drive, and Game Farm Road are expected to undergo full-depth reclamation, while the remaining sections, along with the other streets, will receive a mill and overlay. No utility improvements are expected as part of the project.
Michael Pounds
Life On Lake Minnetonka
