🌱 How a Big Lake volunteer and a big grant stood out
Big Lake, Minnesota Patch AM: a 3 min readGood morning to you Big Lake! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How a Big Lake volunteer and a big grant stood out
- How Doc reshaped Big Lake High School students’ paths after graduation
- Big Lake community remembers the life of Lois “Lowie” Evenson
Today's riddle: Where do you learn how to make ice cream ? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Friday: Mostly sunny and very warm, with a high of 87 and low of 65 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 82, low: 61.
- Sunday: Sun through high clouds, with a high of 81 and low of 62 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• BL Presents Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award (patriotnewsmn.com) — Big Lake residents just saw neighbor and longtime volunteer Shelley Klein honored as the 2026 Outstanding Citizen of the Year at the May 20 City Council meeting. The council also heard that state and federal funding will fully cover design and engineering for the city’s wastewater treatment expansion, and received updates on new playgrounds and staffing changes in city departments. 
• Doc always set about finding what's best for Big Lake students (patriotnewsmn.com) — Big Lake families are saying goodbye to longtime high school principal Bob “Doc” Dockendorf, who retires May 29 after 32 years in the Big Lake School District. He’s credited with driving the district’s 3E’s career-readiness model, expanding college opportunities, and building partnerships with local businesses to help students find careers by choice, not default.
• Lois Evenson (swiftcountymonitor.com) — Family and friends in Big Lake are mourning the passing of 71-year-old Lois “Lowie” Evenson, who died May 22 at Cherrywood Advanced Living in Big Lake. Services will be held June 5 in Willmar, and the family suggests memorials to St. Croix Hospice in Monticello or Cherrywood Advanced Living in Big Lake.
📸 Around Big Lake
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- When transportation matters to those you love.
* Airport Shuttle *Waiver Rides *Appointment Rides Serving *Sherburne *Wright *Pine *Kanabec *Mille Lacs & *Isanti County (Nextdoor Orrock Town Hall)
- TOMZ Corporation posted a job opening for CNC Machinist, IV- 1st, 2nd, and Weekend in Big Lake. Apply here.
- Premier Marine posted a job opening for Industrial Saw Operator in Big Lake. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Big Lake here.
🗞 Nearby News
Monticello
- Knights softball pulls off upset, loses close game in sections (hometownsource.com)
- Semi crash spills seltzer products, closes I-94 in Monticello for hours (hometownsource.com)
Becker
- Becker softball ends regular season on high note (patriotnewsmn.com)
- MN Approves Xcel Energy's 600-Megawatt Sherco Battery Project (enerknol.com)
Albertville
- Mills chosen to lead Albertville Fire Department, again (hometownsource.com)
- Letter jacket tells the story of a great prep sports career (hometownsource.com)
Ok Big Lake! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Sundae School (Thank you Gary M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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