Stillwater Shines after Mayor Controversy

Stillwater may be one the oldest cities in the state of Minnesota, but these days the town feels anew.

According to the Star Tribune, the town was embattled following bitter disagreements over a new bridge and a scandal involving former Mayor Ken Harycki, who was criminally indicted for hiding tax revenue from the federal government.

Harycki left office under a cloud controversy.

But the city have moved on since then, and they're not looking back. Residents of Stillwater have a bright future to look forward to.

Lumberjack Days has returned, and the historic lift bridge is undergoing a transformation into a bicycle and pedestrian structure.

The converted lift bridge will become part of a five-mile "loop trail" system connecting the new river crossing bridge up with the historic bridge.

The stream of tourist traffic to Stillwater, which usually dies down before the winter starts, may continue through the cold months. The proposed Stillwater Ice Castle may be coming this winter to downtown Stillwater's Lowell Park.

Between Stillwater's breweries, historic tours, and dozens of other amenities and events, Stillwater continues to be one of the most popular towns in the state.

Image: Doug Kerr via Flickr /Creative Commons