The Citizen

Shake your Shamrock

for Saturday, March 16 in Centerville.

a distance for

Efforts for reformation of Met Council end without plan

Attempts by a special task force to find a new type of governing model for the Metropolitan Council have yet to end as some have hoped.

Widespread disagreement and an inability to find common ground among task force members left no unanimous decision on how the reform should proceed, leaving members feeling disheartened that no action was being taken.

“This is completely frustrating,” said Washington County Commissioner and task force member Karla Bigham. “People have a right to know what standards the council should be held towards and are being better represented by those we elect.”

The task force, consisting of 17 appointed council members, was formed during the 2023 legislative session to reform the current governor-appointment-based model, which members like Bigham have argued puts forth a perception that elected members are brought on only to serve in the interest of Gov. Tim Walz and not as independent representatives of their districts/regions.

Additionally, task force members had been seeking ways to pursue better transparency and accountability to the public over the council’s oversight of regional transportation planning. One

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

Gillian Desmarais is a music technology educator at Harmony Learning Center in Maplewood. The school, which is a part of District 622, serves students in grades K-12 who have emotional or behavioral disabilities or who have

experienced severe trauma.

Earlier this year, she was named to Yamaha’s 40 under 40 list. Now, she is being recognized as the 2024 Teacher of the Year by Technology in Music Education (TI:ME).

The award, established in 2005, recognizes teachers who are consistently achieving the highest levels of student motivation and engagement in music education by infusing music technology into their work.

“I was beside myself,” Desmarais recalled when she was notified of the award.

“Some of the most incredible teachers I’ve looked up to my entire adult life are the people who received this award.” She added that it’s an honor to be recognized in a field that is predominately occupied by men.

Desmarais has worked at Harmony Learning Center for nearly two years. She makes up the fourth generation of musicians in her family. “They are all drummers. I’m the only rebel that decided not to go that route.”

As a flute player, she grew up playing in a variety of

ensembles. By the time she entered high school and college, she was immersed in music classes. She attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst for music education but ended up withdrawing from school.

“I was only in classical music classes. I needed to find an avenue to get into this type of world (music technology), I just didn’t know how … I took about nine months to try to figure out music technology on my own. It was challenging.” She went back to complete her bachelor’s degree and then

The annual Shake Your Shamrock event is scheduled

There’s

every ability – 5K and 7K on paved trails that are both stroller and pet friendly while also accommodating the competitive runner. For more information, see calendar listing inside.

• The city receives 10% of the charitable gambling net proceeds from licensed charities operating within the city. The city’s 10% balance was $39,204 from 2022; $22,378 from Centennial Youth Hockey pull tabs were added in 2023, for a total amount of $61,583 available for expenditure. The charitable gambling revenue as estimated in the 2024 budget is $20,000. Centerville is also required by state statute to spend those revenues on a specific list of 16 approved items. As it has done in previous years, council voted unanimously (4-0; Council Member Russ Koski was absent) to direct city staff to designate all expenditures, amounting to $34,565, from Parks & Recreation and Fete des Lacs toward activities and facilities for youth. Remaining funds of $27,018 will be designated as restricted funds in the 2023 general fund financial statements.

• The Centerville Lions’ Cadillac Dinner is coming up on April 20 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Genevieve’s Parish Center, 6995 Centerville Road. To that

end, council approved a request for special event, temporary liquor and gambling permits for the event.

• The Kwik Trip is a significant presence along Main Street, after the store was built around one year ago. During that time, the city has held money for the development in escrow to ensure the developer completed public improvements as part of the purchase agreement. Kwik Trip performed the improvements, which were found acceptable. The developer now has the right to request 75% of the security back, and the city will be giving that amount back. The city will withhold 25% of the security until the end of 2024. Council reduced the turn lane escrow to $40,449 and returned the balance of the development review escrow in the amount of $881.

• The city is seeking feedback on the proposed development at 1687 Westview Street (LaLonde Property). An open house information session is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. March 25. A memorandum of understanding was approved at the Dec. 13 City Council meeting, which outlined various

It

facets of a potential development deal involving the use of TIF in support of a 110-unit market-rate apartment building on the site.

• A town hall open house was scheduled for March 11. However, it came to the attention of city staff that this date falls during Centennial School District’s spring break week. To ensure that the public has ample opportunity to attend, the date was rescheduled to 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 25, at City Hall. Everyone is welcome to attend, said Assistant City Administrator Athanasia Lewis. Booths will be set up. The proposed LaLonde development will be highlighted, information on tax increment financing (TIF) will be provided and discussion on the city’s pending developments will be discussed. What building out to a population of 5,000 people would look like also will be discussed, and attendees can sign up to receive communication through more avenues. The city would appreciate input on the capital projects the public would like to see within the city’s parks, such as a new trail or monument, Lewis said. “We’d like to hear your ideas and have an opportunity to connect with you.”

• In his administrator’s report, City Engineer/Administrator Mark Statz noted “City Day on the Hill,” organized by the League of Minnesota Cities, will be held all day March 7. The day will include a one-onone meeting with both the state representative and senator.

• According to state statute, all precincts must hold an accuracy testing day prior to each of the three election days in 2024. This testing was required prior to March 5, and will be performed before the state

primary on Aug. 13 and the general election on Nov. 5. The city’s election administrator, head election judge and one member of the public attend the public accuracy testing on the DS200 and Omni Ballot marking machines to ensure that all election equipment is ready for election day. The public is welcome to attend and view the testing process.

• Super Tuesday is today, March 5, at St. Genevieve’s Community Parish — Fellowship Hall, 6994 Centerville Road from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Election judges are trained and are eager to assist voters. Members of the public are urged to come out and exercise their right to vote.

• On Friday, March 23, the Metropolitan Council will host the “State of the Region” meeting to provide an overview of the greater metro region’s current initiatives, trends and economic conditions. The event will be held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins. There will be opportunities for public input.

• The Centennial Lakes Police Department is in the final stages of hiring a new officer. With the new hire, the department would be just one open position from a fully staffed department for the first time since the pandemic. The Centennial Fire District is also hiring.

• The city’s Realtor reports that a restaurant owner has expressed interest in the Block 3 site at 1737 Main Street.

The council next meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at City Hall, 1880 Main St.

Loretta Harding

CO NTRIBUTED

is still only March, so the public may still have an opportunity to see “Clearopathra,” the city snowplow, in action. Centerville resident Erin Rehnke provided the winning name.

y name is Erik Suchy and I am the new staff writer at the one and only Press Publications in downtown White Bear Lake! Like many current and past writers, I take it upon myself to conform to a high set of journalism standards, ensuring I am producing the best possible content to publish each weekly issue.

Suchy’s Scoops

Erik Suchy

I was born and raised in (so you may have guessed!) White Bear Lake, graduating from high school here in 2014 before taking off to Century College that same year to complete my generals. Many ambitions of future career dreams floated through my head while there, split between my then-steady objective of obtaining my associate’s degree. Unfortunately, being the unfocused youngster I was then, meant that most, if not all, were forgotten quickly, leaving me without any other specific endeavor for the time being.

“For the time being,” of course, being the key phrase.

After graduating from Century in 2018, I transferred to Metropolitan State University, where many new interests began to take shape. I initially applied to the school’s creative writing program, treating the subject of writing as a passing thought. “Easy, peasy, mac-and-cheesy,” I frequently told myself throughout my first two semesters. “All I have to do is just write a bunch of different stories to present to my professors without worrying about taking any fancy tests or pop quizzes. It doesn’t even matter if any of what I write is good, as long as I get it in on time, and POOF! A+’s across the board, here I come!”

But I was wrong. Very, VERY wrong with these beliefs for all the right reasons.

Once I began my second year, writing was gradually beginning to form as a recreational interest I started to pursue outside of the classroom. When I took it upon myself to write for fun with a laptop on one side of my desk and a cup of green tea on the other, I started small and ... poorly. My short stories made no sense content and grammar-wise. Poetry was worse; I crafted sentences and lines that sounded beautifully nonsensical at best and pretentiously half-baked at worst. Worst of all, I never realized that to become a better writer, I had to become a better READER, despite the countless times past professors had lobbied that advice my way.

So, I read. I studied. I took notes.

Then, the improvements began to take hold and reflected themselves better and better in the stories I wrote. Soon, I began to have my work published in various college magazines, both in print and online. I felt accomplished. Someone was noticing me and my efforts, and I realized this was the first step in knowing my writing had the potential to take me places.

With a year and a half left of college, I landed a parttime job writing opinion pieces on current social and political issues for my college newspaper. After graduation, I was stuck trying to find full-time writing jobs that didn’t require much experience. Most of them required significantly more achievements over a more extended period than what I had achieved during my tenure at the college paper.

After trying various unrelated jobs, ranging from early childhood development to briefly going back to retail, a freelance opportunity opened for me in November, writing news stories for Press Publications. I did this up through early February when the company offered me to join their team full-time, which I accepted and have been here since!

Besides writing, my hobbies include photography, hiking and the occasional day of fishing on whatever lake I can cast my line and lure into on a good, sunny day. I look forward to working with such an incredible team of writers who have just as big a passion for covering local news as I do!

If you have any ideas for stories that you would like me to report on, please get in touch with me by phone or email.

Erik Suchy is a staff writer for Press Publciations. He can be reached at 651-407-1229 or whitebearnews@presspubs.com.

Heroes paid the ultimate sacrifice

What happened last Sunday morning in Burnsville, is a saddened stark reality of how dangerous our jobs as first responders can be. As I was introduced into law enforcement 25 years ago, it was imperative that I was aware that on any given day, during any particular incident, I could encounter life altering situations.

Pat Aldrich

Having the notion of these risks in mind, I, as well as other police officers in this county, proudly come to work every day to help those in need.

We as police officers have always been told to “expect the unexpected.” When I listen to citizens being interviewed on the news, I often hear statements similar to “this never happens in our neighborhood,” or “these things don’t happen in small towns.” This ideology could not be farther from reality. As with the unfortunate situation in Burnsville, we as citizens cannot assume tragic things will only happen in the “big city.” Even though our three cities of Centerville, Circle Pines and Lexington have the feel of

small-town living, our officers are continuously dealing with incidents of increased unpredictability, and these challenges we face have become more complex every day. With the population booming, dealing with people with mental health episodes have become more prevalent.

Through research, I have learned one in four people in the United States experience some element of mental illness. These maladies can range anywhere from low levels of anxiety to severe schizophrenia. As police officers, these types of calls can become extremely difficult to navigate. When people are experiencing crisis, we are expected to recognize, understand and address these challenges using our training as well as compassion and empathy. In a vast majority of these contacts, there are positive outcomes, and we are able to locate the necessary resources to help these people through their trying times. But during some contacts, people who are experiencing mental health crisis can be extremely unpredictable. Ignoring the signs of any adverse changes in behavior could create safety issues for any of the people involved in the incident. It is imperative we protect ourselves, and also the people experiencing these episodes from harm.

Every year, the Centennial Lakes Police Department pro -

vides crisis intervention training. Our officers are required to complete state mandated training in a variety of related topics including: mental health crisis response, de-escalation, conflict management, implicit bias, and response to persons with autism. Through our inhouse scenario-based training, our officers are often presented with diverse scenarios. Some involving extreme challenges, to allow them to utilize their crisis intervention training. Unfortunately, during some “real life” interactions, all the training in the world may not be enough to remedy scenarios involving some people’s mental health crises.

Our police officers are human, and we are doing a job that a very low percentage of people are willing to do. We possess the desire to help, continue to train to be the best at what we do, and sacrifice every day when we come to work. Please keep the families of Officer Paul Elmstrand, Officer Matthew Ruge and Paramedic Adam Finseth in your thoughts and prayers, as their heroes have paid the ultimate sacrifice through their noble actions.

Pat Aldrich is a captain of the Centennial Lakes Police Department.

Addressing gun violence

I sense that in this election year many politicians of all parties, representatives in particular, will be skittish about gun legislation. Here is MY OPINION about the proliferation of guns into our society: First, guns are designed to kill (obvious). Many guns are designed specifically to kill people (equally obvious).

The Second Amendment was never intended to allow the mostly unregulated access to guns designed to kill people that we have now. Yes, we have laws, but they are mostly ineffective in keeping guns away from bad actors. Certainly, you can say that all we need to do is truly prosecute the bad actors who commit gun violence crimes.

Prosecution sounds like a plan that should work, but would it/does it work? It’s an exploration worth taking. However, the flow of guns would still continue unabated without restrictions on access. But given the current strong belief of gun rights believers that their supposed rights should not be curtailed, it seems that politicians that represent them will have a difficult time in addressing the result of unmitigated access to guns.

Prayers are offered up when law enforcement officers are killed, or mass shootings occur (and maybe some pray when the daily individual killings occur). Other than prayer, here are actions that could be taken to curtail the flow of guns and

County board amends plan for use of ARPA funds

The Washington County Board of Commissioners is updating the projects paid for with the county’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. An updated recovery plan is due to the U.S. Department of Treasury by July 31.

Washington County received almost $51 million from the Act. Signed into law March 11, 2021, it was designed to assist state, local, and tribal governments to recover from the economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds are allocated to address continued response to ongoing pandemic needs, focusing on the recovery to those most impacted by the public health emergency, addressing longstanding gaps in the economy that prevent equitable economic recovery, and shoring up government services to ensure ongoing capacity and assurance for the future to continue to serve the needs of the community.

The updated plan reallocates funds from several current projects to projects that aim to create a safer working environment at Big Marine Park Reserve and replace election equipment. The updated plan also allocates funds for one new project to improve equipment for the Water, Parks, and Trails River Patrol in the Sheriff’s Office.

WSB will do design for Highway 61, CSAH 8 improvements

Washington County is entering into a consulting contract with WSB for the preliminary and final design of Trunk Highway 61 and County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 8. The contract totaling $298,943 has been approved by the Washington County Board of Commissioners and will be paid through County State Aid Highway funds.

Washington County applied for and was awarded a Minnesota Department of Transportation 2025 Metro Local Partnership Program grant of $985,000 for construction improvements along Trunk Highway 61 between the CSAH 8 segments that include extended left turn lanes, pedestrian upgrades, signal improvements and culvert replacements. The county’s goal is to complete the final design in the fall of 2024. These improvements must be constructed in 2025 and are identified in the Washington County Capital Improvement Plan as project RB-2805.

The county issued a request for proposals in November 2023 and WSB was selected from a group of nine qualified consultants that submitted proposals. The scope of work for the consulting contract includes survey, public outreach, preliminary design, final design and construction support.

County looks to update park policy

Currently, Washington County does not allow pets in campgrounds and is reviewing the policy for

incidents of gun violence:

• Alert local law enforcement of failed background checks

• Background checks on all gun sales

• Close the Charleston loophole

• Disarm hate

• Prevent gun trafficking

• Prohibit people with dangerous histories from having guns

• Report lost and stolen guns

• Require prohibited people to turn in their guns

• Waiting periods

• KEEP COMMUNITIES SAFE

• Block concealed-carry reciprocity

• Keep guns off campus

• Prohibit guns in sensitive areas

• Prohibit open carry

• Repeal Shoot First laws

• Require permits to carry concealed guns in public

• Strong standards for carrying concealed guns in public

• Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) assistance funding

• Violence intervention programs

And there are more to be found at everytown.org

Will Perry Hugo

possible updates. Staff have received feedback from guests who support changing it because they would prefer to bring their pets along for their stay at the campgrounds. Others have expressed that they believe the policy should not change.

Washington County is looking for residents’ thoughts on the topic. Complete the short survey found online at https://arcg.is/1Syjjm. The survey will be open through March 10.

Washington County Sheriff’s Office adding deputy sheriffs

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will add three full-time deputy sheriffs to fulfill the agreements for law enforcement services with the cities of Hugo, Lake Elmo, Mahtomedi, Dellwood, Willernie and Birchwood Village. These additional positions in the patrol unit will help the Sheriff’s Office effectively meet the public safety expectations and needs of these cities. The city councils have expressed support for these added contract positions, which will be fully funded by the contract cities.

County approves changes to

North Environmental Center construction Commissioners recently approved five change orders and one amendment to construction contracts for the Washington County North Environmental Center.

Construction on the new household hazardous waste facility in Forest Lake is currently underway. Both the operations and office buildings are fully framed and roofed. Exterior brick is currently being installed on the office building. The building is currently on schedule to be complete in the fall of 2024 and remains on budget.

The change orders ensure the project meets requirements for the building’s sprinkler system and piping and addresses the needs for concrete curing and excavation work on roads and stormwater ponds at the site.

The approved change orders and amendment were with the following contractors:

• Nasseff Mechanical Contractors Inc. for $54,346 to provide and install a fire pump for the sprinkler system at the North Environmental Center.

• A.J. Moore Electric,Inc. for $103,125 to provide and install a generator that can accommodate the fire pump.

• Axel Ohmann Inc. for $51,347 to accommodate winter conditions on the foundation concrete.

• Wenzel Plymouth Plumbing LLC for $164,875 for acid-resistant piping in the operations building.

• Kevitt Excavating LLC for $308,397 for changes to the access road, site grading and utilities per regulatory agency plan reviews.

• Kraus Anderson Construction Company for $110,000 to cover the cost of the building permit for the North Environmental Center.

Randall D. Roberts

age 57, of Hastings, MN, passed away suddenly on February 28, 2024. Born in Waterloo, Iowa, on November 12, 1966, to Rick and Linda (Lockhart) Roberts, Randall’s journey led him across the Midwest until his family settled in Marshall, Missouri when he was in the fifth grade.

Randy had a love for sports, participating in baseball and basketball. During his school years, he found joy in playing trumpet in the marching band, basketball, and golf, and he graduated in 1985. He pursued higher education at North East Missouri State University in Kirksville, MO, graduating in 1989 with a degree in journalism.

Fate intervened when Randy met Beverly Richardson while vacationing in London, England. The two became inseparable and married on June 16, 1990, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd, MN. Their union was blessed with two daughters, Rachel and Danielle, who pursued their interests with passion.

Randy took great joy in supporting his daughters in their pursuits, from Rachel’s involvement in marching band and show choir to Danielle’s dedication to basketball and soccer. He was a dedicated father, finding fulfillment in coaching Danielle’s traveling soccer and basketball teams. Randy also devoted his time as a Sunday school teacher and was an active member in the Woodbury Days Committee.

He cherished attending concerts with Beverly and indulging in culinary delights at the state fair. Randy had a deep love for the Kansas City Chiefs, in addition the Royals, the Atlanta Braves, as well as local favorites like the Vikings, Twins, and Wild. Engaging in fantasy football and baseball brought about spirited competition with his brother Robin and father Rick.

Professionally, Randy built a successful career in journalism, starting as a sports editor in Excelsior Springs, MO, and progressing to become editor in Richmond, MO. His journey led him to the Hastings Star Gazette, where he made significant contributions as editor before transitioning into sales. Most recently, he served as the Director of Sales and Marketing at Press Publications in White Bear Lake.

Randy was a beloved figure in the lives of many. His infectious spirit and genuine kindness had a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him. He shared a strong bond with his golf league and close friends, including Darin Kerns, Joe Stockmann, Greg Meier, and Paul Kennedy.

Randall D. Roberts is preceded in death by his grandparents, Dale and Lois Roberts, and Everett and Dorothy Lockhart, as well as his father-in-law, James Richardson.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Beverly; his daughters, Rachel (Emmett) and Danielle (Tommy) Roberts; his parents, Rick and Linda Roberts; and his brother, Robin (Sara) Roberts; uncle, Reg (Roleene) Roberts; aunt, Gwen (Dan) Silhacek, and aunt, Cheryl (Rusty) McCune; sister-in-law, Linda (Russ) Sulivan, sister-in-Law, Jeanne Richardson; mother-in-law, Lillian Richardson; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and a multitude of beloved relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the family to establish a scholarship in honor of Randy’s life.

A visitation was held from 2:00-5:00 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2024, at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel, 3075 Vermillion St, Hastings, MN 55033. Funeral Services were held at 11:00 am on Monday, March 4, 2024, at Resurrection United Methodist Church, 615 15th St W, Hastings, MN 55033, with a visitation 1 hour prior. Burial at Lakeside Cemetery at 1:00 pm in Hastings, MN, following the reception at the church. Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel is handling the arrangements.

COUNTY BRIEFS

HUGO TEACHER: Inspires students to find voice

attended New York University for her master’s degree in music technology. While she was studying, she developed a curriculum that focuses on composition and electronic music making, which she brought to Harmony Learning Center. Before Desmarais, the school didn’t have any music programming.

Molly Raab, Harmony Learning Center principal, described Desmarais as a “bright and shining star.”

“Anyone who meets her will automatically be drawn to her warmth and charming personality,” Raab said. “She is also an innovator in music, and she wants to bring the contemporary music world into schools and get people excited about music and really give kids a voice in that area.”

One thing that sets her apart from other teachers, Raab said, is her drive to innovate. “She is always pushing the envelope and trying to get better in her craft and wanting to be better in her profession.”

At Harmony, Desmarais works with nontraditional music students, meaning students who haven’t had the opportunity to perform in ensembles, but are interested in singing or playing an instrument and who aspire to have a career in the music industry.

She uses technology to eliminate barriers that these students might face when it comes to music. “Students of all abilities are capable of creating music and creating something that is their own,” she said. “It really opens the door for those students who

CONTRIBUTED

wouldn’t be able to participate because they didn’t decide to either go through learning an instrument or they don’t have the physical or emotional capability to be able to work through that long-term goal.”

Desmarais shared that she had one student who was really struggling academically when he first entered her classroom. She said her class opened the door for him, and now he is pursuing a career in music production.

“It has really been an incredible opportunity to see these students who have struggled so much in their lives really find their voice through music,” she said.

In her class, students move through the process of learning about soundwaves and the science of sound, and eventually they progress to creating their own music.

Desmarais attends

conferences all over the country to share her curriculum with other music educators in hopes that it will help students from other schools. She strongly encourages other educators to take advantage of those professional development opportunities.

Following her award recognition, Samsung, Yamaha and several other music technology companies have agreed to donate thousands of dollars worth of equipment to her classroom. “Music controllers, microphones, headphones … you name it,” Desmarais explained. “We are very fortunate to keep building this program up.”

She has one piece of advice for other educators and that is — Don’t be afraid to try new things.

It is easy to allow ourselves to get comfortable with what we know and sticking to that only. Giving yourself the flexibility to try something new and realizing that there are probably going to be mistakes made along the way. As long as you are transparent with your students, that process can be very joyful,” she said.

“Students can also feel not afraid to make mistakes, and it is okay for them to feel vulnerable through the process of learning how to write lyrics that are personal to themselves and create music that makes an impact.”

Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or citizennews@ presspubs.com.

WHITE BEAR SCHOOL BOARD NOTES

• Dr. Jessica Meihe, leading a team from St. Catherine’s University, gave a retrospective report of the Bear Care Health and Wellness Clinic, a nonprofit organization that provides no-cost health services to all students in the White Bear Lake Area School District.

“While centered in North Campus,” Dr. Meihe explained, “Bear Care has 14 mobile clinics that they send to elementary and middle schools as well as South Campus and Area Learning Center … We’ve treated 1,300 students this year.”

Highlights of the services Bear Care provides are as follows:

– Vaccinating kids to keep them in schools – Treating acute care needs such as pinkeye – Counseling students regarding short-term mental health issues – Coordinating a registered dietician with the athletics department to educate students on nutrition during Bear Time – Educating ninth grade health class students on recognizing the signs of anxiety “We’re not coming in to take over,” Dr. Meihe said. “We work in collaboration … We do triage, so to speak, then reference students to the applicable resources.”

According to feedback surveys, 20% of patients say that without Bear Care, they would visit an emergency room. Five

percent say they would receive no care at all. While 97% of students treated have some form of health insurance, one-third of patients say that because of insurance deductibles, they would have difficulty affording the services that Bear Care freely provides.

• Christina Pierre, principal of Sunrise Middle School, laid out the transition process for students as they move to Mariner Middle School this fall (currently South Campus High School).

“When these kids move from Sunrise,” Pierre said, “South will have been transformed!” Those entering Mariner Middle can expect to feel meaning, belonging and connection with the school’s history. Pierre also elaborates how the school will instill confidence with incoming students:

– Color-coded building sections with a matching colored map

– Minimal navigation requirements for sixth graders – Fifth grade spring visit – Open communication between parents and teachers

Pierre also noted that logistics such as bike racks and lockers are being accounted for. One thing she did not account for is her daughter’s nickname for the school. “She’s been calling it Marinara Middle School.”

Logan Gion

Hugo Fire Department recognizes it own

Every year, the Hugo Fire Department (HFD) hosts a banquet to congratulate firefighters with awards and recognize the firefighters who have retired.

Retirements

Doug Millard has retired from the HFD after 13 years of service. He held the roles of firefighter, engineer, chief engineer and relief association board member. Chief Jim Compton Jr. said that when HFD took delivery of the ladder truck, Millard was tasked with outfitting the new truck with tools and organizing it for operation. He also was in charge of making sure

the entire fire department was up to speed on the truck before it went into service. “He spent countless hours dedicated to getting that truck into service.”

Mark Kroll has retired from the HFD after 20 years of service. Chief Jim Compton Jr. said, “(He) was a huge help to the city in filling a void for many years during the daytime hours. On fire scenes, Mark had an incredible knowledge of building construction and was very mechanically inclined; that was very helpful in solving any problem we were faced with. Mark was an informal teacher,

and others learned from him on emergency scenes.”

Not pictured is Kevin Kriegshauser, who retired after 13 years of service.

Active service commendations

Firefighter Jake Jorgenson is recognized for five years of service to HFD.

Firefighter Brian Kindelbrger is recognized for 10 years of service to HFD.

Firefighter Bob Bieniek is recognized for 15 years of service to HFD.

Commendations

Jason Palmquist receives the Response Commendation for responding to the most calls in 2023. Allysa Nadeau receives the Drill Commendation for attending the most training drills in 2023. Ryan Nadeau receives the Special Event Commendation for volunteering for the most community events in 2023.

Fire Officer of the Year

Captain Ross Hoernemann was selected as Fire Officer of the Year. The award is picked by the chiefs.

Firefighter of the Year

Allysa Nadeau was selected as Firefighter of the Year by her fellow firefighters. Chief Jim Compton said, “She is the firefighter that showed the best attitude, most dedication, most interest in bettering themselves through education and training, volunteered for community events, taught public education, and is an all-around great person!”

Doug Millard (middle)

Mark Kroll (middle)

Jake Jorgenson (right)

Brian Kindelbrger (left)

Bob Biebiek (left)

Jason Palmquist (left) Alyssa Nadeau

Ryan Nadeau (left)

Ross Hoernemann (left)

Gillian Desmarais is being recognized as the 2024 Teacher of the Year by Technology in Music Education (TI:ME).

ONGOING EVENTS

HUGO SENIOR CITIZENS PLAY ‘500’

When: 12:45 p.m. Thursday, March 7; and the 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursday of every month

Where: Rice Lake Centre, 6900 137th Street N.

Details: Games begin at 12:45 p.m. Refreshments and coffee served. All senior citizens from the area invited.

Contact: 651-592-0369 or barbconnolly1958@yahoo.com

HUGO SENIOR CLUB

When: 1 p.m. Monday, March 18; the 3rd Monday of every month

Where: Rice Lake Centre, 6900 137th Street N.

Details: Monthly meeting includes planning for future activities, followed by afternoon of games. Coffee and refreshments served.

Contact: 651-592-0369 or barbconnolly1958@yahoo.com

CURRENT EVENTS

MOBILITY AND PARKING STUDY OPEN

HOUSE

When: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 7

Where: White Bear Lake City Hall, 4701 Highway 61

Details: Public invited to provide input for upcoming downstown street and parking lot reconstruction.

Contact: whitebearlake.org/mobility

VLAWMO GRANT PROGRAMS 101

When: 6-7 p.m. Thursday, March 7

Where: Gem Lake Heritage Hall, 4200

Otter Lake Rd.

Details: Learn about drainage improvements, erosion control, alternative turf, native plantings and more, get idead for landscaping projects, and see examples. Free; register online.

Contact: 651-204-6070 or vlawmo.org/ events

LAKESHORE QUILTERS GUILD SATURDAY

SEW-IN

When: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9

Where: Shoreview Library, 4560 Victoria St. N.

Details: Lakeshore Quilters will be working on their own quilting projects. Stop in to see what projects are being worked on.

ANNUAL WHITE BEAR LAKE CLEANUP

When: Saturday, March 9

Where: Frozen White Bear Lake

Details: Local Scouting groups partner with the White Bear Lake Conservation District, area Geocachers, and community volunteers to pick up trash on the frozen lake before the ice melts. Becomes a land-based clean-up if ice-out is early.

Contact: wblcd.org

SHINRIN-YOKU: FOREST BATHING

When: 5-7 p.m. Saturday, March 9

Where: Wargo Nature Center

Details: Learn the Japanese practice of “bathing in the forest atmosphere”, an immersive experience in nture through a gentle, guided walk. Registration information online.

Contact: anokacountyparks.com

AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES TRAINING

When: 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 12

Where: West Recreation Building, 14 W

Pleasant Lake Rd., North Oaks

Details: Learn about aquatic invasives in local waters and how to become a volunteer who monitors new infestations in lakes. RSVP.

Contact: vlawmo.org/events

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, March 13

Where: Vadnais Heights Commons

Details: Make an appointment at redcrossblood.org.

PLASTICS AND CLIMATE ACTION

When: 1-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13; 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, March 14

Where: Zoom

Details: Leage of Women Voters-White Bear Lake Area sponsors presentation with experts on the topic of increasing use of plastics and how it is accelerating climate change, recycling effectiveness and solutions to pollution. Free and open to the public. Register to get link.

Contact: lwv-wbla.org

RAINGARDENS 101

When: 6-7 p.m. Thursday, March 14

Where: Gem Lake Heritage Hall, 4200 Otter Lake Rd.

Details: Learn about raingardens, if they are a good fit, planning and maintenange

WEEKLY WAG

Gwennie is waiting for you. Gwennie is a 1 1/2-year-old pit bull terrier mix and she weighs about 50 pounds. Gwennie is house-trained, crate-trained and leash-trained, and she knows her basic commands. She loves all the people she meets, but she is not very fond of other dogs

or cats. Gwennie would do best in a forever home as an only pet. Gwennie’s foster says she is the sweetest girl who always wants human affection. She’s constantly nudging her foster’s arm/ hand for pets and thinks she’s a lap dog. Gwennie is always by her human’s side and any couch time or downtime is snuggle time in Gwennie’s world.

strategies, and how to fund projects. Free with registration.

Contact: 651-204-6070 or vlawmo.org/ events

SAP TO SYRUP

When: Noon-2:30 p.m. March 16 & 23

Where: Tamarack Nature Center, White Bear Township

Details: Tap maple trees, boil sap, enjoy maple crafts and treats, and take a self-guided tour. All ages. Registration required.

Contact: ramseycounty.us/residents/ parks-recreation/tamarack-nature-center SHAKE YOUR SHAMROCK

When: 11 a.m. Saturday, March 16 at Kelly’s Korner Bar, 7089 Centerville Road, Centerville

Details: This flat and fast course conveniently located just north of St. Paul in Centerville offers free parking close to the start and finish. The post party is a must! Hospitality provided by Kelly’s Korner Bar. First beer is free to those with a bib (must be 21 or older). There’s a distance for every ability - 5k and 7k on paved trails that are both stroller and pet friendly while also accommodating the competitive runner.

Contact: https://midwestevents.com/mweevent/shake-your-shamrock-2

But, she is also playful and intelligent, loves to go for walks and is always eager to please. Gwennie is from a local impound and would be a wonderful addition to a loving forever person or family. If you are interested in learning more about Gwennie or adopting her, please fill out an application at www.ruffstartrescue.org. Once

your application is received, Ruff Start Rescue will contact you as soon as possible

METROPOLITAN COUNCIL: No clear future for governance remodel

example of the latter involves the council’s leadership on the ongoing near-$3 billion Southwest Light Rail transit project, which has faced heavy criticism because of delays and poor financial budgeting in recent years.

Some on the task force have favored the directly elected model approach, such as Democratic Senator Scott Dibble, the latter of whom proposed a bill advocating this council reform. Dibble stated that this system would ensure that those elected would be best suited for the job based on qualification and experience and would be more accountable to the public.

Other task force members, however, pushed for an opposite approach. One such bill, put forth by Rep. John Koznick, would continue the council’s current governor-appointed-based model, but would stagger members’ terms and expand membership of the nomination committee.

One notable proponent of this example came from Karen Schaffer. Schaffer is the current chair of the Council of Metropolitan Area League of Women’s Voters, whose mission is to expand the knowledge and effectiveness of members concerning regional issues about Metropolitan Council governance. Schaffer testified to the task force at its Jan. 10 meeting on the topic of a government-appointed-model versus an elected-official one.

“I understand that accountability is a valid concern,” Schaffer said. “The advantage of staggered terms is that it allows you to keep people already

on the learning curve about the issues the council is focusing on. It’s about our members having some historical perspective and learning about those who have previously served on the board.”

A past study by the League found that only 30% of elected officials interviewed favored the appointment of those elected officials to the council. A full 70% were against such a model, stating that officials from representative districts already work full-time jobs to serve the interests of their respective areas, and appointing them to the council would lead to them having incompatible interests associated with serving two different constituencies.

These conflicting visions ultimately led the task force to publish a “Problem Statement” on Jan. 17, in which its members determined that there was too much widespread confusion and disagreement about who is and who should be held accountable for the MET Council’s vision, planning, execution and performance evaluation. Further recommendations in the Problem Statement stated that the Legislature should address, as per any Metropolitan Council reform or changes in governance, how the council should be accountable to the public and state and local governments.

On Jan. 27, the task force adopted several principles to guide the Legislature in considering the current reform proposals, should they be looked at in the future. No additional task force meetings are intended to take place throughout the remainder of the year.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The Metropolitan Council was created in 1967 in response to significant challenges the region was facing, such as poor wastewater management, a privately owned bus company on the verge of failure, and fiscal disparities, which left many communities at a disadvantage in supplying essential services to their residents.

• The council planned for the economic development of all seven counties in the metro area, coordinating delivery services that no one county or city could help deliver.

• Further legislation from the council was instrumental in creating the Metro Transit Commission, the regional parks system, a tax-base sharing system, and a regional sewer system, all

between 1967 and 1974.

• The council partners with 181 different cities and townships, seven counties, and various other government entities, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to devise policies guiding further strategic growth on bettering these locations.

• The council’s primary services and infrastructure include Metro Mobility, wastewater treatment services, affordable housing and Metro Transit’s bus and rail system, among many others. The council also relies on many different sources for funding, such as state and federal funds, county property taxes and user fees for wastewater treatment and transit services.

COPS&COURTS

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported the following incidents:

• A suspicious vehicle reported parked on private property in the 5000 block of Oneka Lake Blvd. N. at 11:17 a.m. Jan. 28 turned out to have been involved in an arrest the previous night and not parked on anyone’s property.

• A motorist was issued a written warning for speeding 47 mph in a 35 mph zone in the 7000 block of eastbound Egg Lake Road at 1:09 p.m. Jan. 28, after deputies clocked the vehicle on radar.

• A resident in the 1000 block of Forest Blvd. N. at 1:39 p.m. Jan. 28 reported damage to the steering column of a vehicle he was trying to sell.

• A motorist was arrested at 12:25 a.m. Jan. 29 on Heritage Parkway N. for DWI after Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies initiated a traffic stop for poor driving conduct and registration that expired in March 2023. The driver submitted to standardized field sobriety testing and a portable breath test, which resulted in a 0.26 reading.

• Burglary of an unattached shop of a property in the 5000 block of 165th Street N. was reported at 11:08 a.m. Jan. 29, during which power tools were stolen.

• A resident in the 7000 block of Oneka Lake Blvd. N. at 12:14 p.m. Jan. 29 reported receiving a phone call about purchasing a pickup truck and that he would only need to pay for the shipping. The complainant knew it was a scam and hung up on the caller.

• A resident in the 4000 block of Rosemary Way at 12:17 p.m. Jan. 29 reported giving her exboyfriend a phone, which she shut off when they broke up. However, the ex now has the cell phone back and is using it through a different carrier.

• Property damage was reported at 9:22 p.m. Jan. 29 in the 6000 block of 145th Circle N.

• Deputies conducted a traffic stop at 6:47 p.m. Feb. 1 on Forest Blvd. N. and issued a citation for undisclosed violations. They conducted another traffic stop at 1:20 a.m. Feb. 2 on Forest Blvd. N. and 159th Street N. on a vehicle with its hazard lights on and a male driving well below the speed limit on the shoulder. Deputies conducted a third traffic stop at 5:52 p.m. Feb. 2 on 170th Street N. and Jeffrey Avenue N. and issued a citation to the driver.

• An unidentified male was arrested on a

Saturday at 4:30 pm Parish Community Center

Sunday at 10:30 am Parish Community Center  6995 Centerville Rd, Centerville  www.stgens.org 651‐429‐7937

warrant at 8:10 p.m. Feb. 2 at the American Legion in the 5000 block of 140th Street N. after deputies conducted a welfare check on the male.

• A burglary was reported at 11:00 p.m. Feb. 2 in the 4000 block of Fable Hill Parkway N.

• Residents in the 6000 block of 145th Circle N. at 10:58 p.m. Feb. 2 reported juveniles for egging their house. The complainants said they did not have video footage of the incident but could obtain footage from a neighbor with a Ring doorbell camera.

• A resident in the 5000 block of Evergreen Drive N. at 10:01 a.m. Feb. 3 reported her ex-boyfriend for taking the dog they shared, although she didn’t want him to take it. Deputies advised the complainant that the incident was a civil matter.

• A motorist of undisclosed identity was arrested for DWI at 4:59 a.m. Feb. 3 on Forest Blvd. N. and 170th Street N. following a traffic stop for speeding 68 mph in a 55 mph zone. On contact with the driver, deputies noticed several signs of impairment about the driver, including bloodshot, watery and red eyes.

By way of explanation of his driving under the influence, the driver admitted to coming from downtown Stillwater.

The driver submitted to standardized field sobriety tests and a portable breath test, which indicated a blood alcohol content of 0.13. At the Washington County jail, the driver was booked and released with a citation.

• A resident in the 4000 block of Empress Way N. at 10:57 a.m. Feb. 4 reported that a vehicle that was supposed to have been transported to Florida was still in Minnesota, after she checked the location of the airtag that had been installed in the vehicle. Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies advised the complainant that the incident was a civil breach of contract issue with the transportation company.

• A vehicle was reported damaged in the Festival Foods parking lot in the 1000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. at 4:05 p.m. Feb. 24 while the complainant was inside the store shopping.

• Residents in the 5000 block of 137th Street N. at 9:10 a.m. Feb. 5 reported identity theft and credit card fraud.

• Snowmobile parts were reported stolen at 9:53 a.m. Feb. 5 from the 1000 block of Harrow Avenue N.

Loretta Harding

If every person takes one small step toward being more conscientious of the environment, the collective effort will change the planet.

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The Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation seeks to hire an Executive Director to serve as the key leader responsible for working with community leaders to positively grow the foundation to have greater impact for community members and nonprofit organization partners. Candidates can read about the required qualifications for the position and apply through the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits job board website. The GWBLCF website is www.gwblcf.org.

Fire departments respond to chicken coop fire

The Hugo Fire Department was called to a fire in a detached structure in the 7200 block of 165th Street in Hugo at 6:40 p.m. on Feb.20. Upon their arrival, they found heavy fire coming from a chicken coop on the back side of a garage that had extended to a camper, pine trees and a treehouse. Fire crews were able to extinguish the fire and stop it from spreading to the garage. Fire crews were on scene for an hour and a half.

Because of information that the Washington County Communications Center received, automatic aid was dispatched to tanker in water. Automatic aid was received from Forest Lake, Scandia, Stillwater, Mahto-

The City of Lexington is accepting applications for a seasonal Public Works Maintenance employee (20-40 hours/week), to assist in regular and recurring maintenance, installation and repair work associated with the City’s parks, streets, utilities, and buildings. The position starts before Memorial Day and ends after Labor Day (start and end time is flexible). Position pays $18.00/hour. A valid driver's license with a clean driving record is essential. Applications available Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4:30 pm, at Lexington City Hall, 9180 Lexington Ave, Lexington, MN 55014 or online at http://www.ci.lexington.mn.us/. Position is open until filled.

White Bear Township is accepting applications for Seasonal Maintenance Worker positions to assist in routine maintenance work including, but not limited to, the following: general maintenance of parks, streets, water, storm water, sanitary sewer, etc. Up to 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (subject to change, between Memorial Day – Labor Day). Salary range from $17.00/hour to $20.00/hour depending on qualifications. A valid driver’s license with a good driving record is essential. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and be able to pass pre-employment drug screening.

Applications are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., at the Township Administrative Office, 1281 Hammond Road, White Bear Township, MN 55110 or online at www.whitebeartownship.org. No application deadline; open until positions are filled.

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water, sewer, and park maintenance. Must have a High School diploma or GED, the ability to lift/ move 25-100 Lbs., be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. The pay range is from $18.00/hr. to $20.00/hr. depending on qualifications. Applications will be taken until positions are filled. Applications can be obtained at City Hall, 600 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi, MN 55115 or at its website at www.ci.mahtomedi.mn.us. Mahtomedi is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Are you looking for something to keep your child(ren) busy? How about something that gives them cash? Talk to them about delivering newspapers!

ROUTES AVAILABLE FOR WHITE BEAR PRESS:

Rte 676 – N of 82nd St – E of Fox Rd Rte 678 – S of Birch St – E of Fawn Ln Rte 295 – N of 96 – E of Portland Rte 114 – S of Cty F – E of Bellaire Rte 262 – Lake Ave – E of Hwy 61 Rte 263 – N of Lake – E of Hwy 61 Rte 246 – N of 4th Ave – E of Bald Eagle Rte 632 – S of North Rd – W of Center Park Rte 274 – S of Bald Eagle – W of Hwy 61 Rte 128 – S of Cty Rd F – W of White Bear Ave Main Street Business District –downtown White Bear Lake

Other Routes available, call our Circulation Dept. at 651-407-1246.

If you enjoy meeting people, solving problems and helping businesses grow, this may be the perfect opportunity for you. Press Publications seeks an organized and creative professional multimedia rep to promote and market the business community through our products in print and digital. Sales experience is helpful but training is provided to the candidate who shows the willingness to learn and grow in a fast-paced marketplace.

medi, White Bear Lake and Lino Lakes fire departments as well as the Centennial Fire District. Most of the automatic aid response was canceled due to a quick knockdown of the fire. There were no injuries.

Sheriff’s Office, BCA form task force

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) will form a multiagency task force called the Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The Washington County Board of Commissioners recently adopted a resolution authorizing the Sheriff’s Office to enter a joint powers agreement with the State of Minnesota, acting through its commissioner of Public Safety on behalf of the BCA.

The task force will investigate and prosecute crimes against children and the criminal exploitation of children that are committed and/or facilitated by or using computers. The task force also aims to disrupt and dismantle organizations engaging in such activity. The BCA will receive federal funding to assist law enforcement in investigating and combating the exploitation of children using computers. The BCA will provide funding for equipment, training and expenses, including travel and overtime, that are incurred by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office during such investigations. The term of this agreement is five years.

Hugo man charged for bad check

Andrew John Leroux, 40, of Hugo is being charged by the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office with two felonies: motor vehicle theft and issuing a dishonored check.

According to the criminal complaint, Rochester

police responded to a dealership in the 3300 block of Wilder Road Northwest on the report of a stolen vehicle April 28, 2023. An employee reported that a man, later identified as Leroux, used a personal check to buy a 2021 Ford F-250 truck.

The check was written out for $66,760.50 and appeared to be associated with an account that had sufficient funds. However, staff at the dealership then discovered the bank account that was associated with that check was closed after Leroux left the dealership, according to the criminal complaint.

Employees at the dealership attempted to contact Leroux, but the phone number he provided had been disconnected. Rochester police contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to request they try to find the vehicle. Washington County deputies found the vehicle located in a shed on Leroux’s property. The truck was towed from his Hugo property.

Local man dies in plane crash

Several Afton residents reported hearing an explosion just before 9:45 a.m. Saturday, March 2 near the 15000 block of Afton Hills Blvd. S. According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, emergency crews arrived and located a small, fully engulfed aircraft that had crashed in the yard of a residence near the attached garage. Lower St. Croix Valley Fire Department extinguished the flames and located the bodies of two men, identified as William Patrick Moore, 85, of White Bear Lake, and Mitchell Jay Zahler, 68, of Baytown Township.

The incident, including the cause of the crash and any contributing factors, remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

362 Miscellaneous

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS

NORTH METRO FIRE BUFF | CONTRIBUTED

Hugo firefighters work on extinguishing a fire in a chicken coop in Hugo.

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Cougar skaters foil Maple Grove, earn state berth

The Centennial Cougars are state tournament-bound after tripping top-seeded Maple Grove 5-2 in the Section 5AA hockey championship game Thursday evening in Elk River.

Centennial takes a 19-7-1 record into the state tournament. Maple Grove, which beat the Cougars 4-2 in a conference game, finished 21-7.

The Cougars are seeded No. 3 at state and will open against Cretin-Derham Hall on Thursday, 1 p.m., at Xcel Energy Center.

“This team has truly bought into the TEAM philosophy and it paid off,” coach Ritch Menne

said. “The boys played an intense game while staying disciplined in all aspects.”

No. 2 seeded Centennial struck twice on power plays a minute apart in the second period to open a 3-1 lead. Heath Nelson scored at 2:40 after a tripping penalty. Nick Carls scored at 3:38 (Harper Searles assisting) after a high-sticking penalty.

Nelson also scored in the first period. Searles and Joey Hemr found the net 12 seconds apart in the third period. at 10:04 and 10:16, for a 5-1 lead.

Centennial had a 41-30 edge in shots with Cody Easton making 28 saves. Lucas Bursch and David Kukkonen each got one

past him.

This will be Centennial’s fifth state tournament. The 2004 team was state champions. The other trips were in 2013, 2014 and 2018.

Menne said the team started building up confidence that they could make state after the holiday break. They were 4-4-1 in December.

“In January, we went 9-0-1,” he noted, “and  then we beat White Bear Lake at start of February, so knew we had a good chance.”

Right after that, the Cougars lost three straight hard-fought games, to Maple Grove, Elk River and Andover, but it didn’t faze their confidence, Menne said.

CONTRIBUTED

They’ve outscored five teams 34-7 since then.

Wins over the Bears, No. 9 ranked Rogers (5-1, section semifinals)

and  No. 8 Maple Grove helped the Cougars earn the No. 3 seed.

Top scorers are Searles (24 goals, 41 assists,

65 points) and Nelson (35-28-63), followed by Austin Petersen (11-2637) and Alex Clampitt (15-19-34).

Bears in state tourney after toppling Pioneers

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR

White Bear Lake is skating in the state hockey tournament this week after conquering longtime nemesis Hill-Murray 3-0 in the Section 4AA finals.

Jack Stanius scored 36 seconds into the game and it remained a 1-0 meat-grinder for 50 minutes, with Leo Gabriel’s stellar goaltending keeping them in front, until the Bears got two empty netters in the final minute.

“It was a super exciting environment with the big crowd and the whole city there,” said Gabriel, who made 35 saves. About the pressure he said, “Love it. Pressure makes me play better, because I have to.”

The Bears (20-7-1, are seeded No. 4 at state and will open Thursday at 8 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center against Grand Rapids, whom they beat 2-0 in December.

Before the usual overflow crowd in the 3,400-seat Aldrich Arena that this ancient rivalry always draws, the Bears earned their first state trip since 2019, the last time they beat Hill-Murray in the section. The Pioneers are 14-6 against the Bears in sectionals over the last three decades.

“Making the state tournament means everything to us and the community of White Bear Lake,” said Nolan Roed, who notched his team-leading 33rd goal plus an assist. “To be able to beat Hill Murray and go to the ‘X’ is something that our

whole team has dreamed of.”

The massive crowd, said Roed, “is the best part of those big games and it really just feeds into the intensity out on the ice.”

The Bears were able to strike quickly. Roed cut back and threw the puck down to Stanius, who fired off a quick shot. Kevin Laska was diving to the net. The puck hit him and went off the pipe, and Stanius buried it. “Just the start we needed,” Roed said.

After that, H-M never permitted another close-range shot by the Bears and outshot them 35-15 until the two empty-net shots.

With the Pioneer goalie pulled and

Brol Scherman, Centennial junior lacrosse standout, has netted 22 goals and provided seven assists for the Cougars (4-2) while notching 17 ground balls (a change of possession statistic). Scherman was all-conference as a sophomore with 36 goals and 28 assists. The recruiting website ILMCA said of him: “Endto-end playmaking machine with striking confidence both on and off the field. Versatile offensive threat with strong outside shooting and crease finishing skills. Magnetic team leader and positive influencer.”

in a 5-2 finals win over top-seeded Maple Grove. For the season he has a .922 save percentage and 2.47 goals-against-average. Another highlight was making 39 saves in a 2-1 win over White Bear Lake, a state tournament team. “Easton has an unbelievable work ethic,” coach Ritch Menne said. “He’s always at practice a half hour early doing drills with other guys. He’s super athletic, very quick. And he’s just a ‘gamer,’ making game-saving saves regularly.”

the Bears in a power play, Blake Eckerle back-handed an empty net goal with 1:00 left and sailed down the ice in celebration to a thunderous celebration by Bears fans. Roed added another empty-netter with two seconds left.

Gabriel turned back some point-blank shots and a couple of one-on-one’s among his 35 stops.

“Leo was great. He was on point, consistent and really limited rebounds,” said coach Christopher Anderson. “He just was really solid.”

Gabriel appeared to be “in the zone,” as they say about an athlete who’s making all the plays that day. “It’s hard not to be,

when you’re facing a team like that,” Gabriel said. “It really helps when the team plays good defense. They were keeping the shots from farther out. I got lucky, too. A few hit the crossbar.”

About the defensive crew of Will Distad, Noah Driscoll, Tanner Olsen, Blake Eckerle, Zac Baay and Nate Celski, the coach assessed,  “They were just steady all night keeping H-M to the outside, boxing out and having sticks in front. Strong in the corners. Just solid defense.”  Hill-Murray (17-9-1) was averaging 4.5 goals per game and had been blanked just once in 27 games, by No. 1 ranked Minnetonka. The Pioneers were ranked No. 7 with the Bears unranked. They tied 3-3 in December.

The Bears, who will make their 20th state appearance, dealt with some key injuries along the way, in particular with No. 2 forward Stanius and stellar defender Eckerle missing games.

“Our guys had to battle through some adversity, with the injuries throughout the season and at times we struggled,” Anderson said. “Through our struggles, they learned a lot, which is important.”

To reach the finals, the Bears had to get past Stillwater, with whom they split in conference play and shared the SEC title. The Bears took a quick 3-0 lead and won 5-1. Gabriel made 28 saves. Scoring were Tyler Lalonde, Distad (short-handed), and Roed in the first period, and Eckerle (power play) and Roed (short-handed) in the third.

Waiting Child

BRENNAN SCHACHTNER | CONTRIBUTED

Whooping it up with the section trophy were Kevin Laska (3), Nolan Roed and Jack Stanius (8)

The Cougars piled together for a championship team photo after defeating Maple Grove 5-2.

Washington County Historical Society meeting to feature T.J.

Maplewood Area Historical Society Executive Director T.J. Maleskee will be the featured speaker for the Washington County Historical Society Meeting on Thursday, March 21, at the Stillwater Event Center.

The first successful national farming organization was the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, better known as the Grange, founded in 1867.

The Grange opposed the manufacturing and processing monopolies that fixed grain and livestock prices at a disadvantage to farmers. Its members also protested the high railroad freight rates farmers had to pay to get their products to market.

Within two years, Minnesota had 40 Grange chapters and a state organization. By 1869, the Grange of Patrons of Husbandry was organized with 60 members. Soon, another Grange organization popped up in nearby Cottage Grove and still another in Point Douglas. There was one chapter located in Stillwater.

Maleskee, a past president of the Minnesota Grange, has organized two farmers markets that provided opportunities for women and BIPOC business owners. He is a proud member of the White Bear Lakes Lions Club and volunteers at the Academy for Sciences and Agriculture in Vadnais Heights, as

well as with Many Faces of White Bear Lake.

The meeting will be at the Stillwater Event Center, 1910 South Greeley St. The event is open to the public. There is a fee for both Washington County Historical Society members and nonmembers. The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour, followed by dinner catered by Scheel’s Catering at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Malsekee’s presentation will start shortly after the meeting. Reservations are required in advance. Please call 651-439-2298 or email information@wchsmn.org.

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T.J. Maleskee

the guest speaker at the next Washington County Historical Society meeting at