Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110
VENDORS WANTED!
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN
— 2019 —
Wedding Expo Email marketing@presspubs.com or call 651-407-1213
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019 VOL. 123 NO. 16 www.presspubs.com $1.00
ON ICE: Alert citizen spies stolen truck PAGE 6A
Four distinct journeys highlight diversity of immigration BY SARA MARIE MOORE VADNAIS HEIGHTS EDITOR
There are many paths immigrants take to live in the United States. Four stories presented at St. Mary's Catholic Church during an event sponsored by the church's social justice committee this month highlighted the various ways people come to the U.S. to live. The four speakers were all people that someone at the church had a connection with, said church member Kathryn Lien. Malika Benachour is a French-Algerian who first came to the U.S. as a student. Catalina Morales Behena crossed the Mexican border with her parents. Babatope Adedayo won the diversity lottery in Nigeria. Mainhia Moua's parents came to the U.S. as refugees from Laos after the Vietnam War. PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Acqua man emergence Acqua team member David Tomaszewski bursts into the frigid air — after submerging underwater through a hole cut into the ice — during the White Bear Lake Polar Plunge benefit for the Special Olympics Minnesota. It was the 18th year White Bear Lake has hosted the event in what has now grown into a series of plunges staged throughout the state. Find more photos on page 1B.
Education leads to desired wintry home Malika Benachour didn't like the heat. She grew up in France after her family immigrated from Algeria, in northern Africa. She always viewed education as the key to following her dreams, so she studied hard, including foreign languages. She started traveling — Scotland, Iceland, Canada, the U.S. When she visited family in Africa, she decided she needed SEE IMMIGRATION, PAGE 8A
Revival of Vadnais’ dome on pause BY DEBRA NEUTKENS EDITOR
ST. PAUL — The Vadnais Heights sports dome may not be a dome in the future, but at least it will have a future. Ramsey County Commissioners agreed to keep the damaged structure, as long as someone else pays for one-third of the cost to replace it. At this point, the amount needed from outside partners is about $1 million. Staff is recommending replacing the dome with a 15 percent smaller structure to address parking issues, yet still accommodate primary users. Turf will be the size of a
regulation soccer field, with trusses to support the fabric instead of air. The structure will be more energy efficient and “resistant to collapse.” Mark McCabe, director of parks and recreation, provided financial estimates to the commissioners at a dome workshop Jan. 22. Replacing the dome would require a capital outlay of $3 million, he said. The county owes $8.2 million on the Vadnais Sports Center complex, a debt that should be repaid by end of year 2035. According to McCabe, the county expects the dome to operate at an annual loss of $66,000, which could possibly be eliminated by an increase in turf rental rates. As far as offsetting capital costs,
the county is looking to community investors. County board Chair Jim McDonough, who represents several St. Paul neighborhoods in District 6, proposed a partnership that shares a third of the project cost. “There are 19 cities in this county and four school districts. We can make this painless,” he said. “We are asking communities to come forward and support it.” McDonough acknowledged a sense of urgency regarding the dome reopening but felt the decision could not be made hastily. The goal is to reopen by 2021. SEE SPORTS DOME, PAGE 9A
DEBRA NEUTKENS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Tears in the fabric are visible in the dome’s wall. It has stood unused and vacant since an April snowstorm last year collapsed the structure.
NOW A FULL-SERVICE TIRE & AUTOMOTIVE SHOP! M-F 7AM-6PM • SAT 7:30AM-2PM • CLOSED SUN 3001 Hwy 61 N., Maplewood, MN
10% OFF First service visit See store for details. Some restrictions apply
651-483-2601• www.venburgtire.com
NEWS 651-407-1230 whitebearnews@presspubs.com
ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com
CIRCULATION 651-407-1234 circ@presspubs.com
CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com
PRODUCTION 651-407-1239 artmanager@presspubs.com