White Bear Press

Page 1

Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110

693691

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021

VOL. 125 NO. 21 www.whitebearpress.com $1.00

BACK TO SCHOOL: Mahtomedi students return to the classroom PAGE 8

Developer nixes plan; future of corner lot still up in air BY DEBRA NEUTKENS STAFF WRITER

Protect and serve

Neighbors near Third Street and Cook may have gotten their wish. A proposed four-story apartment building and adjoining parking ramp on the northwest corner of that intersection appears to be scrapped. In a Feb. 25 email to downtown business owners and other interested parties, City Manager Ellen Hiniker said developer TE Miller will not be submitting an application for the project as proposed (See “Downtown development project draws neighborhood ire,” Feb. 24). “However, the developers still have the corner house under contract and plan to take more time to determine whether there is an alternative concept worth pursuing before abandoning the site altogether,” Hiniker said. The developer also canceled plans to conduct soil borings on the site. Hiniker and City Planner Anne Kane had met with representatives of the Eden Prairie company earlier that day. Their meeting was one of several held last week regarding the unpopular project. The opposition met with White Bear Lake attorney Fritz Knaak at Kellerman’s Event Center to plan strategy and learn the legalities of the permitting process. Knaak specializes in municipal law. Terry Kellerman knows Knaak and invited him to speak to the group. “He knows the depth of the problems we’re dealing with,” Kellerman explained. The attorney reminded those in the room, and on a Zoom call, that they’re “dealing with a professional development staff being

Unless the judge delays it, next week begins the televised trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with the killing of George Floyd. His death on Chicago Avenue still echoes across the country, and puts Chauvin and a metro police department on trial for use of force. In the northeast suburbs, neighborhood policing is routine. Many suburban departments are using this time to examine how they train and restrain. Press Publications asked six local and county departments about how they train and policies on restraining to give suburban residents perspective how local police departments respond.

SEE DEVELOPMENT, PAGE 13

The WBLPD continues to focus on de-escalation as a primary resolution tool. Department policy does not authorize use of chokeholds and has not for as long as

any current officer has been a member of this department. There have been changes to MN State Statute in the areas of Use of Force (609.06) and Authorized Use of Deadly Force by Peace Officers (609.066) since the summer of 2020. Our Department’s Training Unit has remained current in the instruction of our officers and vigilant in ensuring they understand the changes and their implications.

How many staff are in your department today? How does this compare to 2020? The White Bear Lake Police Department, which also provides patrol and investigative services for the city of Gem Lake, has 31 sworn officers, including

the chief and its two captain positions. Additional staffing includes records/ administrative assistants, evidence technicians and part-time community service officers for a total of 42.

are left unattended and running. The department has also experienced an increase in mental health and persons in crisis calls, some of which we attribute to the stress of the pandemic.

How has the number of calls your agency responded to changed during the past year?

How has the political, pandemic or racial climate affected your agency?

The calls for service have remained consistent over the past few years, with the department responding to approximately 29,000 calls per year. There has been an increase in auto thefts and theft from autos over the past year in White Bear Lake and throughout the metro area. Auto theft rates typically involve vehicles that

STOP & SAVE

See store for details

THE BEST SERVICE • SELECTION • VALUE

To Protect our Customers and Staff we are following all safety procedures.

OIL, FILTER, LUBE, 4 TIRE ROTATION

1899

$

& MORE

Temporary Hours: 7:30am - 5pm M-F • 7:30am - 2pm Sat • GPMINNESOTAWHOLESALE.COM

NEWS 651-407-1230 whitebearnews@presspubs.com

SEE PROTECT AND SERVE, PAGE 9

TIRE SALE GOING ON NOW !!

BEST OF THE PRESS

3955 Hi Highway h 61, 61 White Whi Whit B Bear L Lake, k MN (651) 426-4518

We experienced an increase in mental health, substance abuse and disturbance calls in 2020. While the cause cannot be certain, the rise in these types of calls definitely correlates with the events of 2020. Specific to the civil unrest following George Floyd’s death, our department

ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com

CIRCULATION 651-407-1234 circ@presspubs.com

See store for details + 2.00 shop supplies/2.00 waste oil filter disposal. Oil filter: up to 5 qts. of SW30. Rotate 4 tires. Check air pressure. 20 pt. Safety Inspection. Must Have Coupon. Exp. 3/31/21.

CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com

Offer Excludes

3999 $ 99 65 $

Full Syn Ams Oil

Set of 4 Shocks and/ or struts installed

$5000

OFF

ASE Certified Mechanics

• Alignment • Select Batteries Napa & Interstate

$1000

OFF UP TO

• Brakes $6000 See store for details

OFF

PRODUCTION 651-407-1239 artmanager@presspubs.com

Expires 3/31/21.

693851

White Bear Lake Police Department

White Bear Lake Police Department Has the department/ agency changed any training, policies or approved restraints since the death of George Floyd? Please explain.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.