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YOGADEVOTION: Minister merges faith and fitness PAGE 10A
Residency restrictions too late to block sex offender’s move BY KRISTINE GOODRICH EDITOR
BIRCHWOOD — The City Council is moving ahead with placing residency restrictions on sex offenders. But it is too late to block a Level 3 offender from moving to the city. When he is released from prison on Nov. 30, Joseph Charles Zacher, 36, plans to move in with relatives who live in the 100 block of Cedar Street. The residence is across from city tennis courts and near a school bus
stop. Zacher has been designated as a Level 3 offender, which is the highest risk rating given. At the prodding of residents, the Birchwood City Council held a special meeting Nov. 22 to discuss enacting restrictions on where Level 3 offenders can reside in the city. The council unanimously approved a first reading. A date for a second reading and potential adoption has yet to be scheduled. In its current draft, the proposed ordinance prohibits predatory offenders from living
within 1,500 feet of a school, day care center or public recreational facility. The Nov. 22 meeting drew a large crowd, with most attendees urging the council to promptly draft an ordinance, hoping it would prevent Zacher from moving to the community. But City Attorney Alan Kontrud said it is too late for that. Under state law, Zacher became a resident when he declared his plans to move to Birchwood, according to the attorney. The residency restriction ordinance
cannot be retroactively enforced. Even if the council members had opted to disregard their attorney’s opinion about when residency is established, passing an ordinance Sunday night would have violated city procedure. Before adopting ordinances, the council historically has held two readings on different dates. The council could have opted to deviate from that practice, but declined to do so. It is too late now to schedule another special meeting to conduct a second reading and
adopt an ordinance in time to try to deter Zacher’s move. The ordinance wouldn’t go into effect until after it is published in this newspaper, the next edition of which won’t be published until after Zacher is released from prison. Kontrud recommended instead of or in addition to residency restrictions, the city should enact prohibitions such as banning predatory offenders from city parks. SEE OFFENDER, PAGE 9A
Hipp hockey guys celebrate 40 years Still playing ‘for the love of the game’
DEBRA NEUTKENS| PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Taking a break on the bench are, from left, Chris Lilly, Ron Tuckner and Tony Zajac. play Alan Haskins carries the puck up ice as Dave Vail and Chris Lilly trail the play.
BY DEBRA NEUTKENS REGIONAL EDITOR
There's no checking (someone might get hurt) and slap shots are banned, but a bunch of aging hockey jocks still lace up at the Hippodrome every Sunday morning to play the game they love. Some have been hauling their equipment bags to the rink for 40 years. It all started in 1975 when Bob
"Lars" Larsen got a group of local guys together to pick up wherever their hockey careers left off. Some played varsity hockey in high school, some went as far as bantams, and some just played recreationally. They have one thing in common: enjoyment of the sport. At 60, Larsen is one of the senior members of the group. He's a 1973 White Bear grad who didn't play in high school. After nearly six decades, Larsen is about ready to hang up his
“IF WE PLEASE YOU, TELL OTHERS. IF NOT, TELL US.”
skates. He only joins the Hipp guys a few times a season these days and considers himself "semi-retired." He's also retiring from Xcel Energy in January after 35 years. "Playing is the easy part," Larsen said. "It's the aches and pains later that make it tough to get going every Sunday." Of the original group, four still play: Mike Dittman, Ron Tuckner, Denny Gamboni and Larsen. The team "chairman" is Gary
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Johnson, who took over coordinating duties from Larsen four years ago. They don't get much turnover, Johnson said, because everyone loves the Sunday morning 11:40 a.m. time slot. "We can go to early church service and still get to the Hippodrome," Johnson said. There is some young blood, too; children of players who are willing to sub when needed. Corey Johnson SEE HIPP HOCKEY, PAGE 9A
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