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TINY HOUSES: A simple, small life PAGE 15
American Indian artifacts discovered along Lake Vadnais BY SARA MARIE MOORE EDITOR
VADNAIS HEIGHTS — Ceramic sherds and fire-cracked rocks — evidence of Woodland Indians — were discovered along the shores of Lake Vadnais last summer. The North Lake Owasso Neighborhood Group (NLONG) conducted several digs in the area with a grant from the Minnesota Historical Society after the group of residents found American Indian artifacts along Lake Wabasso in Shoreview in 2015. Lake Vadnais is just half a mile away, so the group extended its search there last summer. Professional archaeologist Jeremy Nienow of Nienow Cultural Consultants led the group in several digs and volunteers conducted 113 shovel tests on several sites. Artifacts were found in three sites that have since been registered as archeological sites with the state. About two dozen prehistoric ceramics and over 60 archaeologically significant stones — called lithics — were found, Nienow said. Lithics include debris from making
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John Vadnais, of Shoreview, helped form the North Lake Owasso Neighborhood Group (NLONG) after neighbors found American Indian artifacts near Lake Wabasso in Shoreview. The group hopes to continue digging along Lake Vadnais this summer.
stone tools and rock that was heated in prehistoric fire pits. Most of the lithics and ceramics were found in one site on a peninsula on the eastern shore of the lake toward the end of the digging season last year. Volunteers were excited to have finally found a heavy concentration of artifacts after digging quite a few holes with no returns. “We are all enthused about that, and very happy,” said John Vadnais, NLONG member. Several artifacts from the historic era — the 17th century and onward after European-American contact — were also found. A barrel hoop, window glass and casing for a rifle bullet were found. A portion of a railroad spike was also found on a southern peninsula but was determined to have likely been carried into the area. The group also found more modern remnants — trash. On the southern peninsula, the group was also looking for evidence of the cabin where Vadnais’s great-great-greatgrandfather Jean Baptiste
Bridge survey reveals gap in traffic relief belief BY SARA MARIE MOORE EDITOR
VADNAIS HEIGHTS — There is a nearly 30 percent gap between belief that the Rice Street and I-694 interchange should be improved and community member feelings that the proposed design will resolve traffic problems. More than three-quarters of respondents, or 77 percent, indicated they experience traffic challenges through the interchange and 86 percent reported they believe roadway improvements are needed to improve traffic flow. But only 58 percent reported they feel the proposed improvements will resolve those problems. It also appears residents around the Rice Street bridge area have mixed opinions about the roundabouts proposed at the interchange with the potential new bridge. About 240 residents from Vadnais Heights, Shoreview, Little Canada and other nearby communities participated in a survey about the
SEE ARTIFACTS, PAGE 10
SEE BRIDGE, PAGE 3
Staff turnover increases at job site for disabled BY SARA MARIE MOORE EDITOR
VADNAIS HEIGHTS — Merrick Inc. job coach Curtis Brunton rushed home to Maplewood to change into nicer clothes after learning he had been reassigned to a crew heading to Kowalski’s for a shift last week. Brunton, who oversees work crews of people with disabilities, was fi lling in for a sick staff member. But fi lling in is nothing new for the 10-year veteran — he typically oversees a crew at a pharmaceutical company, a position he has
been fi lling in for since last April. Merrick is still looking for a replacement staff member almost a year later, he said. Over the course of a week, Brunton may fi ll in at up to five or six different job sites if another staff member is sick or leaves, he added. But Brunton enjoys the variety. “There is never a dull moment,” he noted. The tone is a little more somber at the desk of Executive Director John Wayne Barker. The direct care staff turnover percentage nearly doubled over the last three years, from
11 percent in 2013 to 24 percent in 2016, he explained. The average tenure of the approximately 80 direct care staff also dropped from seven to six-anda-half years. “Most of it is because of wages,” Barker said. The starting $13.30/hour wage is competitive with fast food restaurants, he noted. “We are not given the resources by the government to raise their wages,” he said. Merrick receives funding from the federal, state and county government from its SEE MERRICK, PAGE 9
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Arlene labels medical canisters during a shift at Merrick Inc., a top employer of people with disabilities in the northeast metro.
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