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VADNAIS HEIGHTS HERITAGE DAYS: Event registration open PAGE 9A
Dog Day adoption opportunities At right: Allie McLean holds “Goose,” one of the puppies available for adoption through the Warrior Dog Rescue organization during the recent Dog Day event in downtown White Bear Lake. Below: Second Chance Animal Rescue volunteer Kathy Christiansen sits with Wesley AKA Paki, Lecia and Hank. The dogs are available for adoption through the White Bear Lake based organization. Find more information about the animal rescue organizations at secondchancerescue.org and warriordogrescue.com. Find more photos at presspubs.com.
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Minnesota Icemen players, Derrick Smith (left) of White Bear Lake and Ethan Loss of Mahtomedi both sparkled at PBR U17 nationals in Georgia.
Club team nabs national title BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
When Justin Gominsky’s pro baseball career flamed out due to an injury seven years ago, the former Mahtomedi Zephyrs and Minnesota Gophers star boldly found a way to remain in the game. Gominsky started his own entry in the club baseball industry in 2014, calling it Minnesota Icemen. He had a partner at first, but has been sole owner since 2018. The venture seems to have gone well. The Icemen started with three teams. By 2021, PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
SEE ICEMEN, PAGE 9A
Plaintiffs in lake lawsuit hold DNR’s feet to fire BY DEBRA NEUTKENS STAFF WRITER
ST. PAUL — Plaintiffs in the lake level lawsuit want to make sure the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) complies with a 2017 court order. At a hearing with retired District Court Judge Margaret Marrinan last week, the legal team representing the White Bear Lake Restoration Association and intervening Lake Homeowners Association, plaintiffs in a suit
decided four years ago, filed a proposed order demanding regular updates from the state agency that manages groundwater pumping. Marrinan, who retired days after issuing her decision in the complicated case and was brought back months later to hear post-trial motions, presided over a July 21 hearing requested by the plaintiffs that White Bear Township attorney Chad Lemmons described as “quiet.” Lemmons was joined by an attorney representing the City
of White Bear Lake, like the township an intervenor on the side of the defense; DNR counsel; and David Sienko, an attorney representing Mahtomedi and Stillwater. Those cities are among the municipalities contesting amendments to their water appropriation permits. Among other mandates, Marrinan’s court order required the DNR amend water appropriation permits for municipal well owners within a 5-mile radius of White Bear Lake. Seventeen entities,
including 10 municipalities and St. Paul Regional Water Services, demanded a hearing to contest those amendments before an administrative law judge, as is their legal right. Those hearings still haven’t happened (see “Court order remains stalled as water permit holders await hearings,” July 7, 2021). Until they do, the 2017 court order remains stayed. That includes enforcement of a residential irrigation ban when lake level is below 923.5 feet; a phase-down of daily
per capita residential water use to 75 gallons; contingency plans for partial or total conversion to surface water and a requirement that all groundwater permittees report annually to the DNR on their collaborative efforts toward those directives. Robins Kaplan LLP attorney Dick Allyn, corepresenting the White Bear Lake Restoration Association, said the proposed order SEE LAWSUIT, PAGE 9A
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