Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Same Day Crowns
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN
Dr. Joy Johnson Dental Care for the Entire Family
651-653-3802
4100 Bellaire Avenue www.WhiteBearLakeDental.com
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019
VOL. 123 NO. 42 www.whitebearpress.com $1.00
CELEBRATION: Charity plans patriotic party PAGE 7A
Governor aims for compromise in split state Legislature BY SARA MARIE MOORE VADNAIS HEIGHTS EDITOR
MAPLEWOOD — Gov. Tim Walz said he was pleased with how the Legislature compromised for the good of Minnesota this session but is not yet satisfied because the state left several important issues unsolved this year. These include roads, climate change and gun violence. Yet, Walz was proud of standing with the House and Senate majority leaders at the end of the session to say they came up
with a pretty good solution on the state's budget. Walz, a Democrat, was leading the country's only split state Legislature; the Minnesota House majority is Democrat and the Senate majority is Republican. He said he was criticized for giving Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka credit for the budget, but he is still proud of working together. “It's not about winning or losing political battles but finding longterm solutions,” Walz told a group gathered for an event hosted by the White Bear Area Chamber
of Commerce at the Maplewood Community Center July 23. “I'm not naive. I supervised a high school lunchroom.” Walz hopes that the Legislature can come up with compromises on more divisive issues in 2020. “2020 is going to be a challenge because everything that was kicked down the road was tough ones,” he said. For example, climate change and gun violence. “They tend to be divisive, but they have to be addressed,” he noted. SEE WALZ, PAGE 9A
SARA MARIE MOORE PRESS PUBLICATIONS
White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tom Snell reads questions to Gov. Tim Walz at an event sponsored by the chamber at the Maplewood Community Center July 23.
2 new traffic lights proposed for bus line BY SARA MARIE MOORE VADNAIS HEIGHTS EDITOR
PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Relay for Life celebrates 25 years Survivor’s Lap participants walk around the track at South Campus during the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of White Bear Area Friday, July 26. Organizers managed to conduct the opening ceremony with guest speakers before thunderstorms moved into the area and disrupted the timing of the proceedings.
MAPLEWOOD — There are two new traffic lights proposed in White Bear Lake to accommodate the future Rush Line bus line. One would be located at Highway 61 and Whitaker Street and one would be located at Highway 61 and Eighth Street, according to the 15%-stage draft engineering plans approved by the Rush Line Policy Advisory Committee at a July 25 meeting at the Maplewood Community Center. Both locations are planned bus stops for the BRT (bus rapid transit) line from downtown St. Paul through the Bruce Vento Regional Trail in Maplewood to the Maplewood Mall and then up to downtown White Bear Lake. The bus line would cut over at Buerkle Road in Vadnais Heights and follow bus-only lanes proposed on Highway 61 up to the final stop on Washington Avenue, between Seventh and Eighth Streets in White Bear Lake. The route is 14 miles long; a bus would arrive at each stop every 10 minutes during
rush hour, and every 15 to 30 minutes during non-peak hours. Buses would run from 5 a.m. to midnight. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is currently reviewing the proposed busonly lanes on Highway 61. The bus-only lanes would also allow regular drivers to access businesses. “This is new but increasingly common,” said Jim Gersema, SRF consultant engineer. Adding bus-only lanes to the section of Highway 61 would cause a 30-second time improvement for all traffic on the road, he noted. At the County Road E stop, there are platforms proposed on either side of the highway next to the bus lanes. It is proposed that 70 parking stalls be added at the Vadnais Heights Sports Center for a park and ride. There is also a stop with platforms proposed at Cedar Avenue. At Whitaker Street, a new three-way traffic light is proposed at Highway 61 to accommodate the stop and platforms. “This is the best option for the pedestrian SEE RUSH LINE, PAGE 8A
NORTH STAR
$
20 OFF
1st month
MINI STORAGE
on 180 sq ft or less, new customers only
VADNAIS HEIGHTS
NOW OPEN
Gate Access (Daily): 7:00 am - 10:00 pm NEWS 651-407-1230 whitebearnews@presspubs.com
NORTH STAR
Mon-Fri: 9-5 • Saturday: 9-4 • Sunday: Closed
MINI STORAGE
3880 Labore Road • Vadnais Heights, MN
(651) 771-3880 • www.northstarministorage.com
ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com
CIRCULATION 651-407-1234 circ@presspubs.com
CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com
Expires 12/31/19
PRODUCTION 651-407-1239 artmanager@presspubs.com