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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
VOL. 123 NO. 50 www.whitebearpress.com $1.00
MEGACHURCH: Senior pastor stepping down PAGE 7A
100 years: District rings centennial bell
DEBRA NEUTKENS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Chemical testing continues at Water Gremlin.
Soil vapor testing indicates no risk to residents
The All Class Reunion/100th Anniversary of White Bear Lake's first graduating class kicks off Saturday. On the syllabus: a car show sponsored by the alumni association, a 9 a.m. pancake breakfast sponsored by the White Bear Lake Lions Club and a book signing of “WBLHS: Celebrating the Centennial of a Building 19182018” by author David Gehrenbeck, Class of ’49. Never received your diploma? There is an unclaimed diploma pickup. Alumni can have their pictures taken with the White Bear mascot and Washington School bell. The official program kicks off at 11 a.m. with welcome and introductions by Mary Cleary Kowitz, alumni pres-
ident, class of 1968. The superintendent will offer a few words, followed by a book release announcement on school history by Carol McFarlane, alumni board member, Class of ’68. Three former district employees will be recognized with the 2019 Scholar Award of Excellence. Recipients are Donald Glover, Paul Mork and Frank Perpich. Mork spent the majority of his 47 years of teaching and coaching at White Bear Lake High School. He also taught and coached at Mariner. Considered a multisport coaching legend in the district, he received statewide recognitions from two SEE CENTENNIAL, PAGE 9A
SUBMITTED
The Washington School bell will be dedicated Saturday, Sept. 28 at its permanent home in front of the old high school.
BY DEBRA NEUTKENS EDITOR
WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP — A Minneapolis-based environmental consulting and engineering firm reports that soil vapor levels of volatile organic compounds — TCE and t-DCE — on Water Gremlin's property are well below action levels established by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and state health department. Additional monitoring of the volatile compounds will continue. For now, “preliminary findings of the 2019 remedial investigation, including the recent vapor evaluation, indicate residential homes are not at risk from the on-site release beneath the Water Gremlin building,” wrote Aaron Benker, remediation manager, and Chris Bratsch, project manager for Wenck. Water Gremlin issued a statement following the Sept. 13 report indicating it initiated a series of tests as soon as t-DCE was discovered below the floor to ensure that vapors do not exist beyond its facilities. “MPCA reviewed our proposed testing plan and requested additional sampling locations that we added to our plan,” read the statement. “The testing was performed at key locations in the direction of residences closest to our building.” Test results are provided to the MPCA directly from Pace Analytical, a third-party independent laboratory.
PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Through the grapevine Mahtomedi High School student Andrew Korman eyes a cluster of ripe grapes through some leaves while participating in the harvest at 7 Vines Vineyard and Winery in Dellwood Friday, Sept. 20. He was among a group of students visiting the vineyard as part of a work experience program. Find more photos on page 1B.
SEE TESTING, PAGE 8A
September 26 - October 2, 2019
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