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CAR VS. HOUSE: No injuries in township mishap PAGE 3A
Retiring fire chief wishes he had kept notes
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Saying his long hair was a sign of defiance back in 1974, Tim Vadnais cut his locks once he passed the probationary period and was officially on the fire department. PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Gifts of the Magi
BY DEBRA NEUTKENS EDITOR
Something residents may not know about the White Bear Lake Fire Chief: He is fluent in sign language. Both of Tim Vadnais’ parents were deaf so the family communicated through sign language. At times, the chief is called to the lobby of the Public Safety building if a deaf person walks in who needs assistance. That handy interpretive service will be coming to an end, however, as Vadnais is retiring after almost 43 years with the fire department. His last day is Dec. 30. The chief’s stories are many. Those that stuck start with the most horrific: “Probably the small plane that crashed on Price Field behind Central early in my career. There were body parts everywhere and I’ll never forget the smell of aviation gas. The plane’s wing landed in the back yard of a house.” To one down memory lane: A 40-something woman who walked into his office one day with her son. She told the chief: “You don’t remember me, but you were the guy who delivered me on the Lafayette Bridge.” To one of which he’s most proud: A statistic that marks zero fire deaths since 1986. “Up until 1985, we averaged a fire death every 18 months,” Vadnais said. “Then I attended the executive fire officer course in Maryland. I had just become chief (in 1988) and was totally green.” SEE FIRE CHIEF RETIRING, PAGE 8A
A trio of wise visitors (Al Rice, Kris Vollmer and Andie Scott) waits for the opportunity to deliver their gifts to the baby Jesus at the live Nativity scene outside St. Stephen Lutheran Church in White Bear Lake Saturday, Dec. 10. Weather permitting, volunteers will recreate the scene Saturday, Dec. 17 starting at 4:30 p.m.
Back in court: DNR appeals, judge recommends mediation in lake lawsuit BY DEBRA NEUTKENS EDITOR
ST. PAUL — Both sides in the lake level lawsuit may once again be headed for mediation at the suggestion of the district judge handling the case. White Bear Lake City Attorney Roger Jensen said the city would certainly participate "if there is likelihood the matter could be resolved." The city is an intervenor on the side of the defendant, the Department of Natural Resources. "We would much rather get this case settled than spend a month in trial," he noted. As the March trial date approaches, Judge Margaret Marrinan recommended mediation between parties with retired Justice James Gilbert, the same
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SEE DNR APPEAL, PAGE 8A
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arbitrator who helped orchestrate the three-year stay. That settlement, of course, failed this year for lack of legislative action. An attorney for the plaintiff, the White Bear Lake Restoration Association (WBLRA), has contacted Gilbert and is waiting to see if he has time on his calendar. It is not uncommon for a judge to recommend mediation, according to Katie Crosby Lehmann, a managing partner with Ciresi Conlin LLP, the firm co-representing the WBLRA. Marrinan advised the parties to talk during a hearing Dec. 2 in her Ramsey County courtroom. Her suggestion followed oral arguments regarding a DNR motion appealing the judge's allowance of an
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