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PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN
VOLUME 119 115 NUMBER 31 26
WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY JUNE 3,26, 2015 2011
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Grease fire sparked blaze that injured 5 Piccadilly
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WHITE BEAR LAKE — Five people were injured and six people were displaced by a house fire on Roth Place. Four occupants of the home and a firefighter were taken to area hospitals during the fire on May 29. Two of the occupants and the firefighter were treated and released; two occupants were admitted but are expected to recover. Multiple fire departments responded to the fire that started around 3 p.m. at 2297 Roth Place, near Sunrise Park Middle School. A large portion of rambler was already engulfed when the firefighters arrived, said White Bear Lake Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Joel Hewitt. A grease fire started the blaze,
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News inside See inside for the following news items: Senior housing project proposed on Centerville Road, White Bear Lake City Council election filings, man charged with abusing his infant son, man convicted of molesting two young girls, and man charged with armed robbery and assault.
by Kristine Goodrich Editor
– Photo by Paul Dols
Much of the interior of the house was damaged by fire and the remainder had smoke damage. Hewitt said. Someone tried to remove a burning pan of oil from the house but dropped it en route, he said. Three people in the kitchen
were burned by the grease fire as it splattered — a 2-year-old girl who lived at the residence and
Fire/see page 7A
Upcoming events See inside for details on the following upcoming events: Hugo Good Neighbor Days, Taste of Vadnais, Lakeshore Players 10-Minute Play Festival, Northeast Youth & Family Services golf fundraiser and trolley history tours through Mahtomedi.
Graduation White Bear Lake Area High School’s graduation is at 7:30 p.m. June 5 at Aldrich Arena and limited space requires attendance be restricted to invited guests only. Mahtomedi High School graduation is open to all and is at 6 p.m. June 6 at Aldrich Arena.
Public notices See page 4B for public notices, including a Gem Lake hearing on proposed extension of the water main along County Road E to Scheuneman Road. - Photo by Paul Dols
Hands-on engineering experience
Weather Tidbits
Week of June 3 - 9, 2015 Weather tidbit: Hottest day: May 28, 84°. Coldest: May 19, 34°. Wettest: May 26, 1.41”. Average High, 67.6°, Average Low, 48.4. Average temp, 58.0°. Rainfall: 6.18”. Year Ago this week:Temperatures warm to around 80° from June 3-6. Cold and wet June 7 with 1.33 inches soaking rain. All but ¿ve days this June recorded rain.
Weekly Averages High Low %Sun PCP 76° 55° 60% 1.01”
Mahtomedi High School senior Kenji Cataldo adjusts the motorized prosthetic hand he designed and constructed as part of a new, yearlong “engineering capstone” course. Several student projects were on display in the FAB Lab at the school during an open house Wednesday, May 27. Find the story and more photos on page 8A.
MAHTOMEDI — A longtalked-about affordable senior complex cleared another hurdle last week. The Washington County Board authorized the issuance of bonds to help fund the 79-unit facility on the site of the former Piccadilly restaurant. The facility and a public courtyard at the entrance to the city's downtown are on a timeline to open in fall of 2016. The complex, which will be known as Piccadilly Square, will have three stories above an underground parking garage. It will have 60 one-bedroom units with rents ranging from approximately $725 to $950 and 19 two-bedroom units that will rent for $1,130. It will be open only to lower-income seniors, with an approximately $30,000 income limit for a single person and approximately $34,000 for a couple. Outside the complex there will be a square with amenities including benches and a sign mapping area trails. The square will be open for public use. The total cost of the project is estimated at $16.5 million. The County Board approval to issue $12 million in bonds is part of the complex funding and ownership plan, explained Washington County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Deputy Director Melissa Taphorn.
Piccadilly/see page 7A
Polar’s birthday bear: Fifty is nifty
(More weather on sports page)
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You'll never guess who's turning 50. Paul R. Bear. Who is that you might ask? None other than the iconic bear that sits high above Polar Chevrolet. A birthday party is planned Saturday, June 27 for the bear at the Highway 61 dealership. More details are coming, but plans are to celebrate the entire month. General Manager Jim Thelen, who coincidentally is also turning 50 this June, provided a few stats on the giant white bear: • He was built for $25,000 by the Mason Sign Company in 1965. • He is 35 feet tall and weighs 5 tons. • He is made of wire mesh and plaster. The bear received a fresh coat of paint for his big day, Thelen said. It takes 11 gallons of paint to cover him. There are no plans to paint clothing on the bear, which has been done in the past. "We couldn't get a party hat big enough, so we decided to go more traditional," Thelan noted. "He's 50 after all, so he should look distinguished." The dealership plans to run ads announcing
Bear's half-century mark, as well as TV commercials, including an actual '70s commercial early in the month. The bear will come down off his post and talk about his birthday in a new commercial Polar plans to air. "It will be fun. Everyone knows the bear," said Thelan, who has worked at Polar Chev more than 20 years. "I think people will be surprised to hear he's 50." Is he having a hard time turning 50 as well? "No, not at all," Thelan said. "I couldn't care less.
Actually this is good timing so I don't have to talk about my birthday and we can focus on his." — Debra Neutkens
– Photo above courtesy Polar Chevrolet, photo at left by Paul Dols
Paul R. Bear in 1965 and today. He turns 50 this month.
HOURS: MON - FRI 7:00 am - 6:00 pm • SAT 7:30 am - 2:00 pm • SUN CLOSED Patio Open! “IF WE PLEASE YOU, TELL OTHERS. IF NOT, TELL US.”
Father’s Day Brunch & Dinner June 21st
651-483-2601 www.venburgtire.com
3001 Hwy 61 N. Maplewood, MN 55109
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Reservations Required • Large Parties Welcome Taco Tuesday 5-9pm • $1 Tacos Must be 21 years or older • No takeout KARAOKE Friday 9 pm - Close 2999 Hwy. 61 N. Maplewood | 651.482.0384 | www.guldens61.com