White Bear Lake Country Inn is hiring for a Banquet Captain. For more information contact April at: April1@rudysredeye. com or Call 651-4295393 Ext. 421
Village School is seeking a bus driver to join
Are you looking for a rewarding role with great, competitive pay?
Become part of our small but mighty MVS community — where you’re not just driving a bus, you’re helping move something bigger!
We’re seeking a reliable and caring driver to transport our responsible, respectful students safely to and from school each day. CDL required, bus certification preferred.
For more information please contact us : Transportation@marinevillageschool.org or check out marinevillageschool.org/careers/
White Bear Country Inn is NOW HIRING a P/T Front Desk Clerk.
Job duties: Checking guests in and out, answering the telephone, and other duties as assigned. Must be fun, friendly, and have great customer service skills. Shifts vary from 7am-3pm and 3pm-11pm. Must be flexible to work both.
Send resumes to Jacqlyn at JSchoen@WhiteBearCountryInn.com or call 651-272-3783
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COMMUNITY BRIEFS
CONTRIBUTED
Tour De Bar organizers present a $15,501.79 check to Mason Fike. Pictured are organizers Mike and Linda Shearen along with Mason Fike and his parents Jeff and Gail Fike.
Tour De Bar donates over $15K to Fike family
Tour De Bar recently presented over $15,000 to Mason Fike. The 37th annual event, held in August, raised funds for Fike, who was attacked in July 2024 while walking with his girlfriend. Over 200 riders preregistered for this year’s event. Since 2007, Tour De Bar has raised over $177,000 to help people in need in the community.
Luminaries to honor veterans on Veterans Day
VFW Post 1782 and Auxiliary will hold their traditional Veterans Day ceremony at
COUNTY BRIEF
White Bear Country Inn is hiring for a Banquet Captain. For more information contact April at: April1@ rudysredeye. com or Call 651-429-5393 Ext. 421 Drop off pumpkins for composting Don't trash your pumpkins! Instead, bring them to a drop-off site in Washington County. Dropoff sites will be open to residents through Nov. 10. Pumpkins must be free of glitter, paint, wax and candles.
Veterans Park at 10:40 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11. That evening, the Auxiliary will debut a new Luminary Tribute in the park. Volunteers will set up the luminaries at 4 p.m.
As a VFW Auxiliary event, this first display will honor the heroes whose combat service overseas inspired Auxiliary membership. Luminaries for each current Auxiliary member’s qualifying veteran will be prepared automatically, using information from membership applications. Community members are also invited to honor a current or past service member with a luminary. Please email the person’s name and branch of service to wblvfwaux@gmail. com and include your name in the email. All requests must be submitted by Monday, Nov. 3. All are welcome to attend this free, family-friendly tribute at Veterans Park adjacent to VFW Post 1782, 4496 Lake Avenue S., White Bear Lake. If the VFW lot is full, parking is also available in the Boatworks Commons public parking ramp .
Deb Courts-Brown, 4th District Auxiliary President
Drop-off sites include the North Yard Waste site in Forest Lake, the Food Scraps Drop-Off Site in Mahtomedi (800 Stillwater Road); and the Washington County Government Center in Stillwater. For a full list of drop-off sites, visit www.washingtoncountymn. gov/3575/Pumpkin-Recycling. For questions, call 651-275-7475.
Cameron TreeService
Always Honoring our Seniors & Veterans with a Discount!
Brenda Cameron and her experienced crew have been trimming and removing trees in White Bear Lake and the surrounding communities since 1995. They offer a variety of services including tree trimming and pruning, tree removal, brush chipping, hedges and shrub shaping or removal and stump grinding. They are well equipped to do large, difficult removals but also welcome smaller jobs.
Cameron Tree Service takes great pride in the quality work they do at reasonable rates. Along with multiple references from satisfied customers they have been members of the BBB since 2007 and maintain an A+ rating.
Please give them a call for a free estimate 651-775-8602. them 651-775-8602. Check out their website at Camerontreeservice.com
S E R V I C E D I R E C
E R V I C E D I R E C T O R Y
Police chief provides biannual update to City Council
BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
WHITE BEAR LAKE — A tradition in the city is for the police chief to provide an update to the City Council twice a year.
In his most recent update, Police Chief Dale Hager said that there have been increases across the board when it comes to traffic stops, arrests, case numbers and parking citations but noted that doesn’t necessarily mean there is an uptick in crime.
“Do we have more crime in White Bear Lake? No, I don’t believe we do. We just have officers that find more stuff,” Hager explained. “I have a group of leaders, specifically my four sergeants, who are doing a great job incentivizing their officers to be out there and making sure they are making a difference.”
Hager said when he comes back for his next update in April, council members might be shocked at the increases but suggested that it is not something the average citizen would likely notice.
From January through Oct. 1, 2025, compared to that same time frame in 2024:
• Traffic stops increased by 65%
• Arrests increased by 40%
• Case numbers increased by 26%
Parking citations increased by 191%
• Community events increased by 11%
the signs were installed in late summer, Hager says the department started writing citations. He guessed the department wrote approximately 10 citations.
“We found when we were there that everybody seemed to want to comply with the leash ordinance. We know that is not always the case when we aren’t there,” Hager said. “We do think that over time, that it will just become the new norm.”
The Newspaper shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of the advertisement. The Newspaper shall not be liable or responsible for any error in any advertisement except to give the Advertiser credit for so much of the space occupied by the advertisement as is materially affected by the error; credit shall be by refund or republication of the advertisement at the election of the Newspaper. Such credit shall not be given for more than one incorrect insertion unless the Publisher is notified in writing of the error before the repetition of the insertion. When the Advertiser wishes to correct or change copy submitted as a "proof," the Newspaper shall not be liable for the changes or corrections unless they are received by the Newspaper within a reasonable length of time before the deadline for publication. If an advertisement is requested to run after copy deadline, the Newspaper will not honor an adjustment request if an error occurs. No specific page or position shall be guaranteed. The Advertiser or Agency shall indemnify the Newspaper for any attorney 's fees incurred in defending against claims, pay any judgments against the Newspaper, and pay associated expenses and losses that are caused by the publication of any advertisement submitted by or published at the direction of the Advertiser or Agency, including claims for libel, copyright infringement, and invasion of privacy.
“I don’t think they are feeling it … I just think that we are rising back up to a level that we saw preCOVID,” Hager explained. “COVID and the George Floyd era really took a bite out of law enforcement and their desire to be active, so we are just getting back to normal, that’s my opinion.”
Mayor Dan Louismet said, “I agree it doesn’t feel like we have more crime, but it is nice to hear that law enforcement, from a bootson-the-ground standpoint, feels like they are returning to a sense of confidence in their role … I think that is encouraging.”
Hager also provided an update on the dog leash ordinance and the hiring of a seasonal “lakeshore” community service officer (CSO) to patrol the area from Memorial Beach to Lions Park.
Hager said the department had around 200 documented visits to the dog beach from May through September.
“Things did not go the way we had all planned,” Hager explained, adding that the department got a bit of a late start on the changes and, ultimately, two possible hires for the position ended up not working out. “We are hoping we can start that process earlier,” Hager said.
For most of the season, Hager says the department was focused on educating the public about the leash ordinance rather than “dropping the hammer” and writing citations for people who didn’t know they were violating the ordinance. Once
“It takes time to shift culture. I think we made some progress this summer,” Louismet said, adding that hopefully next summer, a dedicated lakeshore CSO will “go a long way.”
Council Member Kevin Edberg inquired about DUI stats. Hager said that 2025 is “drastically outpacing” the numbers for the last two years. So far in 2025, the department has had 123 DUIs compared to 96 in 2024 and 82 in 2023. “We anticipate a 50% increase from last year,” Hager said. Robb Olson of GDO Law, the city’s prosecuting attorney, said that even though those numbers seem high, DUIs are about half of what they used to be 15 to 20 years ago. “In 2009 in the city of White Bear Lake, we had 300 DUIs. I couldn’t believe it. Statewide, we had about 40,000, it’s now about half of that,” he said. Edberg wanted to know what percentage of DUIs were affiliated with the use of cannabis. Olson said less than 10%. Hager mentioned that last year, state officials told him approximately 60% of all DUIs have at least two drugs, usually alcohol and something else, in their system. Other topics that are on the horizon and will likely need further discussion at both the department and city level, Hager said, include bitcoin machines, e-bikes/ scooters, motorcycle laws and recruiting.
Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-4071227 or whitebearnews@presspubs. com.
Frank Watson
1-3. Some young trick-or-treaters get a head start on gathering candy at a Trunk or Treat Oct. 23 hosted by Redeemer Lutheran Church and the White Bear Lake
The event included a variety of themed trunks, games, music, popcorn and visits from the police and fire department. — Shannon Granholm, Press Publications 4-6. Main Street Inc. hosted its annual Candy Crawl event Oct. 25. Trick-or-treaters visited their favorite businesses in downtown White Bear Lake. — Paul Dols, Press Publications 7-8. Skellystone Park Camp Resort is located at 1621 4th Street in White Bear Lake. — Thea Bradbury, contributed
Send us your photos for possible inclusion in Spotted Around Town. Please email your best shot to whitebearnews@presspubs.com. Please include information about when and where it was taken and who is in the photo.
The Senior Center has moved to: WBLAS District Service Center at Sunrise Park, 2399 Cedar Avenue, WBL. Call to register for classes 651-653-3121. All classes held at the White Bear Area Senior Center unless otherwise indicated.
55+ Driver Safety, $35: In Person: Nov 3, 5-9pm | Nov 18, 9am-1pm | Dec 2, 5-9pm Online: Nov 6, 1-5pm | Nov 10, 5-9pm | Dec 4, 9am-1pm Chair Yoga: Mon, Nov 3-24. 10-10:45am, $30 Balance & Mobility/65+: Tue, Nov 4-25, 1111:45am, $30, SMB Health
Strength Machine Workout/65+: Wed, Nov 5-19, 11-11:45am, $30, SMB Health How to Use Venmo Safely: Thu, Nov 6, 121pm, $28, Online
Upcycled Quilted Jacket: Thu, Nov 6, 6-8:30pm, $45, John Glenn Middle Maplewood Tue Nov 11, 1-2:30pm, Wed, Nov 12, 10Thu, 11am-12pm, Thu, Nov 13, 11am-
Veterans Day Celebration Concert featuring Fri, Nov 14, 10-11:30am, Travel Show with Premier World Discovery: Thu, Nov 20, 10-11:30am, Free
FootCare Clinic: 30-minute appointment, $55, Call to schedule: 651-653-3121
Meals on Wheels: Hot or Frozen meals delivered Mon-Fri. If you are interested, know of someone who may need meals,call 651-6533123.
MAHTOMEDI COMMUNITY EDUCATION ADULT ACTIVITIES AT THE MAHTOMEDI DISTRICT EDUCATION CENTER (DEC) 1520 MAHTOMEDI AVENUE
All activities are held at the DEC unless otherwise noted.
Mondays: Mahjong - FREE 1-3 pm Bingo FREE.
Monday, November 24th 1:30-3 pm Tuesdays: Cribbage - FREE 1-3 pm Wednesdays: Bridge - FREE 1-3 pm Thursdays: 500 Cards - FREE 12:30-3 pm Fridays: Games - FREE 12:30-3 pm; Bridge FREE 1-3 pm; Book Club - FREE 2nd Friday, 10-11:30 am
The following requires registration: mahtomedi. ce.eleyo.com or call 651-407-2018
Paper Quilling Monogram - $35. Monday, November 3rd, 5:30-7:30 pm 55+ Defensive Driving - $35. Thursday, November 6th, 1-5 pm, Virtual Monday, December 8th, 9 am-1 pm, In person Everything You Want to Know About Medicare - $5. Thursday, November 6th, 1011:30 am
History with Kathy Simmer: “Presidential Power, Or Not” - $18. Monday, November 10th, 10 am-12 pm or Tuesday, November 11th, 10 am-12 pm
Dr. Mark Seeley: Minnesota’s Worst Droughts - $25. Monday, November 17th, 6:30-7:30 pm Write Your Own Will - $60 per person. Wednesday, November 19th, 6-8:30 pm Day Trip: ‘A Christmas Carol’ at Sidekick Theater - $79. Tuesday, December 2nd, 10:30 am-3:45 pm Winter Wonder: Bob Ross Style Oil Painting - $50. Thursday, December 4th, 5:30-9:30 pm Community Lunch - $12. Wednesday, December 10th, 12-1 pm Registration Deadline: December 3rd at noon Live music provided by Vallee de Croix Chorus. Lunch catered by Donatelli’s. Lunch Menu: Chicken marsala, roasted vegetables, garlic bread, refreshments, and desserts
LYNGBLOMSTEN COMMUNITY SERVICES: Provided by Lyngblomsten Community Services, The Gathering is an enrichment program that provides brain-stimulating activities for adults living with memory loss and four hours of respite for their family caregivers. Participants are able to attend the program up to 3 days a week at the Lyngblomsten campus in Lino Lakes (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and/or Thursdays). To learn more, contact Lisa Brown at (651) 632-5320 or caregiving@lyngblomsten.org.
We help you get back to living. Every step of the way.
do best. Our combination of highly trained compassionate staff and the most innovative care in the area make our community your best choice for professional therapy services.
Meet with a Caregiver Social Worker for personalized support. Are you caring for an older adult and feeling stressed or overwhelmed? You don’t have to do it alone. Schedule an in-person meeting with Lisa Brown, MSW, LISW, Caregiver Social Worker who can offer personalized support and resources to help you navigate caregiving challenges. Topics you could discuss with her include dementia communication strategies, navigating family dynamics, respite care options, and self-care. In-person appointments are available on Tuesdays, 8:30 AM–1:30 PM, at Lyngblomsten at Lino Lakes (6070 Blanchard Blvd., Lino Lakes). Lisa also meets virtually, by phone, or in person at Lyngblomsten’s Como Park campus on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. To schedule a time, call (651) 632-5320 or email caregiving@lyngblomsten.org
Therapy services at Cerenity White Bear Lake help you return to what you do best. Our combination of highly trained compassionate staff and the most innovative care in the area make our community your best choice for professional therapy services.
• Aquatic Therapy
• Aquatic Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Speech Pathology
In-Person Memory Loss Caregiver Support Group (new time): Family and friends caring for someone experiencing Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia are welcome. The group meets at 10:30 AM the 4th Tuesday of each month at Lyngblomsten at Lino Lakes (6070 Blanchard Blvd., Lino Lakes) and is facilitated by Lisa Brown, MSW, LISW. Registration is preferred, but walkins are welcome. To register, contact Lisa at (651) 632-5320 or caregiving@lyngblomsten.org. Lyngblomsten Community Services is supported in part by gifts made to the Lyngblomsten Foundation and is funded under an award with Trellis as part of the Older Americans Act.
Call today
YMCA.
Zephyrs nab 3rd place at state tennis
BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
“Great way to cap off a great season,” said coach Nate Tretsven after the Mahtomedi tennis team captured third place in state Class 2A tournament last week.
“We are super proud of the amount of improvement they showed from start to finish.”
The Zephyrs (19-5), who were the No. 1 seed, edged St. Peter 4-3 before Rock Ridge tumbled them 7-0 in the semifinals. They fended off Hill-Murray 5-2 for third place. Rock Ridge (26-1) beat Blake 5-2 for the championship. Action took place at Lifetime Fitness in Bloomington.
Winning against St. Peter were Mallory Langer, Lily Carlson, Alexia Tempelis/Brooke Berg and Ellis Krause/Ellie Driscoll.
Rock Ridge, a co-op based in Virginia, was “very strong,” Tretsven said. “Five of seven matches were close; they just had a little more of an edge.”
Hill-Murray was an exciting finale with five matches going to third-set tie-breakers. The Zephyrs
ZEPHYRS SPORTS BRIEFS
GIRLS SOCCER
Defending state champion Mahtomedi advanced to the semifinals with a 3-0 win over Grand Rapids . The Zephyrs had a three-goal burst in 11 minutes in the second half, by Oona Lienke, Adalyn Beulke and Anneliese Ulschmid. Grand Rapids (12-7-1) was their 12th shutout victim. The Zephyrs (15-2-2) face Mankato East (15-2-2) in the semifinals at US Bank Stadium on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. The other semifinal is Blake vs. Holy Angels. The championship is Friday at 12:30 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY, GIRLS
Emily Alexander qualified for
had also beaten H-M 5-2 in September. “We knew this would be a tougher match than the first time,” Tretsven said. “Credit to our girls, they handled the pressure very well and we were able to win four out of the five tiebreakers.” The strong rivalry with H-M “fired them back up” after the semifinal loss. Katherine Smith/Berkley Blaisdell won a marathon tie-breaker 16-14 and finished 14-5 together. Also winning tie-breakers were Tempelis/Berg 13-11, Krause/Driscoll 10-7, and Braelyn Skow 10-8. Mallory Langer squeezed out a 1-singles win 7-6 (5), 7-5 against a foe who beat her 6-0, 6-0 earlier. Carlson lost a tie-breaker 10-8. Abby Manger lost 6-1, 6-2. Their individual section champs reached the second round Thursday. In singles, Carlson beat Becker’s Grace Conzemius 6-1, 6-1, then lost to Elizabeth Payne of Holy Angels 6-0, 6-2. In doubles, Smith and Langer beat St. Peter’s Margaux Letts/ Natalie Salter 6-3, 6-4, then lost to Hill-Murray’s Sedona Stumpf/Brooke Gabel 6-4, 6-2.
Bruce Strand
Bear girls returning to state x-country
The White Bear Lake girls had three of the top seven runners and placed second at Section 4AAA, advancing to state for the second straight year.
Top three teams were Stillwater with 43, the Bears 54 and Highland Park 60, at Highland Golf Club in St. Paul. The Bears placed first last year. The top two advance to state Saturday at Les Bolstad Golf Course.
Bear sophomore Logan Bailey placed second in 19:33 and eighth-grader Mabel Nethercut was third in 19:37, trailing Stillwater’s Greta Shockey (19:26). Isla Bloomquist, another eighth-grader, was seventh in 20:24. Brynn Heinsohn, senior, was 19th (21:28) and sophomore Zoe Diversion 23rd (21:36).
“We’re excited for the opportunity to go back to state and continue to build our team up. I couldn’t be more proud of them,” said coach Audrey Kirschling. “It’s been really encouraging to see how the team has progressed. They have been phenomenal to work with.”
The Bears placed fourth in the Suburban East meet at Forest Lake. Bailey was third, Nethercut fourth, Bloomquist 21st, Heinsohn 36th and Lucy Miehe 41st. In the Alexandria Meet of Champions, they were 10th of 20 teams with Bailey placing ninth.
Bruce Strand
Zephyrs coast into section football finals
state at Section 4AA in St. Paul while the Zephyrs placed fifth of nine teams. Alexander, a junior, placed ninth in 21:49. Vanessa Rogosheske was 17th, Julia Clayton 26th, Norah Jansen 33rd and Brianna Hilton 40th. In the Metro East meet, the Zephyrs placed fourth. Rogosheske was 10th and Alexander 11th, making all-conference. Clayton was 13th (honorable mention), Jansen 28th and Anna Cosby 32nd.
CROSS COUNTRY, BOYS
Liam MacChesney, Zephyr senior, grabbed a state berth with a 14th-place finish in 18:27 at the Section 4AA meet. The Zephyrs placed seventh of 12 teams. Kai
CATCH OF THE WEEK
Seidl placed 30th, Mason Mahmood 38th, Kayson Guerrino 43rd, and Nolan Dock 49th. In the Metro East meet the Zephyrs finished sixth. MacChesney was 23rd, Seidl 29th, Mahmood 35th, and Dock 36th.
VOLLEYBALL
Seeking a fourth consecutive state trip, Mahtomedi has reached the Section 4AAA finals with wins over St. Paul Johnson 25-3, 25-8, 25-10, and St. Paul Como Park 25-11, 25-8, 25-15. The top-seeded Zephyrs (20-9) will duel No. 2 Chisago Lakes (16-9) Wednesday at home at 6 p.m.
Bruce Strand
Mahtomedi scored every which-way and defeated Highland Park 62-13 in the Section 4 semifinals Saturday, setting up a rematch with Cretin-Derham Hall for the title at home Friday. The Zephyrs (8-1) nipped the Raiders (6-3) three games ago 28-27.
Mark Graff opened the scoring with a 66-yard run, then passed to Gavin Bifulk for a 68-yard score. Graff was 4-for-4 for 105 yards, with Bifulk catching three for 88 yards.
The Zephyrs had three TD’s on returns: Jeremiah Haas with an interception, 49 yards, Isaac Opitz on a kickoff, 80 yards, and Cullen Taylor on a fumble recovery, six yards. Jacob Reubish carried six times for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Moseh Mouacheupao and Isaac Opitz also scored on runs. Everett Kirkwood booted eight extra points.
Highland Park’s Brandon Jackson carried 22 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Bruce Strand
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
White Bear Lake Football & Track
October 29, 2025
Oluwatomi Animasaun — Tomi for short — has capped a prolific three-year tenure as White Bear Lake’s quarterback. This season, the fleet, 6-foot, 180-pound senior passed for 1,023 yards and six touchdowns, and ran for 556 yards and eight touchdowns, including gallops of 56, 63 and 44 yards. In his career, Animasaun completed 51 percent of his passes for 3,366 yards and 21 touchdowns with 14 interceptions, and ran for 811 yards and nine TD’s. A two-sport standout, he medaled twice at the state track meet in June, placing sixth in long jump and eighth in 300 hurdles, also qualifying in the 100 dash.
Charlie Anderson, grandson of Patty Wynn, caught a 34-inch pike in a small lake in Mahtomedi. It was his biggest catch ever. Anderson is a ninth grader at Mahtomedi High School.
FOOTBALL
White Bear Lake’s football season ended with a loss to Prior Lake 49-22 in the state Class 6A playoffs. The Bears finished 2-7 after a 2-0 start.
Scoring plays were a 48-yard pass from Tomi Animasaun to Biren White, a 10-yard run by Colton Butts, and a 21-yard pass from Wyatt Stachowiak to Easton Miles. Animasaun was 9-for-17 for 135 yards and Stachowiak 4-for-10 for 73 yards, with one interception each. White, a freshman, caught five for 77 yards, Easton two for 57 and Butts three for 41. Prior Lake limited the Bears to 72 yards on 29 runs.
The White Bear Lake sophomores posted an 8-0 season, outscoring opponents 279 to 114. Leaders were quarterback Chase Bachmeier and runningback Owen Louismet on offense, and Tyler Lewis, Jax Howard, and Otis Buffalo on defense. Coach Tom Determan cited the Bear sophs as “an amazing team” that gave their best effort in everything asked of them. “They have a bright future here at WBL,” he said.
VOLLEYBALL
White Bear Lake’s season ended with a loss to Roseville Area 25-20, 25-14, 25-16 in the second round of Section 4AAAA. The Bears finished 17-12 overall and 5-4 in the Suburban East, their best records
Washington Square Bar & Grill recently partnered with Winebow and the White Bear Lake Area Food Shelf for a sip event, offering samples of wine and cocktails in return for a non-perishable item for the food shelf. In addition, attendees donated payments online, which Washington Square agreed to match. The effort raised almost $700 for the food shelf.
since 2002. They beat St. Paul Central 25-15, 25-22, 25-17 in the first round of the section, after losing their conference finale to Forest Lake 3-0.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Max Popp advanced to the state meet with second place in 16:29 at Section 4AAA. The rest of the lineup was back in the pack and the Bears finished last of seven teams. Popp will run Saturday at Les Bolstad Golf Course, where he placed 23rd last year.
TENNIS
Lisa Gritzmacher, White Bear Lake freshman, placed fourth in Section 4AAA singles with two wins, then two losses. Gritzmacher posted a final 13-11 record against opponents’ top players.
SWIM & DIVE
Irondale edged White Bear Lake 96-90 in the final dual meet of the season. Event winners for the Bears were Eva Hoefer (200 free), Charlotte McIntyre (medley and butterfly), Anna Zarambo (diving), Anna Miller (500), and the 200 free relay with McIntyre, Miller, Addie Johnson and Audrey Borofka. Next is Section 4AA at Stillwater, Nov. 6-8.
Bruce Strand
COMMUNITY MEETING
Otter Lake Technologies would like to invite you to a community meeting on October 30, 2025.
It’ll be a great chance for us to introduce ourselves, answer your questions, and talk more about our current operations.
PATTI CARLSON | CONTRIBUTED
Local state representative runs for auditor
State Representative Elliott Engen (District 36A) has announced that he will run for state auditor after current State Auditor Julie Blaha announced that she will not seek reelection. The Office of the State Auditor oversees
roughly $60 billion in local spending and watches how that money is being spent. The state auditor also serves on several state boards and councils, including ones that oversee state pensions and investments. The 2026 Minnesota State Auditor election will take place on Nov. 3, 2026.
KMAN OPEN: Hits 40, keeps driving forward
because Dennis and Steve are golfers, but I’m not … It was more about getting together, hanging out with friends.”
After a few years, the Kimball family decided to move back home to be close to family. Every year, the third Saturday in September would be marked on the calendar and reserved for the tournament. In 2006 George’s son, Nick Kimball, and James Hanneman, both White Bear Lake Area High School grads, played in the tournament for the first time along with a couple of other friends.
“I had grown up knowing about it, hearing about it, knowing that dad was going off to this golf tournament,” Nick recalled. “Slowly, over the last 19 years, more and more of my buddies have joined. Nick, who like Hanneman is a once-a-year golfer, said connections he has made from his various life stages have joined in over the years, from high school, to law school, to other dads he has met through his children’s sports.
“It’s become the highlight of the year, for all of us,” Nick said.
In 2008, the tournament took on a whole meaning after the Kimball family suffered a tremendous loss. George’s daughter and Nick’s sister, Angie Kimball, passed away at the age of 30 after a battle with lung cancer. That year, the tournament also became a fundraiser, raising funds for a cause that George says was “right up Angie’s alley” — the White Bear Lake Educational Foundation’s Angel Fund, which benefits families in need within the school district.
At the 40th annual, a record $1,700 was raised. “It doesn’t seem like much, but it adds up,” George said. Since 2008, the tournament has donated more than $20,000 to the cause.
George said he wasn’t necessarily ready to retire from the role as organizer of the tournament, but the other two organizers were, and he knew it wouldn’t be the same without them, so he asked someone he could trust. His son. “He told me I had to,” Nick said laughing. James added, “And then they told me I had to.” Fun fact: In addition to organizing the KMan, the two high school buddies now work together in the Hennepin
County Attorney’s Office.
Nick and James, along with two other White Bear Lake High School grads, David Nadeau and Daniel Nadeau, as well as Richie Miehe and Seth Engberg have all agreed to step up as organizers.
“I love the origin story and feel a deep connection to what is really an institution and a huge chapter of our lives. I was told by my dad, but I certainly want to make it keep happening and make it bigger and better while holding true to the ideals and the values and everything that makes it unique,” Nick explained.
George has no doubt: The tournament is in good hands.
“These guys will be very strong at doing this; they are organized and sharp, and they'll probably do a lot of cool things that we haven't thought of or done,” George said.
Mark your calendars. The 41st annual KMan Open is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026 at Logger’s Trail Golf Course in Stillwater.
Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or whitebearnews@presspubs.com.
The three founding members of the KMan Open are: George Kimball, Dennis Mork and Steve Middleton-Koller.
