Washington County gives $50,000 for new history building

The Washington County Board has donated $50,000 to the Washington County Historical Society to help buy a building in Stillwater to house and display collections.

The society found a building at 1862 S. Greeley St. in Stillwater. It would lease the building to the Minnesota Department of Transportation for a field office during reconstruction of nearby Hwy. 36 and the construction of a new St. Croix River bridge. With the potential for lease income for the building, the society wants to buy the building within a month and remodel it as a history center after the bridge opens.

The commissioners on Tuesday approved the donation by a 4-1 vote, with Autumn Lehrke dissenting. "I just don't think it's the county's role to participate in the funding," said Lehrke, arguing that although the Historical Society brings benefits to Washington County, it isn't a core service of government.

Commissioners Fran Miron and Gary Kriesel responded that historical preservation is important to the county's mission and said county records could be stored in the new building.

The Historical Society currently houses collections in about 1,800 square feet of space in a carriage house behind the Warden's House Museum in Stillwater.

The county will pay for the donation with non-levy revenue from contingency funds.

Washington County will join the U.S. State Department in celebrating "Passport Day in the USA," a national passport acceptance and outreach event, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sat., March 9 at the Woodbury Service Center.

State issued, certified birth certificates are required when the application is made and must be purchased in advance. Birth records are available at the Washington County Government Center at 14949 62nd St. N. in Stillwater, at the Washington County Service Center at 13000 Ravine Parkway S. in Cottage Grove, and at the Washington County Service Center at 19955 Forest Road N. in Forest Lake. Hours at each location are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For additional information, call 651-430-6175.

Birth records are not available at the Woodbury Service Center. Both parents must be present with children younger than 16. More information on the cost and how to apply for a passport is available at travel.state.gov or at the Washington County website at www.co.washington.mn.us.

Alyssa Bance, of Oakdale, and Katherine Cram, of Woodbury, were appointed to the Washington County Library Board by the County Board last week.

Bance will represent Commissioner District 2 and will fill an unexpired term to Dec. 31, 2014. Cram will represent Commissioner District 5 in a term expiring Dec. 31, 2015.

The Library Board is required by state law. It advises the County Board, the governing board of the Washington County Library.

The church is seeking non-chocolate candy, stuffed animals, lip balm, socks, tooth brushes or a minimum $5 donation at the St. Andrew's campus at 900 Stillwater Road. No actual Easter baskets should be donated, the church said.

Deadline for drop-off is March 20.

"One of the children in Sunday school came up with this idea at church one weekend," said project coordinator Carrin Mahmood. "When we called out East to see if there was any interest, they got very excited and let us know that this will make a big difference to victims who have been devastated by these storms."

St. Andrew's is at the intersection of Hilton Trail and Stillwater Road in Mahtomedi. For more information, contact Mahmood at 651-426-3261.

Rin Tin Tin, the 12th-generation descendant of a German Shepherd that appeared in movies after World War I, will perform two 20-minute shows at the 4th annual Home and Garden Show in Stillwater on March 23.

The free event will take place at Rutherford Elementary School from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rin Tin Tin will be there from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with specific show times to be determined, said the Stillwater Area Chamber of Commerce.

"A Place at the Table," a workshop focusing on practical ways to end hunger and sponsored by the advocacy group Bread for the World, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on March 15 at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, 8260 Fourth St., Oakdale. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m.

The workshop will be divided into three sessions. For more information, contact Bread for the World at 612-871-9084 or 1-800-363-7239. Or e-mail twalhof@bread.org.

Liquor licenses in the county's townships were approved at last week's County Board meeting:

• Disabled Veteran's Rest Camp Association Inc. in May Township, which received a renewal for its on-sale and Sunday liquor license for $350.

• Holiday Station Store, doing business under the SSG Corporation, in Denmark Township, which received a renewal for its off-sale liquor license for $500.

• Withrow Ballroom Catering Services LLC in May Township, which received a renewal for an on-sale and Sunday liquor license for $2,200.

• Stoneridge Golf Club Inc. in West Lakeland Township, which received a renewal for an on-sale and Sunday liquor license for $2,200.

• Afton Alps Resort in Denmark Township, which received a renewal for an on-sale and Sunday liquor license for $2,200.

The Cottage Grove Department of Public Safety was recognized for participation in an Emergency Medical Services national research study where patients experiencing chest pains were given a special study solution — glucose, insulin and potassium — or a placebo while being taken by ambulance to the hospital.

This same study took place in 13 cities nationwide, including St. Paul. Hospitals partnered with paramedics from Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Mahtomedi, Maplewood and White Bear Lake.