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2 dozen people displaced after Mahtomedi fire Approximately 20 people are without a home after a fire damaged townhomes in Mahtomedi. At 5:40 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Mahtomedi Fire Department at a structure fire in the 900 block of Ledgestone Drive in Mahtomedi. When deputies arrived, they observed two units of the six-unit townhome engulfed by flames and smoke. According to the sheriff’s office, everyone made it out of the units without injuries. The Red Cross was contacted to assist the displaced families as needed. The Mahtomedi Fire Department was assisted by agencies from surrounding areas, including the Stillwater, Lake Elmo, Oakdale, White Bear Lake and Vadnais Heights fire departments. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal office and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division are investigating the source of the fire. The Press will provide updates to this story as information becomes available.
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The State Fair is in full swing, which means it’s crunch time for local school districts to prepare for students to return next week. Over the summer, staff leaders took part in a leadership and professional development retreat to prepare for the upcoming school year. Activities include team building exercises, goal setting and group discussions.
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Officials field questions from residents following an early morning fire at a townhome in Mahtomedi.
Birchwood requests representative resign from conservation district BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
BIRCHWOOD — The City Council is requesting that Susie Mahoney resign as the city representative on the White Bear Lake Conservation District Board. The council directed City Administrator Scott Hildebrand to write a letter to Mahoney requesting she resign by the end of August. Birchwood resident Justin McCarthy, who previously made the same request to the conservation district, urged the council to remove Mahoney from her position as one of the city’s two representatives on the board. (See “White Bear Conservation District to draft letter for dock disagreement,” White Bear Press, July 23, 2025.) “These members are appointed by the council and are entrusted with the responsibility to serve
the city’s interests at the district. Unfortunately, Mrs. Susie Mahoney has taken personal actions that are opposite to the city’s interests and that also compromise her ability to advocate for Birchwood’s interests in the future,” McCarthy said. “She cannot effectively advocate for Birchwood when she is threatening legal action against the district. No one at the district will work with her while she is threatening legal action.” Birchwood resident Julie McKenzie, who has lived in the community for 31 years, said she also wanted to see Mahoney removed from the board. “The past 17 years, I have heard and witnessed the harassing behavior of Susie and Larry Mahoney against (Jim and Debbie Harrod). They have brought many lawsuits against the Harrods and even a few against their neighbors on the other side,” McKenzie explained. “My understanding is that these threats and lawsuits have cost our city thousands of dollars
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in legal fees and wasted city employee time.” McKenzie added, “She has been holding our neighborhood hostage for years. Like myself, many of our neighbors have grown tired of Susie and Larry’s behavior and tactics. Susie Mahoney should not represent Birchwood on the conservation district or hold any position of leadership representing Birchwood. She seems to only be there to serve her own needs and not the city of Birchwood’s.” Council Member Ryan Hankins asked the city attorney to weigh in on the allegation that the city of Birchwood transferred 10 feet of property to the Harrods. Attorney Alan Kantrud explained that the city commissioned a survey back in 2012 that established the property line, which hasn’t changed since then. SEE BIRCHWOOD, PAGE 11
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