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VOL. 130 NO. 37 www.whitebearpress.com $1.00
TRAGEDY ON WHITE BEAR LAKE: Victim identified PAGE 6
Former Bear is Grandma’s Marathon champion BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
A White Bear Lake graduate grabbed the spotlight in one of Minnesota’s biggest sports events Saturday. Joel Reichow placed first among over 9,000 runners in the 48th annual Grandma’s Marathon run from Two Harbors to Duluth. Reichow, 31, took the lead in the 24th mile of the 26.2 mile race and crossed the finish line in two hours, 11 minutes and 58 seconds. It was his first Grandma’s. The 6-foot, 125-pound athlete ended a string of 14 straight wins by runners from East Africa, including the last 10 by runners from Kenya. Sammy Rotich, a Kenyan now living in Minneapolis, broke away from the pack at 19 miles. Reichow took out after him. He took the lead Joel Reichow in the 24th mile and held it. Rotich was next, 46 seconds behind, in 2:12.44. Elisha Barno, who won the last two Grandma’s Marathons, and six total, had hip and groin issues and dropped out at 15 miles. Reichow became the first runner to win both Grandma’s and the accompanying Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, which he won in 2023. He is also the first Minnesota man to win it since 2009 and fifth overall The victory was worth $11,500, including a $1,500 bonus for finishing in under 2:12. The women’s winner was Lilian Chebii, 31, of
Marching toward some summertime fun
PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Dozens of children and adults march down 4th Street in downtown White Bear Lake during the Kiddie Parade that has become a tradition observed in recent years signaling the start of the annual Manitou Days summertime celebration and the first installment of Marketfest of the season. A variety of Manitou Days events continue through the 4th of July. Marketfest continues with Thursday night installments through July 31.
SEE GRANDMA’S MARATHON, PAGE 17
Twin Citizen turns struggles into soundtracks of survival and strength BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
Every band member in Twin Citizen has been through something, and they are not afraid to write, sing or talk about it. The Twin Cities-based indie rock band is composed of Joe Hartley on lead vocals/guitar, Adam Lifto on lead guitar, Laura Lunde on bass, Ryan Taylor on keys and Sam McKinney on drums. The band has been around since June 2021, but in the past year, three of the five members are new. “Part of the turnover was just a difference in where people were at,” explained Lifto. “It was all around
a desire for some of us to want to push this (band) further in terms of playing shows and trying to build who we are locally and regionally.” 41-year-old Lifto, a 2003 Mahtomedi High School graduate, has been a musician since age 15. When “Californication” by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers was released, it inspired him to quit sports and dive into music. “For whatever reason, it touched my soul in a way that was really spiritual and interesting,” Lifto recalled. “There was an interesting vibe about (John Frusciante’s) playing and the way he SEE TWIN CITIZEN, PAGE 20
2024
WINNER Best of the Press
CONTRIBUTED
Twin Citizen members (from left) are: Sam McKinney (drums), Joe Hartley (guitar, singer), Adam Lifto (lead guitar), Ryan Taylor (keys) and Laura Lunde (Bass).
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