CURRENT minnlocal.com
Burnsville Lakeville
May 12, 2011 • V36.19
In the Community, With the Community, For the Community
Apple Valley vs. Lakeville North PAGE 31
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Local Civil War re-enactors determined to build monument BY MICHAEL RICCI SUN NEWSPAPERS
Firefighters from Apple Valley, Burnsville, Lakeville and Eagan train at the ABLE live burn facility in Burnsville. Here, Lakeville fire fighters participate in a live burn exercises conducted in November 2006 as part of a citizen’s fire academy (File photo
Fire training facility repairs approved, but long-term fate remains unclear BY JEFF BARTHEL • SUN NEWSPAPERS The cities involved in the ABLE fire training facility are still grappling with a smoldering issue – repair or replace? For now, it looks like the answer is “repair.” The issue was revisited at a Burnsville City Council meeting Tuesday, May 3, where a $40,000
plan for repairs was approved. “Our council approved a repair plan…on a consent [vote],” said Tom Hansen, Burnsville’s acting city manager, the day after the meeting. In January, fire chiefs from the four cities that share ABLE – Apple Valley, Burnsville, Lakeville
Saturn orphan?
ABLE: TO PAGE 21
Though the battles of the Civil War are long over, a battle of a different kind is on the horizon for one newly formed organization. Known as the Minnesota Boys of ’61, the group formed early last year with a purpose of designing and building a memorial to honor the memories of the over 24,000 Minnesota citizen soldiers who volunteered during 1861-1865. Two Lakeville residents, Bill Dalin and Chris Zarn, are among those who are involved in the 150th anniversary effort, at least when they are not elsewhere re-enacting any number of battles that occurred during the nation’s greatest armed internal conflict. According to Dalin, the Minnesota Boys of ’61 is a collection of like-minded Civil War historians interested in getting a monument built in Summit
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Park in St. Paul between the St. Paul Cathedral and the Minnesota History Center. But as the saying goes, it is easier said than done. “We have a resolution from the legislature. We have the support of veteran organizations,” Dalin said, but added, “We won’t be able to build it until we fund it.” For this reason, several Boys of ’61 stood post on a blustery day Sunday, May 1, outside a discount store in Bloomington for their first significant fundraiser. In order to make the Bloomington fundraiser and others in the future, the group holds a 501(c)3 designation from the Internal Revenue Service, “It’s tremendously important because it gives us the ability to go out and be here today,” Dalin said, referring to the May 1 fundraiser. “Without a 501(c)3 status, we would not be able to be part of this.” CIVIL: TO PAGE 26
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