Aug 8, 2012 Belle Plaine Herald

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Scott-Carver Threshers Photos

Area Candidates Express Views Before Next Tuesday’s Primary

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Town Tigers Punch Ticket for State Tournament

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ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIRST YEAR

BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, AUGUST 8, 2012

75¢ SINGLE COPY

NUMBER 32

Prize for Catching This Year’s City Council, Township Reach Grand Catfish Doubles to $2,000 Agreement on Belle Plaine Trail Belle Plaine River Fishin’ Contest Starts Friday by Dan Ruud He or she who catches the biggest catfish at this weekend’s 37th annual Belle Plaine Minnesota River Fishin’ Contest will reel in 10 times more money than the finders of the 2012 St. Patrick’s and Bar-B-Q Days treasure coins “combined.” Thanks to a special sponsorship and contribution from Matt Saxe Chevrolet-Buick of Belle Plaine, this year’s firstplace prize is $2,000, compared to $1,000 in recent years. In all, $4,000 will be awarded in cash and prizes at Court Square Park in Belle Plaine, which is located off Highway 25 on the north edge of town. Last year’s winner was Ed Borak of Norwood Young America with a 33-pound, 14-ounce flathead. He was using a sucker minnow as bait under the Carver Tressel when he hooked the fish at about midnight in the midst of a lightning and thunderstorm. The last angler to catch a 50pounder or better in the con-

test was Dan Rademacher of There’s also a carp category, Carver. He won in both 2007 with the largest being worth and 2008 with flatheads weigh- $200. The second and third ing 51 pounds, 9 ounces and 50 largest are worth $100 and $75, respectively. Merchandise certificates will go to those who bring in the fifth to 13th and 15th to 18th largest carp. In the bonus fish category, $50 will go to those who catch the 14th largest carp, 21st largest catfish and 28th largest catfish. The entry fee for the contest remains $25 and you can sign pounds, 2 ounces, respectively. up at Sparetime Tavern or Court The contest record flathead Square Park between noon and (51 pounds, 12 ounces) was 8 p.m. Friday. Fish weigh-ins caught by Tony Bentz of Belle will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Plaine in 2003. Saturday at Court Square Park. The state record for a flathead All fish must be brought is a 70-pounder caught in the “alive” to the weigh-in station St. Croix River (Washington in coolers or other suitable conCounty) in 1970. The world tainers. They must be caught in record is a 123-pounder caught the Minnesota River between in Elk City Reservoir, Kan., in Shakopee and St. Peter during 1998. contest honors (4 p.m. Friday to The captor of the second larg- 4 p.m. Saturday). est flathead this weekend will The traditional Tobacco Spitreceive $500, while the third ting and Keg Trowing contests and fourth largest are worth will take place at the park short$250 and $125, respectively. ly after the 4 p.m. fish weigh-in Merchandise certificates will deadline. Cash prizes will be go to the fifth through 10th awarded to the top contestants. largest catfish and 23rd largest. Partial proceeds from the MinThe largest catfish that is not a nesota River Fishin’ Contest go flathead is worth $50. to Belle Plaine area youth outdoor training programs.

Minnesota Harvest Hopes New Approach Will Be Good for Business

The staff at Minnesota Harvest Orchard was among the area farmers who breathed a sigh of relief over recent rains. As Minnesota Harvest Orchard continues to rebuild, it is aiming at returning the orchard to being an orchard. Minnesota Harvest celebrated its grand opening for the 2012 season last weekend. It will be a different Minnesota Harvest than many recall. Long gone are the pony rides and the big bands that at times overshadowed what drew thousands of people to the orchard on County Road 66 in St. Lawrence Township during the 1980s and ‘90s – over 30,000 trees with dozens of varieties of apples. Instead, Kelly and her staff are planning a far more pedestrian apple experience. Yes, there are music groups Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., but on a much smaller scale with a more laid-back presentation. Yes, there are attractions for children – a petting zoo, hay castle and corn maze. But Minnesota Harvest is all about the apple, said Kevin Breeggemann, the general manager and

B.P. Trail

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It appears as though the Belle Plaine Trail will soon be getting a much-needed repaving. One other option was to make it a gravel road, which the city was opposed to.

Primary Next Tuesday There are no primary races for Belle Plaine city offices next Tuesday, but polls will be open at the Belle Plaine Government Center for other races, most locally Scott County Commissioner District 1 and Senate District 20. Squaring off for the Scott County Commissioner District 1 seat are incumbent Joe Wagner of Sand Creek Township, Jerry Kucera of Sand Creek Township and LuAnne Lemke of Louisville Township. The top two vote-getters will be on the general election ballot this fall. In Senate District 20, Mike Dudley of New Prague and

Gene Kornder of Belle Plaine Township are vying to be the Republican candidate in the fall general election. The winner will square off against Kevin Dahle of Northfield. Polls at the Belle Plaine Government Center will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Only people who live within the Belle Plaine city limits are permitted to vote at the Government Center. If you live outside the Belle Plaine city limits, vote at your designated polling place. For more information, call the Belle Plaine Government Center at 873-5553 or visit the onestop voter information webpage at www.mnvotes.org.

Council Calls for Hearing on Next Year’s Street Improvement Project Approves Police, Public Works Vehicle Purchases and Construction of Another Ball Field at Meadow Park

Minnesota Harvest General Manager Kevin Breeggemann said recent rains probably saved the early apple crop. one of Kelly’s volunteers in planned to build estate homes. reopening the orchard after de- Kelly’s former sister-in-law, veloper Dennis Backus’ plans Orchard fell through the floor. Before (continued on page 2) the real-estate crash, Backus

Belle Plaine Students Show Improvement on State Tests

In a year which Belle Plaine Schools targeted improvement on state math tests, an unexpected benefit showed up in the results. Reading scores improved, too. The results of last spring’s Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) released last Wednesday shows widespread improvement in Belle Plaine students’ math, reading and writing exams. The MCA science test scores were not released and are expected later this fall, said Carol Lagergren, the curriculum and testing coordinator for the Belle Plaine and Jordan school districts. “It’s awesome because teachers spent the year focusing on math,” she said. “It’s translated

by Dan Ruud The pot-hole infested Belle Plaine Trail will most likely be paved from beginning to end this construction season. The city of Belle Plaine and representatives of Belle Plaine Township ironed out an agreement for the long-term fix of the road, which the city council put its stamp of approval on Monday night following months of back-and-forth debating on whose responsible for how much of the costs to improve and maintain the country road that stretches approximately one mile through city and township property between Highway 169 and Ashford Way. The council in June voted to award the bid for the improvement of the road to Chard Tiling of Belle Plaine to pave the city’s portion of the project, which includes some 1,777 feet of the eastern end of the road. That’s a little less than half the length of the entire stretch. The bid was for $128,113.60, which the city would pay approximately one-half of for its share of the road. The bid was valid until July 27. “Chard Tiling has not yet signed the agreement and has agreed to wait a period of 30 days to allow the city and township to reach an agreement on the limits of the project,” City Engineer Joe Duncan reported. “This agreement also states that the city will entertain a request to extend the completion date for the work once it has been determined what exactly that will be.” Under terms reached Monday, Chard Tiling will be improving

to good achievement in reading.” School board directors will take a look at the results at their workshop Monday. The scores reflect the performance on the MCA tests and also the graduation portion of each assessment. The MCA III math exams, which focus on algebra and everyday math problems rather than simple calculations, were given to students in third through eighth grades. Eleventh-graders took the MCA II math test. The MCA II reading exams were given to students in third through eighth and 10th grades. Writing exams were also given to ninththrough 11-graders. Lagergren said this is the last

year of the MCA II reading tests. The MCA III reading test will focus on a student’s ability to tell why something happened rather than just retelling a story. In the state reading exams, Belle Plaine students were above the state average in six of the seven grade levels where the tests were administered. Overall, 77 percent of the district’s students tested achieved proficiency. Statewide, 76 percent of the students tested earned proficiency. The district’s students in the grades where students took the reading tests overwhelm-

State Tests

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by Dan Ruud The Belle Plaine City Council Monday night accepted the engineer’s report and called for a preliminary public hearing on the city’s 2013 street and utility project. Next year’s work is proposed to consist of street reconstruction and utility improvements at: – Main Street from Willow Street to Buffalo Street. – Eagle Street from Park Street to Main Street. – Buffalo Street from Main Street to Church Street. City Engineer Joe Duncan said the total estimated cost of the project is $1,963,850, of which $1,416,416 (72 percent) would be paid for by the city. The rest would be assessed to benefitting property owners. Staff reported that a reasonable estimate of the assessment impact to benefitting property owners will be available at the public hearing, which will take place shortly after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4. In Duncan’s report presented to the council Monday, it states that inspections have revealed that a substantial portion of the project area raised numerous concerns in regard to the existing sewer pipes and other infrastructure. He added that the existing bituminous street surfaces on Main and Eagle streets

are characterized as poor and exhibit alligator cracking and raveling. “The public works department expends significant resources annually to rework, patch and otherwise maintain the streets

in the proposed project area,” reported Duncan, adding that Buffalo Street, which was constructed in 1993, is in “fair con-

City Council

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Belle Plaine Man Killed in Crash Marvin E. Schreiner, 58, of Belle Plaine, was killed Saturday afternoon in a two-car crash near Glencoe. According to the State Patrol, Schreiner was driving south on Morningside Drive when another car, driven by Leroy Meline, 60, of NYA, crossed a median

on Highway 212 and struck Schreiner’s 2012 Chevy Equinox broadside. Meline and his passenger, Virginia Huddleston, 82, also of NYA, received nonlife threatening injuries. The occupants of both vehicles were wearing seat belts and no alcohol use was detected, according to the State Patrol.

Community Pool to Host Swim Races Thursday Evening The Belle Plaine Community Pool will host a free evening of “August Olympics” swimming races and contests on Thursday, Aug. 9 starting at 6 p.m. Contests will be based on age and ability. Kids can sign up for events at the pool. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place. Root beer floats will be served and open swim will begin after the games are over. Spectators are welcome. The contests will include kick-board paddle race, shav-

ing cream team relay, two-person chain race, treading water contest, front crawl race, diving board tricks, kick board flutter race, diving rings competition, and a three-on-three water basketball tournament. The Belle Plaine Community Pool will close for the season at 9 p.m. Aug. 19.


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