More Bar-B-Q Days Photos
Census Report Says B.P. Still Growing
Familiar Finders Track Down Coin Page 2
Page 4
Pages 17, 19, 20 ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIRST YEAR
BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, JULY 18, 2012
75¢ SINGLE COPY
NUMBER 29
Bar-B-Q Days Sales Up
Drawing of what the new Belle Plaine Chiropractic building is proposed to look like.
Council Okays Plans and Loan for Belle Plaine Chiropractic by Dan Ruud The Belle Plaine City Council Monday night unanimously approved a nonconforming expansion permit and site plan for a new Belle Plaine Chiropractic building at 200 West Main Street downtown. The requests were by Dr. Todd and Connie Meeker, who plan to demolish their existing building and build new. The estimated cost of the project is $350,000. The proposed new building (see drawing) will be nearly double the size of the existing one. It will be located on the front property line and approximately 1 1/2 feet from the east-
ern property line. The detached garage will remain in place but will receive a face-lift during construction to match the new building. Also Monday, the council unanimously approved the Meekers’ application for a $140,000 loan from the city’s revolving loan fund. Staff reported that the Meekers provided a statement from their lender, approving them for a loan of $140,000. That, along with the revolving loan fund loan, leaves them with a personal cash investment of approximately $70,000. The Belle Plaine Economic Development Authority reviewed the Meek-
ers’ loan request on July 9 and recommended approval. The term of the loan will be for 10 years with an interest rate of 2 percent below the prime interest as of the date of July 16, 2012. Dr. Todd Meeker reported that his existing building is over 100 years old and has served as a chiropractic office for 60 years. He explained that he prefers the location due to its long history of chiropractic services there and adequate parking along Willow and West Main
City Council
(continued on page 6)
Belle Plaine Trail Saga Continues Decisions Need to be Made by July 27 by Dan Ruud The Belle Plaine Trail saga got stretched a little longer Monday night as the Belle Plaine City Council addressed the issue for the umpteenth time. That’s on top of the number of times Belle Plaine Township has done the same. The two governing boards have not been able to find a medium on whose responsible for how much of the costs to improve and maintain the pothole-plagued country road that stretches through city and township property between Highway 169 and Ashford Way. The council last month 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 $128,114, which the city would pay approximately one-half of for its share of the road. The bid is valid until July 27, at which time the city must sign the agreement for the full project, a portion of the project or reject the bid. The biggest pothole in the issue is the township’s desire for the city to annex the entire road and the city’s wish not to. The township has offered to contractually assume road maintenance responsibility for all gravel portions of Kittson Boulevard and Jason Avenue, while the city would annex and accept maintenance responsibility on Belle Plaine Trail. As part of the agreement, Belle Plaine Township would also
B.P. Trail
(continued on page 7)
Former OLP Pastor Father Roedel Dies
by Dan Ruud For a second straight year, above-normal heat was a factor in Belle Plaine’s annual BarB-Q Days celebration as temperature all three days reached the lower 90s. But according to Bar-B-Q Days Chair Carrie Traxler, who is also executive director of the chamber of commerce, this year’s event went “very well” as beef, beer and carnival ride sales all increased over last year. The Beef Stand generated total sales of $43,162.20, up from $40,158.20 a year ago. Sandwiches cost $3.50 apiece, the same as last year. Stronger beer and the addition of Leine’s Summer Shandy and Mike’s Hard Lemonade continues to benefit the Beer Garden, where $54,057.00 in sales was reported. That compares to $50,000.25 in 2011, which was an increase over the previous year. Carnival ride sales totaled $53,107.00, up from $50,123.00 last year. Beef Sales Friday $8,995.00 Saturday $18,356.70 Sunday $15,810.50 Total $43,162.20 2011 $40,158.20 Beer Garden Sales Friday $12,481.00 Saturday $25,990.00 Sunday $15,586.00 Total $54,057.00 2011 $50,000.25 Carnival Ride Sales Pre-Sale Tickets $31,155.00 Ticket Box Sales $21,952.00 Total $53,107.00 Total 2011 $50,123.00 There were some 120 entrants in Saturday’s parade, the grand marshal for which was Mary Ann Gill. The parade lasted approximately 90 minutes and was again witnessed by several thousand spectators. Kelly Morrison was crowned Miss Belle Plaine during Sunday’s coronation ceremony in the BPHS south gymnasium (see separate story).
Father Richard Roedel, 80, died Monday at The Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine. Father Roedel served six years at Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic Church in Belle Plaine, where his funeral will take Horse Show Replace Friday. Father Roedel taught and sults served at several other area First place winners from churches/schools through the Friday night’s Minnesota River years, including 12 years at St. Valley Horse Show Anne’s Church in Le Sueur. His Open Driving: Madison Deobituary appears on page 3. ile Open Walk/Trot: Lauren Zabell Lead Line: (6 years under) – Evan Lowy Western Pleasure/Open: Lauren Zabell Egg and Spoon: Dani Taylor Bat Race: Kalli Koepp
Pony Barrels: Shelby Henke Open Barrels: Kalli Koepp Boot Scramble: Lori Taylor Surprise Class: Shelby Henke
which was 68 more than last year. There were 105 racers in the Kids One-Half-Mile Race, 14 more than last year. Andrew Thies of Arlington was the overall winner in the race with a time of 14:40. Bull Run Results 5K His brother, Eric Thies, was Belle Plaine’s Bull Run is be- second in 15:17. Eric Thies was coming increasingly popular. the winner of last fall’s Scenic Despite a temperature of near 80 degrees at the 9 a.m. start Bar-B-Q Days time, a total of 342 runners par(continued on page 17) ticipated in Saturday’s 5K race,
Kelly Morrison Crowned Miss Belle Plaine by Dan Ruud Another crown has been added to the Morrison household. Four months after her older sister Erin was crowned Miss Shamrock for the coming year, Kelly Morrison was crowned Miss Belle Plaine at Sunday’s Bar-B-Q Days Coronation. Kelly, who will be a senior at Belle Plaine High School this coming school year, is the daughter of Terry and Michelle Morrison. Both she and Erin have been active in numerous high school activities through the years, including FFA. In fact, the two queens will be competing nationally on the same agricultural sales team at this fall’s National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. Erin, who received her Miss
Remembering Local Civil War Veterans Allison Drtina, program manager for the Scott County Historical Society, was dressed in a Civil War-era dress as she presented Saturday morning’s Civil War Cemetery Tour at Oakwood Cemetery in Belle Plaine. Drtina said there are at least 25 graves of known Civil War veterans at Oakwood. Drtina provided background on some of those veterans, among them John McConnell, who was the last-living Civil War veteran from the Belle Plaine area. He was born June 14, 1846 and died May 27, 1943. Local Civil War veteran Philander Bills, who lived to be 99 (1822 to 1921) is also buried in Oakwood. Several more Civil War Cemetery tours Pictured after Sunday’s coronation are, from left, Second in Scott County are planned for this year. For more information, contact Drtina at adrtina@ Princess Kalli Koepp, First Princess Cassidy Pumper, Miss Belle Plaine Kelly Morrison and Miss Congeniality Erin Winscottcountyhistory.com or 952-445-0378. ters.
Shamrock crown on St. Patrick’s Day downtown, plans to attend Purdue University in Indiana starting this fall. Kelly, who is a National Honor Society student and vice president of the BPHS FFA Chapter, said she has applied to attend South Dakota State University, where she wants to triple major in agricultural communications, animal science and agriculture business. Kelly is no stranger to speaking or performing in front of audiences. Besides numerous FFA-related presentations, she has been involved in BPHS’s very successful one-act play group since the eighth grade
Morrison
(continued on page 17)