Tigertown Classic This Weekend
More Graduation Photos
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BPHS Baseball Team’s Playoff Run Comes to an End
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ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIRST YEAR
BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, JUNE 6, 2012
75¢ SINGLE COPY
NUMBER 23
Jackie Hillstrom is Belle Plaine’s new municipal pool manager.
New Manager Knows Belle Plaine Pool from All Angles
by John Mueller At any given point this summer, Belle Plaine’s new municipal pool manager may be found in a lifeguard’s chair, working the concession stand, redirect- The Belle Plaine Commuing an ill-behaved child, talking nity Swimming Pool will host with parents or in an office at a “Meet the Guards” Night at city hall. No matter where she the pool tonight (Wednesday) is, Jackie Hillstrom’s focus will from 6:30 to 7:30. Stop by to be set on helping each person learn about the new rules and policies, ask questions, meet enjoy his or her visit. Hillstrom was hired for the position earlier this year, not created the job, Public Works long after the Belle Plaine City Superintendent Al Fahey knew Council created the pool man- who should be hired. ager position. Once the council While the city interviewed
Special Event Planned at Swimming Pool Tonight
penditure not to exceed $9,950 for the city engineering firm of Bolton and Menk to develop and submit an application for a Transportation Economic Development Program (TED)
five for the job, Fahey believed Hillstrom was the right person for the job. He saw her leadership, an outgoing personality and vision last year. The city council agreed. She has been planning and organizing activities, interviewing and hiring staff since April. “Now it’s time for the fine-tuning,” she said. Hillstrom learned about the new position from her father after he read about the council’s decision to create the job. “He
Overpass
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No State Funding Secured for Belle Plaine Overpass Belle Plaine’s application for state funding to help build an overpass at Highway 169 and Country Road 3/Meridian Street with access to 169 was not successful, according to City Engineer Joe Duncan. On April 16, the Belle Plaine City Council authorized an ex-
the lifeguards and new pool manager Jackie Hillstrom, and enjoy a freezie. The pool is tentatively scheduled to open this Friday, weather permitting.
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Pool
New Child Care Center Opens Next Monday Memories & Milestones Academy will open its doors to children of the Belle Plaine area next Monday in the recently renovated former Westerman Lumber building at 900 East South Street, Belle Plaine. Chantel Dacas, who has owned the Memories & Milestones Academy in New Prague
for the past several years, said adding another facility in Belle Plaine is a good fit for her because “it’s a small community and close to New Prague,” which is what she was looking for. Dacas, who has a degree from Rasmussen College in business management with a childcare
emphasis, said her new 5,000square-foot Belle Plaine facility is licensed to house 62 kids ages 6 weeks to school age. She said she has hired a director to assist her in overseeing the Belle Plaine operation, as well as a start-up staff, which she plans to eventually increase to 14. Dacas is leasing the site from LeRoy and Connie Chard, who bought the former Westerman Lumber property in 2011 and have since extensively renovated the site externally and internally. The facility also includes a fenced-in outdoor play area. Parents can enroll their children now by calling 952-8733331. The facility will be open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. starting next week. Dacas said she already has “a good start” on enrollment. Dacas, a graduate of Lakeville High School, has lived in New Prague for about 10 years. She and her husband, Brian, have three sons ages 6 to 16 years. An open house at Memories & Milestones Academy will be scheduled soon. More about the business can be found at www.758KIDS.com. Located behind Memories & Milestones Academy is Southside Storage, which is operated Chantel Dacas, left, owner of Memories & Milestones Acad- by Connie Chard and has 72 cliemy, is leasing her Belle Plaine site from LeRoy and Connie mate-controlled- and cold-storChard. age units available for lease.
Nicole Schultz, front left, and Courtney Soller, right, were among 104 BPHS graduates who received their diplomas Sunday afternoon.
‘World Still Intact’ for BPHS Class of 2012 by Dan Ruud A total of 104 former high school kids exited the Belle Plaine High School south gymnasium with diplomas in hand Sunday, and once outside, were greeted by plenty of hugs from family and friends and a near perfect late-spring day. At the start of the ceremony, graduate and class National Honor Society President Kate Kasper delivered a speech called “Reflective Anticipation.” “2012 marked the year the world would end on the Mayan calender, but now we know it’s not the world that is ending – for us, the class of 2012, it’s high school. “Today we sit in the south gym, our gym – home to countless memories: homecoming festivities, volleyball and basketball games, wrestling matches, rollerblading in gym class, grand march before prom – and what will be our last memory as a Belle Plaine Tiger – our graduation.”
Cyndi Kroells was among the many members of the class of 2012 who received hugs from family, classmates and friends following Sunday’s graduation ceremony. Later in her speech, Kasper acknowledged the man sitting behind her, Principal Lowell Hoffman. “This year, as we leave, our principal, Mr. Hoffman, is retiring as well. Though he appears intimidating strolling through the hall, in reality, he’s a very
down to earth principal. He always calls us by our name, whether it is a greeting in the hallway or giving us permission to ‘come on in’ to his of-
Class of 2012
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CottonWood Memorial This Saturday The second annual CottonWood Memorial will take place this Saturday from 1-9 p.m. in downtown Belle Plaine. According to organizer Brian Kruschke, this is a commemorative event to memorialize the lives of loved ones lost, who helped shape both our lives
and our community. This public event is a celebration of the Minnesota River Valley Communities, home of the Cottonwoods. The 100 block of North Meridian Street downtown will be closed for the all-day event, which will include a Memo-
rial Kick-Off Parade, hot rods, bikes, tractors, live music and plenty of food. Registration for the parade will start at noon outside Trinity Lutheran Church (500 West Church Street). For more information, call Kruschke at 952-239-8406.
City Council Authorizes Staff to Rebid Chestnut Ravine Project Trail Portion of Project Passes by 3-2 Vote by Dan Ruud Two portions of the city’s 2012 street improvement project were under the spotlight Monday night as the Belle Plaine City Council addressed the aftermath from the project having recently been bid some $150,000 over the city engi-
neer’s estimate. On May 21, the council awarded the bid for this year’s work to the only bidder, Chard Tiling and Excavating of Belle Plaine, which submitted a bid of $1,599,900. The city engineer’s estimate was $1,450,000. City Engineer Joe Duncan said the proposed ravine repair work at the end of Chestnut Street represented the biggest difference between the engineer’s estimate and what was actually bid. Duncan’s estimate was
$123,000, while Chard’s bid was $162,932. Following a lengthy discussion on the bid process and potential alternatives for the project, the council on May 21 voted 4-2 to award the bid to Chard Tiling but took the Chestnut Street ra-
City Council
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