Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas www.dakotacountytribune.com
April 24, 2014 • Volume 129 • Number 7
SPECIAL SECTION Home Improvement
Block by block Veterans memorial takes shape
2014
Burnsville Eagan Lakeville Apple Valley Farmington Rosemount
by Jennifer Chick
Spring Home Improvement
SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
With home values rising in Dakota County, more homeowners are considering starting improvements they have been delaying. Inside this edition
OPINION Bullying law was right move The Safe and Supportive Schools Act will prove itself to be an effective way to combat bullying in schools. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND
Gathering up some fun The Rosemount Lions Egg Hunt was held Saturday, April 19, under gray skies, but sunshine was in the hearts of the throngs of children who turned out for the event with their parents and other family members. Thousands of eggs and candy were spread out over three fields at Ames Athletic Complex on the Dakota County Technical College campus. A costumed bunny was on hand for children to have their photos taken with the friendly character. More photos are at SunThisweek.com and inside this edition. (Photos by Tad Johnson)
With spring weather here, work is beginning again on the Farmington Area Veterans Memorial. The memorial has grown from an idea seven years ago into a physical presence on the edge of Rambling River Park just off Highway 50 in Farmington. The memorial is taking shape and drawing the attention of passing motorists with its striking, yet simple, features. “We like how it’s been turning out,� said Leon Orr, chairperson of the Farmington Area Veterans Memorial committee. “It’s taking longer than we hoped, but it’s turning out better than we thought it might. We are getting very good comments from people who have seen it.� Howard Miller, an area World War II veteran, first started the effort to build the memorial. A groundbreaking ceremony was held for
The Farmington Area Veterans Memorial is at Rambling River Park just off Highway 50 in Farmington. Fundraising to pay for its construction and future additions continues. (Photo by Jennifer Chick) the memorial in July 2012. Recently, six bronze military seals and wrought iron fencing were added to the rock walls and columns at the center of the memorial. A focal point of the memorial will be a massive blue pearl granite slab in the shape of a folded flag, representing flags which are given to families at military funerals. Stars have been sandblasted into the granite and then painted
white. The granite piece is 10 inches thick, 5 feet high, 10 feet wide at its base, and weighs 6,000 pounds. It is currently being stored at the Dakota Electric headquarters in Farmington but once seasonal weight restrictions are lifted on area roads, it will be installed at the memorial, Orr said. Other items still to be installed are granite benches and engravings See MEMORIAL, 7A
Behind the blue line Titan Machinery to Choirs spotlight local composer Work by Eagan High School graduate Jason Hansen is featured at concerts by the Minnesota Valley Men’s and Women’s Chorales. Page 17A
SPORTS Irish edged by Panthers The Rosemount softball team is drawing important lessons from a 2-1 loss to No. 1-ranked Lakeville North. Page XXA
Farmington residents can gain insight into police operations by Jennifer Chick SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Many of today’s top television shows feature police departments or criminal investigators, and now Farmington residents have a chance to get their own behindthe-scenes look at the Farmington Police Department. The department will again be holding its Citizens Police Academy to give participants an inside look at what it’s like to be a police officer. “It’s a common-held belief that anything we do is secretive,� said Police Chief Brian Lindquist. “Part of that is we keep things internal because that’s part of the job, but why we do what we do is not secretive.�
The academy begins Wednesday, May 7, and will meet for eight weeks on Wednesday evenings. A pre-registration application is required and applicants must be 18 years of age or older. The application is due by Wednesday, April 30, but if spots are still available after that day, Lindquist said he will take applications up until the day of the first class. Registration forms are available on the city’s website at www. ci.farmington.mn.us. “It’s a very interesting line of work, and if you’ve ever had an interest in learning why we do what we do, it’s a very interesting eight weeks,� Lindquist said. See POLICE, 15A
close in Rosemount Land still owned by Carlson family that operated equipment business there for 55 years by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The closing of a Rosemount business could lead to more changes at one of the city’s busiest intersections. West Fargo, N.D.-based Titan Machinery said it would close its Rosemount location and consolidate the operations with other sites as part of a company reorganization that will reduce its construction-related headcount by approximately 11.7 percent. It was among seven of the company’s nearly 100 agricultural and construction equipment dealerships that would be closed. Others are in Montana, Wyo-
ming, Iowa and Arizona. Titan also has locations in Shakopee and Rogers, the latter of which was acquired when Titan purchased Rosemount-based Carlson Tractor and Equipment in May 2011. The Rogers business was not listed among those slated for closure. At the time of the purchase, Titan did not buy the site’s 5.85 acres in Rosemount, which is owned by the Carlson family under the name of Keystone Properties LLC. Carlson Tractor had a presence in Rosemount since 1956, See TITAN, 15A
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INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Announcements . . . . . 7A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 10A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 12A Calendars . . . . . . . . . 16A
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Rosemount man won’t complain about his musical life by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Being a full-time musician has its perks, but for Rosemount resident Steve Daly one of them isn’t rolling in money. “I make just enough to live on,� said Daly, whose 55- to 60-hour work week consists of only about 15 hours of live shows. The rest of the time he’s in rehearsals, managing the books or on the phone securing gigs for his band High & Mighty or his solo acoustic sets. “There’s a lot of freedom being a musician though.� Daly said. “You can work for who you want and when you want.
You get to choose the music you want to play and how you want to play it. It’s also a non-stop job of learning about different styles and artists.� While Daly plays solo every month at Carbone’s of Rosemount, High & Mighty will return to Rosemount Leprechaun Days this year as the Friday, July 25, entertainment during the Midsummer Faire at Central Park. The band played in 2009 as part of the Midsummer Faire entertainment, and its return is a nod to High & Mighty’s fit with the family-friendly vibe of Leprechaun Days Rosemount resident Steve Daly cranks out a guitar solo while performing with his band, High & Mighty. The band is slated to play Rosemount Leprechaun Days this summer, in addition to Daly’s monthly solo shows at Carbone’s of Rosemount. (Photo submitted) See DALY, 9A
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