Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount www.dakotacountytribune.com
NEWS Police efforts extensive Mother allegedly dropped off two missing Lakeville girls at a ranch in western Minnesota in 2013. Page 3A
OPINION Job interviews revealing Columnist Joe Nathan said he learned a lot about job interviews when he spoke with people seeking to replace him. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND
and the surrounding areas November 26, 2015 • Volume 130 • Number 38
Farmington council member cited Allegations against Bartholomay ‘blown out of proportion,’ lawyer says by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Farmington City Council Member Jason Bartholomay was cited with impersonating a police officer in Apple Valley last month, charges his lawyer denies. According to the complaint, the Apple Valley Police Department alleged Bartholomay’s vehicle was outfitted similar to a police car and had its lights activated. “There’s no denying he had these lights, but there was no intent to impersonate a police officer,� Bartholomay’s attorney Hillary Parsons said. She said he had no intent on pulling anyone over. He was cited for impersonating an officer, a misdemeanor, as well as three counts of display-
Jason Bartholomay ing prohibited lights, all petty misdemeanors on Oct. 26. “This has been blown incredibly out of proportion,� Parsons said. “He’s a licensed therapist and an avid volunteer.� Parsons said part of Bartholomay’s job as a therapist is to respond to emergency situations.
In the police report, Bartholomay told officers he responds to situations such as suicide reports. Apple Valley police reported that Bartholomay told officers that he was a chaplain with the Minneapolis Police Department and University of Minnesota. Apple Valley officers reported they were unable to verify Bartholomay’s employment with Minneapolis police. Bartholomay’s attorney said Bartholomay never said he was a chaplain Minneapolis or the university, but rather he works as a contractor as a therapist. Parsons said Bartholomay purchased the equipment on Amazon. com after he was on an recent emergency call and another vehicle hit Bartholomay’s vehicle. According to the com-
plaint, an Apple Valley officer responded to a report on Oct. 26 during the evening hours (the report did not specify a time) of a vehicle driven by an male dressed in a regular T-shirt, with lights similar to a police car. A witness reported other cars slowing down and pulling over. The report did not state that Bartholomay slowed down himself, got out of his car or approached anyone. An Apple Valley officer observed a vehicle fitting the description in the area of 153rd Street and Cedar Avenue and observed what appeared to be flashing blue light reflect off a nearby structure. In the report, Bartholomay denied knowledge of the blue or flashing lights. The officer
observed a box that appeared to be used for activating the lights and asked Bartholomay to activate them. According to the police report, Bartholomay agreed to turn over the lights to the police department. The officers also found a siren and a PA box similar to those found in police squad cars. “There was no intent for him to impersonate an officer,â€? Parsons said. “He’s horrified by this. He’s upset because he’s innocent. ‌ Four officers responded to the investigation who where questioning him and he felt like he wasn’t able to get his story across.â€? That evening, Parsons said, Bartholomay had some luggage in his front See CITATION, 5A
School projects scheduled for 2016
Sounds of the season
New kindergarten classrooms, secured entrances, stadium plaza repair planned
Eagan’s Michelle Whalen will debut her album “Christmastide� with a concert Dec. 6 at the Historic Concord Exchange. Page 15A
by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Christmas in the Village at Dakota City Heritage Village is scheduled for the first two weekends in December. (Photo submitted)
An old-fashioned Christmas in Farmington
SPORTS
Christmas in the Village scheduled for first two weekends in December
Area swimmers shine at state Farmington, Rosemount swimmers flood the pool during state meet. Page 10A
by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Current residents can travel back in time by more than 100 years to see what Christmas was like for early Dakota County residents next month during the Christmas in the Village Celebration at the Dakota City Heritage Village in Farmington.
PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is an official newspaper of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District.
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The five Republican candidates aiming to gain the GOP’s endorsement in the 2nd Congressional District offered delegates five differing narratives during a Senate District 52 debate in Inver Grove Heights last Thursday. Pam Myhra, David Gerson, Jason Lewis, David Benson-Staebler and John Howe echoed their support of many of the same initiatives (reduced
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David Pam Myhra Gerson government, lower taxes and local control of education, among others) but offered variances in style. Myhra, of Burnsville, said this election is about trust. “Who will you trust to represent you in Congress and trust and defend the values, policies and principles you hold dear?� she asked. She said she has lived what she has said as a two-
Jason Lewis John Howe term member of the Minnesota House, consistently voting for conservative values. She said she will do the same in Congress. “I will be a person you can trust,� the 40-year resident of the district said. Among the issues she outlined to address are out-of-control federal spending, reducing the interference of government in citizens’ lives, reducing
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The five seeking the endorsement debate in Inver Grove Heights SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A
the poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas.� A 1905 silent film of the poem will be showing at village hall. Inside the fire hall, children can make an ornament, which they can either bring home or use to decorate the village Christmas tree at the bandstand.
2nd District GOP candidates offer contrast
by Tad Johnson
INDEX
Every building will be filled with holiday cheer, showcasing life in the early 1900s from 1-8 p.m. Dec. 5, 6, 12 and 13 in the Dakota County Fairgrounds in Farmington. “It will show what it was like to celebrate around Christmas in a small town in Dakota County during the 1900s,� said Lynn Stegmaier, Dakota City president. This year’s theme is focused on
The Farmington School District has big plans for the recently approved $45 million bond referendum that voters passed earlier this month. The day after it was approved, administrators started calling architects and engineers. Several projects are scheduled to begin in early 2016 with a plan of being complete by the time school starts next summer. Finance Director Jane Houska presented a draft during Monday’s School Board meeting. She said things will likely change and they won’t be able to See 192, 5A
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the size of the U.S. Department of Education, i m p rov i n g national security, reDavid Benson- building the military to a Staebler position of strength and leadership, supporting 2nd Amendment rights and protecting vulnerable human life. “It is imperative that we retain this seat,� Myhra said. “We can’t talk our way to victory, we must fight our way to victory.� Lewis, who made a career as a conservative radio talk show host, cast himself as the person who could take the fight to the
Democrats. He said Democratic candidates will be wellfunded and called himself the most electable conservative in the race. “I’m up to the task,� he said. “We have a rendezvous with destiny.� Lewis said he would be the candidate who would cut the pork, not bring it home. The Woodbury resident (a city that’s outside the 2nd District boundary) outlined several areas that he said he would address if elected, including reducing health care costs, strengthening border security, reducing the cost See GOP, 6A
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