Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas
www.dakotacountytribune.com
July 2, 2015 • Volume 130 • Number 17
Vermillion River stocked with rainbow trout
NEWS Avonlea housing development approved
About 1,800 added thanks to surplus at hatchery by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Lakeville approves first phase of 472-acre housing development. Page 3A
OPINION ‘Bridging’ the gap The story of Bridging and its founder Fran Heitzman. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources stocked the Vermillion River for the second time this year with about 1,800 half-pound rainbow trout yearlings just in time for the Fourth of July. Members of the DNR dropped several nets full of trout averaging 12 inches long in the river in Rambling River Park on June 26. “They’re really nice fish for catching size,� DNR spokesman Harlan Hiemstra said. “We encourage people to get out there. Maybe people want to avoid the crowds on the highways and enjoy the river — take the kids along, bring a picnic and some fishing poles and
just have fun.� The fish came from a surplus stock at DNR’s hatchery in Lanesboro. The river is annually stocked in April, but the past few years the DNR has been in position to stock the river with more fish. “The water there is still pretty cool and the trout like that cooler water,� Hiemstra said. “Some of the lakes we stock are too warm already.� Rainbow trout can be kept if they were caught within the city limits of Farmington. There’s been a proposal to allow anglers to keep rainbow trout if they’re caught outside of the city limits, Hiemstra said. “We don’t believe The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources stocked the Vermillion River with about 1,800 rainbow trout last week. (Photo submitted) See TROUT, 6A
Fire chief: Leave fireworks to the pros
Art-ďŹ lled weekend The Eagan Art Festival drew thousands of guests to the city’s Central Park for two days of entertainment and fine art. Page 17A
Consider neighbors, laws when celebrating Fourth of July by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Excelsior yoga instructor and avid horseback rider Andrew Seifert of Hopkins studio Yogatiques and equestrian trainer Jennefer Lear of Lear Stables in Rosemount have opened courses and workshops that incorporate yoga and horses. (Photos submitted)
Equestrian yoga Incorporation of the activity aids riders and horses
SPORTS Local players help South football all-stars to victory Rosemount’s Tyler Hartigan makes big catch in win. Page 10A
PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is a legal newspaper for the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District.
by Paige Kieffer SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Those who have tried yoga’s warrior pose can now try it on a horse. Excelsior yoga instructor and avid horseback rider Andrew Seifert of Hopkins studio Yogatiques and equestrian trainer Jennefer Lear of Lear Stables in Rosemount have opened courses and workshops that incorporate yoga and horses. The main mission of the course is to teach certain yoga poses to riders that help improve their overall riding performance by providing balance and peace. Having a calm and balanced rider by extension allows the horse to be zen, they say. “We developed a sequence of Andrew Seifert of Hopkins studio Yogatiques said horses can tell if yoga participants are relaxed. (Photos submitted) See YOGA, 6A
Apple Valley construction worker dies in Lakeville trench collapse
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 10A Public Notices . . . . . . 11A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 12A Announcements . . . . 16A
News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2019 Classified Advertising 952-392-6862 Delivery 952-846-2070
Brother among colleagues who tried to save him by Laura Adelmann SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
A 51-year-old man died at a Lakeville residential construction site June 30 after the trench he was building collapsed on him. Gerald Lyle Thompson, of Apple Valley, became trapped in the trench in the Lakeville neighborhood located on the 9000 block of 179th Street and fellow construction workers, including his brother Dennis Richard Thompson, 54, of Burnsville, were unable to free him.
Lakeville Police Chief Deputy John Kornmann estimated the dirt, which was being dug to install drain tile around the perimeter of a home, to weigh as much as a small car. Lakeville police and fire departments were called to the scene at 3:54 p.m., but the trench walls had to be stabilized before they could attempt a rescue, Kornmann said. By the time a firefighter was able to reach Gerald Thompson by being lowered on the bucket of an excavator, he was found dead.
The operation then turned to recovery and the Dakota County Special Operations Team was called to assist. The Thompson brothers both worked for SDM Excavating of Hastings. The scene was stabilized following the recovery. Lakeville police and OSHA investigators will continue to investigate the cause of the accident. Laura Adelmann is at laura.adelmann@ecm-inc.com.
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Fireworks and the Fourth of July go hand in hand, but Farmington Fire Chief Jim Larsen would like everybody to keep their hands intact and leave the fireworks to the professionals. The Farmington fire and police departments plan to treat this weekend like any normal weekend. The city tends to be a bit quiet on the actual holiday because many residents watch fireworks displays in other cities or travel during summer holidays. But, the police don’t plan on giving anyone a holiday from the law. “We’re not going to give you a couple hours on Friday night,� Police Chief Brian Lindquist said. All summer, police will both respond to fireworks complaints and look for illegal fireworks activity. Legal fireworks are nonexplosive and nonaerial products such as sparklers, poppers, snakes, and cones and tubes that emit sparks. If it leaves the ground or explodes, the device is illegal for possession and use. That includes bottle rockets, Roman candles and firecrackers. “All fireworks that become a disturbance are illegal,� Lindquist said. “The ones that are legal, I would never get a complaint. They’re not an audio problem for any neighbors.� The maximum fine for using illegal fireworks is See 4TH, 6A
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