Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas
www.dakotacountytribune.com
NEWS Lakeville man a ‘Trailblazer’ Shaun Keilen’s volcano expedition filmed for Discovery Channel new show called “Trailblazers.” Page 2A
OPINION Schools should tout reasons Columnist Joe Nathan said Minnesota schools and districts should communicate reasons why families should pick them. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND
April 28, 2016 • Volume 131 • Number 9
Dental office earns minority business honor Immanuel Dental awarded by U.S. Small Business Administration by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Dr. Linden Dungy has followed a path he believes God has laid out for him, and it’s worked out pretty well so far. His dentistry Immanuel Dental, located in downtown Farmington, has been named Minnesota’s Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. “I guess it verifies that we’re doing something right,” Dungy said. The business has grown in size in the past 11 years. SBA noted in giving the honor that the company showed strength during the Great Recession. “It went against everything you would intuitively
think,” he said. “Ultimately it was a blessing from God we continued to grow.” Dungy said teeth cleaning is often one of the first things people cut out of their budget during hard times. “I think ultimately we were able to grow because we weren’t into huge elective things like veneers and teeth whitening,” he said. “We’re more of a lunch-pail organization. We’re not a hard sell. We’re a little bit different that way. We’ve established over time that patients are served first. We feel we’re trying to help people.” His award also recognized his contributions to the community. Inspired by the Bible to take care of the poor, he
said he donates approximately thousands of dollars worth of services every year. Although, he hesitates to broadcast his philanthropic activities. “It’s really a service to God,” Dungy said. “If you start to look to get recognition for those types of things, it takes on a new life.” It’s fair to say Dungy is a man of deep faith. He named his business “Immanuel” because it translates into “God with us,” referring to the coming of the Messiah who will bring salvation to the world. About 11 years ago, Dungy was working as a dentist for another company and questioned whether See DENTIST, 6A
Immanuel Dental owner and lead dentist Dr. Linden Dungy has been named the Minnesota’s Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Dungy stands by the front door of his office by a plaque, which includes his favorite Bible verse. (Photo by Andy Rogers)
Anybody want to be an astronaut? Project PoSSUM coming to Farmington by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Local actor joins ‘GH’ cast Apple Valley native Risa Dorken will make her debut on the ABC soap opera “General Hospital” on May 4 as “spunky” nurse Amy. Page 17A
SPORTS Tiger softball steps up The Farmington High School softball team is playing well in key games early in the season. Page 10A
PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is an official newspaper of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District. Page 12A
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Boeckman Middle School science teacher Todd Kohorst imagines he’s not the only one who grew up dreaming of being an astronaut. Kohorst trained with Project PoSSUM, which stands for Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere, last October at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he essentially trained for spaceflight. He knew several students who would have loved to have joined him, and now they can. PoSSUM Academy is coming to Farmington for two, four-day sessions Aug. 1-5 and Aug. 8-12 with an optional fifth day at Boeckman Middle School. Students will receive academic instruction, spend time in a flight simulator and try on spacesuits during the experience. This will be similar Kohorst’s experience last fall in Florida. Project PoSSUM studies the upper mesosphere and the noctilucent clouds that are there. There will be several hours of classroom instruction involved, but Kohorst said he feels like any student should be able to comprehend the material. “I feel like it will all make sense,” Kohorst said. “It’s very attainable. We don’t plan on doing any calculus, maybe a little trigonometry. It’s definitely doable for anyone.”
County names its new leader Former deputy Matt Smith named to replace Brandt Richardson
Farmington middle school teacher Todd Kohorst helped bring Project PoSSUM to Farmington this summer. (Photo submitted) This is the first PoSSUM Academy set up outside of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Kohorst worked hard over the past few months to bring it here. The optional fifth day will focus on the physiology of spaceflight and a simulated spaceflight in a aircraft. Students will experience an aerobatics flight and what it’s like to fly in high-G and zero-G situations. “They’ll go up in essentially an airplane that can do real tight turns,” Kohorst said. “You’re getting some real G forces in different directions.”
Students will try on special garments for extreme-G force that keep blood flow toward the top of the body, and they will learn special breathing techniques to handle the extreme situations. The fifth day was separated because it will cost an additional $650, and Kohorst said “perhaps not everyone will be interested in experiencing super-G forces.” The teachers will include Kohorst, a spacesuit technician, flight simulator technician and Dr. Jason Reimuller, the principal investigaSee POSSUM, 5A
The Dakota County Board of Commissioners said on Tuesday that Matt Smith would be the county’s new manager to replace Brandt Richardson. Richardson announced in Janu- Matt Smith ary that he would retire in May from the post he has held for 24 years. Smith take over as county manager, which oversees a team of nearly 2,000 employees in the county’s 16 different departments. “I am honored and grateful to have this new opportunity at Dakota See SMITH, 18A
House candidates on the campaign trail Anna Wills seeks third term in the House
John Huot running for first elected office
by Tad Johnson
by Tad Johnson
She is a member of the Dakota County Regional Chamber and the Apple State Rep. Anna Wills, Valley Chamber, is a legR-Rosemount, is seeking islative ex-officio board a third term in the Minmember for ServeMinnesota House this fall. nesota and is a volunteer She was first elected in Anna Wills in the preschool Sunday House District 57B, which School class at Bethlehem comprises Rosemount, Baptist Church. Coates and a northern portion She and husband, Rob, have of Apple Valley, in 2012 when an infant son, Gideon. she defeated Rosemount resident Following are Wills’ responses Jeff Wilfahrt with 53 percent of to a recent set of questions from the vote. She won re-election the newspaper. over Rosemount resident Denise Why are you running for state Packard, earning 58 percent of representative? the vote in 2014. I’m running for re-election Wills, 31, attended the Univer- because I believe I have a proven sity of Northwestern in St. Paul record of working with my coland has volunteered on numerous leagues on legislation to improve political campaigns, including as our community and the state, and the Burnsville city chair for the helping to make Minnesota a betJohn McCain presidential cam- ter place to live, work and raise a paign in 2008. See WILLS, 6A SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
He said they are active parishioners at St. Thomas Becket in Eagan, and he is DFL-endorsed candia volunteer coach for youth dates John Huot, a longsports and a basketball and time Rosemount resifootball official for the Mindent, enters the House nesota State High School District 57B race with John Huot League. government relations Following are Huot’s reexperience in the region sponses to a recent set of and in Washington, D.C. questions from the newspaper. After working as an emergency Why are you running for office? medical technician with Life Link My life has been dedicated to III for 28 years and volunteer fire- service. For the last three decades fighter for five years, he served as working in emergency medical sera government relations specialist vices I have been helping people for a medical transportation com- at their worst times. Now I look pany, primarily working on health forward to the opportunity to help care reform. and serve the community in anCurrently he is a licensed Real- other capacity. It is time to put my tor and consultant in health care experience and knowledge to work and government relations. for the people of our district. He and wife Angela have three Why should people vote for you? boys who attended Rosemount I have a firsthand understandpublic schools. See HUOT, 6A SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE