Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount www.dakotacountytribune.com
and the surrounding areas May 25, 2017 • Volume 132 • Number 13
Book, bridge, scholarships honor area veterans
NEWS Eagan HS teacher dies
Book released detailing Rosemount graduate Ben Kopp’s life
Eagan High School teacher Jon Mathson died while running in an off-road race on the Superior Hiking Trail. Page 2A
OPINION Addressing the income gap ECM Editorial Board says this is no time for government to skimp on higher education, early education and more. Page 4A
by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The memories of local men who died while serving the country are alive and well this week. The book “Heart of A Ranger: The True Story of Cpl. Ben Kopp, American Hero in Life and Death,� which tells the story of the Rosemount graduate who paid the ultimate sacrifice, was released. The Minnesota Legisla-
ture also passed a bill that would designate the bridge over U.S. Highway 52 in Coates as the Corporal Benjamin S. Kopp Bridge. While rain put a damper on the Chris Goeke Memorial Ultimate Frisbee Tournament at Aronson Park in Lakeville last weekend, spirits were high Saturday before it was canceled Sunday. And in a few weeks, eight graduating seniors will receive scholarships
from the Warrior 196 Leadership Foundation. Joel Kiekbusch of the Warrior 196 Leadership Foundation said this apparent synergy was not coordinated. “When we see something like this happen, this is the boys doing this,� Kiekbusch said. “This has nothing to do with us. There is some sort of serendipity with those five guys who make this happen. We’re just along for
the ride. “Jill (Stephenson, Kopp’s mother) calls this Benergy, which I have come to believe wholeheartedly.� State Sen. Greg Clausen, DFL-Apple Valley, introduced the bill to name the bridge. He was the principal at Rosemount High School when Kopp was a student. “I think this is a great tribute,� Clausen said. “It was an unselfish sacrifice,
Honoring their future service
an act of heroism. It’s something we need to remember and preserve.� Stephenson said this is the first bridge in Minnesota to be named in honor of their fallen loved ones. “Since Ben was not laid to rest in Minnesota, it’s a great way to remember him every day when they drive past,� Stephenson said. “It’s an area he frequented when he was See MEMORIAL, 8A
Rosemount teachercoach running for Congress
THISWEEKEND
Erdmann seeking House seat held by Lewis by Mike Shaughnessy SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Kangaroo Crossing The Minnesota Zoo is ready to launch its seasonal exhibit featuring creatures from Australia. Page 15A
Photos by Tad Johnson
Eighteen members of the Rosemount High School class of 2017 were honored on Thursday, May 18, during the Military Service Recognition Ceremony at the school. Seniors were recognized were Matthew Casey, Johnathan Allstot, Braedon Balfany, Travis Lorch, Tobias Bielke, Gabriella Hales, Sarah Jeppesen, Christian Johnson, Ian Lindgren, Hunter Hodgkins, Chase Ketterling, John Perry, Kayla Cross, Christopher Gerke, Matthew Yang, Alec Loehr, Luke Loehr and Laura Rietveld.
Jeff Erdmann, an American government teacher at Rosemount High School and the school’s head football coach since 1999, announced Tuesday he will run for Congress. Erdmann plans to seek the DFL nomination in 2018 for the 2nd Congressional District, which includes Dakota County. The seat currently is held by first-term Republican Jason Lewis, who won a closely contested election See TEACHER, 8A
Rosemount parade route to change Leprechaun Days event to run only on 145th Street by Tad Johnson
SPORTS Irish place sixth at state The Rosemount High School girls track team placed sixth at the true team meet this past weekend. Page 9A
PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is an official newspaper of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District.
INDEX Education . . . . . . . . . . 3A
SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
For the past few years, the Rosemount Leprechaun Days Committee has looked at ways to improve Grand Day Parade traffic concerns before and after the event. Having the parade staging area in the Rosemount High School parking lot led to traffic backups along Highway 3 prior to the parade starting. With the parade ending at Rosemount Middle School, floats had to progress directly onto Highway 3 — an uncontrolled intersection — which created backups and hazardous conditions, according
Farmington baseball fields get renovated
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A
Local group wins Twins Fields for Kids grant
Announcements . . . . . 6A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9A
by Maren Bauer
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 11A
SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2019 Classified Advertising 952-392-6862 Delivery 763-712-3544
to Police Chief Mitchell Scott. The committee reviewed the issue more intently after it was known that at some point the Rosemount High School parking lot — the parade’s traditional staging area — would need to be reconstructed. Although the parking lot work is not happening this summer, the committee decided to alter the route for this year’s 11 a.m. Saturday, July 29, parade, which will travel only on 145th Street from its start at Shannon ParkPhoto by Tad Johnson way to its end at Cameo The Rosemount Leprechaun Days Grand Day Parade route will travel only on 145th Avenue. Street this year as a way to reduce traffic hazards on Highway 3, provide more seating See PARADE, 7A and eliminate blocking off the neighborhood west of Rosemount Elementary School.
‘Tis the season to hit a homer. That can be more difficult to do if your baseball fields are in need of improvements. Farmington Travel Baseball Association (FTBA), in conjunction with Farmington Youth
Baseball (FYB), applied for a grant to receive field renovations after the city’s parks and recreation referendum failed last year. That referendum included a $10 million bond to renovate local parks and update soccer and baseball fields. Instead, Farmington baseball can celebrate with
the grant win. FTBA received a matching grant of $10,000 from the organization Twins Fields for Kids to install dugout roofs (which have already been completed), install three double batting cages, irrigation to the Dodge fields, and a walking path to the Dodge center area.
Midwest Fence, as well as Frandrup Masonry Inc. (Hastings) and Hedlund Irrigation & Landscaping (Hampton) helped to donate materials for the projects. The organization has already received positive reviews from Farmington players on the improvements, as well as positive
reviews from visiting communities at the 11A and 13A traveling baseball tournament. Brian Stender, director of FTBA, said with 69 teams between the two baseball programs with more than 800 players, not to mention the number of See FIELDS, 7A
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