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Dakota County

Tribune

Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas www.dakotacountytribune.com

NEWS National commander The U.S. American Legion Cmdr. Mike Helm speaks on increasing membership at Apple Valley event. Page 2A

OPINION Distracted driving can kill Columnist Don Heinzman calls for people to end distracted driving and the crashes caused by it. Page 4A

THISWEEKEND

February 12, 2015 • Volume 129 • Number 50

Conrade pleads to lesser charges, will testify Chavez-Nelson to go on trial in Schunk killing by John Gessner SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Ashley Marie Conrade, one of two people indicted in the murder of 20-year-old Anarae Schunk of Burnsville, pleaded guilty to lesser charges Feb. 6 and has agreed to testify in the upcoming murder trial. Conrade, 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding an offender after the fact, both involving killings on Sept. 22, 2013, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom announced. She will be sentenced to 15 years in prison under a plea agreement, Backstrom said.

One guilty plea is in connection with Schunk’s stabbing death. The other is in connection with the earlier shooting death of Palagor Jobi by Conrade’s then-boyfriend, Shavelle ChavezNelson, outside Nina’s Grill in Burnsville Chavez-Nelson, 32, has been convicted of first-degree murder for killing Jobi, 23, of Savage. Chavez-Nelson is serving a life sentence. Chavez-Nelson and Conrade were indicted last July on first- and second-degree murder charges in Schunk’s death. Under the plea agreement, Conrade, formerly of Rose-

mount, will testify in ChavezNelson’s trial and “fully cooperate� in further investigation of Schunk’s death, according to Backstrom. “This plea agreement was offered after additional evidence in the investigation of the death of Anarae Schunk was uncovered following the issuance of the indictment against Ashley Conrade,� Backstrom said. Chavez-Nelson murdered Jobi in an altercation outside Nina’s just before closing time. Conrade and Schunk were with ChavezNelson at the time. The three returned to Conrade’s Rosemount townhome after the shooting.

Investigators say physical evidence showed that Schunk was stabbed to death in the earlymorning hours at the townhome. Her body was found eight days later at the edge of a cornfield on a rural Rice County road. Chavez-Nelson’s trial is set for May 11, Backstrom said. His next court appearance is March 20 in Hastings. Conrade won’t be sentenced until after the Chavez-Nelson case is finished, Backstrom said. John Gessner can be reached at (952) 846-2031 or email john.gessner@ecm-inc.com.

Warning: Road construction season is coming

Concussions are on everyone’s mind Prevention becomes a major part of the experience by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

‘Dakota County Naturally’ A new art exhibit at the Dakota County Western Service Center shines a spotlight on natural wonders not too far from home. Page 19A

SPORTS

Hockey teams in the playoffs The Minnesota State High School League’s girls section playoffs continued this week. Page 12A

Perhaps in a perfect world, everyone’s skull would be reinforced with steel and air bags, but for now student athletes, coaches, parents and trainers are focused on preventing and mitigating the damage from concussions. Nearly every sport has been altered in some way through rules, techniques and equipment to minimize concussions in the past five years. Although all athletic activities have a risk of concussion – particularly contact sports such as soccer, hockey, basketball, baseball, lacrosse and wrestling – the rate in football is the highest. A study by the Minnesota Health Department estimated about 3,000 student athletes suffered a concussion during the 2013-14 school year, and about 1,300 happened while playing football. Many studies have shown that suffering a concussion has larger implications than previously thought. A recent study published in the medical journal Neurology, by the Boston University School of Medicine, found that NFL players who played tackle football before the age of 12 were more likely than those who didn’t to suffer notable cognitive issues later in life. While concussions are nearly impossible to eliminate, efforts have A Rosemount football player pats his teammate on the head during a game been made to minimize the chances in 2014. Concussion prevention has altered the way teams practice and play in recent years. (Photo by Mike Shaughnessy) See HEAD, 8A

One of the busiest roads in Farmington will be closed much of 2015 by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

When talking with anyone affiliated with the city of Farmington, it isn’t long before they mention the impending 195th Street project and how disruptive it will be. The project is scheduled to start as soon as April and will last “pretty much all year,� City Engineer Kevin Schorzman said. Dakota County and Farmington are combining efforts to reconstruct 195th Street (County Road 64) from Flagstaff Avenue to Pilot Knob Road (County Road 31). While Minnesotans are no stranger to road construction, every day about 7,000 vehicles travel on 195th, and it will be closed in three different phases during the project. The street will be transformed See 195TH, 7A

Rosemount students pledge to buckle up Duo conducts campaign to encourage safety

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PUBLIC NOTICE Inside this edition are the minutes of the Jan. 26 special meeting of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District. Page 14A

INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Announcements . . . . . 8A

by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Rosemount High School sophomore Alexa Mack knows the importance of wearing a seat belt. Mack’s cousin, Nick Wresh, died six years ago in a car crash after he reportedly fell asleep at the wheel as his car went off the road, rolled and partially ejected an unbuckled Wresh. He died at the scene. It’s a difficult story for Mack to tell, but she hopes it serves as a reminder to teens that they should never drive or ride in a car without wearing a seat belt. Mack said Wresh’s story is even more important to tell, since his parents both work in the law enforcement community. “That really motivated me to want to do something to help,� Mack said.

Mack and classmate Paige Zemke have developed a Buckle Up campaign at the school, and they hope it reaches a wider audience by communicating their efforts through other media. The campaign started in October when Mack and Zemke circulated pledge cards throughout the high school. By signing the cards, students commit to not driving or riding in a car without wearing a seat belt. The two have circulated 2,500 pledge cards in the past five months. Mack said she’s been impressed with the number of students who have taken the campaign seriously and made sure they, along with those in their cars, buckled Rosemount High School sophomores Alexa Mack and Paige Zemke have developed a up. Buckle Up campaign at the school, and they hope it reaches a wider audience by communicating their efforts through other media. (Photo submitted) See BUCKLE, 6A

Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 12A Public Notices . . . . . . 14A

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Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 15A

News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2019 Classified Advertising 952-846-2003 Delivery 952-846-2070

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