Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas www.dakotacountytribune.com
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May 15, 2014 • Volume 129 • Number 11
Sixteen years of hits and counting
ocus on Part 2
HEALTH ECM Editorial Board
‘AVID’ about college success
OPINION
Women’s football team plays home games in Farmington by Jennifer Chick
Results will judge MNsure
SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The state’s health care exchange, MNsure, was a worthy response to the Affordable Care Act and its results will tell its tale. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND Students in the first Advancement Via Individual Determination class at Rosemount are (from left) Kyon Rivera, Devon Schmidt and Natalia Hiza. (Photo by Tad Johnson)
Three students improve their academic focus with the help of first-year program by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Caponi colors with bluegrass Caponi Art Park and Learning Center in Eagan will host its first Bluegrass Festival on Sept. 20, which will be a fundraiser for the nonprofit art park. Page 21A
Ask the 21 students in Rosemount High School’s first Advancement Via Individual Determination class what they’d rather be doing right now and there would be a range of answers. Kyon Rivera might say riding his skateboard. For
Devon Schmidt, it could be strumming her guitar. Natalia Hiza might rather be playing sports. While these ninthgraders love all those fun things, they know these activities are low on the priority scale when attending college is the ultimate goal. Kyon, Devon and NaSee AVID, 14A
Minnesota Vixen, a women’s tackle football team, has been fulfilling the dreams of little girls for the last 16 years, and this year, they will be bringing their game to Farmington. Minnesota Vixen is a semi-pro women’s tackle football team based in the Twin Cities and the longest continuously operating women’s tackle football team in the nation. The Vixen practice at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, but this year, they are playing their games at Farmington High School’s Tiger Stadium. The women who make up this team are mothers, wives and grandmothers but also dedicated athletes who play not for money, but because they love the game. They grew up watching football sitting next to their dads on the couch on Sundays, crying when the Vikings lost the Super Bowl and dreaming of one
day playing football like the boys. When Minnesota Vixen was formed 16 years ago, these women got their chance. “These women have maybe played other sports in school, but they want this opportunity so they are here because they want
to play the game,� said Brandon Pelinka, head coach of the Vixen. Most haven’t played football before so there is the challenge of teaching them the rules while also getting them in shape to See FOOTBALL, 9A
Connecting causes one rubber band at a time
SPORTS
Farmington middle school students sell bracelets to raise money for charity by Jennifer Chick SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Friends at Dodge Middle School in Farmington have been busy this winter, making a difference one tiny rubber band at a time. Through their hobby, which is
Irish close to lacrosse title The Rosemount boys lacrosse team inched closer to earning the South Suburban Conference title. Page 12A
There is no pulling punches at Minnesota Vixen practices. This semi-pro women’s tackle football team has been a part of the Twin Cities for 16 years. Veteran Red Bryant say they hit as hard as women can hit. (Photo by Jennifer Chick)
called looming and creates jewelry from looping together tiny rubber bands, Alison Beck, Rachel Blood, Courtney Olson, Bailey Torbert and Payton Mosher have raised more than $1,000 for cancer research. The idea started at a sleepover party last December when sixthgraders Alison and Rachel were watching a video about cancer survivors. As they talked about the video and a recent news report describing how Rainbow Looms were banned from a school, the girls decided they wanted to start
making bracelets for Amplatz Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. Alison’s cousin, Jen, works as a nurse there. The girls set a goal of raising $300 for the children’s hospital, but as they began talking to people, the project kept growing. Alison’s grandfather wanted bracelets to sell at his senior living complex. Family, friends and classmates also bought bracelets, but the biggest push came when the girls got an order to make 100 See BRACELETS, 11A
Former Dakota County man, WWII veteran dies Maj. Harvey G. Elling was the last Flying Tiger pilot
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Eureka Township native Maj. Harvey G. Elling, the last surviving member of the renowned World War II fighter pilots known as the Flying Tigers, was buried on Wednesday at the Farmington Lutheran Church Cemetery, also known as St. John’s Abbey Cemetery. Elling, who died Sept. 25, 2013, in San Antonio, Texas, was laid to rest next to his wife, Lyla. He was 93. Local veterans groups attended the interment to honor Elling’s service to his country and to mark the passing of an important part of WWII history, said family friend Lee McIntosh, who described the Elling family as having deep roots in the Farmington area. Elling was born Sept. 9, 1920, to John M. and Anna P. Elling of Eureka Township. From the earliest age, Elling loved the idea of flying and despite his father’s strong disapproval, he left St. Olaf College in
during WWII with the 14th Air Force, 23rd Fighter Group, 16th Fighter Squadron. He is credited with downing at least three Japanese aircraft. Elling’s fighter group took over the role left by the original American Volunteer Group, who were known as the original Flying Tigers and were easily more recognizable by the fierce looking shark’s mouth paint scheme below the engine cowling on their P-40s. “My father was born to fly from his earliest childhood,� said his middle daughter Jean Elling Wells, of Houston, Texas. “He went on to fly B-47’s with the Strategic Air Command after the war and later taught many young pilots how to fly when he was staCapt. Harvey Elling (in the middle back without a hat), gathered with tioned at Laredo Air Force Base. “My dad was a true American other Flying Tiger pilots in China. (Photo submitted) hero and the last of a group of Northfield before graduating to Elling, a captain, flew his men who’s valor and bravery are join the Army Air Corps where P-40, nicknamed “Nightmare still known the world over.� he learned to fly the famed Cur- III,� on 96 combat missions in See ELLING, 13A tiss P-40 Warhawk. China and surrounding countries