Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas www.dakotacountytribune.com
May 16, 2013 • Volume 129 • Number 11
Royalty unveils float, starts judging
NEWS Pet salon has ‘shear’ success
City Council questions the decision
Groomingdale’s Pet Salons celebrates its 25th anniversary, now with three locations and more fluffy clients. Page 2A
by Theresa Malloy SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
OPINION Don’t pave paradise Eagan resident explains why a proposal to pave trails in Lebanon Hills Regional Park is a bad idea. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND
Community members gathered at Farmington High School on Friday, May 10, as Farmington Royalty members unveiled their new float. The silver and black streamers gleamed in the sun, and a rail along the edge features a black and white cutout of the downtown storefronts. The scholarship pageant includes community parades where the girls serve as ambassadors for Farmington, waving from the new float. After the unveiling, the candidates had their first judged event in a “Meet the Candidates” interview session. The Farmington Royalty Coronation is a part of the Dew Days festivities at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 11 at Boeckman Middle School. For a schedule of candidate appearances, visit farmingtonroyalty.com. (Photo by Theresa Malloy)
Mock crash a sobering reminder
This year’s Coffee Concert series in Lakeville concludes with a performance by the Bell’ Alma Duo. Page 17A
SPORTS
Tigers split against Chaska The FHS baseball team splits doubleheader winning 5-4, then losing 10-0 to Chaska. Page 12A
by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
It’s a special time of the year for high school students. It is the season for elaborate proposals, corsages, limousine rides, perfect dresses, dinner reservations, dancing and memories. It can be a wild time for high school students during prom season. But, how wild, exactly? Behind all the excitement stand anxious parents and the watchful eyes of safety officers. “Kids are having a great time, but kids will be teenagers,” Rosemount High School dean of students Drew Storley said. “You want them to think carefully; make sure it stays a celebration and not something else.” Prom, homecoming and graduation are annual causes for celebration, but they can be magnets for trouble. So school districts and
ONLINE
Mormon church sponsoring an alternative to prom Idea founded by students from Lakeville by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The Crystal Mormon Church in Minneapolis is holding its second annual “Mormon Prom” from 7-10 p.m. Saturday. This is the second year for the event. Last year, students from Lakeville organized a dance for their church as an alternative to those put on by area high schools. “Two or three years ago some of the youths had gone to prom and had bad experiences because of the music and the way the students were carry-
Crashing the party
SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Announcements . . . . . 5A
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 13A
News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000 Delivery 952-846-2070
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by T.W. Budig SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
tive methods of teaching young people about their own safety is showing them what happens when things get out of control. Rosemount High School was the site of See PROM, 10A
See MARRIAGE, 6A
One of the most effec-
by Tad Johnson
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 11A
A ‘religious freedom amendment’ secured his decision
Dakota County Technical College President Ron Thomas to turn over the keys of this economic engine
Discuss stories with us at facebook.com/ SunThisweek
Public Notices . . . . . . . 5A
Garofalo votes yes on gay marriage
A late amendment to legislation allowing gay marriage in Minnesota turned state Rep. Pat Garofalo’s vote from “no” to “yes” last Thursday. The Farmington representative, who attends All Saints Catholic Church in Lakeville, said it was a “religious freedom amendment” that turned the tide for the five-term Republican. Garofalo was one of four Republican House members to approve the bill in the 75-59 margin. The Senate followed with a 37-30 vote Monday to pass the bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton on Tuesday. Garofalo stressed the importance of the amend-
See ALTERNATIVE, 9A communities have taken steps to make sure these events are remembered with smiles.
State Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, was one of four Republicans to vote “yes” last Thursday on a bill that would legalize same-sex marraige. (Photo by T.W. Budig)
At the wheel for 13 years
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The Farmington Police Department no longer offers citizens the opportunity to ride along with an officer and get a feel for what the officers do. Police Chief Brian Lindquist told City Council members at a workshop Monday, May 13, that ridealongs are too much of a liability and mitigation. “My job is to protect you guys and the cops and citizens, and part of that is to mitigate reliability as much as we can,” Lindquist said. He said that if a police officer has to worry about a passenger in the car during a response call gone wrong, then that worry could get in the way of the officer’s duty. He also said the computer system has private information, and if an officer is called on a domestic assault case, for example, the citizen left in the car could access or hear private information. If someone is injured in a ride-along as well, the city could get sued and always be paying that settleSee RIDE-ALONG, 9A
Safety is foremost during prom season
Flute, harp, coffee
&
No more police ridealongs in Farmington
Dakota County Technical College President Ron Thomas will retire from his job effective June 1 after this weekend’s spring graduation ceremony. (Photo submitted)
There probably is no greater local economic engine than Dakota County Technical College. The man behind the wheel of that vehicle for the past 13 years will hand over the keys not long after this weekend’s spring graduation ceremony when emotions will be running higher than usual. College President Ron Thomas, who will know many of the graduates by name along with their sto-
ries of perseverance, will emphasize those handshakes and hugs a little more, knowing that his last day is approaching fast. “I’ve enjoyed every day of it,” Thomas said on Tuesday. “It was a difficult decision. The college is doing exceptionally well. I felt it was time to start to open the next chapter of my life.” The Lakeville resident since 1999 doesn’t know what exactly that next chapter will entail, but he’s sure it will include more
trips with wife Ann to see their two sons Trent and Kalen and their families in Arizona and Washington, respectively, along with visiting his daughter, Taylor, a recent Northwestern University graduate working with the Poynter Institute in Florida. His role as father and grandfather extended to his college family, too, as he consistently went out of his way to talk to students in formal and informal settings. “That’s the greatest part of the job. That’s
when you really know what’s going on,” Thomas said in reference to discovering ways the college can better meet the needs of its graduates. With a third of its students with some college experience or a college degree, he has learned much from the returning veteran, the out-of-work electrician and the stay-athome parent who doesn’t want to stay at home anymore. Through those converSee THOMAS, 7A
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