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Dakota County

Tribune

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

SPECIAL SECTION

SUMMER SENSATIONS CHANGES IN STORE FOR LEPRECHAUN DAYS FIRE MUSTER PARADES

Special Section May 8 and 9, 2014

May 8, 2014 • Volume 129 • Number 9

Rosemount police chief hired in Maple Grove Eric Werner to lead larger department in northwest Twin Cities by Tad Johnson

Dakota County

Tribune

SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Summer Sensations For those looking for fun in Dakota County this summer, today’s special section has a roundup of festivals and events. Inside this edition

OPINION Getting ready for graduation High school students should take the time to assemble a portfolio worthy of the work behind it. Page 4A

THISWEEKEND

Rosemount Police Chief Eric Werner was approved as the new police chief in Maple Grove at Monday night’s City Council meeting. Werner, who has been Rosemount’s chief since Sept. 14, 2012, was selected from among six candidates Maple Grove officials interviewed for the position April 19 and pared to three finalists, whose names were not released, for additional interviews April 26. The job change will be a step up for Werner, who has been overseeing a department of about 20 officers in a city with a population of around 21,000. The city of Maple Grove, located in the northwest Twin Cities suburbs, has 66 police staff members and a population estimated at 66,000. The Maple Grove City Council approved Werner’s appointment with no discussion. Mayor Mark Steffenson ac-

Eric Werner knowledged the hiring by removing the personnel item from the consent agenda and making the motion to approve the hiring, effective June 9, and Werner’s starting annual salary of $115,945. “His credentials are top notch and he comes highly recommended, and we are looking forward to the leadership he will provide to the Maple Grove Police Depart-

ment in his role as the new police chief,� City Administrator Al Madsen wrote in his report to the council. Maple Grove’s previous chief of police, Dave Jess, retired effective May 30. “I want to thank the city (of Rosemount) and the (Rosemount City Council) for the opportunity to be the chief,� Werner said on Tuesday afternoon. “We have lived in Rosemount for 14 years. I care about the community. The council and the community have been very supportive. Because of that we have been able to do great things.� “I think he’s had a great two years,� City Administrator Dwight Johnson said on Tuesday morning. “The department moved forward in a positive direction under his leadership.� Among the positive changes Johnson cited were organizational changes that will result in a new position – sergeant of investigaSee WERNER, 15A

Animal encounters

Big Bugs! have landed The Big Bugs! exhibit has invaded the Minnesota Zoo and will open for a members preview later this month. Page 21A

SPORTS

A Minnesota Zoo volunteer shows some children a mountain lion hide at the entryway to the Minnesota Trail on Saturday. Many new special events and programs, such as regular animal encounters, are coming to the Minnesota Zoo this summer, including the Big Bugs exhibit that is featured in today’s edition in Thisweekend. (Photo by Tad Johnson)

Irish on to True Team State The Rosemount High School boys track team qualified for the State True Team meet after winning the section title. Page 12A

ONLINE To receive a feed of breaking news stories, follow us at twitter.com/ SunThisweek. Discuss stories with us at facebook.com/ SunThisweek.

INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 12A Public Notices . . . . . . 13A Announcements . . . . 15A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 16A

News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000 Delivery 952-846-2070

Music in the air

Farmington Community Education to offer concert series by Jennifer Chick SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Farmington Area Community Education will be bringing indoor concerts to the community this fall and winter. Vermilion Voices will be a fourconcert music series offered free for residents of the Farmington Area School District and the surrounding communities. Funding for this new concert series comes in the form of a $5,000 grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council. The grant is funded by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and made possible by the voters of Minnesota, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. “Part of community education is being there for the community and providing events for the community,� said Barb Pierce, adult

and community program coordinator for Farmington Area Community Education. She said other communities sponsor summer concert series so Farmington Community Education thought there might be a need for fall and winter concerts. Utilizing the great facilities at Farmington Area Public Schools, Pierce said the concert series will provide a variety that will cater to many different segments of the local community, from families to older adults. The concerts will be held from October 2014 to March 2015. Specific dates and venues have not been set yet. “We would like to welcome people into our schools and let them know the schools are there for them,� Pierce said. “Hopefully we can bring those experiences here so they don’t have to travel to other places, and they can be exposed to different kinds of mu-

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Hometown Heroes project aims to recognize veterans by Jennifer Chick SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

If Farmington resident Chelsey Nieland’s vision takes form, banners honoring local military service members will soon be waving along the streets of Farmington. Nieland’s project, Hometown Heroes, received the blessing of the Farmington City Council at its April 21 meeting, so now she is taking the next step to bring her project from idea to reality. Nieland first saw a project similar to this in Mansfield, Pa. “It’s such an amazing ambiance driving down every main street and seeing all of the banners and people from that town that are or have been in the service,� she wrote in an email interview. “You feel proud of your community and closer to people from your community. I wanted a little piece of that hometown feeling here in my town.� About a year ago, Nieland began working to bring that idea back to Farmington where she now lives. She has been talking with local businesses and organizations, as well as residents who might be interested in sponsoring or purchasing banners to honor local military service members. “When I mention this to anyone, I get nothing but positive feedback,� Nieland said. “So far everyone thinks it’s a wonderful idea. I have also had multiple people want to be the first to purchase a banner in honor of people they know.� Each banner will feature a member of the service who has served from this community, according to a flier Nieland presented to the City Council. The banner will have a photo of that person and list name, branch of service and any war service. Sponsors of the banner will be listed at the bottom. The banners will be displayed from light poles throughout Farmington. “I’m hoping that local businesses will purchase or sponsor the banners as a marketing tool for them,� she said, “but also to show their support. Even if a small amount is donated, every penny counts. Or a family member can purchase or sponsor a banner.� To get the names and pictures of those to be honored on the banners, Nieland will be talking to local groups in Farmington, such as the Yellow Ribbon group, the VFW and the American Legion, but her first step See VETERANS, 15A

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