Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas www.dakotacountytribune.com
May 9, 2013 • Volume 129 • Number 10
NEWS AT IO
N
S
SE N M SU MER
S
-O-PROG NTY FAIR • PAN M DAYS DAKOTA COU EDO FUNFEST • FRE 4TH OF JULY
2013 Summer Sensations Inside the Summer Sensations special section, the newspaper staff has gathered information about events and activities in the south metro this summer. See insert
THISWEEKEND
Traveling a long way to Grand Day Akin Road Elementary School first-grade student Destiny Amadasun was all smiles when talking about his grandmother Patricia I. Jesuoraba visiting him for Grand Day Friday, May 3. Jesuoraba flew 16 hours from Nigeria to spend the day at school with Destiny, his sister Beauty and his mother Josephine Amadasun. Pictured with Principal Laura Pierce, Destiny’s family won a book as a prize for the grandparent who traveled the farthest. (Photo by Theresa Malloy)
Answering the call for 31 years
Talks for new Farmington aquatic facility begin
by Tad Johnson
After more than four decades, city looks ahead to new facility by Theresa Malloy SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
War comes to Farmington World War II weekend at Dakota City Heritage Village will see mock battles staged by living history groups. Page 17A
Scott Aker, a fire chief in Rosemount for the past 25 years, was honored by Mayor Bill Droste during a recent City Council meeting. (Photo submitted)
The Farmington Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission began talks about a creating a new aquatic facility to replace the existing pool, more than four decades old, at a workshop on May 1. “The clock is ticking on the existing pool, and we give it five years maximum,” said Randy Distad, Parks and Recreation director.
Scott Aker retires after 25 years as Rosemount’s fire chief SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Because of this, the City Council has identified looking at options for a new facility as part of its five-year strategic plan. Commission Member David McMillen said he believes an aquatic facility is an important part of the Farmington community. McMillen said its location in the southern part of the city is a problem to consider, especially because more growth has shifted north since the pool was built. The commission identified Jim Bell Park and Preserve in the northern part of Farmington as a potential location
Throughout much of his 31 years with Rosemount’s fire department, Scott Aker was teaching grade-school students in Hastings. Unusual as the mixed title was when he started as chief in 1988, the schoolteacher/fireman found his dual roles each informed the other more often than most would think. With a master’s degree in education, Aker’s teaching ability translated well to directing the oncall volunteer firefighters in training, recruitment and daily interaction. “As a teacher, I had 30 little people from all different walks of life,” Aker said. “It was my job to try to get them united.” Connecting with a diverse collection of firefighters drew upon the same skills of leadership,
See AQUATIC, 8A
See AKER, 9A
Weather puts Dakota County Fairgrounds behind schedule
SPORTS
Soggy grounds slowed down set up for its first big event of the season by Theresa Malloy SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Irish softball scores big win An Irish 4-1 win over Eastview High School might mak this team one worth watching in the May 15 playoffs. Page 11A
ONLINE To receive a feed of breaking news stories, follow us at twitter.com/ SunThisweek. Discuss stories with us at facebook.com/ SunThisweek
On a snowy Friday, May 2, crews at the Dakota County Fairgrounds were trudging through soggy grounds as snow fell to set up for its first event of the season, the Minnesota Scottish Fair. The fair was moved two weeks earlier because miserable humidity last season made the wool kilts a little unbearable, but event planners probably did not anticipate a late winter meant a frigid day for kiltwearers this year. Crews worked quickly to get things ready. Typically, fair set up starts at least seven days in advance, said Kristine Smith, fairgrounds office manager. “This year is different. We have one day,” she said. Snow piled up around tents as it slipped off the awnings. Grounds workers moved snow-covered pic-
The Dakota County Fairgrounds had a fresh layer of snow Friday, May 3, one day before its first fair of the season. The soggy grounds caused more setbacks as campers had to park on the road to avoid sinking in the ground and water The maintenance foreman bundles up as snow lightly falls in May. was not yet running. (Photo by He moves snow-covered picnic tables to the tents while setting up for Theresa Malloy) the Minnesota Scottish Fair. Usually crews have a week to set up for events, but bad weather pushed it to one day. (Photo by Theresa Mal- also canceled for the following week because the horse arena fence was loy) not replaced yet due to the weather, Smith said. nic tables to the eating area. for campers by May 1. Local residents who are stor“Campers are not able to pull At noon on Friday, the water into the actual campground area still was not turned on at the fair- ing equipment and cars in the as the ground is too soft and wet, grounds. Camp-goers had to carry fairground buildings are extending and they would sink,” Smith said. jugs of water to their campers. their stays. While winter storage Instead campers are parked along Water was turned on for half the typically runs from mid-September the road and have extension cords grounds in time for the Scottish to the first week of May, some veconnecting them to power sources. Fair the following day. Usually the campgrounds are ready All horse clinics and events were See FAIRGROUNDS, 8A
Scotland invades Farmington
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Public Notices . . . . . . . 7A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 11A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 13A Announcements . . . . 16A
News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000 Delivery 952-846-2070
&
!""'! !
$
The weather felt like Scotland, but it did not stop the faithful from attending the 2013 Minnesota Scottish Fair and Highland Games on the Dakota County Fairgrounds on May 4. Activities included sheep herding demonstrations, native music and dance, and various highland games, including the caber toss. (Photo by Rick Orndorf)