Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount www.dakotacountytribune.com
and the surrounding areas June 25, 2015 • Volume 130 • Number 17
In wake of shooting, church comes together
NEWS RedeďŹ ning sobriety
Focused on moving forward, Lily of the Valley holds community prayer service
The Church of St. Joseph in Rosemount hold Mass in honor of the Venerable Matt Talbot. Page 2A
OPINION Cedar Avenue bridge work State Sen. Greg Clausen, DFL-Apple Valley, talks about Cedar Avenue bridge work that led to its closure this summer. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND
by Andrew Miller SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Rev. Bill Smith’s message to his congregation was one of love and forgiveness. Smith, pastor at Lily of the Valley AME Church in Apple Valley, said his church is focused on moving forward in the wake of the church shooting in South Carolina last week. The horrific shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina — in which a gunman claimed the lives of nine people during a prayer service, allegedly targeting the church because its members are African Ameri-
can — was e s p e c i a l ly t ro u bl i n g for congregation members at Lily of the Valley. Rev. Bill Lily of Smith the Valley, which holds its Sunday worship services at Apple Valley’s Christus Victor Lutheran Church, is linked to the South Carolina church where the shooting occurred in that both are members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a predominantly black denomination with a focus on improving the lives of African Americans.
“In Apple Valley, we’re certainly not concerned we’re at risk,� said Smith. “We’re not going to operate with a spirit of fear — that’s not who we are — and we’re not going to respond to antagonism with violence. “Our response to this is continued preaching of the Gospel of love and forgiveness.� Lily of the Valley hosted a community prayer service Sunday that also saw participation from members and leaders of St. James AME Church in Minneapolis, Presbyterian Church of the Apostles in Burnsville, and Christus Victor. Pastors from all four
churches led the 80-some people in attendance in prayer, and the service included music from the St. James choir. “It was just a really uplifting and inspirational service,� Smith said. “The biggest part of it was the prayers and words of support from other congregations. “In the AME community, I think we’re all very shocked — there’s been trouble before, but never anything of this magnitude — and it was really helpful to see support from others outside the AME denomination.� Lily of the Valley began as a Bible study group of
about a half-dozen people that met at Christus Victor starting in 2006. The church held its first worship services in 2007, and Smith was officially appointed pastor the following year. The current congregation numbers about 50 people, Smith said, with average weekly worship service attendance about 25. Lily of the Valley holds it weekly services at 5 p.m. Sundays at Christus Victor Lutheran Church, 7510 Palomino Drive. More about the church is at www. lov-amec.com. Email Andrew Miller at andrew.miller@ecm-inc.com.
District 196 will borrow less than expected from fund balance State aid increases higher than projected
It’s a hard knock life
by Jessica Harper SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The classic musical “Annie� will presented June 26-28 at the Mraz Center for the Performing Arts in Burnsville. Page 17A
The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District will borrow from its reserves next school year to balance the budget, but it will borrow slightly less than initially proposed. A budget forecast earlier this month predicted a $4.07 million loss in the 2015-16 general fund, but officials say state funding increases will likely cut that loss in half. District officials predict general fund revenues will total $327.3 million in 2015-16 and expenditures
Dew Days a delight in Farmington
SPORTS All-star series includes Tiger Farmington baseball star competed at the Minnesota High School All-Star Baseball Series on Saturday in Chaska. Page 10A
PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is a legal newspaper for the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District.
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 10A Announcements . . . . 11A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 12A Calendars . . . . . . . . . 16A
News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2019 Classified Advertising 952-392-6862 Delivery 952-846-2070
The Farmington Royal Ambassadors wave during the Dew Days parade, above, on June 29. Little Ambassadors include Lillyanne Keeler, Olivia White and Brooklynn Krueger. Junior Ambassadors include Haley Zinnel, Alyse Edwards and Hailey White. Miss Farmington is Tia Newman and Royalty Ambassadors are Aundreya Edwards and Morgyn Felty.
See 196, 7A
District 192 decreasing levy requests
While blindfolded, participants of the Dew Days bed races, right, tossed water balloons into their partner’s baskets, which often broke on impact. To view more photos of Dew Days, turn to Page 8A. (Photos by Andy Rogers)
Survey reveals original price tag too high
Firemen go the extra mile during Dew Run Farmington firefighters complete in 4-mile run with air packs by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
For most Dew Run participants, running 4 miles is tough enough. But three Farmington firemen took the challenge one step further and ran with self-contained breathing apparatus packs, essentially 30-pound backpacks. Chad Thelen, Joesph Lester and Matt Price, members of the Farmington Fire Department, said they were able to run most of 4 miles. “We did this for the people who can’t,� Thelen said. “Plus we wanted a challenge.� Thelen said the air packs seemed to get heavier as they ran.
“They’re like $3,000 backpacks,� Thelen said. This was this first year they decided to try. It took them about 40-42 minutes to compete the run. “This was the first time, so we really didn’t know any better,� Lester said. Lester said 4 miles was as far as he’d run before. As firemen, they stay in shape, but it’s rare they’re called upon to run that far. “I haven’t run in a year and a half,� Price said. “It was pretty impressive to finish in 42 minutes or whatever.� They admitted they didn’t run the whole time, stopping for photos along the way. They said they were happy to share the experiSee DEW RUN, 5A
Farmington firemen Chad Thelen, right, Joseph Lester, center, and Matt Price, back, ran the 4-mile race during the Farmington Dew Run with air packs on their back on June 20. (Photo by Andy Rogers)
by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The Farmington School District plans to decrease the tax increases it will ask for in a fall referendum after a resident survey revealed that there isn’t enough support. A survey by the Morris Leatherman Company found that 40 percent of all residents said they would support all three options: an operating levy, a facility bond and a technology levy. It also revealed the district was requesting about twice as much as residents were willing to approve. The district administration plans to bring a smaller figure for discussion during the July 13 Farmington School Board meeting for both the financial and operating levy questions. The feeling the board got was a technology levy might be See 192, 5A
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