Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas www.dakotacountytribune.com
NEWS ArtBlast schedule inside The schedule of events for the Rosemount Area Arts Council’s first ArtBlast is inside this edition. Page 3A
OPINION More light on contracts Gov. Mark Dayton was right in acting on legislation to make contracts between government and private businesses more open to the public. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND
Ready for an explosion of art Local residents encouraged to participate in ArtBlast Blast by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
For those who have ever wanted to scratch their artistic itch, the Rosemount Area Arts Council’s ArtBlast will be a chance for that release. The weeklong series of music, visual art, book events and other activities will run June 23-29 in various locations throughout town. While there are plenty of events that allow folks to be spectators, one of the main goals of the council was to get local residents involved in creating art. People will have a chance to take a variety of classes or be in the center of the creativity. One of the most visible chances for resident participation will be the One Tile, One Rosemount “signing” events. People will have a four See ARTBLAST, 18A
Drumming for a cause A Lakeville drummer is looking to set the world record for longest performance during a charity meal-packing event this summer. Page 19A
SPORTS
Dakota United doubles up Dakota United adapted softball teams capture two runner-up titles at the state tournament. Page 10A
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June 5, 2014 • Volume 129 • Number 14
Participants in the 2013 Square Dance spin around the Central Park ice rink where the event was held. This year the dance will be part of the Rosemount Area Arts Council’s first ArtBlast. (Photo by Tad Johnson) Rosemount resident Craig Evans (right) and members of the Eelpout Stringers will play during the Square Dance of the Bluegrass Americana Music Weekend, which is part of the first ArtBlast in Rosemount. (Photo by Tad Johnson)
Farmington liquor store sales up from 2013 by Jennifer Chick SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Farmington liquor stores are doing well. That was the report given to the Farmington City Council by Blair Peterson, Farmington’s liquor operations manager, at Monday night’s regular meeting. He said year-to-date numbers for the liquor stores look strong. The two stores, one at 18350 Pilot Knob Road, and the other at 109 Elm St., are managed through the city. Since 2005, liquor store profits have
also been used to benefit Farmington’s Parks and Recreation Department operations, facilities and maintenance. A portion of proceeds from the liquor stores help support the Farmington’s municipal pool, Schmitz-Maki Arena, the Veterans Memorial, and Parks and Recreation improvements. Peterson reported sales for the year are above 2013’s sales for the same time period by $123,000. “That’s the kind of growth we are looking for,” he said.
Primary slated for Rosemount City Council
Customer counts and average ticket sales are also up. “I think those are all positive aspects we can take away now, especially with the kind of winter we had, that we were able to still maintain that growth,” Peterson said. “The stores came out better than I thought they would.” At the last Farmington Wine Club tasting event, an event sponsored by the liquor stores, Peterson said 52 people attended with See LIQUOR, 15A
Four charged in marijuana operation by Andrew Miller SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
and searched five locations — in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan and Shakopee — on May 28. Two of the locations where searches were conducted — at 7295 130th St. W. in Apple Valley and at 6445 Oxford Road S. in Shakopee — had marijuana plants growing there. The other three locations — at 13112 High Point Curve in Burnsville, and at 4463 Slater Road and 2109 Royal Court in Eagan — were either “stash houses” or residences, according to Dakota County Chief Depu-
Four suspects have been charged in connection with a marijuana-growing operation involving hundreds of plants at grow sites in Apple Valley and Shakopee, Dakota County officials said Monday. According to the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, deputies learned of the operation from a neighbor’s complaint regarding a strong odor of marijuana emanating from one of the grow sites. The Dakota County Drug Task Force subsequently obtained warrants See MARIJUANA, 15A
Military commitments honored
Mayor to run unopposed for seventh term by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
It is expected there will be an Aug. 12 primary to whittle the field of Rosemount City Council candidates, but there will be none such action for the mayor’s seat. Mayor Bill Droste is running unopposed this year, while five residents filed for the two, four-year City Council terms. As reported last week, incumbent Mark DeBettignies and Alba Nowlin had filed. Also joining the race since last Wednesday were Kerry S. Hiben, Jamal Abdulahi and Shaun P. Nelson. The primary will reduce the field to four candidates unless one or more candidates drops from consideration by Thursday, June 5, after this edition went to press. Droste and DeBettignies, who have served on the council since 2002, were not joined in filing
for re-election by Council Member Kim Shoe-Corrigan, who arrived on the council the same year as Droste and DeBettignies. Nowlin, a part-time clerk at Shannon Park Elementary School in Rosemount, is the school’s site council secretary and classroom volunteer coordinator. She has been a past co-program director of in-house soccer for the Rosemount Area Athletic Association, in additional to other volunteer activities. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and an Associate of Science degree in computer information systems from El Camino College in Torrence, California. She has lived in Rosemount since 2009 with her husband of 14 years, DaSee PRIMARY, 15A
Rosemount High School seniors who will attend military academies or have enlisted in the military were recognized at the ceremony May 14 at the high school. Phillip Hanson received an appointment to the Naval Academy, Grant Jackson received an appointment to West Point Academy and Ryan Condon received an appointment to the Coast Guard Academy. Students enlisting in the military are Andy Brodt and Ryan Johnson, Navy; and Connor Busho, Jared Coil, Dyland Hagens, Hannah Lehman, Clayton Nieland, Josh Payette, Danielle Schug and Tommy Wells, National Guard. Coil will be attending the University of North Dakota through the Army ROTC program. The students took an oath of service at the end of the ceremony that also included musical performances by band and choir students. Senior Davide Kline was also recognized during the ceremony. Kline enlisted in the National Guard and participated in initial training, but is unable to continue his service due to medical reasons. (Photos submitted)