Candidates and caucuses
Reading for a record
Citizens begin casting ballots for president
Local school hopes to make it into the books
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012
CHASKA
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HERALD
Thumbs up for 101 crossing Governor pledges support for flood protection
MORE ONLINE READ PAST STORIES ABOUT THE RIVER CROSSING ISSUE AT
www.chaskaherald.com
BY SHANNON FIECKE sfiecke@swpub.com
Gov. Mark Dayton pledged his support last Friday for raising the County Road 101 river crossing and making it four lanes from the get-go, as local leaders prefer. “If the first $ 25 million comes through, I’ll be glad to work with your legislators on the other $10 million,� Dayton said. New estimates show that raising 101, along with improvements to the Highway 169 bridge for f lood purposes, would cost nearly $31 million. It’s just another $6 million to widen the County Road 101 crossing to four lanes, which could also possibly limit closures during road construction. The state’s current two-lane proposal would require a 12-month closure. That would be “devastating� to merchants who’ve already endured three flood closures in 15 months, plus three road construction projects, said former Shakopee Mayor John Schmitt.
Cost estimates Raising 101 river crossing as-is and 169 bridge improvements: $30.7 million Additional expense of making 101 four lanes: $6 million
Only $25 million is available in competitive metro bridge funds for flood mitigation. The winner will be selected in about two weeks. “You’re positioned pretty well in that competition,� Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel told a gathering of about 50 civic and business leaders from Carver and Scott counties. If 101 is successful, another $12 million in funding would be required to make a four-lane project possible. Local leaders will seek $10 million in state bonding, contributing
River crossing to page 5 ÂŽ
PHOTO BY MOLLEE FRANCISCO
Mohamed Mohamed received the keys to his Clover Ridge home in February 2010.
PHOTO BY MOLLEE FRANCISCO
The C.P. Klein mansion, which has been on the market since last August, could have a new owner as soon as next month.
Poised to sell Chaska readies to release hold on historic mansion BY MOLLEE FRANCISCO mfrancisco@swpub.com
When the C.P. Klein mansion went on the market last August, no one
knew how long it would take to sell it. The century-old, city-owned historic home was in rough shape and needed more in repairs than its $239,000 asking price. Six months and 60-some showings later, the house may have found a new owner at last. The Chaska City Council voted unanimously Monday night to authorize City Administrator
Klein mansion to page 16 ÂŽ
Building the American Dream Habitat for Humanity plans five new houses for Chaska BY MOLLEE FRANCISCO mfrancisco@swpub.com
M
ohamed Mohamed considers himself a lucky man. A native of Somalia, he successfully entered the United States visa lottery for the opportunity to move to the United States. Once here, he found an apartment in Eden Prairie and a job working at a warehouse in Shakopee. Then, he married wife Hodan Elmi and started a family, quickly adding three young children to the mix.
But soon, their two-bedroom apartment in Eden Prairie began to feel crowded a nd Moha med knew it was time to fi nd his family a bigger home. After researching his options, he decided to test his luck again and applied for a house through Habitat for Humanity. Of the more than 900 metro-area families that applied that year, Mohamed and his family were among those selected to receive one of 50 houses available. He rejoiced in the good news. “I said whatever house
Habitat to page 16 ÂŽ
INSIDE OPINION/4 OBITUARIES/6 HAWK TALONS/8-9 CALENDAR/13 SPORTS/17-19 CLASSIFIEDS/31-33 TO REACH US SUBSCRIBE: (952) 345-6682 EDITOR: (952) 345-6574 OR E-MAIL EDITOR@CHASKAHERALD.COM.
Habitat Habitat for Humanity in Chaska: 12 homes already built in Chaska (most recent was finished in 2011). 5 more homes to be constructed in the Clover Ridge neighborhood in 2013. Looking for community groups interested in sponsoring Chaska’s 2013 projects. More info at www.tchabitat.org or (612) 331-4090.
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