Cagers are moving on
Sports snapshots
Lakers dump former rival in playoffs
Art exhibit explores sports culture in photos
A9
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PRIOR LAKE
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012
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AMERICAN ‘This is finally happening’ After 40 years, development to begin at Spring Lake Regional Park BY SHANNON FIECKE sfiecke@swpub.com
Since the late 1960s, Scott County has held land between Upper Prior Lake and Spring Lake for a future regional park. Other than old foot paths and modern trails grazed by a snowmobile club, the land has lay fallow and largely unused by the public. Purchased to provide habitat, protect natural resources and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities, the development of Spring Lake Regional Park has waited as future county boards focused on acquiring park land first throughout the county. Now, six years after a master plan was created to guide development of the park, the county finally has the dollars to allow general public use, thanks to state Legacy constitutional
amendment funds. “This is finally happening after 40 years,” said Scott County Parks Manager Mark Themig. This summer, the county plans to construct the first phase of the park: a 3-mile paved trail network, off-leash dog area and parking/restrooms. It will also undertake natural resource restoration activities, like buckthorn removal. In addition, County Road 81/Howard Lake Road will be removed from County Road 12 north but remain in place from County Road 82 to serve residents on the northwest side of the park and access a parking area within the park. The estimated cost for initial development is $1.3 million, which includes design, construction and administration. Residents are invited to review the
Credit River voters go to polls Tuesday Kraft faces challenge from Schumacher while Schommer runs unopposed BY LORI CARLSON editor@plamerican.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF SCOTT COUNTY
Work on the fi rst phase of a park-development plan will begin this summer at Spring Lake Regional Park. plans and provide feedback at an open house 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 15 at Prior Lake City Hall, 4646 Dakota St. Following the meeting, the design
will be presented to the Prior Lake Parks Advisory Committee.
Park to A12 ®
Credit River Township residents will have a chance to elect two town supervisors on Tuesday, March 13. Supervisor Leroy Schommer is running unopposed on the bal lot for one seat. Also, Supervisor Tom Kraft faces a ch a l len ge f rom R ich a r d S chu macher, who was defeated one year ago when he challenged i nc u mb ent B r ent Lawrence. S chom mer i s a longtime town board supervisor. His major responsibilities on the board include environmental and culvert issues, street sweeping and driving inspections. Kraft, whose primary roles include summer roads and t ow n h a l l i s s u e s among others, was first elected in 2008.
Leroy Schommer
Tom Kraft
Richard Schumacher
Election to A3 ®
PHOTO BY MERYN FLUKER/REPRINTS AVAILABLE AT PHOTOS.PLAMERICAN.COM
Actors recreate the famous bottle dance scene during rehearsal for the Prior Lake Players’ production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” The show will debut at 7 p.m. Friday, March 16 in the auditorium at Twin Oaks Middle School.
‘Fiddler’ comes to Prior Lake BY MERYN FLUKER mfluker@swpub.com
Almost five decades have passed since “Fiddler on the Roof” opened on Broadway, but that hasn’t erased the musical’s imprint on the brains of many. “Most people, when you say we’re doing ‘Fiddler on the Roof,’ they either start singing ‘If I Were a Rich Man’ or ‘Matchmaker,’” says Francie Madden of Lakeville. With their respective covers “Sunrise Sunset” and “If I Were a Rich Girl,” indie band Bright Eyes and No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani have also kept the music of “Fiddler” in the ears of many. Now the Prior
Lake Players are doing their part to keep “Fiddler” relevant. Madden and Karen Welch are directing the Players’ production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” set to debut at 7 p.m. Friday, March 16 in the auditorium at Twin Oaks Middle School, 15860 Fish Point Road, Prior Lake. The show runs on weekends through Saturday, March 31 and tickets are $14 for adults, $10 for students and seniors and $ 8 for children age 12 and under. This spring’s staging of “Fiddler” marks its second run in the Players’ almost 40-year history. Co-director Welch, who was raised by two of the Players’ founding members in Prior Lake but now lives in Shakopee, was a
“I want them to be singing ‘If I Were a Rich Man’ for three days afterwards.” Francie Madden Co-director, “Fiddler on the Roof”
member of the chorus during the community theater’s first stab at presenting the show. During a performance, her dance partner dramatically threw her off the stage midnumber
U.S. marshals arrest suspect in daytime burglaries BY ALEX HALL ahall@swpub.com
If You Go What: The Prior Lake Players present “Fiddler on the Roof” When: 7 p.m. Fridays, March 16, 23 and 30; Saturdays, March 17, 24 and 31; 2 p.m. Sunday, March 25 Where: Auditorium, Twin Oaks Middle School, 15860 Fish Point Road, Prior Lake Cost: $14 for adults, $10 for students and adults age 65 and older and $8 for children age 12 and under
A man suspected of burglarizing several homes on the north side of Prior Lake over the past month was arrested by U.S. marshals last week with the assistance of the Prior Lake Police Department. In addition to the burglaries, the man was wanted on a federal warrant out of Alaska for illegally trafficking opiates. Investigative work by Prior Lake Detective Darcy White aided marshals in tracking down the suspect.
Fiddler to A5 ®
Burglaries to A3 ®
INSIDE OPINION/A4 OBITUARIES/B6 SPORTS/A9-10 AMERICAN SLICE/B1 CALENDAR/B5 CLASSIFIEDS/B9-11 TO REACH US SUBSCRIBE: (952) 345-6682 EDITOR: (952) 345-6378 OR EDITOR@PLAMERICAN.COM
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