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THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011

SHAKOPEE

VALLEY

$1

news Thompson gets more money

GOING GAGA FOR RELAY

New school head gets $24,000 raise over McBroom BY KRISTIN HOLTZ kholtz@swpub.com

The Shakopee School District has a new superintendent and with that comes a higher price tag. The district will pay Rod Thompson $169,000 for the 2011-12 school year — $24,000 more than former Superintendent Jon McBroom’s annual salary. The three-year contract calls for 2 percent raises the second and third years — to $172,380 and $175,830, respectively. The School Board approved the contract 5-1 Monday with Tony Bon-

sante dissenting and John Canny absent. Bonsante raised concerns with contract benefits, including 25 vacation days, 30 sick days and a $700-a-month vehicle allowance. He said he felt the Rod increased salary Thompson should compensate for any fringe benefits. “I don’t get sick days. I use my vacation,” said Bonsante, who works at the Kmart Distribution Center

in Shakopee. “I understand he’s the superintendent. I would rather see him do the three years, let’s see results and then we can give this,” Bonsante added. Board Member Carla Shutrop said during the meeting she shared Bonsante’s sentiments, though she voted for the contract. She said Tuesday she recognizes Shakopee is a different place than it was 10 years ago and the district needs to be competitive with other area schools. Board Chair Steve Schneider, who negotiated the contract with Person-

Thompson to page 7 ®

Monopoly for pawnshops? City Council limits the number of stores BY SHANNON FIECKE sfiecke@swpub.coml

Nick Perez walked into Pawn X-Change on Monday with a Mac computer he hoped to take a loan against. The 2007 Shakopee High School graduate rarely pawns items, but has bills to pay. “It’s better than selling it,” he concluded. But the Canterbury Road store was busy and out of cash. A couple other young people in Perez’s circle were also there, trying to get cash for their Xbox systems. They had two options — Pawn X-Change or Excel Pawn on First Avenue.

PHOTO BY KRISTIN HOLTZ

Kylie Chard, left, and Olivia Smith turned up the volume at the 2011 Scott County Relay for Life Friday in their Lady Gaga costumes. The 11-year-old Prior Lake girls were on team Pink Panthers. Chard is also currently in treatment for leukemia. Teams raised more than $155,000 for cancer research and will continue to fundraise through August. The event also hit its Cancer Prevention Study-3 enrollment target of 264 participants. See more photos online at shakopeenews.com.

Pawnshops to page 7 ®

PHOTO BY SHANNON FIECKE

Pawn X-Change (above), 1133 Canterbury Road, and Excel Pawn, 450 First Ave. W., were grandfathered in under a 1996 law that bans pawn shops within 10 miles of a casino.

Theater group draws ‘Curtains’ It’s a first for state showings BY KRISTIN HOLTZ kholtz@swpub.com

T

he River Valley Theatre Company is putting on a play. Actually, it’s putting on a play about a group of 1950s actors putting on a play — until, of course, the leading lady winds up dead. Never a good omen on opening night. RVTC is breaking ground as the first Minnesota community theater company to perform the whodunit musical comedy “Curtains.” That’s both an opportunity and a challenge, said Director Scott Swanson. “On one hand you get to create your own thing,” he said. “On the

If you go… What: The River Valley Theatre Company’s “Curtains.” When: 7:30 p.m. July 15-16, July 21-23 and July 28-30 and 2 p.m. July 17, 24 and 31. Where: Shakopee High School auditorium, 100 17th Ave. W., Shakopee. Tickets: $14 adults, $12 students and seniors. Purchase at rivervalleytheatrecompany.com or the door. All seats general admission. Box office opens one hour prior to curtain; house opens 30 minutes prior. other hand, there’s absolutely no history to draw from.”

Play to page 2 ®

PHOTO BY KRISTIN HOLTZ

Who killed the leading lady? The cast and crew of “Robbin Hood!” must figure out who murdered their star actress on opening night and get their western musical back on track in the River Valley Theatre Company’s production of “Curtains” opening Friday at the Shakopee High School.

INSIDE OPINION/4 OBITUARIES/6 HAPPENINGS/6 CALENDAR/9 SPORTS/15-16 CLASSIFIEDS/22-25 TO REACH US SUBSCRIBE: (952) 345-6683 EDITOR: (952) 345-6680 OR E-MAIL EDITOR@SHAKOPEENEWS.COM.

VOL. 150, ISSUE 28 © SOUTHWEST NEWSPAPERS

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