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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2011
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Prison fence issue returns New state plan has college-campus look
Shakopee crime rate Part 1 Crimes Part 2 Crimes Crime Rate*
2006 1183 1818 10.17%
2007 962 1810 8.82%
2008 1000 1783 7.93%
2009 1091 1699 7.87%
2010 1120 1614 7.76%
*Per 100,000
Case clearance rate
BY SHANNON FIECKE sfiecke@swpub.com
Shakopee: 56%
Metro average: 46%
Source: Shakopee Police Department
A fence with barbed wire encircles the water tower across from the state women’s prison in Shakopee. A plain chain-link fence lines the Catholic cemetery. But five years after local opposition to a prison fence made for national comedy on “The Daily Show,� the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee continues to be protected by a hedge. “The water tower is more secure than the prison,� said John Schadl, a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Corrections. The prison’s 2006 request for a fence failed to receive funding after drawing opposition from neighborhood residents and some Shakopee City Council members. Without community support, later bonding proposals gained little traction at the Legislature. With new faces on the City Council and the 2012 legislative bonding season fast approaching, the DOC appears to be putting its full weight toward securing $ 5.4 million in state funding next year for a 12-foot perimeter fence. Shakopee Mayor-elect Brad Tabke was briefed during a recent tour of the correctional facility. And state Sen. Claire Robling, R-Jordan, who supports the fence project, was also updated on the prison’s latest proposal, which calls for one fence instead of the two from an earlier plan.
Crime rate drops five straight years BY SHANNON FIECKE sfiecke@swpub.com
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Prison officials say a proposed fence would mirror those at college campuses. The fence pictured is similar to the design envisioned.
“We feel the community is safe now, but it’s still a prison. We’re worried about the safety of offenders and staff.�
JOIN THE CHAT DO YOU FEEL SAFE WITHOUT A FENCE? COMMENT AT
www.shakopeenews.com
John Schadl
NEW PROPOSAL
Minnesota Department of Corrections spokesman A community advisory panel will meet next week ahead of a neighborhood meeting scheduled for 1 to 2 p.m. Jan. 12 on the proposal. (Postcards are going out to neighbors).
With an inmate count today of 559 versus 92 when the current facility opened in 1986, and a worsening offender population, corrections officials believe the time is long past for a fence.
Fence to page 6 ÂŽ
Despite several entertainment destinations in its midst and a major freeway running through the city, Shakopee doesn’t have the highest crime rate in Scott County. In fact, the city’s crime rate has consistently fallen since 2006 and is on pace to do so again in 2011. Another success: its case clearance rate climbed to 56 percent in 2010 — 10 percent higher than the consistent metro average. Calls for service and arrests are also down from 2006, despite a growing population. Although such numbers can’t tell the whole story, they please Shakopee Police Chief Jeff Tate, who contends Shakopee is a safe community to live in. Shakopee’s statistics reflect a nationwide trend of decreasing crime, but also, Tate believes, the strength of its Police Department and watch-
ful eyes of Shakopee residents. “They’re not afraid to call police,� Tate said. Extensive training and computeraided technolog y are helping police solve crimes. Community poJeff licing is also strong, Tate evidenced by the department’s neighborhood watch program, partnerships with local
Crime to page 11 ÂŽ
MORE ONLINE WHERE DOES SHAKOPEE POLICE RESPOND THE MOST? FIND THE RECENT TOP 10 CALLS FOR SERVICE AT
www.shakopeenews.com
COOL JOBS: BRENT DUNCAN, INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER
Lights. Camera. Action. BY KRISTIN HOLTZ kholtz@swpub.com
Editor’s note: This is an occasional series focusing on local residents’ interesting, unusual or even oddball occupations. he dining room of Brent Duncan’s traditional farmhouse is less a place for family dinners than storage of movie props. A green screen is tucked up against a curio cabinet displaying Star Wars memorabilia. On the floor sits a makeup kit beside packed-away lights and camera bag. Multitasking is the life of an independent fi lmmaker. Duncan started Knucklehead Films in March 2006. In May, he and his wife, Amanda, started Steep Hill Films, which focuses solely on commercial client and
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PHOTO BY KRISTIN HOLTZ/ REPRINTS AT PHOTOS.SHAKOPEENEWS.COM
Independent filmmaker Brent Duncan is raising funds for his newest project, “The Unknown,� a fulllength feature film he wrote and is directing. Duncan, 34, who recently moved to New Prague from Shakopee, has been in the film business since 2005.
INSIDE OPINION/4 OBITUARIES/6 HAPPENINGS/9 CALENDAR/10 SPORTS/13-14 CLASSIFIEDS/22-24 TO REACH US SUBSCRIBE: (952) 345-6682 EDITOR: (952) 345-6680 OR E-MAIL EDITOR@SHAKOPEENEWS.COM.
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Watch the trailer for Steep Hill Film’s latest project, “The Unknown,� or contribute to the company’s crowd funding efforts at indiegogo.com/TheUnknown through Dec. 31. Learn more about Steep Hill Films at steephillfilms.com.
feature fi lm work. The Duncans, who lived in Shakopee for 10 years before moving this summer, run their fi lmmaking businesses out of their rural New Prague house. Tucked in the country, the farm has even been the backdrop for Steep Hill’s concept trailer of its newest project, a feature fi lm, “The Unknown.�
Cool jobs to page 11 ÂŽ
VOL. 150, ISSUE 52 Š SOUTHWEST NEWSPAPERS
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