C ommunity

A look at county projects

From Dakota911 and child protection to county roads, park and libraries, Dakota County plays a surprisingly large and important role in our residents’ everyday lives. This month we’ll take a look ahead at some local county projects set for 2023 and beyond as well as a look back at a surprising bit of local history.

Butler Avenue project - A major improvement proposed for Butler Avenue in

Now recruiting players West St. Paul Wild Ones

Mens baseball for ages 47 and older

West St. Paul took a big step forward in March, with approval by the Dakota County Board of a joint powers agreement with the City of West St. Paul. The proposed mill and overlay project will dramatically improve the road surface and extend Butler’s pavement life by several years between Highway 52 and Robert Street, while a multiuse trail and improvements at the intersection of Sperl Street/Stassen Lane will enhance pedestrian and traffic safety. Construction is expected in 2025. Plenty of opportunity for input by neighbors and interested residents will be sought before a final plan is adopted. The first open house is set for 5:30-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 25 at Thompson County Park in the Dakota Lodge building.

• Season runs June 3-Sept. 30

• Training begins in May

• Fun, fast-paced baseball. Need not make every practice.

• Social activities

For more info, contact 612-491-0010 Weststpaulbaseball@theplate.com

Now Accepting Applications

NowApplicationsAccepting

Paraprofessional - Work with students in a classroom assisting teachers, before/after-school child care OR supervise groups of students. Full-time or part-time. Starting base wage $19.63/hr. (DOQ).

Bus Drivers - Safely transport students to and from school. Paid training & CDL certification. Starting base wage $22.90/hr. (DOQ).

Nutrition Services - Prepare and serve breakfast and lunch for students. Starting base wage $16.50/hr.

Custodian - Perform cleaning, event set-up/clean-up, and ensure safety of buildings. Full-time starting base wage $21.76/hr. Part-time and seasonal starting base wage $16.80/hr. (DOQ).

Kids Club Supervisor - Lead a school-age child care program in one of our elementary buildings and supervise paraprofessional staff. Full-time, 12-month. Starting base wage $21.50/hr. (DOQ).

For more information and to apply: sowashco.org/careers to restoring native habitat along this much-used greenway that runs from South St. Paul to Mendota.

Joe Atkins Dakota County Commissioner

Estamos reclutando jugadores West St. Paul Wild Ones

Béisbol de hombres de 47 años en adelante

Big drug bust - Hats off to our Dakota County Drug Task Force and South St. Paul Police for a big bust involving 3½ pounds of fentanyl powder, nine pounds of meth and a pound of heroin. A 4-month investigation led to an arrest and charges against 27-year-old Mario Alberto Velarde-Carrera. During the investigation, VelardeCarrera sold the three drugs in multiple controlled buys between November and March, according to court documents. If convicted, Velarde-Carrera faces a minimum of seven years in prison. He remains in the Dakota County jail with his bail set at $1 million.

Homework Help - Volunteer tutors at Wentworth Library are available to help K-12 students with a variety of subjects. Learn more at https://bit.ly/DakotaHomework-Help.

Spring into county parks

Restoration of Marthaler, Garlough Parks - With support from grant funding, Dakota County is partnering with Great River Greening and the City of West St. Paul to remove invasive species such as buckthorn that threaten the native forest along our River to River Greenway. The dense buckthorn crowds out the native shrubs, grasses, wildflowers and small trees. Removing the invasive species is crucial

• La temporada es del 3 de junio-30 de septiembre

• Entrenamiento empieza en mayo

• Béisbol divertido y de ritmo enfrentado. No es necesario ir a todas las prácticas.

• Actividades sociales

Para más información, llame al 612-491-0010 Weststpaulbaseball@theplate.com

Library updates - While Dakota County’s new library under construction in South St. Paul is making terrific progress and is expected to be open by this time next year, it is not the only local library project Dakota County is planning. A refresh of the Wentworth Library in West St. Paul is also expected, with public input and design in 2025 and construction in 2026.

- It may not look like it quite yet, but it really is the start of spring and with it comes the kickoff of several free and modest-cost Dakota County parks programs. These include camps for kids, trail walks with naturalists, craft courses, and even a bike ride with a guide for a view of the new bison herd. One of my favorite free events is Forever Wild Family, held at 6 p.m., Friday, April 6 at Thompson County Park. All ages are welcome and no registration is required. To view all of the offerings and/or register for parks programs, visit https://bit.ly/Dakota-ParksPrograms.

91 years ago this month - One of the nation’s most notorious gangs secretly took up residence in West St. Paul in April 1932, kicking off one of the most infamous crime sprees in U.S. history. From their unassuming hideout at 1031 Robert St., Ma Barker and the Barker-Karpis Gang carried out their first bank robbery on March 29, 1932 at the Northwestern National Bank in Minneapolis, followed by high-profile kidnappings of wealthy banker Edward Bremer and Hamm’s Brewing owner William Hamm. Between kidnappings they squeezed in a deadly payroll holdup in South St. Paul. All told, the gang netted well over $500,000, the equivalent of more than $10 million in today’s dollars. The spree also netted the gang considerable publicity, particularly due to the Lindbergh baby kidnapping in the same era, even prompting President Roosevelt to mention the kidnappings in a nationally broadcast fireside chat. This publicity led to a neighbor seeing a picture of Ma Barker in a detective magazine, which the neighbor reported to police. Tipped off, the Barker Gang left in a hurry moments before police arrived. Bernice Hannegraf, a 10-year-old who lived next door to the Barker Gang in West St. Paul in 1933, described Ma Barker as a short, friendly lady whose boys constantly carried violin cases. “We thought they played in orchestras,” Bernice recalled.

Grow Downtown accepting applications for free business rental space

The St. Paul Downtown Alliance has announced the expansion of its successful Grow Downtown program into 2023 and is now accepting applications. Grow Downtown connects landlords and tenants to offer short-term lease opportunities to small businesses. Selected tenants occupy vacant storefronts for six months rent-free, with the potential for longterm occupancy.