Sun Thisweek Newspapers Apple Valley / Rosemount by Sun Thisweek

www.SunThisweek.com Opinion Question the candidates Sun Thisweek wants to know the questions readers would like candidates for various elected offices to answer. Page 4A

sports

Taking aim at clay targets

Apple Valley | Rosemount May 25, 2012 | Volume 33 | Number 13

Supreme Court reverses 2008 murder conviction Backstrom’s conduct cited in ruling by Laura Adelmann Sun Thisweek

The Minnesota Supreme Court reversed on Wednesday a murder conviction because of interference by Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom and other “state actors.” In the May 23 ruling, the Supreme Court found “multiple state actors unquestionably interfered with the legislatively mandated independence of medical examiners” and put defendant Nicole Beecroft’s constitutional rights at risk. Beecroft, of Oakdale, was on trial for murder in 2008 in the death of her newborn baby, and Dr. Susan Roe, then a staff member with the Dakota County Medical Exam-

iner’s Office, was prepared to testify to her findings that the child was stillborn. Backstrom sent Roe’s boss, Dr. Lindsey Thomas, a series of emails opposing any member of her staff testifying for the defense. In one of his emails, Backstrom threatened to withdraw his support for Thomas’ reappointment as coroner when the Dakota County Board was considering whether to renew her contract with the county. Backstrom was later fined $900 and publicly reprimanded by the Minnesota Supreme Court for attempting to discourage medical examiners from testifying at the trial. In the ruling, the Supreme Court found the conduct of several prosecutors and certain law enforcement officials had “fallen short of what we expect it to be.” Named were attorney offices

in Dakota County, Nicollet County, St. Louis County, and Washington County as counsel for the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association “all engaged in conduct that either explicitly or implicitly Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom undermined Beecroft’s access to the assistance of certain Beecroft is entitled to a new trial in the interest of justice. medical examiners.” According to the ruling, the St. In ruling, the Supreme Court Louis County attorney testified at stated medical examiners must be Beecroft’s post-conviction hear- allowed to complete death invesing that prosecutors in her office tigations “without interference or were receiving calls from prosecu- the appearance of interference, by tors around the country indicating other state actors including law displeasure that St. Louis County enforcement officials and prosecuMedical Examiner Dr. (Janice) tors.” Ophoven was testifying for the deLaura Adelmann is at laura.adelfense. Tuesday’s ruling reversed Beec- mann@ecm-inc.com or facebook. roft’s conviction and concluded com/sunthisweek.

Going the extra 900 miles

Several local high schools are sponsoring teams in a trapshooting league. Page 14A

Bike ride raises money for Apple Valley nonprofit Kids ’n Kinship

thisweekend

by Andrew Miller Sun Thisweek

Photo by T.W. Budig

State Rep. Kurt Bills, R-Rosemount, briefly spoke to the media after winning the endorsement while standing before his campaign bus. A high school teacher by profession, Bills and his family will be taking to the road this summer in the bus.

War comes to Farmington Dakota City Heritage Village becomes a battle zone during the third annual World War II re-enactment. Page 12A

School bus to drive U.S. Senate campaign Rosemount High School teacher wins Republican endorsement by T.W. Budig Sun Thisweek

If U.S. Senate campaigns officially begin with a candidate kissing a baby, state Rep. Kurt Bills’ campaign is underway. Bills, 42, placed a smacker on the cheek of 9-monthold Kaylene Hensley of Alexandria on May 18 in St. Cloud shortly after winning the Republican Party’s endorsement for U.S. Senate. Bills performed the campaign ritual before the blue

Eagan girl in Pippi braids Eagan middle school student to star in Twin Cities stage version of Pippi Longstocking story. Page 12A

Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Announcements . . . . . . . . 8 ThisWeekend. . . . . . . . . . 12 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Public Notices. . . . . . . . . 22 General Information 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000

Prior to his father speaking, Bills’ son Hayden could be seen peeking and smiling from the bus driver’s window. “We’re going to come out of this race united,” Bills told some 2,000 Republican delegates at the St. Cloud Civic Center after defeating former state representative Dan Severson and Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran Pete Hegseth See bills, 17A

Gerlach expects race to be competitive County Board contest will pit former rivals for state Senate seat – Gerlach and Hamann-Roland by Tad Johnson Sun Thisweek

Index

backdrop of his campaign’s converted school bus, now sporting slogans like “Let’s Bring Econ 101 To Washington” and a mock stop sign proclaiming a stop to government spending. He said he and his family intend to “rattle around” the state in the bus campaigning. The back of the bus may get an upgrade from a church group to make it more comfortable for Bills, his wife Cindy, and the couple’s four children.

State Sen. Chris Gerlach had planned to take a break from politics this fall when he said he wouldn’t seek reelection in the Apple Valley and Rosemount area district he has served for the past 14 years. But a former neighbor of his changed all that. After longtime Dakota County Commissioner Will Branning said he would not seek another term on the County Board, the wheels

started spinning for ley Mayor Mary Gerlach. H a m a n n - Ro l a n d , Gerlach said in a who announced her phone interview last County Board bid Friday that he had two weeks ago on the mentally prepared same day Branning for not running for said he would retire. an office this fall, Gerlach With Hamannbut after talking to Roland and Gerlach a number of people who in the race, two well-known encouraged him to run for and experienced political County Board he’ll now be leaders who know how to doing a different kind of win campaigns are pitted preparation – for a County against each other. Board campaign. Hamann-Roland and The open seat also is beSee gerlach, 17A ing sought by Apple Val-

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Every year, John Elder pedals 900 miles for something he loves. The seventh annual Christian Elder Memorial 900, a charity bike ride that benefits the Apple Valleybased nonprofit Kids ’n Kinship, got under way May 24 and has Elder and a team of five other riders traveling country roads and trails throughout Wisconsin. The ride, which this year has a goal of raising $30,000, officially concludes with a carnival-like celebration at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 9, at Merchants Bank, 7300 147th St. W., Apple Valley. The event includes entertainment, appearances by local dignitaries and plenty of refreshments. This is the seventh consecutive year Elder has organized the ride, which this year loops through Wisconsin with stops in La Crosse, Beloit, and Wisconsin Rapids. Elder said the funding his annual charity bike ride provides to Kids ’n Kinship is what keeps him trekking 900 miles year after year. The local nonprofit matches youths ages 5-16 with volunteer mentors who make a one-year commitment to the program, which serves Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Farmington, Lakeville and Rosemount. “We’ve become a major source of their annual budget – I really feel we’re doing so much good for a wonderful cause and we need to stick with it,” said the 65-year-old Bloomington resident. Elder knows firsthand the benefit Kids ’n Kinship mentoring can have on a young person’s life. About eight years ago he began mentoring an 11-year-old Rosemount boy. Though the formal mentoring relationship ended with the youth’s 18th birthday, the two remain lasting friends. “We still get together

Photo submitted

This is the seventh consecutive year John Elder has organized his 900-mile charity bike ride, which this year loops through Wisconsin with stops in La Crosse, Beloit, and Wisconsin Rapids. The ride officially concludes with a carnival-like celebration at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 9, at Merchants Bank in Apple Valley. at least twice a month and share a friendship,” he said. “When I was his mentor I taught him how to play racquetball and cribbage – he now regularly beats me at both,” Elder added with a laugh. The ride is named in honor of John and wife Sherry’s son, who died unexpectedly in 2007 at age 38. To make a donation to the Christian Elder Memorial 900, visit www.cem900. com. The website includes a Road Diary and a progress tracker on Facebook. More about Kids ’n Kinship is at www.kidsnkinship.org. Andrew Miller can be reached at andrew.miller@ecm-inc. com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

May 25, 2012 Sun Thisweek

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Sun Thisweek May 25, 2012

Personal attendant accused of molesting boy in his care by Andrew Miller Sun Thisweek

recalled Solberg and her son wrestling in the boy’s bedroom, and confirmed that at some point her son told her he didn’t like Solberg anymore so she stopped employing him. In December, Apple Valley police contacted police in Florida to assist in the investigation, as Solberg now lives in Fort Myers, Fla. When a detective with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office interviewed Solberg at his home Dec. 28, Solberg initially denied knowing the boy or his family, or having ever worked as a personal care attendant. Later on in the interview, though, he recalled having been a member of his church’s “Befriender Program” and had taken care of two boys through the program. Solberg then showed police a book full of photos of children, including a picture of the Apple Valley boy with his name written below it. He told the detective, “I keep them all in here.” At that point in the interview, Solberg recalled having worked with the Apple Valley boy for about two years and that the boy “liked to wrestle,” but stated there was never anything sexual during their wrestling sessions. He denied ever touching the boy underneath his clothing. Solberg was charged May 10 with second-degree criminal sexual conduct. If convicted of the one felony count, he faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $35,000 fine.

A man hired by an Apple Valley couple to serve as personal care attendant for their son is accused of sexually abusing the boy during “fake wrestling” sessions. Neil W. Solberg, 81, a former Eagan resident now living in Florida, was charged with a felony in district court this month following an Apple Valley police investigation. The criminal complaint gives the following account: The parents of the boy hired Solberg as a caregiver for their elementary schoolage son in August 2005, but stopped employing him in August 2007 when the boy told his mother he felt uncomfortable around Solberg. The boy, now in his midteens, reported during an interview last November with an Apple Valley police detective and a Dakota County social worker that he had been sexually abused by his caregiver. He stated Solberg “always wanted to go up to (the boy’s) bedroom and ‘fake wrestle.’ ” The boy told police that Solberg touched him inappropriately during the bedroom wrestling sessions, placing his hands beneath the boy’s underwear. Solberg allegedly would justify the touching by telling the boy, “That is what you do during wrestling.” The boy reported he was touched inappropriately more than five times, but was not sure of the exact number, the complaint said. The boy’s mother told police that Solberg was re- Andrew Miller can be reached ferred to the family as a at andrew.miller@ecm-inc.com personal care attendant by or facebook.com/sunthisweek. their church’s pastor. She

Sun Thisweek, Tribune welcome new leadership Two associates with combined 44 years of experience to lead Dakota County group After general manager and editor Larry Werner announced last week that he would be moving to a new position as director of news with ECM Publishers Inc., two company associates with a combined 44 years of media industry experience will be overseeing the operations of Sun Thisweek and the Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly. Jeff Coolman replaces Werner as the new general manager and has been busy meeting with staff in Apple Valley. Coolman also serves as general manager of more than 30 newspaper flags operated by ECM-Sun Group, which has offices in

Search is on for Mrs. Dakota County Married women living in Dakota County can apply for the title of Mrs. Dakota County. The winner will represent the county in the Mrs. Minnesota pageant March 1617, 2013, in St. Cloud. Competitions in the pageant are personal interview, aerobic wear and evening gown. Those interested in applying should request a bio-form at: Mrs. Minnesota International Pageant, P.O. Box 240537, Apple Valley, MN 551240537. An online application can be found at www. mrsminnesota.com. Call (952) 432-6758 for more information.

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Eden Prairie, Osseo, Waconia, Monticello and Stillwater. He also oversees a print plant in Hudson, Wis. Coolman has been associated with Sun Newspapers since 2001 when he was hired as group publisher and vice president. He has worked in the media industry since 1993, holding the position of publisher at the Morning Journal in Columbiana County, Ohio, and advertising director at the Battle Creek Enquirer in Michigan. Coolman oversees a total of 36 publications with a combined circulation of nearly 375,000, including Sun Thisweek’s three publications – Apple

Valley-Rosemount, Burnsville-Eagan and Farmington-Lakeville in addition to the Tribune. Coolman will be joined by Keith Anderson, director of news for ECM-Sun Group newspapers. Anderson has been in the newspaper business since 1987, holding reporting positions in Spirit Lake, Iowa, and Winthrop, Minn. He was hired as a county/sports reporter by The Waconia Patriot in 1989 and within one year accepted the position of editor. He accepted the title of publisher/editor in 1996 and remained in Waconia until June 2011 when he accepted the position of director of news with Sun

Newspapers. Both Coolman and Anderson noted that Sun Thisweek is led by a solid staff that has and will continue to seek ways to promote positive community relations, help business thrive and share the stories that matter most to the people of the area. Werner was hired as the general manager and editor for Thisweek Newspapers in 2008. He played a key role in helping steer the newspaper group through a merger two months ago that brought two flags from Sun Newspapers and three Thisweek Newspapers under one heading, Sun Thisweek.

Thursday, May 31 – Cribbage, 1 p.m., DDI. Friday, June 1 – Euchre, 9 a.m., DDI; Bowling, 1 p.m., Apple Place in Apple Valley. • “Pearl of the Lake” Cruise: Thursday, July 12, 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Scenic cruise on Lake Pepin and the Mississippi River. Lunch at Chickadee Cottage Café. Cost is $71, which includes bus, cruise, meal, tax and gratuity. Register by June 18 at the parks and recreation office. The Rosemount Area Seniors “Do Drop Inn” is open to senior citizens 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday. The room is located in the Rosemount Community Center and allows seniors a

place to stop by and socialize during the week.

News Briefs

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Rosemount seniors The following activities are sponsored by the Rosemount Parks and Recreation Department and the Rosemount Area Seniors. For more information, call the Rosemount Parks and Recreation Department at (651) 322-6000. Monday, May 28 – Closed for Memorial Day. Tuesday, May 29 – Coffee, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Rosemount Cub; Bid Euchre, 9 a.m., Do Drop Inn. Wednesday, May 30 – Water Color Painting, 9 a.m., DDI; Velvet Tones, 10 a.m., Apple Valley Community Center; Bowling, 1 p.m., City Limits in Rosemount.

Benefit for families in need Moms and Neighbors will hold its second annual Summer Spectacular Fundraiser + Night of Music & Fun from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, June 1, at Carbone’s in Rosemount. The event will include a silent auction and raffle. Music by The Prospects will begin at 8:30 p.m. Proceeds will be donated to families in need within District 196. For more information, go to www. momsandneighbors.org.

Opinion

May 25, 2012 Sun Thisweek

We want to know the questions voters need candidates to answer by Tad Johnson Sun Thisweek

With the 2012 legislative session having come to a close, our attention has turned to Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Many people already are referring to this as the most important election in recent memory. That sentiment is due in large part because of the sheer number of offices that will be on the ballot. Because of mandatory redistricting this year, all Minnesota House and Senate seats will be up for grabs. All but one Dakota County commissioner seat will be on the ballot along with several municipal and school district positions. People also will be choosing a U.S. president, one of Minnesota’s two senators and a 2nd District House representative. Voters of Minnesota, you have about five months to pay attention to who these people are and where they stand on the issues important to you. One of the frequent questions we hear from readers about this time of year is: Will the newspaper be hosting any debates? I’m happy to report that Sun Thisweek will endeavor to moderate several debates in the coming months.

Sun Thisweek Columnist

Tad Johnson

In June, some of the 84 journalists who work for ECM Publishers Inc. will meet for an election coverage workshop during which the editors of Sun Thisweek will develop a strategy to plan such forums. At this time, it is our intention to schedule debates for House and Senate races in the Sun Thisweek coverage area. Because of the work involved in organizing such events, we haven’t gone beyond talking about those races. One of our editors recently spoke with a current officer holder in our coverage area who said during one election cycle she wasn’t invited to any debates. Frankly, that makes us look bad that we didn’t recognize the lack of a forum for that race and plan one ourselves. Seeing the candidates in a debate format where they don’t have prior knowledge of the questions is very important for voters. Debates allow you to see how well

informed the candidates are on the issues, how they handle themselves under pressure and how they articulate their message. We want the people of our area to see as many candidates in this setting prior to casting their ballots. The most important element of a good exchange is asking the right questions. That’s where you can help. We would like to hear from readers what questions they think the candidates should answer for any of the offices at the state, county, city or school board level. People may submit their questions online at SunThisweek.com by going to links from this story post for the offices for which we are seeking questions. When you add your questions, you can see what other questions people are thinking about. People also may submit their questions to my email address listed at the end of this column or mail them to our Apple Valley address listed in the staff box on this page. We’d especially like to hear from many of the undecided voters who frequently cross party lines for federal and state offices. If you are a voter who doesn’t identify themselves as a solid Democrat or a

Republican, send an email to me because we want to know what issues are the most important to you. We are interested because it is the middle that swings the controlling-party pendulum from liberal to conservative. Legislative elections in Dakota County have largely leaned Republican in much of the past two decades, though when President Barack Obama was elected in 2008, five Democrats were elected to the state House and Senate from the Sun Thisweek coverage area. Obama is back on the ballot again, but 2012 is a much different political environment and only a handful of candidates that ran in 2008 are in the race this year. So what will happen this fall is anyone’s guess. Our goal at Sun Thisweek is to arm people with as much information about the candidates as possible so voters can make educated choices. Tad Johnson, managing editor of Sun Thisweek and the Dakota County Tribune, can be reached at tad.johnson@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek. Columns reflect the opinion of the author.

Recent college graduates step into the abyss by Ibrahim Hirsi special to sun thisweek

Every weekday morning as I drive to work at the Wallin Education Partners in Minneapolis, I either yield or stop for the hastening student pedestrians who have just parked their cars at the Burnsville Transit Station, crossing the road to catch buses to their early classes at the University of Minnesota. The sight of college students with backpacks, riding the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority express buses, reminds me of my years as a student at the University of Minnesota, which ended just a year ago when I graduated with a journalism degree and an African and African-American studies minor. Last weekend, some of these students walked – along with my brother and thousands of other students – across the University of Minnesota’s Mariucci Arena stage to honor and celebrate the end of many long and arduous years of studying. On one hand, I was excited to share the happiness and celebration with the graduates. On the other hand, I was deeply distraught by the lethargic econ-

Guest Columnist

Ibrahim Hirsi

omy, which increasingly victimizes the rising professionals. Despite the students’ enthusiastic desire to graduate, the nation’s work force has a poor welcome for the 2012 college graduating class. According to an April study done for and reported on by the Associated Press, one in two college graduates are either unemployed or underemployed. The study stated that many with bachelor’s degrees find low-paying jobs or employment that doesn’t require a college education, and are competing with people who never set foot in a college or university. On top of the anguish of unemployment, the new graduates will have to start repaying their student loans to the U.S. Department of Education six

months after the graduation date. The pressure to pay back loans and the need for some graduates to make financial contributions to their families have forced some recent graduates to search for any kind of jobs, even ones not in fields they hoped to work in or at the salary they expected to earn. For instance, a former classmate from the university’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication who graduated with me last May, now works at a Minneapolis McDonald’s, barely making the minimum wage. Another friend, who graduated with honors from the university’s College of Liberal Arts, still remains unemployed more than a year after he graduated. But what worries me the most aren’t the widening unemployment rates, especially among minority communities. What worries me the most is the fact that many high school students may not plan to attend college because they see college graduates working alongside them in places such as McDonald’s and Target. The consequences of not obtaining a college education are brutal. The young people without higher education

won’t have the ability to think critically and may not make good choices in life. They may not be involved in improving their own communities and neighborhoods. To avoid these consequences, the graduates who make the extra effort to attend colleges and universities should be rewarded with deserving jobs and salaries. And the White House should assuage the duress of unemployment by creating decent jobs for aspiring recent graduates. Ibrahim Hirsi is a Burnsville-based writer who graduated from the University of Minnesota with a journalism degree and a minor in African and African-American studies. Hirsi’s articles have been published in numerous publications, including the Star Tribune, Minnesota Public Radio’s commentary page and the Twin Cities Daily Planet. He has also lived on the East Coast, where he’s written for New York’s Long Island Newsday and the Record-Journal, a local newspaper in Meriden, Conn.

A time to salute the work of Legion, VFW posts by Don Heinzman Sun Thisweek

Strong American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War posts and their auxiliaries are valuable for enhancing the welfare of veterans, promoting patriotism and enriching the lives in their local communities. In many communities, Legion and VFW Post headquarters are the centers where many local events take place. Minnesota is fortunate to have 112,000 Legion members in 590 posts, and 66,000 VFW combat veterans in 286 posts. While the American Legion and its auxiliary and the VFW and its auxiliary contribute much in time, talent and funds to communities, their primary fo-

Sun Thisweek Columnist

Don Heinzman

cus is the welfare of veterans. Each organization is instrumental in having legislation passed that protects and enhances the lives of veterans. The American Legion has five Veterans Homes in Minnesota where the host Legion clubs donate services, furniture and equipment to keep veterans satisfied.

Letters to the editor policy Sun Thisweek welcomes letters to the editor. Submitted letters must be no more than 350 words. All letters must have the author’s phone number and address for verification purposes. Anonymous letters will not be accepted. Letters reflect the opinion of the author only. Sun Thisweek reserves the right to edit all letters. Submission of a letter does not guarantee publication.

Photo Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rick Orndorf Sports Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andy Rogers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Shaughnessy Sales Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Jetchick Office Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ellen Reierson

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Veterans Administration hospitals are the focus of the Legion and VFW, and particularly the auxiliary units who visit veterans and donate equipment and other items they may need. American Legion members throughout the state donate blood and sponsor trips to blood donation centers. Both organizations look out for the welfare of widows and orphans by protecting their benefits. Both are active in passing national and state legislation that brings benefits to veterans. Veterans organizations were largely responsible for passing the GI Bill of Rights, perhaps one of the most significant laws in the 20th century. Promoting respect and honor for the American flag and the United States is another major thrust of both organizations. They sponsor Memorial Day, Flag Day and Veterans Day observances. Honor Guards set the patriotic tone for many local observances. Members march in parades, and participate in funerals of veterans, complete with a rifle salute. The Legion and VFW instruct young people how to respect and treat the flag, and sponsor local oratory and essay contests. Development of young people is a major priority for both organizations. Both sponsor sports teams; the VFW particularly has events for disabled youngsters. The American Legion provides scholarships, sponsors Legionville where youngsters learn how to be effective school patrol members. Boys and Girls State programs give selected high school

juniors insight on how state and national government functions. Partnering and funding research to cure diseases is another American Legion priority. Millions of dollars have been donated to research cures for heart disease and the Brain Science Foundation. Because they both have many members with strong militaristic discipline, they usually are the most effective organizations in any community. Programs sponsored by both the VFW and American Legion are supported by charitable gambling proceeds. Because so many are veterans of World War II, they have the heart of what is called the Greatest Generation. Their memberships are going down because not enough veterans are joining to replace those who are leaving. Those veterans who are eligible and want to do more for their community and country should join either one of these effective organizations;. Next time you see a veteran, thank them. They deserve it and there would be no better time to do so than on Memorial Day 2012. Heinzman, a member of the ECM Editorial Board and ECM Board of Directors, is at don.heinzman@ecm-inc.com. Columns reflect the opinion of the author.

Letters Farewell, my dolphin friends To the editor: As a young kid I always liked the dolphin exhibit at the zoo. Every time I went to the zoo I made sure I saw the dolphin show, but

now the dolphins are done with shows. They will also no longer be at the Minnesota Zoo. I am sad that the dolphins have to go. Though they will be going to another zoo, one of the dolphins will not be doing any shows. I feel that fur-

ther generations will miss out and be disappointed since that would have been one of their favorite exhibits. JAROD ROBINSON Lakeville

Sun Thisweek May 25, 2012

Business Briefs

Area Briefs Service news

Stavros joins Showcraft Mark Stavros has joined Burnsville-based Showcraft as project graphic production manager. He has more than 20 years of experience in design, production and client relations and will help continue to develop, among other things, Showcraft’s trade show program.

Blue Cross promotions Scott Johnston has been promoted to vice president, associate general counsel, and assistant secretary, and Lori Nelson has been promoted to vice president of network management at Eagan-based Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. Johnston has been with Blue Cross for 18 years, holding different positions within the law department, most recently as principal

attorney. He will serve as liaison to the Blue Cross board of trustees. Nelson is responsible for the overall development and implementation of Blue Cross’ provider strategy. She previously served as director of provider transactions at Blue Cross.

Auto dealership to sponsor inaugural golf tournament Lakeville automobile dealership Jeff Belzer’s Chevrolet Dodge Kia will sponsor the inaugural Jeff Belzer/Larry Benjamin Swing for a Cure Golf Tournament Monday, July 30, at Legends Golf Club in Prior Lake. Tournament proceeds will go to A Breath of Hope Foundation and the American Cancer Society. Fees will be $150 per

golfer or $600 per foursome, which includes 18 holes of golf with a cart, dinner following the tournament and a chance to win hole prizes. Shotgun play will begin at noon. Individual and corporate hole sponsorships are available. The registration deadline is July 1. For more information, contact Corey Dardis at (612) 710-9905, cbdard7@gmail.com or Jamie Belzer at (952) 469-6865, jamiebelzer14@yahoo.com.

Friedrich joins Abbott Glass Scott Friedrich has joined the sales/marketing staff at Abbott Glass, 1129 E. Cliff Road, Burnsville. He is responsible for client development. Friedrich is a member of the Burnsville Chamber of Commerce and Circle of Connections Networking Group.

Fire training site ailing Departments seek new facility by Aaron M. Vehling Sun Thisweek

ABLE – the four-city consortium of fire departments for Apple Valley, Burnsville, Lakeville and Eagan – plans a $1.6 million upgrade of its fire training center in Burnsville. The 25-year-old complex features two buildings. There is a burn building, used for staging training with real fires, in addition to space for dozens of other types of training. The site is becoming increasingly more difficult to use because of widespread disrepair. It was designed to last about 20 years. The structure is cracking, allowing water to enter the facility and cause corrosion, said Lakeville Fire Chief

Mike Meyer. AEI Engineering provided an analysis that discovered other issues as well. Doors and window shutters have rusted beyond repair and the burn room tile and protective coating need replacement, among other things. Crews in the four cities have gotten their use out of the site over more than two decades, but the planned new building should not only be better for training, it should last longer, too. Plans include a three-level, 5,200-square-foot building as opposed to the dilapidated 1,200-square-foot one that stands today. It will have the ability to conduct burn training in any room. Meyer said it should be a vi-

able space through 2043. The taller building would provide training for some of the more complex firefighting efforts, such as attics and managing ladders amid a blaze. The four constituent cities are each poised to contribute $500,000 toward the project. Assuming all four city councils vote affirmatively, the construction project would begin this winter with a July 2013 completion date, Meyer said. The Lakeville City Council is expected to vote on the expenditure in June. Aaron Vehling can be reached at aaron.vehling@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Appelquist’s book wins award Apple Valley businessman Jeff Appelquist’s latest book, “Wisdom is Not Enough,” was one of three finalists in the business book category of the 22nd annual Midwest Book Awards and it won the competition for best hardbound cover. The book motivates people to take a closer look at their leadership style.

Local artist to introduce new print at Deck The Walls Local artist Rick Kelley will introduce his new print, “The Home Coming,” from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 27, at Deck The Walls, 2026 Burnsville Center. Kelley will offer a free medium-sized print to all veterans who visit Deck The

Capt. Colin E. Robertson, 28, of Apple Valley assumed command on May 15 of Company D, 1st Battalion, 4th Frontier I n f a n t r y Robertson Communications Regiment. The unit he commands is offers security part of the Opposing Forces programs or OPFOR battalion of the Burnsville-based Fron- 7th U.S. Army Joint Multitier Communications offers national Readiness Center Frontier Secure, leading- in Hohenfels, Germany, and edge cyber security pro- is comprised of 97 soldiers grams that give adults peace and 31 armored vehicles. of mind about their Internet Robertson, a veteran of experience for themselves combat tours in both Iraq and their children. For in- and Afghanistan, is a 2002 formation, contact Holly graduate of Apple Valley Dahl, general manager, at High School and a 2006 graduate of West Point. (952) 891-7714 or Holly. START BEFORE START TALKING TALKING BEFORE Dahl@ftr.com. Walls on May 27. Veteran visitors may choose one of five prints: “On Freedom’s Wings,” “The Patriot,” “Coming Home,” “Liberty’s Flight” or “Reflections of Freedom.”

THEY DRINKING THEY START START DRINKING

START TALKING BEFORE THEY START DRINKING

whodrink drinkbefore before age15 5 times moremore KidsKidswho age15areare 5 times likely havealcohol alcohol problems they’re adults. likely to tohave problemswhen when they’re adults. To learn more, go to www.stopalcoholabuse.gov

To learn more, go to www.stopalcoholabuse.gov or call 1.800.729.6686 or call 1.800.729.6686

May 25, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Farmington couple take reins of family business Saddleseat lessons at Vermillion Township’s Lear Stables can lead to competitions by Laura Adelmann Sun Thisweek

After 40 years in business as Lear Stables, a new generation has taken the reins of the family’s legacy. Kyle and Jennefer LearTharaldson of Farmington are embarking on an adventure to teach the art of saddle seat riding to students from children to adult. Saddle seat is an Englishstyle of riding that involves standing and sitting during trots. Students learn to safely handle a horse, maintain their balance and the skills to successfully ride saddle seat. As they progress, there are opportunities to par-

ticipate in various levels of competitions. Everything needed to try the sport, including the horse and riding gear, is available at Vermillion Township’s Lear Stables. The serious student will eventually purchase their own boots, helmet and stirrups, Kyle said. “It’s super fun,” he said. “I go to the stable, and it’s all smiles. It seems to offer people some way to regenerate and replenish themselves.” Lear Stables students range in age from preschool to their 70s. “We’ve had some people start as late as their 60s,” Kyle said. “It really is something anybody can do.” Jennefer, who has participated in the sport since childhood, is Minnesota’s only American Riding Instructors Association certified saddle seat instructor. “It’s a tip of the hat to her expertise,” Kyle said of

his wife. “It’s a strenuous testing program she had to go through. It’s like a college exam — a big one — for riding instructors.” The process took about a year to complete, and information Jennefer had to know included the biology of horses, riding safety, locomotion and horsemanship. She said she has earned many ribbons in competitions and enjoys introducing others to the sport. “It’s always been a part of who I am and what I do,” Jennefer said. Lear Stables has horses for different levels, and students may compete with various horses as they grow in their skill level. “I like kids to be riding different horses,” Jennefer said. “It challenges you.” To allow lessons year round, Lear Stables offers an indoor riding arena that is heated in the winter. An outdoor ring is also avail-

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Riding instructor Jennefer Lear-Tharaldson accompanies Cassidy Lewison, on Sassy, during a horse show in Cannon Falls. able. A viewing room with Wi-Fi is available off the lounge for family members to watch lessons, which start as 30-minute individual sessions. After basic safety skills are attained, they are conducted in 40-minute small group lessons. Lear Stables was previously owned by Jennefer’s parents, Bert and Alice Lear, of Hastings. Jennefer worked for her parents for nine years without compensation with the goal of buying out the businesses. The purchase closed March 1, and the couple opened in Vermillion Town-

ship at the “Equicare” building at 4263 170th St. E., which has a Rosemount mailing address. The couple intend to expand the business and introduce more people to the sport they have come to love. “We love our customers,” Jennefer said. “They are family.” She described the atmosphere at the stables as fun and said students become close friends as they learn and grow in a sport they enjoy together. “Sometimes, kids just want to hang out at the barn,” Jennefer said.

“There’s a joke that kids would rather clean the stall than clean their room. The kids at the barn are really good kids. A lot of times, people think they are older than they are. Riding is important to them, so they work hard.” Lessons are $35 each, and packages are available that will drop the cost. For more information, call (651) 438-9008 or visit www.learstables.com. Laura Adelmann is at laura. adelmann@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Memorial Day observance is May 28 in Apple Valley The American Legion Post 1776 Club will hold a Memorial Day observance at 11 a.m. Monday, May 28, at Veterans Park in Apple Valley. The event will include units from the Legion, Sons of the American Le-

gion, Legion Auxiliary, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Civil Air Patrol as well as music by the Scott Highlands Middle School band. Participants will form up at the park at 10:45 a.m. Coffee, juice, and doughnuts will served at 10 a.m.

to all who participate in the ceremony. All citizens are welcome to participate in the events. Bring lawn chairs. For more information, call Lloyd Cybart at (651) 332-2352.

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Sun Thisweek May 25, 2012

Outdoor market at Buck Hill approved by John Gessner Sun Thisweek

A Lakeville couple is launching a swap meetstyle outdoor market at Buck Hill in Burnsville. The multiple-vendor business is a new venture for Vaughn and Jennifer Wallace and yet another means by which Buck Hill, the venerable ski slope, has sought to buttress its seasonal income from skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing. The City Council voted unanimous approval May 22 for Stop, Swap and Shop. The council approved an interim use permit that will allow the outdoor marketplace to operate from May 1 through Labor Day in September for the next two seasons. After that, if the Wallaces plan to continue the business, Buck Hill could apply for a permanent use through a planned unit development change. Operation will be limited to Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Wallaces plan to open on July 6, according to the business’ website. Vendors will pay to rent a lot at the business, which will be in the ski area’s parking lot. The Wallaces expect to attract new and used merchandise wholesalers, artists and crafters, artisan designers, antiques dealers, area farmers, hobbyists, collectors, charitable organizations and perhaps even local garage sales. Vaughn, who used to live in San Diego, modeled the business in part on Kobey’s Swap Meet at the San Diego Sports Arena, according his wife. He quit his job to work on the business plan full time, she said. “We love the Buck Hill location and just think it’s

a fabulous use for it,” Jennifer said in an interview. Vendors will need city licenses, such as transientmerchant permits and resellers licenses. Because of the time it takes to secure resellers licenses, which require police investigations, the market may open with mostly artists and crafters, according to Jennifer. The couple hope to open with about 25 vendors and build from there, she said. Council Member Mary Sherry voted her approval after securing a condition that vendors won’t be allowed to camp overnight on the grounds. “I’ve seen some of these places,” Sherry said. “They’re really unsightly, and I don’t want it to look like a group that has decided to occupy Buck Hill.” No overnight storage will be allowed. Vendors will be required to clear the premises at the end of business. The market will have a “low impact” on the adjacent neighborhood and is a “well-designed off-season use from the peak winter activities,” a city staff report said. To generate added income, Buck Hill already has an event center and Halloween haunted houses and leases space for a seasonal garden center. “Buck Hill provides a regional draw into Burnsville, providing an economic benefit to the community,” the report said. Increasing year-round revenue “allows Buck Hill Inc. to further reinvest” in the ski facility and “remain competitive in the industry.” For more information, visit www.stopswapandshop.com. John Gessner can be reached at john.gessner@ecm-inc. com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Rosemount church launches health care directive initiative St. Joseph invites public to life-planning session

by Tad Johnson Sun Thisweek

Take any group of 10 people over the age of 18 – a gathering of friends, coworkers or family members. If one of them suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, chances are they wouldn’t have a health care directive to guide doctors in making life-saving decisions. Surveys show that about 70 percent of adults don’t have a such a directive. The lack of this information means that families are placed in the difficult position of making choices without knowing their loved one’s wishes, or being entirely shut out of the decisionmaking process. A new program at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rosemount aims to change all of that and start a countywide push to have all adults create a health care directive. Planning Made Easier, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, will give parish members and the public the chance to start writing a directive along with participating in other discussions about related issues. “I hope people do see the value of getting your affairs in order,” said Luke Rennie, who will be leading one of the sessions. “I think many people aren’t informed on what can happen, like a spouse not being able to make decisions.” Rennie, an Apple Valley resident who has been a St. Joseph member and a Knights of Columbus field agent for the past five years, likes the idea of the church being involved in such a program. “It ends up being a form of ministry,” said Rennie, who, as a field agent, assists people after a death in the family. “The church serves

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in brief Planning Made Easier will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church social hall, 13900 Biscayne Avenue W., Rosemount. The session is free, but people are asked to RSVP by calling (651) 423-4402. Refreshments and light snacks will be served. the spiritual needs of people in these times, and now we are going beyond that.” The church’s lead pastor, the Rev. Paul Jarvis, helped organized such a program at his previous church in Chaska. That program was so well attended that he wanted to

see one organized in Rosemount. In addition to health care directives, the session will cover power of attorney, wills, estates, medical assistance, senior living options, protecting assets, making funeral arrangements, beneficiary planning, the church’s teaching on cremation, organ donation, and more. “These are all matters that seniors and their children or grandchildren will eventually need to address,” Jarvis said. Rennie, who has been married for 13 years and has four children, said the number of people who do not have a health care directive is not surprising. “People who are 18 or 22 years old, they are not even

thinking about a health care directive,” Rennie said, but as legal adults their parents can’t make some decisions without a directive. Rennie said the sessions perform a couple of different functions. He said it’s a way for people to realize their own mortality and address issues related to that. It also is a chance to help ease the grieving process before it has arrived. He said some of the most difficult issues he’s seen after someone has died are differences of opinion among family members regarding things that could have been addressed in a will or a directive. Tad Johnson is at tad.johnson@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

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James M. Cordes Arlaine O. James M. Cordes, 62, of Lakeville , MN and South Bend, Franzmeier

Kindem - North

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IN. He passed away peacefully at 8:40 p.m. on Monday, May 14, 2012 at the Hospice House, South Bend. Jim was born on February 20, 1950 in St. Paul, MN to the late Marvin F. and Adeline (Dunn) Cordes and brother, Marvin 'Butch' Cordes. Jim was raised in Farmington, MN and has been a lifelong resident. On June 4, 2010 in Lakeville, MN, he married the Diane Slater. Jim is s u r v i v e d b y, h is w i f e , D i a n e Slater-Cordes and her children, Angie and Scott; mother and father in law, Jim and Pat Dean; and his four legged friends, Maggie and Lucy (the pooches); one sister, Dorothea (William) Pryor of Northfield, MN; brother, John “Jack” (Teri) Cordes of Farmington, MN; and sister-in-law, Sherred Cordes of Farmington and long time friends, Stan Fredrickson, John 'Gus' Barger and Steve Bauer. Jim was employed in management for Apple Valley Ready Mix in Apple Valley, MN. He was a 1968 graduate of Farmington High School and a 1972 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a member of the Notre Dame Hockey team for four years. A memorial service will be held at 6 PM on Friday, May 25, 2012 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 202nd St. (Hwy. 50, across from Aronson Park) Lakeville with a gathering of family and friends from 3-6 PM at church. A fellowship gathering will take place after the service at the Lakeville VFW club. Contributions in memory of James M. Cordes may be offered to any pet refuge, humane society, or food pantry. In memory of Jim, we are asked to wear Notre Dame apparel at the service. On line condolences at www.whitefuneralhomes.com

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Age 67 of Coates, MN died May 19, 2012 in Farmington. Arlaine was born June 12, 1944 in Augusta, GA to Gustave and Anne (Pelach) Olson. She married Roger W. Franzmeier in St. Paul on June 22, 1968. Arlaine was a retired flight attendant who dedicated her life to children with disabilities and after retirement established Agape Acres, a therapeutic horseback riding facility. Preceded in death by her parents and husband Roger, Arlaine is survived by her two sons Craig Lee (Michelle) and Corlin Roger “Cory” Franzmeier, all of Coates; granddaughters Lokella and Maddie; brother Gene (Betty) Olson of Plymouth, twin sister Elaine (Dwayne) Sprute of Apple Valley, and sister Linda (Mark) Maines of Alto, MI; also nieces and nephews. The Funeral Service, officiated by Rev. Paul Harrington was held 10:30 AM Thursday, 5/24/12 at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd., Apple Valley, MN 55124. Interment followed in St. John’s Cemetery - Rich Valley, Rosemount. Visitation was held 4-8 PM Wednesday at the Caturia-Smidt Funeral Home, 201 E. Seventh St., Hastings and 1 hour prior to the service at church. Arrangements were handled by CATURIA-SMIDT FUNERAL HOME Hastings. 651-437-9419. www.caturia-smidtfh.com

Ronald R. ‘Ron’ Swagger

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Carol E. Cody

Carol E. Cody, passed away May 17, 2012, at the age of 95. Devoted wife, mother, and friend. Preceded in death by loving husband, Bob; parents, Joseph & Dora (Smith) Murphy. Survived by children, Bob (Arlene), Brian (Peggy), Keith (Marta), Kay (Ron Mohelski); brother, Joe Murphy; sister, Geneva Shannon; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. Born in El Paso, WI. Carol was a county school teacher before moving to St. Paul, MN, and marrying her husband, Bob in 1947. They moved to Burnsville in 1956 to raise their family. After Bob's tragic death in 1969 Carol worked for the Burnsville School District and Data Sales Co., retiring in 1984. After moving from the family home in 1992, she enjoyed many new friendships at Eagle Ridge Sr. Apts. and Elim Care Center. Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday 11 AM, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 4625 W. 125th St., Savage, with visitation one hour prior to Mass. Lunch immediately following Mass. Private interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Elim Memorial Fund, 701 - 1st St., Princeton, MN 55371. Arrangements with McNearney Funeral Home, Shakopee, 952-445-2755 www.mcnearneyfuneralhome.com

Age 70, of Lakeville, passed away on May 19, 2012. Ron started his work career with Soo Line Railroad and Kloster Madsen. He owned and operated J’s Restaurant and Bonanza Restaurant, he did sales at Freeway Ford and Air Lake Ford and was a realtor for Coldwell Banker. He served on the Board of Directors at Dakota Electric for 25 years. He enjoyed golf, but most of all enjoyed his family and his 57 Chevy. Ron is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Vadine Swagger. Survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Sandy; children, Cindy (John) Stevens, Connie (Randy) Aase, Bryan (Sherri) Swagger; grandchildren, Jessica, Dan and Brea Stevens, Hannah, Aurora, Athena and Tristan Aase and Cole Swagger; siblings, Jerry (Mary Anne), Ray Jr. (Kathy), Dale (Sherri), Arylce (Denis) Marek and Roger (Sharon) Swagger; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral Services was held 11 AM Thursday, May 24, 2012 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 20165 Heath Ave. (Hwy 50) Lakeville, visitation was on Wednesday (5/23) from 5-8 PM at the White Funeral Home, 20134 Kenwood Tr. (Hwy 50) Lakeville. (952-469-2723) and 1 hour prior to Service at Church. Interment Lakeville Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association. On line condolences at www.whitefuneralhomes.com

Leah Kindem, daughter of Steve and Vicki Kindem of Apple Valley and Brian North, son of Dave and Mary North of Woodbury, announce their engagement. Leah is a 2000 graduate of Apple Valley High School, 2004 graduate of Winona State, and a 2010 MBA graduate of Augsburg College. Leah works in Human Resources at General Mills in Golden Valley. Brian is a 1997 graduate of Woodbury High School and a 2001 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Brian and his family own and operate the North Pole restaurant and Newport Drug in Newport, MN. The couple is planning a September 2012 wedding in Hastings, MN.

Kroeger Boisvert Lacey Kroeger and Travis Boisvert announce their engagement and upcoming marriage on Saturday, September 15, 2012 in St. Paul. Parents of the couple are Darvin and Jeanie Kroeger of Burnsville and Dennis and Jeanne Boisvert of Holcombe, WI. Lacey is a graduate from Burnsville Senior High School and Normandale Community College, receiving a degree in Nursing. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing through Mankato State University, Minnesota. She is a Labor and Delivery nurse at Fairview Ridges Hospital. Travis is a graduate from Chippewa Falls Senior High School in WI and the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, receiving his Bachelor of Science in Business with a double major in Marketing and Entrepreneurial Management. He is the Senior Marketing Manager at M|A|Peterson Designbuild, Inc. in Edina. The couple reside in Savage.

Catellanos Olson Patty Castellanos of Burnsville, MN and Tim Olson of Apple Valley, MN will be married in two ceremonies; one in Ocotlan, Jalisco, Mexico, on June 23, 2011, and the other on July 21, 2012 in Apple Valley, MN. Patty is a 2000 graduate of Apple Valley High School, and is nearing completion of a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Kent State University in Kent, OH. She will be interning at HCMC in Minneapolis, MN, beginning in August. Tim is a 1998 graduate of Rosemount High School, and has a Master's Degree in Higher Education Administration from Kent State University, Kent, OH. He is currently seeking employment in higher education.

To submit an announcement Forms for birth, engagement, wedding, anniversary and obituaries announcements are available at our office and online at www. thisweeklive.com (click on “Announcements” and then “Send Announcement”). Completed forms may be e-mailed to class. thisweek@ecm-inc. com or mailed to Sun Thisweek, 15322 Galaxie Ave., Suite 219, Apple Valley, MN 55124. If you are submitting a photograph along with your announcement, please only submit photographs for which you have the right to permit Sun Thisweek to use and publish. Deadline for announcements is 4 p.m. Tuesday. A fee of $50 will be charged for the first 5 inches and $10 per inch thereafter. They will run in all editions of Sun Thisweek. Photos may be picked up at the office within 60 days or returned by mail if a self-addressed, is stamped envelope provided.

Cherry - Anselmo Bob & Diane Cherry of Rosemount are happy to announce the engagement & upcoming marriage of their daughter Rachel to Michael Anselmo, both of Hudson WI. Mike is the son of Mick Anselmo of Bloomington & Cindy Hanson of Minneapolis. Rachel is a graduate of Rosemount High School, and Augsburg College. She is the Customer Service Supervisor for Edina Realty Home Services. Mike is a graduate of Hudson High School and Brown College. He is an Advertising Manager for Patch.com. Rachel and Mike met while working at the Minneapolis Star Tribune & will be married in Hudson, WI in June.

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Roan Franchetta Davenport Roan Franchetta Davenport was born on April 26, 2012 at Stevens Community Medical Center, Morris, to Andy and Maria Davenport of Morris. Roan weighed 7lbs 5oz and was 20 1/2” long. Grandparents are Milton and Franchetta Haupert of Herman and Griff and Nancy Davenport of Lakeville. Great grandparents are Joan Sapp of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota.

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Sun Thisweek May 25, 2012

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May 25, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Guitarist is living out lifelong dream A childhood vision of concert stage glory has guided the career of Apple Valley’s Al Ynigues by Andrew Miller Sun Thisweek

Al Ynigues first picked up a guitar at age 9 after having a dream one night in which he was on stage, playing in a band that was receiving wild, thunderous applause from the dream’s adoring phantom audience. He’s been living out that dream ever since. “The feelings and emotions of that dream really set the course of my life,” said Ynigues, who now teaches music lessons and does instrument repair out of his Apple Valley home under the banner of First Star Music. A native of San Antonio, Texas, Ynigues’ musical journey has taken him from coast to coast. While still a student at the Berklee College of Music in Boston,

he shared a stage with the likes of big-band legends Duke Ellington and Count Basie. And he played bass in Kris Kristofferson’s band one summer after moving to Los Angeles for graduate studies. He’s amassed a good many stories along the way. Like the routine he and Kristofferson worked out that summer during their club shows together – Kristofferson would stop singing midway through a song and begin guzzling a pitcher of beer, at which point Ynigues, shrouded in darkness on the side of the stage, would pick up the vocal part to make it look like Kristofferson was simultaneously singing and chug-a-lugging. Ynigues remembers bemused audiences looking on with mouths agape.

“Kris and I have the same vocal range – a deep bass – so it worked,” he said. His yen for classic guitars – Gibsons, Martins, Rickenbackers – is evident in his sizable collection. These days he owns around 30 guitars, though at one point in California he had to rent warehouse space to accommodate his collection of 300. “You’ve heard of people that are hoarders? I just love guitars so much,” he said. “I sold ’em before I left California – regrettably. It’s like selling your own child.” A music instructor since 1960 – the first lessons he gave were to a college classmate, who paid him in sandwiches for the hourlong guitar tutorials beSee guitar, 11A

Sun Thisweek May 25, 2012 Photo by Andrew Miller

Al Ynigues, standing in his home studio in Apple Valley where he gives music lessons, demonstrates technique on one of the myriad classic Gibson guitars he’s owned over the years. These days he owns around 30 guitars, though at one point he had to rent warehouse space to accommodate his collection of 300.

guitar, from 10A neath an oak tree on campus – Ynigues now teaches a range of instruments through First Star Studios, including voice, harmonica, organ and, of course, guitar. The repair and restoration side of the business has

him fixing up violins and other stringed instruments that have seen better days. He’s still performs regularly, playing guitar in the Larry Koury Trio at various Twin Cities venues. And the Serendipity Band, his twopiece group with keyboardist Jeanne Perrion of Burnsville, remains active after 22

years. More about Ynigues’ music business, First Star Music, is at www.firststarmusic.com. Andrew Miller can be reached at andrew.miller@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

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May 25, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Thisweekend Battle at the fairgrounds

Eagan seventh-grader enters spotlight in ‘Pippi’ by Andrew Miller Sun Thisweek

Still in middle school, Claire Hoffman is already a star. The seventh-grader at Eagan’s Black Hawk Middle School landed a featured role this spring in the Minneapolis Children’s Theatre Company’s production of “Pippi Longstocking,” which opened in April and runs through June 10. With about 10 shows of “Pippi” staged each week – a total of 70 shows in all – Hoffman has been logging long hours for her part as Annika in the professional-caliber production, so much so that she’s had to reduce her class schedule at Black Hawk to accommodate the demands of being in the cast. On Fridays, for example, when the show is staged twice, she attends school for an hour in the morning, heads to Minneapolis for the first show, then heads back to Black Hawk in the afternoon for two more hours of school. After that, it’s back to Minneapolis for the second show of the day. “It’s pretty tiring, but it’s a lot of fun and there’s a lot of energy there,” she said. “Pippi” marks the second big role on the Minne-

Photos by Rick Orndorf

World War II came to life at Dakota City Heritage Village in Farmington last weekend with mock infantry battles staged by historical reenactors portraying Axis and Allies troops. The third annual World War II event also featured soldier encampments, weapons demonstrations, talks by veterans, a military vehicle cruise through downtown Farmington and “home front” displays provided by local historical societies. More photos from the event can be found at SunThisweek.com.

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“Pippi Longstocking” marks the second role Claire Hoffman has landed with the Minneapolis Children’s Theatre Company. The Black Hawk Middle School seventh-grader already has her sights set on grander acting goals. “I know it’s a long shot, but I would like to be on Broadway when I’m older,” she said. apolis stage for the young actor, the daughter of Greg and Amy Hoffman of Eagan. After trying her hand at acting for the first time in a school play in the fall of 2010, she took the leap to the Minneapolis Children’s Theatre stage last spring, scoring an ensemble role in “Annie.”

It was an audition-call email for “Annie” sent to all Minneapolis Children’s Theatre season ticketholders – Hoffman’s family has been attending plays at the venue since she was 2 – that prompted her to try out for the show at the Mall of America, singing a portion of the musical-theater standard “Tomorrow” in front of the “Annie” directors and choreographers. From that audition, she was chosen to fill one of 10 available spots in the cast, from a total of 450 girls who tried out. Hoffman hopes her roles in “Pippi” and “Annie” are just the beginning. Eventually she’d like to be a PA, or performing apprentice, with Minneapolis Children’s Theatre, which involves acting in all of the shows in the theater troupe’s season. She has her sights set on bigger goals as well. “I know it’s a long shot,” she said, “but I would like to be on Broadway when I’m older.” For show times and other information about the Minneapolis Children’s Theatre production of “Pippi Longstocking,” visit www.childrenstheatre. org. Andrew Miller can be reached at andrew.miller@ ecm-inc.com or facebook. com/sunthisweek.

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family calendar To submit items for the Family Calendar, email: darcy. odden@ecm-inc.com. Friday, May 25 Surprise benefit for Sarah (Krause) Walsh from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 15400 Buck Hill Road, Burnsville. Dinner served from 6 to 8 p.m. Silent auction closes at 8 p.m. Cost: $15/adult, $10/child, $40/family, children 3 and younger are free. Dress is casual, but wear some pink. All proceeds will go to the Sarah Walsh family and will help jumpstart Sarah’s nonprofit organization to support other moms with breast cancer. Saturday, May 26 Bike sale fundraiser for Kids ’n Kinship from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 12738 Ethelton Way, Apple Valley. Information: Rick Anderson at (952) 322-4729 or Ricka@pcgagencies.com. Friday, June 1 Summer Spectacular Fundraiser + Night of Music & Fun by the Moms and Neighbors organization from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, June 1, at Carbone’s in Rosemount. Music by The Prospects begins at 8:30 p.m. Includes silent auction and raffle. Proceeds will be donated to families in need in District 196. Forever Wild Family Friday: Forty Shades of Green, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Lebanon Hills Visitor Center – Discovery Room, Lebanon Hills Regional Park, 860 Cliff Road, Eagan. Listen to music by the Forty Shades of Green band around the campfire. All ages. Free. Registration required. Information: http://www.co.dakota. mn.us/LeisureRecreation/CountyParks/Calendar.

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Saturday, June 2 Free women’s car care clinic from 9 to 11 a.m. at H&H Automotive, 21480 Keokuk Ave., Lakeville. Information: Rebecca@hh-automotive.com or Rebecca at (952) 469-1520. Blood drives The American Red Cross will hold the following blood drives. Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800733-2767) or visit redcrossblood. org to make an appointment or for more information. • May 29, noon to 5 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church, 1930 Diffley Road, Eagan. • June 1, 3 to 8 p.m., Carmike 15 Cinemas, 15630 Cedar Ave., Apple Valley. • June 2, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kowalski’s Market, 1646 Diffley Road, Eagan. • June 4, 1 to 6 p.m., Prince of Peace Church, Christian Life Center, 13901 Fairview Drive, Burnsville. • June 5, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Uponor, 5925 148th St. W., Apple Valley.

Sun Thisweek May 25, 2012

Camps The Allegro Choral Academy is now accepting registrations for its “Pitch Perfect” Summer Singing Camp June 18-21 at St. John’s in Lakeville for children ages 6 to 11. Find information and registration materials at www.allegroca.org or (952) 8468585, artisticdirector@allegroca. org. Concerts Feist will perform with The Low Anthem at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 2, in the amphitheater at the Minnesota Zoo as part of Subway Music in Zoo. Tickets: $45. Information: www.mnzoo. com/musicinthezoo. The First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band will perform at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 3, at Caponi Art Park’s outdoor amphitheater. A $5 per person donation is suggested. The performance will be canceled in the event of poor weather. Information: www.caponiartpark.org. Dance DAdance will present “The Three Bonnies” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 8, at Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave. Tickets are $26 for adults, $19 for seniors and $16 for students and can be purchased at the box office or via Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787 or ticketmaster.com. Exhibits Children’s Art Festival exhibit is on display through June 2 at Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave. Free. Information: (952) 895-4685. World Travel Photography exhibit by artist Becqi Sherman will open June 2 at the Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke Ave. Information: (952) 9854640.

Workshops/classes Music Together in the Valley offers classes for parents and their infant, toddler and preschool children in Rosemount, Farmington, Lakeville and Apple Valley. Information: www.musictogetherclasses.com or (651) 439-4219. The Eagan Art House offers classes for all ages. For a complete listing go to www.eaganarthouse.org or call (651) 6755521. Dan Petrov Art Studio in Burnsville offers oil painting classes for beginners, intermediate and advanced skill level painters, www.danpetrovart. com, (763) 843-2734. Teens Express Yourself with Paint, 5 to 7 p.m. Mondays at Brushworks School of Art in Burnsville, www.BrushworksSchoolofArt.com, (651) 214-4732. Drama/theater classes for ages 4 and up at River Ridge Arts Building, Burnsville, (952) 736-3644. Special needs theater program (autism-DCD), ages 5 and older, Burnsville, (952) 7363644. Join other 55-plus adults at the Eagan Art House to create beaded jewelry. The Jewelry Club meets on the third Friday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. Fee is $3 and includes all supplies. Bring any old jewelry you would like to re-make. 3981 Lexington Ave. S., (651) 675-5500. Savage Art Studios, 4735 W. 123rd St., Suite 200, Savage, offers classes/workshops for all ages. Information: www. savageartstudios.com or (952)

Photo by Rick Orndorf

The sound of bagpipes filled the Dakota County Fairgrounds in Farmington last weekend at the 2012 Minnesota Scottish Fair and Highland Games. The annual event, organized to promote and preserve Scottish traditions and heritage, kicked off with massed bands and the Parade of Scots; the day’s festivities included Celtic dance, exhibits and sporting competitions. More photos from the event can be viewed at SunThisweek.com.

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Festivals I Love Burnsville Week will be celebrated June 2-9. Information: www.burnsville.org/index. aspx?NID=742. Rhythm & Words Family

Theater The Chameleon Theatre Circle will present “A Chorus Line” at 7:30 p.m. June 1-2, 7-9 and 14-16 and at 2 p.m. June 3, 10 and 17 at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave. Tickets are $20 for adults; $17 for students, seniors, and groups and can be purchased at the box office or via Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787 or ticketmaster.com.

895-0375. Soy candle making classes held weekly in Eagan near 55 and Yankee Doodle. Call Jamie at (651) 315-4849 for dates and times. $10 per person. Presented by Making Scents in Minnesota. Country line dance classes held for intermediates Mondays 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Rambling River Center, 325 Oak St., Farmington, $5/class. Call Marilyn (651) 463-7833. Beginner country line dance classes on Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Lakeville VFW, 8790 Upper 208th St. $5/ class. Call Marilyn (651) 4637833. Country line dance classes on Wednesdays at the Lakeville Senior Center, 20732 Holt Ave. Beginners, 9-10 a.m.; Intermediate, 10 a.m.-noon. $5/class. Call Marilyn (651) 463-7833. The Lakeville Area Arts Center offers arts classes for all ages, www.lakevillemn.gov, (952) 985-4640.

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Books Atina Diffley will be at the Apple Valley Barnes & Noble store, 14880 Florence Trail, from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 26, to sign copies of “Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works.” Information: (952) 997-8928. Larry Millett will be at the Apple Valley Barnes & Noble store, 14880 Florence Trail, from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 16, to sign copies of “Once There Were Castles: Lost Mansions and Estates of the Twin Cities.” Information: (952) 997-8928.

Music and Book Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 9, at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave. Free. Information: www.dakotacounty.us/ library. Farmington Dew Days runs June 13-16. Information: http:// farmingtondewdays.com. The International Festival of Burnsville will take place from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 16, in Nicollet Commons Park, Burnsville. The free festival will feature a variety of cultural dance and musical performances, ethnic food, cultural exhibits, and children’s activities. Information: www.intlfestburnsville.org.

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To submit items for the Arts Calendar, email: darcy. odden@ecm-inc.com.

Gathering of Scots

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Sports

May 25, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Eagle track athletes listen to the voice of experience 2008 Olympian back at her alma mater as assistant coach by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

London in the summer sounds enticing, but Shani Marks Johnson said she was perfectly happy with what she was doing last week – coaching track and field athletes at her high school alma mater. “I don’t know if I could coach anywhere else,” said Marks Johnson, a prep track and field star at Apple Valley and 2008 U.S. Olympian in the women’s triple jump. “It would be very difficult for me to coach at any other high school. So many of the coaches who worked with me when I was a student here, they’re still here.” In 1998, she closed her high school career with a state championship in the long jump. Ten years later she was on the sport’s biggest stage at the Summer Olympics in Beijing. Marks Johnson finished first in the triple jump at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials with a personal-best 47 feet, 2 1/4 inches to qualify for Beijing, where she did not advance to the finals. “I put so much energy into trying to make the (Olympic) team that once the Trials were over, the

stress was off,” said Marks Johnson, who finished fourth in the 2004 U.S. Trials. “I put so much time and dedication into it that the thing I remember most is the journey to the Olympics, rather than the actual Olympics. Does that make sense?” When she decided not to make another Olympic attempt – this year’s Summer Games will be in London starting in late July – Marks Johnson said she was at peace with it. She competed in 2009 before moving to the next phase of her life – motherhood and coaching. Marks Johnson and her husband Ron, a former University of Minnesota football player, have a 1-year-old daughter. She also is involved in several coaching ventures, on her own and with several organizations. She’s a coach with Burnsville-based Fuzion Athletics (whose owner, Jamie Steffen, is the AVHS pole vaulting coach) and the REAL (Rosemount, Eagan, Apple Valley, Lakeville) youth track and field program. She said she didn’t picture herself coaching someday while still competing in

high school. “No, not at all,” said Marks Johnson, who went on to star at the University of Minnesota. “But I started working as a volunteer assistant coach at the ‘U.’ I majored in public relations, then got a master’s in applied kinesiology. When I was studying for my master’s, I could see that it was leading me into coaching.” Told that Marks Johnson at one point had no interest in coaching, Apple Valley girls head coach Geri Dirth said, “Really? Well, I think that comes later. I saw that with my two sons. One is studying to be a teacher and coach. The other goes to (the University of) St. Thomas, and all he’s talking about is coaching this summer.” Marks Johnson also finished second in women’s triple jump at the 2003 NCAA Division I championships and has five USA Track and Field indoor and outdoor titles. At AVHS, she coaches boys and girls long and triple jumpers. She laughed when asked if the athletes she coaches are any more likely to pay attention to her based on her resume.

“Oh, I don’t know,” she said. “I think they have to pay attention no matter who the coach is.” Marks Johnson, 31, said she has noticed Dirth’s influence in her own coaching style. “Anybody who knows Geri knows she wants her girls to be good athletes and good people,” she said. “She wants them to be good students, and she wants them to have fun doing track and field.” Marks Johnson didn’t do the triple jump in high school and came to the event late in her college career. Doing so would have forced the Eagles to pull her from another event where she could score big points. She also was a standout sprinter and hurdler. Apple Valley teams competed in the South Suburban Conference championships this week (the finals were in progress when this edition went to press). They will be in the Section 3AA meet Tuesday and Thursday of next week at the University of St. Thomas. One of Marks Johnson’s goals now is to coach an Apple Valley jumper to a state championship. If and

Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

Shani Marks Johnson, who competed in the triple jump at the 2008 Summer Olympics, is back at Apple Valley High School coaching jumpers on the boys and girls track and field teams. She is a 1998 AVHS graduate and a former Eagles track standout.

when that happens, it figures to be an emotional mo- Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. ment. shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or “I’ll be boo-hooing, for facebook.com/sunthisweek. sure,” she said.

Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

Apple Valley High School junior Ben Keckeisen takes a shot during a trapshooting competition last week. Trapshooting is a first-year club sport at AVHS.

Apple Valley’s Katelyn St. Ana fires at a clay target during a trapshooting competition last week. St. Ana is one of three girls on Apple Valley High School’s club team. Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

Apple Valley’s Katelyn St. Ana reloads her shotgun during a trapshooting competition last week.

TRAPSHOOTING Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

Apple Valley High School junior Ben Keckeisen is a captain on the trapshooting team, which is a first-year club sport at AVHS.

The next high school sports sensation? Apple Valley, Burnsville, Rosemount, Eagan among those with teams

by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

Expectations were low when Apple Valley High School formed a trapshooting team earlier this year. If a handful of students signed up, head coach John Miller said he would have taken that and tried for more next year. Within about 15 minutes, though, registrations were approaching a cutoff point. “We capped it at 30 this year, and all 30 are continuing to shoot,” said Katelyn St. Ana, one of the Apple Valley team captains. “Next year we could have as many as 80 people.” Local schools, including Apple Valley, Eagan, Rosemount, Burnsville and Paideia Academy, are part of the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League, an organization that started in 2008 with three teams. Participation has doubled each year since, and in 2012 there are 57 teams representing 100 schools, with

more than 1,500 students participating. Teams from Apple Valley, Edina and Jordan shot last week at Minneapolis Gun Club in Prior Lake. The WAVE (Watching Apple Valley Eagles), a faculty group that attends co-curricular events, went to the shoot and appeared to be impressed with what it saw. AVHS principal Stephen Degenaar praised the students’ dedication in a team meeting/picnic that took place during last week’s shoot. Like Miller, Degenaar initially tempered his expectations. “When I saw 20 names, I was surprised,” he told the group. “When I saw girls on the list, I was shocked.” Although trapshooting is a club sport at Apple Valley, shooters are eligible for varsity letters and can get the team photo in the school yearbook, two things Miller said the students valued. Participation is quickly

approaching the threshold for Minnesota State High School League sanctioning, but it’s unclear if the clay target league organizers will seek a spot under the MSHSL umbrella. Some teams shoot on Sundays because that’s when gun clubs have time available, but MSHSL bylaws ban Sunday practice or competition. The students also might be helping to ensure the sport’s survival. Trapshooting has an aging demographic, which caused Jim Sable, executive director of the state clay target league, to wonder if the sport would even exist in Minnesota a decade or two from now. “When I retired in 2000, I belonged to the Plymouth Gun Club,” Sable said. “I’d go to the club and see people who had been retired longer than I was. We were a small club with 100 members, and the average age was over 55.” John Nelson, a direc-

tor of the state clay target league, said an estimated 30 to 40 percent of Minnesota’s gun clubs have closed in the last 10 years. Sable said he figured the only way to revive trapshooting was to stir up interest in schools. While the league might not double in size in 2013, Sable said it is expected to grow again next year. Joining a team isn’t as easy as just showing up and saying you want to shoot. Participants must have firearms safety certification and either own or have access to their own equipment. Not many of the Apple Valley team members had clay target shooting experience before signing up; the majority were hunters or shot other kinds of targets. St. Ana, one of three girls on the Apple Valley team, said she sometimes accompanied her stepfather to shoots at the Minneapolis Gun Club. Tyler San Agustin, another Apple Valley

captain, had experience in sporting clays, a form of target shooting intended to simulate hunting situations. Apple Valley is in the bottom half of its league (called Conference 5A), which Miller and the captains said was probably to be expected in the team’s first year. San Agustin said one of the attractions of the trapshooting team is it allows him to still compete in a spring sport (in his case, track and field) while shooting once a week. Team members shoot in groups, with those involved in spring sports shooting in a later group so they can come after practice. “I would say it’s 60 percent competitive, 40 percent social,” San Agustin said. “I’m a competitive guy, so I like to have some competition in there. At the same time, it’s a great sport and a lot of fun.” If participation grows as expected, schools such

as Apple Valley will be able to make their teams more competitive. “We have five seniors on our team and one seventh-grader competing on the JV,” Miller said. “Next year, if participation increases the way we expect, we could have a competition team and a developmental team.” As word gets out about the program, a selling point might be trapshooting’s cost relative to varsity sports. Shooting vests and hats were donated, but the students pay the remaining costs. Still, at Apple Valley those costs range from $230 to $280, mostly for facility rental and ammunition. “It’s a lot cheaper than hockey,” said Apple Valley hockey player and trapshooting captain Ben Keckeisen. Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Sun Thisweek May 25, 2012

Irish are OK with third at state True Team

Lightning moves on

Rosemount boys go for section track title next week

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Eastview senior Samantha Weinberg sprints out of the batter’s box after bunting during Monday’s Section 3AAA softball playoff game against Apple Valley. Eastview won 6-3 to advance to the double-elimination portion of the section tournament.

by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

The state Class AAA True Team track and field finals presented a thorny question to Rosemount’s boys: How happy should they be with third place? Rosemount has become one of the state’s best programs in the True Team format, winning Class AAA championships in 2009 and 2011. On Friday at Stillwater High School, the Irish finished third behind Lake Conference powers Minnetonka and Wayzata. “I’m not going to lie and say third place is that big of a deal to us,” Irish coach Jay Hatleli said. “But at the same time, last year we won with a lot of top-end talent. We have a much different team this year. Looking back on it, we’re very satisfied with how we performed.” Despite not winning an event in the state finals at Stillwater High School, the Irish used their depth to pile up 716 points. Minnetonka won the Class AAA championship with 889.5 points and Wayzata scored 811.5. Rosemount senior Chandler Dye had a strong meet at the True Team finals, finishing second in the 1,600 meters in 4 minutes, 20.03 seconds and seventh in the 800 in 1:59.86. “He’s the kind of athlete that sometimes gets overlooked,” Hatleli said, “but the fact is, you don’t get to meets like state True Team without kids like Chandler Dye.” Darrell Hunt, a senior who joined the Irish after moving from Illinois, finished third in the 100 in 11.61. Rosemount placed all three of its 3,200-meter runners in the top eight, with Nathan Rock finishing fifth, Trevor Capra sixth and Calvin Lehn eighth. Lehn also placed ninth in the 1,600. Charlie Broback was ninth in the 400, Tegan Overbey finished 10th in the 200,

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Section 3 baseball playoffs to begin Friday Burnsville, Eastview, Lakeville North, Eagan draw top four seeds by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

Rosemount senior Chandler Dye (359) tries to chase down Wayzata’s Scott Sippel during the 800-meter run at the state True Team finals. Dye finished seventh in the 800 and second in the 1,600 to help Rosemount’s boys take third in the Class AAA team standings. Phong DoVu took third in the long jump and ninth in the triple jump. Marius Lewis finished fourth in the triple jump and Austin Leslie was sixth in the discus. The Irish also had strong performances in the 4x100 (second) and 4x400 (fourth) relays, running what Hatleli said were top-10 state honor roll times in each event. “We have a good group of quarter-milers who can all run in the 52-second range,” Hatleli said. “We’re hoping we’ll be able to put together a top-quality 4x400.” The state True Team champion is now Rosemount’s No. 1 team goal, and Hatleli said he believes it’s the same at most other high schools. “What we’re finding is more and more teams are

going after the True Team,” Hatleli said. “Years ago, Eden Prairie felt it was a bigger deal to win its conference than the state True Team, but now they’re going after True Team every year.” Rosemount, meanwhile, went after the South Suburban Conference championship this week at Burnsville High School. The Irish were defending champions in the SSC meet, which was still in progress when this edition went to press. Rosemount won last year’s Section 1AA team title but since has been moved to Section 3AA, which will have its meet May 29 and 31 at the University of St. Thomas. Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

With single-elimination games required in the first two stages of the Section 3AAA baseball playoffs, the right to sit out a firstround game means a lot. Therefore, it probably put a smile on Eagan coach Rob Walsh’s face to see his team seeded fourth when the section pairings were announced Tuesday night. That gave the Wildcats, 10-10 overall but winners of their last four games, a first-round bye. “We think we have a pretty good case (for a first-round bye),” Walsh said Monday before the pairings were announced. “We were 7-3 in our last 10 games and played some pretty competitive nonconference games.” Burnsville (18-2), Eastview (14-5) and Lakeville North (14-5) received the top three seeds. They, along with Eagan, will play at home in second-round games at 4:30 p.m. Monday (yes, these games will be on Memo-

rial Day). In first-round action Friday, 10th-seeded Apple Valley (6-14) goes to seventh-seeded Lakeville South (7-13) at 4:15 p.m., with the winner playing at Eastview on Monday. Eleventh-seeded Rosemount (5-15) plays at No. 6 seed St. Thomas Academy (11-9) at 4:15 Friday, with the winner going to Lakeville North on Monday. Also on Monday, Burnsville plays the winner of a first-round game between Henry Sibley and Simley, both 8-12. Eagan awaits the winner of the Prior Lake (9-11) vs. Park of Cottage Grove (4-15) first-round game. The four teams remaining after Monday’s games go to Alimagnet Park in Burnsville for a doubleelimination tournament beginning June 1. The section championship game is scheduled June 5, with a second game, if needed, to be held the next day. South Suburban Conference champion Burns-

ville, which has been to the state Class AAA title game the last two years and won it in 2011, is the Section 3 favorite, although Walsh said, “I think there are six teams that have a legitimate shot at it.” Eagan closed its regular season with victories over Bloomington Kennedy, Bloomington Jefferson, Lakeville North and Apple Valley. “We played with consistency, which is what we’ve been looking for all year,” Walsh said. “We’ve hit .325 on the year, which is better than I expected with the new bats. We’ve been making plays defensively, and our pitching has been very good lately.” Infielders Eric Peterson, Cole Peterson and Collin Olstad were some of the Wildcats’ hottest hitters in the second half of the regular season, Walsh said. Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

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May 25, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Quick pickup

Eastview students identified in pepper spray incident Two Eastview High School students who were involved with the release of an over-the-counter pepper spray irritant at the school on Wednesday face possible charges and school discipline, according to an email sent to parents from Principal Randall Peterson. Peterson reported the two students were identified immediately, and the incident was reported to Apple Valley Police. A small amount of pepper spray was released in the area of the main office and in a hallway called C2. Although the release caused irritation to some individuals eyes and throat, there were no medical injuries, according to Peterson. Apple Valley firemen were

on the scene as a safety precaution. At the conclusion of an exceptional student awards ceremony, some students and adults felt irritation to their eyes and/or throat as they entered the hallway, according to Peterson. Peterson said school safety and security is a priority at Eastview along with reasonable communication to support parent understanding, while not perpetuating inaccurate information. Peterson noted that pepper spray can result in temporary inflammation to breathing tissues causing coughing and watering eyes, but causes no lasting after effects. – Tad Johnson

District 196 Community Education classes District 196 Community Education will offer the following classes. To register or for more information, call (651) 423-7920 or visit www. district196.org/ce. • Knitting from Start to Finish, 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays, June 1 and 8, at the Yarn Garage, 2980 145th St. W., Rosemount. Fee: $29. • Golf Level 1 (ages 16 and above), 10 to 11 a.m. Saturdays, June 2-23, at Emerald Greens Golf Course, 14425 Goodwin Ave., Hastings. Fee: $59. • Special Olympics – Young Athletes, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednes-

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Clearing major hurdles

days, June 4-27, at Black Hawk Middle School, 1540 Deerwood Drive, Eagan. Fee: $59. • Camp Caterpillar (ages 4-6), 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Thursday, June 5-7, at Apple Valley Community Center, 14603 Hayes Road, Apple Valley. Fee: $65. • Fitness Yoga, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, June 7-28, at Bodyblast Studio, 2020 Silver Bell Road, Suite 26, Eagan. Fee: $39. • Zumba with Bodyblast Studio, 9 to 10 a.m. Saturdays, June 9-30, at Bodyblast Studio, 2020 Silver Bell Road, Suite 26, Eagan. Fee: $39.

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Photo by Rick Orndorf

Apple Valley pitcher Loryn Charbonneau sets to throw to first base after fielding a bunt in a Section 3AAA softball playoff game Monday at Eastview. Eastview’s 6-3 victory sent the Lightning to the double-elimination portion of the tournament and ended Apple Valley’s season.

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Photo by Rick Orndorf

Lakeville South’s Shaina Burns and Lakeville North’s Michaela Preachuck run at the South Suburban Conference meet at Burnsville on Tuesday along with Eagan’s Allana Lopez, Eastview’s Kathryn Eaton and Rosemount’s Rachel Schow. Visit www.Sunthisweek. com for more photos and results from Wednesday’s finals.

Drinking and Driving: A Disaster Waiting to Happen When you head out to celebrate this weekend, use your head. If you plan to drink alcohol, you can avoid a disaster by appointing a designated driver, calling a cab or using public transportation.

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Sun Thisweek May 25, 2012

Klein files for rematch Candidates file for Dakota County commissioner race by Laura Adelmann Sun Thisweek

“To represent the concerns of the county at the other levels of government, that’s what commissioners are expected to do,” Schouweiler said. Other issues Klein cited include property rights, reining in spending and addressing county costs that he said are passed on to cities, Klein said if elected, he would be in frequent contact with city officials in the district. Other Dakota County Board candidates who previously announced their candidacy and filed this week are: • District 1 – Hastings City Council Member Mike Slavik, Farmington City Council Member Christy Jo Fogarty, • District 7 – state Sen. Chris Gerlach, and • Incumbents Tom Egan (District 3), Liz Workman (District 5) and Paul Krause (District 6). Fogarty’s and Slavik’s terms on their respective city councils end in 2014, and Gerlach’s term expires this year. Apple Valley Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland has also announced plans to run for County Board, but as of presstime, had not filed. In an interview, Hamann-Roland said she is out of town and plans to file next week. Candidates have until 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 5 to file for office; they have until Thursday, June 7 at 5 p.m. to withdraw their filing. Joe Harris and Will Branning, a county commissioner since 1997, have both announced they will not seek re-election.

After serving 20 years on the Inver Grove Heights City Council, Bill Klein has filed to run for Dakota County commissioner against incumbent Nancy Schouweiler. “It’s all or nothing,” Klein said in an interview hours after he registered as a candidate when filings opened May 22. Klein ran against Schouweiler in 2010, losing by 755 votes, according to the Minnesota secretary of state’s website. He predicted a different outcome this time, stating that the district’s boundary change will give him a boost. Redistricting has changed District 4 to include part of Eagan and Inver Grove Heights and most of Rosemount, where Klein’s wife Rhonda Fleming grew up in a large family. Klein said he brings enthusiasm and experience to the position, and was critical of lobbying trips to Washington, D.C., Schouweiler and other commissioners have taken because they add costs to taxpayers. Schouweiler said in an interview that the trips have resulted in millions coming to Dakota County. Klein said the county has lobbyists for that, and if commissioners want to be involved, they could accomplish the same thing with a phone call or video conference at no cost to the taxpayer. “I don’t like to spend tax dollars,” Klein said. Schouweiler said she is proud of her leadership in national organizations, including the National Association of Counties, call- Laura Adelmann is at laura. ing it advantageous for the adelmann@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek. county.

Today’s The Day Stop Smoking

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bills, from 1A for the endorsement on the second ballot. Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Pat Shortridge echoed the sentiment, saying voters crave noncareer politicians — Bills, who was elected to the Rosemount City Council in 2008, is currently serving his first year in the House. Shortridge said Republican delegates would readily and quickly rally behind their newly endorsed U.S. Senate candidate. Bills indicated that if elected to the U.S. Senate he would serve no more than two terms. He argues his campaign will be able to compete with Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a popular, wellfunded candidate. “I think we’ll be able to raise millions of dollars,” Bills said. Bills also spoke of networking and grassroot politics as sustaining his election bid. When asked whether his political beliefs were too conservative for the average voter, Bills argued the number of endorsements that he has received shows he has political appeal to a wide base. He had no intention of modifying his political stance on the issues for the general election, Bills indicated. In his speech before the convention, Bills spoke of “Obamanomics” and Klobuchar’s support of perceived failed economic policies of the president. Bills has taught high school economics for 15 years. He explains his entrance into politics as stemming from questions his alarmed gerlach, from 1A Gerlach squared off in the 2004 state Senate race after then Sen. David Knutson, R-Burnsville, retired from the seat. At the time, Hamann-Roland ran as a member of the Independence Party. “Both Mary and I have a long history in public service,” Gerlach said. “Both of us feel strongly that the county has been well run, and we both feel interested in continuing with that.” He said he expects it to be a very competitive race. “This is a way to continue to use what I have

Photo by T.W. Budig

State Rep. Kurt Bills, a Rosemount resident and Rosemount High School teacher, waves to Republican delegates in St. Cloud on May 18 after winning the Republican Party endorsement for U.S. Senate. Behind Bills is wife Cindy and some of the couple’s four children. students have asked him ate District 57 secretary. T.W. Budig can be reached at concerning the ballooning “In this economy and with tim.budig@ecm-inc.com or this level of debt and over- facebook.com/sunthisweek. national debt. Although Bills did not spending, that’s exactly the Tad Johnson contributed to offer any details on the skill-set we need in Wash- this story. fiscal policies he would ington. If he can teach ecochampion in the Senate, he nomics to his students, then indicated that the federal perhaps he can help the budget plan offered by U.S. other politicians in WashRep. Paul Ryan of Wiscon- ington understand that you sin constituted a sound ap- don’t spend more than you have.” proach. Rosemount Mayor Bill Minnesota Democratic Droste said that the en- Party Chairman Ken Mardorsement of Bills is a tin argued that Klobuchar significant accomplish- has been doing a good job. ment since leaving the City “Senator Klobuchar has Council less than two years been a leader in the Senate and has a record of getting ago. “He has a cohesive mes- things done for Minnesosage that resonates with ta,” he said. “Nearly twoMinnesotans,” Droste said. thirds of her bills have been Photo by T.W. Budig “He has also demonstrated with Republicans and she State Rep. Kurt Bills kisses the ability to build a strong has consistently put Min- 9-month-old Kaylene organization, necessary to nesota first to cut red tape Hensley of Alexandria and deliver results for our shortly after winning the run a statewide race.” “I think the biggest fac- families and businesses. endorsement. Steve Hensley, tor in his win was the fact “She’s Senator Effective the baby’s father, said he that he understands eco- for Minnesota,” Martin hadn’t meant for his daughter nomics,” said Apple Valley said. to steal the press conference. resident Kevin Ecker, Senlearned at the state Capitol,” he said of knowing how to get things done in the Legislature. “I think it would be useful to have someone who knows who is pulling the levers at the state Capitol.” Gerlach, who said when retiring from the state Senate that he was doing so to spend more time with his two young children and managing his business (Eagan-based Capitol Direct), said in his release last week that he was ready to retire from the high level of intensity and partisan politics of St. Paul, but was not ready to end his service and re-

lationship with the people of Apple Valley and Rosemount. He called working at the state Capitol very intense and a full-time job. Gerlach was elected as a Republican to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1998 and to the state Senate in 2004. While serving in the Legislature, Gerlach filled numerous leadership positions, ultimately as assistant majority leader and majority whip. Most recently he was chairman of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee with jurisdiction over the regu-

lation of financial institutions such as banking, insurance and real estate. Gerlach is a native of Apple Valley who said he grew up on the same street where Branning lived. He and wife Shelli have two young children in Apple Valley schools, and he owns and operates a direct marketing and bulk mail processing company located in Eagan. Tad Johnson can be reached at tad.johnson@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

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Hazel and the chicken: A dog’s tale County amends dangerous dog policy after Hazel allegedly kills chicken by Laura Adelmann Sun Thisweek

Hazel, a whippet/Labrador mix, escaped her label as a dangerous dog after a Dakota County hearing officer determined she killed at least one chicken only after being provoked by them. Her owners, Mary Jahr and Anthony Olson of Empire Township, successfully earned Hazel the appeal that also helped prompt a policy change, as explained by Dakota County Chief Deputy Tim Leslie during the May 22 Dakota County Board meeting. Hazel had crawled from under her fence March 19 and killed at least one chicken. “According to testimony, they saw the dog with the chicken in its mouth,” Les-

lie told Sun Thisweek in an interview. He added that breed of dog is instinctively inclined to chase chickens. Olson and Jahr appealed the Dakota County Sheriff Department’s dangerous dog notice, hand-delivered to Olson by Sheriff’s Deputy Tim Fletcher on March 23. The case landed before Jean Erickson, Public Services and Revenue Division deputy director, April 19. Erickson determined Hazel had been “enticed” by one or more of Peter Kontinakas’ chickens because they were allowed to “roam freely through the neighborhood.” Erickson found that the chickens particularly gathered along the rear fence

line of Jahr and Olson’s property. “In response, Hazel was enticed to escape her yard through the fence to chase the Kontinakas’ chickens,” Erickson concluded. As a result, the county withdrew its notice, and Hazel will remain at home, free from the constraints put on owners of dogs who have been declared dangerous. Under county policy, a dangerous dog is one that chases in an attitude of attack or bites human or domestic animals when unprovoked. The dog also may have a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack when unprovoked. Once a dog is declared dangerous, owners must register them, pay annual

fees, have them insured and micro chipped and keep them leashed. They must also be sterilized at the owner’s expense, and the sheriff’s office is to be updated of the dog’s residence. Dogs who are declared dangerous may be confiscated or euthanized if owners do not comply with all restrictions. Hazel’s case and changes in Minnesota case law prompted the county to amend its dangerous dog policy to allow owners 14 days to appeal a notice of a determination to declare their dog dangerous. Laura Adelmann is at laura. Photo submitted adelmann@ecm-inc.com or Hazel, a whippet/Labrador mix, is safe at home after it was facebook.com/sunthisweek. delcared she wasn’t a dangerous dog.

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May 25, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Filing period opens for council seats Rosemount has two at-large positions on the ballot by Tad Johnson Sun Thisweek

With the terms of Rosemount City Council members Matt Kearney and Jeff Weisensel expiring at the end of the year, the candidate filing period opened May 22 for two, four-year terms that will be on the Nov. 6 ballot. As of Wednesday afternoon, Maila C. Ellefson and Weisensel had filed with the Secretary of State’s office for the at-large seats that are won by the top two vote-getters. Ellefson, one of 26 candidates who ran for the Rosemount City Council in 2008, said at the time she has had many leadership positions, including in her church, as president of a women’s group and as a preschool lead teacher. She finished with 190 votes in 2008 and ran again in 2010 when she was not one of four candidates who advanced from the primary to the general election. She applied for the vacancy that was created in 2011 when Kurt Bills was elected as House District 37B representative in 2010. That position went to Kearney. Weisensel was elected, along with Bills, in 2008. Weisensel was previously a member of the city’s planning commission and wetlands ordinance task force. He is also a former member of the Dakota County Extension Committee. Weisensel has been a construction project manager for Target Corp. Affidavits of candidacy can be filled out from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on regular business days at Rosemount City Hall, 2875 145th St. W. The deadline is at 5 p.m. Monday, June 5. If more than four candidates file for the office, a primary will be held Aug. 14 to reduce the field to four. Tad Johnson can be reached at tad.johnson@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

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�� PUBLIC NOTICE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 196 Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools Educating our students to reach their full potential CALL FOR BIDS Wireless LAN Cabling Infrastructure Notice is hereby given that BIDS will be received for the purpose of securing a contract for installation of Category 6e cabling for a wireless LAN infrastructure by Independent School District 196 at the District Office, 3455 153rd Street West, Rosemount, MN 55068, until 2:00 PM, Tuesday, June 12, 2012, at which time and place they will be publicly opened and read. Complete instructions on how to obtain Bidding Documents from Elert & Associa t e s c a n b e f o u n d a t : http://www.district196.org/District/LegalNotices/ index.cfm. If you should have any questions regarding this bid you may contact Sandi Parr at (651) 705-1221. Joel Albright, Board Clerk Independent School District 196 3025254 5/25-6/1/12

PUBLIC NOTICE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 196 Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools Educating our students to reach their full potential CALL FOR BIDS Dairy Products Notice is hereby given that BIDS will be received for Food and Nutrition Services' Dairy Products by Independent School District 196 at the District Office located at 3455 153rd St W, Rosemount, MN 55068 until 9:30 a.m. on June 8, 2012, at which time and place bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Complete instructions on how to obtain Bidding Documents can be found at: http://www.district196.org/District/LegalNotices/ index.cfm. If you should have any questions regarding this bid you may contact the Food and Nutrition Department at (651) 683-6959. Joel Albright, Board Clerk Independent School District 196 3025232 5/25-6/1/12

Rosemount Parks and Recreation Rosemount Parks and Recreation will offer the following programs. Register online at www.ci.rosemount. mn.us/parks or call (651) 322-6000 for more information. • Rosemount Little Explorers, ages 3-4 and 5-6, 9 to 11 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, June 13 until July 18, at Jaycee Park (ages 3-4) and Central Park (ages 5-6). Children must be toilet trained. Cost: $44.

• USTA QuickStart Tennis Programs, ages 5-10, morning lessons will be available throughout the summer at Charlie’s Park, 3155 144th St. W. Each eight-class session costs $30. The first session starts June 18. • Free Music in the Park concerts take place at the Central Park Amphitheater near City Hall. Most performances are 45 minutes to an hour in length. Bring

a blanket or lawn chair. In case of inclement weather, performances will be cancelled. For cancellation updates call the information line at (952) 985-1780 and select option No. 6. Schedule: Thursday, June 14, 10 a.m., Sticks and Tones; Thursday, June 21, 10 a.m., Music that Tickles; Thursday, June 28, 10 a.m., Wiggle Jiggle and Jam; Thursday, June 28, 7 p.m., South of the River Com-

munity Band. • Elementary Engineering, grades 2-5 in the fall, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. June 12-14 at the Rosemount Community Center. Build a hand-drill, balance, crane and more in this hands-on camp. Cost: $48. • Wizard School, grades 1-4 in the fall, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. June 12-14 at Rosemount Community Center. Learn to harness electricity to make a wand. Create

scientific potions and more in this hands-on class. Cost: $48. • Outrageous Outdoor Games Camp, ages 6-9, 1 to 3 p.m. June 18-21 at Central Park. Cost: $25. • Star Wars Art Adventures, ages 5-11, 10 a.m. to noon June 18-19 at Rosemount Community Center. Explore the galaxy while creating Star Wars art projects with Abrakadoodle. Cost: $53.