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Thisweek Apple Valley-Rosemount JANUARY 14, 2011
VOLUME 31, NO. 46
www.thisweeklive.com
Opinion/4A
Legal Notices/5A
Announcements/5A
NEWS OPINION SPORTS
Author and baseball buff Stew Thornley to speak Jan. 18 at the RRobert Trail Library. See Thisweekend Page 10A
Sports/6A
Classifieds/7A
Thisweekend/10A
Family takes up the fight to find a cure for diabetes Nathan Buckley, 6, is youth ambassador for Walk to Cure Diabetes by Andrew Miller THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
On the surface, Nathan Buckley is just like any other 6-year-old boy. He loves spending time with his friends and playing games with his brother, Ben, and enjoys going to Vikings and Gopher football games and watching the Minnesota Twins. But each day, Nathan, a student at Highland Elementary School in Apple Valley, must undergo a battery of blood-sugar checks and doses of insulin to keep a potentially deadly medical condition at bay. In October 2008, two weeks shy of his fourth birthday, Nathan was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a condition that is fatal unless treated with insulin. Nathan’s dad, Jon, says treating Type 1 diabetes is a “continual daily grind.�
“You can’t ever forget about it – it never takes a vacation,� said Jon, an English teacher and basketball coach at Edina High School. “This is a disease that’s going to be with him for the rest of his life unless they find a cure.� Though there’s much he doesn’t like about treating diabetes – like getting his finger poked to check his blood-sugar level – Nathan has been a trooper. “He’s a pretty happy kid overall,� Jon said. “We try to live as normal a life as possible. We know that Nate’s special, but we still try to do things like any other kid would.� This year, Nathan has been named the youth ambassador for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s annual Walk to Cure Diabetes, which will be held Feb. 26 at the Mall of
Man sentanced to 18 years in prison for cab driver’s death by Andrew Miller
weapon. During the investigation, A 20-year-old man who police found Palm’s cell pleaded guilty to murder in phone in Abdikarim’s possession. Cell phone connection with the records showed that August 2009 death Abdikarim made of a cab driver in several calls with Apple Valley was the phone. sentenced last week Abdikarim was to 18 years in prison. initially charged Abdirahman with three counts of Abdikarim of Apmurder – including ple Valley pleaded Abdikarim first-degree murder guilty in October to second-degree murder (while committing aggra(while committing a felony) vated robbery) and secondfor killing 41-year-old Mi- degree murder (with intent to kill). chael A. Palm Jr. Prosecutors offered AbPalm was found stabbed to death in his cab on Aug. dikarim a plea agreement 1, 2009, in the parking lot for the one count of secondof a commercial building degree murder because two witnesses had disappeared on Glazier Avenue. According to the crimi- and another recanted his nal complaint, police found statement to police, Dakota Palm dead in his taxi with County Attorney James stab wounds in his forehead, Backstrom said at the time the plea agreement was face, neck, arm and hand. Palm’s cell phone and reached. It was believed GPS system had been taken both witnesses had left the and a bloody screwdriver state. State sentencing guidewas found near his body on lines called for 15 to 21 the floor of the van. DNA analysis by the years in prison in the case. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension linked Andrew Miller is at andrew. Abdikarim to the murder miller@ecm-inc.com. THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
IN BRIEF To support the Buckley family as they participate in this year’s Walk to Cure Diabetes, visit www.teamnathan.org. America. The Buckley family – including Nathan’s mom, Sarah – will be among a half-million other walkers participating in the event at various sites across the country. Jon said the family participates in the walk for three reasons: to support Nathan, to raise awareness about Type 1 diabetes, and to raise money to find a cure. The Buckleys, who live in Apple Valley, participate in the walk under the banner of “Team Nathan.� This year, the family has set a
Photo submitted
The Jon and Sarah Buckley family of Apple Valley – including Nathan, 6, and Ben, 4 – are participating in the Walk to Cure Diabetes in February at the Mall of America. Nathan, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in October 2008, is this year’s youth ambassador for the walk. fundraising goal of $6,000. “Managing Type 1 diabetes is a challenge, but many promising therapies are emerging and we are hopeful for a cure soon,� the Buckleys wrote on their
Walk to Cure Diabetes website, www.teamnathan.org. “For the first time, scientists are predicting that we can expect to see a cure well within our lifetime.� For more information
about the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Walk to Cure Diabetes, visit www.jdrf.org. Andrew Miller is at andrew. miller@ecm-inc.com.
196 middle schoolers to see fewer classroom periods Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School Board unanimously approves schedule change by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan middle school students can expect to see fewer class periods as they register for fall classes this month. On Jan. 10, the School Board unanimously approved shortening its middle school schedule to six periods to boost student achievement, particularly in math, and save money. Eliminating two class periods is expected to save an estimated $1.76 million a year. With fewer periods, students will spend 30 percent more time on core studies such as English, math and social studies, said Steve Troen, director of teaching and learning for District 196. “I think this is a very
positive change,� Board Member Rob Duchscher said. Although officials hope this will improve student achievement, district students already superseded the state average in a standardized science test this year. Middle schoolers scored near the state average. While students will have more time in core studies, they will spend less time in elective classes, Troen said. “But they will have more to choose from as they move toward eighth grade,� he said. Sixth-graders will continue to alternate each day among art, technical science and family consumer science. They will also have a fourth elective every day. Meanwhile, seventhand eighth-graders will
have to choose from among art, tech and FACS among other choices each trimester. Seventh-graders will be allowed two electives per trimester, while eighthgraders will be able to select three. Additionally, eighthgraders will be required to take one trimester of physical education, rather than taking it all year. During a public forum held Dec. 2 at Falcon Ridge Middle School, some parents expressed concerns about reducing physical education requirements — particularly in light of increased childhood obesity. Others voiced concerns about potentially limiting students’ exposure to fine arts and foreign language. The district’s magnet schools, though, would continue to have a foreign language focus. Despite some concerns, most parents supported the changes.
“I think everyone agrees we’re on the right path,� Board Member Art Coulson said. The changes will also include ongoing academic assessments, interventions when a student is falling behind, progress monitoring, as well as personal learning opportunities and support that aids students in transition from elementary to middle school to high school. District officials will be helping teachers over the next few months prepare for the changes, Troen said. Teachers in core studies, such as math, science and English, for instance, will need to find ways to make the most of the extra instruction. Meanwhile, those who teach electives such as art and band may be forced to divide their time among several schools as these classes are cut back. E-mail Jessica Harper at: jessica.harper@ecm-inc.com
Rosemount City Council conducts interviews for open council seat Process held over three days, includes 18 interviews by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Interviews with the 18 candidates seeking to complete the Rosemount City Council term of Kurt Bills, who was elected state representative in November, were held Tuesday and Wednesday. Rosemount City Council members together posed the same list of questions to each candidate during individual half-hour interviews. Interviews were held at a table in council chambers at City Hall, and members of the public, many other candidates, were allowed to watch the proceedings. General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
Saturday winds up the interviews, then the council will confer and announce if they will conduct second interviews with some candidates or name the council member selected to serve Bills’ remaining two-year term. All candidates were asked eight questions narrowed from a larger list the council determined would best help them make their decision. Asked was information about the candidate’s background, reasons for running, top issues facing the city and if they think any of the city ordinances are too strict. In addition, council members
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asked how candidates compromised in situations when they held the minority opinion, and offered an opportunity to share ideas to expand local economic development. Candidates and their answers varied during the first set of interviews, but most mentioned attracting businesses and working with the UMore development as major issues for Rosemount. Rosemount residents who applied for the position are: David Ganfield, Maila C. Ellefson, Jamal Abdulahi, William (Bill) Olson, Sharon Peterson, Patrick Staley, Tim Judy, Dennis Winsor, Shawn Mulhern, Joe Kurle, Pamela VanderWiel, Ryan K.
Photo by Laura Adelmann
Rosemount City Council candidate Sharon Peterson, foreground, was greeted by Rosemount City Council members as she began her interview. From left are Mayor Bill Droste and council members Mark DeBettignies, Jeff Weisensel and Kim Shoe-Corrigan. Johnson, Robert Leuth, Denise Lynn Bednar, Gloria Jorgenson, Matthew Kearney, Jeanne Schwartz and Paul Ness. Interviews on Saturday are scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m., and at 11:30 a.m., council will
discuss options. Applicants were told they would be informed of the council decision by early next week. Laura Adelmann is at laura.adelmann@ecm-inc.com.
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