HAUN LEPREC S DAY
An ex-football player turned opera singer returns to his hometown this month for the ensemble musical ‘Titanic’ at the Burnsville PAC. SEE STORY IN THISWEEKEND ON PAGE 7A
Thisweek Apple Valley-Rosemount JULY 16, 2010
Section Special issue is th e id s in
VOLUME 31, NO. 20
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
www.thisweeklive.com
Announcements/5A
Opinion/6A
Puzzle Page/8A
Real Estate/9A
Sports/11A
Homicide suspect turns himself in Man arrested on probable murder charge by Tad Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photo by Laura Adelmann
Tim and Sandra Pope with their children Julian, 3, and Elizabeth, 2, stand by the large thank-you sign they frequently display near the flag in their Rosemount front yard.
Rosemount family offers sign of thanks Homemade sign in family’s yard honors members of military by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
The large homemade thank-you sign under the American flag in Tim and Sandra Pope’s Rosemount yard reflects their gratitude and frustration. After expressing respect for the military and their families, Tim Pope said recent patriotic holidays seem more about fun and games than gratitude and reflection. “We’re in this war with Iraq, then Veterans Day and Memorial Day come around and the only thing people do is have barbecues and go on vacations,” said Tim, who grew up in Uruguay as a missionary, moved back in 1993 and on 9-11 attached a huge American flag to his truck and took the day off work to watch the news coverage. “Do we, the people who don’t serve in the military, understand what they (who serve) and their families go through being deployed and worrying every day, ‘What if my husband or wife gets shot or blown up?’ ” Tim said. “It’s horrendous. On these holidays, we’re all out having a good time … and there are families agonizing over the death of their military people.” His sentiments were echoed by Steve, the manager of the Rosemount VFW who didn’t want his last name printed. He said last year, veterans carrying the flag in Rosemount’s Leprechaun Days parade noticed a man in a wheelchair stand to salute the flag as it passed, but children and parents nearby
ROSEMOUNT didn’t even pay attention. “I think people don’t teach … what the respect of a flag is. We shouldn’t have to write notes and put up banners in people’s yards to believe in the flag, you should believe in what it is,” Steve said. Minnesota National Guard Lt. Col. Kevin Olson, Inver Grove Heights, recently returned with the Rosemount-based 34th Red Bulls Infantry Division after serving a year in Iraq. He said although basic civic knowledge may need some reinforcement through education, many people do express their appreciation to military men and women. “We see more businesses that are offering discounts, and there is a large outcry from cities throughout Minnesota that are organizing as Yellow Ribbon communities that have specific programs that assist military families as they return home,” Olson said. “But, most prevalent is the fact that when a citizen sees me in uniform, I almost always receive a thank you.” Even the patriotic sentiments the Pope family has expressed in writing have occasionally inspired others to honk their horns in support as they drive by, a sign which gives Tim hope. “My hope is that we restore honor … and honor our military men and women, honor our police officers and show respect to older people,” he said. Laura Adelmann is at laura. adelmann@ecm-inc.com.
ROSEMOUNT
A 28-year-old Burnsville was a passenger in a friend’s car man has been jailed on probable when the friend drove to the car cause for a second-degree murder wash to vacuum the vehicle, accharge after turning himself in to cording to police. police shortly after 6 a.m. After arriving at the car Wednesday in connection wash there was a brief alwith the shooting death tercation between Hartof a 22-year-old Apple man and the suspect beValley man on Monday in fore the suspect pulled out Rosemount. a handgun and shot HartJonas Gerald Grice man several times. He died was taken into custody at the scene. without incident at the Jonas Gerald “It was a brief altercaBurnsville Police Depart- Grice tion, a matter of exchangment. ing glances and a few He was being held at the Da- words,” Rosemount Police Chief kota County Jail on Wednesday. Gary Kalstabakken said during a The Dakota County attorney’s press conference. office was reviewing the case with After the shooting, the suspect formal charges expected by noon then got into his car and drove on Friday, July 16. out of the parking lot onto CanAfter Grice’s arrest, the investi- ada Avenue before turning northgation into the case continues. bound on Highway 3 (South RobThe Dakota County Sheriff’s ert Trail). Department reported that several At the time of the shooting, tips were received following the re- there were five other vehicles at lease of a composite sketch of the the car wash in addition to those suspect Tuesday night by Rose- of the suspect and the victim’s mount police. friend. There were also several Anthony Adam Hartman was people present in businesses and found dead by police at about 6 parking lots that are adjacent to p.m. July 12 after they responded and across the road from the car to a report of shots fired at the wash. The Car Spa car wash at 15215 More information about this Canada Ave. story will be posted at www. Prior to the shooting, Hartman ThisweekLive.com as it is received.
Gas prices skyrocketing?
In the face of continued fiscal turmoil at the state level, board members of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district are unanimous in their recognition of the need for another operating levy to dampen the effect of budget cuts. It is an unenviable position: Even if the voters approve the proposed $15.4 million levy this fall, the district will General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
by Tad Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
A 2006 Rosemount High School graduate apparently was doing what he had done for most of his life – standing up for friends and family – when he was shot Monday, July 12, at a Rosemount car wash. Anthony Adam Hartman, 22, of Apple Valley was shot after an alterca- Anthony tion with an armed man Hartman in a crime that Rosemount Police Chief Gary Kalstabakken said doesn’t make any sense. Hartman was at The Car Spa car wash with a friend when the altercation ensued. Witnesses report that the man who shot Hartman didn’t hurry from the scene, but rather got into his car and drove away like nothing had happened. Hartman graduated from Minneapolis Business School in 2007. He earned the Boy Scouts’ top honor of Eagle Scout and enjoyed the outdoors and fishing. He also played football at Rosemount High School. A Mass of Christian burial for Hartman will be at 11 a.m. Monday, July 19, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Rosemount. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Sunday at White Funeral Home, 14560 Pennock Ave., Apple Valley, and one hour prior to Mass at the church. He was preceded in death by grandparents, Adam and Shirley Bader, Virgil Hartman and Paul Hinderscheit. He is survived by his parents, Karen and David Hartman; brother, James Hinderscheid; grandmother, Amella Hinderscheid; many uncles, aunts, cousins and friends.
APPLE VALLEY
Apple Valley ranked No. 20 on Money magazine’s list of America’s best places to live by Andrew Miller THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photo by Andrew Miller
No, gasoline is not $8.88 per gallon at Piston Pete’s/Andy’s Market in Apple Valley. The gas station at Galaxie Avenue and 140th Street was pumping unleaded at $2.54 a gallon this week, but an electronics glitch with the digital sign in front of the store gave the impression gas prices had spiraled out of control. “It just died on us – we can’t even turn it off,” manager Jeff Michaelson said on Tuesday. A repair crew was scheduled to correct the problem on Wednesday. Michaelson noted that, in a strange way, the sign malfunction may have been good for business, as the sky-high gas-price listing was sure to grab the attention of passing motorists.
District says measure is needed to help balance budget, but won’t stave off cuts THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Man who died was Rosemount High School graduate
City among 20 best in nation
School board plans to pursue a levy this fall by Aaron Vehling
ISD 196 still have to spend down its fund balance and make several million dollars in cuts and adjustments to balance the 2011-12 budget. The levy would mean fewer cuts, not a lack of cuts, and not even a prevention of future cuts, said Jeff Solomon, the district’s finance director. This is because the state’s proposed $6 billion budget deficit comprises
nearly a fifth of the total state budget, according to the office of state economist Tom Stinson. This is a catalyst for the school board to prepare for the worst, while trying to maintain its role as a provider of quality education. In 2005, voters approved the district’s current levy of $1,042 per pupil. The board’s $15.4 million levy aspiration amounts to about $522 per pupil, Solomon said. This would hit the See Budget, 3A
The city of Apple Valley recently received some major kudos from Money magazine. Apple Valley earned the No. 20 spot on this year’s list of America’s Best Places to Live, the magazine’s annual ranking of the nation’s most livable small cities. The rankings are determined by financial, housing, education, and quality-of-life statistics, as well as factors such as leisure activities and culture. “The economic downturn has been tough on everyone, but we appear to be weathering the storm,” said Apple Valley Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland. “We have continued job growth, a low crime rate and excellent schools. We’re very fortunate to live in a community that has the great building blocks in place. We have great businesses and great people.” This wasn’t the first year Apple Valley garnered a spot on the Money magazine list. The city ranked No. 28 in 2007, and was Mayor Mary No. 24 in 2008. Hamann-Roland Apple Valley was among two cities in Dakota County and a total of five in the Twin Cities to crack the top 20 on the list this year. Eden Prairie came in at No. 1, Plymouth was No. 11, Woodbury was No. 13 and Eagan No. 15. A recently aired segment on NBC’s “The Today Show” about the Money magazine rankings noted the high number of Minnesota cities in the top 20. Hamann-Roland said she’d like to invite “Today Show” host Matt Lauer to visit Apple Valley and find out in person what put the city in the top 20. “We’d love for him to come and do a show in Apple Valley,” she said. A full list of the top 100 is available online at http:// money.cnn.com. Andrew Miller is at andrew.miller@ecm-inc.com.
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