Three local theater groups are gearing up for the state one-act festival with shows in Lakeville this month. See Thisweekend Page 7A
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Thisweek Apple Valley-Rosemount FEBRUARY 18, 2011 VOLUME 31, NO. 51
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Group hopes to keep rail proposal on track If plans move forward, passenger train would pass through Rosemount by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Decades from now, passenger trains may once again whiz through Rosemount – that is if a new proposal gains speed. A coalition consisting of officials from Olmsted County, the city of Rochester, the Rochester Chamber of Commerce and the Mayo Clinic rolled out a 10-year plan in January to build high-speed passenger rail that would connect Rochester to the Twin Cities, the two largest economic centers in the state. “With the amount of traffic between the two, it’s a great plan for the future,� said Ken Brown, an Ol-
msted County commissioner and member of the coalition. If the project, called a “zip rail line,� moves forward, trains traveling between 150 and 220 mph would run between highways 52 and 56 in Dakota County. The rail line would likely include a stop in the south metro before heading to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, and downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, Brown said. The preliminary cost is estimated to be $973 million. The proposal, which is in its early stages of planning, will need both state and federal funds before construction can begin. Federal grants are available for
such projects as President Barack Obama dedicated $8 million in stimulus funds to high-speed rail. However, state leaders have been less supportive of such projects as they face a $6.2 billion deficit. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has been studying various routes, including a potential rail line between the Twin Cities and Milwaukee and another between the Twin Cities and Chicago. The Milwaukee project fell dead when Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walk rejected federal funding for it, and the Chicago line never gained support. However, Brown said he is confident that passenger rail proposals
Behind the scenes
will pick up speed as the economy rebounds and gas prices rise. “I think this will look a lot more attractive when we are spending $6 a gallon on gas,� he said. In addition to legislative support, the project will need the green light from city and county officials. Rosemount city officials currently have no position on the proposal since it is still in its infancy, said Jason Lindahl, Rosemount city planner. In any project like this, the city’s main concerns would be about noise, whether there would be a stop in Rosemount and potential changes to land use, Lindahl said. The Dakota County Regional
Chamber of Commerce has also remained neutral, but Ruthe Batulis, chamber president, said she believes local businesses may benefit from a rail line. “There are already so many economic connections between the Twin Cities and Rochester that will grow if this moves forward,� Batulis said. If a stop is made in Rosemount, it could boost the local economy substantially, she said. “Rosemount could become a hub and an economic force,� she said. E-mail Jessica Harper jessica.harper@ecm-inc.com
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Officials cautiously optimistic about Dayton’s budget proposal Local school leaders expect Legislature will push for cuts by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photo by Rick Orndorf
Eastview High School’s Amanda Taylor, left, touches up Sarah Cartwright’s makeup prior to their performance of “Third and Oak: The Laundromat� at the Minnesota State High School League’s one-act play festival on Feb. 11 at the University of St. Catherine in St. Paul. Eastview’s entry in the festival earned a “starred performance� rating, the equivalent of a state championship. Directed by Scott Durocher and Rob Rachow, “Third and Oak� marked Eastview’s seventh appearance and seventh “starred performance� at the festival. For more photos, go online at www.ThisweekLive.com.
Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton’s recent proposal to keep education funding flat provided some glimmer of hope for struggling school districts this week, yet district officials remain cautious. “I’m glad Dayton agreed to hold education harmless ... but I understand (the governor and Legislature) are trying to fill a huge hole,� said Ron Hill, a board member in the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District. If general education funding remains flat as Dayton proposed Feb. 15, District 191 would be able to maintain a balanced budget without cuts, Hill said. However, several local district officials said they expect the Republican-controlled Legislature will reject much of Dayton’s proposals and instead call for cuts. “His plan calls for increased taxes, and that will be difficult to get through,� said Art Coulson, a board member in Rosemount Apple Valley-Eagan School District 196. Coulson said he would be disheartened by cuts to education funding. “We need to figure out what the cost of educating students to an excellent state is, and we can’t cut our way to excellence,� he said. District 196 officials are preparing for funding cuts ranging between 2.5 percent and 5 percent. If the state were to cut general education funding by 2.5 percent, District 196 would face $8.5 million in budget adjustments, said Jeff Solomon, the district’s finance director. Another $3.5 million would need to be
Photo by T.W. Budig
Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton delivered on Feb. 9 his first State of the State Address before a joint session of the Legislature and this week proposed that K-12 education funding remain flat for the next biennium. adjusted if the state cut 5 percent of education funding. District officials could use $5 million in one-time money from the Federal Education Jobs Fund to help balance the district’s budget, Solomon said. District 191 officials declined to say how the district’s budget would be affected by potential funding cuts, saying it’s too early to speculate.
Increases elsewhere Although district officials believe the Legislature will nix Dayton’s plans to maintain general funding, they remain cautiously optimistic that the legislators will agree to See Budget, 14A
Zoo staff awaiting test results on cause of dolphin’s death Police: Brother and sister assaulted cops by Andrew Miller
guessing everything.� Willis added that some test results from the necropsy won’t be available for a few weeks, and those might help shed some light on the cause of death. The zoo is also home to April’s daughter “Allie,� 22; April’s granddaughter “Taijah,� born last summer; and 45-year-old “Semo,� the father of Taijah. April arrived at the Minnesota Zoo in January 2008 and was on loan from the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. April gave birth to four calves during her lifetime. “April was one of our most beloved animals. Since she arrived here a few years ago, she quickly became a guest favorite,� Willis said. “She will be terribly missed by staff, volunteers, and all the zoo guests who met her.�
THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Apple Valley officer punched in head, suffered concussion by Andrew Miller THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Police say an “obviously intoxicated� brother and sister injured two officers responding to a report of a fight at an Apple Valley apartment complex. Both siblings – Gregory Belsheim, 25, of Cambridge, and Cassandra Belsheim, 24, of Plymouth – were charged with felony assault last week in connection with the Feb. 5 incident at the Kingston Green apartments located at 15600 Galaxie Ave. A criminal complaint gives the following account: Three officers were General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
dispatched to the apartments on a report of a fight in progress. One officer, identified in the complaint as Officer 1, met with the Belsheims outside while the other officers entered the residence. Outside, Officer 1 attempted to handcuff Gregory Belsheim because he was acting “disorderly.� The intoxicated man responded by kicking the officer and punching him in the head. Officer 1 tackled Gregory Belsheim to the ground, at which point Cassandra Belsheim jumped on the officer’s See Assault, 14A
One of the Minnesota Zoo’s four Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, 44-year-old “April,â€? died Tuesday, Feb. 15, and zoo staff are awaiting test results that could help determine the cause of death. April had been suffering from “a few physical ailmentsâ€? in recent months and was undergoing treatment at the time of her death, according to zoo staff. “This was really a shock to us because the issues were minor,â€? said Kevin Willis, the Apple Valley zoo’s director of biological programs. Photo submitted “We thought maybe she had “April,â€? one of the Minnesota Zoo’s four Atlantic bottlea fungal infection.â€? nose dolphins, died Feb. 15 after battling illness in recent Willis characterized the months. A necropsy (animal autopsy) was performed at the zoo’s oldest female dolUniversity of Minnesota and zoo staff are awaiting test rephin’s health issues as “age sults that might help shed some light on the cause of death. related.â€? A necropsy (animal au- cause of death. Initial tests of the necropsy. “It was a topsy) was performed at the came up blank. shock that she died and it’s University of Minnesota on “We found no obvious really hard not to know why Andrew Miller is at andrew. Tuesday to determine the cause of death,â€? Willis said because staff are second- miller@ecm-inc.com. ďż˝ ďż˝
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