The troops are readying for battle at the World War II history VOLUME 32, NO. 12 event this weekend in Farmington. See Thisweekend Page 7A
Thisweek Apple Valley-Rosemount MAY 20, 2011
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Woman who killed daughter now charged with prostitution
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Rosemount students answer the call
Celestain, 45, of Apple Valley, arrested in police sting by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
A former Burnsville resident who murdered her 3-yearold daughter in 1998 and then tried to kill herself is one of three women charged last week after a prostitution sting in Burnsville. Tysann Yvette Celestain, 45, of Apple Valley, was charged with two counts of prostitution after being arrested March 23 at a Burnsville motel. Also arrested March 23 at the Days Inn were Tayana Marsha Hudson, 22, of Plymouth, and Cymbre Nicole Ford, 23, of St. Paul. Both were charged with two counts of prostitution. Celestain, who lived in Burnsville at the time, pleaded guilty in July 1998 to seconddegree murder in the Jan. 16 death of her daughter, Jaylyn. She was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Celestain gave her daughter a sleeping pill and suffocated her. Celestain then swallowed sleeping pills and rat poison and put a plastic Celestain bag over her head, but the suicide attempt wasn’t working and her boyfriend was due home soon, according to an account in the 1998 femicide report published by the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women. She then cut her wrist with a knife, crawled out a window of her townhome and walked through the snow to a nearby garage, where police found her huddled and bleeding. She said she had intended to kill herself but didn’t want to leave Jaylyn motherless. Her boyfriend found the girl when he arrived home. Celestain was arrested March 23 in an afternoon sting
by the Burnsville police Street Crimes Unit. An officer called in response to ads on backpage.com and Eros.com, according to complaints filed in Dakota County District Court. In each of the three cases, the women agreed to meet the officer for an hour of “outcall” service in the officer’s room at the Burnsville Days Inn. In each case, the officer went into the bathroom after he and the women agreed on a price for sex, according to complaints, and it was then that an arrest team entered the room. Ford has a previous arrest and active warrant for prostitution in Dakota County, the complaint against her said. John Gessner is at burnsville. thisweek@ecm-inc.com.
Photo by Rick Orndorf
Rosemount High School held a military swearing-in ceremony May 11 in the school’s Student Center. The program included local dignitaries, inspirational speeches, a dedication to two soldiers who recently died in wars and were Rosemount alumni, and an official swearing-in of students who have made commitments to the military. The high school also inducted 14 members into their “Seniors Serving our Country” hall of fame. For more photos, go online to www.ThisweekLive.com.
Carlson turns into Titan
Here come the penguins
Company officials say employees, locations will remain
Penguin exhibit, other new features set to open this summer at Minnesota Zoo among the new features by Andrew Miller planned through the Heart THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS of the Zoo project, which rucconst of year After a Ehmke tion, the Minnesota Zoo is zoo director Lee to push a of part is said new of set to unveil a host y zoo Valle e Appl the make that er summ this features 10 zoos in include a penguin exhibit, one of the top try. coun the a and r, an education cente began Construction new venue for its popular t of Hear on er summ last bird show. which One, e Phas Zoothe the of uins “3M Peng completion African Coast,” set to open is slated for July. this newly July 9 near the zoo’s A new education center, upgraded south entrance, Cargill Environmenthe will offer visitors aboveation Center, will Educ tal of views r and below-wate for school black-footed penguins in a provide space s, and camp zoo and s group on replica of their habitat called er theat r indoo new a h Sout in h Beac Boulder’s Cenning Lear t Targe the Africa. the of site the on built ter, exthe Microphones at e tank, will whal old zoo’s to s guest allow will hibit KAYTEE hear the penguins’ loud play host to the free-flight Birds of d Worl the are braying calls, which months. r winte the in origin of their nickname, show however, s, guest Zoo “jackass penguins.” r to winte for wait n’t need is it exhib uin The peng
Knock, walk & roll Cancer society fundraiser asks people to seek donations, stroll and have fun by Tad Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Last year, nearly three Minnesotans were diagnosed with cancer every hour – about 68 every day. As the number of people being affected by cancer climbs each year, new research and treatment methods are advancing so a cancer diagnosis isn’t a death sentence. Funding for that new research is fueled by the American Cancer Society’s most successful fundraiser – Relay for Life. With the relay coming June 24 and 25 to Rosemount High School’s Irish Stadium, event organizers are seeking participants, donations and volunteers. Participating is as easy as knocking on neighbors’ doors to collect donations, General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
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walking around the track and rolling out the barrel of fun the night of the event. “We are all there for one purpose, and that is to end cancer,” said Dawn Michelsen, who is chairing the event along with Joan and Jenna O’Rourke. “We combine this mission with a lot of fun.” Twenty-six teams and 131 people have signed up to participate as of Monday. More are encouraged to do so to help the effort of reaching a fundraising goal of $35,000, which is on par with past years. “Not only would forming a team help raise money for the American Cancer Society to continue its life-saving research, but it’s also a really fun night,” said Maggie Beekman, ACS community relations, Midwest Division. “Imagine camping with a group of friends in a big field, with great food options, live music, entertainment and the rest of your community is there joining you in doing something really great.” The committee is working hard to line up entertainment, games, competitions, food and even an appearance by some Min-
by Tad Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
File photo
penguin “3M Penguins of the African Coast,” the new set to is y, Valle e Appl exhibit at the Minnesota Zoo in open July 9. versity is check out the Target Learn- show about biodi admiszoo paid ing Center. This summer free with sion. be the indoor theater will More about events and the site of “Odessa’s Magiesota cal Menagerie,” a 25-minute exhibits at the Minn g. oo.or //mnz http: at is Zoo be will puppet show that performed three times daily at andrew. on Fridays, Saturdays and Andrew Miller is . .com m-inc r@ec mille to 28 May Sundays from Sept. 5. The family-friendly
After the sale of Carls son Tractor & Equipment tto Titan Machinery Inc. cclosed on Monday, officcials with both companies say customers won’t notice much of a difference. While the name of Carlson’s two locations in Rosemount and Rogers will change over to Titan, the West Fargo, N.D.-based company is retaining all of the Carlson employees and is expected to add some, according to Rich Carlson, longtime owner of the local company with Ron Carlson. “We will still be working here,” Rich Carlson said on Tuesday. “We are all staying with the company. We are here to help keep doing what we’ve always been doing. Hopefully, we will be doing it better
than before. (Titan is) in it for the long haul. We will take it as far as we can.” He said Titan is looking to add employees in the parts and service departments, which Carlson said has been a primary focus for both companies over the years. “That makes it pretty secure for the employees here,” Carlson said of Titan’s past record of acquiring locally owned dealerships to expand its network, which includes 83 dealerships in North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska and Wyoming. See Titan, 12A
IN BRIEF For more information about the Rosemount Relay for Life from 6 p.m. June 24 to 5:30 a.m. June 25 at Rosemount High School’s Irish Stadium, go online to www.relayforlife.org/ rosemountmn or e-mail rflrosemount@yahoo.com. nesota Vikings cheerleaders. Event organizers also plan to maintain the tradition of serving pizza and ice cream at midnight. “It is truly one of the biggest community events in Rosemount that helps give back to our friends, family members and loved ones,” Michelsen said. Last year, more than 40 cancer survivors walked the traditional first lap to open the event. Michelsen said they hope to have 50 survivors this year. “I think that cancer survivors are the most remarkable and brave people I know,” Beekman said. “I hope that the reason why we get great participation from them is because they feel appreciated and that they know they are the backbone of why we do this fundraising event. It’s the survivors who give us hope and make us want to fight every day for a cure.”
File photo by Tad Johnson
The Rosemount Relay for Life will return again to Rosemount High School’s Irish Stadium on June 24 and 25.
New partners
Get involved
In one of the new partnerships the local relay has formed, The Pond indoor hockey arena has issued a Hockey Team Challenge. Local hockey teams are encouraged to form relay teams for a chance to win a Skate with the Pros at the Pond; team entrance to the Hockey Rocks pro game, concert and activities with a private meet-and-greet with the players; or an autographed hockey prize. To find out how to register a team, go to the website address listed in the In Brief box.
For people who are unable to participate in the relay but would like to help, volunteers are needed for set up in the hours prior to the start and “especially” for cleanup at 5 a.m. May 24, according to Michelsen. People and businesses can give back by donating a silent auction item or breakfast items. Examples of silent auction items are gift cards, prize baskets, electronics and weekend hotel stays. Relay organizers are planning a breakfast menu of coffee, juice and rolls for par-
ticipants when the event is complete. People interested in volunteering for the event should plan to attend the next committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. June 7 at Fireside Grill in the Rosemount Market Square Mall on County Road 42. A Team Captain and Bank Night Meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. right after that meeting. Another team meeting for T-shirt distribution, bank night and silent auction dropoff will be June 23. Tad Johnson is at editor. thisweek@ecm-inc.com.