SUN Thisweek Apple Valley and Rosemount by Sun Thisweek

Apple Valley | Rosemount

www.SunThisweek.com Special Section

July 27, 2012 | Volume 33 | Number 22

Three finalists named for police chief Group includes staff members from Rosemount, Apple Valley and Burnsville departments

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Dakota County Fair

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by Tad Johnson Sun Thisweek

Three finalists have been selected for the open Rosemount chief of police position. They are Jewel Ericson, police lieutenant in Rosemount; Michael Marben, police captain in Apple Valley; and Eric Werner, police captain in Burnsville. “We are pleased with the quality of the group, and we have some good candidates,” City Administrator Dwight Johnson said. Rosemount Mayor Bill Droste said the city is fortunate to have these candidates as finalists, especially

considering they are all from Dakota County. He said that shows there are some very competent police leaders working in the area. The candidates were whittled from an initial field of 11 and then reduced to six who were interviewed last week by a panel of city staff, local residents and the Eagan Chief of Police James McDonald. “We had a good process,” Johnson said. He said the application process had a high threshold for candidates. The city accepted only those applicants who have had law en-

forcement command experience. The public is invited to meet the three finalists during an open house from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, in the council chambers on the second floor of Rosemount City Hall, 2875 145th St. W. There will be no formal program. The city held a similar open house prior to its City Council interviews for the open city administrator’s position that was filled by Johnson in 2008. “It is important to the community as a whole since it is a very visible and im-

portant position to have some outside input,” Johnson said of the police chief job. Droste said it is good to connect with business owners and residents and gain their feedback on such high-profile hires. The Rosemount City Council will conduct formal interviews of the finalists on Aug. 6 after a candidate assessment is completed by Harry Brull from the Minneapolis employment firm Personnel Decisions International. The opening occurred when Police Chief Gary Kalstabakken retired from

the Rosemount force on May 31.

The candidates Ericson has been with the Rosemount department for the past 27 years, serving in a variety of capacities. He has been a lieutenant for the past six years. Prior to that, he was a patrol sergeant for 16 years and a police officer for four and a half years. Ericson attended Bemidji State University and Mankato State University to earn his bachelor’s degree in law enforcement. See police chief, 5A

Leprechaun Days makes a splash

Riptide has wave of success Dakota REV Riptide won 40 games this season, captured two tournament titles and achieved other lofty goals. Page 14A

thisweekend

Photo by Tad Johnson

Shira Rabinowicz, coordinator of the Rosemount Family Resource Center, was named the grand marshal of this year’s Rosemount Leprechaun Days Grand Parade at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 28.

Marshalling support for families

Rosemount Family Resource Center coordinator to be honored during parade by Tad Johnson Sun Thisweek

Paranormal activity Investigators with the Dakota County Paranormal Society will share their findings at Lakeville’s Heritage Library next week. Page 12A

Online Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ sunthisweek. Tweet with us at twitter. com/sunthisweek. Find more photos and stories at sunthisweek. com.

Index Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Announcements . . . . . . . 7A Legal Notices . . . . . . . . . 8A ThisWeekend. . . . . . . . . 12A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14A Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . 15A

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Before Shira Rabinowicz became the coordinator of the Rosemount Family Resource Center, there was little in the way of programs and the center had only two or three volunteers. Six years later, one would be hard pressed to find a day or a waking hour that goes by without something special happening at the outreach location of Burnsvillebased nonprofit 360 Communities. While Rabinowicz deflects much of the credit for the work that’s being done there, she won’t be able to shy away from it this Saturday as grand marshal of the Rosemount Leprechaun Days Grand Parade. She’s being recognized as the catalyst who has led to the development of a vibrant community gathering place that’s safe, fun and ready to help in many ways. “Our volunteers do so much,” Rabinowicz said of the scores of volunteers in Rosemount. “They build meaningful relationships and trust with the families that come to us.” Among the programs that have started since Rabinowicz came to Rosemount are those that offer homework help, family support, additional night and weekend openings of the food shelf, a gardening program, the Friendship Club and a teen girls group. She said all of those programs happened because of the efforts of volunteers. “I think when things happen organically, they stick,” Rabinowicz said, who started her work as See marshal, 5A

Photo by Rick Orndorf

The team from Rosemount Tool and Saw got off to a wet start at the 2012 Rosemount Leprechaun Days Bathtub Races in the Central Park Hockey Rink on July 24. Teams from local businesses, adults, and teens raced bathtubs through a course set up inside the hockey rink while dodging water balloons tossed by spectators. Lighthouse Christian Church sponsored the event and donated the sale of balloons to charity. More Leprechaun Days photos are inside and online at www.SunThisweek.com.

Under the big top, young talents shine Two Apple Valley performers featured in Circus Juventas’ summer show

by Andrew Miller Sun Thisweek

Lauren Cook started with the unicycle. These days she’s dazzling crowds under the big top with high-flying feats on the trapeze. As a performer with St. Paul-based Circus Juventas, Cook specializes in aerial skills. Those skills will be on display at the circus’ summer show “Showdown” as she flies through the air on the Spanish web – a type of acrobatics performed on a hanging rope – and the “bungee trapeze.” “The bungee trapeze is like bungee jumping, but not as scary – we have mats beneath us,” said the 19-year-old Apple Valley resident. “Showdown” is the circus’ annual show spotlighting its advanced students. The 20-performance run of the Wild West-themed “Showdown” will feature somersaulting outlaws, lasso-twirling cowboys, contortionist card players, and aerialists on a wagon wheel chandelier. Cook has logged 10 years with Circus Juventas, a nonprofit performing arts troupe for children and youths up to age 22. Her entree into Circus Juventas was a weeklong kids camp one summer during her elementary school years. She took to it immediately. “At the end of the week I begged my mom to let me keep going,” she recounted. Cook currently puts in about nine hours of classes each week at Circus Juventas, and practices her circus skills every day. A 2011 graduate of Eastview High School and now an interior design student at Dakota County Technical College, Cook is one of two Apple Valley residents who will be performing in “Showdown.”

Lauren Cook

Lexie Johnson

Lexie Johnson, who will be a seventh-grader at Falcon Ridge Middle School in the fall, is in her first year with Circus Juventas. A gymnast since the age of 3 – she’s a longtime student of TAGS Gymnastics in Apple Valley – Johnson will be doing tumbling, one of her circus specialties, in “Showdown.” “Showdown” runs Aug. 2-19 at the Circus Juventas Big Top, 1270 Montreal Ave., St. Paul. More about Circus Juventas and “Showdown” is at www.circusjuventas.org. Andrew Miller can be reached at andrew.miller@ecm-inc. com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

July 27, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Hansen family finds Lost Medallion Family wins $500 from Sterling State Bank by Tad Johnson Sun Thisweek

The 2012 Leprechaun’s Lost Medallion was found Wednesday morning by Ty, 7, and Aubrey, 5, Hansen of Rosemount, along with a little help from their parents Heidi and Eric. Ty Hansen found the medallion at the base of a tree in Carrolls Woods Park, which was named for former landowners and farmers Don and Mary Carroll. The tree was next to one of the paved walking paths. They said they entered the park from Clover Lane and walked around for about 15 minutes until they saw a large, Y-shaped tree with a large knob on it. For their efforts, the Hansens received the $500 cash prize from Sterling State Bank. “We couldn’t believe it,” Heidi Hansen said. “I didn’t think there was going to be any way we were going to find it since we saw so many other people out who looked more expert than us.” The Hansens looked in several parks over the first three days of the hunt. They traveled to Twin Puddles, Meadows, Bloomfield, Schwarz Pond, Central and Erickson. They had been in Carrolls Woods previously, but came back after more the clues pointed them to the park.

Photo by Tad Johnson

The Hansens – Ty, 7, Heidi, and Aubrey, 5 – found the Leprechaun’s Lost Medallion on Wednesday, July 25, the third day of the annual Leprechaun Days hunt in Rosemount. They won a $500 cash prize from Sterling State Bank for their efforts. “This experience has been very fun for our whole family,” Heidi Hansen said. She said the family brainstormed ideas of what the clues meant as it helped her children – who will both be students at Rosemount Elementary School this fall – think about some of the meanings behind the words. “I really appreciate the bank and their generosity to be part of this event,” Heidi Hansen said. The Hansens have lived in Rosemount since 2003.

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Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount July 27, 2012

Police: Teens made bombs, threw them at homes in Apple Valley, Lakeville Four local teens are accused of making homemade bombs and detonating them outside residences in Apple Valley and Lakeville earlier this year. Eric Daniel Johnson, 18, of Lakeville, told police that he and three friends had each purchased a different component needed to make the explosive devices, which included tin foil, tonic water, bathroom cleaner and fruit punch. Johnson has been charged with a felony-level explosives crime. His three friends – a 16-year-old male and two 17-year-old males, whom prosecutors did not identify because they’re under 18 – were also charged with bomb-related crimes.

The criminal charges were filed after police responded to reports of explosions the night of March 23. According to the complaint, at about 10 p.m. that night Lakeville police were called to a home on the 16000 block of Grinnell Avenue, where they found a melted plastic bottle and a liquid chemical. Police also received a report of another explosive device detonated outside a home on the 16000 block of Griffin Lane in Lakeville. Then, at 10:30 p.m., Apple Valley police were called to the a home on the 1000 block of Whitney Lane on a report of two bombs detonated in a front yard. A wit-

ness provided officers with a description of the suspects’ vehicle and other information that led to identification of Johnson as one of the suspects. Police went to Johnson’s residence and spoke with the four teens. Johnson told an officer he’d been the driver that evening, the complaint said. He turned over the remaining bomb-making supplies to police, which included six bottles of tonic water and two rolls of tin foil. One of the suspects admitted throwing more than five of the bombs at the three homes, which were the homes of friends or acquaintances of the suspects. Another suspect told po-

lice that the bomb-throwing spree was done “as a joke” and that the four suspects had been “just goofing around,” according to the complaint. Johnson, whose court date is July 30, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine if convicted of the explosives violation. One of the 17-year-old males has already pleaded guilty to the charge, and the other two teens are scheduled to appear in court July 31. —Andrew Miller

Lightning causes fire at Apple Valley home A lightning strike caused a fire at an Apple Valley home early Tuesday, resulting in damage to the home’s exterior. Apple Valley firefighters were called to the residence on the 14600 block of Dominica Court at about 4:15 a.m. after the homeowner awoke to the sound of the lightning strike, smelled smoke,

went outside and saw that the house was on fire. Three people were inside when the fire broke out. All three escaped unharmed. According to fire officials, the lightning hit a gas meter. Damage was limited to the home’s exterior – some of the siding was melted – and the home can still be occupied. FOR MINNESOTA TRAVEL INFORMATION, CALL 1-888-TOURISM (1-888-868-7476)

Opinion

July 27, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

The Irish: The reason for the celebration by the Rev. Paul Jarvis Special to Sun Thisweek

Okay, I’m 100 percent nerd. I love geography. I love history. I especially love history relevant to our local community. And I know that when the typical St. Joseph Catholic Church parishioner, Rosemount citizen, and Dakota County resident learns more and more about this area’s pioneering settlers as well as founders of St. Joseph Parish, I won’t be alone in my love of this area’s history. When the city of Rosemount holds Leprechaun Days, when athletes and scholars of Rosemount High School are referred to as “The Irish,” it is really a civic tip of the hat to the Irish immigrants who largely settled the area. To be sure, there were Germans, French and Yankees in the area. But it would be the Irish who would make the biggest mark on the area. And not just in Rosemount. Just look in Highland Cemetery at Pilot Knob and Dodd, practically the nexus of Rosemount, Apple Valley, Lakeville and Farmington. Plenty of Irish surnames to be found there. Incidentally, St. Joe’s first church was once across from the first of our two cemeteries, a parish serving mostly Irish settlers from all four townships. A silo is currently near the old church’s buried foundation. Before there was an official Catholic Christian parish, priests residing in neighboring established parishes visited this area’s first settlers, arriving in 1853. Five years before statehood. Let’s back up a bit. The signing of two treaties with the Dakota (Sioux) people in 1851 opened up 30 million acres of territory for settlement to European immigrants, including Dakota County. You can see the remnant sovereign territory of these “Original People,” in part, around their Prior Lake reservation. (You should check out the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s website: www.shakopeedakota.org. Incidentally, many Dakota were evangelized and baptized by Father Augustin Ravoux, a priest-colleague of our parish’s first pastor, and no doubt a visitor to our area.) In 1853, land in the Rosemount area could be legally claimed by immigrants. Settlers first began to arrive in the spring of 1855. By the fall of that year, the landscape was dotted with settlers’ shacks. Settlement growth continued until the great depression of 1857, with new arrivals slowing to a trickle. Again, while other groups were represented, the majority of settlers were Irish Catholic immigrants, both political and economic refugees from British-occupied Ireland.

Guest Columnist

Paul Jarvis

In 1854, the nearest Catholic Church was St. Peter’s Church in Mendota, the church serving Catholic soldiers and family members at Fort Snelling and the motherchurch for all local Catholic parishes. The historic church is still there; sometime you should see it. Just call the parish office, and they’ll let you in. In 1855, St. John the Baptist Church was established in what was originally called “Byrnesville.” St. John’s subsequently moved into a new building in Savage. The following year, the Church of the Guardian Angels was built in Hastings; it has subsequently been merged with another Hastings parish, forming St. Elizabeth Anne Seton Church. The historic church is now a community center.

Serving “the Irish” All three of the above parishes had resident pastors who, at one time or another, baptized children, witnessed marriages and held Masses among the Irish in this part of Dakota County. The first Mass was celebrated in the area – in what would become Lakeville Township – at the home of Michael Johnston, April 1855, celebrated by Father McMahon from Guardian Angels. He also performed the first recorded baptism in the area on Feb. 26, 1856: Catherine Martin, also of Lakeville Township. The first Mass in Rosemount Township proper was held at the home of John Murphy in 1858. Holding liturgies in private homes forced priests to improvise. For example, when people gathered at the Thomas Hyland home (near the current Highland Cemetery) for liturgies, Father Anatole Oster – eventually St. Joseph’s first pastor – heard confessions through a high cane-back chair. The priest sat on the floor on one side of the chair, while the penitent knelt on the other side, using the chair’s back as a screen. Liturgies were held sporadically in area homes until 1859, a year after statehood, when liturgies began to be held regularly in both Rosemount and Lakeville townships. In 1861, both township faith community groups were recognized as missions. Guardian Angels’ pastor ministered in the Rosemount mission. First St. Peter’s pastor ministered to the Lakeville mission (1861-1866), followed by St. John’s pastor

ministering in the mission until St. Joseph’s Church was established for both communities in 1868.

Come together Before the parish’s 1868 establishment, Father J. Thaddeus Stevens, St. John’s pastor, tried to combine the two missions into a single new parish. Arguments over location frustrated such efforts. The following year, our diocese’s first bishop – Bishop Joseph Crétin – appointed Father Anatole Oster, recently the fourth pastor of the St. Peter’s mother-church, as St. John’s pastor. A capable organizer, he was given the assignment to combine the Rosemount and Lakeville missions into a single parish. A compromise was struck among the largely Irish settlers, with seven acres of land acquired from the Hyland family about halfway between the tiny Rosemount and Lakeville villages … but technically in extreme northeast Lakeville. In June 1868, work was started on the first parish church, a wooden 36-by-70 foot structure. Work progressed quickly, thanks to motivated volunteers and community, and on Sunday, Aug. 30, 1868, the new but still unfinished building was dedicated to St. Joseph with a Mass celebrated by Oster. Eventually, Lakeville Township parishioners would split off from St. Joe’s and form their own parish in Lakeville’s old town center. In 1881, a second St. Joseph’s parish was built, this time in Rosemount’s town center.

More history to come Between now and our parish’s quincentennial celebration in the summer of 2018, Dakota County community members will be reading about the church of “the Irish” here: St. Joseph’s history. A community now enjoying the membership of Asian-Americans, French-Americans, German-Americans, Italian-Americans, Latino-Americans, Filipino-Americans, African-Americans, Scandinavian-Americans, Anglo-Americans, Slavic-Americans, Maltese-Americans, Native-Americans, Scottish-Americans, Irish-Americans, and Heinz 57-Americans, like me. Over the years, missions and parishes would split off from St. Joseph’s Church: All Saints in Lakevile, then St. Michael’s Church in Farmington. Both St. John Neumann and Risen Savior would split off from their mother-church here in Rosemount. In preparation for our 150th anniversary in 2018, we’re forming a St. Joseph History Committee. Interested Dakota County community members can contact Bridget Samson at bridget.samson@stjosephcommunity.org, or call (651) 423-4402.

Two additional events add to happenings in Rosemount this weekend

There are two events – a tailgate party and a soccer game – related to Rosemount Leprechaun Days that could strike even more festiveness this weekend. St. Joseph Catholic Church will hold its first Irish (Settlers) Tailgate Party, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 28. The event promises to have music, games and goodies for purchase. One of the activities will be a Commode Championship, which is a revival of the once-prominent Toilet Bowl Races that were held annually during Leprechaun Days. Sign-up begins at 7 p.m. and the races at 7:30 p.m. In past years contestants have sat on the wheeled toilets and propelled them using plungers in each hand. Despite all the silliness, the church plans to use the event as a way to recognize its past, too, as it approaches its 150th year. “We plan to celebrate in some fashion, every year, the Irish settlers who not only pioneered Rosemount, but also started our parish,” said St. Joseph’s Father Paul Jarvis.

RHS soccer alumni game Rosemount High School soccer alumni will play a game at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 28, after the Rosemount Leprechaun Days Grand Parade, which starts at 11 a.m. The game will be played at the school’s practice fields. More information can be obtained by emailing jvleininger@yahoo.com. The Friends of Highland Cemetery are also looking for members with a love for history, or an interest in keeping up our historic first parish cemetery. Members from all our area parishes, as well as Dakota County community members with a passion for history, are welcome to explore their excellent website and see how they can help. Simply Google “Friends of Highland Cemetery” and “Lakeville.” Father Paul Jarvis is pastor of “The Historic Church of The Irish” – St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rosemount. Columns reflect the opinion of the author.

Why are growing numbers of Minnesota youngsters being home-schooled? by Joe Nathan Sun Thisweek

Why are some families doing home schooling, how many are doing it, and is it a good idea? Several readers responded to a recent column on district and charter enrollment by asking these questions. First, why? Professor Milton Gaither of Messiah College in Pennsylvania said: “The most recent (2007) National Center for Education Statistics data (http://nces.ed.gov/ pubs2009/2009030.pdf) has the top three reasons for homeschooling being first, a concern about school environment (bullying, lack of morals, etc), second, a parental desire to provide religious or moral instruction, and third, dissatisfaction with the academic instruction at the public school.” “Although each situation is unique, most parents turn to homeschooling because, ultimately, they want what is best for their kids,” said Beth Balmanno, president of Minnesota Homeschoolers’ Alliance. “Perhaps their special needs students aren’t getting their needs met; maybe their gifted

Sun Thisweek Columnist

Joe Nathan

child isn’t being challenged; or maybe they want to provide their child with the ability to follow their passions and interests, free of an institutionalized schedule.” Minnesota Department of Education officials Cindy Jackson and Carol Hokenson supplied state statistics. Here’s a brief, partial summary of their records, including school years and numbers of Minnesota students being “homeschooled.” • 1987-88 - 2,322 • 1997-98 - 13,081 • 2006-2007 - 17,621 • 2011-12 - 16,081 These figures showed an increase of more than 15,000 from, 1987-88 to 20062007, and then a modest decline.

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.

“The increase in homeschooling from the 1980s to the 2000s is a reflection of two things: Legislation made it easier for families to homeschool and homeschooling became more ‘mainstream,’ ” Balmanno said. “The reduction in recent years is directly related to the increase of online schools. Although an alternative to brick and mortar education, students enrolled in online schools do not count as homeschooled students.” Gaither agrees with her. “Some states have seen declines since the mid 2000s and, yes, indeed those declines frequently correlate with the expansion of online public schools (cybercharters being the most conspicuous example),” he said. Though students being educated via a “public cyber-school” or via online learning are not counted in the homeschooling figures, they clearly are doing some of their learning at home. The southeastern Minnesota school district of Houston has adapted to the opportunity that homeschooling provides. They’ve created “online” learning opportunities for students throughout Minnesota. Justin Treptow, head of Houston’s online program, told me that the district enrolled more than 1,600 full-time online students last year, and 185 part-time students. This is not an argument that home schooling or online learning is the best option for everyone. Not every family does a great job with this, and some online learn-

ing programs have promised more than they delivered. “It would be hard to quantify achievements of homeschoolers because families perceptions of ‘achievement’ are wide and varied,” Balmanno said. “Do homeschool graduates go on to attend college? Absolutely. Do homeschoolers achieve perfect SAT scores and win academic contests and excel at sports? Certainly. However, there is no clearinghouse for this type of information.” Gaither has concluded, that it is “impossible to summarize or generalize the impact of homeschooling on students.” Over the last few years, I’ve read deeply moving essays by suburban and rural students who are learning online. Some describe bullying that they experienced in large secondary schools, and the far more comfortable environment they experience by learning at home, via online learning. Others describe a medical issue, either for themselves for a close family member, which made it difficult or impossible to leave the home for many months. They praise the home school/online option, as one youngster wrote: “Just right for me.” Joe Nathan, formerly a Minnesota PTA president, public school teacher and administrator, directs the Center for School Change. Reactions welcome, joe@centerforschoolchange.org. Columns reflect the opinion of the author.

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Wilfahrt has depth of experience To the editor: Thank you for the profile on Jeff Wilfahrt, candidate for Minnesota House of Representatives District 57B, and GOP candidate Anna Wills’ profile as well. Unbiased, candid articles like these are, in my opinion, an excellent way to learn about new candidates, who as of yet have no voting record. While it is true that Mr. Wilfahrt and his wife, Lori,

have worked to educate the voters about the marriage amendment on November’s ballot, it is also true that the candidate has even a great deal more to offer than his dedication to this cause. Jeff Wilfahrt has been a member of the Rosemount community for over 30 years and a lifelong Minnesota citizen. He and his wife raised three children through the local school system. He worked for 3M, a Minnesota Forbes 500 company, for many years, and has owned his own private contracting business since.

He is concerned about the economy, local job growth and balancing the budget. He understands that education is key to a prosperous, stable community. He wants to ensure that every Minnesotan enjoys the freedoms that are our right. He brings to the table experience, knowledge and commitment. For those reasons, I am voting for Jeff Wilfahrt for Minnesota House of Representatives District 57B. Michele Olson Apple Valley

marshal, from 1A a domestic violence victim’s advocate at the Burnsville Police Department about 11 years ago. “When things work, the people’s hearts have to be in it.” Within the first few weeks of taking the job in Rosemount, she knew the community was the kind that could generate that kind of action. After a chance meeting landed her a speaking engagement at Rosemount United Methodist Church in those first few weeks, her talk opened the door for several volunteers from the church, which led to them recruiting their own friends. Another casual connection led to one of the greatest sources of the center’s volunteers. Rabinowicz said Rosemount resident Teresa Paetznick walked by the center one day and wondered what it was all about. After Paetznick heard Rabinowicz talk about the organization, she remarked something to the effect that she had never known it had existed. Paetznick then introduced the Glendalough at Evermoor volunteer group to the center and now the group opens the center’s food shelf on the third Saturday of every month. They conduct food drives, they raise money and send volunteers to help with programs. “I met all of these amazing people who are so kindhearted,” Rabinowicz said.

In brief Rosemount Leprechuan Days closes this weekend with a full slate of events Friday, July 27, and Saturday, July 28, including music at the Central Park Ampitheater on both nights by Critical Mass and G.B. Leighton on Friday and Pop Rocks on Saturday along with a fireworks show. The MidSummer Faire in the park includes food, carnival rides and much more. More information is at SunThisweek. com. Look for the Leprechaun Days Information Central post.

Leprechaun Days and this year’s Night to Unite. Rabinowicz said the picnics and other special events have helped to make people not feel so isolated and has neighbors relying more on each other. Another area in which the center has made great strides is through its family advocates. This program pairs an advocate with a family to help them through difficult times whether it be financial, communication needs or domestic violence. “They go above and beyond in every single capacity,” Rabinowicz said of the advocates. “It’s amazing to see what that does for families.” She said they are giving hope and comfort to people who often are embarrassed to ask for help. The change Rabinowicz has helped encourage isn’t expected to end anytime soon. She’s a member of the Rosemount Leaders Group, which will forward some recommendations to the 360 Communities’ Convening to help move Rosemount forward in a positive direction with initiatives like the ones the Resource Center has led. With Rabinowicz and several like-minded folks dedicated to building a better future, it appears the potential to change people’s lives for good is limitless.

“They all wanted to get involved.” In addition to running a food shelf, which serves up to 4,500 people every month, one of the most important functions of the center is tutoring and mentoring for children and teens. Programs help preschool through high school-age students in all areas of curriculum with homework help and even educational field trips. Rabinowicz said the center has forged great working connections with all Rosemount schools to provide guidance in how to train volunteers in tutoring methods. Connections with local churches have been invaluable sources of volunteers, food shelf donations and other support services. Two churches are helping Tad Johnson can be reached provide activities and food at tad.johnson@ecm-inc.com for picnics this week during or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

police chief, from 1A Police Staff and Command graduate and has a bach Marben has been a cap- elor’s degree in accounting tain in Apple Valley since from the University of Min2006, according to his nesota’s Carlson School of LinkedIn profile, oversee- Management and a masing the patrol and support ter’s degree in public safety services divisions over that administration from Saint time. He’s also served as a Mary’s University. police officer, detective and Werner has been a police sergeant with the depart- captain in Burnsville since ment. October 2004, according to He previously was a po- his LinkedIn profile. lice officer in Prior Lake for He served on the Dakota nearly six years before start- County Drug Task Force ing in Apple Valley in 1990. Advisory Board from 2004 Marben is a Northwest- 2010 in the capacities of ern University School of chairman, vice chairman

and secretary. Werner has a master of arts in police leadership, education and administration from the University of St. Thomas and a bachelor of arts in organizational management and communication from Concordia University. He is a member of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Rosemount. Tad Johnson can be reached at tad.johnson@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

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Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount July 27, 2012

July 27, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Dakota County drug case retesting begins Appeals could overwhelm the attorney’s office, justice system by Laura Adelmann Sun Thisweek

A week after workers testified to failures at the St. Paul crime laboratory, Dakota County is having retested all drug evidence in first-degree cases currently being litigated. The evidence is being sent to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension crime lab, which many other agencies also are using for retesting after Dakota County courtroom testimony revealed shoddy practices by an under-trained workforce at the unaccredited St. Paul crime lab. Witnesses, some crime lab employees, testified in a special hearing the lab lacked oversight, documentation, standards, and quality procedures. The drug lab department’s temporary closure could result in years of retesting and retrials, further clogging courts and other

drug crime labs. BCA officials will have increased drug lab caseloads from Dakota, Washington and Ramsey counties that used the St. Paul crime lab, and are attempting to triage the work, said Dakota County Drug Task Force Cmdr. Dan Bianconi. “We only have the BCA willing to accept re-tests for our first-degree cases,” Bianconi said. “I don’t know if others will remain in a holding pattern. … They recognize they have more than they can handle.” Bianconi said the Drug Task Force averages between 500 and 600 cases annually that require testing of between 2,000 and 3,000 pieces of drug evidence, the vast majority of it done by the St. Paul crime lab for the past decade. BCA spokesperson Jill Oliveria said they do not know how many cases to expect, but are meeting with

agencies that used the St. Paul crime lab and plan to submit evidence to the BCA for testing. “We are still in the process of working out how to process evidence, and the parameters for what will be tested,” Oliveria said. The BCA lab employees 82 scientists and 13 of them do drug analysis, she said. Uncertainty surrounds the potential caseload amount because the special hearing that brought the St. Paul crime lab issues to light is still being presented before Judge Kathryn Messerich. At the Frye-Mack hearing, St. Paul crime-lab testing used to prosecute the first of eight drug cases (selected as a cross-representative sample of Dakota County drug cases) is being scrutinized by public defenders Lauri Traub and Christine Funk. The first case involves Matthew David Jensen,

29, of Rochester whose girlfriend called 911 July 15, 2009, after Jensen shot heroin while riding in a car she was driving in Hastings, according to the Dakota County criminal complaint. A primary issue in that case is the weight of the drugs seized at the scene, which the St. Paul crime lab testing claimed totaled 0.15 grams of heroin. Traub and Funk’s concerns about reliability of the tests grew at a March 30 meeting with lab criminalist Kari McDermott and Assistant Dakota County Attorney Vance “Chip” Grannis III. Grannis’ notes from the meeting state McDermott said the lab lacked security for test samples, had changed procedures for processing samples without approval or direction, did not have a lab code of conduct and did not perform validation studies, among other

Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom problems. During the meeting McDermott said she did not understand why defense attorneys have not “attacked like this before,” and that it “horrifies her” that she has never seen any validation studies conducted. The studies are used by labs to verify testing machines and tools are working properly. Additional issues raised during the court hearing included the lack of training for criminalists performing the tests. Some of the training lab criminalists received came from Sgt. Shay Shackle, then-head of the crime lab, according to a May 5 affidavit. Shackle’s resume states he received a law enforcement degree from Normandale Community College, then worked his way up in the department, attending conferences and classes after starting as a patrol officer in 1983. Shackle was assigned to the crime lab and became a latent print examiner in 1998 after internal training provided in part by Sgt. Colleen Luna, then also a latent print examiner. He became crime lab director in 2001, but after testimony last week was publicized, Shackle was relieved of those duties at the command of St. Paul police Chief Thomas Smith who ordered Luna, now head of internal investigations, to the position. While Smith has vowed to correct the problems and seek accreditation for the lab, the hearings will continue in Dakota County. Messerich’s decision is expected in late fall, and could trigger a potential avalanche of appeals of both convictions and plea bargains. “The Dakota County Attorney’s Office is bearing the majority of this burden,” Bianconi said. “They already have caseloads through the roof. This is going to complicate things for them; they have their current caseload to keep up

and they could be further burdened with these appeals.” Questions have also been raised about what top officials knew about the St. Paul crime lab’s problems before the hearing, and why Dakota County continued sending evidence there for testing after the March 30 meeting raised concerns about testing quality. Under Minnesota rules of professional responsibility, a lawyer is to uphold the legal process, and not knowingly offer evidence the lawyer knows or reasonably believes to be false. Despite the issues raised by the defense attorneys, according to a criminal complaint search, Dakota County did not stop using the St. Paul crime lab for drug evidence testing or thoroughly investigate the significant issues raised during the March meeting and in Grannis’ notes, which were shared with other county officials. Dakota County Chief Deputy Tim Leslie said he was given Grannis’ notes about crime lab procedures by Dakota County Attorney’s Office Chief Deputy Phil Prokopowicz a day or two before he, Bianconi and Prokopowicz met with St. Paul police officials about lab concerns April 9. Included at the meeting were Shackle, St. Paul Assistant Chief Kathy Wuorinen and St. Paul police Cmdr. Gregory Pye; Leslie and Bianconi said they assured the Dakota County officials everything was fine with the lab. “The whole point of that meeting was to discuss the specifics of what the defense was raising as issues, and determine each point if it had merit or not,” Bianconi said. “My understanding when we left was that it’s not as bad as the defense is making it look.” Leslie said St. Paul officials told them the March meeting had been with the most junior member of the See retesting, 8A

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Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount July 27, 2012

News Briefs 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 social The 2012 Dakota County ize during the week. Regional Chamber Business Excellence Awards Celebration will be held from 7:30 Driver to 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at Lost Spur Golf and improvement Event Center, 2750 Sibley classes for Memorial Highway, Eagan. seniors The Business Excellence Awards honor mem- The Minnesota Highway ber businesses and business Safety Center will offer 55driver-improvement leaders in the community. plus This year’s theme is “Be courses on the following Green, See Success.” The days: DCR Chamber will rec- • 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Aug. ognize businesses who are 6 (eight-hour first-time committed leaders in envi- course), Eagan Community ronmental safety, conserva- Center, 1501 Central Parkway, Eagan. tion and sustainability. Tickets to the event are • 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 8 $30 per person and include and 9 (eight-hour first-time a full breakfast. To register, course), Burnsville Senior call Jessy Annoni at (651) Center – ISD 191, 200 W. Burnsville Parkway, Burns288-9202. ville. • 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 8 Community and 9 (eight-hour first-time course), Burnsville Senior meals Grace Lutheran Church Center – ISD 191, 200 W. in Apple Valley will serve Burnsville Parkway, Burnsfree community meals on ville. Mondays, Aug. 6 and 27. • 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 13 Dining hall doors will open and 14 (eight-hour firstat 5:30 p.m. Dinner will be time course), Hayes Community and Senior Center, served from 6 to 6:30 p.m. The meals are for senior 14601 Hayes Road, Apple citizens, single-parent fami- Valley. lies, families in transition • 1 to 5 p.m. Aug. 18 and all others in the sur- (four-hour refresher), The rounding community seek- Rivers, 11111 River Hills ing a healthy meal in a re- Drive, Burnsville. laxed and fun environment. • 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 20 Although the meals are free, and 21 (eight-hour firsttime course), Kowalski’s, donations are accepted. Grace Lutheran Church 1646 Diffley Road, Eagan. is located at the intersection The courses are open to of Pennock Avenue and the public; however, preCounty Road 42. For more registration is requested. information, call the church The fee for the four-hour refresher is $20; the eightat (952) 432-7273. hour course is $24. For more information or to register, Women’s visit www.mnsafetycenter. org or call 1-888-234-1294. luncheon “Tea for You and Me” will be the theme of the Minnesota Valley Christian Women’s Connection luncheon from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, at Enjoy restaurant, 15435 Founders Lane, Apple Valley. Speaker Dorothy Ruppert will share “A Better Plan.” Bonnie Kastelein will show how to put on the perfect tea party. Cost is $16. Reservations/cancellations: Lisa at (952) 403-0773. Sponsored by Stonecroft Ministries.

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, July 30 – Bridge, 9 a.m., Do Drop Inn; 500, 1 p.m., DDI. Tuesday, July 31 – Coffee, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Rosemount Cub; Bid Euchre, 9 a.m., DDI. Wednesday, Aug. 1 – No activities planned. Thursday, Aug. 2 – Bingo, 1 p.m., DDI. Friday, Aug. 3 – Euchre, 9 a.m., DDI; Bowling, 1 p.m., Apple Place in Apple Valley. The Rosemount Area Seniors “Do Drop Inn” is

Community Education classes Register for District 196 Community Education classes online at www.district196.org/ce or call (651) 423-7920. • Space Challenge Camp/ Rocketry Express 2012, grades 1-2 and grades 6-8, 9 a.m. to noon Monday-Friday, July 30 to Aug. 3, Falcon Ridge Middle School, 12900 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley. Fee: $109. • Rocketry Express 2012, all ages, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 4, Falcon Ridge Middle School, 12900 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley. Free. • Banana Babies, parents and children birth-17 months, 9 to 9:45 a.m. Monday through Friday, Aug. 6-10, Falcon Ridge Middle School, 12900 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley. Fee: $50; $30 additional child; free additional adult. • Twocans/Chimpanthrees, parents and children 18 months-3 years, 10 to 10:45 a.m. Monday through Friday, Aug. 6-10, Falcon Ridge Middle School, 12900 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley. Fee: $50; $30 additional child; free additional adult. • Coral Reef Hideaway, ages 4-6, 10 a.m. to noon

Tuesday through Thursday, Aug. 7-9, Falcon Ridge Middle School, 12900 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley. Fee: $65. • Zhu Zhu Pets Art Camp, ages 5-12, 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Aug. 9 and 10, Falcon Ridge Middle School, 12900 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley. Fee: $59. • Reading Prep, grades 2-3, 9 to 10 a.m.; grades 4-6, 11 a.m. to noon; Monday through Friday, Aug. 1317, Pinewood Elementary School, 6795 Gerdine Path, Rosemount. Fee: $49.

Pet store hosts fundraiser for spay, neuter nonprofit Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet, with locations in Eagan and Lakeville, will host the Pins for Pets fundraiser Aug. 4-5 at Flaherty’s Arden Bowl, 1273 W. County Road E, Arden Hills. Pins for Pets will support the nonprofit, Minnesota Spay and Neuter Assistance Program. This is the fifth year Chuck & Don’s is hosting the event and the third year MN SNAP is the benefitting organization. MN SNAP has a fully equipped mobile veterinary clinic that performs spay/neuter surgeries on 30 to 40 animals each day. Donations for Pins for Pets can be made at any Chuck & Don’s store at any time prior to the fundraiser. Bowling teams or individuals must register by Aug. 1. For registration information, visit www.pinsforpets.org.

Restaurant chain to replace Hooters Hurricane Grill & Wings, a Florida restaurant chain, is scheduled to open in October in the old Hooters building at 12950 Aldrich Ave. in Burnsville. The family-friendly restaurant with a relaxed beach atmosphere specializes in chicken wings, but also offers steaks, salads, quesadillas and more. The Burnsville location will be the first of 17 planned to open in Minnesota.

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Chamber hosts business excellence awards

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July 27, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Legal Notices CITY OF APPLE VALLEY SUMMARY FINANCIAL REPORT

CITY OF APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS PROPRIETARY FUNDS

The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of financial information concerning the City of Apple Valley to th interested citizens. The complete financial statements may be examined at the City Hall – 7100 147 Street South. Questions about this report may be directed to Ronald Hedberg, Finance Director at 953-2540.

December 31, 2011 Business-Type Activities - Enterprise Funds

The following summaries are from the general-purpose financial statements of the City of Apple Valley for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010. The right hand column shows the percentage change in dollars between the two years.

Municipal

Sports

Water &

Storm

Liquor Fund

Golf Course Fund

Arena Fund

Sewer Fund

Drainage Fund

Cemetery Fund

Street Light

Total

Internal

Utility Fund

Enterprise Funds

Service Funds

Assets: Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents

1,875,932

Special assessments receivable

47,571

106,366

13,775,310

1,466,887

678,873

25,214

17,976,153

3,334,889

293,950

1,224

295,174

Accounts receivable - net

1,606

130,747

1,816,928

341,753

105,033

2,396,067

Interest receivable

2,494

272,854

15,097

287,951

1,340,103

36,837

64,368

1,441,308

13,766

219

192,674

206,659

115,213

3,233,901

84,627

509,967

16,158,327

1,809,864

678,873

130,247

22,605,806

3,450,102

309,518

9,375

44,759

5,359

29,165

79,283

840,616

Land

1,179,183

991,179

2,000

1,579,077

358,187

5,816,447

Buildings and structures

3,423,320

294,496

3,193,129

8,269,633

15,180,578

25,000

385,269

65,389

78,466,161

42,943,227

640,404

122,525,450

250,732

700,501

172,232

3,113,042

90,562

4,327,069

Due from other governments Inventory Prepaid items Total current assets

Noncurrent assets: Restricted cash with fiscal agent Deferred special assessments Deferred charges Due from other funds Capital assets:

Other improvements Furniture and equipment Construction in progress

1,875

Less: Accumulated depreciation

390,557

(859,160)

Capital assets, net

4,020,950

Total noncurrent assets Total assets

4,375,227 7,609,128

553,635

1,706,821

24,850

1,200,796

678,857

2,296,935

(1,182,491)

(1,989,466)

(27,297,449)

(9,646,780)

(117,280)

(41,092,626)

1,579,511

1,468,134

65,459,004

35,644,943

881,311

109,053,853 110,292,645 $ 132,898,451

3,450,102

15,595

1,579,511 1,664,138

23,809

1,473,493 1,983,460

20,506

66,299,620 82,457,947

35,683,483 37,493,347

881,311 1,560,184

130,247

131,213

49,562

2,486

31,951

Liabilities: Current liabilities: Accounts payable Contracts payable

813,162

146,846

185,269

701

332,816

44,235

10,768

20,397

53,063

128,463

Accrued interest payable

10,111

2,506

1,267

5,429

6,107

25,420

Due to other governmental units

51,778

14,763

22,254

5,543

891

95,234

188,320

49,691

129,500

267,800

225,000

860,311

1,167,794

848,079

233,625

186,433

665,028

286,913

2,486

32,842

2,255,406

1,183,389

111,983

80,823

42,728

197,609

433,143

2,342,251

30,809

13,425

9,110

59,072

112,416

Accrued wages payable

Long term liabilities due within one year Total current liabilities

Noncurrent liabilities: Compensated absences payable Net Other Post-Employment Benefits Obligation

CITY OF APPLE VALLEY FINANCIAL INDICATORS

Due to other funds

840,616

Capital lease payable

77,975

2,915,000

330,000

120,000

2,735,000

6,100,000

(129,500)

(267,800)

Bonds payable - noncurrent portion Less amounts due within one year

(188,320)

(49,691)

(225,000)

(860,311)

(1,167,794)

Total noncurrent liabilities

2,869,472

122,532

1,092,954

108,881

2,510,000

6,703,839

1,174,457

Total liabilities

3,717,551

356,157

1,279,387

773,909

2,796,913

2,486

32,842

8,959,245

2,357,846

1,105,950

1,501,536

1,138,134

65,339,004

34,232,074

881,311

104,198,009

309,518

16,345,034

464,360

676,387

97,405

19,431,679

1,092,256

Net assets: Invested in capital assets, net of debt Restricted: Future debt service Unrestricted

2,476,109 Total net assets

(193,555)

3,891,577

Total Liabilities and Net Assets

(434,061)

1,307,981

7,609,128

704,073

1,664,138

1,983,460

81,684,038 $

82,457,947

34,696,434 $

37,493,347

1,557,698 $

1,560,184

97,405

123,939,206

130,247

$ 132,898,451

1,092,256 $

3,450,102

196 Minutes

CITY OF APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENSES AND CHANGES IN FUND NET ASSETS PROPRIETARY FUNDS For The Year Ended December 31, 2011 Governmental

Business-Type Activities - Enterprise Funds Municipal

Municipal

Sports

Water &

Storm

Liquor Fund

Golf Course Fund

Arena Fund

Sewer Fund

Drainage Fund

Street Light

Total

Activities -

Utility Fund

Enterprise Funds

Internal Service Funds

Cemetery Fund

Operating revenues: Liquor sales

9,005,660

Golf fees and rentals

1,023,866

Sports arena rentals

650,350

Charges for services

8,361,750

1,370,348

114,365

433,464

10,279,927

1,206,334

Total operating revenues

9,005,660

1,023,866

650,350

8,361,750

1,370,348

114,365

433,464

20,959,803

1,206,334

Cost of Goods Sold

6,448,087

177,581

924

2,963

6,629,555

Gross Profit

2,557,573

846,285

649,426

8,358,787

1,370,348

114,365

433,464

14,330,248

1,206,334

Personal services

966,318

563,617

379,799

1,392,082

1,108

3,302,924

684,219

Contractual services

175,674

21,835

41,967

208,944

95,745

24,850

5,225

574,240

8,000

Other charges

231,285

52,440

22,660

723,365

321,002

7,991

1,358,743

582,531

Supplies & repairs

34,902

147,078

45,371

635,567

6,075

16,494

1,800

887,287

Utilities

55,544

34,989

121,208

402,884

838

391,089

1,006,552

137,546

60,712

167,178

1,470,412

449,547

17,723

2,303,118

2,528,136

1,601,269

7,361,390

872,369

69,004

398,114

11,961,000

1,274,750

997,397

497,979

45,361

35,350

2,369,248

Operating expenses: Operating and maintenance:

Depreciation MCES - Sewer charges Total operating expenses Operating income (loss)

880,671

778,183

956,304

(34,386)

(128,757)

(68,416)

Nonoperating revenues (expenses): Investment earnings

87,660

9,142

7,881

659,005

93,015

28,540

3,620

888,863

139,727

Taxes and assessments

120,000

Connection charges

126,619

26,559

153,178

1,665

11,970

400

80,360

47,000

170

141,565

(212,731)

Other revenues Interest expense and agent fees

(128,323)

(5,323)

(20,886)

(13,514)

(44,685)

(38,998)

15,789

107,395

852,470

121,889

28,710

3,620

1,090,875

139,727

917,306

(18,597)

(21,362)

Total nonoperating revenues (expenses)

Income (loss) before 1,849,867

619,868

74,071

38,970

3,460,123

71,311

Capital contributions

contributions and transfers

324,416

165,570

489,986

Transfers in

60,000

74,071

38,970

Transfers out

(525,000)

Change in net assets

392,306

Net assets - January 1 Net assets - December 31

(18,597)

3,499,271 $

3,891,577

(21,362)

1,326,578 $

(1,485,111) 749,172

725,435

1,307,981

(767,519) 17,919

80,934,866

704,073

34,678,515

81,684,038

34,696,434

1,483,627 $

1,557,698

(2,777,630)

1,232,479

58,435

122,706,727

97,405

$ 123,939,206

71,311 1,020,945 $

1,092,256

CITY OF APPLE MINNESOTA VALLEY, MINNESOTA CITY OF APPLE VALLEY, STATEMENT CASH FLOWS STATEMENT OF CASHOF FLOWS PROPRIETARY PROPRIETARY FUNDS FUNDS ForEnded The Year Ended December For The Year December 31, 2011 31, 2011 Business-Type Funds Business-Type Activities -Activities Enterprise- Enterprise Funds Municipal MunicipalMunicipal Municipal Sports LiquorGolf Course Golf Course Arena Liquor Fund

Fund fromactivities: operating activities: Cash flowsCash fromflows operating Receipts from customers Receipts from customers and users and users

Payments Payments to suppliersto suppliers Payments to employees Payments to employees Net cash fromactivities operating activities Net cash flows fromflows operating from noncapital financing activities: Cash flowsCash fromflows noncapital financing activities: Transfers in from Transfers in from other fundsother funds

Fund

Sports Arena Fund

Fund

Governmental

Water & Water & Storm Sewer Drainage Sewer Fund Fund Fund

$ 9,004,054 $ 1,023,866 $ 618,085 $ 8,614,471 $ 1,213,637 9,004,054 $ 1,023,866 $ 618,085 $ 8,614,471 (7,005,368)(7,005,368)(425,664) (425,664)(229,747) (229,747)(4,528,193)(4,528,193)(465,191) (961,865) (961,865)(553,848) (553,848)(404,396) (404,396)(1,370,473)(1,370,473) 44,354 (16,058) (16,058) 2,715,805 2,715,805 748,446 1,036,821 1,036,821 44,354 (525,000) (525,000) -

Street Light

Total

Cemetery

Utility

Enterprise

Internal

Fund

Funds

Service Funds

114,365

(51,762) (1,108)

61,495

2,930

20,956,680

(13,071,197)

1,206,334 (1,114,046)

(3,291,690)

4,593,793

92,288

60,000

60,000 60,000 - (1,485,111)(1,485,111)(767,519)

(2,777,630)

(69,633)

- 69,633 -

69,633

10,000

- 120,400 - 190,033

120,400

1,770 47,000 1,770 190,033 (1,482,974)(1,482,974)(720,519)

170

171,005

170

(2,536,625)

(4,119,873)

(606,236)

(223,212)

Bond proceeds Bond proceeds fees received ConnectionConnection fees received

(1,972,930) (1,875) (1,875)(243,710) (243,710) (24,850) (24,850)(1,876,508)(1,876,508) (135,000) (135,000) (31,236) (31,236)(100,000) (100,000) (120,000) (120,000)(220,000) (125,450) (125,450) (6,229) (6,229) (19,400) (19,400) (8,820) (8,820) (63,313) -2,600,000 - 126,619 126,619 26,559 -

2,600,000

153,178

Proceeds from saleassets of capital assets Proceeds from sale of capital Net cash from capital &activities financing activities Net cash flows fromflows capital & financing

68,590 68,590 (262,325) (262,325)(269,205) (269,205)(144,250) (144,250)(1,810,119)(1,810,119) 370,316

Transfers to other funds Transfers out to otherout funds fromfunds / to other funds Payment ofPayment due fromof/ due to other Proceeds from Due to other funds Proceeds from Due to other funds Intergovernmental Intergovernmental revenue revenue Tax, assessments and other aids Tax, assessments and other aids Net cash from noncapital financing activities Net cash flows fromflows noncapital financing activities

1,665

(523,335) (523,335)

from capitalfinancing & relatedactivities financing activities Cash flowsCash fromflows capital & related of capital assets AcquisitionAcquisition of capital assets Principal on payments Principal payments debt on debt & agent Interest &Interest agent fees paid fees paid

fromactivities: investing activities: Cash flowsCash fromflows investing InvestmentInvestment earnings earnings Net cash fromactivities investing activities Net cash flows fromflows investing Net(decrease) increase (decrease) cashequivalents and cash equivalents Net increase in cash andincash

11,970

10,000

department because everyone else was busy with a homicide. They indicated the employee “was ambushed” and “misstated a few things,” Leslie said. He said St. Paul officials assured them they had corrected any concerns identified in the Grannis memo. Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom and Prokopowicz were out of town, not available for comment, but in a statement, Backstrom indicated the meeting reassured him of the crime lab’s testing capabilities. “We were informed at that time by Crime Lab of-

80,560

(2,115,583)

85,194

9,142

7,881

659,005

93,015

28,540

3,620

886,397

139,727

85,194

9,142

7,881

659,005

93,015

28,540

3,620

886,397

139,727

37,606

81,717

336,355 (215,709) (215,709) 37,606

$ 2,185,450 2,185,450 $

$ 47,571

81,717 491,258

90,205

6,550

827,982

232,015

263,280 68,760

68,76013,693,59313,693,593 975,629

588,668

18,664

17,457,689

3,102,874

47,571 $ $ 106,366

106,366 $ 13,775,310 $ 1,466,887 $ 13,775,310

678,873

3094187

retesting, from 6A

85,194

1,849,095 1,849,095 263,280 $

11,970

(69,633) (69,633) -

85,194 336,355

Cashequivalents and cash equivalents Cash and cash - January 1- January 1 Cashequivalents and cash equivalents 31 Cash and cash - December- December 31

368,202 (365,272)

Activities -

25,214

18,285,671

3,334,889 7/27/12

ficials that there were no significant problems at their lab for us to be concerned about,” Backstrom stated. Dakota County Sheriff Dave Bellows confirmed officials did not realize the significance of the issues until the trial was being held. “One of the county attorneys came down and said the hearing was not going well,” Bellows said. ”He said St. Paul has some serious issues involving a lack of procedures.” Leslie said the St. Paul officials did not lie when assuring them of the lab’s credibility in their April 9 meeting, “They just maybe didn’t understand the depth of the issues they faced,” Leslie

said. Bianconi agreed, stating, “Obviously, at some point the standards the BCA and other labs are using, they somehow either weren’t aware of it or chose to ignore it. I think in their mind they were complying and exercising tests to the standards they knew of.” During the hearing, defense witness Dr. Max Houck, director of West Virginia University Forensic Science Initiative, testified that while there is no national over arching regulation of forensic science, many tools exist to improve the lab operations at almost no cost. “It just requires bringing them together, making

changes and moving forward,” he said. In the meantime, Dakota County is researching other evidence testing options, including using private labs. to avoid overwhelming the BCA lab with work. Bianconi predicted the situation will take years to resolve, and expressed concern public safety could be jeopardized. “It’s certainly frustrating because of the amount of time and effort, and to a large extent, the degree of risk … that goes into these cases,” he said. Laura Adelmann is at laura. adelmann@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

District 196 School Board Proceedings INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 196 Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools Minutes of June 25, 2012 Regular Board Meeting Chairperson Jackie Magnuson called the regular School Board meeting to order at 6 p.m. on June 25, 2012 at Dakota Ridge School. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the School Board. Present: Joel Albright, clerk; Art Coulson, treasurer; Rob Duchscher, vice chairperson; Gary Huusko; Jackie Magnuson, chairperson; Mike Roseen; Bob Schutte; and Director of Special Education Mary Kreger. Motion by Huusko, seconded by Coulson and carried, with seven members voting in favor and no member voting in opposition, to approve the agenda. The School Board recognized the Eastview High School boys’ lacrosse and baseball state champions. Acting Superintendent Kreger congratulated: • Nader Helmy of Apple Valley High School and Ashesh Rambachan of Eastview High School for their national speech titles in original oratory and international extemporaneous speaking, respectively, and • Students from Eagan and Eastview high schools who earned School of Excellence Awards in Speech at the National Forensic League Speech and Debate Tournament. Motion by Schutte, seconded by Duchscher and carried, with seven members voting in favor and no member voting in opposition, to approve the following Consent items: Minutes of June 11, 2012 regular and special School Board meetings (Exhibits A1 and A2); Claims for June 6-19, 2012 (Exhibit B1); Electronic funds transfer schedule for June 2-15, 2012 (Exhibit B2); Schedule of investments for June 2-15, 2012 (Exhibit B3); Treasurer’s report for the month ending May 31, 2012 (Exhibit B4); Gifts received through June 22, 2012 (Exhibit B5); Advertising revenue received by June 22, 2012 (Exhibit B6); Depositories for the investment of funds for 2012-13 (Exhibit B7); Official depositories of checking accounts for 2012-13 (Exhibit B8); Investment instruments for 2012-13 (Exhibit B9); A $15,625 special education parent and family training grant from the Minnesota Department of Education to increase reading proficiency (Exhibit B10); Contract with Tricom Communications to install Category 6e copper cabling at all buildings for a base bid of $120,540 and alternate #1 of $94,760 (Exhibit B11); A certified population total of 153,051 on June 25, 2012 (Exhibit B12); Contract with Hastings Creamery using the firm price bid option of $600,071.25 for 2012-13 dairy products (Exhibit B13); Separations, leaves of absence and new staff (Exhibit C1); Contract with Travelers for workers’ compensation coverage through a guaranteed cost plan effective July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013 (Exhibit C2); Binding property, business auto and general liability policies with Travelers Insurance, and errors and omissions coverage with National Union Fire Insurance with a total annual premium for all coverage of $746,284 from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013 (Exhibit D1); Appointment of Director of Teaching and Learning Steven Troen to serve as the Local Education Agency (LEA) representative for 2012-13 (Exhibit E); Agreement with the Southwest Area YMCA and the Minnesota Valley Branch of YMCA to provide summer programs for students in grades k-8 from June 8 through August 18, 2012, and pay the district $48,835.20 (Exhibit F1); and Appointment of Katrina Balvance, Kristine Hefty Tilstra, Kelly Lezniak, Rebecca Siewert and Joanna Snider of Apple Valley; Kimberly Boettcher of Rosemount; Amy Queau of Burnsville; and Patricia Sulzbach of Eagan, to the Early Childhood Family Services Advisory Council effective August 28, 2012 through September 1, 2015, and Dana Withrow of Burnsville as an alternate (Exhibit F2). Director of Teaching and Learning Steve Troen reported on the District 196 Literacy Plan which fulfills the requirements of the state’s Reading Well by Third Grade legislation. He highlighted development of the plan, the districtwide collaborative effort to move the initiative forward and major components of the plan. The themes include: • Focus on Learning – a crystal-clear focus on what students are expected to know and be able to do; • Collaboration – teams working together with a commitment to continually improve; strengthen core instruction and provide additional time and targeted instruction for students who need intervention and enrichment; and • Results Oriented – evaluation of success based on results, not intentions; using assessment to inform instruction and

answer the question, “Are students learning?” Troen shared several examples of the great things currently happening in literacy and noted there are still gaps as some students are still reading below grade level. Troen reviewed background of the plan which began during summer 2011 when the superintendent convened nearly 60 people to develop a Strategic Plan. The strategy developed for Teaching and Learning is to deliver a high-quality instructional program that anticipates and meets the needs of all learners. Being proactive and intervening early is important. Troen noted the systemic review included school calendar, school schedules, assessment, professional development and instructional strategies. Changes were made to the 2012-13 calendar that divided the year into six-week instructional blocks to provide teachers time for focused collaboration, analysis of assessment data and planning for targeted instruction. Elementary schools set two days before the start of the year to assess each student individually, thus saving valuable instructional time and enabling teachers to begin targeted instruction earlier. Troen noted forces influencing the district’s literacy plan include: international comparisons, high-performing countries, Common Core Standards, Learning Teams and Professional Learning Communities (PLC), Response to Intervention/Instruction (RtI2), Reading Well by Third Grade and Literacy Incentive Aid. The Reading Well By Third Grade legislation requires all districts to submit a detailed plan which identifies students who are at risk for not reading at grade level, articulate a plan for assessing and monitoring reading proficiency, and a plan of action to ensure every child is reading at or above grade level. In addition, the plan must outline communication to parents and identify and meet staff development needs. The legislature also modified funding with the Literacy Incentive Aid so that districts with students who are proficient or making medium or high growth receive more revenue. The District 196 Elementary Literacy Leadership Team began meeting in November 2011 to create the literacy plan. Troen introduced team members and thanked them for their dedication and teamwork. In addition, he thanked the elementary principals for their support to move the initiative forward. Troen said the plan includes comprehensive assessments, highly trained Literacy/ RtI lead teachers within each of the 18 elementary schools, and the time, tools and professional development to make a huge impact on learning. In addition to extensive data reporting to the state, each district was required to develop and post the district’s literacy plan on its website to document and communicate how the district is providing the following: • Comprehensive, scientifically based reading instruction; • Intervention with evidence-based practices to accelerate student growth; • Assessment methods and data points (with data reported annually to the Commissioner of Education); and • Sufficient training and professional development for all licensed staff. Troen then shared highlights from the district’s website to provide a sense of the comprehensiveness of the plan. He showed how the user can continue to drill down to find greater levels of detail. Director of Finance and Operations Jeff Solomon asked the board to approve the 2012-13 Preliminary Budget (Exhibit G). Motion by Huusko, seconded by Albright and carried, with seven members voting in favor and no member voting in opposition, to approve the preliminary budget. Curriculum Coordinator Renee Ervasti presented the first reading of Policy 611, Guidance Curriculum Beliefs and Goals: Social Work and Counseling (Exhibit H). It has been eight years since the policy was last revised. In fall 2009 a committee of elementary social workers and secondary counselors began meeting to review current programs and examine research, state and national standards, best instruction practices and programs outside the district. Input was sought from the community, staff, Curriculum and Instruction Advisory Council members, and others to revise the framework/maps that indicate the essential student learnings to be assessed at each grade level. Sections were added for social work beliefs and goals while counseling was revised. The School Board is scheduled to take action on Policy 611 at its July 16 board meeting. Ervasti also presented the first reading of Policy 612, Health Curriculum Beliefs and Goals (Exhibit I). In fall 2011 a committee was formed to study the health curriculum and develop recommendations for program adjustment. The revisions to Policy 612 reflect those recommendations and were resequenced to match the national and Minnesota health education standards. The School Board is scheduled to take action on Policy 612 at its July 16 board meeting. Kreger reported nearly 850 students who will be entering grades 2 through 6 in the fall participated in the fourth annual Young Scholars Camps. Motion by Albright, seconded by Roseen and carried, with seven members voting in favor and no member voting in opposition, to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 p.m. 3088472 7/27/12

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount July 27, 2012

Memorial Mass to honor Hausmann Rosemount man died after the I-35W bridge collapse in 2007 St. Joseph’s Church in Rosemount will be holding a memorial Mass at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1 for Peter Hausmann on the fifth anniversary of his death. Hausmann died in the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis in 2007. He is remembered as a strong and faithful member of the Catholic community of St. Joseph in Rosemount. His efforts, along with his wife, Helen, led to the building of a church in Kisii, Kenya, and provided education for children whose parents died of AIDS. While Hausmann’s career was in computer programming, his heart led

Peter Hausmann him 25 years ago to Kenya, following the path of older brother Leo to take up missionary work and the humanitarian efforts of Father John Kaiser. It was in Kisii that he met and married Helen. They later returned to

Minnesota and raised their four children – Justina, Andrew, David and Theresa – who remember well the depth of their father’s love for the Kisii people and their culture. “He was never out of things to do,” Hausmann’s oldest son, Andrew, said. “How selfless he was, how much he cared about others, how much he sacrificed – we will remember him for all of that.” The night of the bridge collapse, Hausmann was heading to St. Louis Park to pick up a friend for dinner when the bridge gave way. He phoned Helen during rush hour traffic on the bridge and was not heard from again. It was later determined that Hausmann died attempting to save the life of another. All are welcome to attend the Mass.

Family Night at Apple Valley Medical Center Apple Valley Medical Center, 14655 Galaxie Ave., will host a free Family Night from 6 to 8 pm. Tuesday, July 31. Families of all sizes and ages are invited. Free bike helmets will be provided to the first 50 children and fitted on site by representatives from Valley Bike & Ski. Health care experts will share information on blood pressure (with free screenings), smoking cessation,

nutrition, skin care, sleep health and more. A representative from Run n Fun will provide information on running shoes. Two formal presentations will be held during the evening. Chris Leisz, MD, Sister Kenny Rehab Associates, will speak on “Endurance Sports Injury Rehabilitation” at 6:30 p.m., followed by Lance Silverman, MD, Silverman Ankle and Foot, at 7 p.m., speaking on “Three

Most Common Ankle and Foot Injuries in Sports.” In addition, physicians will be on site to perform back-to-school and sports physicals which will be charged at normal rates. Children can enjoy a jumping house, and attendees will be able to tour a working ambulance. The evening also will include refreshments and drawings for prizes.

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July 27, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Photo by Tad Johnson

The Rosemount Area Arts Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bluegrass Americana Festival entertained scores of people at Central Park during Rosemount Leprechaun Days on Saturday, July 21. Bands played on the amphitheater stage from 3-9 p.m., closed out by Switched at Birth and the Sawtooth Bluegrass Band, which includes the Birtzer brothers from Rosemount.

The Eelpout Stringers and the Rosemount Area Arts Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Square Dance led off on Friday, July 20, Rosemount Leprechaun Days and three nights of music during the Bluegrass Americana Festival, which continued with a Bluegrass Festival on Saturday and Roots Music on Sunday.

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount July 27, 2012

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Photo by Rick Orndorf

Michael Zweig, right, sent his frog flying into the air as his brother Anthony Zweig watched close by at the AfPhoto by Tad Johnson ternoon in the Park with Cub and Friends Leprechaun The Rosemount Lions Club hosted its annual Kiddie Parade on Saturday, July 21, during Rosemount Days event at Central Park on July 24. Cub Foods Leprechaun Days. Several children participated in the parade, which went from the Rosemount American sponsored the day of fun that included such games as putt putt golf, jumper houses, plinko, frog flipping. Legion to Central Park where prizes were handed out to the top parade entrants.

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July 27, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Thisweekend Searching for ghosts in the darkness Dakota County Paranormal Society will share its findings at the Heritage Library July 31 by Andrew Miller Sun Thisweek

Gary Jahnke has logged long hours attempting to contact the spirit world. As an investigator with the Dakota County Paranormal Society, Jahnke brings a scientific approach – and an array of digital recording equipment – to probe reports of eerie goings-on at area homes and businesses. What he encounters on his ghost hunts often leaves the hair standing up on the back of his neck. Jahnke and others from the Dakota County Paranormal Society will be sharing findings from their eldritch investigations at the Heritage Library in Lakeville on Tuesday, July 31. The event, titled “Paranormal Activity Revealed,” is geared to teens and adults and runs from 7 to 8 p.m. Joining Jahnke at the Heritage Library will be investigators Pat Theisen of Apple Valley, a specialist in historical research, and Juli Glazebrook of Hastings, co-founder with Jahnke of the paranormal team and a self-described “sensitive,”

or psychic, who often employs a dowsing rod in her efforts to contact spirits. The eight-member, Hastingsbased paranormal team has conducted ghost hunts at venues such as the St. James Hotel in Red Wing, the Levee Cafe in Hastings, and the Palmer House Hotel in Sauk Center. It was the investigation at the St. James Hotel that “hands down” yielded the most compelling evidence, Jahnke said. And, he added, he has video of it all. The table that seemed to move on its own. Glazebrook’s dowsing-rod session that apparently established contact with an owner of the hotel who died in the 1800s. Jahnke’s “handshake” with a phantom that sent a chill through everyone in the room. “The evidence – I still look at it almost every single day,” he said. “It blows my mind.” Jahnke emphasized that there are dangers associated with ghost hunting. Paranormal dangers. Investigators will tell you that malicious spirits have a nasty habit of latching on to those at-

Photo submitted

Gary Jahnke, left, and Juli Glazebrook are co-founders of the Dakota County Paranormal Society. The eight-member, Hastings-based paranormal team has conducted ghost hunts at venues such as the St. James Hotel in Red Wing, the Levee Cafe in Hastings, and the Palmer House Hotel in Sauk Center. tempting to probe their hidden world. “Myself and others in the group have had things follow them home from an investigation,” said Jahnke, a 1997 graduate of Eagan High School who now lives in Hastings. “There’s danger associated with it if you don’t protect yourself. It’s happened to me.” Investigators serve on a vol-

unteer basis. The group doesn’t charge a fee for its services, and won’t disclose the location of an investigation unless the owner gives the OK. Their goal is to provide answers to homeowners and business owners who are wondering if spirits are running amok in the dark. “You shouldn’t have to feel that way in your home or your

business,” Jahnke said. “We can bring peace of mind.” More about the Dakota County ghost hunters is at www. dakotacountyparanormal.com. Andrew Miller can be reached at andrew.miller@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

theater and arts calendar To submit items for the Family Calendar, email: darcy.odden@ecm-inc.com. Friday, July 27 Outdoor movie, “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale,” 7:30 p.m. seating, dusk showtime, part of Burnsville’s “Flicks on the Bricks” series at Nicollet Commons Park in the Heart of the City. Summer Fresh Friday Film, “Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days,” 6 to 8 p.m. at Valley Natural Foods, 13750 County Road 11, Burnsville. Information: (952) 891-

1212, ext. 221. Saturday, July 28 Youth Fishing Contest at Valley Lake, 16050 Garrett Path, Lakeville. Cancelled due to poor water quality. Rosemount High School soccer alumni game at 4 p.m. at RHS practice fields. Tuesday, July 31 Family Fun Tuesday – Japanese taiko drumming by Mu Performing Arts, 10 to 11 a.m. in the Sculpture Garden at Caponi Art Park, Eagan. $4

per person donation is suggested. Information: (651) 454-9412 or www.caponiartpark.org. Super Tuesday Evening in the Garden, 5 to 8 p.m. in the gardens at UMore Park, 1605 160th St. W. (County Road 46), Rosemount. Garden talks organized around six themes: Growing Healthy Foods, Sustainable Landscape, Minnesota Introductions & Bird Gardening, Preservation of Pollinators, Minnesota Research, and Gardening for Kids. Four special

tent presentations on Weeds, The Well-Tended Garden, Plant Photography, and Honey Bees. Free. Information: (651) 480-7700. Family Night from 6 to 8 p.m. at Apple Valley Medical Center, 14655 Galaxie Ave., Apple Valley. Information: applevalleymedicalcenter.com or (952) 432-6161. Wednesday, Aug. 1 Eagan Market Fest, 4 to 8 p.m., Eagan Festival Grounds. Celebrate Latin culture all evening with a Salsa concert and

dance lessons with K-Libre 24 and Folkloric dancers, enter the salsa recipe contest, free kids’ art, family games and more. Information: www. cityofeagan.com/marketfest or (651) 675-5500. Friday, Aug. 3 Forever Wild Family Friday: Storytelling with Roy Edward Power, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Lebanon Hills Visitor Center – Discovery Room, Lebanon Hills Regional Park, 860 Cliff Road, Eagan. All ages. Free. Registration required. Course

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No. 4089. Information: http:// w w w. c o . d a k o t a . m n . u s / L e i sureRecreation/CountyParks/ Calendar. Saturday, Aug. 4 Car wash by the Rosemount High School girls soccer team, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Rosemount Goodyear. Tickets sold in advance, or a donation of $5 can be made the day of the car wash. Soccer apparel and equipment for boys and girls in need will be collected. Movies in the Park, “The Muppets,” at dusk at the Central Park Amphitheater near City Hall, Rosemount. Bring blankets and lawn chairs. Weather-related updates: (952) 985-1790, option No. 6. Blood drives The American Red Cross will hold the following blood drives. Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. • July 26, 2 to 7 p.m., Glendale United Methodist Church, 13550 Glendale Road, Savage. • July 31, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Fairview Ridges Hospital, 201 E. Nicollet Blvd., Burnsville. • Aug. 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., School of Environmental Studies, 12155 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley. • Aug. 4, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Caribou Coffee, 3868 150th St., Rosemount. • Aug. 4, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wescott Library, 1340 Wescott Road, Eagan. Reunions Lakeville High School Class of 1972 will hold its 40th reunion at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 28, at the home of Bruce and Pat Zweber, 387 Maple Island Road, Burnsville. Information: Mary Boegeman Johnson at MBoegemanJ@ yahoo.com or Mary Ann Knox at MaryAnnKnox@visi.com. Burnsville High School Class of 1992 will hold its 20th reunion from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at the Hyatt Regency, downtown Minneapolis. Tickets are $50 in advance or $65 at the door. To register and purchase tickets, visit https://reunionmanager. net/class_members/registration.php?class_id=124786 or contact Kelly Bruce Regan at kelbel070@gmail.com or Bob Hayes at bobhayes37@yahoo.com with questions.

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount July 27, 2012

‘Remember the King’

theater and arts calendar To submit items for the Arts Calendar, email: darcy. odden@ecm-inc.com. Books Mystery authors Marilyn Jax and Jim Proebstle from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Apple Valley Barnes & Noble, 14880 Florence Trail. Comedy Shannan Paul with special guest Joe Lovitt at 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 27, and Saturday, July 28, at MinneHAHA Comedy Club, 1583 E. First Ave., Shakopee (lower level of Dangerfield’s), (612) 860-9388, www.minnehahacomedyclub. com. Tickets: $13.

Photo submitted

The Wednesday in the Park series grand finale will take place Aug. 1 with “Remember the King” featuring Steve and Tommy Marcio. The father/son tribute to Elvis is an annual crowd pleaser, representing both the early and later years of Elvis’ career. The performance will begin at 7 p.m. In addition, classic cars of the Southern Cruzers Car Club will be on hand for viewing. Wednesday in the Park, at Civic Center Park in Burnsville, is sponsored by the city of Burnsville and ISD 191 Community Education.

Pilgrims and Passages on display

Photo submitted

Pilgrims and Passages, a joint exhibit featuring art by Anthony Donatelle and Jon Reischl, will be on display Aug. 2 through Sept. 8 in the gallery at Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave. “Locked In, Logged On” by Donatelle (left) and “Adjustmen” by Reischl (right) will be among the works in the exhibit. A free opening reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 2. Regular gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call (952) 895-4676 or visit www.burnsvillepac.com.

theater and arts briefs ‘Robin Hood’ production The Peter Pan Project will present the classic tale of “Robin Hood” outside Lakeville North High School at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Aug. 3 and 4 and 7 p.m. Aug. 5. The show runs about an hour and 15 minutes. All shows are free and performed outside at Lakeville North High School. The show is appropriate for all ages. Bring a blanket and lawn chairs.

‘Odd Couple’ in Lakeville Lakeville-based community theater group Expressions will present “The Odd Couple” at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 10-11 and 17-18, and 2 p.m. Aug. 12 and 19, at the Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke Ave. Tickets are $12 and can be ordered at www.lakeville-rapconnect.com or by calling (952) 985-4640.

Dakota Chautauqua The Dakota Chautauqua tent show will return to the Dakota County Fair Aug. 6-12. The Chautauqua is titled “Minnesota Bits of Trivia,” and is portrayed through song, comedy and narrative performed by a cast of nine actors/ singers/musicians. The free shows will be 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; 2, 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday; 5 and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 2

and 5 p.m. Sunday. The Chautauqua tent will be set up in Dakota City Heritage Village, 4008 220th St. W., Farmington, on the western edge of the Dakota County Fairgrounds. For more information, call Dakota City at (651) 460-8050.

Art show, sale Local artist Amie Kieffer, who specializes in painting and drawing, will host a summer art show and sale from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 17-18 at 3245 145th St. W., Rosemount. The outdoor show will include about 60 art pieces, many of which will be for sale. For information, contact Kieffer at AK@AmieKieffer.com.

Local students featured Lakeville resident Emily Scinto, a senior at St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, and Caliea Koehler, a sixth-grader at Blackhawk Middle School in Eagan, are among the young actors in Minneapolis-based Children’s Theatre Company’s production of the musical adventure “Buccaneers.” “Buccaneers” opens Friday, Sept. 14 (previews begin Tuesday, Sept. 11) and runs through Sunday, Oct. 21. Tickets range from $10 to $56 for adults and $10 to $46 for children, and are available by calling (612) 874-0400 or by visiting www.childrenstheatre.org.

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Concerts Music in Kelley Park featuring MacPhail Jazz from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 27, at Kelley Park, 6855 Fortino St., Apple Valley. Free. Food and beverages available for purchase. BoDeans with Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts, 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 27, Subway Music in the Zoo, Minnesota Zoo amphitheater, Apple Valley. Cost: $35. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com. Cactus Willie, Boxcar Bob and The Drifter, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 28, at the Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke Ave. Tickets are $14 at the arts center. Advance purchase is recommended. Information: (952) 985-4640. BoDeans with Honeydogs, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 28, Subway Music in the Zoo, Minnesota Zoo amphitheater, Apple Valley. Cost: $35. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com. From Age to Age, a choral music ensemble, will present “Sing for the World” at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 28, at The Basilica of St. Mary, 88 N. 17th St., Minneapolis. Suggested donation: $20. Information: www.fromagetoage.org. Robert Randolph and the Family Band and JJ Grey & Mofro, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 29, Subway Music in the Zoo, Minnesota Zoo amphitheater, Apple Valley. Cost: $38. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com. Remembering the King (Elvis) and the Southern Cruzers Car Club will be featured at 7 p.m. on Aug. 1 as part of the Wednesday in the Park Concert Series at Civic Center Park, 75 Civic Center Parkway, Burnsville. Mary Chapin Carpenter with Tift Merritt, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, Subway Music in the Zoo, Minnesota Zoo amphitheater, Apple Valley. Cost: $44. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com. Music in Kelley Park featuring Steve Sullivan & The Factory from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, at Kelley Park, 6855 Fortino St., Apple Valley. Free. Food and beverages available for pur-

chase. Ethan Bortnick and The Kidz Bop Kids, 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, at Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave. Tickets range from $24.50 to $49.50 and can be purchased at the box office, via Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787 or ticketmaster.com. Dave Koz with Bebe Winans, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, Subway Music in the Zoo, Minnesota Zoo amphitheater, Apple Valley. Cost: $47. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com. Tommy Castro and the Painkillers and Marcia Ball, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, Subway Music in the Zoo, Minnesota Zoo amphitheater, Apple Valley. Cost: $36. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com. Mu Daiko Japanese Taiko Drumming, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5, at Caponi Art Park’s Theater in the Woods outdoor amphitheater in Eagan. Suggested donation: $5. Rain location: Crossroads Church, Eagan. Information: www.caponiartpark.org. Dance Zenon Dance School’s Hip Hop and Breakdance Camp Aug. 6-10 at Burnsville Performing Arts Center: 9 a.m. to noon, ages 6-10, $190; 12:30 to 4 p.m., ages 10-14, $220. Enroll online at www.zenondance.org/ summer-camps-2012 or call (612) 338-1011. Exhibits/Art Shows Botanical art exhibit by The Great River Chapter of Botanical Artists at the Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke Ave. Information: (952) 9854640. Summer art show by local artist Amie Kieffer from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 17-18 at 3245 145th St. W., Rosemount. The outdoor show will include about 60 original pieces; many will be for sale. Information: AK@AmieKieffer. com. Festivals Rosemount Leprechaun Days runs July 20-29. Information: www.rosemountevents. com/Leprechaun.html. The Dakota County Fair runs Aug. 6-12 at the fairgrounds in Farmington. Information: dakotacountyfair.org. Theater Eagan Summer Community Theatre will present “Cinderella” in the Eagan High School auditorium, 4185 Braddock Trail, at 7:30 p.m. July 25-28, and 2 p.m. July 28. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors 62-plus and children under 12. To purchase tickets, call (651) 683-6964 between 1 and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or purchase online at www.eagan.k12.mn.us/.

Workshops/classes Intermediate digital photography workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 18, at Caponi Art Park, Eagan. Free, $5 suggested donation. Registration required. Information: www.caponiartpark.org or (651) 454-9412. Adult painting open studio from 9 a.m. to noon the first and third Fridays of the month at the Eagan Art House, 3981 Lexington Ave. S. Fee is $5 per session. Information: (651) 6755521. 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) 675-5521. 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) 2144732. 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. Information: (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) 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. 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.

Sports

July 27, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Riptide has busy but rewarding finish Dakota REV girls team wins state U13 soccer title by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

The life of a youth soccer player: Saturday morning, the Dakota REV Riptide girls Under-13 players faced MapleBrook in the state tournament in Lakeville, then jumped into cars

for the trip to Blaine to play in the USA Cup championship game against ... the same MapleBrook team. Longtime Dakota REV coach and administrator Nels Dokken has seen a lot in youth soccer, but even for him that was unusual.

Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

Haley Ford (right) of the Dakota Rev Riptide tries to keep a MapleBrook player away from the ball during the girls Under-13 Gold A championship game Saturday at the USA Cup youth soccer tournament. MapleBrook scored late in the second half to edge the Riptide 2-1.

“I think we ran out of gas in the second game,” he said. The Riptide defeated MapleBrook 5-1 in the Saturday morning game, a pool-play game in the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association state tournament. In the afternoon, MapleBrook beat Dakota REV 2-1 in the USA Cup Gold A division final, scoring the winning goal late in the second half. The Riptide, however, wasn’t done. The team returned to the MYSA state tourney and won its second pool-play game to reach the finals. Dakota REV beat Eden Prairie 2-1 in the U 13 Classic 1 championship game Tuesday at Photo by Mike Shaughnessy North Park in Lakeville. Dakota REV Riptide player Lauren Peterson (right) pursues the ball during Saturday’s Olivia Bruce scored the USA Cup girls Under-13 Gold A championship game against MapleBrook. winning goal in overtime. It closed a season in The Riptide, consisting very good on defense. If grams this fall, Dokken which the Riptide played mostly of players from the you look at our scores, we said. The rest will train tomore than 50 games, won School District 196 area, didn’t allow many goals gether this fall and play in some “friendlies” in prepa40 of them, took first two has been together for a this season.” place in two major state couple of years, although Riptide players are Jes- ration for their first Pretournaments, earned a several of the girls have sica Ojala, Olivia Bruce, mier season. spot in a U.S. Youth Soc- been playing on the same Rebeca Mateo, Haley The MYSA state tourcer regional, and qualified teams for three. The move Ford, Sally Nelson, Alexis nament was still in progfor the Premier division in to Premier (earned when Olsson, Regan Gaudreault, ress when this edition went the Riptide won its league Kenadie Cain, Molly Beck- to press, with a number of 2012-13. The state tournament championship) likely as- man, Lauren Witte, Mi- state championship games was “very similar to the sures that they’ll be togeth- kayla Hughes, Mia Gior- scheduled for Wednesday gi, Camryn MacMillan, evening. State Cup (a spring com- er next season, too. petition that the Riptide “This is a very good Carolynn Ciriacks, Jenna also won),” Dokken said. team,” Dokken said. “The Eichten, Morgen Regnier Mike Shaughnessy is at mike.shaughnessy@ecm-inc. “MapleBrook and Eden girls really move the ball and Lauren Peterson. Prairie were in our group well. They understand A few of the girls will com or facebook.com/sunthe game, and they were play in high school pro- thisweek. at the State Cup, too.”

Notebook: Monroe will guide Eastview softball program

Coach helped Farmington reach 2012 state tourney

by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

Trevor Monroe, who coached Rosemount High School to the 2008 state baseball tournament, will take over as the new softball coach at Eastview next spring. He was an assistant coach for the Farmington High School softball team that won the 2012 Section 1AAA championship and played in the state tournament in June. Monroe was varsity baseball coach at Rosemount from 2005-09. In addition to leading the Irish to a state tournament appearance, he was Minnesota Twins/ Playball/3M Coach of the Year in 2007 and Max Preps Minnesota Coach of the Year in 2008. He has been a coach in several local youth softball programs since 1999. This summer, Monroe is coaching the Minnesota Irish Under-14 team, which won the USSSA state championship at its age level and is playing in a national tournament

this week in Rockford, Ill. Monroe played high school football, basketball and golf in Warren, Minn., then played basketball and golf as a freshman at Concordia College in Moorhead. He then accepted a scholarship to play Division I golf at the University of Wyoming. After college, he spent one year playing professional golf on the Canadian and Nike tours before starting his education career. Longtime Eastview head softball coach Mike Haugh resigned after the 2011 season. In 2012, the school divided the head coaching duties among several assistant coaches on an interim basis. The Lightning finished third in the Section 3AAA tournament last spring. This fall, Monroe will begin his second year as a physical education and safety education teacher at Eastview High School. Previously, he taught for 14 years at Rosemount Middle School.

Legion baseball districts The Third District American Legion baseball playoffs will conclude Saturday at Alimagnet Park in Burnsville. Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eastview, Eagan, Lakeville North and Lakeville South advanced to the double-elimination portion of the tournament that began Wednesday. Burnsville and Eastview were ranked first and second in this week’s state American Legion poll. The district championship game will be 1 p.m. Saturday, with the winner assured a spot in the state Division I tournament beginning Aug. 3 in Chaska. Two other teams from the district will earn trips to state, with those to be determined in elimination-bracket play later Saturday afternoon. Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Running without being chased An ode to the adult-onset athlete by Andy Rogers Sun Thisweek

For months these pages are filled with the accomplishments of the 18-andunder crowd, but organized athletic activities aren’t just for the younger generation. Events such as 5-kilometer runs, mud runs, triathlons and half-marathons are becoming more popular with older generations. As an adult, exercise is rarely referred to as play. We’re at an age where entertainment options have never been more numerous, but our bodies don’t respond like that of an 18-year-old. But no one has ever told me that exercise is bad for you, and I’m telling you that exercise can be fun. Motivation is easier to come by when you have a tangible goal such as running 13.1 miles without stopping. The thing about running for recreation in a 5K, a mud run, triathlon, halfmarathon, full marathon, Ironman or even an ultra marathon (although there’s nothing recreational about running 100 miles) is that you’re really just racing against yourself. I’m not going to win, never will, but in my first half-marathon the goal was

Sun Thisweek Columnist

Andy Rogers

to run the whole thing without stopping. My second was to finish in less than two hours. From now on, I always want to cut my time. For many the goal is just to enjoy whatever you signed up for. I remember saying before my first big event, “I know I can do it. I just want to be able to appreciate it.” Sure, sometimes it makes me a little sad to see grandmothers whizzing past me, but I make up stories about how they’re former Olympians and track coaches. I learned a long time ago that comparing yourself to others is an exercise in futility. A few years ago I felt the need to take more risks. I signed up for a half-marathon. Benefits include the fact that most are affiliated with charities, you can run with a buddy, and it’s easier

to run when organizers stop traffic and give you water along the way. There’s a transformation that happens between going out for a jog and signing up for that first race. I had a reason to push myself farther each day and broke out of a physical lull. I learned what I was capable of, both in mind and body. One day I surprised myself by running seven miles without realizing how far I’d gone. All of a sudden I was back home and I wanted to keep running. That’s quite a rush when a year prior it was an unrealistic distance. The training, the expo at packet pick-up, the pre-race meal, the rush at the starting line, the cheers from strangers, the medal at the end, and the soreness that follows are all part of the experience. It can be a landmark in an otherwise uneventful month. You have something to talk about when someone asks, “What have you been up to lately?” If you don’t do anything weird once in a while you never remember anything you do. The time it takes to train for an event depends on the See running, 15A

Sports Briefs Burnsville golf team offers youth lessons Burnsville High School boys golf team members are offering $5 golf lessons for girls and boys ages 5-15 at the high school soccer fields. Lessons will be 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 9. Parking is available in the lot east of the football field. Proceeds will support the boys golf team. For more information, call (612) 418-1180.

RHS offers online sports sign-up Rosemount High School is offering online registration for fall sports and fine arts activities through a service called FeePay. The school still will accept paper forms for registration but is encouraging the online method. No transaction fees are assessed to users. To use the service, a family should log in to its SchoolView account and click the FeePay tab in the horizontal toolbar

at the top of the page. Families without SchoolView accounts should contact RHS athletic director Michael Manning at michael.manning@district196.org to get an access key. The system will not allow registration to be completed until all required information, such as a current physical examination form, is provided or on file with the school. New physical exam forms can be mailed to the school or dropped off at the main office from 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call the RHS athletics office at 651-423-7506.

AV basketball boosters golf tourney The Apple Valley Basketball Booster Club will hold its third annual golf tournament Monday, Aug. 13, at Valleywood Golf Course. The scramble-format tournament has a 10 a.m. shotgun start. There will be various

contests, as well as a raffle and silent auction. Lunch will be catered. Early-bird registration is $90; the cost is $115 after July 31. For more information or to register, visit www.applevalleyhoops. com.

Seeking nominations for basketball hall of fame The Minnesota High School Basketball Hall of Fame, a new venture featuring some of the most prominent names in Minnesota high school basketball, is seeking nominations for its inaugural class of inductees. The Hall of Fame plans to promote high school basketball and the values of wholesome competition and sportsmanship, both for boys and for girls by recognizing outstanding players, coaches, teams, officials and other contributors from the beginning of high school hoops more than 100 years ago to the present day. Basketball fans may submit nomina-

tions to Bill Bentson at webentson22@ yahoo.com, Ron Haggstrom at rchaggstrom@yahoo.com or Kevin Anderson at kja8067@gmail.com. Teams and players are subject to a waiting period of 10 years, while coaches and other contributors must have a career consisting of at least 15 years.

BAC football registration Registration for the 2012 season of Burnsville Athletic Club football is now open for boys and girls interested in playing tackle (grades 5-8) or flag (grades 1-12) football. The fee for tackle football is $200. The fee for flag football is $75 for grades 1-4 and $100 for grades 5-12. A limited number of scholarships are available for families with a demonstrated financial need. For more information, contact Brad Schiller at BACCommissioner@hotmail.com. To register, go to www.burnsvillefootball.com.

running, from 14A individual. You could be ready for one tomorrow or one a year from now. Regardless, here’s a few upcoming half-marathons, my favorite endurance event. They’re hard, but they won’t knock you out for a month and they’re challenging enough to make you feel like you’ve done something strange when it’s over. • The Minnesota HalfMarathon and 5K along the Mississippi River road, one of the more popular distance routes in the state, on Aug. 4. (www.minneso-

tahalfmarathon.com) • Women Rock Marathon/Half/5K on Sept. 1 on the river road in St. Paul is catered toward women. (www.womenrockmn.org) • The Birkie Trail Run Marathon/Half/5K in Cable, Wis., on Sept. 22. A lesser-known gem along some of the best trails in the Midwest. (www.birkie.com) • Mankato Marathon/ Half/10K on Oct. 21. One underrated factor of running an event is passing through the streets you normally drive on. There’s still time to start training for this one. (www.mankatoma-

rathon.com) • Monster Dash halfmarathon on Oct. 27 starting at the St. Paul Cathedral and running along Summit Avenue to the river road. It’s one of the pricier options, but about half the people wear costumes and the gear is top-notch. (www.monsterdash.org.) There are dozens of options every weekend from 5Ks on up. You can find them at www.runningintheusa.com. Andy Rogers can be reached at andy.rogers@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount July 27, 2012

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July 27, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

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July 27, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount July 27, 2012

News Briefs Service news Marine Corps Sgt. Tyler C. Elliott, a 2004 graduate of Apple Valley High School, and fellow sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) formed a Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions committee. CSADD is a peer-to-peer mentoring program geared toward assisting sailors in making positive decisions in all areas of their lives.

Robert Trail Library programs Robert Trail Library, 14395 S. Robert Trail, Rosemount, has planned the following programs. Call (651) 480-1200 for information. • Henna Body Art, teens, 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2. Learn how to apply henna, how it colors skin, and types of henna to avoid.

• Teen Zines with the Eagan Art House, teens, 2:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4. Create a magazine about yourself. • Microsoft Excel for Building Job Skills, adults, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8. Presented by the Science Museum. Registration required. • Open Crafts, teens, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9. Duct tape, origami, hardware jewelry, make a card, buttonmaking, or do your own thing. All materials provided; make and take. • Craft Fair, teens and younger, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17. Register by Aug. 10. • Last day for Teen Reads is Aug. 18. • TAG, teens, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23. • Book Discussion Group, adults, 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28. “Last Night in Twisted River” will be discussed. The group is open to the public.

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child; free additional adult. • Twocans/Chimpanthrees, parents and children 18 months-3 years, 10 to 10:45 a.m. Monday through Friday, Aug. 6-10, Falcon Ridge Middle School, 12900 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley. Fee: $50; $30 additional child; free additional adult. • Coral Reef Hideaway, ages 4-6, 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Thursday, Aug. 7-9, Falcon Ridge Middle School, 12900 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley. Fee: $65. • Zhu Zhu Pets Art Camp, ages 5-12, 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Aug. 9 and 10, Falcon Ridge Middle School, 12900 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley. Fee: $59. • Reading Prep, grades 2-3, 9 to 10 a.m.; grades 4-6, 11 a.m. to noon; Monday through Friday, Aug. 1317, Pinewood Elementary School, 6795 Gerdine Path, Rosemount. Fee: $49.

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July 27, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Parking spot led to meat-cleaver assault Burnsville traffic stop leads to drug bust by Andrew Miller Sun Thisweek

Two men are facing felony charges after a dispute over a parking spot erupted into fisticuffs – and an attack with a meat cleaver – outside a Farmington apartment complex earlier this month. Robert S. Meyer, 18, was charged by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office last week with second-degree assault and criminal damage to property. His alleged accomplice, 27-year-old Andrew D. Jensen, is accused of providing Meyer with the butcher knife used in the incident, and he’s been charged with second-degree assault (aiding and abetting). The criminal complaint gives the following account: Police were called to the apartments on the 4300 block of 220th Street at about 9 p.m. July 13 on a report of an assault with a knife. There, the male victim told officers that a short time earlier he’d arrived home and found that someone had parked in his assigned parking spot. The victim reported that he honked his horn once, as is customary at the apartment complex when someone’s parked in your assigned space, and shortly thereafter a man he didn’t know – later identified as Meyer – came outside. Asked to move his vehicle, Meyer became belligerent and began throwing punches, grazing the victim’s face with one of them. A fight ensued, but ended when Meyer’s girlfriend came out of the apartments and told him to stop. However, as Meyer was walking back toward the apartments, a man on crutches – later identified as Jensen – handed him a large butcher knife, the complaint said. Meyer ran at the victim, and the victim fled on foot, getting about a block away before Meyer caught up with him.

M e y e r tried to slash the victim with the knife, swinging it at him twice but missing Robert S. both times Meyer by about an inch. Meyer’s girlfriend again intervened, asking him to stop, and he walked away clutching the butcher knife. The ugly incident wasn’t over, though. As Meyer walked by the victim’s car, he smashed the handle of the knife against the vehicle, putting dents in the hood and passenger door, according to the complaint. The victim’s girlfriend and infant child were

in the car at the time. Police located Meyer hiding in a closet in Jensen’s apartment. He was arrested and booked into the Dakota County Jail, where he remained as of Monday afternoon. Meyer, who is a Farmington resident but does not live at the apartments on 220th Street where the incident occurred, faces a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $14,000 fine if convicted of the felony assault charge. Jensen also faces seven years in prison and a $14,000 fine if convicted.

A July 14 traffic stop in Burnsville led to seizure of more than a pound and a half of marijuana and charges against a Minneapolis-area drug dealer. Marcus Tyrone Hunter, 28, is charged with five fifthdegree drug crimes, which follow previous convictions. Four are for possession and one is for selling. A police search of Hunter’s hotel room after the traffic stop turned up 1.54 pounds of marijuana and $15,000 in cash, according to one of two criminal complaints filed in Dakota County. Hunter “was currently Andrew Miller can be reached involved in the distribution at andrew.miller@ecm-inc.com of marijuana in the Minneor facebook.com/sunthisweek. apolis area,” the complaint

said. He lives in Burnsville, said the complaint, which lists a St. Louis Park address Marcus for Hunter. Tyrone A citizen Hunter complaint about Hunter’s driving led police to him. Someone reported to police at about 1:30 a.m. July 14 that a car near County Road 42 and Interstate 35W was “all over the road,” one of the criminal complaints said. Police found the vehicle in the parking lot of a hotel on County Road 42 West, with its taillights still on and Hunter and a woman inside.

The woman told police the only thing in the vehicle that was hers was her purse. Officers said Hunter made a “furtive movement with his left hand” when he saw them coming. In the car police found 76 grams of marijuana, 11 Vicodin pills and 12 Percocet pills, one of the complaints said. Information from Hennepin County led officers to execute a search warrant on the hotel room. Hunter was convicted of two first-degree drug crimes in Hennepin County in 2007 and a fifth-degree drug crime in 2006, according to a complaint. — John Gessner

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