SUN Thisweek Apple Valley and Rosemount by Sun Thisweek

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Apple Valley | Rosemount August 24, 2012 | Volume 33 | Number 26

Soldier puts himself second Rosemount man with inoperable cancer honors his wife during ceremony by Tad Johnson Sun Thisweek

Lakeville man back to school Lakeville man who suffered a life-changing injury didn’t let it stop him from going back to school. Page 11A

Opinion Woman raises healthy family Columnist writes about a Dakota County woman who encountered a host of challenges and is back on the right track with the help of Dakota Healthy Families. Page 4A

Lt. Col. Mark Weber says he’s just living and people are following. Many people have gotten behind the Rosemount resident who is battling Stage 4 inoperable neuroendocrine cancer since he was diagnosed in June 2010 when he knew his time left was precious. His following grew a lot larger last Thursday when Weber and his wife, Kristin, were honored by Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in an End of Service Ceremony at the Rosemount National Guard. “There are simply no words to describe his effort to come see me,” Weber said of Dempsey, who presented him with the Legion of Merit Award. “Such affirmation is the dream of any employee.” In the past two weeks, Dempsey has presided over three retirements. Two of them for four-star generals each with nearly 40 years of experience, including the first woman of that rank and the chief of the U.S.

Air Force. And then there’s Weber, who said he’s got a job title no one’s ever heard of and just over 20 years of service. “Notice any difference here?” Weber said after the ceremony. Since Weber worked as public affairs officer for the Joint Chiefs, Dempsey was familiar with Weber’s work. “I’ve been around Mark Weber a lot in some incredibly difficult circumstances,” Dempsey said during the ceremony, “and it was not only what he got done but how he got it done.” He said Weber is one of the finest leaders he’s been around and always put himself second to that of the mission and others around him. In true Weber fashion, he put himself second last Thursday. “I will focus on one and only one person,” Weber said pausing during his remarks, “a woman who has stood with me every step of the way for the past 18 years, my wife and my closest friend, Kristin. She is my

Photo by Minnesota National Guard

Lt. Col. Mark Weber speaks during his End of Service ceremony last Thursday at the Rosemount National Guard Armory. hero.” Kristin received the Minnesota Superior Civilian Service Award during the ceremony. “True strength is about getting things done despite tears and external obstacles,” Weber said, “and you, Kristin Coughlin, epitomize the definition of the word of strength. By the soldier’s standard for uncommon valor and bravery under mind-crushing conditions, you are a hero in every sense of the word.” Weber said Kristin’s tears told

him what his words meant to her that night. “I saw a reverence in her eyes for me that was surpassed only by my own for her,” he said. After the ceremony, Kristin told her husband that she’s only done what countless other military spouses in the Army have done. Weber said it was all the better that the public could share in that perspective in such grand fashion. “We are two fiercely independent See weber, 16A

Rosemount names new police chief

sports

Eric Werner’s appointment is official by Tad Johnson Sun Thisweek

Eagles return 12 starters Apple Valley football team readies for takeoff with a cast of experienced players. Page 14A

thisweekend

Photo submitted

Eagan and Lakeville Resource Centers leaders Nancy Wester, community relations manager, John Jaeger, operations manager, Sarah Schmidt, fresh foods coordinator, Mary Freeman, program manager and Kris Albright, office manager, show off the nonprofit’s new Mobile Pantry.The Mobile Pantry will be deployed for the first time on Sept. 10 at Restoration Covenant Church in Apple Valley.

Area food shelf becomes mobile Mobile Pantry to stop at Apple Valley Church on Sept. 10 by Jessica Harper Sun Thisweek

Farewell, dolphin friends The Minnesota Zoo is inviting the public to come and say goodbye to its Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, which are on exhibit through Sept. 9. Page 11A

Index Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A ThisWeekend. . . . . . . . . . 6A Public Notices. . . . . . . . . 8A Announcements . . . . . . . 8A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14A

In 2007 the Eagan and Lakeville Resource Centers joined the food revolution by offering fresh produce, dairy and meats at the two food shelves. Now, the Eagan nonprofit is taking the food revolution to the streets by bringing the pantry to those in need. “When looking at our clients’ greatest need, we found that a big part is transpor-

destination since it is a gathering place in a busy location. The Mobile Pantry can carry up to 1,800 pounds of food, which will consist primarily of fresh produce, dairy, eggs and meats. Providing healthy options has been a large part of the center’s focus since it first began offering produce four years ago. Since then, the center’s pantries in Eagan and Lakeville have

boosted the amount of fresh foods each year. In 2011, fresh and perishable foods accounted for 50 percent of the pantries’ stock, which rose to 70 percent this year. “Our goal is to make it easier for families to access fresh and healthy food,” Schmidt said. Families will be able to walk inside the truck, which is accessible to those with See pantry, 16A

County refuses to plea bargain Defendants weren’t shown results from St. Paul crime lab County Attorney Vance “Chip” GranSun Thisweek nis III told Judge Karen Asphaug in Dakota CounMay his office dety Attorney Jim cided to make those Backstrom’s office refusals to expedite refused in May to cases. make plea bargains James Court records in cases where de- Backstrom quote Grannis: fendants requested “And your honor, their full files from the St. Paul Police Depart- he’s not being punished; ment Crime Lab, according it’s — the rules regarding plea bargaining say one of to court documents. In the case of a 33-year- the things to take into conold St. Paul man charged sideration in making plea with possession of metham- bargains is efficiency, and phetamine and misdemean- it’s our office’s position or theft, Assistant Dakota that if the St. Paul crime by Laura Adelmann

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tation — many don’t have reliable modes,” said Sarah Schmidt, fresh food coordinator for the Resource Centers. “So we decided to take it to them.” The nonprofit recently purchased a refurbished short bus that will roll out for the first time Sept. 10 to bring goods to Restoration Covenant Church at 7707 147th St. W. in Apple Valley. The center chose the church as the Mobile Pantry’s first

lab and our office need to gather all that additional information,that isn’t effecient. And therefore, if we put in that extra time gathering all that information, we’re not going to make plea bargains in those cases.” Phil Prokopowicz, chief deputy Dakota County attorney, wrote a six-page request Monday to Judge Kathryn Messerich asking to halt the evidentiary Frye-Mack hearing brought by public defender Lauri Traub and Christine Funk of the State’s Trial Team

that has uncovered multiple inadequacies of drug evidence testing procedures, a lack of written policies and little personnel training in seven cases. Those revelations have led to questions of whether drug evidence tested at the St. Paul crime lab is at all reliable in multiple drug cases. The Dakota County Drug Task Force has used the St. Paul crime lab for testing for the past decade, See Tactics, 3A

The city of Rosemount will have a new police chief on the job about three and a half months after its last one left the post. A t Tuesday’s meeting, the City Council appointed Eric Werner, who has been Eric Werner a captain for the Burnsville Police Department for the past eight years and was previously announced as its selection. Werner will take on his new role Sept. 14 at an annual salary of $105,000. He replaces Gary Kalstabakken, who retired in May and had been the city’s chief of police since 1998. The council selected Werner from a group of what it considered a strong field of applicants, according to a release from the city. He was one of three finalists for the post. “Eric has a strong resume with a strong customer service and public service focus,” said Mayor Bill Droste. “He lives in Rosemount and knows the community.” Droste said Werner also has budget and technology experience that fit his new role. Werner has worked in law enforcement for 24 years, the last 13 of them in Burnsville. He has a master’s degree in police leadership and administration from the University of St. Thomas and has received additional training at the FBI National Academy and at Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command. Tad Johnson can be reached at tad.johnson@ecm-inc. com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

August 24, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

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Lawyers debate if drug evidence ruined for retesting by Laura Adelmann Sun Thisweek

Witnesses were to testify this week that drug evidence handling at the St. Paul Police Department Crime Lab was so poor that retesting cannot rectify damage done, according to public defenders Lauri Traub and Christine Funk in an Aug. 16 summary of witness testimony they expected to present. Wednesday’s hearing was to continue three days of testimony that began last month and revealed multiple problems at the lab including lax standards, improper testing procedures, failures to maintain equipment and an under-trained workforce. Phil Prokopowicz, Dakota County Attorney’s Office chief deputy, asked a judge on Tuesday for an immediate end to the court hearing that has raised questions about the reliability of evidence tested in the county’s drug cases. Referring to the process as a “fishing expedition” by Traub and Funk, Prokopowicz told Judge Kathryn Davis Messerich the hearing is a waste of time and resources. A week after that hearing started, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom and prosecutors in Ramsey and Washington counties began sending drug evidence first tested at the crime lab to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for retesting in an effort to continue prosecutions. “To allow the pretrial evidentiary hearing to proceed in its current form is to

Colonoscopy Classic Sept. 7 Tee One Up for Jack – The Colonoscopy Classic in memory of Jack Sprague will be held Friday, Sept. 7, at Crystal Lake Golf Club in Lakeville. Sprague passed away from colon cancer last year. The tournament is an 18-hole, four-person scramble with games and contests featured on a number of holes. The $100 registration fee includes a round of golf, shared cart and dinner. The shotgun start is at 12:30 p.m., with dinner and a silent auction/raffle at 6 p.m. Proceeds from the golf tournament will support research at Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota and cancer care at HealthEast Care Center. For more information or to register for the tournament, visit www. cancerbenefitfund.org.

allow defense counsel to engage in nothing more than a ‘fishing expedition’ with the potential for voluminous irrelevant information to be presented that has no bearing on the issues related to tampering or contamination of evidence in this case,” Prokopowicz wrote in an Aug. 21 letter to the judge. Testimony in the hearing has prompted numerous changes at the highest levels of the crime lab and vows from St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Police Chief Tom Smith that improvements and changes were coming. Since the hearing, Sgt. Shay Shackle has been replaced as head of the lab, all drug testing has ended there and Dakota, Ramsey and Washington counties are retesting drug evidence at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s certified crime lab. St. Paul Police announced Monday it would hire two independent experts to review lab operations and drug evidence handling. Backstrom and Washington and Ramsey county attorneys requested to meet with Smith on Tuesday to have input into the scope and nature of the review, according to a joint Aug. 8 letter from the prosecutors to the chief. “We are particularly interested in learning how that review will address past controlled substance criminal cases in which drug samples were tested by the SPPD Crime Lab,” they state. “The results of this review will be critical to our

ability to appropriately calibrate our responses to any past cases in a manner that furthers both justice and public confidence in our criminal justice system.” Howie Padilla, St. Paul Police spokesman, said they will announce the two consultants hired to conduct the review once the contracts are signed. “We want someone who has got a wealth of experience in working with crime labs,” Padilla said, “and can help us identify what training we have and what we don’t have, and how we can supplement that training.” Asked how procedures and training at the lab had gotten to this point, Padilla said “that’s the question everybody wants to know.” He expected the administrative review would help find those answers. According to court documents filed Aug. 16, the hearing may reveal additional problems at the lab, as testimony was expected to detail contamination issues at the lab and why those issues are not alleviated by sending evidence to another lab for testing. St. Paul Police Officer Jamison Sipes was to testify that drug evidence was left in unsecured hallways, which concerned him. Witnesses were to testify that drug evidence was stored, transported and stacked together without ensuring each was kept in secure packaging and would not be in contact with other drug evidence. Glenn Harden, former BCA Forensic Lab supervisor, who was expected to

tactics, from 1A

Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s crime lab. Prokopowicz said he has received one test back from the retesting at the BCA that verified the St. Paul crime lab’s original finding of heroin. He said the county has not received the results of any other evidence to be retested. Roberta DeCrans, a criminalist at the St. Paul crime lab, testified Wednesday regarding procedures she employed to test drug evidence against John Thomas Peters, 21, one of the seven cases included for review in the hearing process. Her testimony is scheduled to continue Friday. Watch the Sun Thisweek website, www.sunthisweek. com for updates.

according to Backstrom. Traub successfully argued on Wednesday that hearing each case multiple times would be less efficient than hearing all seven of the cases at once. She also said if the court ends the Frye-Mack hearing, the public defender’s office would be depleted of funds to bring in experts to testify, and they would have to go to the county taxpayers to continue funding the case. Messerich expressed concern that her eventual ruling in the hearing could bind future judges to it in other cases. She decided to continue the hearing, but focused the remainder of the testimony on whether evidence tested by the St. Paul crime lab has Laura Adelmann is at laura. remained uncontaminated adelmann@ecm-inc.com or enough to be retested by the facebook.com/sunthisweek.

testify that the lab never performed a validation study or testing to verify if the cleaning methods they employed were effective or ensure work surfaces were clean and free of drug residue before additional tests were performed. In the summary document, Traub stated Harden is saying it is “simply unknown what is and what is not contaminated because of the poor record keeping and the lack of standard operating procedures in the SPPDCL.” Prokopowicz challenged that assertion in his letter. He said there has been no evidence of actual contamination of items and substances that were submitted to the BCA for retesting. He added that the state acknowledges testimony that indicated the presence of contamination in samples subjected to gas chromatography testing performed by the crime lab. He stated those samples and solutions were not submitted to the BCA for retesting. Prokopowicz wrote the prosecution must prove that it is reasonably possible that tampering or contamination did not occur, and repeatedly called for the evidence to be reviewed and presented in individual trials “where they will be fully addressed.” Traub declined comment about the issue. Laura Adelmann is at laura. adelmann@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount August 24, 2012

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Opinion

August 24, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Opening doors with 360 Communities Dakota Healthy Families Amanda wants to be good mother to her son Kyle. However, she has struggled with a history of sexual, physical and emotional abuse, and her own mother is an alcoholic. She has self-esteem issues and, as a teenager, she was diagnosed with ADHD and mental illness. Without a solid role model in her life, developing good parenting skills has been elusive. During Amanda’s pregnancy, the father of her child was imprisoned. When she gave birth to Kyle, a hospital parent visitor determined she was eligible for 360 Communities Dakota Healthy Families and referred her to the program. Amanda agreed to participate out of fear her child would be taken away. In many ways, Amanda’s story is why programs like Healthy Families are critical. Healthy Families has done essential work to promote safe, healthy and nurturing homes for children and prepare them for kindergarten. Healthy Families home visitors use an early intervention and prevention-focused approach to teach parents how to provide early learning, to help build social and emotional intelligence in their children, to keep the children current on immunizations, and to help prepare them for a successful preschool screening. A 2006 University of Minnesota study found that Healthy Families nearly pays for itself by avoiding cases of child neglect and abuse. The study also noted that “longterm cost-avoidance is much greater, as early intervention programs like (Healthy Families) often head off long-term depen-

Guest Columnist

Molly Perry

dency on government programs such as welfare, special education and the criminal justice system.” Art Rolnick, a senior fellow with the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs and a former director of research with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, says early childhood development programs have an annual return on investment of up to 16 percent, beating stock portfolios and other forms of economic development. “The return of investment in early childhood development is extraordinary, resulting in better-working public schools, more educated workers, and less crime,” Rolnick has said. Amanda’s involvement with Healthy Families home visitor Sarah was only sporadic during the first few months. Her history of abuse made it difficult for her to trust people. She started drug and alcohol use at a young age and never finished school. Consequently, her self-esteem was low. Since Kyle was born, Amanda had been told by her mom, Kyle’s father, the police and even perfect strangers she was not a good mother. This criticism prompted her to act out of fear, and attempt to make

In Brief Dakota Healthy Families is one of the 360 Communities school success programs that help break the cycle of poverty by engaging parents in their children’s development and giving families a vested interest in their future and the future of their children. More information about Healthy Families is at (952) 985-5300 or the website 360Communities.org. Healthy Families currently has Spanish-speaking home visitors available to assist Latino clients. If you or someone you know would like to inquire about this kind of support, contact 360 Communities at (952) 985-5300. changes like giving up drugs and starting anti-anxiety medication. However, none of the changes would stick. Healthy Families’s curriculum is set up to affect sustainable change with clients and their children. It includes activities that focus on identifying and cultivating family values. Sarah worked with Amanda to lay out and examine her core values. Amanda wanted to be a good mother, stop using drugs and finish school. It was clear Amanda tried hard to achieve these things, but with little support and few life skills to draw from, she had so far been unsuccessful. Sarah spent four years building a bond of trust with Amanda and working with

her through the Healthy Families curriculum. And the program has paid huge dividends for both Amanda and Kyle. “The supportive and consistent nature of our program and our strength-based approach has helped Amanda no longer act completely out of fear, but from the goals and values that she has for her family,” says Sarah, “Amanda looks to me for support and I have been able to have some pretty honest and difficult discussions with her.” According to Sarah, Amanda is now connected to Early Childhood Special Education and is more aware of other resources in the community. She is now married and belongs to a church community. In addition, she no longer uses drugs, alcohol and tobacco. “She would like to go to therapy for herself in the future and knows that she can do it when she is ready,” says Sarah, “I am excited because she feels hope. She actually believes me when I praise her and she believes she can live out her values for her family.” Amanda graduated from the Healthy Families program in July with an open door of possibilities for herself and her son Kyle. Molly Perry is 360 Communities Dakota Healthy Families supervisor. Names in the column have been changed to protect confidentiality. Columns reflect the opinion of the author.

‘Beat the Odds’ schools can help train new teachers by Joe Nathan Sun Thisweek

If you received millions of dollars to help prepare teachers and wanted to include nearby public schools, wouldn’t you include some of the area’s most effective public schools? Yes, I think many of us would. Unfortunately, that’s not what some teacher preparation programs are doing as part of their work, supported by the Bush Foundation. In a recent annual report, the Bush Foundation says its goal in providing tens of millions of dollars to improve teacher preparation is “to improve educational achievement for all students and close persistent achievement gaps.” For several years, Minnesota’s largest daily newspaper, the Star Tribune, has published lists of metro area district and charter public schools that are “beating the odds.” These are schools that have 75 percent or more students from low-income families. They are bringing these students’ reading and/or math skills up to, and in some cases, above, Minnesota’s statewide

Sun Thisweek Columnist

Joe Nathan

average. Wouldn’t you think that colleges that want to help the Bush Foundation achieve its goals would include, as partners, public schools that are closing achievement gaps? So far that’s not what the University of Minnesota is doing. I asked Mistilina Sato, a professor who directs the Bush funded program at the University of Minnesota, “on the record” which of the metro area’s “Beat the Odds” schools they were working with as partners. Her response was: “None. We did not target ‘beat the odds’ schools from this list and in Minneapolis and St. Paul, the district leadership played a role in assigning certain schools to the university for part-

nership development. We are proud to be in partnership with Brooklyn Center schools and have worked with their high school in their School Improvement Grant and in Minneapolis with Roosevelt high School which is in a school turn-around status. We are aiming to be an added value to our school partners in helping them improve student achievement through co-teaching and professional support that we might offer. Maybe one day we will see some of our partner schools on the Beat the Odds list!” The Bush Foundation also has funded a group of private colleges of education to help improve teacher preparation. They include Augsburg, Bethel, Concordia, Hamline, St. Catherine’s and St. Thomas. I asked Laura Mogelson who helps direct this effort if any of the these schools were using “beat the odds” as sites to train teachers as part of their Bush funded work. She responded, “Of the six TC2 institutions, I do not believe they have official partnerships with the schools on the list.” But Mogelson said they planned to “start partnership conversations with additional

sites, including secondary charter schools) for future cohorts (possibly 13-14).” Conversations are a good first step. But several years after the Bush Foundation started providing funds, it’s still not clear whether teacher preparation programs it is supporting are going to use some of the “beating the odds” schools as “partner” sites to help train new teachers. I mentioned this to former teacher principal, superintendent and Minnesota Department of Education assistant commissioner Mary Ann Nelson. She responded, “ Unbelievable. They need to rethink what they are doing.” I agree. Including some of Minnesota’s most effective public schools as partner/ training sites would help more teachers, and more students, succeed. Joe Nathan, formerly a Minnesota public school teacher and administrator, directs the Center for School Change. Reactions welcome, joe@centerforschoolchange.org. Columns reflect the opinion of the author.

Letters Maintaining precious investments To the editor: Recent mention of the state’s $2 billion debt to public schools is worth a look. The state Legislature cast around for a place to borrow money to be able to “balance” Minnesota’s budget. It’s like the “raids” Congress has organized on the Social Security fund, except this money is part of the treasure of hard-pressed school districts. We hear from “budget hawks” that schools are not being “accountable,” that they harbor waste. Yet the University of Minnesota’s investment research chief, Art Rolnick, a self-described conservative, says we are “under-investing” in education. It’s said extreme caution

about spending state money created an atmosphere where engineers didn’t have the courage to propose necessary, expensive repairs to U-shaped gussets that were only half the strength they needed to be, on the I-35W bridge in 2007. The result was a loss of 13 lives and hundreds of millions of dollars. The state education budget has parallels. It wasn’t long ago that Minnesota was an education leader. Class sizes of 30 students were considered too large for effective learning. We have since passed the 40-student mark in many places, and the number is climbing. School fees have shot up and property taxes, which most hurt people on fixed incomes, have increased dramatically. People who say that’s interesting but they have no

children in public schools are missing the point. Our economy did well when we invested money in our public education system. Good schools are a catalyst in reviving our state’s financial activities and a way to ensure the ability of Minnesotans to compete on an increasingly competitive world stage. Larry Koenck Eagan

If in doubt, recycle To the editor: Recycling is very confusing. Every suburb operates its recycling program different. The recycle symbol on cans or jars is for whether the material it was made from was recycled material, not that the can or jar can

Sports Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Shaughnessy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andy Rogers Sales Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Jetchick Office Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ellen Reierson

15322 Galaxie Ave., Suite 219, Apple Valley, MN 55124 952-894-1111 fax: 952-846-2010 www.SunThisweek.com | Office Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Friday

be recycled. Recycling is a business! Each business that buys (probably free) the recycling for their manufacturing goes through the items one at a time and throws bad

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.

items into the garbage. The most important thing to do is rinse the item before putting it into recycling. This makes the recycling much better. So if you do not know whether something goes into recycling, rinse it well and put it into recycling. Harley Horsager Lakeville

Who is paying the largest share?

with almost $50,000 in order to eradicate it. My friends, clients and colleagues are well aware they are picking up the tab for the 99 percent who are paying their “fair share.” Who is putting $10,000 in the education pot for every child they have in our public schools? Nobody I know, except me and my friends and clients. If you check closely you will find huge numbers of Minnesotans aren’t even covering their maintenance with the taxes they pay or don’t pay. As I have said many times in a multitude of letters, my clients range from the upper 5 percent to 1 percent and the only thing they consider “luck” in their lives is finding someone who could open their eyes to the opportunities available to all.

To the editor: What possible creative juices can Paul Hoffinger (“A puzzle and key,” Sun Thisweek Aug. 17) relate to when he says our problems stem from an underpaid workforce that is taxed far beyond their “fair share”? Sounds like the platform of a party that has led us into FRANKLIN WICKER a debt crisis which obligates Lakeville our families to come up

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount August 24, 2012

Police search movie theater after bomb threat ‘Nonspecific threat’ phoned in to Georgia-based chain’s corporate office by Andrew Miller Sun Thisweek

Photo by Andrew Miller

Apple Valley police officers clear the scene of a two-vehicle collision Tuesday afternoon at Galaxie Avenue and 153rd Street.

Collision on Galaxie Ave. A driver, who witnesses say was going the wrong way down a one-way street, collided with another vehicle Tuesday afternoon in Apple Valley’s Central Village. The two vehicles, a gray Chevy Impala and a white Dodge sedan, both suffered front-end damage and were towed from the accident scene at Galaxie Avenue and 153rd Street at about 4:15 p.m. Witnesses told Sun Thisweek that the driver of the Impala was heading the wrong way down 153rd Street and attempting to turn left onto Galaxie when it collided with the northbound Dodge sedan. After the impact, the Dodge hurtled about 40 yards north of the intersection, where it came to rest in the median of Galaxie Avenue, crushing a section of wrought-iron fence. There were no apparent

injuries. The accident was the second crash this summer along the stretch of Galaxie Avenue running through Central Village, according to police. On July 17, a 53-year-old Apple Valley man was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries following a rollover crash involving three vehicles at Galaxie Avenue and Founders Lane. Witnesses to that accident reported that the man who was injured was driving north on Galaxie when his Toyota Rav 4 struck two vehicles at the intersection with Founders Lane. The driver of the Rav 4 was ejected from his vehicle and responding officers found him lying in the roadway. He was given emergency medical treatment at the scene before being transported to Hennepin County Medical Center. —Andrew Miller

Police searched Carmike Cinemas in Apple Valley the morning of Friday, Aug. 17, after a bomb threat was phoned in to the theater chain’s corporate office in Georgia. The threat, left by a person identifying himself as a theater vendor, was aimed at all Carmike Cinemas theaters showing “The Expendables 2.” Management at the Apple Valley movie complex at 15630 Cedar Ave. contacted police to report the threat. “It was a nonspecific threat, but they felt it was credible enough that for the safety of their patrons they wanted their facilities checked,” said Apple Valley police Capt. Michael Mar-

Caregivers need respite Volunteers are needed to give family members of older adults a respite. Volunteers are needed four hours once a week or every other week. To volunteer or for more information, contact Barb Tiggemann at DARTS, (651) 450-1560 or barb.tiggemann@darts1. org, or visit www.darts1. org.

AVHS student attends leadership institute Michelle Sommers of Apple Valley, a senior at Apple Valley High School, participated in the High School Leadership Institute this summer at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. She was among 18 ris-

ing high school seniors who honed their leadership skills and devised community service projects during the July 22-28 program. Since attending the institute, Sommers plans on taking her student council

ben. A total of eight Apple Valley officers conducted the search, which lasted about an hour. Nothing suspicious was found, Photo by Andrew Miller Marben said, Apple Valley police officers found nothing suspicious during their and the case was search last Friday of Carmike Cinemas at 15630 Cedar Ave. Similar cleared. searches were conducted by law enforcement agencies nationwide after The morning a bomb threat was phoned in to the corporate office of Georgia-based search was con- Carmike Cinemas, which has 236 theaters in 35 states. ducted before the Apple Valley theater had has 236 theaters in 35 states. checked and deemed safe opened for the day. An “all clear” has been for use,” Carmike officials Similar searches were issued for movie theaters said in a statement. conducted by law enforce- across the nation owned by ment agencies nationwide Carmike. Andrew Miller can be reached after the bomb threat was “All theatres affected at andrew.miller@ecm-inc.com made, as Carmike Cinemas by the threat have been or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

to interact with patients at the Minneapolis Children’s Hospital. “I came up with this idea when I stayed at the St. Paul Children’s Hospital last year, and they had activities for the children to participate in,” she said.

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August 24, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Thisweekend Zoo bidding farewell to its dolphins Discovery Bay exhibit runs through Sept. 9 by Andrew Miller Sun Thisweek

The Minnesota Zoo is inviting the public to come and say goodbye to its dolphins, which will be on exhibit through Sept. 9. Regular dolphin training sessions will continue until the end of August, and from Sept. 1 to 9 the zoo is hosting a daily “Dolphin Open House” with special events for visitors. The zoo’s two Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Allie and Semo, will be available for viewing in the Dolphin Stadium during the open house, and guests can get their pictures taken with an image of Allie or Semo superimposed on a green screen. There also will be a giant card for guests to sign and wish the dolphins safe travels. This fall, Allie and Semo will be moving to other accredited facilities, and joining larger social groups, to allow for major repairs to the zoo’s 15-year-old, saltwater-damaged Discovery Bay building. Repairs are expected to take at least a

File photo

The zoo’s two Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Allie (above) and Semo, will be permanently relocated to other facilities next month to allow for major repairs to the zoo’s saltwater-damaged Discovery Bay building. year, during which time the dolphin tank will remain empty. Zoo officials have not

disclosed the specifics of where Allie and Semo will be moving, which is standard practice during trans-

portation of dolphins and other marine mammals to ensure the health and safety of the animals. After

Allie and Semo have been moved, the zoo plans to provide details and status updates to the public.

office, ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 982-2787.

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) 214-4732. 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) 736-3644. 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

The open house events next month will mark the end of the zoo’s popular dolphin program, which started in 1978, as Allie and Semo won’t be returning to the zoo after Discovery Bay reopens. According to Minnesota Zoo officials, dolphins typically live in social groups, and the Minnesota Zoo would need several dolphins to create this type of setting in Discovery Bay. There are not enough dolphins available from other institutions to create a new, cohesive social group. After repairs are completed at Discovery Bay, zoo officials say there will likely be a temporary exhibit of rays and fish until a larger exhibit can be funded and built. More about the dolphin open house events is at www.mnzoo.org. Andrew Miller can be reached at andrew.miller@ ecm-inc.com or facebook. com/sunthisweek.

theater and arts calendar To submit items for the Arts Calendar, email: darcy. odden@ecm-inc.com. Comedy Todd Andrews with special guest Tom Baumgartner at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, and Saturday, Aug. 25, at MinneHAHA Comedy Club, 1583 E. First Ave., Shakopee (lower level of Dangerfield’s), (612) 860-9388, www.minnehahacomedyclub.com. Tickets: $13. Concerts Summer Salon chamber concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, at Presbyterian Church of the Apostles, 701 E. 130th St., Burnsville. Suggested donation: $20. Information: (952) 890-7877 or www. ChurchApostles.org. Break Even Band, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 25, The Black Stallion Saloon, 23385 Emery Ave., Hampton, (651) 437-6625. The Suburbs with Magnolias, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30, Subway Music in the Zoo, Minnesota Zoo amphitheater, Apple Valley. Cost: $34. Tick-

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ets available at ticketmaster. com. Little Feat with Tom Fuller Band, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, Subway Music in the Zoo, Minnesota Zoo amphitheater, Apple Valley. Cost: $34. Tickets available at ticketmaster. com. Exhibits/art shows A botanical art exhibit by The Great River Chapter of Botanical Artists is on display through Sept. 16 at the Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke Ave. Information: (952) 985-4640. Pilgrims and Passages, a joint exhibit featuring art by Anthony Donatelle and Jon Reischl, is on display through Sept. 8 in the gallery at Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave. For more information, call (952) 895-4676 or visit www.burnsvillepac.com. Festivals/special events Burnsville Fire Muster runs Sept. 5-9. Information: w w w. b u r n s v i l l e f i r e m u s t e r. com/. Burnsville Convention &

Theater The Chameleon Theatre Circle and Segue Productions will present “Steel Kiss” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 7-8 and 2 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave., Burnsville. Tickets are $13 for adults and $10 for students, seniors and groups. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or by calling (952) 895-4680. The Chameleon Theatre Circle’s 13th annual New Play Festival will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave. Tickets are $20 for adults; $17 for students/seniors; $17 for groups of eight or more. Tickets are available at the box

Workshops/classes Allegro Choral Academy is currently accepting registrations for its 2012-13 season for students in second to eighth grade. Classes available in Rosemount and Lakeville. Early bird discount if registered before Aug. 24. Registration information: http://www.allegroca.org/ or nmarschall@allegroca.org. 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) 675-5521. 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 ages 4 through adult. Register now for fall classes. For a complete listing go to www.eaganarthouse.org or call (651) 675-5521.

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.

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Visitors Bureau’s Canvas & Vines will be 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center. Includes wine, craft beer, food, art, music and a silent auction. Admission is $35. Guests must be 21 or older to attend. Call (952) 895-4690 for more information and to purchase tickets, or visit www.canvasandvines. com.

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Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount August 24, 2012

Book sheds light on the lives of atheists family calendar ‘Atheist Voices of Minnesota’ features essays from four Dakota County residents

by Andrew Miller

Friday, Aug. 24 Outdoor movie, “Casablanca,” 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.

Sun Thisweek

A new book edited by Bill Lehto of Farmington seeks to dispel misconceptions about what he says is one of America’s most misunderstood groups of people. The book, “Atheist Voices of Minnesota,” is an anthology of personal stories from 36 Minnesota atheists. It’s set for release Aug. 28. The essays deal not so much with rationales for atheism – which, generally, is rejection of belief in God – as they deal with the experience of being an atheist. The writings are broken into sections including “Life as an Atheist,” “Coming Out as an Atheist” and “Letting Go of Faith.” “We really think it’s a good introduction to atheism – it’s not in attack mode, there’s not anti-religion rhetoric,” said Lehto. “We have a couple people who wrote about dealing with grief. One guy wrote about being an alcoholic and trying (Alcoholics Anonymous), but finding the ‘higher power’ didn’t work for him.” In addition to Lehto’s essay “Rough Sea,” the book features writing from three other Dakota County residents. Among the contributors are Jill Carlson of Burnsville, Todd Torkelson of Eagan, and Eric Jayne of Apple Valley.

Bill Lehto

There are also essays from high-profile Minnesota atheists such as Huffington Post blogger Chris Stedman and University of MinnesotaMorris biology professor PZ Myers, who’s billed as “the world’s most popular atheist blogger.” Jayne, a social worker who serves as associate president of the nonprofit Minnesota Atheists, said the book is the first of its

theater and arts briefs Harvest of Art exhibit starts Sept. 9 The Eagan Art House will hold its seventh annual Harvest of Art Community Art Exhibit Sept. 9 through Nov. 2. The exhibit opening will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, at the Eagan Art House, 3981 Lexington Ave. S. A variety of media will be on display, and pottery sale will be for sale. The exhibit will then be divided to go on display at various community locations including the Eagan Art House, Easter Lutheran Church, Ring Mountain Creamery, Dunn Bros. Coffee, and the Eagan Community Center. Additional information is available online at www.eaganarthouse.org. For more information, call (651) 675-5521.

Programs explore stories that shape state Highlights of the Dakota County Library’s fall programs of Minnesota history and stories include: Author and local organic farmer Atina Diffley will discuss her book, “Turn Here, Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works,” which has been called a memoir, a class in organic farming, a lesson in entrepreneurship, a love story, and a legal thriller. Wednesday, Oct. 10, 7 to 8 p.m., Farmington Library, 508 Third Street, Farmington. News anchor and investigative reporter Don Shelby will discuss his career and current projects, including his book, “The Season Never Ends: Wins, Losses, and the Wisdom of the Court.” Saturday, Nov. 3, 11 a.m. to noon, Galaxie Library, 14955 Galaxie Ave., Apple Valley. Local author Annie Wilder will discuss her book, “Spirits Out of Time,” where she reveals true family ghost stories. Thursday, Nov. 8, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Robert Trail Library, 14395 S. Robert Trail, Rosemount.

To submit items for the Family Calendar, email: darcy.odden@ ecm-inc.com.

KARE-11 journalist Boyd Huppert will share some of his favorites from the “Land of 10,000 Stories” series. Saturday, Nov. 10, noon, Farmington Library, 508 Third St., Farmington. The free programs are offered through the Minnesota Mosaic cultural arts series. For more information and a list of programs being offered, visit www. dakotacounty.us/library and search Mosaic.

Fundraiser for Children’s Lighthouse “Musical Heart NotesTreasuring Children,” a musical fundraiser for Children’s Lighthouse of Minnesota, will be held from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Steeple Center, 14375 S. Robert Trail, Rosemount. KSTP anchor Bill Lunn will emcee the event. Entertainment will include the Eagan Women of Note, singer/songwriter Dale O’Brien, Latino band Shandy Jimenez, Sawtooth Blue Grass Band, flamenco dancers Las Zapatistas and magician Darren Maar. The event will include door prizes and a drawing for a Samsung Galaxy Tablet. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. More information can be found at www.childrenslighthousemn.org.

Area residents perform in ‘The Music Man’ Apple Valley residents Kati Devitt and Atlee Jensen and Eagan residents Morgan Guinta and Tawny Greene are featured as members of the ensemble in the Eat Street Players’ production of “The Music Man” at the Howard Conn Fine Arts Center, 1900 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis. Performances are Aug. 26, 30, 31; Sept. 6-9, 14-15. For more information, visit www.eatstreetplayers.org.

kind – the first ever book of personal stories from atheists in any state in the country. “One of the most common misconceptions is that atheists are angry, immoral nihilists,” Jayne said. “This book will show that atheists are very thoughtful, moral people who have a deep concern about justice, happiness and well-being.” Lehto is releasing the book through his newly

created publishing house, Freethought House, in collaboration with Minnesota Atheists. After the publishing costs are covered, proceeds from sales of the book will be donated to Minnesota Atheists to help cover expenses for the group’s weekly “Atheists Talk” radio show on KTNF-AM 950, along with operating expenses such as speaker fees and volunteer outreach programs. “Atheist Voices of Minnesota” can be purchased from online booksellers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as at many local bookstores. More about the book is at MnAtheists.org. Andrew Miller can be reached at andrew.miller@ ecm-inc.com or facebook. com/sunthisweek.

Saturday, Aug. 25 Kids & More Back-to-School Sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Ames Arena, 19900 Ipava Ave., Lakeville. Clothing from infant to adult, toys, books, home decor, sports equipment, and more. Free parking and admission. Drawing to win a prize package worth over $200 Saturday only. Information: http:// www.treasurehuntsales.com/. Tech Dump free electronic recycling from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Parkway Eagan. All computers and electronic devices will be sanitized of personal information and data. Drop off location is at the parking lot; look for signs. Visit www.JobsFoundation.org or call (763) 432-3117 for information. Pet vaccination clinic from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Windmill Feed and Pet, 350 Main St., Elko New Market. Discounted fee. No appointment needed. Vaccinations, microchipping, heart-worm testing and more. Additional health care products available. Pets must be on leashes or in carriers. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Windmill Animal Rescue. Information: (952) 461-2765. Sunday, Aug. 26 Kids & More Back-to-School Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ames Arena, 19900 Ipava Ave., Lakeville. Discount Day, with many items half price. Information: http://www. treasurehuntsales.com/. 10th anniversary celebration for Arbors at Ridges and Ebenezer Child Care Center, 4 to 6:30 p.m., 13810 Community Drive, Burnsville. Free food, games for all ages, prizes and live Big Band entertainment. Information: (952) 898-8419. Tuesday, Aug. 28 Family Fun Tuesday – Pages of Music with Rolf and Carrie, 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. Tuesday Evenings in the

Garden – Fairy Garden with Kathy Bonnett, 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the garden at UMore Park, 1605 160th St. W. (County Road 46), Rosemount. Create an adorable, mini fairy garden that can be used indoors or out. All supplies are included. Fee: $40. Questions or to register by phone, call University of Minnesota Extension: (651) 480-7700. Wednesday, Aug. 29 Eagan Market Fest, 4 to 8 p.m., Eagan Festival Grounds. Farmers market and bluegrass concert featuring The Barley Jacks along with free kids’ art, family games and more. Information: www.cityofeagan.com/marketfest or (651) 675-5500. Friday, Aug. 31 Blue Moon Walk, 8 to 9:30 p.m. at Ritter Farm Park, 19300 Ritter Trail, Lakeville. For all ages, families encouraged. Cost: $5 per person and/or $15 per family. Information: Lakeville Parks and Recreation, (952) 985-4600. Ongoing Firearm Safety Class will be offered at Rosemount Middle School, 3135 143rd St. W., Rosemount, Sept. 11, 18 , 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 29. Tentative range day: Oct. 27. Registration: 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 11. Minimum age is 11. Fee is $7.50. A legal guardian must accompany students for registration and stay for approximately the first hour of class, which begins at 7 p.m. No preregistration. Information: Mike Kottwitz, (952) 884-8001. Blood drives The American Red Cross will hold the following blood drives. Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800733-2767) or visit redcrossblood. org to make an appointment or for more information. • Aug. 24, noon to 5 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church, 7800 W. County Road 42, Apple Valley. • Aug. 24, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Westview Elementary School, 225 Garden View Drive, Apple Valley. • Aug. 27, noon to 5 p.m., Culver’s, 15225 Galaxie Ave., Apple Valley. • Aug. 28, 8 a.m. to noon, Dakota County Western Service Center, 14955 Galaxie Ave., Apple Valley. • Sept. 4, 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., Messiah Lutheran Church, 16725 Highview Ave., Lakeville.

August 24, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

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Burnsville rollover �� crash kills two teens by Aaron M. Vehling Sun Thisweek

A rollover crash on Buck Hill Road near I-35 and County Road 46 caused the deaths of two teens and injured three others Tuesday afternoon. The Minnesota State Patrol identified Alesha Roehl, 17, of Northfield, Minn., and Frederick Alexander, 16, of Burnsville, as the teens who died in the crash. All five passengers were teenagers, according to media reports. At about 2:30 p.m., a 1992 Toyota Camry, driven by a 17-year-old Lakeville boy, was speeding along Buck Hill Road when it went out of control, rolled down the embankment and landed on the southbound lanes of I-35, according to the State Patrol. Alexander died at the scene and Roehl was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center with serious

injuries, where she was later pronounced dead in the evening. The driver sustained minor injuries and was treated at Fairview Ridges in Burnsville. Two other passengers received minor injuries and were treated at HCMC. No alcohol was involved in the crash, but both Roehl and Alexander were not wearing their seat belts when they were ejected from the Camry, according to the State Patrol. Crews closed the southbound lanes of I-35 for hours Tuesday evening, which caused significant backups on both I-35W and I-35E during rush hour. The State Patrol is still investigating the cause of the accident. Aaron M. Vehling can be reached at aaron.vehling@ ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/ sunthisweek.

�� PUBLIC NOTICE SECTION 00 11 13 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Sealed Bids will be received by the City of Apple Valley, Minnesota, in the Apple Valley Municipal Center 7100 147th Street West, until 10:00 a.m., CST, Thursday, September 6, 2012, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud for the furnishing of all labor, materials, and all else necessary for the construction of two bioretention filter cells in Long Lake Park and one residential rain garden with the following: City Project 2011-143, Long Lake Retrofit BMP’s 1 AC 105 SY 1300 TN 250 CY 200 CY 15 TN 300 LF 400 LF 3 EA 3500 SY 10 EA 50 EA With related items

Tree Clearing Bituminous Trail Patch Coarse Wash Sand Compost and Peat Common Excavation Iron Filings 8-12 Inch PVC Storm Sewer 6 Inch Drain tile Concrete Manholes Seeding with Blanket Tree Planting Shrub Planing

Bidders desiring Bidding Documents may purchase them by check for a non-refundable fee of $45 from the City of Apple Valley, 7100 147th Street West, Apple Valley, MN 55124. Contact Penny Stewart at (952) 953-2586 to place an order. The Bidding Documents may be seen at the office of the City Engineer, 7100 147th Street West, Apple Valley, MN. Direct inquiries to Engineer’s Project Manager David Bennett at (952) 953-2490. Bid Security in the amount of 5 percent of the amount of the Bid must accompany each Bid in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders. The Owner reserves the right to retain the deposits of the 3 lowest Bidders for a period not to exceed 60 days after the date and time set for the Opening of Bids. No Bids may be withdrawn for a period of 60 days after the date and time set for the Opening of Bids. The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, to waive irregularities and informalities therein, and further reserves the right to award the Contract to the best interests of the Owner. Pamela J. Gackstetter, City Clerk City of Apple Valley, Minnesota 3116180 8/17-8/24/12

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON A PROPOSAL FOR THE ISSUANCE OF HEALTH CARE REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS (EVERCARE SENIOR LIVING, LLC PROJECTS) Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Apple Valley, Minnesota (the "Apple Valley") will meet at the Apple Valley Municipal Center, 7100 W. 147th Street, in the City, at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 to consider giving host approval to the issuance of revenue obligations by the City of Moorhead, Minnesota and the Moorhead Economic Development Authority (collectively, "Moorhead"), in one or more series, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Sections 469.152 to 469.1651 (the "Act"), in order to refinance debt issued for a project located in the City which is owned by EverCare Senior Living, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (the "Borrower"). The project consists of the refinancing of (i) the outstanding Health Care Revenue Bonds (EverCare Senior Living, LLC Projects), Series 2005A (the "Series 2005A Bonds) issued by the Apple Valley Economic Development Authority to finance the acquisition of (a) a 60 bed assisted living facility located at 14615 and 14625 Pennock Avenue in Apple Valley and commonly known as Centennial House of Apple Valley (the "Apple Valley Project"), (b) a 104 bed assisted living facility located at 6001 6021 Earle Brown Drive in the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota and commonly known as Prairie Lodge of Earle Brown (the "Brooklyn Center Project"), (c) a 33 bed assisted living facility located at 502 and 512 Third Avenue South, in the City of Moorhead, Minnesota and commonly known as The Evergreens of Moorhead (the "Moorhead Project"), and (d) a 66 bed assisted living facility located at 1401 1411 West Gateway Circle in the City of Fargo, North Dakota commonly known as The Evergreens of Fargo (the "Fargo Project"); and (ii) the outstanding Health Care Revenue Bonds (Ecumen and Ecumen Foundation Corporate Guaranty Centennial Campus Project) Series 2008A (the "Series 2008A Bonds") and its $115,000 Taxable Health Care Revenue Bonds (Ecumen and Ecumen Foundation Corporate Guaranty - Centennial Campus Project ) issued by the City of Eagan, Minnesota for the purpose of financing a 20-unit memory care facility located at 14631 Pennock Avenue in Apple Valley (the "2008 Apple Valley Project" and together with the Apple Valley Project, the Brooklyn Center Project, the Moorhead Project and the Fargo Project, the "Projects"). The maximum estimated principal amount of the Bonds to be issued by Moorhead to refinance the Projects is approximately $20,000,000. The Bonds if and when issued will not constitute a charge, lien or encumbrance upon any property of Moorhead or Apple Valley and such obligations will not be a charge against the general credit or taxing powers of Moorhead or Apple Valley but will be payable from sums to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to a revenue agreement. At the time and place fixed for the Public Hearing, the City Council will give all persons who appear at the hearing an opportunity to express their views with respect to the proposal. Written comments will be considered if submitted at the above City office on or before the date of the hearing. 3124492 8/24/12

EXERCISE Does Your Heart Good. American Heart Association

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Walter ‘Dean’ Worcester

Laurie Burchett (Orndorff)

Born 1/22/1925, went to heaven at 87 of Farmington, MN. Preceded in death by sister Julia “Olive”, brother Lewis and parents Henry & Mary. He was a popular figure in the Lakeville and Farmington areas, at the Sr. Center and the many areas he visited. He had a unique style and was loved by all who knew him. He always had a handful of fresh cut flowers for the ladies and a joking style with the men. Dean represented many qualities of an era gone by, yet brought those without concern into the present day. Dean will be sadly missed by all who loved him. Dean had many special friends who cared for him; John Emory, Jim Kempainen, Ray & Lorraine Swedeen, Kenny Schonning, Jan Gilmer, Marv & Rosy Luedke, Vern Peterson, Judy Christensen, Lee Slavicek, Joe Harris, and many others not counted. A Christian Service will be held at the United Methodist Church, 278th St. W., Castle Rock, MN at 11:00AM on Saturday, August 25, 2012, with visitation 1 hour prior to service White Funeral Home Lakeville (952) 469-2723 www.whitefuneralhomes.com

Age 47 of Argyle, IA (formerly of New Market) died peacefully August 12, 2012, from a short battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her father, Allan Orndorff; Grandparents, Chester and Viola (Kroll) Orndorff, and Joseph and Rose (Welter) De Gross; Survived by Mother, Rose Orndorff, husband, Ron; siblings, Suzanne (Dan) Slater, Patty Orndorff, Kurt Orndorff, Jess Orndorff, Lynnette (Tom) Walentiny, and Lynn (Pat) Magalis. Also many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins and in-laws. Laurie graduated from Lakeville High School. She was employed for many years at BCBS until moving to Iowa. Laurie loved to spend time with family, friends, with her pets, and gardening. Though she was taken from us too soon, she will be forever loved and greatly missed. So will her laughter and compassion. Laurie was cremated shortly after passing, per her request. A Benefit/remembrance was held Aug. 25 at the NoWhere Bar in Ft. Madison, IA. 319-376-5904. Laurie, your star will ‘forever shine bright”.

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Doris ‘Dorcas’ Ulvi Of Farmington passed away unexpectedly August 18, 2012. Preceded in Death by parents, James and Anne Tuite; sister: Annamarie. Survived by her loving Husband of 60 Years: Edward; son: James (Lorrie), daughters, Pam, Debbie (Ed), Mary (Fred), Marla, JoLynn (Randy), MaryHelen (Jim); fifteen grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren; brothers: Joe, Pat and James; sister; Margaret, and many other relatives and friends. She will be missed dearly. We love you (Gone but Never Forgotten) Doris was well known at the Farmington Bakery where she worked for 34 years. A luncheon was held at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Farmington on August 21, 2012 at noon for family and close friends. Online condolences at www.whitefuneralhomes.com White Funeral Home Farmington, 651 463 7374

Kari Elizabeth Goddard (April 8, 1996 - August 18, 2012) Age 16 of Lakeville, passed away August 18, 2012. Preceded in death by her grandmother, Terecita Kostner and grandfather, Douglas Goddard. Survived by her mother, Renee` Kostner Osberg (Rick Osberg) and father, Del (Michele) Goddard; sister, Katie Goddard; Grandparents: Ray (Mary) Kostner and Allenor Goddard; step-siblings: Katy Coyle, Jacob Osberg, and Martin Osberg. She is also survived by many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives and many friends. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. Funeral service, was 11am Thursday, August 23, 2012 at White Funeral Home Chapel (20134 Kenwood Tr) Lakeville. Visitation was held from 4-8pm Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at White Funeral Home. White Funeral Home Chapel Lakeville (952) 469-2723 www.whitefuneralhomes.com

Congratulations

Sister Ann Dominic, O.P, (nee Karen Mahowald), daughter of George and Maureen Mahowald of Lakeville, made her first profession of vows at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Nashville, TN on July 28, 2012. Sister is a member of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia congregation. She graduated from Lakeville High School in 2004 and the Catholic University of America in 2008, with a double major in Secondary Education and French. Prior to entering the convent she taught high school at Pope John Paul the Great High School in Dumfries, VA. Friends are welcome to send greetings to: Sister Ann Dominic, O.P., 801 Dominican Drive, Nashville, TN 37228.

To submit an announcement

Forms for birth, engagement, wedding, anniversary and obituaries announcements are available at our office and online at www.thisweeklive. com (click on “Announcements” and then “Send Announcement”). Completed forms may be e-mailed to class.thisweek@ecminc.com or mailed to Sun Thisweek, 15322 Galaxie Ave., Suite 219, Apple Valley, MN 55124. If you are submitting a photograph along with your announcement, please only submit photographs for which you have the right to permit Sun Thisweek to use and publish. Deadline for announcements is 4 p.m. Tuesday. A fee of $50 will be charged for the first 5 inches and $10 per inch thereafter. They will run in all editions of Sun Thisweek. Photos may be picked up at the office within 60 days or returned by mail if a self-addressed, stamped envelope is provided.

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount August 24, 2012

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August 24, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

History lesson aboard B-25 bomber

Photo submitted

Eastview High School football players got a history lesson Saturday at Fleming Field in South St. Paul where they visited the Commemorative Air Force hangar and toured Miss Mitchell, a restored B-25 bomber. The theme for the Lightning football team this season is “Unbroken,” which is the title of a book by Laura Hillenbrand which the coaching staff had players read. The book tells the story of Louis Zamperini, whose plane crashed in the Pacific during World War II; he survived for weeks on a life raft, only to be imprisoned in a Japanese POW camp. “His is a story of courage, strength, commitment and resiliency, traits we hope the Eastview football team will learn,” said assistant coach Eric VandeBerg. The team’s visit to Fleming Field was “a day for players to learn more than football and X’s and O’s,” VandeBerg added. “It was a day to learn about history and life.”

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Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount August 24, 2012

Mature Lifestyles

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Photo submitted

Kevin Sweeney credits instructors like Harold Torrence (left) and Scott Gunderson for much of his success at Dakota County Technical College.

Lakeville man refuses to let paralysis keep him from living by Emily Hedges Special to Sun Thisweek

Kevin Sweeney, 51, of Lakeville doesn’t think of himself as much different than the average person. Everyone has obstacles to overcome in life, and he is no exception. But most people would agree that his obstacles are anything but average. While volunteering at the Jaycees dunk tank during the 1996 Pan-O-Prog festival in Lakeville, Sweeney fell off the back and was paralyzed from the neck down. Suddenly, the auto mechanic, part-time VFW bartender, and avid softball player had to invent a whole new life. “With an obstacle you have to go over, around or through it,” he said. “You have to adapt to what you have to do and do it.” The first thing he put

his mind to was regaining as much movement as possible. “They say that what feelings and movements you’ve got after one year is what you’ll have, but I disagree completely,” he said. Sweeney began to watch people around him that could do things he wanted to do. “I studied babies and kids, how they learned to get up off the ground,” he said. “I observed others in their everyday activities they take for granted. Now I can move my hands and I have started walking with a walker some. I refused to let things stop me.” Sweeney is limited in his hand usage, but he has adaptive equipment that helps him hold a telephone and drive his van. He says that when he’s in his chair, he doesn’t feel disabled be-

cause he can go where he wants to. “I just always look on the high side of things. What other people are doing, to an extent, that’s what I want to do. I’ve been parasailing. I mow my own lawn. I do weed whipping and drive an adapted motorcycle. I never look back. I just keep looking forward.” The next challenge Sweeney took on was how to make a living. But the active people-person wasn’t interested in just busy work. “I wanted to find a position in today’s society where I could fit in,” he said. “Sitting around stuffing envelopes isn’t my cup of tea.” Although Sweeney already held a bachelor’s degree in science from the University of WisconsinStout, he felt he lacked the appropriate education and See Sweeney, 13A

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August 24, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Legion Post 189 to survive Building name will change to Tailgaters after purchase, but members will continue to meet there and maintain pulltab operation by Laura Adelmann Sun Thisweek

Hot jazz, local flavor Photo by John Gessner

The Super Pilots, including keyboard player Dave Mackay and drummer JP Bouvet (above), were the warm-up act for headliner Randy Brecker during the ninth annual Burnsville Art and All That Jazz Festival Saturday, Aug. 18, at Burnsville’s Nicollet Commons Park. The jazz-rock fusion quartet includes Bouvet, of Lakeville, guitarist Mike Linden of Apple Valley, and two of their classmates at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mackay and Jason Weiss. Acts at the daylong festival also included the Dakota Combo, Hot Swing Combo and Charanga Tropical.

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A Farmington couple pulled out of the stock market to invest in themselves, the community and the future of the American Legion Clifford Larson Post 189. Craig and Vicki Loeschke, with additional financial backing from investor Howard Nissen of Savage, purchased the service organization’s restaurant, saving the post from bankruptcy after a fire and a string of bad luck. The restaurant, renamed Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill, serves a variety of food including a salad bar, Mexican and American fare, sandwiches and hamburgers Friday night fish fry specials. Loeschke said they wanted an investment opportunity that relied on their own efforts rather than someone else’s after twice losing retirement money in the stock market. A Navy veteran, Loeschke said he also likes the fact that they were also able to help the Legion survive. “I’m keeping them in the pull tab booth, so they can still sell pull tabs,” he said. “They can keep their meetings and all their stuff is still there. We just want to take over the business in the kitchen, so we can take that burden off their hands.”

Photo by Laura Adelmann

Craig and Vickie Loeschke are the new owners of Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill, formerly the American Legion. The Loeschkes’s purchase allowed the American Legion to continue selling pulltabs and holding meetings at the same building. Although the couple never owned a restaurant before, Loeschke said he is relying on his history of broad experience that includes cooking, bar security, billing clerk and commercial heating and refrigeration. “All that stuff relates to what I’m doing now,” Loeschke said. They have plans to take down an interior wall to make the bar bigger and move the dance floor to a larger space.

“When we put a band in there, people are dancing right in front of the singer,” Loeschke said. “So we want to make the dance floor bigger.” The dance floor will be transformed into a gaming area, and they eventually want to add more windows to show off the amenities patrons sometimes forget are there because they can’t see them, like the volleyball courts, gazebo, and temporary bar tucked into a shed. The couple have made a long-term commitment to Tailgaters and have family members helping out. They hope their youngest son will one day take over daily operations so they can retire in about 15 years. “It’s really busy,” Loeschke said. “But I want to build that place up and put it in the black … hopefully everything works out as we have planned.” Laura Adelmann is at laura. adelmann@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount August 24, 2012

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Rosemount Briefs Parks and rec programs

Lighthouse Explorers Christian Child Center, 3285 144th St. W., Rosemount, will host an open house from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26, and 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10. The school is accepting enrollments for the 2012-13 school year for children age 33 months to 5 years. For more information, call Jackie Hughes, early childhood director, at (651) 423-2566, ext. 121, email msjackie@explorerschildcenter.com or visit the center.

Rosemount Parks and Recreation offers the following programs. Register at the parks and recreation office, online at www. ci.rosemount.mn.us or call (651) 322-6000. • Learn to Skate Lessons, various class levels and times, Mondays, Sept. 10 through Oct. 29, at Rosemount Ice Arena, 13885 S. Robert Trail. Cost: $75. • Silly, Sloppy Slimes, ages 3-1/2 to 6, 1 to 2:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Rosemount Community Center. Hands-on lab; dress for the mess. Cost: $14.

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Patti Wiegand and others at Dakota County Technical College certainly got the chance. “Regardless of any possible limitations, you can always see Kevin inspiring and motivating fellow students to move forward with their dream,” said Torrence. “He has the ability to build strong and lasting human relationships with a compassionate leadership style. His personal story is more than inspirational.” Sweeney found his instructors to be just as inspirational for him. “They gave me wonderful ideas, enthusiasm and confidence to continue learning. They sought out opportunities to help me and taught

experience to land the one thing he now required – a desk job. He started to look around the area for educational possibilities. When he saw that Dakota County Technical College offered two-year degrees with evening and online courses, he knew it was just the program he was looking for. “This made it easy for someone like myself. I could do much of it online,” he said. Sweeney graduated with honors in May. He earned a management for technical professionals degree. He also earned an accounting clerk diploma and a quality improvement certificate. He estimates that he devoted 20 hours per week studying, spending about 80 percent of his time in the classroom and 20 percent online. Now he hopes to find a new career, perhaps with a small business. “I can manage and organize. I have finesse with numbers. I just want to find a place that will give me a chance to show what I can do,” he said. Instructors like Harold Torrence, Scott Gunderson,

• Who Done It Hike, all ages, 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Ritter Farm Park, 19300 Ritter Trail, Lakeville. Play Sherlock Holmes by collecting clues, gathering information and solving mysteries, while walking the trails. Register the day of the event, starting at 9:30 a.m.

Rosemount seniors The following activities are sponsored by the Rosemount Parks and Recreation Department and the Rosemount Area Seniors. For more information, call

me how times are changing so I can adapt,” he said. One of Sweeney’s class projects was to give a speech to his classmates and he decided to give it on handicap awareness. But overall, he says he was the one who did the learning from his classmates, especially the foreign students. “Seeing how they adapted to the United States was amazing,” he said. “It was sort of the same thing I was doing – learning to function in a new culture.” Sweeney views his challenge in changing careers as a common one in today’s economic climate, especially for baby boomers and seniors. “My story is related

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the Rosemount Parks and Recreation Department at (651) 322-6000. Monday, Aug. 27 – Bridge, 9 a.m., Do Drop Inn; 500, 1 p.m., DDI. Tuesday, Aug. 28 – Coffee, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Rosemount Cub; Bid Euchre, 9 a.m., DDI; Bunco, 1 p.m., DDI. Wednesday, Aug. 29 – No activities planned. Thursday, Aug. 30 – Cribbage, 1 p.m., DDI. Friday, Aug. 31 – Euchre, 9 a.m., DDI; Bowling, 1 p.m., Apple Place in Apple Valley. • Wabasha Street Caves and Twin Town Tacky Tour, Wednesday, Sept. 19. Leave

the Rosemount Community Center at 10:15 a.m. Lunch at Joseph’s Grill (on your own), followed by a 45-minute walking tour of the Wabasha Street Caves. Then back on the bus for a tour of the tackiest places in St. Paul and Minneapolis. The bus will return to the Rosemount Community Center at 4:15 p.m. Cost is $39, includes transportation and the fee for both tours. Registration can be done online at www.ci.rosemount.mn.us or at the Rosemount Parks and Recreation office; deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 29. • Tuesday, Oct. 2, Amish tour and lunch at the Harmony House. The bus will

leave the Rosemount Community Center at 8:45 a.m. and return at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $43, includes transportation, lunch, guided tour and gratuity. Register at the Rosemount Parks and Recreation office; deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 11. The Rosemount Area Seniors “Do Drop Inn” is 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 socialize during the week.

to how all people have to change. Look at businesses that are closing, laying off, and downsizing. If you’re one of those workers, you’ll have to learn to do something else. This is where baby boomers are coming in. Companies are getting rid of older workers, so they have to go back to school to learn technology to get back up to date.”

Sweeney knows from experience that it can be daunting entering a classroom for the first time in decades, but he encourages other older students not to let it stop them. “Don’t be afraid to step in the limelight of school. Your brain can adapt and learn again,” he said. “Keep an open mind and look forward. If there is something

you want to do, go for it.” Institutions like Dakota County Technical College make it easier than ever for older students to feel comfortable and get the education they need. For more information, call (651) 4238301, or go to www.dctc. edu.

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Emily Hedges is a freelance writer for Sun Thisweek.

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Sports

August 24, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Eagle football: Primed for a comeback? Apple Valley has 12 returning starters by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

With speed in the backfield and at receiver, Apple Valley will have flash. And, with more players and more experience, the Eagles could have substance, too. Since their last winning football season in 2006, the Eagles have gone 12-36. Numbers had something to do with that. Nearby high schools grew faster than Apple Valley, and Apple Valley now is the thirdsmallest school in the South Suburban Conference (only the two Bloomington high schools, Jefferson and Kennedy, are smaller). Football coach Mike Fritze said the trend appears to be reversing. The Eagles have 66 players in the top two grades out for football this season. In recent years that number has been in the 50s. By next year, Fritze said, there could be as many as 90 juniors and seniors playing football. Those aren’t Eden Prairie- or Wayzata-like numbers, but it’s an improvement. And, at least in the near future, Apple Valley won’t see Eden Prairie or Wayzata in the postseason. The Eagles were assigned to Class 5A in the Minnesota State High School League football playoff realignment, while 32 schools went to Class 6A, the new largeschool class. Apple Valley was on

the border between Class 5A and Class 6A. According to the 2011-12 school year enrollment figures the MSHSL used to determine classification, Apple Valley was the 32nd-largest high school in Minnesota. That would have put the Eagles in Class 6A for football, except that perennial state power Cretin-Derham Hall opted up to play in Class 6A. Apple Valley went from being the smallest school in Class 6A to the largest in Class 5A. In the playoffs, “we’re not going to play schools from our conference, except maybe Kennedy and Jefferson,” Fritze said. “We’ll play different teams, so that’s fun for the kids. But we have eight games before the playoffs start, and our approach is to be playing our best football at the end of the season.” When the Eagles’ new playoff classification was announced, “as a team, I think we were a little disappointed,” said senior captain James Horton. “But we knew there was nothing we could do about it, and we just started focusing on this season.” Few if any teams in the South Suburban Conference have as many returning starters as Apple Valley with 12 starters back. Fritze said the improved numbers mean not as many players will play both offense and

defense. Going into the Eagles’ season opener at home against Rosemount on Aug. 30, only one starter is scheduled to play both ways. Senior Dom McDew-Stauffer will play full-time at linebacker and get about a dozen carries a game at running back. Senior running back Quinn Hooks and senior wide receiver Steven Wilson are sprinters on the Apple Valley track team. They figure to play key roles on an Apple Valley offense that likely will depart from its ball-control style of the previous few years. “That’s going to change,” Fritze said. “We’re not going to be a 3-yards-anda-cloud-of-dust team. It could be more like when Daryle Lamonica was with the (Oakland) Raiders.” That’s a seriously oldschool reference, because Lamonica was the Raiders’ quarterback in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He became known as “The Mad Bomber” because Oakland eschewed high completion percentages in an attempt to make big plays downfield. That might not become Eagle quarterback Tommy Singer’s nickname, but the Eagles want to take bigger chunks of yardage. “We’re looking to go down the field and make big plays,” Wilson said. “We hope to hit teams for 5

Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

Running back Quinn Hooks carries the ball at an Apple Valley football practice. Hooks is one of 12 returning starters for the Eagles. yards, 5 yards, then go with play-action for six (points).” The game plan will get help from senior Dustin Fronk, who is more of a possession-style receiver. Fritze expressed concern about the youth of his offensive line, where only two of the 10 players are seniors. But juniors Tyler Rolland and Nick Gotter are returning starters on the line. The linebacker group

could be one of the team’s strengths, with McDewStauffer, Horton and senior Riley Berg all returning starters. Senior Calvin Johnson and junior Jack Garcia are returning defensive line starters. Senior Harry Sonie and junior A.J. Hill will be back in the secondary. The Eagles were 1-8 last season and scored more than one touchdown in

only three games. McDewStauffer said the players are anxious to show those days are in the past. “Wins and losses are important, but like Fritze tells us, the goal is to get better each week,” McDewStauffer said. Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Eastview players say turnaround is at hand Lightning looking to bounce back from second losing season in school history by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

When Eastview football coach Kelly Sherwin looks over his practice field, he sees a lot of good athletes. Are they athletic enough to outrun their inexperience? That’s the key question. The Lightning doesn’t have many returning players on the offensive line or at running back, and hasn’t yet selected a quarterback. But those issues will be settled in time, senior captains Keynon Phillips and Ben Oberfeld insisted. “There’s competition every day on the fields here,” said Oberfeld, a defensive end. “Last year, I think a lot of guys had starting jobs locked up early. This year, we have positions where four guys are competing to start.” Returning players such as Oberfeld and Phillips also are motivated by what happened last year, when Eastview finished 5-6.

Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

Eastview senior Henry McIsaac (right) is a multi-talented athlete who could start at quarterback for the Lightning or he could be in the lineup at one of several other positions. That’s only the second losing varsity record in school history; the first was in 1997, the Lightning’s inau-

gural season. “I’d talk to people at school, and they’d say, ‘Man, you didn’t win many

games,’ ” said Phillips, who plays tight end. “As a player, you felt like you let the community down, and I don’t want to have that feeling again.” Sherwin said he’s noticed a renewed determination in this year’s team. “It’s a pretty close-knit group,” he said. “I think we’ll see a team that works hard and is prepared.” Oberfeld, at 6-foot-8, and senior A.J. Stockwell, at 6-7, could give Eastview the biggest set of defensive ends in the South Suburban Conference. They also might have a role in the offense in specialty situations. Another cornerstone on this year’s team is 280-pound offensive tackle Michael Backus, the only returning starter on the offensive line. Eastview has sent several offensive linemen to college football programs over the last several years, and “I think (Backus) is definitely a scholarship kid,” Sherwin said. “He’s a

good worker with a great attitude.” Senior Henry McIsaac and junior Mark Dwyer are competing to start at quarterback. One thing complicating matters, according to Sherwin, is that McIsaac has the ability to start at several other positions. “I’d be comfortable with either one at quarterback,” Sherwin said, “but Henry could also be a running back for us, or a defensive back.” The coach said a number of running backs could get carries for the Lightning this year, including Pong Lee and Amare Kennedy. The Lightning might start a sophomore at fullback. “I think the offense looks pretty good,” Phillips said. Senior Marshall Lang saw playing time on the defensive line last season and is likely to start at nose guard this year. Senior Billy Beisecker will be a defensive back and Chris Granat, another senior, will play line-

backer. A lot of positions on both sides of the line of scrimmage could be filled by new varsity players. Again, Oberfeld and Phillips say they’re not concerned. “There’s a lot of offense vs. defense competition in practice, but we all see the same thing,” Phillips said. “We all think we can be a lot better this year.” The Lightning plays four of its first five games at home, including the season opener against Burnsville at 7 p.m. Aug. 30. Eastview split two games against the Blaze last year, losing in the regular season and winning in the section playoffs. On Sept. 7, Eastview travels to Lake Conference power Wayzata, a team that has played in the state largeschool championship game three of the last four years. Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Lots of unanswered questions Rosemount football team has five returning starters by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

The first week of two-aday football practices answered some of the Rosemount coaches’ questions about their team, but not all of them. How will a new quarterback perform? Who’s going to run the ball? Who will fill some of the key positions along both lines? Those are still to be answered, and the uncertainty might even be there when the Irish go to Apple Valley for their season opener Thursday, Aug. 30. “We haven’t hit yet,” head coach Jeff Erdmann said at the end of last week. “And we have five returning starters. There’s competition for a lot of spots. We’re getting our offensive and defensive packages in, and hopefully our scrimmages will tell us some more.” The five returning starters – linebackers Brian

Rogers and Andrew Dawson, offensive lineman Taji Onesirosan, defensive back Kwame Owusu and quarterback Sean Kalinowski – also are Rosemount’s captains. Kalinowski is making a position change after playing wide receiver last season. The Irish will scrimmage Mounds View, Coon Rapids and Tartan on Saturday. During the summer, the team sent some its players to a seven-on-seven passing tournament – a first for a program that prefers to do its off-season work inhouse. And why a passing scrimmage for a team that made three state playoff appearances in the last six years on the strength of its running game? Simple – Rosemount’s reputation has gotten around. “We’re noticing teams are putting eight or nine (defenders) in the box against

us,” Erdmann said. Thus, the need for a legitimate passing threat to complement the Irish’s trademark option attack. Physically, “we’re not a huge team,” Erdmann said. “Our strongest point is team speed. We have some guys who can run pretty well.” At one point last season, the Irish were 5-2, but lopsided losses to Eagan (in the final game of the regular season) and Eastview (in the opening round of the playoffs) left them with a 5-4 record and a sour taste in their mouths, particularly since Rosemount was coming off an appearance in the Prep Bowl the previous year. Lakeville North, the 2011 South Suburban Conference champion, has some returnees on defense and goes into this season as the league favorite. For Rosemount, this season

Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

Rosemount football coach Jeff Erdmann addresses his players after a practice last week. might give an indication of the program’s depth, from high school through youth leagues. Can the Irish put a competitive varsity team on the field despite having to replace 17 starters? Among the 32 schools in the new Class 6A, Erdmann said three – Eden Prairie, Wayzata and Minnetonka – stand apart because of their sheer numbers and ability

to produce quality varsity teams year after year. Those three schools have won seven of the last eight state large-school championships. “We hope to have a situation here where we have good teams year after year,” Erdmann said. “Our numbers are not like those three schools, but we’ve had a pretty good run the last few

years.” This year’s Irish will get a chance to see how they measure up against one of the “Big Three” on Sept. 7 when Eden Prairie, the 2011 Class 5A champion, visits Rosemount for a non-conference game. Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount August 24, 2012

Irish to defend title Rosemount tennis team returns top two in singles by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

A year ago, Rosemount was in the enviable position of facing little pressure in the Section 3AA girls tennis tournament. That might change for the Irish this season. Rosemount went into the 2011 section team semifinals and finals as an underdog but won both matches 4-3 to reach the state tournament, where it finished fourth. With junior Virginia Norder and junior captain Ally Baker returning at the top of the singles lineup, expectations could be higher this year, both in South Suburban Conference and section play. Norder, a two-time state Class AA singles qualifier, was 28-5 last season, while Baker was 24-3. Baker went 2-1 in singles during the team portion of the state

tournament. Norder was 1-2 in the team competition and 1-1 in the singles tournament. Sophomore Abby Kohagen played on Rosemount’s No. 1 doubles team in the state tournament. Senior Rachel Olson, junior Emily Harrington and sophomore Rachel Hoffmann also were used in the doubles lineup last season. Monica McDonald, a sophomore, is another varsity returnee. Although the Irish have several returning doubles players, coach Dana Beck pointed out that most of them were partners with girls who were seniors last season. There are no regular doubles tandems returning. The Irish have two eighth-graders and a seventh-grader on the roster, and Beck indicated it would not be out of the question

for them to see varsity competition. One of Rosemount’s main competitors in the South Suburban Conference and Section 3AA could be Eagan. The Wildcats, a 2010 state qualifier, lost 4-3 to the Irish in the section finals last year and return two-time state singles qualifier Danielle Donahue. Eagan and Rosemount play a conference match Aug. 30 at Rosemount. The Irish opened their season in an invitational tournament in Monticello on Wednesday. They played Bloomington Kennedy in a conference match Thursday and go to tournaments Friday in Hastings and Saturday in Northfield. Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Many returnees fuel Eagles’ optimism AV girls soccer team brings back top three scorers by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

Eleven returning varsity players have the task of bringing Apple Valley back to the top half of its girls soccer conference. In some conferences, an upper-division finish doesn’t seem to be such an ambitious goal. In the South Suburban, which had three teams qualify for the 2011 state tournament, finishing in the top five is no cinch. “We have good leaders who have shown the ability to get players on board as we start,” said Keith Randa, who is starting his 23rd season as the Eagles’ head coach. “As a team we seem to be on the same page early on.” Among the returnees are captains Laurel Kabat, Julia Lam, Megan Maki and Morgan Potter. Lam, an all-conference player last season, is a junior and the other captains are seniors. Lam is a midfielder but is capable of playing just about anywhere, Randa said. Maki was the Eagles’ leading scorer last year and scored a hat trick against Park of Cottage Grove in the Section 3AA tournament. Potter will be the starting goalkeeper after having a 0.8 goals-against average as a backup in 2011. Kabat has good speed and ball skills and can play center midfield or outside midfield, Randa said. Other returnees include junior forwards Stephanie Syverson and Erica Power, the Eagles’ second- and third-leading scorers last season; senior defenders Melissa Swanson and Jordan Stupnig; junior midfielders Britta Bollum and Maddie Cranmer; and

sophomore midfielder Laura Edgren. Apple Valley lost several of last year’s defenders to graduation, and Randa said the Eagles need to find four players who can function as a unit in the back. The returning players, he said, are showing the ability and willingness to play at a faster pace. And you have to play fast to keep up with teams such as Rosemount, Eagan, Eastview, Burnsville and Lakeville North, the five teams Randa identified as contenders for the South Suburban title.

Burnsville reached the state Class AA championship game last season but lost two of its top returning players to knee injuries. Lakeville North and Eastview also reached the state tournament last year. The Eagles opened on the road at Owatonna on Thursday. Their first home game is 5 p.m. Saturday against Champlin Park at Johnny Cake Ridge Park. Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

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August 24, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

Apple Valley Briefs AVHS swim and AVHS speech dive fundraiser team car wash The Apple Valley High School boys and girls swim and dive team will have a fundraiser from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Apple Valley Aquatic Center. Tickets are $10. Proceeds benefit the AVHS boys and girls swim and dive equipment fund. Concessions will be available. pantry, from 1A

The Apple Valley High School speech and debate team will hold its annual car wash fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, at Red Tag Cleaners, 980 Gardenview Drive, Apple Valley. All donations welcome.

plans to deploy the Mobile Pantry about four times a month in several communities. When selecting a destination, the center will examine which communities are most in need, Schmidt said. “We’re trying to look at it as one neighborhood at a time to get to that very localized need,” she said. The Resource Centers are in need of volunteers to help pack the bus. Those interested in volunteering can call (651) 605-2886 or email mobilepantry@eaganrc. org. Those who are in need of services provided by the Mobile Pantry can call (651) 686-0787.

disabilities, to select items, which Schmidt said sets the center’s Mobile Pantry apart from others in the Twin Cities. Several food banks offer mobile pantries but provide pre-packed bags of canned goods rather than allow clients to choose items that include fresh foods. “We want people to have the freedom and flexibility to make choices,” Schmidt said. Not only will families have access to food through the Mobile Pantry but also resources that connect them to assistance programs. The Resource Centers plan to bring the Mobile Pantry to other sites in Jessica Harper is at jesMarch. sica.harper@ecm-inc.com or Long-term, the center facebook.com/sunthisweek.

weber, from 1A spirits who have somehow managed to weather the storm of an Army career about two years short of the official finish line,” Weber said. “As we headed down the homestretch of that journey, life gave us and her in particular a whole new series of crises to tackle … – a husband with Stage 4 cancer and (her) two young parents with cancer.” The Webers have three sons – Matthew and twins Noah and Joshua. Since his diagnosis, Weber has started Operation True Grit, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness in the fight against cancer. Through his Facebook page, Weber offers messages of hope, determination and updates on his own condition, such as his latest procedure this week that afterward he said they are looking for a new line of attack when “no bridges were built today, but no harm seems to have been done either.” “I used to hear flattery when people told me how much our story inspired them or moved them to action,” Weber said. “Now I see it as my responsibility, and to do so with respect, objectivity, and humility. It’s a wonderful feeling to see such goodness come

from such misery, and why wouldn’t it be considering what I did in the Army? My mission as a leader is to instill purpose, motivation, and direction. Instead of doing that with Army personnel, equipment, and strategy, I’m doing it with my community.” Since his diagnosis, Weber has spoke publicly about his cancer battle, including giving the Army Birthday address in June at the Minnesota History Center (see SunThisweek. com for link). After last Thursday’s ceremony, Weber said he received the typical congratulatory comments, but the most moving came from Sgt. 1st Class Arnold Lindgren, Weber’s first military instructor at Cretin-Derham Hall High School and who has terminal lung cancer. “I have attended many retirement ceremonies in my career,” Lindgren said, “but this one topped them all. What a fitting finish to the end of my journey on this earth.” Weber said he was honored to give him a healthy slice of such a wonderful gift. Tad Johnson can be reached at tad.johnson@ecm-inc. com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Photo by Minnesota National Guard

Lt. Col. Mark Weber (left) of Rosemount received the Legion of Merit award from Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during an End of Service ceremony last Thursday at the Rosemount National Guard Armory. Weber’s wife, Kristin (center), received the Minnesota Superior Civilian Service Award.

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount August 24, 2012

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August 24, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount

AV soccer eyes return to prominence More offense will be priority for Eagle boys by Mike Shaughnessy

Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

Apple Valley’s Eric Erridge makes a save during a penalty kick exercise at the Eagles’ boys soccer scrimmage S a t u r d a y morning.

Sun Thisweek

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Can Apple Valley return to the state boys soccer tournament after a year away? “One way or another, I think we’ll be in the mix,” coach Chuck Scanlon said. “But in our conference, Eagan’s going to be tough. There’s always (Bloomington) Jefferson, and Burnsville should be all right. But we’ll be there. We have a good team, and we have six weeks to get better before the playoffs start.” It’s not as if Apple Valley, which won state championships in 2009 and 2010, fell off the map in 2011. The Eagles were 11-6-1, but like other teams in the South Suburban Conference, they were overshadowed by an Eastview squad that charged to the top of the Class AA rankings and reached the state championship game. That Eastview team lost many of its top players, either to graduation or the Minnesota Thunder Academy’s year-round training program. Apple Valley, meanwhile, returns a number of players, including its two top scorers from last season. Senior midfielder Mitchell Dawson had 14 points last season and senior forward Connor Flanagan had 12. Scanlon said both are capable of more points this season, and the Eagles

will need it. Last year they scored only nine goals in nine South Suburban Conference games. Apple Valley was shut out both times it played Eastview – once in the regular season and once in the Section 3AA semifinals. Senior defenders Jordan Charles, Matt Christiansen and Mason Preston will play in front of senior goalkeeper Ethan Meiburg, who takes over as the starter after being a backup last season. Junior midfielder Kevin Conway returns after missing last season because of a hip injury. Collin Trankel, another junior, will see playing time at forward. Also back are the Veldhouse brothers – Avery, a defender, and Devon, a forward. Both are seniors. Preston, Charles, Dawson and Flanagan played on Valley United Soccer Club’s Under-17 Premier team last summer. A number of other Eagles players were on Classic 1 teams with local youth clubs. Scanlon said the skill

level should be fine, and he’s convinced the players are equipped to handle the mental aspects of soccer. “We have two or three 4.0 students and several others who are close to 4.0,” the coach said. The Eagles held their annual Saturday scrimmage Aug. 18 at Apple Valley High School. Their most anticipated matchup was against South Suburban Conference rival Eagan. “We gave up kind of a sloppy goal, and then they scored another goal against our second unit,” Scanlon said. “But we don’t play them until the first week of October, so we have a chance to fix some things.” Apple Valley played at Owatonna on Thursday in its season opener. The Eagles’ first home game is 7 p.m. Saturday against Mankato East at Johnny Cake Ridge Park. Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Business Briefs Uponor receives energy award Apple Valley-based Uponor recently received the 2012 Efficiency Partner Award from Xcel Energy for its outstanding efforts in curbing electric consumption in manufacturing operations. The Efficiency Partner Award honors those who participate in Xcel Energy efficiency programs to lower their energy costs and reduce their impact on the environment.

Zest event to help nonprofits Zest, an evening of global cuisine and entertainment, will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at Lost Spur Golf and Event Center, 2750 Sibley Memorial Highway, Eagan. The event will benefit the Eagan and Lakeville resource centers and Cheerful Givers. Tickets are $50. More information can be

found at http://zestevent. collected new school supplies at USFCU’s corporate eventbrite.com office in Burnsville. USFCU’s school supply Feedback drive collected more than manages app 140 pounds of school sup Goldstar Feedback, Ap- plies, including 21 muchple Valley, announced the needed backpacks. release of its iPad app to help small businesses im- Companies join prove their online reputations by facilitating the re- to teach housing AllRegs, view gathering process. The Eagan-based new iPad business review an information provider in app works with Google, Ya- the mortgage industry, has hoo and Yelp reviews. The partnered with HomeFree app is a free download from USA, a homeownership iTunes that requires a busi- development and HUD ness subscription to Gold- intermediary, to develop an education program for star Feedback service. housing counselors, homebuyers and homeowners. Credit union To be launched in October, preps students these training resources will US Federal Credit circulate widely within the Union recently partnered mortgage industry, churchwith Volunteers Enlisted to es, counseling agencies, the Assist People or VEAP and media and the public at participated in its back-to- large. school program by holding Consumer training for a school supply drive. Dur- home buyers and homeing the first two weeks of owners will focus on finanAugust, USFCU employees cial education, maintaining a home, preventing foreclosure and buying a home. The program will be delivered through the AllRegs Academy education platform in both online and webinar formats.

Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount August 24, 2012

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August 24, 2012 Sun Thisweek - Apple Valley - Rosemount