www.SunThisweek.com Special Section
Apple Valley | Rosemount September 21, 2012 | Volume 33 | Number 30
Irish band delights
Apple Valley man sentenced for fatally shooting friend
tyles ing Senior Lifes tion Highlight A Special Sec : Volunteering focus This month’s
ir ncentrate theive Volunteers come erat op co ho at efforts
energy. to betwoman of constant and talents “Using my giftsty is important to ter my communi . worked me,” said Rutschke retired nurse, joining Rutschke, a care before in home health She spent 10 years area the Red Cross. the five-state retiring, traveling around mobile. Since with the blood that same energy into she has thrownShe works tirelessly at n, is volunteerism. and, like Amundso her church cooperative. active in her out of the house. I love for oth“It gets me people, caring safe. I dealing with they’re sure ers, and makingout there and doing be just need to said. things,” she on several committees, building She works marketin g, She is also including the committees. group that and social a Gals, ge of part of Gramercy for a wide-ranShelf. raises money the local Food I causes, including all work together.so ty, “At a coop, we a farming communi speakers ing. came from been part of first-Friday ty, and have always “I arrange landscaping, cooperatives health, communi entery here is vibrant, Gramercy Park Cooperative book on topics of my life. Everybod stand in front of and govern ourof residents. also work to dinself-care. I and Diane Rutschke funded by the volunteer efforts to get stuff done we have catered Amundson (right) t projects years ago. eager she said. tainment when “I don’t remember Shirl this senior husband two of the many improvemen said. ways. selves,” agrees. For who lost her about five just one ners,” she in different and Amundson feeling needed for it. It was do it inspires me.” at home, “People volunteer as visible it’s all about volunteering years said, ‘Can you others, and ing citizen, they aren’t retirement efforts Someone her your ago. .” to Maybe volunteer years In addition and spending and helping others. hours helpthey are still how it happened this?’ That is believes that when you Amundson spends many Commun ity vocal, but more connecting with a need for time or goods.” Amundson help, volthe Eagan Rutschke shares “There’s always Some people want serves as a available to ing out at Neighbor Diane on volunmake yourself ities find you. She most often for greeting philosophy people to volunteer. their missing is a Center. Amundso n’s d makes herresponsible alone. I feel like is what God unteer opportun to do things t room host people attending events teerism. The 66-year-ol needs to get to be left volunteering “Being available for what ing. It’s importan out. I think and serving Amundson. self available known within the way of volunteer me a reason to get at the center. us for,” said gives g,” and keep involved. done, and is ty as a made for myself. It “I stay busy and do somethin way of taking Gramercy Park communi up, get dressedn. “It’s important for That’s one important Amundson, said Amundso aging to get involved care of yourself,” said being with those who are people. I like with other
BY EMILY HEDGES WRITER CONTRIBUTING n and Diane can Shirl Amundso volunteer work Rutschke believeLike so many of the Park begin at home. Gramercy of two donate residents in Eagan, the improving Cooperative to and effort a their time ings and building their surroundbe proud of. to ty said communi cooperative,” , and “We’re a “We try to cooperate living here Amundson. make to we all do things enjoyable. That’s my at the Gramercyjob,” she said. main volunteerworks with the comon Amundson sale and serves munity rummage e to find enterthe buildthe social committe for speakers tainment and
Mature Lifestyles Included in this issue
Opinion
Partners For Success works Partners For Success shows that getting parents and families involved in a child’s learning leads to gains in the classroom. Page 4A
thisweekend
Photo by Dave Andrews
The Rosemount High School marching band held its annual festival Saturday, Sept. 15, under the lights at Irish Stadium. The event attracted some of the top bands from across the state to compete in three classes. The Rosemount band performed last during the event in an exhibition performance that is not part of the official competition. More photos from the event are at SunThisweek.com.
Dakota County could be bellwether Lawmakers look to the suburbs to determine control of Legislature by T.W. Budig Sun Thisweek
Middle Ages come to life Caponi Art Park in Eagan is offering guests a break from life in the 21st century when it hosts the Medieval Fair on Sept. 30. Page 12A
Online Do you have a question for the candidates in any of the city or state races? Send it to tad.johnson@ ecm-inc.com. Look for photos from One Book, One Rosemount events online. Follow Sun Thisweek on Facebook to receive updates on stories at www.Facebook.com/ SunThisweek.
Senate District 57
Democratic leaders look to the suburbs for critical seats they need to take back the Republican-controlled Legislature. Currently, Republicans grip the Senate by Pat Hall, holding 37 seats against Republican the Democrats’ 29. One seat that is vacant — held by former Sen. John Harrington, DFL-St. Paul, who is resigning to assume law enforcement duties with the Met Council — is a safe seat for Democrats. Democrats would need to pick up four seats to recapture the Senate. Republicans wrested control of the Senate from Democrats two years ago, breaking a Democratic lock going back almost 40 years. “I feel pretty good about it — yeah,” Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, said of winning back the Senate. Though speaking of the economy and education as key issues, voters “can feel” an aura of mismanagement radiating from the Republican Senate Caucus, Bakk argued. He spoke of a “cascade of missteps,” pointing to a recent administrative law judge panel finding that 11 Republican senators and former House Speaker Steve Sviggum broke
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Roberta Anna Wills, Gibbons, DFL Republican
state campaign law by distributing taxpayer-paid literature containing a political fundraising link. The senators, including former Sen. Chris Gerlach of Apple Valley, and Sviggum, who has insisted he’s the one to blame, were given small fines. The public may not know or understand the details about the ruling or the extramarital affair with a Senate staffer that drove Sen. Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, to resign as Senate majority leader, but they sense things have gone awry, Bakk argued. “I am confident we’re going to pick up seats in the suburbs,” said House Minority Leader Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis. House Republicans currently hold 72 seats, House Democrats 61 seats, with one open-seat. Democrats would need to win six seats to regain control. Thissen argues that looking at the
Jeff Wilfahrt, DFL
current head count is misleading. With lawmaker retirements and redistricting both House caucuses are essentially starting in the mid-50s and the battle is really over the remaining 24 seats, he explained. Fifteen seats are open. Thissen is “cautiously optimistic” House Democrats will regain control. He points to House races in Dakota County as “ground zero” in the suburban political fray, adding House Democrats look for success in Edina and in Eden Prairie, too. This election will not be a “wave” style election as seen in 2006, 2008 and 2010, Thissen argues. Thissen views the proposed samesex marriage ban constitutional amendment as one factor that could bring young voters to the polls, which could help Democrats, he said. A youth surge could play a role See election, 7A
Wish comes true for Apple Valley girl
Injured EMT starts Rosemount vendor fair in downtown mall Sun Thisweek
Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A
Greg Clausen, Tara Mack, DFL Republican
Boutique blossoms from career change by Tad Johnson
Index
House District 57A House District 57B
An Apple Valley man was sentenced Sept. 13 to 90 days in jail and 10 years probation for fa- Derrick Dahl tally shooting a friend with a gun he thought was unloaded. Derrick Wallace Dahl, 23, accidentally shot 22-year-old Benjamin Allen Hanson in the head on July 23, 2011, at a home on East Crystal Lake Road in Burnsville. Wallace, Dahl and a third man who lives at the home were handling firearms kept there when Dahl pointed a .45-caliber handgun at Hanson and fired. He admitted to police he’d pulled the trigger but said he didn’t know the gun had been reloaded after being emptied. Dahl told police it was the first time he’d handled a gun, the criminal complaint said. “He said that all three of them had earlier been pointing the empty guns at each other, just playing around,” the criminal complaint said. Dahl, who pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter in May, was originally charged with second-degree manslaughter, reckless discharge of a firearm in a municipality, intentionally pointing a gun at another and recklessly handling a gun. It was expected Dahl would avoid prison time under his plea agreement with the Dakota County attorney’s office. Sentencing guidelines called for 48 months prison, but the prosecution agreed to stay the prison term, County Attorney James Backstrom said at the time of the plea agreement. “I agreed to the downward departure because this was an unintentional act of negligence,” Backstrom said. “It think it’s reflective of the significant danger associated with mishandling firearms. But it was not an intentional act on Mr. Dahl’s part.” —Andrew Miller
Debbie Hanson figured she would work in the medical field for all of her career. Three years ago, when a patient who was high on drugs attacked the Fairview Ridges Hospital emergency medical technician of 22 years, her plans changed. After a torn rotator cuff and injured knee forced her on a long disability leave, Hanson then learned she could no longer be an EMT because doctors told her she shouldn’t lift anything over 20 pounds. Since a desk job in the medical field didn’t appeal to her, Hanson became an Avon sales consultant and now, with a little help from her friends, she has opened Vendors Unique Boutique in the old Rosemount Mall on South Robert Trail. Hanson’s idea to bring a variety of vendors into the building for weekend sales events came to her about five months ago when she
walked into the mall after having coffee at Morning Glory’s Bakery across the street. She saw the available space and design of the building with its two floors of walkways and open areas as an opportunity to host the boutique through Christmas. The fair will include vendors such as Avon, Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple, 31 Party Bags, antiques, clothing, home furnishings, crafts, food and much more. Hanson, a Farmington resident formerly from Rosemount, said she had 20 different businesses participating the first weekend. While the fair will be open the next two weekends in September, it will have a grand opening celebration Oct. 6 and 7 when the musical duo of Apple Valley High School teacher Travis Laurent and twin brother Kalin will perform. Food See boutique, 7A
Photo by Rick Orndorf
Four-year-old Avery Saari, left, visits with her big sister Brenna at a send-off party held Tuesday at Old Chicago in Apple Valley for the Saari family’s upcoming trip to Disney World. Avery was born with congenital CMV and as a result has epilepsy, cerebral palsy, is non-verbal and is fed through a tube; she was selected by Make A Wish of Minnesota to receive her wish of going to Disney World and meeting Belle, her favorite princess. The Apple Valley family – including dad, Matt, and mom, Jodi – leaves for Disney World on Sept. 28. More about Avery’s story and CMV is at www.averysjourney.com.