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Teacher does comedy in and out of the classroom. See Thiswseekend Page 7A.
Thisweek Apple Valley-Rosemount OCTOBER 14, 2011
VOLUME 32, NO. 33
NEWS OPINION SPORTS
www.thisweeklive.com
Opinion/4A
Public Notices/5A
Senior Spotlight/6A
Sports/8A
Classifieds/9A
Announcements/12A
Fun at the fire station Get a bargain, help
a blind dog see Daisy, a blind terrier, was repeatedly attacked while tied up
Photo by Rick Orndorf
Firefighter Dominic Richardson helped kids aim the fire hose at the Apple Valley Fire Department’s open house on Tuesday. Open houses were held at all three of the department’s fire stations this week as part of national Fire Prevention Week; the family-geared events gave residents an opportunity to talk with firefighters and brush up on fire safety, while kids were able to check out the trucks and try on firefighters’ gear.
Shooter claims he wasn’t sane Burnsville man’s trial starts after he pleads guilty to shooting Apple Valley man in Rosemount by Tad Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
After pleading guilty on Oct. 7 to intentional second-degree murder, a 28-year-old Burnsville man is claiming he wasn’t sane during the July 12, 2010, shooting of a 22-year-old Apple Valley man in Rosemount. Jonas Grice’s defense was introduced when his trial opened Tuesday in Dakota County District Court before Judge Karen Asphaug, according to multiple news media reports. Grice was originally charged with first-degree murder after he fatally shot Anthony Hartman at the Car Spa. That charge has been dropped. Asphaug will decide if Grice
will be sentenced to prison or, if she agrees with the mental health defense, he would be sentenced to a state mental health facility, according to media reports. Hartman’s friend, Bradley Doseth, took the stand during Tuesday’s trial. His version of events was similar to what has been previously reported about the case. Grice allegedly tried to pick a fight with Doseth, then Hartman confronted Grice and both started shoving each other. Doseth said he didn’t see the shooting but heard gun shots as he ran for help, according to media reports. By the time Doseth returned,
Grice had fled and Hartman was found lying in his own blood, according to media reports. The defense pointed to one aspect of Doseth’s testimony – prior to the shooting Doseth allegedly shut a car wash garage door as an attempt to prevent Grice from leaving. That action trapped Grice who thought people were out to get him, according to defense attorneys quoted in a Star Tribune report. The sentencing guideline for intentional second-degree murder is between 29 and 40 years in prison. Tad Johnson is at editor. thisweek@ecm-inc.com.
from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day at 3370 147th St. W. in Rosemount. She is taking donations to include in the sale, and all proceeds will be dedicated to the surgery, which will allow Daisy perfect vision for the rest of her life. by Laura Adelmann Amazing Animal Advocates THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS seeks to help the most desperDaisy, a blind terrier, ate dogs and cats, ones who are lived her life chained outoften overlooked by other side, defenseless against organizations, to help repeated attacks from wild them find care and a lovanimals. ing home. After threatening to reDaisy and several port her owners to police, other dogs were rescued pet rescuers saved Daisy, from the Lake Traverse and she is being tempoIndian Reservation, rarily fostered by Laura where the feral dog popCloose, a Rosemount ulation had grown so mom who runs Amazing large, reservation police Animal Advocates, a nonwere allowed to shoot profit animal rescue orgadogs without collars on nization. sight. “She was a mess,� That “dog ban� Cloose said of the has since been abused and neglectdropped, but not beed terrier who suffore Amazing Anifers from juvenile mal Advocates discataracts and is escovered and rescued timated to be 2 or 3 dogs from abuse. Photo submitted years old. Loki, a 4-monthCloose cleaned Daisy, a blind terrier, spent her old long-hair sheplife chained up, helpless against up the pup and paid herd, was born with for her shots, spay- attacks from wild animals and a birth defect on roaming dogs, before she was ing and other vethis leg; his owner rescued by Amazing Animal erinary care, but her injured that leg, Advocates of Rosemount. eyesight is so poor, chopped his tail in the gentle, happy half and broke his other leg by hitdog who is already house trained ting it with a baseball bat. misses out on the other things dogs When Cloose rescued him, the enjoy. puppy’s mouth was full of blisters “She’s very well behaved, but she and he weighed 20 pounds, less than doesn’t play with toys because she half of his normal weight. can’t see them,� Cloose said. “We had one leg operated on Daisy loves to run in a familiar and his mouth, weight, and fur are circle, but can’t see visual cues from all better,� Cloose said. “Once he is other dogs; she walks into walls and done growing, we will have his other her water bowl. front leg amputated.� Without surgery to remove the Arrow was a tiny black lab who cataracts and insert intraocular was near death before being rescued lenses, Daisy will never see beyond by Cloose and her husband, Steven. the shadows and outlines she now The young dog was tied up withperceives. out food or water, just a few feet Refusing to let the $2,800 surgery from a wasting deer carcass. price tag stand in the way of allowHe was wobbly and had suffered ing Daisy the gift of sight, Cloose bites from being attacked by other is holding a garage sale Oct. 13-15 See Daisy, 14A
Possible restriction on campaign signs raises concerns Chamber: Sign ban would also affect realtors, not just political candidates by Andrew Miller THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Apple Valley City Council Member Tom Goodwin says there used to be a “gentlemen’s agreement� among those running for office when it came time to positioning their campaign signs at busy intersections. That gentlemen’s agreement, accord-
ing to Goodwin, has been supplanted by “incredible abuse� at prime campaigning locales such as Cedar Avenue and 140th Street, where clusters of signs have seemed to fill every inch of available space during recent election seasons. “I received so many complaints (from residents) about it last year, and so did other council members,� said Goodwin,
who was not up for re-election in 2010. “If people were just reasonable and rational in putting up signs, I don’t think this issue would have raised its head.� Apple Valley officials are now considering a ban on signs within city rightof-way. Currently, ordinance allows campaign signs to be placed within city right-of-way as long as the signs are 18
Greenleaf teacher loves phy ed and it shows
Turn on the turbine University to celebrate completion of wind project
George Beran named state Physical Education Teacher of the Year by Andrew Miller THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Teachers at Greenleaf Elementary came dressed in fitness gear and wore whistles around their necks on Monday. It was a tribute to their colleague George Beran, who last week was recognized as the Elementary School Physical Education Teacher of the Year by a statewide association. The workout clothes were just part of Monday’s inschool recognition of Beran. Before the start of the school day, teachers converged on the gym to offer congratulations, and the flash mob-like
scene culminated in Beran leading the faculty in the chicken dance. A teacher at Greenleaf since 1993, Beran is known for his enthusiasm, high energy levels, and eagerness to get to know students. “The sun is always shining for him – there’s like an aura of positiveness around him,â€? said Principal Michelle deKam Palmieri. “We have 897 students in our school. He knows almost all of their names, he knows things about them, he connects with their families.â€? He channels his enthusiasm into phy ed-related See Greenleaf, 14A ďż˝
General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
by Tad Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photo by Andrew Miller
Greenleaf Elementary’s George Beran was recently named Elementary School Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the Minnesota chapter of the Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
A wind turbine at the northeast corner of the UMore Park in Rosemount is a symbol for the property’s future. While it’s iconic because it towers over the mostly flat land, it’s also sends a message that future development will pay strict attention to renewable energy. The University of Minnesota-led Wind Energy Research Consortium will celebrate the completion of the 2.5 megawatt wind turbine at a public ceremony from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25.
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The event will include remarks by university and U.S. Department of Energy leaders on the significance of the wind energy research and education project – one of three in the nation – to support cutting-edge, industry/academy research partnerships, according to the university. Attendees can visit informational stations on the field site and talk with resource people about the aspects of the U.S.See Turbine, 14A
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feet back from the curb. The discussion at City Hall has drawn concerns from local business leaders that, because the ordinance change must apply to all signs and not just campaign signs, it would have a negative impact on realtors placing signs at intersections to advertise open houses. “There are court decisions that you can’t have different regulations for signs See Signs, 14A
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