Thisweek Apple Valley and Rosemount

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Philosophy, hard liquor and ďŹ sticuffs color “Art,â€? the new stage comedy by Chameleon Theatre Circle. See Thisweekend Page7A

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Thisweek Apple Valley-Rosemount JANUARY 28, 2011

VOLUME 31, NO. 48

NEWS OPINION SPORTS

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Local officials warn of drug use Apple Valley police officer, county attorney testify at Capitol by T.W. Budig ECM CAPITOL REPORTER

Apple Valley Police Officer Mike Eliason illustrated the “nudge, nudge, wink, wink� conspiratorial mentality surrounding the sale of synthetic marijuana to a House committee Jan. 20. Eliason, president of the Minnesota Juvenile Officers’ Association, said he recently visited a website selling gum balls coated with K2 – a chemical-laced product sold as incense but often smoked. The gum balls were labeled not for human consumption. “I’m still trying to figure out who’d chew a gum ball that’s not fit for human consumption,� Eliason said. Eliason and other officials testified before the House public safety committee in support of legislation outlawing the sale and possession of synthetic marijuana in Minnesota. Eliason, Rep. Tara Mack, R-Apple Valley, and others noted that synthetic

marijuana – products such as Spice Gold, Spice Silver, and Yucatan Fire – are readily purchased at gas stations, tobacco shops, and “head� shops. These products are laced with synthetic cannabinoids, chemicals designed to mimic the THC found in marijuana and originally intended for research. Synthetic cannabinoids can produce coma, hallucinations, heart irregularities, depression, other severe health problems, say officials. One Cottage Grove police officer testified that people who have been arrested for smoking actual marijuana have told him they would never smoke synthetic marijuana because it’s too risky. “They spray (synthetic cannabinoids) on God knows what kind of plant materials,� Cody Wiberg, executive director of the Minnesota State Board of Pharmacy, said of factories producing these products.

Mack spoke on behalf of a family in her district whose 16-year-old son abused synthetic marijuana for about nine months. The parents became aware of the abuse when noticing “very dangerous and scary behaviors in their son,� Mack said. “It’s disturbing to hear what individuals and families go through when they’re involved with this drug.� Eliason has received reports of synthetic marijuana abuse from Burnsville, Lakeville, St. Cloud, Andover and elsewhere. “It’s around the state of Minnesota – it’s not just the metro area,� he said. Rep. John Kriesel, RCottage Grove, said his synthetic marijuana criminalization bill has the support of state law enforcement associations. Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom has also called for making synthetic marijuana illegal. Backstrom testified on See Drugs, 14A

Photos by T.W. Budig

Top: Apple Valley Police Officer Mike Eliason warned during a hearing at the state Capitol of a pattern of synthetic marijuana abuse spreading across the state. Left: Rep. Tara Mack, R-Apple Valley, spoke on behalf of parents in her community whose child had been hurt by synthetic marijuana use during a House committee hearing Jan. 20. Mack is in favor of a bill that makes it a crime to possess and sell synthetic marijuana.

A snow-laden celebration School District 196 prepares Apple Valley’s Mid-Winter Fest features new events, perennial favorites Feb. 5-6 at sites throughout city

for potential funding cuts by Jessica Harper

by Andrew Miller

THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Though Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District 196 is on track to save $4 million by the end of this school year, officials say the district will likely face financial hardship as the state attempts to tackle its deficit. The Legislature currently faces a $6.2 billion deficit, and 40 percent of its expenditures go toward K-12 education. District officials anticipate that the state will reduce education funding by about 5 percent for the 2011-2012 school year. Under this scenario, the district will need approximately $20 million in budget adjustments, Jeff Solomon, district finance director, said. “As we make these budget adjustments, it’s going to get real for people,� Board Member Rob Duchscher said at a Jan. 24

A weekend of winter fun is in store at Apple Valley’s Mid-Winter Fest Feb. 5-6. Now in its 34th year, the annual celebration hosted by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department features family-oriented activities throughout the weekend at the Apple Valley Community Center, Valleywood Golf Course, the teen center and other sites throughout the city. The medallion hunt, a perennial festival favorite, returns this year for teams of sleuths to search out a medallion hidden in one of the city’s 50 parks. Clues will be posted at the community center t h ro u g h o u t the day on Feb. 5 and 6. N e w events this year include a boot hockey tournament, a pickleball demo, and an African drum concert presented by Valley Middle School music students, which will be held at noon Saturday, Feb. 5, at the community center. The Apple Valley Community Center will take on a family carnival atmosphere Saturday with face painting,

File photo

Two days of family-oriented winter fun are in store Feb. 5-6 at Apple Valley’s 34th annual Mid-Winter Fest community celebration. inflatable j u m p e r s, cotton candy and mini golf. Other activities at the community center include a reptile show, ice carving, dog sled rides, bingo and a buffalo wing-eating contest. Events geared to senior citizens are set for Feb. 5 at the Hayes Community and Senior Center, with a nine-

ball pool tournament for ages 55 and up in the morning followed by a cribbage tournament and the annual senior volunteer awards ceremony. Valleywood Golf Course joins the Mid-Winter Fest action Sunday, Feb. 6, with a bonfire and marshmallow roast, horse-drawn hayrides, and activities such as snow See Festival, 12A

board meeting. Programs and staffing would not likely be reduced unless deeper cuts are made to state funding, Solomon said. The district could borrow from its general fund balance next school year — reducing it to 5 percent of operating expenditures, which is the minimum set by district policy. The district could balance its 2011-2012 budget by using this year’s projected savings and one-time stimulus money of $5 million from the Federal Education Jobs Fund. Other federal stimulus funds helped the district balance its budget in the past two years, but that money expires at the end of the 2010-2011 school year. In a best-case scenario – no state funding cuts – District 196 would still need $13.5 million in budget adjustments due See Funding, 14A

Rosemount businessman gets jail time for failing to pay taxes by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

A Rosemount man was sentenced in federal court on Jan. 26 for failing to pay slightly more than $600,000 in employment taxes. Stephen John Kopel of Rosemount was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael Davis to six months work release in a correctional facility, six months of home confinement and three years probation. In his plea agreement,

Kopel, co-owner of S&P Foods Inc., a corporation that operated a McDonald’s franchise in Rosemount, admitted he failed to report and pay federal taxes in 2005. Kopel, who along with his wife owned S&P Foods, was the president and chief executive officer of the company. He allegedly deducted employment taxes from his employees’ wages between 2003 and 2006, but failed

to pay those taxes totaling $627,437.41 to the IRS. Kopel also failed to report and pay $28,691.33 in federal employment taxes for 2005, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Kopel was charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Feb. 5 and pleaded guilty on March 16 to one count of willful failure to account for and pay taxes. E-mail Jessica Harper at: jessica.harper@ecm-inc.com

Rosemount council selects Matthew Kearney to fill remainder of Bills’ term Reception planned Feb. 1 before Kearney’s swearing in by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

On Jan. 19, Rosemount City Council members selected a self-described “numbers guy� to fill the remaining term of Kurt Bills, who was elected as a state representative in November. Matthew Kearney, a self-employed, 16year Rosemount resident, is anticipated to be sworn in at the Feb. 1 Rosemount City Council meeting. Kearney owns MJK Investments, a real General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000

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estate investment company, and said his experience will benefit the city as UMore Park develops. With a distinctly “Bills-esque� quality, Kearney also cited the importance of fiscal discipline, noting his ability to understand budget forecasts, spreadsheets and strong financial background as important tools he could bring to the council. Kearney has also been an involved community member, and has served on many boards, including the SKB Trust Fund, the

Rosemount Facilities Task Force, the Rosemount Area Hockey Association and the Irish Baseball Booster Club. Other finalists interviewed Jan. 22 for the position were Robert Leuth and Pamela VanderWeil. Throughout the appointment process, council members discussed how impressed they were by all 18 applicants and their credentials, experiences and backgrounds. An open house reception for the community to meet Kearney is scheduled before the Feb. 1 board meeting from 6:30 to 7:20 p.m. The council meeting will begin at 7:30

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p.m. Contacted after he learned of his appointment, Kearney said, “It’s a very nice honor. I know there were a lot of great candidates, and so it’s a nice feather in my cap to be part of that.� He also commended Bills’ for his work with the city, and said Bills left big shoes to fill. “It’s a great honor to be filling in these final two years of his term,� Kearney said. Laura Adelmann is at laura.adelmann@ ecm-inc.com.

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