A Pop-rock band Cedar Avenue returns to its roots for July 9 concert in Apple Valley. SEE STORY IN THISWEEKEND ON PAGE 7A
NEWS OPINION SPORTS
Thisweek Burnsville-Eagan JULY 2, 2010
VOLUME 31, NO. 18
www.thisweeklive.com
Opinion/4A
Announcements/6A
Puzzle Page/8A
Real Estate/9A
Sports/11A
Classifieds/12A
Time to abandon Eagan July 4th Funfest adds day of fun this year Black Dog Road? extra The 44th annual celebration features games, food, music, and more Friday through Sunday by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photo by John Gessner
Covered with silt and other debris and in need of patching, the western segment of Black Dog Road has remained closed since floodwaters receded in early April.
City looks at new access to power plant that road was built to serve by John Gessner
BURNSVILLE
THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
This year’s spring flooding along the Minnesota River left Burnsville’s Black Dog Road under water again. Receding floodwaters left the usual brush and driftwood debris but also piles of silt, some 3 feet high. City crews spent two weeks and $20,000 on bituminous material patching the eastern segment of the 3.7-mile road, from Xcel Energy’s Black Dog Generating Plant to the Eagan border at Cedar Avenue.
On the western segment, from the plant to Interstate 35W, road patching and removal of 3,000 to 5,000 tons of silt could cost $200,000, city officials estimate. They’ve had enough. Last month, the City Council launched plans to abandon the road and build a new access road to the Black Dog plant. The city is beginning an assessment See Black Dog, 5A
In honor of the city’s 150th anniversary, Eagan’s July 4th Funfest has added an extra day of fun and some new events to the celebration on July 2-4 at the Eagan Community Center Festival Grounds. The July 4th Funfest event began 44 years ago as a children’s bicycle parade, said Cory Hilden, secretary of the Funfest Committee. “Back in the beginning, that’s all it was,� she said. This year, the event will return to its roots and again feature a bicycle parade, where children of all ages can decorate their bikes and be part of the procession at noon Sunday, July 4. Other new events include a Patriots Pancake Breakfast, held from 7 a.m. to noon Sunday, July 4, at the Eagan Community Center, and reenactments by the Old West Society each evening July 2-4. The festival kicks off Friday, July 2, with the carnival
EAGAN
JULY 3 SCHEDULE
and food booths that run from 4 p.m. to midnight and will feature new thrill rides aimed at pleasing the teenage crowd, Hilden said. The event has also attracted more vendors than usual this year, with about 50 booths featuring goods from jewelry and crafts to home improvement and wellness items. “We typically get about 25 vendors, but this year they just kept coming,� she said. “Every year we’re growing just a little bit.� A free Texas Hold ’em Tournament will be held from 6 to 10 p.m., and the Funfest concert will feature Jacob Martin from 8 p.m. to midnight. The annual Funfest parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 3. The route begins at Yankee Doodle and Blue Cross roads and heads east on Yankee Doodle and See Funfest, 5A
The following activities will be featured on Saturday, July 3: • Parade: 10 a.m. from Yankee Doodle and Blue Cross roads to Community Center • Carnival and Food Vendors: Noon to midnight • Royal Brain Freeze Contest: 1 p.m. • Children’s Games: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. • Old West Society Reenactment: 1:30 to 2 p.m. • American Red Cross blood drive: 2 to 7 p.m. • Concert featuring Mick Sterling: 2 to 4 p.m. • Pat Peare Dance Studio: 4 to 5:30 p.m. • Texas Hold ’em Tournament: 6 to 10 p.m. • Old West Society Reenactment: 6 to 7:30 p.m. • Concert featuring Brat Pack Radio: 8 p.m. to midnight For a complete listing of events, visit www.eaganfunfest.org.
Administrators leave behind 65 years of experience, expertise Grissom, Novak are new School District 191 retirees
DISTRICT 191 special education speech pathologist – one of four people working in a new department under a new state mandate to serve preschool students in special education. Her career choice was influenced by having a cognitively impaired younger sister who worked with a speech therapist. “We had quite a number of children who were cognitively well within the average range, but totally unintelligible,� said Grissom, who enjoyed her groundbreaking role in the district as the state mandated services for everyounger preschoolers. “You could really get them to where they were totally intelligible within about nine months. It was fun.� After 18 years teaching speech, Grissom worked for three years as special education director. “It’s always fun to do something new and challenging,� she
by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Sue Grissom was a preschool speech pathologist whose patient eye for detail served her well when she became head of special education and, later, human resources. Sandi Novak was a classroom teacher whose fascination with curriculum pulled her into leadership jobs, finally as assistant superintendent for instructional leadership. The two central administrators left behind a combined 65 years’ experience when they retired last month from Burnsville-EaganSavage School District 191.
New challenges Grissom came to the district 32 years ago as an early childhood
Sandi Novak was a teacher, principal and curriculum director before becoming assistant superintendent in School District 191. said. “My interests were broader than speech, and they always were.� Human resources was one of Photo by Rick Orndorf those interests; Grissom made Sue Grissom spent 32 years in School District 191, 11 as executive director of human resources. See Retirements, 11A
Art festival paints a pretty picture
Summertime brings free meals Federal program brings free breakfast and lunch for all children to two District 191 schools by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photo by Erin Johnson
Former Minnesota Viking Matt Blair discussed his photography at his vendor booth June 27 at the Eagan Art Festival. The 16th annual festival was held June 26 and 27 at the Eagan Community Center Festival Grounds and featured more than 100 vendors selling handmade wares such as jewelry, paintings, pottery, photography and metal works. For a photo slideshow of the event, go online at www.ThisweekLive.com. General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
+&//: 800%4 $,&3." / 45"$&: " "/%3&8 .*--&3
G QSPNP UJPOT " QSFOFVS " " OFX A'SPOUJFS P UFTUT ZPV OH FOUSF JONFOU " 5ISFBET *OLT 4MBN GP S FOUFSUB SJCVOF CJ[ )JUUJOH B (SBOE EBLPUBDPVOUZU
70-6.
& /6.#
The Dakota County Tribune is your source for Business information south of the river.
&3
une Dakota County Trib
"6(6 45
4JODF
#
6
4
*
/
&
4
4
X
F
F
L
M
Z
*/4*%& #*;
'036.
5IF -FHJTMBUVSF DPVMEO U CBMBODF B CVEHFU UIF HPWFSOPS DPVME 0, CVU UFOEFE UP PUIFS IPU UPQJDT 1)*,3*/,*&
"
#64*/&44
" NFOUPS DBO IFMQ B ZPVOH XPSLFS SJTF UISPVHI UIF SBOLT PG BO PSHBOJ[BUJPO PS MFBE UP PUIFS DBSFFS PQQPSUVOJUJFT
EVSFT EF TBMPO FO 8 IJMF GBET GB
)"30-% " 5033&/$& (+* +) LJMMT UISPVHI BOE EFWFMPQJOH UIFJS T T 5*$&4 UIF #&45 13"$ SFBEJOH WJEFPT BOE $% BMTP DSFBUFE ,OPXJOH UIF 5IF DPNQBOZ XIJDI FO EJGGFSFODF CFUXFFO 4UBS 5ISPXFS QSPHSBN H BOE QSPGFT BEWFSUJTJOH BOE IBODFT TFMG MFBSOJO OU 5FBN NFN QVCMJD SFMBUJPOT TJPOBM EFWFMPQNF UP BUUFOE DBO IFMQ CVTJOFTTFT CFST BSF FODPVSBHFE EF FWFOUT UP DSFBUF CV[[ UIBU JOEVTUSZ BOE OBUJPOXJ XPSLT FN TUBZ BCSFBTU PG USFOET IBT TFWFSBM DLFSNBO 45"$&: " CZ 4UBDFZ " $PMF T 4BMPO /5: 53*#6/& / P WF CFFO XJUI UIF DPNQ %",05" $06 "$,&3." QMPZFFT XI $PMF T TF UIFZ LFF GPVOEFS PG U QBOZ GPS ZFBST CFDBV %PVH $PMF 4U 1BVM #BSCFS 5*$&4 HSPXJOH UISPVHIPV #&45 13"$ MFBSOJOH BOE 4BMPO BUUFOEFE F IF MFBSOFE 1JYBS QSPNPUFT UIFJS DBSFFST CFFO BMM * OFFE UP 4DIPPM BU BHF XIFSIJT MPOHUJNF 3JFOUT B DVMUVSF PG i$PMF T IBT TVDDFTTGVM BOE CF GSPN +FSSZ DPNNVOJDBUJPO BU NBLF NZ MJGF VSQIZ B NFOUPS XPSLT UIBU SFBQT U UIF GVMGJMMFE w TBJE +BOFM . 5PEBZ 3JFOUT MPO BT B CBS 4BMPO WFUFSBO i"BCPVU JOOPWBUJPO BOE OEPSG GPS ZFBS $PMF T HPPE 1IPUP CZ 3JDL 0S $PMF T "QQMF 7BMMFZ TB QSPmUT JO IBT CFFO EPJOH T UIF EBZ * GFFM E w CFS XIJDI IF TB )BOTPO 5JN FOE PG UT DPOUJOVF NPWJF NBLJOH NBLJOH PUIFST GFFM HPP O UISPVHI GU -BVSB 5SJTI .FMJTGG UIF QBTU ZFBST 3JFO +&'' $PMF BOE IBT O IBT HSPX JQ GSPN MF " GPS JTI 4UPSIP $PMF T 4BMP OVSUVSJOH FNQMPZ 45 UP CF B NFOUPS UIF MBTU GPVS EF $PMF T 4BMPO MFBEFSTI BS 5PVSUJMMPUU BOE 5S "11&-26* CZ GPS MFT w /VH UIF ZFBST JOTQJSFE IJN B MPZBM DMJFOUFMF $PMF %PVH $PMF $I Z BOE QSJODJQ UIF (PMEFO F BOE CVJMEJOH PMF T 4B DBEFT IBT UBVHIU IJT FNQMP BU $PMF TUBSUFE FNQMPZFFT FFT UT IBWF CFFO TFFJOH UI E IJT GJSTU $ XBT UIJOH $PMFMBTU ZFBST BOE JT XI D HFUT QSPHSBN JO XIJDI OVH .BOZ DMJFO M ZFBST $PMF PQFOF JO *U UP XSJUF TBNF TUZMJTU GPS TFWFSB LFFQT NF SJWFS FFT GPS UIF FT UP IJT CVTJOFTTFT TV MPO JO #VSOTWJMMF BSF DIBMMFOHFE NFS TFSWJDF TPVUI PG UIF IF BUUSJCVU UIF POMZ TBMPO TFSWJDFE UIF FO HFUT JO TJY NPOUIT BSF QVUUJOH i5IF DVTUP TBJE 5SJTI 1FSLJOT UIBU DFTT $PMF PQFOFE i(PMEFO OVHHFUT *U JT DPNJOH CBDL w 7BMMFZ TBMPO BU UIBU UJNF F MBUF T *O %PVH BU UIF "QQMF B JO PVS NJOE 4PVUIEBMF UJSF GBNJMZ %VSJOH UIOH BOE JU XBT #BSCFS BU HPPE UIJOHT TFMG UBML BOE TFMG B DMJFOU FO TFFJOH TUZMJTU +FTTJD $IJMESFO T BU BHF QPTJUJWF XIP IBT CF IFZ EFGJOJUFMZ #VSOTWJMMF XBT CPPNJZ GPS $PMF UP F ZFBST MBUFS POF BCPVU PMF TBJE 4UBQG GPS ZFBST i5 U +FTTJDB XJMM BOE .BMM 5ISF UIF TBMPO CFDBVTF B QFSGFDU PQQPSUVOJU UIPVHIU w $ FNQMPZFFT PG $PMF T IF DMPTFE UIF DPNNVOJUZ I Z DBUFS UP XIBU ZPV XBOFF[F NF JO w HSPX XJUI &WFSZ POF FNQMPZFF XBT UPP NVD * EJEO U JT HJWFO B OPUFCPPL JO XIJDI UIF T UBLF NZ DBMMT BOE TRV HFE JO UIF SBJTF IJT PXO GBNJMZ QBOZ XJMM BHF UP BGGJSNBUJPO Z U IBT DIBO CFS UIF DPN NFOUBM UP N i'SPN EPXO QPTJUJWF F XJMM SFDFJWF 8IJMF B MP ZFBST UIF DPN (FOFSBM 5IJT 0DUP NF UP XSJUF PWFS ZFBS BOOJWFSTBSZ MFBSO XIJDI XBT EFUSJ T %JTUSJCVUJPO FODPVSBHFE DFMFCSBUF JUT DVSSFOUMZ PQFSBUFT FWFSZ EBZ TVDI BT i8 )BCJUT MFBWF CVTJOFTT DIBOHFE JUT DPSF WBMVF CVTJOFTT +FSSZ UZ MJFWFw BOE i B EBZ w $PMF "EWFSUJTJOH QBOZ IBTO U 5IF CVTJOFTT OTWJMMF "QQMF TUBSU MFBSOJOH BO IPVS CFHJOOJOH XIBU XF CF GSPN USVTU BOE IPOFT IBT B XIJDI TUFNUT PG iHSPXJOH ZPVSTFMG w 4BWBHF UIF WFSZ GJWF TBMPOT o JO #VS B USBJM w 4BMPO BMTP JO &BHBO BOE $PMF TBJE i'SPN B MFBSOJOH DVMUVSF 7BMMFZ UXP &BDI $PMF T XIFSF FNQMPZFFT BOE DPOTJT 4FF $PMF T 1BHF " XF FTUBCMJTIFE UP CFUUFS FNQMPZFFT o BOE IBT MFBSOJOH MFBSOJOH MJCSBSZ IJT MPDBUJPOT HSPVOEFE JO UIF EFTJSF WBMVF UP PVS BSF FODPVSBHFE UP LFFQ TUSPOH IBT QVSQPTFGVMMZ LFQU WBMVFT SJWFS UP GPSN PVSTFMWFT QSPWJEF USVF MJWF CZ PVS TPVUI PG UIF DVTUPNFST BOE DPNNVOJUZ UJFT O IPVS B EBZ JT TPNF -FBSOJOH B
$PMF T 4BMPO DFMFCSBUFT ZFBST
&
!""'! !
$
PO POMJOF S EJHJUBM FEJUJta County Tribune
$IFDL PVU PV
F OFYU QBHF in JQw UP UI T UP UIF ST PG UIF QBHFT UP PPN JO 5IF MJOLG UIF QBHF $MJDL PO DPSOF Q PG BOZ QBHF UP [ PUUPN P $MJDL PO UIF UP 4JUFT XJMM BQQFBS BU UIF C PVS T $MJDL PO "EWFS UJTFS 8FC QBSUJDVMBS CVTJOFT -PPLJOH GPS B FY BU UIF UPQ PG UIF QBHF "EWFS UJTFS *OE FZ XPSE 4FBSDIBCMF CZ L
Dako
Parents have another option for their children’s daytime meals this summer — and it’s free. Free breakfast and lunch are available Monday through Friday at Sky Oaks Elementary School in Burnsville and Hidden Valley Elementary School in Savage. All children through age 18 are welcome. Photo by Rick Orndorf Meals are provided by Children gathered their free meals Tuesday at Sky Oaks Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Elementary in Burnsville. School District 191’s school year. food service through the DISTRICT 191 “Just as learning does federal Summer Food Sernot end when school lets gap� in lower-income arvice Program. out, neither does the need eas where many children The U.S. Department for good nutrition,� says a of Agriculture program is depend on free or reduced- USDA fact sheet. “Chilprice meals during the meant to “fill the hunger See Meals, 12A
&44 8
&&,-:
#64*/ #VSOTWJMMF J[ $P 3E PVOUZ5SJCVOF C XXX %BLPUB$ "%7&35*4*/(
Interested in a free subscription?
__________________________________________________ _____________________________
Just complete this form & mail it to: Attention: Subscriptions Dakota County Tribune 12190 County Road 11 Burnsville, MN 55337 or fax to: 952-846-2010
________________________________________________________________________________
BUSINESS NAME
ATTENTION ADDRESS
________________________________________________________________________________ CITY/STATE/ZIP
__________________________________________________ _____________________________ SIGNATURE
DATE
________________________________________________________________________________ EMAIL