Thisweek Newspapers Burnsville and Eagan by Sun Thisweek

Burnsville | Eagan

www.SunThisweek.com Opinion More space on the shelves Larry Werner, general manager and editor of Sun Thisweek, writes about how the newspaper has more shelf space for the news people want. Page 4A

thisweekend

May 4, 2012 | Volume 33 | Number 10

Rare mistrials declared due to prosecutor conduct Kevin Golden’s actions resulted in dismissal of two criminal cases

by Laura Adelmann Sun Thisweek

Two First District judges have thrown out two criminal cases tried by Dakota County Assistant Attorney Kevin Golden, finding he twice created a mistrial so he could retry defendants, according to court orders. Among the findings in the rulings is that Golden held back evidence, dismissed witnesses early and

“I strongly disagree with the labeling of anything Kevin Golden did as being prosecutorial misconduct.

– Jim Backstrom

Dakota County attorney

made statements to provoke mistrials in criminal cases so he could retry them. Hamline University law

professor and former prosecuting attorney Joseph Olson called the cases “astonishing” and said based on

the rulings, the findings of prosecutorial misconduct against Golden are “so egregious” that the cases should be reviewed by the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board. “It’s certainly worthy of investigating and worthy of some kind of professional sanction,” Olson said. “I’m amazed the county attorney didn’t fire him after the first case because he … deliber-

ately misused the process.” Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said he is disappointed the trial courts did not allow the county to continue with the prosecutions, stating Golden made mistakes, but did not intentionally try to cause mistrials. “I strongly disagree with the labeling of anything See Mistrials, 7A

Pioneers pave way for female officers, retire Ballet wizardry in Burnsville Twin Cities Ballet presents its original adaptation of “Wizard of Oz” at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center this month. Page 10A

sports

Eagan’s first two female police officers to leave in late May by Jessica Harper Sun Thisweek

When Lori Tripp joined the Eagan Police Department in 1980 as its first female officer, her presence wasn’t always well received. Male suspects often took offense at being arrested by a woman. And her male colleagues weren’t much better. “Some were direct and told me they didn’t want me there,” Tripp recalls. Others marginalized her in their attempts at praise. In one instance, a superior offi-

Linda Myhre

Lori Tripp

cer repeatedly complimented her for tackling a difficult suspect. Normally such praise would be gratifying, but she knew the comments were out of surprise she was able to assist in restraining the suspect. See Officers, 3A

Somalis sip and chat at Burnsville coffee shop Blaze softball turning a corner Burnsville softball team wins five in a row after a rare three-game losing streak. Page 14A

Eagles wrestling coach resigns Jim Jackson, the longtime coach of the Apple Valley wrestling team, announced he would be stepping away from the game. Page 15A

Index Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Mother’s Day Ads . . . . . 9A Thisweekend. . . . . . . . . 10A Announcements . . . . . . 13A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14A Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . 16A Public Notices. . . . . . . . 20A

General Information 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000

Raaho Coffee and Tea opened this year by Ibrahim Hirsi special to Sun Thisweek

When Somali-born Ahmed Mohamed arrived in the United States more than four decades ago, he expected two things: a better education and a life of contentment. He has met his expectations. What the retired mechanical engineer didn’t expect, because he couldn’t imagine it, was establishing Raaho Coffee and Tea, a social hub in the Colonial Ridge Shopping Center in Burnsville. Dozens of local Somali immigrants meet at the coffee shop to exchange information about their community here and about the troubling politics back in Mogadishu. Raaho Coffee and Tea, which Mohamed called a “Caribou Coffee version” of the community, has become a centerpiece for Somalis in Burnsville Photo by Rick Orndorf and surrounding cities since it opened Owner Ahmed Mohamed opened earlier this year. Raaho Coffee and Tea earlier this year See Raaho, 21A next to his halal market in Burnsville.

Photo by John Gessner

Rosemount High School science teacher Veda Kanitz, an organizer of the Dakota County Votes No campaign and a member of Open Circle Church in Burnsville, spoke at a kickoff event Sunday, April 29.

Foes of marriage amendment unite Campaign launched in Dakota County by John Gessner Sun Thisweek

The debate over constitutional banning of same-sex marriage in Minnesota came home Sunday, April 29, as nearly 200 packed a Burnsville church vowing to fight the socalled marriage amendment. By turns solemn and boisterous, the afternoon crowd gathered at Presbyterian Church of the Apostles for the kickoff of the Dakota County Votes No campaign. After a round of speeches that often invoked religious teachings, participants stayed for training on ways to bring

their message to Dakota County voters before the November election. “There will be phone-banking, there will be door-knocking,” said Kate Brickman, press secretary for Minnesotans United for All Families. “All of those things will be happening in Dakota County.” Minnesotans United for All Families is a statewide coalition urging “no” votes on the amendment, which asks voters whether the state constitution should be changed to define marriage as a union between See Campaign, 2A

Obermueller gets DFL nod in the 2nd District by T.W. Budig Sun thisweek

Former state representative Mike Obermueller of Eagan won the 2nd District DFL endorsement for U.S. House. He will now challenge five-term Republican U.S. Rep. John Kline of Lakeville. Obermueller, defeated in his second bid for the Minnesota House in 2010, bested Dakota County Commissioner and former South St.

Paul mayor KathDemocrats as it the leen Gaylord and now includes South Northfield City St. Paul and West St. Council member Paul, both traditional Patrick Ganey afDFL areas. ter three ballots at Obermueller is a Rosemount High good, organized camSchool on April 28. Mike paigner, Hansen said. “It’s a tough Obermueller Anyway the Repubseat,” Rep. Rick lican U.S. House isn’t Hansen, DFL-South St. that popular with voters, he Paul, who attended the con- explained. vention. According to a Minne Hansen views this year’s sota House biography, Oberredistricting as somewhat im- mueller was adopted and proving the 2nd District for raised on a dairy farm.

He is an attorney by profession. Obermueller was defeated by Republican Doug Wardlow in the 2010 election, taking about 48 percent of the vote to Wardlow’s 52 percent. “Congratulations to Mike Obermueller on winning the DFL endorsement today,” said DFL State Party Chairman Ken Martin in a statement. “John Kline’s time in Washington has expired as

��

he has proven just how out of touch he is with his constituents and the values of Minnesotans,” he said. “Mike has been a strong, progressive leader who has the experience and the message to win in November, and we will be working side by side with him to make sure he succeeds,” Martin said. T.W. Budig can be reached at tim.budig@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

May 4, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Campaign, from 1A one man and one woman. The organization is opening an office at 1964 Rahncliff Court in Eagan, Brickman said. A grassroots group of Dakota County residents asked Minnesotans United for All Families to help with the launch and training, and Presbyterian Church of the Apostles offered the venue, she said. Similar launches are occurring across the state, but Brickman said this was the first county-based effort. “This is something that I really want to do,” said Nick Kor, a paid community organizer for Minnesotans United for All Families. The 2007 Eastview High School graduate grew up in Eagan and lives in St. Paul. “I’m gay myself, so it affects me personally. It’s an issue I care deeply about.” Lori Wilfahrt of Rosemount told the crowd about her oldest son Andrew, an Army corporal who was killed in action in Afghanistan in February 2010. “He was gay,” Wilfahrt said. “But as his sister said, being gay was the least interesting thing about him.” Andrew, a Rosemount High School graduate, was an aspiring classical-music composer with a degree who got tired of low-paying jobs and enlisted at age 29, his mother said. It was before the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Andrew developed a lower voice and a tough-guy walk

and invented a girlfriend to try to fit in. After his first year he began to reveal his homosexuality to fellow soldiers – young people who weren’t fazed by the revelation, his mother said. “Even the conservative and evangelical soldiers did not care,” said Lori, whose husband, Jeff, is a Democrat running for the state House seat in District 57B. Andrew was 31 when he was killed. “Americans love to say our soldiers die for our freedoms,” Lori said. “Yet we are so willing to deny freedom to some citizens here at home.” Activists on both sides of the marriage debate have been mobilizing since the Republican-controlled Legislature voted last year to put the amendment on the 2012 ballot. Veda Kanitz of Lakeville said her church, Open Circle Church in Burnsville, began organizing about a year ago. The Rosemount High School science teacher is an organizer of Dakota County Votes No. “We cannot tell our LGBT students that they are second-class citizens” or limit their opportunities, said Kanitz, who will soon mark her 30th wedding anniversary with her husband, Allan. “Gay and lesbian couples want to get married for the same reason we got married – for love, commitment and the responsibilities you

have to one another,” said Kanitz, the team leader for social outreach ministries at Open Circle. “Love makes a family,” said the Rev. Deb Stehlin of Light of the World Lutheran Church in Lakeville, “and each addition to the family, no matter how they come to you, is a blessing from God.” A constitutional ban on same-sex marriage rubs against the Lutheran tradition of listening and open discourse, Stehlin said. “If the Minnesota constitution is amended to permanently define marriage as between one man and one woman, the conversation stops, and that would be unholy. Unholy, indeed,” she said. The Rev. Joy Smith of Presbyterian Church of the Apostles said defeating the marriage amendment is a “social justice issue” for her congregation. In addition to the traditional election fare, the campaign will focus on individual conversations people have in their everyday lives, organizers say. “We’re giving them tips on how to have that conversation,” Kor said. “Family, friends – the conversation will have more impact when it comes from someone you care about.” John Gessner can be reached at john.gessner@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Sun Thisweek May 4, 2012

Officers, from 1A “It was frustrating, because I thought if I were a good cop they would all like and respect me,” she said. A year later, Linda Myhre joined the force as the department’s second female officer. She experienced a more receptive attitude from fellow officers, but still faced resistance from some suspects. Though Tripp and Myhre faced an uphill battle as rookies, their work left a lasting impression on the force and the community. Both women will retire in late May after more than three decades on the force. “They will be missed,” said Eagan Police Chief Jim McDonald. “They brought a unique perspective to Eagan.” McDonald, who is Tripp’s former partner, describes Tripp and Myhre as dedicated officers who have a passion for helping victims. Over the past 32 years, Tripp climbed the ranks from patrol officer to detective, working in crime prevention, child protection, property crimes, white collar and crimes against persons. Her work has earned two awards — one for solving an attempted murder and the other for creating a youth safety camp. Tripp founded a safety

camp in 1991 to teach elementary children about various safety topics. It’s an accomplishment the 54-year-old said she is most proud of. In 2004, Tripp faced the task of solving an unusual attempted murder case. The victim, Lee Murray, was shot that summer out of vengeance for shooting a juvenile in 1996. Murray’s friend and fellow criminal, Harvey Eason, convinced the juvenile’s uncle to shoot Murray as retribution. Murray survived the shooting. Both men are serving prison time after being found guilty in the incident. Tripp’s work in child abuse investigations has also made a lasting impression on her. In 2010, she nabbed a sex offender by overseeing a controlled meeting between the victim and the suspect. Just as the man began propositioning the 12-year-old girl for sex, Tripp leaped from a closet to arrest him. The man was sequentially charged and found guilty of criminal sexual conduct charges. “These are often the toughest cases in that they are more emotional,” Tripp said. Though she encountered many successes along her career, Tripp made some unwanted firsts as well, including being the first officer to be forced into early vacation due to

her pregnancy.

Breaking glass ceilings

Though Myhre was not the first female to join the Eagan police force, she too broke glass ceilings in her time. In 1977, Myhre joined the Eagan Fire Department as its first female firefighter. She had heard exciting stories from local firefighters while working at a Tom Thumb, and wanted a piece of the action. “I want to prove I could do it,” she said. “I wanted to be the first at something.” Myhre was also inspired by her father, George Scott, who served as an Eagan firefighter for 30 years. “He was proud of me and always encouraged me,” she said. Her younger brother, Mike, also followed the family tradition shortly after Myhre left the department. Today, he serves as the fire chief. Due to her linage, fellow firefighters were quick to embrace the 18-year-old new comer. “I knew many of them already, and some who were older treated me like a daughter,” she said. As in a family, Myhre did get razzed at times, particular when she arrived to a late night fire in pink pajamas, she recalls.

��

Myhre left the department to live in Inver Grove Heights for a short time, before joining the Eagan Police Department in 1981. She said her most rewarding experiences on the force came while working as a detective. “It’s so meaningful to put criminals away and work with victims,” she said. In 1988, Myhre assisted in legislation that created laws addressing shakenbaby incidents. When asked why she decided to retire, Myhre,

53, said: “It’s time. I love this job and I love going to work but I don’t like fighting with people anymore.” Though she plans to retire from the police department, Myhre won’t quit working. She plans to continue building a cleaning business she founded a few years ago. Tripp said her plans after retirement are to spend more time with family and on her hobbies. Though they didn’t realize it at the time, Tripp and Myhre paved the way for

others on the force. “They are true pioneers,” McDonald said. Much has changed since their early days. Female officers are now seen as a norm and are granted maternity leave and light duty, McDonald noted. “There’s been an evolution here, and I’m glad to be a part of that,” Tripp said. Jessica Harper is at jessica. harper@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Opinion

May 4, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Sun Thisweek intends to be a place for all news – big and small by Larry Werner Sun Thisweek

We received an email last week from a local publicist who was upset that we didn’t carry a news item about the semi-annual book sale at the Wescott Library in Eagan. The emailer asked: “Isn’t the new Sun Thisweek touted as an improvement, or at least the equivalent, to the former Thisweek in local news?” Ouch! Tad Johnson, our managing editor, responded by admitting we should have carried a news release about the book sale and said that as a result of that complaint, we are coming up with a new way of setting priorities for the small, but important, news of events in the communities we serve. In fact, we do think Sun Thisweek is an improvement over Thisweek and the Sun Current, the two papers we merged on March 30. One important way the new paper is better than the old ones is we have more space for all the news, big and small. For regular readers of the local newspapers, it was no secret we had stopped publishing some of the news our readers used to get from Thisweek. The recession and increased competition for the advertising dollars that fund free newspapers meant we had to make some tough choices. When I talk about the

Sun Thisweek Columnist

Larry Werner

economics of our business, I explain that our biggest expenses are paper and people, and in recent years we’ve cut back on both. We and other news organizations have laid off journalists who gather and report the news and have reduced the number of pages we print and deliver. After ECM Publishers, parent company of Thisweek and the Dakota County Tribune, bought the Sun papers in December, we were in position to add what we call “news hole” – the space we devote to local news. We have been able to nearly double the number of pages we print because we have more advertising in the combined paper than we had in either of the old competing papers. And we’ve added a second sports editor, Mike Shaughnessy, to our news staff. In addition, we’ve added to our sales staff Sharon Buechner, who used to sell against us with the Sun Current. So the combined newspa-

pers we’re publishing for Burnsville, Eagan, Apple Valley, Rosemount, Farmington and Lakeville are, indeed, bigger. And they’re better, even if we do drop the ball occasionally when we get releases we should have published but didn’t. Managing Editor Johnson, who has spent his career in weekly newspapers, explained that the Wescott Library news item was pushed out of the paper by some of the bigger, byline stories that appeared in our Burnsville-Eagan editions. Among those kind of byline stories was a special report on the peaceful coexistence of the Burnsville Performing Arts Center and the Lakeville Area Arts Center. That story appeared at the top of our front page with four photos. That special report is an example of the “big” news that has been, like much “small” news, pushed out of the paper in recent years. When I joined Thisweek as general manager more than four years ago, the newspaper was publishing in-depth reports on major issues once a month. Those reports would typically consist of two or three stories devoted to a topic of high interest. That commitment was dropped when space got tight. When we launched Sun Thisweek on March 30, we resurrected our commitment to big-picture reports on such issues as re-

gional arts centers, unemployment among veterans and teen drug use – to mention three of the issues we’ve examined in-depth in our new paper. Like a growing family that has been able to move from that crowded, starter house into one with more bedrooms and a family room, we are enjoying the additional space we have for longer stories and bigger photos. And that space has allowed us to add news briefs and calendars that were also casualties of the space crunch over the past few years. We like to describe the newspaper as a supermarket that serves the varied needs and wants of information consumers. Some of those consumers rely on the paper for coverage of their local governments, their schools or sports teams. Others like stories that examine issues in depth. And others want us to inform readers about library sales and blood drives. It feels good to have more shelf space. We appreciate your comments on what you’d like to see on the shelves. Larry Werner is editor and general manager of Sun Thisweek and the Dakota County Tribune. He can be reached at larry.werner@ecm-inc.com. Columns reflect the opinion of the author.

The changing face of our region by Susan Haigh special to Sun Thisweek

If you’ve recently visited one of the region’s elementary schools, you’ve seen our future in more ways than one. In 2010, people of color comprised 24 percent of the regional population. By 2040, projections suggest that 43 percent of the residents in the region will be persons of color. Our region will soon look more like the diversity visible in almost any of our second-grade classrooms. The rapid increase in diversity as well as our anticipated population gain of nearly 900,000 people by 2040, are very positive signs for our region. Immigrants want to put down roots here because substantial economic opportunity exists in our region. The Metropolitan Council included these predictions in our preliminary 2040 forecast. This forecast is one of the first steps in our work to draft the region’s 2040 metropolitan development guide. The guide, which is mandated by state statute, is the region’s long-range strategic plan. It ensures that the council and local govern-

Guest Columnist ments are taking proactive measures to accommodate growth in the population, housing and jobs, as well as demographic changes within the population. We’ve named the 2040 guide “Thrive MSP 2040” with good reason. We believe based on the historical evidence and the projections of our forecast that planning together as one region will ensure we continue to grow and thrive over the next 30 years. The seven-county Twin Cities region currently boasts and will maintain during the next 30 years more than its proportional share of the national economy. Our region, which is home to 19 Fortune 500 companies, will produce a Gross Metro Product equal to 1.5 percent of our Gross Domestic Product, or national economy. With only about 1 percent of the nation’s population, the region will stay ahead of the game as long as we continue to be

creative and intentional about adapting to change. Beyond increasing diversity, we’ll need to adapt to the gray-boom, which will also change the face of our region. Our 65 and over population will more than double by 2040. Not only will this require that government agencies adapt the services we provide to residents, but it will necessitate a change in our housing stock. Seniors have different housing needs than younger populations, and also smaller household sizes. Because of a rapid increase in one- and two-person households, the number of households will increase at a more rapid pace than population or job growth. This means that the private sector as well as the public sector will need to prepare for the aging of our residents, amongst other anticipated changes. Preparations to maximize the benefits of our growth and demographic shifts are under way. This preliminary forecast is one of the first major steps in addressing these

changes and developing Thrive MSP 2040. Another essential step is engagement of individuals and communities in developing the guide. In the coming months, the Met Council will be looking for input from residents, officials and experts alike about how our region should look and feel and the ways in which we can prepare for the changes we expect in our population and economy. The seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area is one region, with one economy. Today, we’re successfully competing against other regions like Portland, Dallas and Denver. Our ability to continue to attract the people we need to replace the retiring baby boomers, as well as the jobs we need to grow our economy and compete globally depends on our ability to work together and plan for our long-term prosperity. Working together, our whole region can thrive. Susan Haigh is chair of the Metropolitan Council. Columns reflect the opinion of the author.

Letters Marriage amendment: wrong and unconstitutional To the editor: In a letter printed April 27, a reader stated that non-passage of the marriage amendment would be a threat to his religious beliefs. He urged readers to vote yes on the amendment in order to keep marriage to the definition specified by his beliefs and his religious organization. I do not question his right to live according to the teachings of his faith and the urges of his conscience. However, I think that the marriage amendment is wrong. I could cite the more than 200 organizations that have joined Minnesotans United

for All Families in the fight against this discriminatory amendment. I could point out that 71 of those are categorized as “faith organizations,” 45 of those are easily identified as Christian, and two are Catholic. But that’s not really the point. The writer of the April 27 letter, and others like him, want this amendment to pass because it will uphold religious beliefs. They want the Minnesota State Constitution amended to establish one set of religious beliefs over all others. This would clearly violate the United States Constitution, which states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” In other words, there cannot be a law that forces a Roman Catholic church to per-

form marriages deemed to be in violation of their doctrine. Neither can there be a law that forbids such marriages taking place in other churches or in county courthouses, if the sole objection to those marriages is a religious one. I am proud to say I am voting no on the marriage amendment. I urge all Minnesotans to do the same. The amendment isn’t just wrong, it’s unconstitutional. AMY MURPHY Burnsville

Town hall impresses To the editor: I am very impressed with the recent town hall meeting, which was hosted by the state representatives and senator for Eagan and Burnsville. It was a splendid

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.

Photo Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rick Orndorf Sports Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andy Rogers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Shaughnessy 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

opportunity to learn about and experience democracy at the local level. Sen. Ted Daley and Reps. Doug Wardlow and Diane Anderson detailed their efforts at representing the needs of all their constituents. Especially instructive was Wardlow’s explanation of the Voter ID bill, which will appear on the November ballot. He assuaged the fears of those who believe that the need to have an ID card to vote could disenfranchise anyone. Even the indigents who are citizens will be able to use the normal means to show residency. The empirical data that was presented to the secretary of state was overwhelming evidence that fraud has been rampant in Minnesota elections. The fact that there were 16,000 more voters than had registered was convincing evidence of the extent of that fraud. Daley’s explanation of the legislators’ herculean efforts to cut wasteful government spending and promote entrepreneurship and private enterprise was very gratifying. For me and all historians who fear the heavy hand of statist governments that tax every element of a citizen’s means of survival in order to appease the slothful and envious, the moderate tone of our representatives is most refreshing. And for those who thought taxing businesses is efficacious, it was good to hear the solemn reminder that all business taxes are always passed on to consumers. To those who objected to the reciprocity agreement among the states that allows licensed nurses to practice in those states, we are assured that the incompetents have been identified and corrections have been made. How interesting to read about

the hundreds of Minnesota nurses who have had their licenses restricted and revoked by the State of Minnesota Board of Nursing! Hopefully, the most pervasive interest of the garrulous members in attendance was satiated by our elected officials. It is, however, more difficult to satisfy the desires of those who attain their wealth from the hands of those who earn it. Terry Yacono Eagan

Personal beliefs don’t belong in constitution

which the state was created and to which it must conform. Wayne Sames Eagan

The key to this nation’s survival To the editor: Just how confusing can one person be? In his letter to the editor, Bill Randall wrote: “I believe marriage is based on love, respect, commitment, and spiritual connection.” This is hardly a startling revelation to any adult. Who would ever challenge these beliefs as essential to carrying out the marriage vows of chastity, fidelity, and the commitments that spouses make? Yet, somehow Randall misses the purpose of marriage and the state’s concerns that marriage is for “the common good.” This requirement is met in the current Minnesota statute that prescribes marriage is between a man and a woman. Nor will these essential elements change one iota with the proposed marriage amendment. This helps us all understand that the purpose of marriage is to conceive and raise children. All of the available empirical data clearly demonstrate that a marriage between a man and a woman best fulfills these critical requirements. We must never forget that the future of our state, nation and culture is dependent on its basic building block, the family. Voting “yes” for the marriage amendment will be the key to this nation’s survival.

To the editor: A writer of an April 27 letter to the editor urges people to vote yes on the proposed marriage amendment because, he says, failure of its passage would threaten his religious beliefs. It would do no such thing. The writer would continue to be able to exercise his own religious beliefs and his church would continue to conduct its own marriage ceremonies in accordance with that religion. Passage of the amendment, however, would prohibit other people from exercising their own beliefs regarding marriage, whether they are based on religion or not. The writer has no right to expect that his personal religious beliefs be enshrined in the state constitution and imposed on others. The constitution of the state of Minnesota is a document created to enable the functioning of a secular governmental institution. Inserting the religious beliefs of any particular religion or religions in the state constitution is contrary to the purpose and reason for RUBY KUBISTA that document. It is also Eagan contrary to the constitution of the United States, under

Sun Thisweek May 4, 2012

Race finally set in House District 56B Peterson gains Republican nod on second try by John Gessner Sun Thisweek

After four rounds of balloting April 26, Roz Peterson of Lakeville emerged as the Republican candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the new District 56B. Peterson’s opponent, Terry McCall of Burnsville, conceded after the fourth round in an endorsement convention at Diamondhead Education Center in Burnsville, according to Ayrlahn Johnson, chairman of Senate District 56 Republicans. Peterson, who had the backing of several area Republican legislators, will face former DFL Rep. Will Morgan in November. The district, newly drawn after the latest census, covers south Burnsville and extends north into east central Burnsville. It includes a small portion of Lakeville, the Orchard Lake area. The April 26 convention was the second for the two candidates, who battled to a draw at the Senate district convention on March 17. In razor-close balloting, neither could reach the 60 percent needed for endorsement. The two opened the April 26 balloting nearly deadlocked, but later votes swung Peterson’s way. She won the third ballot 64-49, with 68 votes needed to secure endorsement. McCall conceded and endorsed Peterson before results of the fourth ballot were announced, Johnson said. According to Johnson, Peterson backers included state Reps. Pam Myhra of Burnsville, Mary Liz Holberg of Lakeville and Pat Garofalo of Farmington; state Sen. Dan Hall of

cial realtor, I’ve Burnsville; and been in this comDan McElroy, a munity for over former state rep25 years, and I resentative and know where jobs Burnsville maycome from,” Peor and former terson said. cabinet official under Gov. Tim Morgan Pawlenty. Morgan McCall, 63, represented the current chair current House of the Repub- Roz Peterson District 40A lican organizafrom 2006 to tion for the 2nd 2010, when he Congressional was unseated by District, had Pam Myhra. stressed his close “I think ties with grassit suits me fine,” roots conservaMorgan said of tive activists. the new district, He’s a supporter which takes efof libertarian fect next year. presidential can“I’m excited to didate Ron Paul, get a chance to whose adherents Will Morgan meet some new are a growing force in Minnesota Repub- voters in parts of Burnsville and parts of Lakeville lican politics. “Ron Paul is not going to I haven’t had a chance to be around forever,” Johnson meet before.” said. “But his ideas and ide- Education, health care als will be. There’s a move- and the environment will be ment to just embrace the big issues in the campaign, ideals minus the man, if you said Morgan, 45, a Burnsville High School science will.” Peterson, 46, said the teacher. time between the endors- “You wrap all that up in ing conventions gave her a a jobs and the economy conchance to reach out to del- text, and that’s what we’re going to be talking about egates. “Obviously, smaller gov- at the doors with folks,” he ernment, less spending and said. lower taxes was sort of a Education funding must common theme,” Peterson be improved, in light of said. “I was grateful and the lengths to which some humbled by the support I school districts are going to balance their budgets, received” on April 26. Peterson has twice won Morgan said. His district, election to the Lakeville Burnsville-Eagan-Savage, is Area School Board and is considering a shorter school a commercial real estate calendar. agent for Cerron Commer- “I think it’s just awful cial Properties. Her fam- that we even have to think ily owns shopping centers about these things,” Morin Lakeville, Inver Grove gan said. Heights and Hopkins. “I think the thing I bring John Gessner can be reached to the table is I’m a small- at john.gessner@ecm-inc.com business owner, a commer- or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

May 4, 2012 Sun Thisweek

School lunch prices may rise again Increases in District 196 are due to federal mandate, officials say by Jessica Harper Sun Thisweek

Lunch prices may rise slightly in the RosemountApple Valley-Eagan School District due to a new federal mandate and rising food costs. The School Board is considering a 10-cent increase for lunch at the district’s elementary and high schools. The proposal made April 30 would also raise lunch prices by 10 cents for adults in the district. If approved, the price of lunch would increase to $2.20 at the elementary schools and to $2.35 at the high schools. The price of lunch for adults would jump to $3.40. Lunch prices for middle school students would remain the same at $2.25, and breakfast and milk prices

dents. Lunch prices were increased by 5 cents for the 2011-2012 school year as a result of the first year of Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act requirements. Prior to the mandate, the district subsidized its lunch program, in part, through its a la carte program. The mandate prohibits such an exchange, said Jeff Solomon, finance director for District 196. The latest proposal will go before the School Board May 14 for a vote. If approved, it would go into effect during the 2012-2013 school year. District 196 could lose its federal funding for the lunch program if it decides to reject the proposal.

would also be unchanged. Board Member Rob Duchscher noted that the district wouldn’t have to raise its lunch prices had it not been for a recent federal mandate. “I think the federal government has forgotten what local control means,” he said. The federal Healthy Hunger-Free Act of 2010 requires more fresh fruit and vegetables, whole-grains and low-fat dairy items be served on all school menus. District 196 has voluntarily used healthier products, including locally grown fruits and vegetables, for several years, district officials say. The mandate also strives to ensure schools have equity Jessica Harper is at jessica. in school-lunch pricing by harper@ecm-inc.com or faceproviding the same level of book.com/sunthisweek. financial support for all stu-

Cutting school days meets resistance by John Gessner Sun Thisweek

The proposal to lengthen school days by 36 minutes and lop 17 days off the school calendar is meeting resistance in BurnsvilleEagan-Savage School District 191. The change, which would save $776,000, is among the budget-cutting proposals as the district looks to save about $15 million — some $5 million a year — over the next three budgets. Actual general-fund spending cuts for 2012-13 total more than $2 million from a current budget of $110 million under Superintendent Randy Clegg’s budget proposal. On top of that, school costs continue to rise by 3.5 to 5 percent a year, in an era of nearly flat revenue for schools, Clegg told about 60 people at Rahn Elementary School in Eagan April 26.

The current spending structure is “unsustainable,” he said. Rahn was the site of one of three community meetings on the budget in recent weeks. “Are those kids going to be left home alone?” a woman demanded, referring to the nonschool days under a modified school calendar. Other concerns were heard during small-group meetings between attendees and individual School Board members. What about busy high school students? How will a longer school day affect their work and activity schedules? someone asked. Some teachers worry about students who qualify for free or subsidized meals losing 17 days worth of meals. Some are concerned that those days leave an excessive amount of time for professional development

that might not be wellplanned. But at Rahn, there were sprinkled voices of support for a modified calendar, two versions of which have been suggested. “I think it’s a good idea” — better than cutting teachers to achieve the same savings, one woman said. The proposed cuts for 2012-13 would claim 26 full-time positions among teachers, administrators, clerical and custodial staff and educational assistants, according to Clegg. Board members were expected to begin deliberating proposed cuts — and possible use of fund reserves to cushion them — at a workshop meeting Thursday. John Gessner can be reached at john.gessner@ecm-inc. com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Eagan Briefs Comcast Cares Day 360 Communities’ Lewis House in Eagan was among 24 nonprofit organizations to benefit from Comcast Cares Day on April 21. A team of 26 Comcast volunteers gave the families at Lewis House a break from housekeeping by folding laundry, vacuuming, cleaning the kitchen, rak-

��

ing the yard and planting Cheerful Givers, Eagan Beyond the Yellow Ribflowers. bon, Girl Scout Troop No. 52688 Dakota Woodlands Eagan Project, Eagan Men’s ChoFoundation rus, Eagan Resource Cengrants awarded ter, EHS Robotic Club, Glacier Hills Elementary, The Eagan Founda- Lincoln Place, and Eagan tion has awarded $7,000 Garden Club. in funding to 10 local non- For more information, profits. contact admin@eagan Grant recipients in- foundation.org or visit clude: Caponi Art Park www.eaganfoundation. Performance Series, org.

Sun Thisweek May 4, 2012

Mistrials, from 1A Kevin Golden did as being prosecutorial misconduct,” Backstrom said. “These were inadvertent mistakes which can happen to anyone under the stress of trial proceedings.” The orders were issued Oct. 24, 2008, by now-retired Judge Leslie Metzen and April 5, 2012, by Judge Joseph T. Carter. Both judges indicate in their rulings that Golden violated a defendant’s constitutional rights against double-jeopardy, being prosecuted twice for the same offense or “unduly harassed … until the desired result is achieved,” according to Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Rosalie E. Wahl in an opinion cited in Metzen’s ruling. In that 2008 case involving a fight, Golden was seeking to prosecute the defendant for the same crime a third time. The first time, the case was dismissed because Golden was unable to locate the alleged victim. Backstrom said witnesses are often fearful to testify. Golden next issued a warrant for the defendant’s arrest, and he went before a judge but was released on his own recognizance pending trial, according to the order. The defendant refused plea bargains Golden offered, and the day of trial, Golden added three more serious charges to correct a “clerical error,” Metzen’s ruling stated. She also found Golden produced medical records never introduced in the two years since the alleged fight occurred, despite the defense’s repeated requests for them. Golden requested the court to delay trial again because the witness was missing, the order states. His request was denied by Judge John Connelly. During Golden’s opening comments he told the jury the defendant should testify because, “You can’t know what’s in someone’s mind unless they tell you,” a violation of the defendant’s Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination,

Metzen’s order stated. Because the court found the comments prejudicial, the case was declared a mistrial. While Connelly and the defense attorney stated they believed Golden when he called the comment “a simple mistake on my part,” Metzen found otherwise. Metzen’s order granted the defense’s request to bar the case from re-prosecution, finding Golden’s comments prejudiced the jury and shifted the burden of proof from the state to the defendant. In her ruling, Metzen explained if the defense agreed to a mistrial, the state could prosecute again; if not, the accused must rely on the judge’s instructions to the jury that they dismiss the prosecutor’s comments, Emphasizing Golden’s then-17 years of experience, Metzen stated he was “well aware” that criminal defendants are protected from having to testify against themselves, and lawyers and judges cannot comment about his silence. “At every arraignment, in every plea offered to the court, this principle is repeated again and again,” Metzen ruled. “In other words, this is not a case where a unique pre-trial court order was negligently breached; this was a blatant violation of a fundamental principle which has been hammered into Mr. Golden’s mind arguably every day of his 17 years representing the State.” She ruled Golden intentionally provoked a mistrial because he would not be able to prove his case without the witness. Golden said in an email to Sun Thisweek that Metzen did not hear the case nor preside at the trial. “The presiding judge, who had decades of experience on the bench, found just the opposite – that it was accidentally done,” he wrote. Retired Judge William Thuet told Sun Thisweek it is not unusual for victims to “disappear” because they fear retribution if they testify. “I think Golden was playing games when he car-

ries it up to the last minute,” Thuet said. “He knows if he’s got a witness or not. He figures if he plays his cards, the defendant is going to fold … and the case would settle.”

Second ruling

In the 2012 ruling, Carter found Golden committed prosecutorial misconduct and declared a mistrial in a theft case, citing several of Golden’s actions, including that Golden sent a witness home although it was “readily apparent” the defense had not completed cross-examining her. Carter also ruled Golden refused a court order to provide the defense with a photo lineup because it contained a “blown up” photo of the defendant that was different from the others; Carter concluded Golden avoided using it because he “apparently believed that the photo lineup was harmful to his case.” In his order, Carter found “the weight of circumstantial evidence” led him to determine Golden was “grossly negligent” and caused the mistrial, stating, “I found that the prosecutor’s tactics were concerning, that his decision to excuse the witness was intentional, and that he was trying to hide things including the witness.” In an email ,Golden wrote that he strongly disagreed with Carter’s comment. According to the ruling, Golden said he believed the defense had concluded its cross-examination and he intended to rest the state’s case. Carter cited two statements Golden made during trial that indicated he intended to call another witness, not resting his case. Backstrom told Sun Thisweek the witness was pregnant and uncomfortable, and the next day she was hospitalized with false labor pains. “I think it would have been reasonable to have allowed a short continuance to enable us to get the witness to court rather than declaring a mistrial,” Backstrom said.

In declaring the mistrial, Carter barred the case from being re-prosecuted under different charges. In part, Carter stated, “The State’s actions were intended to provoke a mistrial. The bad-faith actions of the prosecutor were designed to afford the prosecution a more favorable opportunity to convict the defendant.”

Unusual rulings Citing a prosecutor’s conduct as a reason for mistrial is so rare that several attorneys and judges told Sun Thisweek they have not heard of similar orders involving another local prosecutor. “Mistrials happen very seldom, and mistrials because of government misconduct are almost as rare as hen’s teeth,” Olson said. “I know prosecutors who have gone lifetimes without mistrials granted,” Thuet said. Olson called Golden’s opening comments to the jury “absolutely astound-

ing,” and agreed with the judges’ findings in both cases. Metzen told Sun Thisweek that in her 23year career, she does not recall another time when she declared a mistrial based on prosecutorial misconduct. “This is not something you do lightly,” she said. “And, I don’t remember doing it on any other occasion.” Metzen called Golden “a really competent prosecutor” who usually plays by the book. Thuet said Golden tried cases before him that he thought should have settled, but added Dakota County prosecutors have to get approval from supervisors to settle a case. He described Golden’s courtroom style as “aggressive,” stating “he wanted to win,” adding that he does “not necessarily agree with his tactics.” Olson said there is nothing wrong with being tough on crime, but added, “What’s wrong is breaking

the rules.” “This conduct is so egregious, that it’s the sort of thing nobody does.” Olson said. “This guy put his finger on the scale of justice and pushed down as hard as he could.” Minnesota case law (State v. Cabrera) describes a prosecutor as “a minister of justice” obliged to “guard the rights of the accused” and “enforce the rights of the public.” It states prosecutors must “refrain from improper methods calculated to produce wrongful conviction.” In an email, Golden said his primary concern is justice. “I have never intended to provoke a mistrial,” he wrote. “Both of the cases were going very well for the State and a mistrial would have simply meant more delay and more difficulty in proving the cases at a later time.” Laura Adelmann is at laura. adelmann@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

��

May 4, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Education Coskran Award recipients The seven recipients of the 2012 John Coskran Volunteer Awards in Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191 are: Students: Johnny Nguyen, a fifth-grade student who volunteers at Vista View Elementary School in Burnsville. Moony Vuong, a Burnsville High School junior who tutors at her school and at Neill Elementary School in Burnsville. Parent: Tara Kruger, who volunteers in classrooms and at school events and activities at Edward Neill Elementary School in Burnsville. Alumni: Holly Banwarth, who began volunteering in the “BrainPower in a BackBack” program when she was at Burnsville High School and has continued to be an integral part of the effort since she graduated in 2010. Community: Diane and Jay Beal of Burnsville, community residents who continue to volunteer in the theater program at Burnsville High School long after their own children have graduated. Employee: Norm Frederickson, long-time custodian who takes exceptional care of students, staff and the building itself at Marion W. Savage Elementary School in Savage.

District 191 employees to retire

vice workers, three clerical staffers, one community education employee and 18 teachers have announced their retirements. Custodian: Richard Deplazes, districtwide; Steven Frazier, districtwide; Scott Lunder, Eagle Ridge; and Dennis Palmquist, Burnsville High School. Educational assistants: Kathryn Anderson and Shirley Roberts of Sky Oaks Elementary; Jacqueline Callahan of Early Childhood Special Education; Jane Grevstad of Gideon Pond; Pamela Mayfield of Nicollet Junior High; Linda Rodewald of Burnsville High School; Donna Stark of Vista View; Joan Wilebski of Marion W. Savage; and Vina Johnson (on leave). Clerical: Marlys Dean and Rose Winslow of Burnsville High School; Sharon Manninen of BALC. Food service: Katherine Castle of Gideon Pond and Rae Ann Pelinka (on leave). Community Education: Jayne Mayne, program supervisor. Teachers: Mary Holmquist and Carla Bernhjelm, BHS; Terry Ruhsam, Metcalf: Marjean Davis, Neill; Bradley Taylor, Rahn; Katherine Carlson and Margaret Hinton, Marion W. Savage; Beverly Feil and Sally Rix, Sky Oaks; Dianne Bloomquist, Mary McHugh, Jan Sheil, Sally Smith and Pat Sommerstad, Hidden Valley; Margaret Hinton, M.W. Savage; Mary Grzesiak, William Byrne; Joanne Broady and Kathryn Lindner, BEST.

Thirty-seven employees of Burnsville-EaganSavage School District 191 have announced their retirements during the cur- Building rent school year. Teachers of the As of April 25, nine educational assistants, four Year honored 2012 Building custodians, two food ser- The

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

� ��

��

� ��

�

��

�

��

�

��

Teachers of the Year were recently announced in Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191 by the Burnsville Education Association (BEA) which oversees the selection process. They will be honored at a reception that begins at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, in the Senior Campus Commons at Diamondhead Education Center, 200 W. Burnsville Parkway. Refreshments and appetizers will be served and a program will take place at 4:30 p.m. Also at the event, the 2012 District Teacher of the Year will be announced. 2012 Building Teachers of the Year are: Burnsville High School BHS – Chuck Croatt. Burnsville Alternative High School – Angela Sloneker and Angela Thom. Eagle Ridge Junior High – Shelley Hermes. Metcalf Junior High – Sharon Shelerud. Nicollet Junior High – Kate Quirk. Edward D. Neill Elementary – Jonalyn Lippka. Gideon Pond Elementary – Stacy Stoneking. Harriet Bishop Elementary – Cheri Warmka. Hidden Valley Elementary – Beth Westerhouse. Marion W. Savage Elementary – Sherry Andrews. Rahn Elementary – Cara Slattery. Sioux Trail Elementary – Patty Tushie. Sky Oaks Elementary – JoAnn Shook. Vista View Elementary – Aimee Hagen. William Byrne Elementary – Gina O’Reilly. Early Childhood Special Education – Heidi Nielsen.

Sun Thisweek May 4, 2012

Green-roof gurus extend Metcalf’s winning ways Teams take first and second in competition

DCTC president joins forum Ronald Thomas, president of Dakota County Technical College, has joined the National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship’s newly formed Presidents for Entrepreneurship Forum. Through the program,

presidents of community colleges throughout the country commit to increase the focus on entrepreneurship at their institutions and the impact these colleges have on the economic well being of the communities they serve.

Golf Guide

by John Gessner Sun Thisweek

Four award-winning STEM students at Metcalf Junior High don’t run the place. If they did, the roof might be covered in potting soil and agathus ivy. Their study of green roofs recently earned ninthgraders Suraj Shah, Leo Bingley, Raul Valverde and Katie Smith first place in the Minnesota division of the nationwide eCYBERMISSION competition. The quartet did both academic research and mini simulations to confirm their hypothesis — that a green roof would be a money-saving plus for their Burnsville school. “It was really cool to see the benefits of green roofs,” said Shah, whose work included helping to crunch data collected from the simulated green roofs, which the students built in small wooden boxes. “Energy costs could be lowered. Runoff is lowered.” The students are enrolled in Metcalf’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) magnet program. Metcalf is the only junior high-level STEM magnet in Minnesota, said their teacher, Sue Borne. The program uses the rigorous Project Lead the Way curriculum, which focuses on scientific inquiry and problem-solving. Metcalf is proving itself a power in eCYBERMISSION, a web-based STEM competition sponsored by the U.S. Army. The competition, which is judged virtually, unleashes teams of sixth- through ninth-graders on researching solutions for problems in their communities.

Photo by John Gessner

Members of Metcalf Junior High’s first-place eCYBERMISSION team are, from left: Leo Bingley, Suraj Shah, Raul Valverde and Katie Smith. Eighteen teams at Metcalf entered projects during this school year’s competition, Borne said. Taking second in the state behind the green-roof gurus was the Metcalf team of Tessa Nania, Sydney Botz and Sarah Jacobson, who studied nutrition and childhood obesity. The first-place team extended the school’s winning ways. A Metcalf team took first in last year’s eCYBERMISSION Minnesota competition. “It was awesome,” said Borne, a veteran technology education teacher. “We’ve taken state twice in a row, and we’ve only entered twice.” The team used more than a dozen research sources to explain how green roofs save on heating bills, reduce runoff, shrink a building’s carbon footprint and even introduce new wildlife to the area.

They surveyed teachers, parents and friends. While only 44 percent of respondents agreed that a green roof at Metcalf would reduce runoff, 76 percent agreed that a green roof would benefit the school. “We got our idea in consideration of our Minnesota winters, which are really cold, and we spend a lot on heating,” Valverde said. To simulate green-roof results, the team built three small pine boxes — one a control box without greenroof materials, one with agathus ivy and one with bird’s-nest fern. Small holes were drilled in the sides of each. The boxes were placed under heat lamps, and water, representing rain, was added for five consecutive days. Valverde recorded runoff and temperature data each morning. “Our green roof simulation results proved that green roofs produce less runoff

and create a warmer temperature than the average brick and mortar roof,” the team’s final report said. “Up to nine times as much water was saved in the experiment through green roofs. Also, the temperature was significantly warmer underneath the boxes with plants inside (green roofs), signaling that our hypothesis was correct.” Shah gave the teacher some credit for the team’s success. “I think all of us really kind of want to be engineers when we’re older,” he said. “Ms. Borne really has taught us how to problem-solve and think critically.” Said Smith, “eCYBERMISSION is supposed to encourage our generation to become engineers when we’re older. It worked for us.”

��

John Gessner can be reached at john.gessner@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

District 196 Gifted and Talented Advisory Council District 196 parents are invited to apply for membership on the Gifted and Talented Advisory Council (GTAC). The district is accepting applications for

one resident/middle school parent and one resident/ high school parent. Terms for these positions are for three years beginning Sept. 1, 2012.

People interested in being considered for GTAC membership must submit an application by June 15. All members should have an interest in GT program-

��

ming efforts. The application is available at District196.org or by calling (651) 423-7715.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13th

��

�

��

� ��

��

10A

May 4, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Thisweekend Dorothy dons dance shoes Twin Cities Ballet presents ‘Wizard of Oz’ at the Burnsville PAC

VocalEssence concert

by Andrew Miller Sun Thisweek

Fans of the film version of “The Wizard of Oz” starring Judy Garland will notice some conspicuous differences in “Wizard of Oz – The Ballet.” The Twin Cities Ballet production, which plays the Burnsville Performing Arts Center’s main stage May 11-13, features a storyline adapted from the classic L. Frank Baum fantasy tale, but has no dialogue or music from the iconic 1939 movie. “It’s a compilation of classical music, edited together with sound effects, and the story’s told through dance and music rather than words and song,” Twin Cities Ballet board member Rick Vogt said. “It’s a variety of dance styles, not just ballet – the ‘cyclone dance’ and the winged monkeys use modern Photo courtesy of Flint Images dance. The ‘ s c a r e c r o w With a cast of about 100, Twin Cities Ballet’s original production of “Wizard of Oz – The Ballet” features dancers drawn mainly dance’ is jazz, from Ballet Royale Minnesota, the Lakeville dance studio run by Rick and Denise Vogt. with the scarecrows dancunique performance op- The five flying monkeys “Wizard” is being staged co-written with Rick, is ing like they’re without portunity. are really fun to work by Twin Cities Ballet, for- set to premiere in spring bones, and it has almost “Most people clas- with.” merly Lakeville City Bal- 2013, and is already in the a hoedown feel to it.” sify ballet as really gentle The Vogts tend to go let, which is known for pre-production phase. With a cast of about and sweet,” said 16-year- big with their produc- its annual south-metro Tickets for “Wizard of 100, the show features old Nicole Brown of tions. For “Wizard” they production of “The Nut- Oz – The Ballet” range dancers drawn mainly Lakeville, who’s cast as brought in professionals cracker.” from $12 to $26 and are from Ballet Royale Min- the Wicked Witch. “The for the sets, lighting and Denise Vogt wrote and available at the Burnsville nesota, the Lakeville witch is different – you other production ele- choreographed “Wizard” Performing Arts Center’s dance studio run by Vogt twist your movements to ments. in the manner of classi- box office, and through and his wife Denise. make them seem dramat- “We describe Twin cal story ballets such as Ticketmaster, 800-982 For the dancers in- ic and evil. Cities Ballet as a semi- “Swan Lake” and “Sleep- 2787 or Ticketmaster. volved, the show offers a “Plus I have monkeys. professional company, ing Beauty.” Her goal is com. Show times are 7 and the performances themselves are professional productions,” Rick Vogt said. “It’s a unique opportunity for the students to be part of something of this caliber.” This is the second year

��

to build a repertoire of original story ballets that will rotate throughout the year; prior to the debut of “Wizard” in 2011, Twin Cities Ballet’s sole performance each year was “The Nutcracker.” Her next story ballet,

theater and arts briefs

p.m. May 11, 2 and 7 p.m. May 12, and 2 p.m. May 13.

Andrew Miller can be reached at andrew.miller@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

The 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! Concert at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center will feature world premiere compositions by Mexican composers Rodrigo Cadet and Jorge Cózatl, sung by elementary, high school and community choral singers. Singers from Burnsville High School will be among the groups performing. Admission is free. Tickets may be picked up at the box office, 12600 Nicollet Ave., or go to www.vocalessence.org/2012_cantare_ concert for details.

Homecoming concert The Dakota Valley Symphony Chorus will perform a homecoming concert featuring folk ensemble Dragonfly at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $5 for students. Tickets are available at the box office and via Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787 or ticketmaster.com.

Photo program expands Caponi Art Park and Learning Center, Eagan, will expand its photography program to include two photo workshops for beginner and intermediate photographers and a fall color Family Portraiture Day. Sponsored by Legacy Creative Images, the program will continue its annual photo contest culminating with a gallery exhibition. Up to five photos taken at the art park may be submitted in youth and adult categories through Oct. 31. The new photo workshops will be free, with a $5 per person suggested donation. • Introduction to Digital Photography, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 9. • Intermediate Digital Photography, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 18. Family Portraiture Day will be Sept. 22. Legacy Creative Images will be at the park to take outdoor photos of families, couples or individuals for a $20 sitting fee. Reservations are required. More information about Caponi Art Park’s photography program is available at www.caponiartpark.org/ programs/photoprogram.

��

theater and arts calendar To submit items for the Arts Calendar, email: darcy. odden@ecm-inc.com. Art Open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at Caponi Art Park, 1220 Diffley Road, Eagan. Information: www.caponiartpark.org. Camps The Allegro Choral Academy is now accepting registrations for its “Pitch Perfect” Summer Singing Camp June 18-21 at St. John’s in Lakeville for children ages 6 to 11. Find information and registration materials at www.allegroca.org or (952) 846-8585, artisticdirector@allegroca.org. Comedy Jamie Blanchard with special guest David Rose at 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 4, and Saturday, May 5, at MinneHAHA Comedy Club, 1583 E. First Ave., Shakopee (lower level of Dangerfield’s), (612) 860-9388, www.minnehahacomedyclub. com. Tickets: $13. Dance Twin Cities Ballet will perform “Wizard of Oz The Ballet” May 11-13 at Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave. S. Tickets range from $12 to $26 and are available at the box office, via Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787 or ticketmaster.com. Group discounts are also available. Visit www.TwinCitiesBallet.org or call (952) 452-3163 for more information. DAdance will present “The Three Bonnies” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 8, at Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave. Tickets are $26 for adults, $19 for seniors and $16 for students and can be purchased at the box office or via Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787 or ticketmaster.com. Exhibits Children’s Art Festival exhibit is on display through June 2 at Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave. Free. Information: (952) 895-4685. Music Musician Dan Newton will perform swing, Latin, French

musette and European folk music at a Silver Tea for ages 55plus at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, at Heritage Library, 20085 Heritage Drive, Lakeville. Free. Lorie Line’s “Live In The Sunshine” performance, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, at Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke Ave. Tickets are $39 and are available at the arts center or by calling (952) 9854640. Ross McLeod will perform his “Best of the ’30s and ’40s Show” from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at the Burnsville Senior Center, 200 W. Burnsville Parkway, Suite 102, (952) 707-4120. Poetry Poets in the Park Teen Poetry Slam with slam master Cynthia French at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 13, in the outdoor amphitheater at Caponi Art Park, Eagan. Teens ages 12-19 are invited to perform up to three pieces of original poetry; those interested in competing should arrive at 1:30 p.m. to sign up. Information: www.caponiartpark.org. Theater “Ole & Lena’s 50th Wedding Anniversary and Vow Renewal” performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 11, and Saturday, May 12, at the Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke Ave. Tickets are $15. Call (952) 985-4640 for information. The Christian Life School Drama Club will present “Fairy Tale Salad” Friday, May 11, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 12, at 2 and 7 p.m. at Christian Life School, 6300 212th St. W., Farmington. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are available at the door or at the school office. More information at www.christianlifeschool.org or (651) 463-4545. Workshops/classes 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 all ages. For a complete listing go to www.

eaganarthouse.org or call (651) 675-5521. 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. Fee is $3 and includes all supplies. Bring any old jewelry you would like to re-make. 3981 Lexington Ave. S., (651) 6755500. 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 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. Beginner country line dance classes on Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Lakeville VFW, 8790 Upper 208th St. $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) 4637833. The Lakeville Area Arts Center offers arts classes for all ages, www.lakevillemn.gov, (952) 985-4640.

family calendar To submit items for the Family Calendar, email: darcy. odden@ecm-inc.com. Saturday, May 5 Kids and More Sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Ames Arena, 19900 Ipava Ave., Lakeville. Children’s clothing, toys, home decor, sports equipment, men’s and women’s clothing and more. Free parking and admission. Information: www.TreasureHuntSales.com. Spring Fling family fundraiser from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Primrose School of Lakeville North, 9711 163rd St. W., Lakeville. Food, bouncers, pony rides, petting zoo, face painting, crafts, silent auction, and carnival games. Proceeds will support local charities. Information: www. primroselakeville.com or (952) 435-8885. Sunday, May 6 Kids and More Sale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ames Arena, 19900 Ipava Ave., Lakeville. Children’s clothing, toys, home decor, sports equipment, men’s and women’s clothing and more. Free parking and admission. Information: www.TreasureHuntSales.com. Monday, May 7 Pregnancy & Postpartum Support Minnesota anniversary and fundraiser from 6 to 8 p.m. at Buca de Beppo, 14300 Burnhaven Drive, Burnsville. Tickets are $35 and include appetizers and a beverage. Silent auction, too. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/

Sun Thisweek May 4, 2012

pregnancypostpartumsupport/ events. Thursday, May 10 Plant sale by the DCTC Landscape Horticulture Club from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Dakota County Technical College, 1300 E. 145th St., Rosemount. Bedding plants and vegetables for sale. Information: catherine. grant@dctc.edu. Alzheimer’s seminar on understanding communication and challenging behaviors from 4 to 6 p.m. at Trinity Evangelical Free Church, 10658 210th St. W., Lakeville. For information or to register go to www.trinityefc.net. Cost: $5. Friday, May 11 Plant sale by the DCTC Landscape Horticulture Club from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Dakota County Technical College, 1300 E. 145th St., Rosemount. Bedding plants and vegetables for sale. Information: catherine. grant@dctc.edu. Saturday, May 12 Plant sale by the Lakeville Area Garden Club from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 9975 W. 194th St., Lakeville (across from Kenwood Trail Middle School). Perennials, annuals, and hanging baskets will be on sale. Plant sale by the Eagan Garden Club from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Holz Farm Park, 4669 Manor Drive, Eagan. Perennials, annuals, and hanging baskets will be on sale. Proceeds benefit gardens at Trapp Farm Park, Cedar Pond Park, Wescott Library,

11A

and Holz Farm. Child car seat recycling from 9 a.m. to noon at AAA, 600 W. Travelers Trail, Burnsville. Fee: $10 per seat. Information: http://recycleminnesota.org/. Blood drives The American Red Cross will hold the following blood drives. Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. • May 5, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lakeville Fire Department, 20190 Holyoke, Lakeville. • May 7, 1 to 7 p.m., Apple Valley Fire Department, 15000 Hayes Road, Apple Valley. • May 8, 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., School District 191 - Community Education Center, 200 W. Burnsville Parkway, Suite 102, Burnsville. • May 9, 3 to 8 p.m., Rasmussen College, 3500 Federal Drive, Eagan. • May 10, 1 to 6 p.m., Hope Church, 7477 145th St., Apple Valley. • May 11, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., Easter Lutheran Church - By The Lake, 4545 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan. • May 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dakota County Wescott Library, 1340 Wescott Road, Eagan. • May 12, 10:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Burnhaven Library, 1101 W. County Road 42, Burnsville. Memorial Blood Centers blood drive: • May 4, 9 to 11:30 a.m., Fantastic Sams, 270 E. Travelers Trail, Burnsville, (952) 890-7267.

��

12A

May 4, 2012 Sun Thisweek

TXT a blast for teens Girls go ‘under the hood’ of technical education by Tad Johnson Sun Thisweek

One participant in last year’s Teens eXperiencing Technical Education said she learned that just because she was a girl didn’t mean she couldn’t do the things that boys do. Those “boy” things included fixing cars, carpentry, computer repair and more during the summer Dakota County Technical College TXT workshops, which are back for a second year Monday, July 30-Friday, Aug. 3, at the Rosemount campus. Last year, more than 150 girls in grades 5 through 8 got their hands dirty (and sometimes sterile clean) in technical programs, such as automotive, computer design, health, science and business. “The excitement and energy the girls brought to our

campus was amazing,” event organizer Linda Foster said. Registration opened May 1 for the program, which is open to 200 girls for a $40 fee. Some scholarships are available for those in need of financial assistance. One of last year’s participants said the program was beneficial because it introduced the girls to more careers than just being a teacher or a veterinarian. Another said: “The coolest thing was working with cars. We got to do a lot of the work ourselves. And, we got to see an airbag explode.” One girl said her favorite activity was analyzing blood tests “because we got to look through microscopes at sickness. It was cool but gross.” Foster said the feedback from participants and their parents was so overwhelm-

Photos submitted

The Teens eXperiencing Technical Education workshops for girls in grades 5 through 8 will return to the Dakota County Technical College campus this fall. ingly positive that a fourth daily session was added to the schedule to help girls experience even more aspects of technical education. “We knew we were on to something when before we even finished the event last year there was buzz about next year’s program,” Foster said. She said some parents were calling her in advance to know the 2012 dates so they could plan family vacations around it. “The … program fills a need as career and technical education is becoming more limited in the K-12

environment, and there is an increasing need for technical training to be prepared for tomorrow’s workforce,” said Kelly Murtaugh, vice president of academic and student affairs at the college. “TXT provides an avenue for girls to learn about technical fields and provides another option for future education.” That option is a two-year degree in a wide range of programs, such as photography, information technology and industrial trades. “I am proud of what we created,” Foster said. “It provides girls an opportu-

nity to explore a variety of career fields that they might not even know existed or had exposure to before our event.” One parent thanked the organizers for making the program available to her daughter. “She had a great time,” the parent said. “She would have loved to have been there an additional week because so many of the classes were right up her alley.” Another parent said: “My overall impression is that this is truly an enjoyable, educational and selfdirecting opportunity for my

daughter in her future career opportunity.” Foster said she is very excited that the program seemed to create conversations with teens and their parents about what they are learning when often the responses are shrugs or oneword answers. “This program essentially sent the message that these girls can do anything they choose,” the parent said. “That is very powerful.” Tad Johnson can be reached at tad.johnson@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Sun Thisweek May 4, 2012

��

Gordon R. Docken Age 78, of Rosemount, passed away peacefully on April 30, 2012 surrounded by his loving family. Gordy served his country in the US Air Force, he retired from FAA as air traffic controller after 30+ years, and he enjoyed wood working and especially biking. Gordy is preceded in death by his son, Glen; parents, Harry and Frances Docken. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Milly; daughters, Michele (Tim) Hoaglund, Carla (Doug) Maile and Paula (Ron) Docken Blair; grandchildren, Andrew and Olivia Hoaglund, Makayla and Danica Maile; siblings, Doug (Judy), Mary Jo (David) Prekker, Lyle (Linda) and Mark (Jane) Docken also by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. A memorial service will take place 3 PM Sunday, May 6, 2012 at the Lighthouse Church, 3285 W. 144th St. Rosemount, with a gathering of family and friends 1 hr prior to service. Private interment will be at the Rosemount Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers memorials will be donated to MS society. Online condolences at www.whitefuneral home.com

Eagan public works director retires, leaves legacy by Jessica Harper

��

Sun Thisweek

Ruth L. Hareid

Hareid, Ruth L. age 90, of Burnsville, passed away peacefully at her home on April 25, 2012, preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Lloyd; siblings, Cybil, Thelmer, Orville and Sanford Olson; survived by her loving children, Kay (Don) Thielen and Karel Jelinek, 5 grandchildren, Brent (June) Thielen, Tiffany (Bryce) Cox, Amy (Jake) Rath and Jennifer (Tom) Jelinek, Lindsay Jelinek; and 9 great grandchildren; siblings, Sylvia (Verle) Taylor and Beatrice (Charles) Lee; sister in law Shirley Olson; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Memorial service took place on Monday, April 30, 2012 at 11 AM at Messiah Lutheran Church, 16725 Highview Ave., Lakeville, MN a gathering of family and friends was 1 hr prior to the service at church. Interment, Fort Snelling National Cemetery. White Funeral Home Burnsville 952-894-5080 www.whitefuneralhomes.com

�� Morgan Thelen

Daughter of Cindi & Peter Thelen of Lakeville Mn. Will Graduate with Deans List recognition from U.W.R.F. on May 12th 2012 with a B.S. in Social Work. Morgan is planning to be a Licensed Social Worker.

��

When Tom Colbert started as Eagan’s first public works director in 1978, he was faced with the challenge of building an entire department from the ground up. “It was a daunting task, but I love the opportunity to build anew,” said Colbert, who retired May 4. The city was growing rapidly and had a small department to accommodate new developments. Eagan had only 12 public works employees and no director. Most of the work was managed by consultants. Colbert was handed the task of expanding the department and creating standards, while overseeing public works projects. “He masterfully created an engineering, utility and street maintenance division,” City Administrator Tom Hedges said. At the time, there were only 100 miles of roadway, but that was expected to expand as new developments popped up. Development exploded in the years following as major projects such as the Cedar Avenue bridge and I-494 and I-35E expansions drew to a close. Though there was pressure from developers to rush through projects, Col-

Tom Colbert bert never cut corners, said Hedges, who hired Colbert more than three decades ago. “He has such integrity,” Hedges said. Since then, Colbert, 62, has directed construction of two major treatment facilities and a multimilliondollar ring-road project and overseen a major overhaul of the city’s storm sewer system after a superstorm. In 2000, Eagan was hit by a storm that unleashed 12 inches of rain that overflowed storm sewers and ponds, causing flooding for the next three weeks. Public works employees had to find creative solutions due to the city’s lack of rivers or streams for water to drain into. Over the next few years, the city spent $8 million in

��

50TH Wedding Anniversary The family of Rick and Gerry Schmidt, of Lakeville, are proud to announce their 50th Anniversary on May 5th. Their children and grandchidren will be celebrating with them this weekend. Please join us in wishing them congratulations on their Golden Anniversary.

��

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@ecm-inc.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.

when he left the city’s employe to become a partner at an engineering consulting firm. He returned to the city after a few months. “My roots were pretty deep in Eagan,” he said. Colbert said he enjoyed being a part of the community in which he lives. “I missed that when I went to be a consultant,” he said. As an Eagan resident, Colbert takes pride in all the work he’s done to improve his community. In retirement, Colbert said he plans to spend time with his wife and visit his adult children, who live across the country. City Engineer Russ Matthys will serve as interim public works director. Jessica Harper is at jessica. harper@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

��

�� LaMonte “Monte” Squires, 62, passed away April 23, 2012 in Burnsville, MN. He was born April 1, 1950 in Eau Claire, WI. He worked for Unisys in Eagan, MN for 30 years, before retiring. He was preceded in death by son, Logan and father, Lawrence. He will be deeply missed by wife of 40 years Mary Ann (Macs), mother, Lorraine, 6 siblings and all who knew him. A celebration of LaMonte’s life will be held on Wednesday, May 9th at 7:00 pm at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave S, Burnsville, MN. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred, which will be donated towards cancer research.

storm sewer upgrades to manage the problem and prevent future flooding. Colbert started his career in 1973 with a private engineering firm after graduating from University of Minnesota with degree in engineering. A year later, he took a position as city engineer in Fridley. “My dream was to build new systems,” Colbert said. Next he worked as assistant public works director in Brooklyn Park, a growing community at the time. After a few years, Colbert yearned to return to the Eagan area, where he had lived for a time. The fact that Eagan was a growing community in School District 196, where his wife, Karen, teaches, was also a plus. She, too, is retiring this month. Colbert’s tenure in Eagan was briefly interrupted

��

LaMonte “Monte” Squires

13A

��

14A

Sports

May 4, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Blaze softball turning the corner Wildcats lose After a rare three-game losing streak, Blaze regain swagger big lead, but not composure by Andy Rogers Sun Thisweek

The Burnsville softball team learned that a selective memory can come in handy during the regular season. For a team that has averaged three losses per season the past three years, Burnsville was in unfamiliar territory earlier this season after a three-game losing streak that dropped its record to 4-5. After falling to Eastview 4-3 on April 23, the Blaze found several things it could work on in practice. “No one was really used to that,” pitcher Shannon Callanan said. “Everyone is adjusting and we’re learning a lot. We learned that we just need to be ready for anything.” After going 20-3 in 2009, 25-3 in 2010 and 19-3 in 2011, five losses before the end of April was uncharacteristic. With star pitcher Kelsey Anderson now throwing in college, the Blaze have seen more balls scatter through the infield and outfield. It’s all a memory now as the girls took the losing streak as a chance to improve. “We learned a ton,” head coach Hillary Hansen said. “The girls never hung their heads. They learned from the mistakes they made and

they haven’t made them again. I think we’re turning a corner.” The Blaze responded with a four-game winning streak, beating Rosemount 5-1, Bloomington Kennedy 9-3 and Irondale 3-2 before playing near-perfect softball at Lakeville South on Monday. The Blaze had 14 hits in a 9-1 victory over the Cougars. Callanan pitched a two-hitter and struck out five. A healthy pitcher can make a world of difference in softball. Callanan wasn’t 100 percent when the season started because of a nagging shoulder injury. “I’m feeling a lot better, almost 100 percent,” she said. “My screwball and rise ball were working well today and I really felt confident with the defense.” Eight of Burnsville’s nine batters had at least one hit against Lakeville South with Abby Harazin leading the way by going 3-for-4 with three RBI and a triple. Laura Nadeau also went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, and Abby Schulberg hit a home run. Already a few games behind Bloomington Jefferson and Lakeville North in the chase for the South Suburban Conference title, the

Eagan survives against Rosemount in nine innings

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Burnsville’s head coach Hilary Hansen directs Abby Johnson, No. 22, home during a 9-1 victory against Lakeville South on Monday. Blaze players are focusing on being the best they can be by the section playoffs. The Blaze get a rematch with Lakeville North on Monday. The Panthers handed Burnsville its first

loss of the season April 11. The Section 3AAA playoffs begin May 17. Andy Rogers can be reached at andy.rogers@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Lightning rides work ethic to top of SSC golf Eastview girls have won first three conference meets by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

Eastview’s players still like the story about how Maddy Paulsen got herself locked in at Valleywood Golf Course. Well, maybe Paulsen doesn’t like the story that much, but it helps explain why the Lightning is dominating South Suburban Conference girls golf. It seems that one evening she was practicing so late that course employees, not realizing she was still there, locked the gate to the entrance road. Paulsen, who had been dropped off at the course, had to walk about a half-mile to McAndrews Road to catch her ride home. Eastview coach Bob Boldus likes the story, too. Not so much for its comedy potential but for the message it sends to the players: You’ll get out of golf what you put into it. For the Lightning players, a practice session isn’t over when they putt out on the final hole. It’s then off to the range, or the practice green, to work on shots they didn’t execute on the course. “That’s how Vijay Singh does it,” said Boldus, referring to a PGA Tour player known for lengthy practice sessions. “(Jack) Nicklaus, too.” Eastview has been getting a lot out of its game recently. The Lightning won its first four tournaments, including three in the South Suburban Conference to take a commanding lead in the league standings. Despite a strong first few

Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

Eastview senior Sara Detlefsen has shot Eastview girls 76 or lower in all three South Suburban watches Lydia Conference girls golf tournaments this during practice spring. last week. weeks of the season, the tourney and is still with the players say they are not sat- Lightning is Detlefsen, who isfied. Eastview won an SSC finished second individually tournament Monday by 15 that year. Detlefsen, whose strokes, but Boldus said the older sister Katie won four players weren’t happy with state Class A championtheir 330 team score on ships at Minnehaha Acadan unfamiliar CreeksBend emy, is third in this week’s Minnesota Golf Associacourse. “It’s awesome that we’re tion high school individual doing this well,” said senior rankings. Sara Detlefsen, who was But she can turn in only medalist in the first three one score, and the Lightconference tournaments, ning needs at least four to “but I’ve seen how our girls be a contending team. practice and I know their “This year we have five skill sets. We all can shoot girls who can shoot in the 70s and 80s,” Paulsen said. several strokes lower.” “Some of our girls want- “Last year we weren’t as ed to play a practice round consistent.” at CreeksBend, but I said Detlefsen had a 74.33 no,” Boldus said. “I wanted scoring average in three to see how they responded South Suburban tournato playing a course they ments, more than eight strokes better than the next hadn’t played before.” Eastview qualified for lowest average. Paulsen, the state Class 3A tourna- sophomore Kari Opatz, jument two years ago, finish- nior Madi Roe and senior ing sixth. The only girl who Lydia Jorgenson are fourth played in the 2010 state through seventh, and all their averages are below 90. Tylor Christensen, an eighth-grader, is in the No. 6 spot on the Eastview varsity. The Lightning can clinch the conference championship outright by finishing sixth or higher in the final South Suburban Conference tournament May 23 at Heritage Links in Lakeville. Detlefsen, who will play at Florida Gulf Coast University next year, is a vetPhoto by Mike Shaughnessy eran of the summer junior Eastview’s Sara Detlefsen (left), Lydia Jorgensen, Maddy tournament circuit. Others, Paulsen, Madi Roe and Kari Opatz all are in the top seven Boldus said, played a lot in scoring average in South Suburban Conference girls last summer, but not necesgolf giving the Lightning a commanding lead in the team sarily competitively. “In the summer, some of standings.

Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

golf coach Bob Boldus Jorgenson hit pitch shots at Valleywood Golf Course us play by ourselves or with friends,” Jorgenson said. “It’s a bit different when you’re playing with girls from other schools who are checking out your game.” Opatz said the Lightning, as a group, is hitting the ball longer this spring. The benefit of power cannot be understated in golf. Longer tee shots mean players are hitting shorter clubs into greens, leading to more greens reached in regulation and more birdie putts. Eastview is seventh in the MGA all-enrollment-class team rankings. With the Lightning still undefeated, Boldus said it was a good time to talk about managing expectations. He said he wants to make sure the players don’t have unrealistic expectations for themselves. “If your average is 82, that means you might make about 10 bogeys,” the coach said. “And that’s OK. We need to make sure the girls don’t get upset about making a bogey, or even a double bogey. They have to play one shot, one hole, one match at a time.” Eastview’s biggest test so far this season might come Tuesday at the Red Wing Invitational at Mississippi National, which is expected to draw many of the state’s top-ranked teams. “That’s going to be a great opportunity for us,” Detlefsen said. Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

and Eric Peterson “might not be swinging the bats as well as they would like, but they’re still giving us good at-bats,” Walsh said. The Wildcats, who played Lakeville South on by Mike Shaughnessy Wednesday and BurnsSun Thisweek ville on Thursday, open Eagan had five one-run next week’s play at home losses in its first 11 base- against Prior Lake at 4:15 ball games, and the last p.m. Monday. thing the Wildcats needed was another blow to their Eastview confidence. The Lightning remained But when Rosemount one game behind Burnsscored six runs with two ville in the South Suburouts in the bottom of the ban after losing to Lakevseventh inning Monday af- ille North 6-5 on Monday. ternoon to tie their game, Lakeville South defeated fans probably couldn’t Burnsville 9-8 in another help but wonder how Monday afternoon game, Eagan would respond – or handing the defending if it would respond. state champion Blaze its Instead of coming back first loss of the season. to the dugout deflated, the Eastview built a 5-0 lead players “were determined,” in the third inning behind Eagan coach Rob Walsh starting pitcher Evan Desaid. “They weren’t happy Covich, who also hit his about giving up the lead, third home run of the seabut they wanted to get son. Lakeville North came the job done. We went out back with five runs in the 1-2-3 in the eighth, but hit fifth inning, with the key two balls really well. Then hit being Austin Streit’s Jordy (relief pitcher Jordan grand slam. Brandt) went out there and Lakeville North’s vicgot us back in the dugout.” tory brought the Panthers The Wildcats finally into a second-place tie pushed across a run in the with Eastview in the SSC ninth on a sacrifice fly. at 7-2. Burnsville was 8-1 Brandt closed the door in in the league after its loss the bottom of the inning to Lakeville South. and Eagan survived 7-6. DeCovich also was Eagan is 5-7 overall but leading his team in batting 5-4 in the South Suburban average (.448) and RBI Conference. (14) going into Monday’s Walsh said managing to game. Outfielder/pitcher pull out a victory after los- Chris Narum was batting ing a big lead might actu- .440. ally help the Wildcats long- Eastview goes on the term. “What we need is road to play Lakeville consistency,” he said. “We South at 4:15 p.m. Monswing the bats well, we day. catch the ball most of the time and our pitching is Apple Valley coming around. When we New bats mandated for do those things for seven high school play this year innings, the kids have seen might have slowed offensthey’re a pretty competi- es, but teams still can play tive team.” the occasional slugfest. Junior pitcher Collin Apple Valley improved to Olstad, who started the 4-6 overall with its 16-14 season as a reliever, held victory over Prior Lake on Rosemount hitless for the Monday. first 6 1/3 innings of Mon- Logan Kohorst went day’s game before the Irish 3-for-5 with three RBI for (2-10 overall, 1-8 South the Eagles. Tate Erickson Suburban) made their ral- had two doubles and three ly. RBI, and Garrett Ganskie Olstad didn’t strike out was 3-for-4 and scored a hitter. “A lot of their hit- four runs. ters were really aggressive,” The Eagles, who played Walsh said. “The ball was Eastview on Wednesday in play on the second or and Bloomington Kennethird pitch. I think Collin dy on Thursday, have their was making them hit pitch- annual wood bat tournaes they didn’t necessarily ment this weekend at Lewant to hit.” gion Park. Apple Valley Olstad also had a cou- plays at 7 p.m. Friday and ple of hits in Monday’s 11:30 a.m. Saturday. game. Cole Peterson, Kevin Kunik, Danny Alvarez Mike Shaughnessy is at and Josh Loew also have mike.shaughnessy@ecm-inc. swung the bats well for the com or facebook.com/sunWildcats, Walsh said. thisweek. Captains David Stevens

Wildcats roll to win

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Eagan’s Tyler Spears tries to avoid the reach of a Bloomington Kennedy defender during a South Suburban Conference boys lacrosse game Tuesday afternoon. Eagan defeated Kennedy 13-4 one day after losing to Eden Prairie 11-10 in a battle between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the state rankings.

Sun Thisweek May 4, 2012

15A

Irish hope they’ve found winning formula Eagan softball team’s struggles continue in loss to Rosemount by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

Rosemount believes it has turned a corner. Eagan is still looking for the corner. The Irish moved closer to .500 with its 7-5 victory over the Wildcats in a South Suburban Conference softball game Monday. Rosemount improved to 5-6 while Eagan’s record, which has been in a free fall since the beginning of the season, dropped to 0-10. “I’ll never count Eagan out,” Rosemount coach Tiffany Rose said. “Not with their coaching staff and their hitters. We saw today how good they are.” Eagan trailed 3-0 early before coming back to tie the game 4-4 in the top of the fifth inning. Rosemount regained the lead in the bottom of the inning by scoring three runs. Melissa Seldon doubled in one run, with the others scoring on a passed ball and Grace Longman’s sacrifice fly. Eagan committed three errors in the in-

ning. The victory was Rosemount’s third in a row. “We started the season by facing some of the best pitchers in our conference,” Rose said. “We’re a young team, and some of our girls are learning what they have to do to compete in this conference.” The Irish also have had to make some lineup adjustments. Outfielder Summer Lindelien, the only senior on the roster, missed some time last week because of an injury and was available only to pinch-hit Monday. That made Seldon, who had been splitting time between pitching and the outfield, the starting center fielder. Defensively, “she’s as good as you could want out there,” Rose said. As part of the lineup chain reaction, the Irish’s pitching got a whole lot younger. Ninth-grader Nicole Johnson started the Eagan game and seventhgrader Gabby Sprang closed. “It’s good to have tall pitchers, and Gabby is 5-10,” Rose said. “I also think she’s used to playing against older girls. This isn’t the first time she’s had to do it.”

Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

Rosemount infielder Hannah Esselman waits for the throw as Eagan’s Madison Haus slides into second base during South Suburban Conference softball action Monday afternoon. Rosemount won 7-5. The Irish faced Prior Lake on Wednesday and Eastview on Thursday. They play Roseville in a non-conference game at home at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Eagan catcher Jenna Bromen helped get her team back in the Rosemount game with a two-run double in the fourth inning. In the fifth, Blair Blanchette’s sacrifice fly scored pitcher Madison Haus, and a throwing error allowed another run to score, tying the game 4-4. The Wildcats’ record includes seven losses by one or two runs, including a 1-0

defeat against No. 1-ranked Bloomington Jefferson. They played Lakeville South on Wednesday and Burnsville on Thursday. Getting well this weekend won’t be easy for Eagan as it plays in the Eastview Great 8 tournament, where the field includes Jefferson and No. 2-ranked North St. Paul. The Wildcats play Maple Grove in the opening round at 10 a.m. at Johnny Cake Ridge Park in Apple Valley. Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. Eagan junior Madison Haus pitches against Rosemount shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or in a South Suburban Conference softball game Monday facebook.com/sunthisweek. afternoon.

Apple Valley wrestling coach ends legendary career Jackson’s teams won 14 state titles, 2 national championships by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

In 1995, Jim Jackson took over a wrestling program that might already have been the state’s best. In the years that followed, he helped take it to national prominence. And now, with Apple Valley synonymous with wrestling excellence in Minnesota, Jackson is stepping away. He announced Tuesday he will retire from coaching after 32 seasons with the Eagles, the last 17 as head coach. He will continue to teach physical education at Falcon Ridge Middle School in Apple Valley. Jackson, who has a 12-year-old daughter who plays competitive tennis, cited a desire to spend more time with his family. “His mom is still living in Iowa, and now he will have more time to see her,” Apple Valley High School athletic director Pete Buesgens said. “His daughter is entering junior high next year, and she’s big in the tennis world. “I think he’s at a point where wrestling is still a passion, but there are other things in his life.” Jackson’s teams won 14 state championships, including the last seven Class AAA titles. He has a career record of 619-26-3, and his winning percentage of 95.8 is by far the highest in state history. He had 56 individual state champions during his tenure as head coach. He’s only the second

head wrestling coach Apple Valley High School has had. Bill Demaray was head coach from the school’s opening in 1976 until 1995. Demaray took one year off before Jackson asked him to return as an assistant coach, and he’s been on the staff ever since. “At the time, I felt it was important for Jim to have his own space, go his own direction and do what he wanted to do,” Demaray said Wednesday. “When he asked me to come back, it didn’t take much persuasion. I was still very interested in coaching wrestling, just not as a head coach.” Jackson had been an assistant on Demaray’s staff for 15 years, during which time the Eagles won six state championships. “Coach Jackson was an integral part of the staff even before he became head coach,” said Chad Erikson, a four-time individual state champion for Apple Valley in the 1990s who remains with the program as a parttime assistant coach. “But during his time as head coach, the program went to a completely different level. “When I wrestled in high school, to win a state championship, that was it. Now they’re contending for national championships.” Apple Valley topped national high school rankings done by two wrestling websites in 2010 and 2011. The Eagles were third in the national rankings in 2012. Erikson said Jackson’s retirement took him by surprise, but he could understand the reasoning. “It’s a full-time job for coach Jackson and coach Demaray,” Erikson said. “There’s no off-season. In

the summer, they’re trying to get kids to train, go to camps and wrestle in tournaments. To have a successful high school program, the coaches have to be all in. Whatever their stipend is for coaching, they’ve earned it and then some.” The Eagles’ greatest success came at a time when other high schools were dropping the sport or consolidating their programs because of lack of participation. Yet Apple Valley always had large numbers on its teams. “One of the key things is we had Jim teaching at Falcon Ridge and we used to have (assistant coach) Chad Clendening at Valley Middle School,” said Buesgens, who was an assistant wrestling coach before being named AVHS athletic director three years ago. “They were always talking to kids, telling them if they weren’t in another winter sport that they might want to give wrestling a try. “Another big thing is, I’m not aware of the wrestling team ever cutting a kid. In wrestling, you can keep 100 kids, but you can’t do that in basketball and hockey. In wrestling, a kid knows if he works hard enough he’ll have a chance to be part of a team.” Buesgens said Jackson’s preparation was legendary. He said the coach has a yellow notepad with projected lineups for 2015, even 2016, and if there was a gap in the lineup, Jackson would start talking to middle-school boys who might fill that spot in a few years. Wednesday morning, less than 24 hours after Jackson announced his retirement, Buesgens said he had re-

ceived two applications from California and one from South Dakota. The school will accept applications for the coaching position until May 25. Demaray said he expects the position will draw plenty of qualified applicants. “Jim left the program in great shape,” he said. “There’s a great youth program, and the high school coaches are very involved in it. And the administration has always been very supportive.” Sun Thisweek was unable to contact Jackson before this edition went to press.

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. Apple Valley wrestling coach Jim Jackson retired this week shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or after 32 years with the program, the last 17 as head coach. His teams won 14 state championships. facebook.com/sunthisweek.

16A

May 4, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Burnsville lawmakers’ bill responds to Chance controversy A bill seeking broader disclosure in public employee buyout cases has passed the state Senate and was headed for a final vote in the House this week. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Pam Myhra and Sen. Dan Hall, both Burnsville Republicans, is in response to the Tania Chance controversy in Burnsville-EaganSavage School District 191. With little explanation, Chance, the district’s former head of human resources, received a buyout of nearly $255,000 under a settlement agreement with the district. She had 18 months left on her two-year contract. The bill amends the Minnesota Data Practices Act section on the public’s access to personnel and salary benefit data. Current law is not specific about information

that must be released publicly for settlement agreements involving payments of more than $10,000, according to a news release from Hall’s office. The bill updates current law to state that publicly released information must include “a description of the substantive basis and a reasonable description of the facts prompting the agreement, except to the extent disclosure would reveal information on the health condition of the employee.” In addition, the provision in current law has generally been applied only to state government employees, the news release said. The bill expands application of the law to superintendents, principals, and similar education employees, as well as to political subdivision employees in managerial

capacities. The Chance settlement agreement reveals only that she had charges pending against the district with the state Human Rights Department and had lodged a complaint against Superintendent Randy Clegg with the state Board of School Administrators. On the advice of its attorney, the district concealed that information for weeks, releasing it only when the state Department of Administration advised that the district had improperly interpreted the Data Practices Act. “Many of my constituents – parents, local city officials, taxpayers – came to me frustrated that the school board was not revealing why they entered into this buyout agreement, saying it fell outside the required disclosures

under the Data Practices Act,” Hall said in the release. “Rep. Myhra and I worked at length with stakeholders to construct this legislation and I want to thank her for her leadership on the issue. This bill is meant to keep officials in charge of taxpayer dollars accountable for how they spend those dollars.” Hall said he’s “optimistic” the bill will produce “more transparency and accountability at the local level.” The bill was unanimously approved in the House last month. The Senate amended the bill, sending it back to the House for a final vote before it reaches Gov. Mark Dayton’s desk. — John Gessner

Buckthorn cleanup

– the neighborhood would be in charge of planning and carryingout the removal event. Only one application is required per neighborhood, and a minimum of three participating homeowners is required to apply. Neighborhoods chosen for the program will be notified by July 1. Once selected, they will have one month to notify the city of preferred pick-up dates. Buckthorn removal must take place between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31.

Burnsville Briefs Election judges needed More Burnsville residents are needed to serve as election judges in the upcoming August primary and November general elections. Election judges are paid $9 per hour (including training) and must have the following qualifications: • Eligible to vote in the state of Minnesota • Able to speak, read and write the English language • Cannot be a spouse, parent, child or sibling of an election judge serving in same precinct

• Cannot be a candidate or the spouse, parent, child or sibling of any candidate on the ballot in same precinct Election judges would be asked to dedicate two to three hours for training, and approximately 15 hours on Election Day. With advance notice, employers are required by law to allow workers time off to serve as election judges. For more information or to download an application, visit www.burnsville.org/elections, or call the city clerk’s office at (952) 895-4490.

The city of Burnsville is again offering assistance to neighborhoods looking to remove and dispose of unwanted buckthorn free of charge through the “Nominate Your Neighborhood” program. Interested neighborhoods can download a “Nominate Your Neighborhood” application at www.burnsville.org/nominate. Applications are due June 1. City staff will select five neighborhoods to receive free buckthorn brush pick-up. The city will assist with disposal only

Help put Burnsville on the map Voting for the second annual Rand McNally and USA TODAY Best of the Road Rally has begun. Best of the Road is a contest in search of the “Best Small Towns in America,” to be featured in Rand McNally’s 2014 Atlas and in the USA TODAY Travel section. Burnsville was a finalist in the “Best for Food” town category in 2011. If Burnsville is a finalist again this year, the community will be visited this summer by a team that will decide the top honors in the “Best for Food” category. The winning town will be announced at the Destination Marketing Association International’s annual convention on July 15 in Seattle, Wash. To help put Burnsville on the map, log on to www.bestoftheroad.com and write a review about your favorite restaurant(s), places to see and things to do in Burnsville; vote for Burnsville daily through May 15; and upload favorite photos of the community. Then get your friends, family and co-workers to vote by tweeting about the contest or sharing it on Facebook. To learn more about the Best of the Road or to follow the road rally, visit www.bestoftheroad.com. To follow Burnsville’s participation, visit the Burnsville Convention & Visitors Bureau on Facebook (facebook. com/burnsvilleconventionvisitorsbureau) and Twitter (@ burnsvillemncvb).

Sun Thisweek May 4, 2012

17A

18A

May 4, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Sun Thisweek May 4, 2012

19A

20A

May 4, 2012 Sun Thisweek

��

District 194 School Board Proceedings

��

� �

��

�

� ��

��

�

��

�

This is a summary of the Independent School District No.194 Regular School Board Meeting on Tues, April 10, 2012 with full text available for public inspection on t h e d i s t r i c t w e b s i t e a t www.isd194.k12.mn.us or District Office at 8670 210th Street W., Lakeville, MN 55044 The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. followed by pledge of allegiance. All board members and administrators were present. Consent agenda items approved: minutes of the meetings on March 23 & 27; employment recommendations, leave requests and resignations; payment of bills and claims subject to annual audit; donations; and fieldtrips. Reports presented: Social Studies curriculum update. Adjournment at 7:47 p.m. ___________________________________ This is a summary of the Independent School District No. 194 Special Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 with full text available for public inspection on the district website at or 8670 210th www.isd194.k12.mn.us Street W., Lakeville, MN 55044 The meeting was called to order at 5:34 p.m. All board members and cabinet members were present. Discussions: Proposed strategic priorities and board position; EML/Board of Education/Admin collaborative project; participation in district-written surveys; summary of staffing changes. Meeting adjourned at 7:29 p.m. ___________________________________ This is a summary of the Independent School District No. 194 Special Board of Education Meeting on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 with full text available for public inspection on the district website at or 8670 210th www.isd194.k12.mn.us Street W., Lakeville, MN 55044 The meeting was called to order at 8:02 a.m. All board members and cabinet members were present. Discussions: The board received a presentation from Springsted regarding a long-term community engagement plan. Meeting adjourned at 9:38 a.m. 2991777 5/4/12

��

� ��

��

� � ��

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC HEARING A Public Hearing will be held on May 14, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as possible by the Burnsville Planning Commission, 100 Civic Center Parkway, in the Council Chambers on the application of the City of Burnsville for housekeeping amendments to several sections of the Zoning Ordinance, Title 10 (Chapters 4, 7, 8, 12, 12B, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 22A, 22A1, 22B, 22C, 24, 26, 26A, 26B, 28, and 30) to update regulations to be consistent with current policies, correct language, add or correct code citations and cross references, correct punctuation and add language to clarify standards and requirements. The application will be scheduled for the next appropriate City Council meeting following the Planning Commission meeting. All persons desiring to speak on this application are encouraged to attend. For more information concerning this request, please contact Planner Chris Slania (952) 895-4451 at the City of Burnsville. Chris Slania On Behalf of the Chair of the Burnsville Planning Commission 2996046 5/4-5/11/12

� ��

��

� � � ��

��

� ��

�

��

�

��

�

� ��

��

�

��

� � �

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF FIRST AND LAST DAYS TO FILE AFFIDAVITS OF CANDIDACY CITY OF EAGAN, MINNESOTA NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Municipal Primary Election will be held, if necessary, in and for the City of Eagan, Dakota County, Minnesota on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. for the following offices: TWO FOUR YEAR COUNCIL TERMS Affidavits of candidacy for the above offices may be filed with the City Clerk at Eagan City Hall, 3830 Pilot Knob Road, between May 22, 2012 and June 5, 2012. (City offices will be closed on May 28.) The office of the City Clerk is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Closing time on the last day of filing, June 5, is 5:00 p.m. Dated: May 4, 2012 Christina M. Scipioni City Clerk 2996769 5/4/12

PUBLIC NOTICE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY MAY 8, 2012 5:30 P.M. EAGAN ROOMEAGAN MUNICIPAL CENTER AGENDA

ROLL CALL AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

II.

VISITORS TO BE HEARD

III. P U B L I C W O R K S 5 - Y E A R C I P (2013-2017) IV. O U T S I D E W A T E R M E T E R S ANNUAL INSTALL/REMOVAL FEE V.

WATER QUALITY - COST SHARE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

VI. OTHER BUSINESS VII. ADJOURNMENT 2997396

5/4/12

��

�� PUBLIC NOTICE ��

NOTICE OF THE CITY OF EAGAN POLICY OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY The City of Eagan is committed to the policy that all persons have equal access to its programs, services, activities, facilities and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status or status with regard to public assistance. Auxiliary aids for persons with disabilities will be provided upon advance notice of at least 96 hours. If a notice of less than 96 hours is received, the City of Eagan will attempt to provide such aid. Telephone: (651) 675-5000; TDD: (651) 454-8535. 2996810 5/4/12

�

� ��

PUBLIC HEARING A Public Hearing will be held on May 14, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as possible by the Burnsville Planning Commission, 100 Civic Center Parkway, in the Council Chambers on the application of Buck Hill Inc., for a Planned Unit Development Amendment to allow a seasonal open air market located at 15400 Buck Hill Road. The application will be scheduled for the next appropriate City Council meeting following the Planning Commission meeting. All persons desiring to speak on this application are encouraged to attend. For more information concerning this request, please contact Planner Chris Slania (952) 895-4451 at the City of Burnsville. Chris Slania On Behalf of the Chair of the Burnsville Planning Commission 2996001 5/4-5/11/12

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED PLAN UPDATE FOR THE BLACK DOG WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, the Black Dog Watershed Management Board will meet at the Burnsville Maintenance Center, 13713 Frontier Lane, Burnsville, Minnesota at 5:00 P.M. on May 16, 2012 or as soon thereafter as possible. The purpose of the meeting will be to hold a public hearing on a proposed updated and amended watershed management plan. All persons who desire to be heard shall be heard at this time and place. DATED this 26th day of April, 2012. BLACK DOG WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION BY: /s/ Roger N. Knutson, Its Attorney 2995521 5/4-5/11/12

�

� ��

� �

� ��

Stop Smoking

PUBLIC NOTICE

�

� ��

Today’s The Day

PUBLIC NOTICE

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 191 BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA 55337 REQUEST FOR BIDS TO PROVIDE: Copier and Printer Paper NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids to provide copier and printer paper will be received in the office of Director, Operations and Transportation Services until 10:00 A.M. Friday May 27, 2011, at which time bids will be opened and read aloud. Bid documents, including Specifications and Bid Forms will be on file in the offices of the Director, Operations and Transportation Services at the address that appears below. Envelopes containing bids must be sealed and plainly marked "Bid to provide Copier and Printer Paper." Bids are to be delivered to: INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 191 ATTN: Jon Deutsch Director, Operations and Transportation Services Administrative Services Center 100 River Ridge Court Burnsville, MN 55337 Bids may not be withdrawn within thirty (30) days after the scheduled time for opening bids without the consent of Independent School District 191. The Board of Education for Independent School District 191 reserves the right to waive technicalities and to reject any or all bids received. Board of Education Independent School District 191 Burnsville, MN 55337 2996831 5/4-5/11/12

� � � � ��

��

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF CANDIDATE FILINGS FOR THE CITY OF BURNSVILLE Notice is hereby given that Affidavits of Candidacy will be accepted at the City Clerk's office during the filing period of May 22, 2012 through June 5, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. for the following three offices: 2 - Council Members (At Large) 1 - Mayor All seats are four (4) year terms commencing January 1, 2013. Candidates' names will appear on the November 6, 2012 General Election ballot. Listed below are the filing requirements for those individuals seeking public office: 1. Candidate must be an eligible voter. 2. Candidate is, or will be on assuming the office, 21 years of age or more. 3. Candidate has maintained residence in the district from which the candidate seeks election for 30 days before the General Election. Candidates must file an Affidavit of Candidacy and pay a $5 filing fee with the City Clerk's office at Burnsville City Hall, 100 Civic Center Parkway, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on regular business days and until 5:00 p.m. on June 5, 2012. City Hall will be closed on May 28, 2012 in observance of Memorial Day. A municipal primary is held when the number of candidates is one more than twice the number of individuals to be elected. The Mayor position and two city council positions are on the November General Election ballot. Should five or more residents file for City Council or three or more residents file for Mayor, a municipal primary election will be held on August 14, 2012. Macheal Brooks, City Clerk CITY OF BURNSVILLE (Published: May 4, 2012) 2995919 5/4/12

� � � � ��

��

Complete digital Bidding Documents are available at www.questcdn.com for $20 by inputting Quest Project #2039443 on the website's Project Search page. Paper Bidding Documents may also be viewed at the City of Eagan and at Stantec, 2335 Highway 36 West, St. Paul, MN 55113, (651) 636-4600. Direct inquiries to Engineer's Project Manager Chad Davison at (651) 604-4913. Best Value Contracting Selection: This project is extensive, involving many affected property owners. Timing of the project is critical for the safety of the general public and to minimize disruption. In addition, the City has limited financial resources to commit to the project. Accordingly, the project must be accomplished with a minimum of interruption, on time, and without cost overruns. The City believes that only a contractor with good experience in constructing this kind of project is necessary. Two factors will be considered in the contractor selection process: price and performance. The process for the consideration of proposals for the award of this Project will take into account not only the Contract amount bid for construction items, but also the bidder's ability and performance on previous similar projects, within and outside the City of Eagan, and the bidder's availability of major equipment to perform this project. The evaluation criteria to be utilized will be the total proposal price divided by the aggregate average technical performance score, as determined by the technical evaluation committee. Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting: A mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held at 10:30 A.M., CDT at the Eagan Municipal Center at 3830 Pilot Knob Road on Tuesday, May 21, 2012 in the Eagan Room (2nd Floor). The purpose of the conference is to provide details and answer questions regarding the evaluation/ selection criteria that will be used, along with bid price, to select a Contractor for contract award under the Best Value Contracting Authority. Failure to attend this meeting shall eliminate an absent bidder's bid submission from contract award consideration. Attendance at the conference will be recorded. Technical Proposal Deadline: Prospective Bidders' technical proposals must be received by 10:30 A.M. CDT, Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at the Eagan Municipal Center at 3830 Pilot Knob Road. 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. Christina M. Scipioni, Clerk, City of Eagan 2997776 5/4-5/11/12

��

300 CY Common Excavation 150 CY Riprap, Class 3 700 LF 12" RCP Storm Sewer 70 LF 15" RCP Storm Sewer Along with drain tile, erosion control, and seeding.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS MULTI-SITE MECHANICAL REPAIRS Lakeville, Minnesota 55044 Lakeville Area Public Schools (ISD #194) will receive single prime sealed bids for the Multi-Site Mechanical Repairs project until 2:00 p.m. local time on May 17, 2012 at the District Office, 8670 210th Street West, Lakeville Minnesota 55044, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bidding documents, including the Proposal Form, Drawings and Specifications, will be on file at the Offices of the Architect, Wold Architects and Engineers, 305 St. Peter Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55102. (651) 227-7773; at the Minneapolis Builders Exchange; Builders Exchange at St. Paul; McGraw Hill Construction /Dodge Plan Center; Reed Construction; iSqFt Plan Room (St. Paul, MN); and from PlanWell at www.e-arc.com. This project includes: Removal and replacement of deficient mechanical components at multiple facilities throughout the School District (including patching of existing roof system and all associated mechanical and electrical connections). American Reprographic Company, 2007 E. 24th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 722-2303, facsimile (612) 722-2958, will provide complete sets of the Bidding Documents to prospective bidders and subcontractors. The copies will be available about April 30, 2012. Both a deposit check in the amount of $70 and a non-refundable check in the amount of $30 made out to “Lakeville Area Public Schools (ISD #194)” for each set ordered are required or Bidding Documents may be ordered via the internet at www.e-arc.com and clicking on the PlanWell icon, then the Public Plan Room icon, select Multi-Site Mechanical Repairs. The following information must accompany the deposit: Company name, mailing address, street address, phone and facsimile numbers and type of bidder (i.e. General, Mechanical or Electrical Subcontractor to General, or other). A refund of $70 will be sent to prime contractors who submit a bid to the Owner and subcontractors for each set (including addenda) returned to American Reprographic Company Imaging in good condition within ten (10) calendar days of the award date, subject to the conditions of AIA Document A701. Refunds will not be given if the plans are returned to the Architect’s Office. Make proposals on the bid forms supplied in the Project Manual. No oral, telegraphic or telephonic proposals or modifications will be considered. Submit with each bid, a certified check or acceptable bidder’s bond payable to Lakeville Area Public Schools (ISD #194) in an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the total bid. The successful bidder will be required to furnish satisfactory Labor and Material Payment Bond, and Performance Bond. Bids may not be withdrawn within thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of opening bids, without the consent of the Owner. The Owner reserves the right to accept any bid or to reject any or all bids, or parts of such bids, and waive informalities or irregularities in bidding. The Owner requires Substantial Completion of the project on or before August 17, 2012. Independent School District No. 194 8670 210th St. W. Lakeville, MN 55044 Kathy Lewis, Clerk Publish: May 4 and May 11, 2012 2997030 5/4-5/11/12

��

Contract 12-10, 2012 City-Wide Storm Sewer Improvements In general, work consists of the following approximate quantities:

��

PUBLIC NOTICE

��

SECTION 00 11 13 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed Bids will be received by the City of Eagan, Minnesota, in the City Hall at 3830 Pilot Knob Road, until 10:30 A.M., CDT, Thursday, May 30, 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 following:

��

PUBLIC NOTICE

��

Sun Thisweek May 4, 2012

��

21A

��

Photos by John Gessner

Raaho Coffee and Tea is in the Colonial Ridge Shopping Center on Nicollet Avenue in Burnsville. Raaho, from 1A “We opened the coffee shop to save the culture and the community,” Mohamed said in an interview Sunday at Raaho Coffee and Tea, 13734 Nicollet Ave. “Before we opened this place, the community was scattered all over.” Abdirizak Nur, who was socializing with friends on Sunday evening at the coffee shop, said the taste of the Somali tea and the chance to mingle with community members are what keep him coming back. “It’s a good place for the community,” said Nur, director of the New Planet Education Center in Burnsville, which serves African immigrant students. “It gives us an energy that we would have never gotten from other places.” The location is convenient and easy to find, said Nur, a Burnsville resident of eight years. While some people quietly fixed their eyes on their laptop screens Sunday evening — taking advantage of the wireless Raaho Coffee Internet connection — others spoke about the politics in Somalia, which has left the country in turmoil for more than 20 years. Customers can choose from coffee flavors similar to those sold at typical American coffeehouses, Mohamed said, as well as special Somali tea and snacks. The coffee shop isn’t the only local business Mo-

hamed owns and operates with his wife, Ilhan Hussein. Mohamed, a father of five, also operates the 7-year-old Dakota Halal Market next door to the coffee shop. The store sells African and Middle Eastern products including breads, spices, sugar, flour, fruits, rice, beans, soups and beverages. Alongside American foods, the store also provides meats that are halal, which means “permissible” in Arabic. Most Raaho Coffee customers are also customers of the grocery store, Mohamed said. Although the majority of the customers are Somalis, Mohamed’s businesses also attract buyers from Ethiopia, Kenya and the Middle East. A 1978 City College of New York alumnus, Mohamed lived and worked in many places as an engineer, including New York, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Ga. He moved to Minnesota about 14 years ago and lived in Eagan and Apple Valley. Mohamed and his family now live in Burnsville. “The state has one of the best public education systems in the nation,” Mohamed said of his reason for moving here. “I wanted my kids to be part of this great education.” As his children continue pursuing the education he had hoped for them, Mohamed said he tirelessly works to satisfy his customers. “My customers al-

��

ways leave happy,” he said. “That’s why we’ve been so successful in our store business. The new coffee shop will take that path, too.” Ibrahim Hirsi is a Burnsvillebased writer who recently graduated from the University of Minnesota with a journalism degree and a minor in African and AfricanAmerican studies. Hirsi’s articles have been published in numerous publications, including TC Daily Planet and Minnesota Public Radio’s commentary page. He has also written for New York’s Long Island Newsday and the Record-Journal, a local newspaper in Meriden, Conn.

� ��

��

� � � � ��

��

� ��

��

22A

May 4, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Business Briefs Lyons named to executive post John F. Lyons has been named executive vice president of services for Eaganbased NACR. Lyons has more than 25 years of experience in the technology industry. In addition to his NACR services responsibilities, he is president of the ConvergeOne companies S1 IT Solutions, NorthPark Group, and SimpliCTI, as well as vice president of corporate development at ConvergeOne.

Blue Cross earns accreditation Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Eagan, has earned the highest possible accreditation status of “Excellent” for health plans by the National Committee on Quality Assurance, a private nonprofit organization dedicated to driving improvement throughout the health care system. Blue Cross earned the Excellent Accreditation for two lines of business: commercial preferred provider organization plans and Medicaid-based health maintenance organizations.

Ward qualifies for Summit Circle Robert Ward, chartered financial consultant and financial investment consultant, Eagan, a wealth advisor with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, has qualified for Summit Circle

based on 2011 performance. This is Thrivent Financial’s second-highest recognition level for sales and service. Ward has been with Thrivent Financial for 11 years and has been recognized for his performance 10 times.

Torkelson honored Jeanette Torkelson of Home Sown Gardens in Eagan was honored for excellence in landscape management by the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association for a project she completed in Minneapolis. Noteworthy

Peterson named a ‘Trailblazer’ Robin Peterson, president of Coldwell Banker Burnet, was named a Girl Scouts Centennial Trailblazer honoree by Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys at the Centennial Awards Gala on April 21. Trailblazer honorees are women whose pioneering efforts have opened doors for other women. Peterson is a Girl Scout alumnae and a resident of Apple Valley.

MedNet meeting Dale Wahlstrom, president and CEO of LifeScience Alley and the BioBusiness Alliance, will discuss opportunities for medical device companies in 2012 to members of MedNet, an association for

medical device manufacturers and their affiliates, from 8 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 8, at Ironwood Electronics, 1335 Eagandale Court, Eagan. The meeting is free for members, $25 for nonmembers.

Landscape supplier has grand opening Rock Hard Landscape Supply, 3600 Highway 13 W., Burnsville, will hold a grand opening May 4-5. A ribbon cutting will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 4. An open house will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 5. A do-it-yourself paver seminar is planned for 10 a.m. and a water feature seminar is planned for 1 p.m. on Saturday. Regular store hours for the retail/wholesale supplier of landscape supplies are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. MondayFriday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Paintball event MN Pro Paintball will host the fourth annual Challenge for Children’s Big Game from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 20, at MN Pro Paintball’s park in Lakeville. The event raises money for Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. Preregistration is available for $25 until Monday, May 14, and registration the day of the event is $40. For more information and to preregister, visit www. challengeforchildrens.com.

��