Thisweek Newspapers Burnsville and Eagan by Sun Thisweek

Burnsville | Eagan

www.SunThisweek.com Opinion

‘Third City’ beat has been fun Larry Werner, Sun Thisweek general manager and editor, will take on new role as director of news for ECM Publishers Inc. Page 4A

sports

Lightning aim for state title

May 18, 2012 | Volume 33 | Number 12

Indictment stirs assisted suicide debate Neighbor reached out to Dunn before her death

the nonprofit right-todie organization’s volunteers for their alleged Until the pain, Dorole in Dunn’s May 30, reen Dunn was a trav2007, death. eler, quilter and master Cited in the indictment gardener, said Julie Tusare nine felonies of assing, a neighbor who sisting another to comhelped care for Dunn at James mit suicide and eight her Apple Valley home Backstrom gross misdemeanor before the 57-year-old charges of interfering with a woman’s apparent suicide. Dakota County Attorney death scene. James Backstrom released on Charged are Final Exit Monday a May 11 grand jury Network, a 501c3 nonprofit; indictment of 17 counts against See indictment, 13A Final Exit Network and four of by Laura Adelmann Sun Thisweek

Burnsville will inspect all rental housing units Landlords will pay inspection fees by John Gessner Sun Thisweek

Each rental housing unit in Burnsville should be inspected at least every three years, City Council members agreed at a May 15 work session. Common areas of multifamily buildings should be inspected annually for fire code violations, the council said. The mandatory inspections — which will be added to Burnsville’s rental license ordinance — represent a change of heart for the council, which is expected to approve the modified ordinance in coming weeks. When Burnsville first licensed rental units in 2005, the council at the time rejected mandatory inspections and charging landlords a fee to pay for them. That was before the Country Vil-

lage Apartments debacle. In January, the city revoked the 138-unit complex’s rental license after nearly a year of wrangling over hundreds of code violations with a property owner that city officials say was uncooperative. With Country Village fresh on their minds, council members agreed at a retreat earlier this year that more needed to be done to head off problem properties. “These inspections are very important to the safety of community,” Council Member Dan Gustafson said May 15. Burnsville has the eighth-highest number of rental units in Minnesota and the seventh-highest concentration (34 percent), according to city-supplied rankings. Given the age of the rentalSee Rental, 24A

Showcase of talent

Senior Night brings focus for Eastview’s boys lacrosse team, which is aiming for state berth and has title hopes. Page 16A

thisweekend

Zoo show brings Pines back home Now a nationally touring act, local indie folkrockers The Pines are set to headline a Music in the Zoo concert this summer. Page 14A

Online Look for photo slideshows after this weekend’s busy slate of events, which includes proms, the Scottish Festival and World War II re-enactment. Readers can contribute news items to Sun Thisweek’s website by using the Reader News feature. Tell us who your favorite guitarists are at a link from our Facebook page – facebook.com/ sunthisweek.

Index Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Announcements . . . . . . . 9A Public Notices. . . . . . . . 10A Mature Lifestyles Page. 11A Thisweekend. . . . . . . . . 14A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16A Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . 18A

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

File photo

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Burnsville High School is presenting its Showcase 2012 production, “Road Trip,” which opened May 17 and continues May 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the school’s Mraz Center for the Performing Arts. The show is a joint venture of choir, band, theater and dance students, bringing together what they’ve been working on during the school year. It tells the story of two characters who go on a road trip adventure and recall great musical moments along the way. Tickets can be reserved online at www.mrazCenterTickets.com or purchased at the door.

Longest-serving teacher says goodbye to Metcalf Ruhsam began career in 1970

Sun Thisweek

ca and Kelly Ronn). That’s stability in your life.” Ruhsam, who graduated from high school in Osceola, Wis., in 1966, came to Metcalf after graduating from Hamline University in St. Paul, where he was on the bas-

Eagan High School’s first basketball and soccer coach faces felony theft charges following a police investigation into the financial management of youth sports camps he operated. Kurt Bruce Virgin, 60, was charged by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office on May 9 with six counts of felony theft by swindle by aggregating. He is scheduled to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. June 11 in Hastings. The criminal complaint alleges that between April 2009 and December 2011, Virigin took $29,184.42 from accounts belonging to several youth sports camps and teams. During his time with the Rosemount-Eagan-Apple Valley School District, the coach had some discretion in compensation for his ser-

See Ruhsam, 22A

See virgin, 24A

Sun Thisweek

Terry Ruhsam counts two sets of colleagues from his teaching career at Metcalf Junior High in Burnsville. There are those he works with today and those he’s outlasted since starting his career as a social studies teacher in 1970. “Forty-two years at Metcalf on the second floor,” said Ruhsam, whose current room assignment is 204. “I tell people that and they just kind of roll their eyes. I will say that there’s been a lot of people I worked with here at Metcalf who stayed here their entire careers. It’s kind of like there’s been two families twice.” Ruhsam, 64, is at the apex of the teacher seniority list in Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191. He’s served the longest of the 19 teachers who will retire at the end of this school year.

Photo by John Gessner

Terry Ruhsam, who started teaching in 1970 and his spent his entire career at Metcalf Junior High, is retiring at the end of the school year.

“I just feel comfortable here,” said Ruhsam, who has taught government, economics and American history to eighth-graders for most of his career. “I feel like I’ve had a really good group of people to work with. Over 42 years I’ve worked for four principals (Ted Melloh, John Bednar, Rudy DeLu-

��

Eagan coach charged with stealing nearly $30,000 by Jessica Harper

by John Gessner

��

Eagan coach Kurt Virgin was charged May 9 with felony theft by swindle for allegedly pocketing nearly $30,000 while overseeing youth sporting accounts in School District 196.

��

May 18, 2012 Sun Thisweek

District 196 makes offer on Apple Valley building School lunch prices to increase by Jessica Harper Sun Thisweek

The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District has offered to pay $5 million for a 28,0000-square-foot building in Apple Valley in an effort to save money. The offer, which was sent to building owner AVP De-

velopers, was approved by the School Board on May 14 and will be sent to the Minnesota Department of Education for review. District 196 has leased the building for the past five years for adult education programs. To date, the district pays $380,000 in rent annually, which is projected to increase to $414,900. It also pays $112,000 in taxes and is responsible for maintenance. By purchasing the build-

ing, the district will have a lower payment and won’t have to pay property taxes. The building – located near the intersection of County Road 42 and Johnny Cake Ridge Road in Apple Valley – houses several programs and nearly 300 students. It is used for the district’s Area Learning Center, Transition Plus and Pathway. Transition Plus and Pathway help young adults with special needs transition from school to adult

can expect to pay more for their children’s school lunch next year due to a new federal mandate. The School Board on May 14 approved a 10-cent increase for lunch at the district’s elementary and high schools. Adults will also pay 10 cents more next year. As a result, lunch prices will rise to $2.20 at the elementary schools and to $2.35 at the high schools. Lunch prices for middle school students would remain the same at $2.25, and breakfast and milk prices would also be unchanged. The price of lunch for adults will increase to $3.40. Board Member Rob Duchscher has noted that the district wouldn’t have to raise its lunch prices had it not been for a recent federal mandate. The federal Healthy Lunch prices rise Hunger-Free Act of 2010 Parents in District 196 requires more fresh fruit life. These programs would stay put if the building is purchased by the district. The facility was built between 2005 and 2006 for the district by AVP Developers. District 196 moved its programs into the building in 2006 and agreed to lease it until 2016. At the time, the district’s lease on another facility had expired, and the new building seemed to be a temporary solution until officials could decide whether to move the programs back into other buildings. “We determined the old facility was not ideal for those programs,” said Jeff Solomon, finance director for District 196. Although enrollment has declined in recent years, the district’s existing buildings don’t have enough space, he said.

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 in school-lunch pricing by providing the same level of financial support for all students. Lunch prices were increased by 5 cents for the 2011-12 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, Solomon said. Jessica Harper is at jessica. harper@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Eagan dance to make an ‘imprint’

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Eagan High School dance instructor Jennifer Glaws demonstrates some dance moves for the curtain call final number in the 2012 spring dance concert, ‘Imprint’. The dance concert will take place at the Eagan High School Auditorium on May 17 and 18 at 7 p.m. and admission is free. For more photos, go online to www.SunThisweek.com.

��

�

��

� ��

��

� ��

��

�

��

Sun Thisweek May 18, 2012

Boys and Girls Club gains steam Would replace Burnsville’s GARAGE by John Gessner Sun Thisweek

With the City Council on board and fundraising underway in the business community, momentum is growing behind a new Boys and Girls Club location in Burnsville. Questions remain about where to put the club and how to fill a projected $100,000 annual funding gap. But planning continues to replace The GARAGE, Burnsville’s 13-year-old teen center, with the first suburban outlet of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities. “The GARAGE is going to transition,” Council Member Dan Gustafson said at a council work session May 15. “It just needs to be stated.” Now the question is whether to renovate and expand the current GARAGE site or wait and see if a closed school building becomes available. Talk of closing a school in Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191 has accelerated since the School Board this month quashed a money-saving proposal to shorten the school calendar. Permanent savings from closing a school would go a small way toward the district’s goal of cutting spending by $15 million over three years. The district is a partner in the Boys and Girls Club project. The district’s Burnsville Area Learning Center plans to provide programs and two fulltime teachers at the club. Any decision on a building closing would likely be made well before the start of the 2013-14 school year. “It just remains to be seen how it all plays out,” Council Member Bill Coughlin said. Backers say a Boys and Girls Club could offer programs to up to 150 children a day, reaching more children and a wider age range with more programs than The GARAGE, which has struggled with funding and fluctuating attendance. A major part of the Boys and Girls Club proposal is a Kids Feeding Kids program, with a kitchen and dining area that could accommodate 180 children per day. Nearly half of District 191 students qualify for free or subsidized school meals. The Boys and Girls Club proposal has met resistance from youthful GARAGE organizers and

loyalists, whom Boys and Girls Club planners vowed to include in their planning process. The city spends $125,000 a year on operations at the GARAGE, which is also funded by various grants. There’s a $50,000 hole in next year’s GARAGE budget, Deputy City Manager Tom Hansen said. Longtime manager Eric Billiet departed earlier this year, and the GARAGE has an interim manager and inexperienced staffers, Hansen said, adding that “they’ll basically be scaling back the operation.” Amid budget cuts in 2009, the council shelved a $1 million plan to renovate and expand the GARAGE space in the city maintenance building in Civic Center Park. It would cost an estimated $950,000 to renovate the GARAGE space and an extra 8,450 square feet for the Boys and Girls Club. Additions would include the dining area and a sport court. Under current plans, the Boys and Girls Club

would pay $328,000 a year to support operations, with five full-time staffers and some part-timers. The city would continue to contribute $125,000 a year and the building (unless a closed school is chosen). Also, Brad and Melanie Rixmann have committed $25,000 a year for 10 years for the dining program. (They have also committed $10,000 to the capital campaign for building improvements.) That still leaves questions about how to fund the renovation and cover a $100,000 annual funding gap in operations. Fundraising is underway. Council members Gustafson and Dan Kealey have been pitching the Boys and Girls Club in the business community. “I am confident beyond any doubt whatsoever that $100,000 gap will be filled, and will be filled by people in he Burnsville community,” Kealey said. John Gessner can be reached at john.gessner@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Opinion

May 18, 2012 Sun Thisweek

It’s been a privilege to manage your weekly newspapers by Larry Werner Sun Thisweek

I’ve always prided myself in doing things differently. When I graduated from Michigan State University in 1969, thousands of people were moving from places like Kentucky to take jobs in Michigan’s auto plants. I left Michigan to take a job as a reporter in Kentucky. In the newspaper business, the conventional career path would be to start with a weekly newspaper, get a job with a daily and then retire to a life of golf, fishing or hanging out in the neighborhood coffee shop. For me, it went this way: Spend 38 years working for daily newspapers, retire, and then spend four years working for weeklies. Since January of 2007, following my retirement from the Star Tribune and eight long months of retirement, I’ve had the privilege of serving as editor and general manager of Thisweek Newspapers and the Dakota County Tribune. After the acquisition of the Minnesota Sun papers by ECM Publishers, we merged competing Dakota County papers into Sun Thisweek. Beginning next week, Sun Thisweek and the Tribune will be managed by Sun Group General Manager Jeff Coolman. I will be moving to ECM’s Coon Rapids headquarters in a new position called director of news. As I look forward with excitement to this new challenge of leading ECM’s editors and writers, I look back with some sadness on the people, places and events that have been part of my life since 1999. That was the year I moved with my wife and son

Sun Thisweek Columnist

Larry Werner

from Edina to Lakeville. During my previous 15 years in Minnesota, I hadn’t spent much time south of the river, but shortly after Ann and I married in 1995, she began talking about heading south. Ann is a Zweber – one of those names that cause heads to nod with familiarity when mentioned down here. There are lots of Zwebers in Dakota County. One of them, her father, LeRoy, was a dairy farmer and then director of buildings and grounds for the Lakeville schools. After LeRoy died in 1996, just as the family was turning the dairy farm into a golf course, we decided we should move closer to her widowed mother and the family business. Her brother, Mark, lost his wife to cancer in 1997, and Ann wanted to be more available to him as he raised his two young boys. So we moved to a condo near downtown Lakeville, and one of the first things I noticed was the local newspaper office. Even though I was still working for the Star Tribune, I would romanticize about becoming editor of Thisweek and telling the interesting and important stories about this land south of the Minnesota River. Magically, ECM advertised for a general manager to run its Dakota County papers shortly after I retired from the Star Tribune in June of 2007. In January of 2008, I started at

Thisweek’s Burnsville office. The Lakeville office had been closed by then in a cost-cutting move, and Mainstreet After Hours, a wine bar, now operates in that Lakeville space, adjacent to Mainstreet Coffee Cafe. I’ve had a ball putting out newspapers for Lakeville and Farmington, Burnsville and Eagan, Apple Valley and Rosemount, and turning the 128-year-old Tribune into a Business Weekly. I love local news, and our Dakota County communities have provided us with a lot of opportunity to tell great stories about your neighbors, your city councils, your schools and town characters. We’ve written stories about growth and recession. And we’ve provided local businesses with a means for telling customers about their products and services. Not every day has been a bowl of cherries. Facing a recession and intense competition from other newspapers and the Internet, we’ve had to spend way too much of our energy cutting expenses. In March, we moved from Burnsville to smaller, less expensive space in Apple Valley. And later the same month, we merged the Sun Current and Thisweek papers into a paper called Sun Thisweek. I’m proud to report Sun Thisweek is exceeding expectations as a news and advertising medium. It seemed like a good time to retire again. I’ll be 65 in July. But my boss, ECM President Marge Winkelman, offered me an office at the ECM Center in Coon Rapids, where I’ll be involved with improving the reporting, writing and editing done by the company’s 84 journalists. I’ll be working closely with Keith Anderson, director of news for the Sun Group, who will lead

our journalists in Dakota County. Our much larger company now delivers newspapers to about 700,000 homes throughout Minnesota. I appreciate the opportunity to work with a growing news company to serve readers with stories that inform and entertain. Having moved back north of the river to be near my four grandchildren and Ann’s work at the University of Minnesota, I spend less of my free time at the Lakeville Area Arts Center or at the arts centers in Burnsville and Rosemount. And since I’ll be working in Coon Rapids with ECM’s northern newspapers, you won’t see me as much at my favorite Dakota County lunch places – the Valley Diner in Apple Valley, Jo Jo’s Rise & Wine in Burnsville and, of course, Mainstreet Coffee Cafe in Lakeville. I’ll be hanging out at coffee shops in other communities where ECM has papers – such towns as Anoka, Milaca and Princeton, the place our company was started by former Gov. Elmer Andersen 35 years ago. It’s likely I’ll use this space for stories from those places up north. So you’ll hear from me on this page. I’ll miss south of the river, which I’ve named “The Third City,” after Minneapolis and St. Paul. And I’ll miss our new offices in Apple Valley, where Managing Editors Tad Johnson and John Gessner will continue to dispatch writers to cover the news of this dynamic and growing county. 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.

Letters Misplaced tough love To the editor: At a recent gathering at Rasmussen College, a group of people heard about some of the challenges faced by students and their parents around funding public schools. Parents itemized some of the difficult things about funding schools, including the forced borrowing of billions of dollars from the education budget by the Legislature, to balance the state budget. Back in 2001, when the state Legislature declared its policy of providing schools with the great majority of needed funding, the policy had no teeth. Two years later the Legislature made its first outright cut in education funding in the state’s history. Failure to keep up with inflation and using budgeting gimmicks like “borrowing” from future years’ funding, have had the effect of increasing class sizes over 50 percent, and requiring parents to pay extra for music, art and sports, while transportation services have suffered major reductions. Each of us has seen skyrocketing property taxes, partly due to passage of local levy referenda to support school districts. The incumbent congressman for the 2nd District, who is the chair of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, has not seen

fit to fund mandates which Congress has made requiring state special education spending. Such money accounts for a major part of the state education budget. He apparently believes it is better to have most projects except military projects, funded at the state and local, not the federal, level. He openly says that’s his opinion about funding early childhood education for school readiness. The people who suffer most in this dance to cut education, are the young people. They continue to see reduced funding for K-12 education, after inflation, and would-be college students have had to ask whether the cost of college is worth the decades required to repay burgeoning school loans they have to take out. Stinting on the education of our children and young people may be tough love. But the shift of responsibility of their education to the young themselves is a stingy habit that serves nobody and hurts us all.

my view on this “vital-toour-economy” issue. They clearly do not comprehend how priceless the Vikings presence is to the image of our metro area and, in turn, on the overall economy of the state of Minnesota. I am not a big Viking fan or a fan of NFL millionaires, but am a fan of Minnesota and its image as a first-class, vibrant venue that is inviting to people and businesses as a destination. I believe that people who do not understand this are short-sighted and “pennywise and pound-foolish.” I have often heard the quote: “We do not need the Vikings – we have outstanding arts and theater.” This lacks common sense. I am glad that there were enough “yes” votes and common sense prevailed. I plan to vote “no” to both Hall and Myhra.

“protect” the family, and keep marriage “between one man and one woman” is nothing less than pure discrimination. To say that the main purpose of marriage is to conceive and raise children is just one more false, fearbased statement. There are over 10 million single mothers in America, raising children with no fathers, and no child support. This is a fact. I agree, follow your faith, but please, keep it out of my government. I will vote no on the proposed marriage amendment, and hope that we have more than enough people that understand that this is nothing more than fear-based homophobia at its worst. DENISE ERLANDSON Eagan

Minnesota needs Voter ID

JAMES P. STATHOPOULOS To the editor: Burnsville Regarding the letter from Lauren Kelly discussing Voter ID: Keep religious 1) Ms. Kelly suggests beliefs out of requiring voter ID would PAUL HOFFINGER disenfranchise “many” votconstitution Eagan ers. I would like to point To the editor: I am so grateful to the out that elections do not Vote ‘no’ writers of the most beau- sneak up on anyone. The tiful letters of May 4, who first Tuesday after the first to Hall, Myhra so eloquently expressed Monday in November hapTo the editor: the importance of keeping pens every year. People Both my state legislators, religious beliefs out of our have ample time to get a photo ID and register. Dan Hall and Pam Myhra, constitution. voted “no” on the Viking Religious freedom is So, would there be stadium issue. I am only fundamental for the Unit- “many” people who would one of many voters but I ed States and to change/ not vote for lack of a photo did write them to express amend the constitution to ID? We need photo IDs for almost all commercial transactions in today’s society – check cashing, using a charge card, driving a car, buying cigarettes, buying Sun Thisweek welcomes letters to the editor. Submitted letters must be no more than 350 liquor, boarding a plane – words. All letters must have the author’s phone number and address for verification purposes. even, I understand, signing Anonymous letters will not be accepted. Letters reflect the opinion of the author only. Sun up for government benefits. Thisweek reserves the right to edit all letters. Submission of a letter does not guarantee For the few citizens withpublication. out access to photo IDs, they would be provided at no charge. The real people who could be disenfranchised are the legitimate voters whose votes are diluted by John Gessner | BURNSVILLE NEWS | 952-846-2031 | john.gessner@ecm-inc.com fraud. Jessica Harper | Eagan NEWS | 952-846-2028 | jessica.harper@ecm-inc.com 2) The author says there Andy Rogers | SPORTS | 952-846-2027 | andy.rogers@ecm-inc.com were 113 persons “conMike Shaughnessy | SPORTS | 952-846-2030 | mike.shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com victed” of voter fraud out Mike Jetchick | AD SALES | 952-846-2019 | mike.jetchick@ecm-inc.com of 2.9 million voters and Managing Editors | Tad Johnson | John Gessner implies that this miniscule number depicts the extent Publisher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julian Andersen of the crime. Not true. A Photo Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rick Orndorf President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marge Winkelman person has to be found to Sports Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andy Rogers General Manager/Editor. . . . . . . . . Larry Werner be prosecuted. The follow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Shaughnessy Burnsville/District 191 editor . . . John Gessner ing is quoted from www. Sales Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Jetchick EAGAN/District 196 Editor. . . . . . . Jessica Harper minnesotamajority.org/ Office Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ellen Reierson Thisweekend Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew Miller TheIssues/ElectionIntegrity/tabid/188/Default.aspx The underlining is mine: 15322 Galaxie Ave., Suite 219, Apple Valley, MN 55124 “The state’s primary reg952-894-1111 fax: 952-846-2010 istration verification tool

Letters to the editor policy

www.SunThisweek.com | Office Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Friday

is the Postal Verification Card (PVC). These post cards are mailed to newly registered voters. … If the card is returned as undeliverable mail, the voter’s identity is in question. … Over 46,000 of these postal verification cards have been returned to the county auditors as non-deliverable since 2004. About 38,000 of them were from 2008 and 23,000 stemmed from Election Day Registrations (EDRs). After accounting for legitimate reasons for undeliverable PVCs, over 6,000 unexplained, undeliverable PVCs … remain outstanding from the 2008 election, and over 1,200 from 2010.” 3) For all the readers who think that voter fraud is a non-problem in “nice” Minnesota, would I be correct in concluding that you do not lock the doors of your house? Diana Bratlie Lakeville

Amendment discriminates To the editor: Let’s be clear on why the marriage amendment should be defeated. This amendment supports discrimination of our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender sisters and brothers. A vote to support this travesty is to write discrimination into our state constitution. Let’s be clear that discrimination is not only a sin, but a sin that can trace its roots in earlier history through discrimination against non-white races, other countries, women, children, Muslims, and those of other religions. It goes on and on. Loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves are the two great commandments given to those of us who follow Jesus. To support this amendment, in my judgment, is to act counter to what Jesus taught. Voting no on the marriage amendment shows our love, support and respect to those in the LGBT community. STEVE KOESTNER Lakeville

Business is backbone of America

for me to understand all this military worship. I retired from the military. I flew Special Operations aircraft and logged combat time. I flew supersonic jets in pilot training. It was a blast. How did I “defend freedom”? Our government today limits our freedom by regulating every aspect of our lives. But those same politicians order the military to go “defend our freedom.” Compare that to the private sector. Businesses ask for nothing except a chance to make your life better, and they work their butt off to do it or go out of business. In the military the taxpayers were forced to pay for my flying. American private businesses have shown the world why freedom is so wonderful by giving us the greatest wealth in history. Business has done this despite being hamstrung by ridiculous regulations from our “freedom-defending” government. What has the military, through the government, given us? From 1981-2001, there were 42 suicide missions against the U.S. From 9/11 to 2011, there were 1,833, according to The University of Chicago’s Project on Security and Terrorism. Don’t military members die for our freedom? In 2010, there were 462 combat-related deaths. The military had more deaths from suicide than combat in 2010. Were all those deaths “worth it”? I have never felt threatened by an Afghani or Iraqi. 9/11 was run by Saudis that trained in Minnesota. In 2010, 6,210 private sector workers died to improve your freedom, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. More truckers and farmers were killed doing their jobs, than military were killed doing theirs. If you look at deaths per 100,000 workers, military doesn’t even break the top 10. Yet I am always thanked for my military service and told by the media that my corporation is greedy and evil. Next time you feel like thanking someone, don’t thank me. Thank an entrepreneur or private sector employee.

HAL CRANMER To the editor: Lakeville Please don’t call me “America Hater.” It’s tough

Sun Thisweek May 18, 2012

Local YMCA hopes to help needy with green thumb by Jessica Harper Sun Thisweek

As the obesity epidemic continues to swell, local food shelves have taken steps to provide healthier options. Now one Eagan nonprofit is looking to become another resource for a local food shelf to obtain fresh produce. The Eagan YMCA broke ground last week on its first 200-square-foot community garden, which will grow vegetables for the Eagan Resource Center. “This is our way to respond to the community in a larger way,” said Terry Creegan, community garden board leader for the YMCA. Creegan said he expects volunteers will begin planting tomatoes, squash, peppers and rhubarb in June with the assistance of the University of Minnesota Master Gardeners. The nonprofit chose to limit its variety of vegetables the first year due to limited space. “We’ll see how it goes this year and expand it next

Sun Thisweek

The state DFL Constitution Commission denied on May 12 Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire’s challenge of the party’s endorsement of former state legislator Jim Carlson. The decision is a major setback for Maguire, who had launched a high-profile campaign in Senate District 51. “I’m very disappointed,” he said. “It’s a bit dumbfounding to me, faced with the prospects that the votes weren’t counted and that the committee didn’t seem too concerned or interested in taking action.” At the same time, the ruling reaffirmed Carlson’s prospects of challenging Republican Sen. Ted Daley this November.

��

� ��

�� Photo submitted

The Eagan YMCA held a ground breaking May 11 in its 200-square-foot garden, which will produce fresh vegetables for the Eagan Resource Center. year,” Creegan said. While growing food for low-income families, the garden will be used by the YMCA’s child care center to teach children about plant life. “This project fits well with our mission to promote health, social responsibility and educational opportunities,” said Sheri Wallace, community board

chair for the YMCA, “And it’s something that could be copied at other locations.” The Eagan YMCA has already raised $200 to purchase plants, but is still accepting donations for additional plants and to build a fence around the garden to keep wildlife out. An informational session will be held at 10 a.m. May 22 for those interested in

volunteering at the garden. To donate or volunteer, contact Angie Cameron, member service director at the YMCA, at (651) 6834708 or at angie.cameron@ ymcastpaul.org. Jessica Harper is at jessica. harper@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

DFL commission rejects Maguire’s endorsement challenge by Jessica Harper

“We expected it concerns, convenwould be upheld,” tion organizers Carlson said. and party officers “Now I hope Mike discovered a series can get behind me of vote counting so we can unite as errors and failures one party.” to report or count It is rare for a votes cast for Maparty endorsement guire in each of to be contested, the convention’s particularly in this first three ballots. district, said John The offiWells, Senate Dis- Mike Maguire cial count in the trict 51 chair for fourth round of the DFL party. ballots gave Carlson 200 Commission members delegate votes, or 60 perheard several hours of tes- cent of the ballots. Maguire timony from both sides on took 133 delegate votes, or Saturday. 40 percent. Maguire argued the Despite the errors, Carlparty should rescind its en- son still maintained the madorsement of Carlson in jority of votes. light of a recent discovery Jules Goldstein, associthat some delegate votes ate chair of the Minnesota were not counted at Febru- DFL, contended that, in acary’s DFL convention. cordance to party bylaws, Responding to delegate errors must be made inten-

��

tionally for an endorsement to be overturned. Maguire has said that he believes the errors were made inadvertently. After much deliberation, the commission ultimately ruled in favor of the party. A detailed report of the decision was expected to be released by Friday. Maguire has the option to appeal, but has said he won’t make a decision until he reads the commission’s written report. Trying to appeal the decision may be another uphill battle for Maguire, Wells said. “It’s rare for an appeal to happen, and quite rare for one to succeed,” he said. Jessica Harper is at jessica. harper@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

��

May 18, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Local business aims to ‘reset’ lives After experiencing their own loss, duo to help others

year, the business began obtaining clients throughout the Twin Cities. When Peggy Carlson’s One of their first clients, stepfather died in 2009, she Dave Sackrison, turned to was already facing an uphill Reset Design for assistance in battle with the loss of her job. staging his home for sale. But she worked through it all Sackrison, a former coby doing what comes natu- Peggy worker of Carlson’s, looked rally, helping her mother start Carlson to sell his Minnetonka home over. It was this experience that inspired after his wife died, but didn’t know Carlson that year to launch Reset De- where to begin. sign, which focuses on helping people “At the time I had so many things start over after major events such as going on that it was overwhelming,” he said. divorce or a death. “Many people are lost during these The Chanhassen resident said he experiences, and our goal is to give believes Carlson’s staging helped him them direction,” said Carlson who sell quickly in a down market. started the business from her Eagan Once the staging was complete, Sackrison put his home on the marhome. Carlson runs the company with ket in the summer of 2009 and it sold business partner Carolyn White, by the spring of 2010. whom she met while working at a “I’d still be trying to sell my home if it wasn’t for her,” he said. temp job at an insurance agency. Both women are divorced and Reset Design provides each client a free hour-long consultation, which have similar interests. They began helping friends and is typically followed by a shopping family reorganize their space while trip. refocusing their lives. Within its first Carlson and White, a Burnsville by Jessica Harper Sun Thisweek

resident, said they always strive to work within any budget. Carlson, who recently moved to Minneapolis, said the most rewarding aspect of her job is helping people reclaim their lives and feel better about themselves. Though Reset Design’s initial focus was on recent divorcees and widows or widowers, the business has expanded to empty nesters trying to sell their homes and adapt to smaller spaces. Since its inception, the business has relied primarily on word-ofmouth advertising and networking. The recession has remained an obstacle for the design business, which has yet to make a profit. “It’s hard when the discretionary income isn’t there,” White said. Growing into a profitable business is among White and Carlson’s goals in the coming years. Until then, both women work other jobs while running the business. Jessica Harper is at jessica.harper@ ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Education

Eagan robotics team competes at state The Eagan High School FIRST Robotics Team, 2220 Blue Twilight, will be competing in the inaugural Minnesota State Robotics Tournament Saturday, May 19, at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis campus. Team 2220 is one of 24 teams that qualified for the tournament based off their performances in FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) regional com-

petitions in Duluth and Minneapolis earlier this season. Teams will compete in the Rebound Rumble game. Opening ceremonies begin at 8:45 a.m. and preliminary rounds run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The championship rounds begin at 1:30 p.m. and continue into the semi-final rounds starting at 2:30 p.m., followed by the finals. Admission is $5 per adult and $3 per student.

Supplee honored

District 196 adult graduation

Kathryn Supplee of Eagan, a senior at Visitation High School, was an honoree at the 2012 Salute to Youth recognition event hosted by Degree of Honor insurance company. She was sponsored by Catholic United Financial.

Graduation for District 196 Adult Basic Education students will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, at Falcon Ridge Middle School, 12900 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley.

Sun Thisweek May 18, 2012

Photo by Laura Adelmann

Steven Cross went through court security as he arrived at the Dakota County Courthouse for sentencing May 16.

Cross gets probation Lakeville man who abandoned son said he’s remorseful by Aaron M. Vehling and Laura Adelmann Sun Thisweek

It started out as an act of hopelessness: Steven Alexander Cross of Lakeville left his son in July 2011 with neighbors and fled to California on the heels of unemployment and the foreclosure of his house. Cross wrote in a note to the neighbors that his son would be better off with them than with him. Cross’s eventual arrest, extradition and court dates has culminated in a twoyear probation sentence on May 16. He gets credit for his 32 days served in county jail. He also has to pay $2,520 in restitution to the courts for extradition costs, in addition to $415 in court fees. An emotional Cross gave a statement at the sentencing hearing. Through broken speech, he said he has wanted to apologize to his son. He said he wished he could do it all over again. The court read the victim

statement of Cross’s son, who was not present. The boy said that when Cross left, “it felt like my life was over. It was horrible.” Cross was arrested in August 2011, living in his car and working at a sandwich shop along one of northern California’s touristy coastal cities and extradited to Minnesota, charged with child neglect. Cross served jail time and eventually moved in with a neighbor across the street from the house he designed and built during better days, when he was an architect with sole custody of his 11-year-old son. He told Sun Thisweek that he “watched as the house was torn down.” “It was hard to see that,” he said. At the sentencing hearing, the boy also said he wished his dad had not lied to him about his family. Cross got sole custody of his son early in the boy’s life and had at one point told him his mother was dead.

The son has gotten to know his teenaged halfbrother (on his mother’s side) he never knew he had. They have developed a bond, the courts said, and are allowed to see each other. The boy (Cross’s son) is living with his mother after spending months with a great aunt. Cross said the relationship between him and his son’s mother has progressed. He told reporters at a post-sentencing press conference that he wanted to work things out. But most importantly, he wants to see his son again. As part of his sentence, Cross also has to continue regular therapy appointments. “I’ve been saying all I want to do is apologize to my son,” Cross told Sun Thisweek. “It’s been nine months and I’m still not allowed to do that.” Aaron Vehling can be reached at aaron.vehling@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

��

May 18, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Eagan organic farmer shares experiences Atina Diffley to speak about her new book in Apple Valley

by Elizabeth Sias Sun Thisweek

For over 30 years, Atina Diffley and her husband Martin owned and operated Gardens of Eagan, one of the first certified organic produce farms in the Midwest. Now the organic vegetable farmer educates consumers, farmers and policymakers about organic farming through her consulting business, Organic Farming Works. Diffley shares her experiences through her new memoir, “Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works.” Photo submitted The University of MinneAtina and Martin Diffley have operated Gardens of Eagan sota Press author will be in Apple Valley on Saturday, for more than 30 years. May 26, at 4 p.m. at Barnes

& Noble Booksellers to sign and talk about her book. “It’s really about empowerment and relationships and renewability of life itself, of weather, plants, animals and humans,” she said. “It’s about life, about rela-

tionships between animals and plants and people.” Readers experience the loss of the family-run farm; the way the farm is stripped of all life in its development, with trees removed, topsoil shaved off and the land reshaped. In 1991, the Diffleys bought their own land and spent 36 months transforming the land to an organic system. Organic farming is key to our future and is crucial for several reasons, Diffley said. Fertility, pest and disease management are based on working with life forms, rather than bringing in off-farm synthetic input. Without pesticides and herbicides, she added, people need not worry about consuming toxic chemicals. Organic systems use

about a third of the energy as conventional farming. “As we look into the future and start to develop more renewable systems, it’s crucial for long-term sustainability,” she said. Organic farming focuses on soil building and crop covering, Diffley said, explaining that farmers will grow plants other than the cash crop, which creates fertility and protects the soil by bringing in nutrients through growing plants. “Drought proofing of soil is really crucial, and organic farming adds more carbon to the soil,” she said. “Research is showing that organic systems have higher yields in droughts.” Diffley goes on to explain that pesticides work by killing species, which throws nature out of balance. “If you think about what pesticides are, they’re poison to life,” she said. “They really throw an ecosystem into chaos, both through poisoning of different species, but also by killing the species that is the food for another species. It’s a really vicious chain.” Most approved chemicals have not been tested for effects on humans, she added. “That’s the beauty of organic systems; they’re looking at the whole cycle of life,” Diffley said. “We actually want to have some pests in our system, or we don’t have anything for our beneficial species to eat.” For instance, a disease on winter squash called zucchini mosaic is spread by the insects aphids. It’s not the aphids the organic farmer minds — they just need to prevent them from spreading the disease. The solution Diffley found successful was planting wheat around the squash field to clean off the disease from the aphids. “We’re creating ecosystems where we look at the relationship between all different species and look at that chain of life,” she said. “If we poison the lives we’re living with, we’re poisoning ourselves.” As these systems become more the mainstream, organic produce will become more affordable so it’s less of a specialty crop. One of the biggest barriers is that the first three to five years are difficult for farmers as they transform their land. “The farmer no longer has the chemical tools, but they also don’t have the life See Diffley, 9A

Sun Thisweek May 18, 2012

��

Ness - Bodurtha

Thomas Tix

Angela Ness and Dan Bodurtha, of Rosemount, plan to marry. Angela, daughter of Steve and Becky Ness, graduated from Northwestern College in Iowa with an elementary education degree in 2011 and now teaches in District 196. Dan, son of Mark and Julie Bodurtha, will graduate from the University of St. Thomas in May 2012 with a mechanical engineering degree. A July 14, 2012 wedding is planned at Peace Church in Eagan.

Thomas “Tom” P. Tix age 72, of Farmington, passed away peacefully at his home on May 15, 2012 surrounded by his family. Tom served his country in the US Army. He was a plumber for over 50 years and owned and operated Tom Tix Plumbing & Heating for 30+ years. Tom enjoyed being in the outdoors fishing and bird watching. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mattie and Cecelia Tix and brother, Jim Tix. He was a loving and devoted family man to his wife of 50 years, Shirley; children, Michelle Piggott, Mitch Tix and Lisa Berthiaume; grandchildren Seth Piggott, Hunter and Austin Berthiaume; great grandson, Jacob Piggott; siblings, Gene (Phyllis), Matt (Joyce), Ron (Dianne) and Sharon Tix; sister in law, Marlene Tix; also by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Mass of Christian Burial will take place 10 AM Saturday, May 19, 2012 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 22120 Denmark Ave., Farmington with visitation on Friday (5/18) from 3-8 pm at the White Funeral Home, 901 3rd St., Farmington (651-463-7374) also 1 hr prior to Mass at Church. Interment, Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred. On line condolences at: www.whitefuneralhomes.com

Memorial Memorial for Linda Meyer O’Brien Memorial Services for Linda Meyer O'Brien, 51 and daughter Angela J Budreau, 31 of New Prague will be held Saturday, May 26th at 11 AM at Spring Lake Cemetery Prior Lake off County Road 12 and Lime Road. Memorials preferred Wells Fargo Linda M O'Brien and Angela Budreau Donation Trust.

��

Shelley Renee Hawkins Age 49 of Apple Valley passed away on May 11, 2012. Preceded in death by father Clarence. Survived by loving husband Mike, children Ben and Liz, mother Lorraine (Arland) Bebensee, sisters Ann (Danny) Hair and Deb Olson, brother Tim (Linda) Schommer. Also by many loving relatives and friends. Memorial Service 11AM Friday, May 18, 2012 at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN. Gathering of family and friends one hour prior to service at church. In Lieu of flowers. Memorials preferred to Be The Match, CaringBridge or Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. White Funeral Home Apple Valley 952-432-2001 www.whitefuneralhomes.com

��

In Memorandum

Warren Keith Happy 80th Birthday Giles Marian Brown would rather see you at her 80th birthday than her memorial service. Come celebrate with her May 27th, 2-5 at Rosemount United Methodist Church, 14770 Canada Ave. 80 years olds don’t need more stuff, cards fine. Marian graduated from the U of M with a BS in Home Economics, and from Hamline with a MALS. She’s a 50 yr 4-H leader. Active in the UMC local and beyond, local politics, and a member of many history groups. Former DCHS board member. Elected to DCSWCD, DEA committees, Toastmaster, 12 step & similar groups. Retired from U of M and Burnsville Sears.

Guess who turns 85 on May 25th? Maxine Rutten Happy Birthday Grandma!

You are the best! Love, Brett, Mike, Sean, Brooke, Andy, Dylan, Riley, Devin, Camellia, Anton and Ashton.

Diffley, from 8A system yet, and that takes time to build, so the transition period is really difficult,” Diffley said. In “Turn Here Sweet Corn,” the story comes to life through its characters and their struggles. In 2006, Diffley gained local attention when she successfully fought Koch Industries, preventing them from putting a crude oil line through her Dakota County farm property and proving in court that organic farms deserve legal protection. More than 4,500 letters of support poured in during the legal battle. Today, new policies exist for placing

Age 61, passed away on November 16, 2011. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ardell and Jerene Giles and brothers Gary, Larry and Ron. Warren is survived by his daughters, Mindi, Angie, and Charissa; grandchildren Nicolai, Maren, and Leo; sisters Cheryl and Kathy and many nieces, nephew, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. A memorial service will be held on June 2, 2012 at 12:30pm, with lunch to follow, at 27640 Galaxie Ave, Farmington, MN

May recalls sad memories of a loved one laid to rest, and those who think of you today are those who loved you best. The moment that you died, our hearts split in two...the one side filled with memories, the other died with you. We often lay awake at night, when the world is fast asleep...and take a walk down memory lane with tears upon our cheeks. Remembering you is easy, we do it every day. It’s the heartache of losing you that never goes away. Your smile is gone forever, and your hand we cannot touch... we have so many memories - we loved you oh so much. We hold you tightly within our hearts, and there you will remain. Life goes on without you, but it will never be the same.

Josh Keeler 3-17-1987 to 5-21-2007 Forever in our hearts Forever in our memories

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 selfaddressed, stamped envelope is provided.

pipelines through organic farms. Readers face their own belief in stereotypes, such as one Diffley herself grew up with that farmers are not intelligent. “I really work on bringing the reader into the story emotionally so they feel the characters and take them through all the experiences we went through,” she said. Diffley also hopes the story will be a source of strength for women, as a main theme from a female farmer’s perspective is power and respect for women. “Writing was so healing,” she said. “It allowed me to look at many painful or wonderful experiences

I had and see how clearly I came through them and am so strong from them. Bad things happen, but I came through just fine, so it’s about resiliency.” Diffley said she hopes the book will help educate readers about organic farming, bringing it into their consciousness by starting a conversation around land use. “Through my experiences I really understood, on a really deep level, how profoundly dependent all life is on nature,” Diffley said. “We take it for granted because we don’t see it in our everyday lives, and here we were seeing it directly head-on.” For more information, visit www.atinadiffley.com.

10A

May 18, 2012 Sun Thisweek

��

District 194 School Board Proceedings

PUBLIC NOTICE

This is a summary of the Independent School District No.194 Regular School Board Meeting on Tues, April 24, 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 7:03 p.m. followed by pledge of allegiance. All board members and administrators were present except Director Skelly and Director of Business Services Klett. Consent agenda items approved: minutes of the meetings on April 10, 17 & 18; employment recommendations, leave requests and resignations; resolution proposing to place teachers on unrequested leave of absence; resolution relating to the termination and non-renewal of probationary teacher; payment of bills and claims subject to annual audit; wire transfers and investments as presented; donations; and fieldtrips. Reports presented: First reading 2012-13 management policies; CLEC update; iLearn update; key work of school boards. Recommended actions approved: Resolution awarding the sale of $7,720,000 general obligation alternative facilities bonds, series 2012B; resolution awarding the sale of $11.415 million general obligation school building refunding bonds, series 2012C; recycling program grant. Adjournment at 8:58 p.m. 3006746 5/18/12

Notice of Public Sale: SS MNRI, LLC doing business as Simply Self Storage intends to enforce its lien on certain personal property belonging to the following, at the facility. The sale will take place (unless otherwise withdrawn) on Wednesday June 6, 2012 on or after 9:30am at the Simply Self Storage location at 4025 Old Sibley Memorial Highway, Eagan, MN 55122 Phone 651-894-5550. This public sale will result in the goods being sold to the highest bidder. Certain terms and conditions apply. J. Ato #179 Furniture, Rugs, Luggage P. Pitchford #188-189 Weight Equipment, Sofa, Leather Jacket M. Robinson #521 Gas Grill, Television, Furniture D. Bruce #422B Chairs, Bookshelf, Luggage D. Cooper #451 Desk, Chairs, Exercise Equipment A. Davis-Mbakwe #530D Microwave, Luggage, Household Items D. McGovern #607 Chairs, Television, Luggage R. Harney #613 Tools, Tool Box, Folding Chairs B. Braun #614 Furniture, Card Table, China Cabinet N. Anderson #929 Bicycle, Sports Equipment, Childrens Toys 29928136 5/18-5/25/12

�� PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC HEARING A Public Hearing will be held on May 29, 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 Burnsville Surgical Properties LLC, for a Planned Unit Development Amendment for a 27,000 square foot expansion to the existing surgery center located at 1000 140th Street. 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 3014710 5/18-5/25/12

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC HEARING A Public Hearing will be held on May 29, 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 Menard Inc. for a Planned Unit Development Amendment for outdoor display and storage and exterior remodel of the existing building located at 3100 Highway 13. 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 3014719 5/18-5/25/12

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC HEARING A Public Hearing will be held on May 29, 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 JPT Industries Inc., for a Planned Unit Development Amendment to allow exterior changes to the existing building located at 14141 Aldrich Avenue. 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 3014696 5/18-5/25/12

��

Today’s The Day

Stop Smoking

��

Sun Thisweek May 18, 2012

Seniors Burnsville The Burnsville Senior Center has planned the following activities: • Monday, May 21: Sunrise Stretch, 8:30 a.m.; Advisory Council, 9:30 a.m.; CT – Don’t Be Caught Without, 10 a.m.; Stroke Support, 10:30 a.m.; Pinochle, 12:45 p.m.; Enhance Fitness. • Tuesday, May 22: Quilters, 9:30 a.m.; Cedar Lanes

Bowling, 9:30 a.m.; Scrabble, 10:30 a.m.; Duplicate Bridge, 12:30 p.m.; Line Dance Beginners, 1 p.m.; Troubadours, 1 p.m. • Wednesday, May 23: Sunrise Stretch, 8:30 a.m.; Woodcarvers, 9 a.m.; Day Old Bread, 10:30 a.m.; Defensive Driving Refresher, noon; City Limits Bowling, 12:45 p.m.; 500 and Bridge, 12:45 p.m.; Enhance Fitness; Line Dance Intermediates, 1 p.m.

• Thursday, May 24: Blood Pressure, 10:15 a.m.; Fun & Friendship (program, entertainment, lunch, cards, bingo), 11 a.m.; Wood Carving, 7 p.m. • Friday, May 25: Sunrise Stretch, 8:30 a.m.; Painting, 9 a.m.; Hand & Foot, 12:15 p.m.; Apple Valley Bowl Bowling, 12:45 p.m.; 55plus Singles Social, 5 p.m.; Enhance Fitness. Call (952) 707-4120 for more information.

��

11A

12A

May 18, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Dolphin program’s days are numbered at Minnesota Zoo Allie and Semo will be saying goodbye to the Minnesota Zoo. The zoo’s two Atlantic bottlenose dolphins will be moved to other facilities later this year, as the zoo announced Monday it will be ending its dolphin program. The announcement came after the zoo received $4 million through the state Legislature’s bonding bill, and zoo officials say the money will help repair saltwater damage to the 15-year-old Discovery Bay, the tanks where the dolphins are housed. Though the zoo had planned all along to permanently move Semo and Allie to other accredited facilities – Semo, 46 years old and the oldest male dolphin in human care, is to be retired from the public, and 24-year-old Allie is set to join another social group – officials had originally intended to bring in a new pod of dolphins to Discovery Bay. However, the cost and

File photo

Allie (above) and Semo, the Minnesota Zoo’s two Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, will be permanently relocated to other facilities later this year when the zoo begins repairs on the saltwater-damaged Discovery Bay. availability of dolphins make acquiring a new pod not an option, zoo director Lee Ehmke stated in a Tuesday Star Tribune report. Officials are now examining options for Discovery Bay in lieu of dolphins, which have been part of the zoo since 1978. “As part of the master planning process, we are working to determine what

other aquatic animals and environmental education activities might be featured in Discovery Bay when the pool repairs are completed,” the zoo stated in a Monday news release. The zoo plans on announcing when the dolphins are scheduled to move so that guests can come to say goodbye before they leave. —Andrew Miller

Kline visits job fair

Photo by Rick Orndorf

U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Lakeville, speaks with Tammy Jackson, Eagan campus director, and Scott House, professional education manager, at Rassussen College, during a job fair May 14 at the Eagan Community Center.

Sun Thisweek May 18, 2012

Indictment, from 1A Thomas “Ted” Goodwin, former president of Final Exit Network; Roberta Massey, a Final Exit “case coordinator;” Jerry Dincin, then-Final Exit Network president; and the organization’s medical director Dr. Lawrence Egbert. Backstrom alleges Dunn committed suicide using a hood and inhaling helium gas after consulting with members of Final Exit Network without her family’s knowledge, and that Dincin and Egbert were present in Dunn’s residence when she took her life. Backstrom said materials allegedly used by Dunn and items referencing Final Exit Network were removed from the scene, as outlined in the organization’s training manuals. Robert Rivas, attorney for Final Exit Network, has argued volunteers do not physically assist a person committing suicide, but provide information that is constitutionally protected free speech. He told Sun Thisweek he intends to file to have the case dismissed.

Good neighbor

Tussing and Dunn were never close friends but raised their families in the same neighborhood for over 20 years. Knowing Dunn was in chronic pain following surgeries, Tussing one day brought Dunn a flower and a card. “It said ‘Thinking of you,’ ” Tussing said. “She just grabbed on to that, because she knew somebody cared.” The years of chronic pain had taken a toll on some relationships, including Dunn’s marriage, Tussing said, and family members appeared unsure of what to do to for her. For the last few years of Dunn’s life, Tussing would give her rides to appointments, shop for her groceries and help with her care. According to Tussing,

Dunn suffered from insomnia, frequently took headache medicine and was depressed. She said the former musician who spoke with pride about her children grew to complain more frequently as she suffered constant “excruciating pain” set off by even the slightest touch. “She just became unbearable at times. … She was always appropriate with me, but you could tell she was under a lot of stress,” Tussing said. After Dunn’s body was discovered, and the coroner ruled she died of natural causes, Tussing said she felt “sort of relieved” for Dunn because she was no longer suffering. When Tussing learned evidence uncovered in a Georgia investigation indicated Dunn had contacted Final Exit Network apparently seeking to end her life, Tussing said she was not surprised, considering all she knew about Dunn’s situation. She said Dunn had spoken to her about her suffering. “She let me know she just couldn’t take it anymore,” Tussing said. Having witnessed

In Brief To read a story about the Monday announcement of the Dakota County Grand Jury’s indictment, go online to www.SunThisweek.com. Dunn’s situation and knowing others who struggle with depression and pain, Tussing said she believes people should be legally allowed to end their suffering. “I agree with the rightto-die,” Tussing said. “It’s unfortunate that in Minnesota, we don’t have that option.” In an interview, Backstrom said he has “great compassion” for those suffering from serious pain, illness or disease, but noted Minnesota law does not allow for assisted suicide. “Until such time as the Minnesota Legislature chooses to enact legislation allowing assisted suicides in cases of terminal illness or irreversible medical conditions that adversely impact a person to the extent that their quality of life is unacceptable to them, aiding, encouraging or assisting someone suf-

Golf Guide

fering from any condition to kill themselves is against the law in Minnesota.” Oregon is the only state with laws that allow physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients under the 1998 “Death with Dignity Act.” Gordie Haug, a representative for ADAPT Minnesota, a disability-rights organization, told Sun Thisweek he has concerns about a society that condones suicide. He said when discussions were occurring about legalizing assisted suicide of the terminally ill, it was proclaimed a slippery slope that would lead to ending the lives of those

who are not terminal, as in Dunn’s case. “I oppose any policies and practices that threaten the lives of persons with disabilities,” Haug said, adding that he works with many disabled people suffering from depression. Haug said there are treatments and options to ease pain and effectively treat depression, but with Medicaid cuts and tight budgets, Haug worried people may decide it is cheaper to take a life than to preserve one. “I don’t think it’s anyone’s right to take their life,” he said. The Final Exit Network volunteers will have

13A

to travel to Minnesota for trial, as they have in other states where prosecutions have occurred. Last year in Arizona, a jury found Final Exit Network’s medical director not guilty of conspiring to assist in a suicide. The jury was deadlocked in the case of an exit guide accused of assisting and conspiring to assist in the same suicide. Two other volunteers pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges. Laura Adelmann is at laura. adelmann@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

14A

May 18, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Thisweekend The Pines bring indie folk blend to the zoo Minneapolis-based band headlining June 23

by Andy Rogers Sun Thisweek

The Pines have performed at venues ranging from bars on Minneapolis’s West Bank to churches, theaters, and concert halls across the country. It has led to an eclectic audience that includes young and old from the city to the country. On June 23, the Pines will add trumpeter swans, Amur tigers and caribou to the growing list of listeners when they play at the Minnesota Zoo. The Pines have opened for a few artists in the Minnesota Zoo Concert Series in recent years such as Solid Gold and Mary Chapin Carpenter, but this is the first time the band has headlined a show. “When the sun goes down, with the pond there and the birds there, it’s like no other venue,” Pines guitarist and singer Benson Ramsey said. “It’s in the city but it’s in its own environment out there. It’s a good place to get away for a show. “It’s a cool thing for us to come to the Cities where we started The Pines years ago and to get to play out there. It’s a big deal for us.” The Pines will arrive at the Minnesota Zoo for the last leg of the first tour in support of their recent album “Dark So Cold” with the full band, while playing a full catalog of songs from the albums “Sparrows in the Bell” and “Tremolo.” They started as an acous-

tic duo with David Huckfelt and Benson Ramsey playing in coffee shops and evolved into a full band playing at the Basilica Block Party and selling out the Cedar Cultural Center. They’ve shared the stage with artists such as Bon Iver, Loudon Wainwright III, Arcade Fire and Iris Dement. Last fall and winter, the Pines were on the road in support of Mason Jennings. The music has been described as Americana with a blend of gothic folk, but Ramsey gets a bit more specific, labeling it “Midwestern Americana,” linking the progression to the Mississippi River matching the landscape of farmland, forests and streams. “It was just a little trickle at first,” Ramsey said. “We started out learning folk and blues songs. Music from around the world filters through the Midwest and we just remain open to it – let it creep into our writing.” Songs such as “Cry, Cry, Crow,” “All the While,” “Prey Tell,” “Heart and Bones,” and “Don’t Let Me Go” have seen frequent airplay on radio station 89.3 The Current over the years. “They’re not sad songs. They’re not happy songs,” Ramsey said. “They live in between light and dark. You can’t have one without the other. If you’re happy, it’s because you were probably sad at some point. In between there’s all kinds of strings connecting them and we get tangled in the

Photo courtesy of Red House Records/Cameron Wittig

The Pines are scheduled to play at the Minnesota Zoo on June 23 with Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapels. wires. “It gets complicated when you start getting in there. It’s those open-ended spaces that keeps a song interesting.” Ramsey and Huckfelt share leadership duties as the singers and songwriters. “You don’t get stuck on your own ego and lost in your own head,” Ramsey said of working with Huckfelt. “It helps you see the music objectively and stay on point. You have that

‘Signs of Love’ in Lakeville “Signs of Love” is a play with plenty of starring roles but no speaking parts. The original musical that highlights the talents of local deaf children – mostly drawn from Gideon Pond Elementary in Burnsville – will be performed entirely in American Sign Language. The play runs this week-

end at the Lakeville Area Arts Center. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday, May 18, and 1 p.m. Saturday, May 19. Producers of the play – from the Burnsville-based nonprofit that’s also called Signs of Love – say it highlights “everyday heroes found in our community and their transforming ef-

��

fect on one lonely boy’s heart.” Earlier this year the show’s young deaf actors worked with Lakeville emergency personnel – police, firefighters and medical responders – to create a film that will be shown during the play. With deaf performers joined by voice interpreters, “Signs of Love” is intended for both hearing and deaf audience members. For more information about “Signs of Love,” or to purchase tickets, visit www.signsofloveplay.org. Tickets are $12; included with each ticket is a bag of items that audience members will use during interactive portions of the play. —Andrew Miller

reference point to check on the song and see how they translate to the both of us.” Along the way Ramsey’s brother Alex Ramsey (keyboards), Michael Rossetto (banjo), J.T. Bates (drums) and James Buckley (bass) joined the party. “It’s been a natural progression really,” Ramsey said. “We’ve always kept it interesting to us. Whether it’s stripped down or the whole group of people, it’s really a malleable and

organic entity. When you break it down it comes from an acoustic guitar. Then you decorate it in all these different ways.” Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelle, a six-piece acoustic group highlighted by the distinctive voice of Michelle, is scheduled to open for the Pines in support of their new album “Heat.” Tickets are on sale at www.mnzoo.com/musicinthezoo for the Pines and

other artists featured at the Minnesota Zoo Concert Series, which begins June 2 with Feist. To watch a music video for the song “Cry, Cry, Crow” and listen to samples from “Dark So Cold,” visit www.thepinesmusic. com. Andy Rogers can be reached at andy.rogers@ecm-inc. com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

family calendar To submit items for the Family Calendar, email: darcy. odden@ecm-inc.com. Friday, May 18 Community Wide Garage Sales in Burnsville. More than 75 garage sales. Map: www. burnsville.org/garagesale. Saturday, May 19 Community Wide Garage Sales in Burnsville. More than 75 garage sales. Map: www. burnsville.org/garagesale. Dakota Gardeners perennial sale from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Community of Christ Church, 5990 134th St. Court, Apple Valley. Eagan 5K Your Way Activity Festival, 8:30 a.m. at Central Park, 1501 Central Parkway, Eagan. Features a 3.1-mile course participants can bike, inline skate, walk or run, kids bike rodeo, family lawn games, minihealth fair, free fitness trying stations and free healthy snacks. Information: (651) 675-5500. Plant sale by the Apple Valley Garden Club from 9 a.m. to 1

p.m. at Redwood Park Pavilion, County Road 42 and Redwood Drive, Apple Valley. Perennials and annuals for sale. Information: Chris at (612) 709-7137. Sunday, May 20 Bird banding from 9 a.m. to noon at Ritter Farm Park, 19300 Ritter Trail, Lakeville. Cost: $2 per person for ages 10 and above, free for children under 10. Ride for the Greenways community bike ride from noon to 4 p.m. starting at the Minnesota Zoo’s east parking lot, Apple Valley. Choose from 10-mile or 30-mile route. Helmets required. Cost: $12 individual, $20 family. Register at http://valleybikeandski.com. Get well party and benefit for the John Schoeben family from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Embassy Suites Hotel, 7901 34th Ave., Bloomington, (952) 8541000. Admission: $20, children free. Event includes silent auction and wine toss. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo location to “John Schoeben Family Fund.” Information: Frank Schoeben, (612) 3537789. Tuesday, May 22 Free information session on unmarried parents’ rights from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday,

�

May 22, at the Galaxie Library, 14955 Galaxie Ave., Apple Valley. Presented by the Dakota County Law Library. Friday, May 25 Surprise benefit for Sarah (Krause) Walsh from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 15400 Buck Hill Road, Burnsville. Dinner served from 6 to 8 p.m. Silent auction closes at 8 p.m. Cost: $15/adult, $10/child, $40/family, children 3 and younger are free. Dress is casual, but wear some pink. All proceeds will go to the Sarah Walsh family and will help jumpstart Sarah’s nonprofit organization to support other moms with breast cancer. Saturday, May 26 Bike sale fundraiser for Kids ’n Kinship from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 12738 Ethelton Way, Apple Valley. Information: Rick Anderson at (952) 322-4729 or Ricka@pcgagencies.com. 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 29, noon to 5 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church, 1930 Diffley Road, Eagan.

�

��

�

��

Sun Thisweek May 18, 2012

Eagan teen tops theater and arts calendar in poetry slam To submit items for the Arts Calendar, email: darcy. odden@ecm-inc.com.

Auditions The Chameleon Theatre Circle will hold auditions for “Speed-the-Plow” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at 430 Gateway Blvd., Burnsville. Auditions are by appointment only. To register, go to http://chameleontheatre.org/auditions. Performances will be Oct. 12-21 at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center. 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 Leo Flowers with special guest Michael Callaghan at 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 18, and Saturday, May 19, at MinneHAHA Comedy Club, 1583 E. First Ave., Shakopee (lower level of Dangerfield’s), (612) 860-9388, www.minnehahacomedyclub. com. Tickets: $13.

��

Photo submitted

Cody Abel (above) of Eagan took top honors in the ninth annual Poets in the Park teen poetry slam on May 13 at Caponi Art Park in Eagan. Farmington teens Emily Miller placed second and Nikii Post placed third.

��

Concerts Eagan Women of Note will present “Songs For Her Beloved,” at 7:30 p.m. on May 19 at Eagan High School. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for seniors and children under 12. Strings program concert by students from Harriet Bishop Elementary and Eagle Ridge Junior High schools at 7 p.m. Mon-

day, May 21, at Burnsville High School Mraz Center. VocalEssence will present its ¡Cantaré! Concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center. 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.

Dance 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) 8954685. Festivals Minnesota Scottish Fair & Highland Games will be Saturday, May 19, at the Dakota County Fairgrounds, 4008 220th St. W., Farmington. General admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors age 65 and older, $5 for children ages 6 to 15, and free for children 5 and younger. For more information, visit www.mnscottishfair.org. World War II re-enactment May 19-20 at Dakota City Heritage Village, 4008 220th St. W., on the fairgrounds in Farmington. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $7, or $5 with a

non-perishable food donation. Free for children under 5. Information: www.dakotacity.org. Rhythm & Words Family Music and Book Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 9, at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave. Free. Information: www.dakotacounty.us/ library. The International Festival of Burnsville will take place from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 16, in Nicollet Commons Park, Burnsville. The free festival will feature a variety of cultural dance and musical performances, ethnic food, cultural exhibits, and children’s activities. Information: www.intlfestburnsville. org.

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) 2144732. Drama/theater classes for ages 4 and up at River Ridge

15A

Arts Building, Burnsville, (952) 736-3644. Special needs theater program (autism-DCD), ages 5 and older, Burnsville, (952) 7363644. 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) 675-5500. 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) 463-7833. The Lakeville Area Arts Center offers arts classes for all ages, www.lakevillemn.gov, (952) 985-4640.

��

� ��

��

�

��

16A

Sports

May 18, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Vollum taking over Eagan boys basketball

Blaze advance to state semifinal

New coach led Kennedy to 2008 state tourney by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

Eagan High School had not had a permanent boys basketball head coach from November 2011 until this week, when Matt Vollum was hired to lead the Wildcats. Vollum was head boys basketball coach at Bloomington Kennedy High School from 2002 to 2009 and coached the Eagles to the 2008 state Class 4A tournament, where they lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Minnetonka. He had stepped away from coaching for three years to pursue graduate studies and settle into a new job. Vollum said Tuesday he is anxious to return to basketball. “The Eagan job is one of the best in the state,” he said. “I’m very happy to be here. “I was ready to coach and had time for it again. Had I not gotten the Eagan job, I probably would have found an assistant’s job somewhere.” He taught physical education in Bloomington Public Schools from 1997

to 2009 and was Kennedy High School’s boys athletic coordinator for six years. He also was an assistant football coach at Kennedy and an assistant in basketball, golf and football at Bloomington Jefferson. In 2010, he joined the University of Minnesota’s kinesiology department as coordinator of its teacher licensure program. He is working toward a doctorate in sport sociology at Minnesota. Vollum will continue to work at the university, in part because School District 196 is unlikely to have a teaching opening for him in 2012-13. If one becomes available in the future, Vollum said he would consider it. The participation numbers in Eagan youth basketball helped convince Vollum to pursue the job. “When I looked at the numbers, Eagan had three fourth-grade teams, four fifth-grade teams and five at every other level,” he said. “There’s a ton of kids playing basketball in Eagan. “When I took the Kennedy job, there was no

fourth-grade team and one at every other level. I partnered up with some great people and by the time I left, we had a fourth-grade team and two teams at each of the other levels.” The depth in Eagan’s program might make it easier for Vollum to use the style he said he prefers, which is full-court on offense and defense. Vollum is scheduled to meet with Eagan players May 24 and then determine what kind of summer program he can run for them during the Minnesota State High School League’s summer waiver period in June and July. He replaces Mike Sullivan, who led Eagan to a 15-13 record in one season as interim head coach. Sullivan became head coach in November 2011 when Kurt Virgin was placed on paid administrative leave while School District 196 reviewed the finances of sports camps and fundraisers that he ran. The district accepted Virgin’s retirement from his coaching and teaching positions Jan. 9; the next day, Eagan police announced that the

department would investigate Virgin’s handling of the camp and fundraiser finances. Last week the Dakota County Attorney’s Office charged Virgin with six counts of theft by swindle, accusing him of stealing more than $29,000 from the accounts of several sports camps and teams. Virgin had been Eagan High School’s boys basketball and boys soccer coach since 1990, when the school started sponsoring varsity sports. His basketball teams reached the state tournament in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2005. Eagan finished second in the 1998 state Class 4A tournament. Virgin is the only high school coach in Minnesota with more than 400 career victories in both basketball and soccer. Last month, Eagan High named former professional player and longtime local youth coach Alan Merrick its varsity boys soccer coach. Mike Shaughnessy is at mike.shaughnessy@ecm-inc. com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Burnsville’s Rachel Raden plays in the badminton state tournament on Tuesday. As the No. 3 seed, the Blaze advanced to the semifinals with a 7-0 win over Minneapolis Southwest in the Sweet 16, and Edina 5-2 in the quarterfinals. Raden, Camille Benson, Raven Klein and Ali Butler won in singles aganist Southwest. Britta Rigg and Katherine Connelly; Sarah Codner and Samantha McGuire; and Samantha Bramely and Kelsey Olson won doubles. Against Edina, Raden, Benson and Klein won singles. Riggs and Connelly, and Bramely and Olson got the points in doubles. The semifinals were Wednesday and finals on Thursday. Visit www.SunThisweek.com for results.

Eastview lacrosse seniors know their time is short With playoffs approaching, No. 2-ranked Lightning doesn’t want to slip up

by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

High school athletes know the drill on Senior Night. The parents come on the field with them and have their pictures taken. Maybe the mothers get flowers. Then the coach takes a moment to talk about what the seniors meant to the team. For Eastview’s boys lacrosse team, Senior Night means all that and something else – that the end of the season is fast approaching and it’s no time to let up. “It really makes you want to make sure these last few games count,” said senior attackman Jake Heppner after Eastview routed Burnsville 16-5 on Tuesday night. The Lightning, 10-1 and ranked second in the state, missed the state tournament the last two years after placing second in 2009. The team is aiming not just to get back to the tourney, but to win it. It’s easy for seniors to be distracted during their final few weeks of high school, but Eastview head coach Tim Roche has marveled at his team’s focus. “It’s the best senior group I’ve ever had,” Roche said. “They’ve just done a phenomenal job. “Our first week of practice was spring break. Not

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Eastview’s Ryan McNamara (left) tries to maneuver around Burnsville’s Michael Callahan in the second quarter of the Lightning’s 16-5 South Suburban Conference boys lacrosse victory Tuesday. Photo by Rick Orndorf

Eastview’s Bradley Hogan and Burnsville’s Dyllon Dunsworth pursue the ball after taking a faceoff in Tuesday’s South Suburban Conference boys lacrosse game. Eastview won 16-5 to remain tied for first place in the league. one senior went on spring break. That told me a lot about these guys – that, and our East Coast trip (last summer). It’s an amazing group.” With the help of the dozen seniors on the roster, the Lightning rebounded from its only loss of the season – 9-8 to Lakeville North on May 8 – by outscoring its next two opponents 31-8. Eastview went

into its final regular-season game at Apple Valley on Thursday needing a victory to clinch at least a share of the South Suburban Conference championship. Asked if the loss to Lakeville North could benefit Eastview later in the season, Roche said, “We hope so. Lakeville North is a team we could see in the section playoffs. I think losing to them shocked our

guys. They’ve seen what can happen if they’re not playing their best.” While most high school lacrosse observers know about the firepower supplied by Eastview attackmen such as Heppner and junior Ryan McNamara, the Lightning’s defense sometimes is overlooked. Eastview allowed 15 goals in its season opener against Minnetonka – a 16-15

Lightning overtime victory – but has not given up more than nine in any of the 10 games since. Eastview has held six conference opponents to five goals or fewer. “Those guys go unnoticed,” Roche said. “From (Andrew) Koenen in the net to Luke Frederickson to our D-poles to our longstick middies, we’re deep. We were putting some new guys out there who had to play Minnetonka in their first game, but we knew our defense would be good.” Against Burnsville, “We didn’t let up,” Heppner said. “I don’t think we gave up a goal in the second half. I think we’ve shown we’re a balanced team.” Junior attackman Tanner Hamill had four goals against Burnsville, while

Heppner and McNamara scored three each. McNamara also had three assists and led his team in groundball recoveries with five. A victory over Apple Valley likely would assure Eastview of the No. 1 seed in the Section 3 playoffs. First-round games are May 23 (the top seed will receive a bye) with the quarterfinal round scheduled May 25. “Eagan and Rosemount, if we faced them, would be tough games” in the section tournament, Heppner said. Of course, there’s also the possibility of a rematch with Lakeville North. Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Blaze track running, jumping, throwing with the best Several improved marks for the girls track team by Andy Rogers Sun Thisweek

Every coach’s goal is to see improvement throughout the season. With track, that’s easy to measure. For the girls track and field team at Burnsville, coach Jennifer Fettig measured all kinds of improvement in 2012. The girls won their own invitational on May 12 and improved in their team standing every

meet from last year. Up next is the South Suburban Conference meet on Tuesday and Wednesday where the Blaze hope to move up from eighth place last season. Vivian Hett, one of the top runners in the state, broke the 11-minute mark in the 3200-meter run at the Hamline Elite Meet. She’s set school records in the mile and two mile, and is approaching the record in the 800. “Vivian Hett is inspiring,” Fettig said. “Her foot speed and kick are much

better this year and she trusts herself in the middle of the race. I believe she will compete with the best at the end of the season.” The South Suburban Conference is stacked with some of the best distance runners in the state. She’ll be racing against Eagan’s Danielle Anderson, Lakeville North’s Taylor Perkins, Prior Lake’s Taylor Scholl and Bloomington Kennedy’s Sara Conlon. The competition only pushes her to go faster. “Ultimately, Vivian is a motivated athlete that loves

winning,” Fettig said. “Put her in a position to catch somebody, and the race is over.” Lateeka Thompson is another Burnsville athlete mixing it up with the best in the state in the throwing events. She’s had some of the best shot put distances, breaking the 40-foot barrier early on in the season and 130 feet in the discus throw. She set a new school record in the discus at the Joe Lane Invitational at Minntonka, which also tied a 20-yearold meet record. It was an improvement

of 10 feet more than her best from 2011. “Teeka is a competitor,” Fettig said. “If given the last throw, she will put a mark out there to win. That’s just who she is.” She, too, has some fierce competition for a conference title with Lakeville North’s Emma Erickson, Prior Lake’s Kasie Vollmer and Lakeville South’s Jordyn Thornton and Monica Turner. Jeannie Taylor has made the most of her senior year as a consistent victor in the 300 hurdles and breaking

the 16-foot mark in the long jump. She leads a lead a talented group of young jumpers with Alyssa Meilahn who’s already fourth on Burnsville’s all-time list in the triple jump as a ninth-grader. “It’s not all that common for a ninth grader to catch onto an event as technical as the triple jump as fast as Alyssa has, and that is very promising for her success in the event,” Fettig said. Fellow ninth-grader Megan Engle is following in See Track, 17A

Sun Thisweek May 18, 2012

17A

Lightning can strike anytime Notebook: Rosemount DeCovich is on the field hockey coach’s son Eastview senior has .510 batting average, 1.50 ERA

by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

Nobody can do it all, but Evan DeCovich has done a lot for Eastview’s baseball team. He gives the Lightning the feeling that good things will happen whenever he steps in the batter’s box or on the mound. Monday afternoon’s South Suburban Conference game against Burnsville was an example. DeCovich pitched a two-hit shutout against the defending state Class 3A champions and added a single in the Lightning’s 2-0 victory. Eastview’s victory prevented Burnsville from clinching the conference championship. The Blaze, 13-2 in SSC games, held a one-game lead over Eastview (12-3) and a twogame lead over Lakeville North (11-4) with two league games remaining. As well as DeCovich has pitched (4-2, 1.50 ERA), he has been even better at the plate. Through Monday’s game, he’s hitting .510 with four homers and 26 RBI. Assistant coach Mark Groebner drew some laughs from fans near the Eastview dugout when he said, “It kind of sucks for Evan to be 1-for-2 and have his average go down.” Is DeCovich the best player in the South Suburban Conference? “That’s hard to say because there are so many good players,” Eastview head coach Tom Strey said. “Burnsville has three or four outstanding players. But I think Evan has had as good a season as anybody, and I don’t know if anybody is more valuable to his team. He’s our best hitter and best pitcher.” DeCovich came into the season as one of the Lightning’s core players, but predicting this kind of success might have been a stretch. He batted .300 as a junior but was not used much on the mound, pitching only 9 2/3 innings. He became not only a feared power hitter (half of his 26 hits this season have been for extra bases) but the ace of a pitching staff that lost its projected No. 1 starter, Adam Moorse, to an elbow injury.

Track, from 16A Taylor’s shoes making the honor roll in both the long jump and 300 hurdles. “If we don’t see a state birth from these two freshmen this year, it’s definitely promising for the next year,” Fettig said. The sprints and relays have been given a boost by young runners Selvi Bunce, Tania Burciaga, Monica Burt and Erica Kesseh along with junior Maddie Kuplic. High jumpers Kate Griffin and Annie Oberg have cleared 5 feet. Griffin set a school record two years

making a run at the Cup Brad Stepan watching the Rangers closely by Mike Shaughnessy Sun Thisweek

Photo by Mike Shaughnessy

Eastview senior Evan DeCovich pitched a two-hit shutout in the Lightning’s 2-0 victory over defending state Class 3A baseball champion Burnsville on Monday afternoon. “I didn’t pitch much at all for the high school team last year, but I did pitch a lot in the summer and put in a lot of work in the fall and winter,” DeCovich said. “I probably gained three or four miles per hour on my fastball.” DeCovich said a Grand View University coach timed his fastball at 88 mph during a game against Burnsville in April that the Lightning lost 5-3. He has signed with Grand View, an NAIA baseball power in Des Moines, Iowa. “They said they would probably use me at first base to start,” he said. “For pitching, I would probably be a reliever for the first part (of his college career) and maybe a starter later. “They recruited me and one of the Burnsville kids, Dillon Bloomquist. I’m looking forward to being his teammate.” While some players have had difficulty adjusting to new metal bats designed to reduce the speed of the ball coming off the barrel, it doesn’t appear to have bothered DeCovich. “With my winter team (a youth all-star team called the St. Paul Saints), we used

wood bats,” he said, “and I know these new bats are better than wood.” Cameron Hall had two hits and scored both runs in Monday’s game against Burnsville. The Lightning had a chance to break open the game in the fourth inning but had two runners thrown out on the bases. That didn’t matter to DeCovich, who struck out eight Burnsville hitters. “He’s such a competitive kid,” Strey said. “In an important game like this one, he’s a guy you want out there.” And DeCovich was the guy who wanted to be out there. “Oh, I love to pitch in games like this,” he said. “I don’t know why, but I think I can keep the pressure from getting to me. “This was a big game because we’ve always had a rivalry with Burnsville. We know they’re No. 1 in the state and No. 1 in our conference, but we’ve always battled with them and we know we can compete with them.”

ago, but suffered a knee injury last season. Surprises for Fettig came in from eighth grade where mid distance runner Johanna Weber and pole vaulter Katie Shealy have added another element to Burnsville’s success along with vaulter Aneesa Ally, thrower Kelly Below, shot putter Rebekka Schrank and jumper Katie Shealy, The Blaze have one surefire advantage during the South Suburban Conference meet beginning Tuesday. The other 10 conference teams will come to Burnsville for the meet.

Boys

Mike Shaughnessy is at mike. shaughnessy@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

The Blaze also won their own six-team Burnsville Invitational last weekend thanks to wins from Andrew Herkenhoff in the 110 hurdles, Cole O’Brien in the 3200, 4x400 relay and Jordan Huus in the 300. A few second-place winners included Ben Gillies (100 dash), Zack Jones (400 and triple jump), 4x200, Sean Wong (1600). Herkenhoff (300 hurdles) and Abdul Salan (3200). Andy Rogers can be reached at andy.rogers@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

If the New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup – and the team has to win two more series to take the trophy – Rosemount will have a connection to it. Brad Stepan, hired last month as Rosemount’s boys hockey coach, is the father of Rangers forward Derek Stepan. Brad Stepan is a longtime coach and officer in Hastings youth hockey, and formerly was an assistant high school coach and professional scout. He also played in the professional minor leagues but did not make it to the NHL. Derek Stepan played at Hastings, Shattuck-St. Mary’s and the University of Wisconsin. The 6-foot, 190-pound forward, who will turn 22 next month, had 51 points during the regular season and scored eight points (one goal, seven assists) during the Rangers’ first two playoff series, seven-game victories over Ottawa and Washington. The Rangers are playing New Jersey in the Eastern Conference Final, with the winner taking on Los Angeles or Phoenix for the Stanley Cup. Derek Stepan’s coach is the often cantankerous John Tortorella, who has had several news conferences during the playoffs timed at less than one minute. Brad Stepan, who will be a high school head coach for the first time, was asked last month is his personality is at all similar to Tortorella’s. “Uh, no,” he said with a chuckle. “I think I can safely say I won’t be getting fined by the Minnesota State High School League.” The NHL fined Tortorella $20,000 in early

April for critical comments about the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. It was prompted by what the Rangers coach called a dirty hit by one of the Penguins players on Derek Stepan. SSC baseball showcase The final day of the South Suburban Conference baseball schedule is Saturday, with all 10 teams playing at Alimagnet Park in Burnsville. Games will played at the park’s two side-byside fields. The schedule is Rosemount vs. Lakeville South at 10 a.m., Lakeville North vs. Prior Lake at 10:45, Bloomington Jefferson vs. Eastview at 1 p.m., Apple Valley vs. Eagan at 1:45 p.m. and Burnsville vs. Bloomington Kennedy at 4 p.m.. No. 1-ranked Burnsville was 13-2 in the conference going into this week’s action. The Blaze held a onegame lead over Eastview and a two-game lead over Lakeville North. Pachuta breaks U of M record David Pachuta set a University of Minnesota men’s track and field record in the 800 meters last weekend at the Big Ten Conference Championships at the University of Wisconsin. Pachuta, a senior and an Eastview graduate, finished second in the race in 1 minute, 46.74 seconds. Another Eastview alumnus and Gophers runner, Travis Burkstrand, finished sixth in the 800-meter final in a personal-best 1:49.23. Petersons play in MGC Ryan Peterson and Trent Peterson, who were co-medalists for Eagan High School at the 2005 state boys golf tournament, played in the Minnesota Golf Champions

tournament last weekend at Minneapolis Golf Club in St. Louis Park. Ryan Peterson, a twotime state high school medalist who later played at Colorado State, shot 7574-71–220, tied for eighth place and won $487.50. Trent Peterson, who tried professional golf after graduating from South Dakota State but is seeking reinstatement as an amateur, shot 75 and 77 in his first two rounds and did not make the cut for the final round. Trent Peterson won the Minnesota Golf Association’s amateur match play and stroke play championships in 2008. Also missing the cut was Sammy Schmitz of Valleywood Golf Course, the MGA’s 2011 men’s player of the year. Foster retires Eastview graduate Kyle Foster, who pitched for the St. Paul Saints the last five years, recently announced his retirement from professional baseball. Foster, 26, had a 6-2 record with a 1.73 earnedrun average for the Saints last season in a team-record 48 appearances. His ERA was second lowest in team history. Foster, an All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference pitcher at Hamline University, was signed by the Saints in 2007. The next year, he didn’t allow an earned run in 22 2/3 innings over 13 games. That led to him signing with the Boston Red Sox and being assigned to the team’s Class A affiliate in Greenville, S.C. He returned to the Saints in 2009 and pitched three more seasons. Mike Shaughnessy is at mike.shaughnessy@ecm-inc. com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

18A

May 18, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Sports

Marching to the beat of a new strummer Guitar shop owner strikes a chord with customers

Blaze edge Packers in playoffs

by Tad Johnson Sun Thisweek

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Burnsville’s Caleb Robb, who is hitting the ball, along with Ermi Asfaw play in the Section 3AA tournament on Monday. The No. 5 seeded Burnsville boys tennis team defeated No. 13 South St. Paul 4-3 to advance to the quarterfinal match on Thursday at No. 4 seed Rosemount. The quarterfinal results were unavailable at presstime.

Youth shoot at Dakota County Gun Club The next free youth shoot at the Dakota County Gun Club in Rosemount is scheduled for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. June 2. Boys and girls 16 and under are welcome. All equipment will be provided free. Participants will be outfitted with .22-caliber rifles, 20-gauge shotguns, ammunition, hearing and eye protection, bows, arrows and arm protection. Participants will receive one-onone instruction on how to handle firearms and archery equipment safely. Youth shoots this sum-

mer are scheduled for June 2, June 16, July 7, July 21, Aug. 3 and Aug. 18. There will also be a free women’s shoot from 3-8 p.m. Aug. 18 to try rifles, handguns, muzzle-loading rifles and shotguns. Participants must be 16 or older. For more information on the youth and women’s shoots, call (651) 402-0368, email reddutchman@ dt340.com or visit www. dakotacountygunclub.org. Persons attending the free shoots are asked to donate non-perishable food items.

It’s taken Rosemount resident Brad Wegner a long time to find his new direction, but he’s doing so with help from his guitar. After Wegner’s wife died in March 2007 from complications due to cancer, he left his 17-year career in the banking industry to care for his two young adopted children. He took the time off with the idea that he would re-enter the workforce, but the Great Recession constricted the banking industry so much that Wegner couldn’t find another position. After it was apparent a change was necessary, the 53-year-old Wegner contemplated what kind of work he would enjoy that give him the balance he sought. That’s when he turned to his love a music and last October enrolled in a guitar-repair class offered at Southeast Technical College in Red Wing. At first he contemplated opening a repair business out of his home, but then found reasonable rent and opened The Guitar Shop on May 20 in the Rosemount Mall between 145th and Lower 147th streets on South Robert Trail. “I like the downtown location and being in the center of the activity,” he said. “I am in the Rosemount mall that was the hub of Rosemount back in the early 80s. I want to bring that back.” He plans to do that with a mixture of selling gui-

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Brad Wegner strums a guitar in his new downtown Rosemount business The Guitar Shop in the Rosemount Mall. tars and music accessories, repairing guitars, offering lessons and inviting musicians in for in-store jam sessions. Since opening, the store has been a magnet in attracting guitarists from throughout the south metro. “It’s been great,” said Wegner, who grew up on a southern Minnesota farm and lived in Burnsville before moving to Rosemount 16 years ago. Among the local guitarists who have stopped inhave been flatpicking champion and Sawtooth bluegrass band member Clint Birtzer, DFL state House candidate Jeff Wilfahrt and Nashville studio musician Ken Wilson,who has played with Mary Chapin Carpenter. “They are all different people from different walks

of life,” Wegner said. “It’s great just to sit and talk to these people and find out what’s their experience. I like to get to know my customers.” The most important connection Wegner’s made so far is with his old acquaintance, Donny Swanson, a guitar teacher for the past 27 years at Lavonne Music in Savage. “I called him two nights before I was going to open,” Wegner said. “After I told him what I was doing, he said: ‘I’m in.’ ” With Wegner’s financial experience, he’s concentrating on running the business, while Swanson provides a deep knowledge of all things guitars. “He is like a walking encyclopedia,” Wegner said. Wegner also is counting on his many connections in the local music scene to

help spread the word about the business, in addition to marketing in local schools and media. He’s played in the classic rock cover band Flashback for the past 20 years. The “weekend” band has played mostly town festivals and weddings in recent years and pulls from a catalog of songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s from the likes of the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Elvis. That experience has led him to installing a mini stage inside the shop. He plans to have live music in the store on Thursday nights. “At first I thought this place was pretty big, but now I don’t know if I have enough space,” he said of the shop that has 50 guitars in stock. He has had a few jam sessions already, but he hopes to formalize it so people can view it as a community gathering event. “Hopefully, I can bring more foot traffic to downtown,” he said. “This is kind of a hidden gem.” He said he has had six students sign up for guitar lessons, which he is offering every day of the week. “It’s gone better than I expected,” he said. “People from town and from the area, they are happy to have a guitar shop and music store in town. There is really nothing like this in the area.” Tad Johnson can be reached at tad.johnson@ecm-inc. com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

Sun Thisweek May 18, 2012

19A

20A

May 18, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Sun Thisweek May 18, 2012

21A

22A

May 18, 2012 Sun Thisweek

raise money for Kids ’n Kinship �� Bike ride to Since this is the 40th an- Currently, 45 youths are ebration including enter900-mile trek in honor of group’s 40th anniversary

��

In just a few days, John Elder will once more become a spokesperson on wheels when he embarks on his seventh annual 900mile bicycle ride benefitting his personal passion: mentoring. The Christian Elder Memorial 900 (www.CEM900. com) trek raises money for Apple Valley-based Kids ’n Kinship, a 40-year-old nonprofit organization that matches kids ages 5-16 with volunteer mentors. On May 24, six riders will begin a journey along the trails and country roads of Wisconsin. It will officially conclude in Apple Valley during a welcome home celebration on June 9 at 11 a.m. “We have ridden in Iowa for the last two years, and were looking for a change in scenery. Wisconsin will be beautiful,” Elder said. The riders, who have been training all year, will be accompanied on their journey by support drivers Jim Elder and Gordy Clough.

Ruhsam, from 1A ketball team. He was one of about a dozen new teachers hired at Metcalf in 1970, the year District 191 opened Nicollet, its second junior high. Even though Metcalf was only about five years old, the new school lured many teachers away, Ruhsam said. He coached for many

niversary of Kids ’n Kinship, the ride is special for John Elder, who mentored Rosemount High School graduate Dante Lundstrom for seven years through the program. Lundstrom, who is now seeking a job, has remained close friends with Elder despite their official mentoring relationship ending when Dante turned 18. An online road diary will chronicle the bike ride, which includes news of the places they go and people they meet. Elder’s goal is to reach $30,000 in donations and pledges. “Kids ’n Kinship is such a wonderful, worthwhile organization,” he said. “Even if you’ve never donated in the past, this is the year to do it because it is a milestone year. It makes our pedaling easier knowing that we are doing something that will directly benefit the children in our own communities.” All donations go to Kids ’n Kinship, serving children in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Farmington, Lakeville and Rosemount.

on the organization’s waiting list for mentors. “You don’t need a lot of experience to have a significant impact on a young person’s life,” Elder said of mentoring. It is this impact that fuels Elder’s passion for the bike riding fundraiser, which is named in memory of John and wife Sherry’s son who died unexpectedly in 2007. “It’s amazing what a mentor can do in a young person’s life and, in turn, what the young person can do for you,” he said. Jan Belmore, Kids ’n Kinship director said the nonprofit is proud of the anniversary and the healthy development of the area’s youth. “There is a rich history of caring and involved citizens who founded the program, and those who have carried the mission of providing friendships to youth forward,” she said. This year’s ride will conclude at Merchants Bank in Apple Valley, the primary corporate sponsor for the event. The riders will be greeted by a carnival-like cel-

tainment, local dignitaries and refreshments. At age 65, Elder hopes to continue riding for many more years but adds: “I like to think that we’ve reached a point where this ride will survive me and will continue to benefit Kids ‘n Kinship far into the future.” Belmore said the ride’s funding has been so important as it was started to replace a longtime funding source that was lost six years ago. “Without the money raised that year and in subsequent years, we would not have been able to make our budget and fewer kids would have gotten mentors,” she said. “This bike ride has created greater awareness in corporate circles through the team’s corporate sponsorships, and more people in general have learned about Kids ’n Kinship over the past seven years than we would ever have had the possibility of reaching otherwise.” Those interested in sponsoring or donating or learning more about mentoring may go online to www.cem900.com.

years — sports including cross country, boys ninthgrade basketball and girls track and field — and was Metcalf’s activities director from the late 1980s through the 1990s. “We used to run full programs here at each (junior high) school,” Ruhsam said. “We had A and B teams. ... It’s all been budget cuts over the years, and we lost numbers, too. Football was one of the first to go.” With fewer activities, kids have less reason to stick around after school and rally behind Metcalf, whose nickname is the Senators, Ruhsam said.

“Like danceline this year — we had a danceline, but it was hard for them to perform, because we didn’t have any games,” he said. In the classroom, Ruhsam for years taught a semester of government paired with a semester of economics. In recent years his social studies focus has been American history, the result of revamped state academic standards. The adoption of a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program at Metcalf has added a new twist. Ruhsam is teaching two STEM sections of American history

that start with post-Civil War developments in industry, automation, invention, labor and business. “It fits in better with what they’re doing in the STEM curriculum,” Ruhsam said. In all his classes over the years Ruhsam has been known for his insistence on teaching current events along with past ones. Each student, once a quarter, must summarize for the class an international news story, a national story and a business-economics story. “It’s the start of each class period,” Ruhsam said. How has Metcalf changed over the years? There used to be music over the loudspeaker that announced the end of class and continued playing as students passed between classes, said Ruhsam, who remembers the halls being somewhat calmer during those times. “I do remember at holiday time they had a Christmas tape you wouldn’t dare play anymore,” he said. “Eventually the system broke, and that was the end of it.” Violence? “Kids still fight,” Ruhsam said. “They got in fights when Metcalf opened. They used to talk about the fights when I came here: ‘Savage kids vs. the east-side-of-Burnsville kids.’ They had their turf wars.” Fashion? Ruhsam referred to his own early-’70s uniform of long hair, sideburns and bell bottoms. Among students, “Tennis shoes and blue jeans have been one of the big staples the whole time I’ve taught, 40-some years.”

��

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

��

Sun Thisweek May 18, 2012

23A

Art abound at children’s festival

Photo by Claire Wood

The District 191 Children’s Art Festival will take place from April 26 through June 2 in the gallery of the Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave. The exhibit will feature more than 100 selected pieces of artwork by students in kindergarten through grade six at all 10 elementary schools in Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191. There will be drawings, paintings and a variety of three-dimensional works. The PAC gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. There is no charge to view the exhibit.

��

Rosemount woman accused of theft from her Eagan employer by Tad Johnson Sun Thisweek

A former Rosemount woman who said she couldn’t make the mortgage payments on her home after becoming divorced in 2005 was charged with nine counts of felony theft by swindle in Dakota County District Court on May 10 for stealing funds from her former employer in Eagan where she worked as office manager. Dawn Westphal, 42, admitted to an Eagan Police officer executing a search warrant at her Minot, N.D., home in November 2011 to stealing $79,945.25 from her employer from February 2006 to January 2011, according to the criminal complaint. Westphal admitted that

she took the money by writing checks to herself and depositing them into her personal account. She also admitted to falsifying the ledgers. She said she was too proud to ask for help and knew subconsciously she would never pay back the funds, according to the criminal complaint. She told the officer that she wanted to take full responsibility for the theft. After she resigned from the company, irregularities were found in the business bank accounts that Westphal was responsible for managing and it was determined that some funds were deposited into Westphal’s personal bank account. When the business sent a demand for payment to

��

Westphal, she responded with a check for $8,556.81 and stated that she would attempt to reimburse the remaining amount at a rate of $1,100 per month, according to the criminal complaint. Westphal further stated that if they are not able to agree to the terms, she will “turn myself in to the authorities.” Eagan Police were contacted by the business on May 6, 2011. Six of the charges are for stealing an amount over $5,000, while the other three are for amounts over $2,500. The maximum sentence for each charge is 10 years and $20,000 in fines. Tad Johnson is at tad.johnson@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.

��

� � ��

��

� ��

��

� ��

��

� ��

��

� ��

��

� ��

��

�

��

24A

May 18, 2012 Sun Thisweek

Rental, from 1A housing stock and past problems, “this is a problem which is now our problem,” Council Member Bill Coughlin said, endorsing mandatory inspections despite what he said is his aversion to greater government regulation. The no-fee, no-inspection rental licenses have yielded many successes, officials say, including a reduction in police calls and help in evicting unruly

Virgin, from 1A vices and how participants registered for the events. Virgin was given the choice to either run the camps separately or within the school district operations. He allegedly chose to do both, which enabled him to accept checks made payable to him and avoid paying rental fees. Instead of allocating the money to the basketball and soccer camps, Virgin allegedly pocketed $16,595.42, while also receiving a salary from the district. Virgin also oversaw fundraising efforts for Eagan’s boys basketball teams. While directing those efforts, Virgin allegedly pocketed $12,589. A district administrator notified police after discovering money was missing and that Virgin had used both methods of running the camp. Virgin was placed on administrative leave Nov. 21, and Rosemount resident Mike Sullivan, Eagan High School’s junior varsity coach, was elevated to interim head coach. Virgin retired Jan. 9.

Longtime coach Virgin is a 1970 graduate of South St. Paul, where he played basketball, in addition to playing at St. Cloud State University. He began his coaching career at Claremont High School (now Triton) in 1978, coaching the football and boys basketball teams for five years. Next was a move to Apple Valley where he coached girls basketball and soccer for eight seasons, establishing the Eagles soccer program as a power in the mid1980s. Virgin started the boys soccer and basketball programs when Eagan High School opened in 1990. Virgin is the only Minnesota varsity boys coach to earn more than 400 wins in both soccer and basketball, according to the school. He reached the 400-win mark in soccer in October 2008 when he was already at 441 wins in basketball. Jessica Harper is at jessica. harper@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek. Jason Olson and Andy Rogers contributed to this story.

��

tenants through a “threestrikes” provision. But the city has also dealt with problem properties, the worst of which — Country Village — placed unreasonable demands on fire and building inspectors and police. Would an inspections program have prevented the prevented the debacle? Gustafson asked. “Members of the council, I believe so,” replied Community Development Director Jenni Faulkner.

The inspections could also enhance the reputation of Burnsville’s rental housing, officials say. “Ultimately, I think most good property owners will benefit from this,” Council Member Mary Sherry said. A number of metro cities already do mandatory inspections — some even set aside money to acquire and redevelop aging rental properties, Faulkner said. Burnsville has 8,917 registered rental units — 7,417

in multifamily buildings, 750 in single-family homes and 746 rental lots in mobile home parks. Officials say they’ll need to add 3.5 inspection positions to inspect each unit every three years. Most metro cities impose both a per-building and per-unit charge for inspections. Burnsville’s proposed inspection fees, to be paid annually, range from $140 for a single-family rental unit to $8,750 for the 400-unit The Woods, the city’s larg-

est apartment complex. The council also endorsed an annual fire inspection of building common areas, where most fire-code violations occur. That will require a halftime inspector division at $71,000 and impose extra, annual costs of $240 per building or $10 per unit. The unit inspections would cover more than building and fire codes. Under proposed ordinance changes, corrective action or license revocation could

be applied to units declared “unfit for human habitation.” “The city has found numerous hoarders in multifamily units over the past year,” said a city staff report. “Regular inspections of units would help the property managers and city to better deal with these.” John Gessner can be reached at john.gessner@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.