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NEWS OPINION SPORTS
Thisweek Burnsville-Eagan OCTOBER 7, 2011
VOLUME 32, NO. 32
www.thisweeklive.com
Opinion/4A
Announcements/5A
Public Notices/5A & 6A
Two Eagan residents vie for DFL endorsement in 38A Sandra Masin and Gary Hansen fight for Anderson’s seat by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Two familiar faces put their names in the hat this week for what is currently the District 38A seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Former state representative Sandra Masin and Eagan City Council Member Gary Hansen will likely face off this year for the district’s DFL endorsement. Masin, 68, represented District 38A for four years but was defeated by Diane Anderson, a Republican, in 2010. During her time in the Legislature, the Eagan resident focused much of her attention on mass transit and infrastructure. “I think I did a good job trying to get Minnesota on track,� she said.
Sandra Masin
Gary Hansen
Masin said the state shutdown inspired her to try to regain her seat. “We have known for some time now that Minnesota has been in jeopardy of losing its (top credit) rating,� she said. “The problem is the accounting, like the education shift.� Masin, who was first elected in 2006, cited her accomplishments in the Legislature, including sponsoring a bill that created the Ultra High-Speed Broadband Task Force.
She also carried a bill to bring back strategic and long range planning so policy is based on long-term goals. She said she hopes to continue that work, as well as ensuring that decent government works for all residents, not just the wealthiest. “I think there’s nothing more important to the future of our state than ensuring an educational system of excellence,� she said. Masin said her previous experience in the House and local commissions makes her the stronger candidate. Hansen, 59, believes he is the one to do the job. He, too, is frustrated by the state shutdown, which he said was simply caused by a lack of compromise. Hansen blames much of this on See Seat, 14A
Sports/8A
Classifieds/9A
Another Minneapolis budget chief is coming to Burnsville Heather Johnston will succeed Tammy Omdal as CFO by John Gessner
the public finance group of Northland Securities in MinneFor the second apolis. time, a Minneapolis Johnston has a rich city budget director resume in public fiis leaving to become nance. In addition to Burnsville’s chief fiworking in Minnenancial officer. Heather apolis, where she led Heather John- Johnston efforts to contain the ston will begin work as Burnsville’s director of city’s oversized pension liaadministrative services and bilities, Johnston has worked CFO on Oct. 31. She’s been in Minnesota’s finance dedirector of Minneapolis’ partment and at the White Management and Budget House Office of Management and Budget. Division since 2004. But like Omdal, who took Johnston replaced Tammy Omdal in Minneapolis on added responsibilities after Omdal was hired as during her time in BurnsBurnsville’s CFO. Omdal left ville, Johnston will oversee Burnsville in August to head See Johnston, 6A THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Rainmaker comes to EHS
Photo by Jessica Harper
Burnsville residents John Pleschourt and Bryan Prettyman plan to open the pub and grill in late October. Both men have worked in the hospitality industry for more than two decades.
American pub to replace Chateau Lamothe Ernie’s Pub and Grill to open late October by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Nearly a year after Chateau Lamothe closed in Burnsville, two local entrepreneurs are hoping to breathe new life into the former French American restaurant by turning it into a pub and grill. “This is a neighborhood with a casual atmosphere, so we feel it will fit right in,� said John Pleschourt co-owner of Ernie’s Pub and Grill. The casual dining restaurant named after Pleschourt’s father is set to open in late October. Pleschourt and his partner, Bryan Prettyman, looked across the nation for a site but settled on the former Chateau building for its visibility from busy roads. The site is on Nicollet Court near County Road 42 and the point where I35E and I-35W meet. The restaurant is also close to Pleschourt and Prettyman’s homes in Burnsville. The two men met in the hospitality industry years ago and became fast friends. As a young man, Pleschourt, 43, set his sights on teaching history, but fell in love with the hos-
IN BRIEF Ernie’s Pub and Grill is located at 14351 Nicollet Court in Burnsville. Phone: (952) 435-2867 Website: www.erniespub.com pitality industry while waiting tables as a college student. Though he completed his degree, Pleschourt spent the next 25 years working his way up to management at several establishments throughout the Twin Cities. Hospitality was a calling for Prettyman from the start. He earned an associates degree in business and went on to manage hotels and resorts across the nation for more than 20 years. The 45-year-old began his career at Trump Towers in Atlantic City where he once literally bumped right into Donald Trump. “He was nice about it but his handlers started rushing toward me,� Prettyman said with a laugh. The two Burnsville men financed the restaurant using savings and retirement funds alone. “We felt self financing put more pressure on us to make it work,� Pleschourt said. See Ernie’s Pub, 6A
Photo by Rick Orndorf
Eagan High School will present the classic comedy “The Rainmaker� at 4 p.m. Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 and 2 p.m. Oct. 16. All seats are reserved. Tickets go on sale Monday, Oct. 10 at 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. each school day. Senior citizen preview is Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 3:30 p.m. The following are Dan Britt as Sheriff Thomas; Brennan Spicer as Jimmy; David Newhall as Noah; Justin Wirsbinski as Starbuck; Alex Granquist as H.C. Curry and Maddie Sachs as Lizzie.
District 196 falls short of progress goals More than half of schools in District 196 make Adequate Yearly Progress by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Like many school districts across the state, the Rosemount-Apple ValleyEagan School District didn’t make the grade by federal standards. For the second consecutive year, District 196 was cited for not making Adequate Yearly Progress under the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The school district is far from alone as standards rise each year in hopes of 100 percent proficiency among students.
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a slight increase from last year. State officials say they hope they are just months away from obtaining a waiver that would release the state from tough penal-
ties imposed by the law such as a 2014 deadline by which all students are expected to be proficient in reading and math. “We are not looking for See District 196, 14A
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Half of Minnesota schools are not making AYP, according to the state department of education. Of the 2,255 schools in the state, 1,056 did not make AYP in 2011. This is
Dakota Hills Middle — math among black students; students eligible for free or reduced meals Falcon Ridge Middle — math among students receiving ELL, students eligible for free or reduced meals, reading among Hispanic students and students receiving ELL services Scott Highlands Middle — math among Hispanic and black students, students receiving special education, students eligible for free or reduced price meals Valley Middle — reading and math for students receiving ELL, math for black students, students receiving special education, students eligible for free or reduced price meals Eagan High — math among black students Eastview High — math and reading among students receiving special education, students eligible for free or reduced price meals Dakota Ridge School — math for all student categories, students receiving special education services
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A total of 16 schools in District 196 didn’t make AYP Cedar Park Elementary STEM School — reading and math among students receiving ELL services; math among students receiving special education Echo Park Elementary — reading among black students and students receiving special education Highland Elementary— reading among students receiving special education Parkview Elementary — reading among black students and students eligible for free and reduced meals Rosemount Elementary — reading among students receiving special education; students eligible for free or reduced meals Southview Elementary— reading among black students Thomas Lake Elementary — reading among students receiving special education Black Hawk Middle — math among Hispanic and black students and students receiving ELL service, special education and students eligible for free or reduced-price meals
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