www.SunThisweek.com SPECIAL SECTION
March 9, 2018 | Volume 39 | Number 1
Bill extends protections to students 18 and up Supporters cite Burnsville High teacher-student sex case by John Gessner SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
College fair in Burnsville Burnsville High School will be the site of a college fair during which scores of postsecondary schools will be on hand to talk to students and families. Inside this edition
When state Rep. Drew Christensen, R-Savage, learned of allegations that a Burnsville High School teacher had consensual sex with an 18-year-old se-
James Drew Backstrom Christensen nior, he instantly thought the act must have been criminal. So did constituents he heard from, Christensen said.
But it wasn’t. It’s not a crime in Minnesota for a teacher, coach or other school authority to have sexual relations with high school students 18 and older. Christensen has proposed legislation to change that. His bill got its first hearing before the House education policy committee this week. “I think we could all agree that a teacher has a
Good time to think ‘sunshine’
SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Former Burnsville High School choir teacher Erik Michael Akervik pleaded guilty Monday to having sex with a 16-yearold student and sending nude photos of himself to another student. Akervik, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of thirdd e g r e e criminal sexual con- Erik Akervik duct in connection with the crimes, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom announced. Akervik was arrested at the school last April 10 after the male students told police about the incidents. A second third-degree criminal sex charge involving the 16-year-old victim
Connecting Eagan Photos by Andy Rogers
Swimmers achieve at state Burnsville, Eagan and Eastview swimmers and divers sought podium positions at the state meet this past weekend. Page 12A
Eagan Men’s Chorus performs during the Community Connections expo last weekend at the Community Center. The event featured exhibits from area nonprofit and service organizations along with free samples from caterers; pickleball demonstrations; Eagan Women of Note; art projects with Eagan Art House; and police K-9 demonstrations. The Eagan Art House members offered art projects for attendees during the Community Connections expo and demonstrated, right, how to use a pottery wheel.
Offers mental health training for staff, public SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Burnsville-Eagan Sun Thisweek is the official newspaper for the cities of Burnsville and Eagan and school districts 191 and 196. Public Notices are on Page 13A.
Once referred to an invisible illness, people are starting to open up about mental health issues. Twin Cities-based People Incorporated would like to help. The mental health non-
profit recently opened its new Training Institute at 860 Blue Gentian Road in Eagan. Russ Turner, People Incorporated’s senior training manager, said the timing is right. “People are ready for a discussion about mental health at a more advanced stage than they were a few years ago,� Turner said. “Unfortunately you get See HEALTH, 11A
Burnsville tees up street projects
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 15A
Projects totaling $6.7 million are planned
Announcements . . . . 18A
by John Gessner
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 12A Public Notices . . . . . . 13A
General 952-894-1111 Display Advertising 952-846-2019 Classified Advertising 952-846-2003 Delivery 763-712-3544
See AKERVIK, 11A
People Incorporated Paige Bears give parents opens Training something to hold onto Couple started Institute in Eagan by Andy Rogers
PUBLIC NOTICE
See BILL, 11A
by John Gessner
THISWEEKEND
SPORTS
torney James Backstrom, who unsuccessfully proposed such legislation in 2008, was scheduled to testify Wednesday before the House committee. “In my view, when you have someone who’s in a position of authority over a high school student, they should not be taking advantage of that position of authority to entice
Akervik taught at Burnsville High
Columnist Peggy Bakken shows that even as snow covers the ground it’s a good time to talk about Sunshine Week. Page 4A
The Rosemount Area Historical Society’s History Talk will reveal the city’s connection to a post-WWII Air Force base in Greenland. Page 19A
position of authority over their students,� said Christensen, whose district includes part of northwest Burnsville and all of Savage. “I think this had really been an oversight in state law before that this is not illegal. I think it’s just completely inappropriate and disturbing behavior from teachers that ought to be able to be prosecuted.� Dakota County At-
Ex-teacher pleads guilty to sex crime
OPINION
Rosemoun’t connection
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Burnsville | Eagan
SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Street projects totaling $6.7 million will be done in Burnsville this construction season. The City Council on Tuesday ordered projects and bid advertisements
for $2.2 million in street reconstruction, $4.2 million in reclamation and $307,000 in rehabilitation. Public hearings on the projects were also held, with few speakers. Reconstruction, the most extensive work, is planned for the Burnsville Heights area. The work includes replacement of pavement, gravel base, See STREETS, 10A
donation campaign after stillbirth by John Gessner SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
When Erin Mammen became pregnant for the second time, her husband, Chris, began dreaming of the child’s future. It all came into focus, from birth to college. At 20 weeks the Farmington couple learned the baby’s sex and named her Paige, their chosen girl’s name. At 24 weeks Erin went into labor, the same day — March 8, 2015 — she was told her daughter’s heart had stopped. “I’m not going to say it’s like your heart is being pulled out, but all of that planning and vision and everything just gets removed, and you just feel so alone and lost and reach for whatever you can grab onto as a symbol of that,� Chris said. “There’s a physical ache in your arms after you’ve lost a baby,� said Erin, who was told the stillbirth
Photo submitted
Chris and Erin Mammen, of Farmington, donate Paige Bears to metro hospitals in memory of their stillborn daughter, Paige. The Mammens both work at Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville. was probably caused by stillborn or newborn loss, a cord accident that pre- the Mammens donate vented Paige from receiv- stuffed bears to metro-aring nutrients. ea hospitals. “You want to be holdThe bears are brown ing a baby and there’s not with a purple bow and a replacement for that, but come with a note of having something to hold condolence and solidaronto helps just a little.� ity signed, “Love, Paige’s That’s what Paige Bears mom and dad.� are for. To keep Paige’s Erin started the project memory alive and help See PAIGE, 10A other parents cope with
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