Eagan Summer Community Theatre presents the classic stage musical ‘The Music Man’ this month. SEE STORY IN THISWEEKEND ON PAGE 9A
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville JULY 9, 2010
VOLUME 31, NO. 19
www.thisweeklive.com
Opinion/6A
Puzzle Page/10A
Real Estate/11A
Classifieds/13A
Announcements/17A
Sports/18A
Local man’s jungle adventure yields info on missing airmen Denis Thompson spent two weeks in ‘the last uncivilized place on Earth’ as a volunteer with the MIA Hunters by Andrew Miller
for serial numbers on the planes, get the GPS coordiTrekking through un- ing adventure,� said the nates of the crash sites and charted jungle, sidestep- 63-year-old who was joined then call in the coordinates ping giant pythons, on the two-week rubbing elbows with trip in May by his cannibals and headsons Colt, 27, and hunters – this spring Trent, 21. “It’s the Denis Thompson last uncivilized undertook the adplace on Earth and venture of a lifetime. we lived in it. Every Thompson, a day was a story.� Vietnam veteran and Denis Using informaLakeville resident Thompson tion from natives who co-owns the who worked as paid Apple Valley-based medi- scouts, Thompson’s MIA cal company ARPwave, was Hunters group found nine among 32 volunteers with American planes that had the nonprofit MIA Hunters crashed in the jungle. who searched the jungles “The first day alone we to the U.S. Department of of Papua New Guinea for found four airplanes that Defense. The idea is to help crash sites of World War II had never seen the light of bring closure to missing soldiers’ families. airmen missing in action. day since fallen,� he said. “It was an awe-inspirThe volunteers look See MIA, 8A THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
LAKEVILLE
Photo submitted
Close contact with the Papua New Guinea natives was part of Denis Thompson’s adventure with the MIA Hunters, a nonprofit which searches for crash sites of World War II airmen missing in action.
Pan-O-Prog kicks off
Lakeville has new fire chief City Council hires from within to replace outgoing chief by Derrick Williams THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photo by Rick Orndorf
Carter Mayfield, 4 years old from Lakeville, works the pedals to haul the heavy load at the Pedal Tractor Pull at the Southfork Center in Lakeville on Tuesday, July 6. The Pedal Tractor Pull was part of Lakeville’s Pan-O-Prog celebration. To see photo slide shows of the events thus far, visit www. ThisweekLive.com.
Local business takes its first steps Rising Stars Preschool to open at Farmington City Center in August by Kara Hildreth THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Early childhood teacher and business owner Laura Mitchell wants each child who attends her new preschool to shine bright and make families proud. Rising Stars Preschool will open in August to offer full-day, year-around preschool off Elm Street in the Farmington City Center shopping area in the former Edina Realty office space. Mitchell said the name for her business “Rising Stars� stems from how each child is a star in the eyes of their families and how she wants to help children grow before heading off to kindergarten. “Children are their own stars as they are learning and in their own minds and their family, and I chose ‘rising’ because they will grow up ready,� Mitchell said. “I have always wanted to be a teacher, and when I was a kid I use to line up all my stuffed animals and read General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
IN BRIEF Rising Stars Preschool will be open 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and one Saturday a month for five hours to accommodate parents who need to run errands during that time. It will be open two Saturdays during December. For more information, go online at www.risingstarspreschool.net or call (651) 463-4001.
dent, has been with the Lakeville Fire Department since 1995. He has served as a district fire chief and the assistant fire chief. He is currently employed as fire captain for the Metropolitan Airports Commission Fire Department, where his duties include emergency response to airport incidents, day-to-day operations, and overseeing training and equipment. Meyer is a certified firefighter I and II, emergency medical technician, and has received hazardous materials training. He has an associate’s degree in fire technology and administration and is currently working on his B.S. in fire science. He is also a Navy veteran. Meyer will begin his position as Lakeville fire chief on Aug. 9. E-mail Derrick Williams at: lakeville.thisweek@ecm-inc. com
Company’s bad checks reportedly total over $46,000 Owner of local company accused of felony by Tad Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
FARMINGTON to them and teach them,� Mitchell said. Mitchell is a single mother who previously worked in the travel industry. While she was working full-time, she had difficulty finding appropriate child care for her son. Thinking she could do better, she enrolled in college to earn her early childhood and business degrees. The move turned out to be a good one as the travel industry tanked during the economic recession leading See Rising Stars, 8A
Lakeville’s City Council didn’t look too far to replace retiring Fire Chief Scott Nelson. The council announced on July 2 that Michael Meyer, who has served as the assistant fire chief since 2005 and is currently the interim chief, will take over the position full time. “(Meyer) has come up through the ranks and is well respected by both the community and the firefighters,� said City Administrator Steve Mielke. “(He) has the necessary background, experience, and education, as well as fire operations management skills. He will be a great leader for the department.� Nelson retired June 30 after announcing his intentions to do so in December of 2009. Meyer was selected after an interview process that included the City Council, other fire personnel, and city administration. Meyer, a Lakeville resi-
LAKEVILLE
Photo by Kara Hildreth
Rising Stars Preschool owner Laura Mitchell is getting her new preschool business ready for families and children with a grand opening in August at the Farmington City Center space in the former Edina Realty office next to Econo Foods off Elm Street.
A 56-year-old Burnsville man was charged on July 6 in Dakota County District Court with felony issuance of a dishonored check in connection with his company’s account ringing up over $46,000 in bad checks. The alleged crime was reported March 29 after an over-the-road truck driver reported he received two checks that were dishonored from Farmington-based Dragon Creek Carriers owned and operated by Peter William Strand, according to a criminal complaint. The checks issued Dec. 21 and 30, 2009, totaled $2,069.76. There reportedly was a negative balance in the account of $4,172.57 as of
FARMINGTON Dec. 30. Multiple demands for payment were sent to Strand, but no response was received, according to the complaint. A review of the account records showed that the account was opened on March 9, 2009, and closed April 7, 2010. During the time the account was open approximately 57 dishonored checks with a total amount of $46,322.69 were issued. If convicted of the crime, the maximum sentence is five years in prison and/or up to $10,000 in fines. Tad Johnson is at editor. thisweek@ecm-inc.com.
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