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An ex-football player turned opera singer returns to his hometown this month for the ensemble musical ‘Titanic’ at the Burnsville PAC. SEE STORY IN THISWEEKEND ON PAGE 7A
Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville JULY 16, 2010
VOLUME 31, NO. 20
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
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Left: Runners start the PanO-Prog run at Casperson Park on July 10. Middle: A rider from the Zuhrah Funsters Clown Club gives a child a high-five during the Pan-O-Prog grand parade on July 10. Right: This year’s Miss Lakeville contestants drive in a line during the PanO-Prog Car Cruise on July 9. Photos by Rick Orndorf and Derrick Williams
Curtains close on Pan-O-Prog Organizers say this year’s event, the 44th annual, featured record fundraising, attendance and volunteerism by Derrick Williams
LAKEVILLE
THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Fantastic. Amazing. Wonderful. There are a lot of words and statements that can describe the 44th Panorama of Progress festival in Lakeville, but the most appropriate may be “record setting.” According to organizers, this year’s Pan-O-Prog, which officially ended on July 11, featured record attendance for many events and attractions, record fundraising, and record numbers of volunteers. “I can’t believe this festival sometimes,” said Jim Dunn, this year’s Pan-O-Prog president. Kristen Babcock, last
Photo by Rick Orndorf
Lakeville North High School dance team members Allison Abelladea and Alanna Micheal, front right, lead their team down Holyoke Avenue during the Pan-OProg grand parade July 10.
for a way for people to recognize the businesses that stepped up,” he said. “They don’t have to. It’s hard for businesses. But they do it to make sure we have a great festival.” There’s no way to officially count attendance, but Dunn said some 30,000 people were downtown on July 9 for Cruise Night, and another 18,000 made it to downtown for the parade on July 10. “We really appreciate the people that came out, and I hope they enjoyed what they saw,” Dunn said. “Not to mention, we got away with some great weather.”
year’s president who is still a board member, said many if not all event chairs reported record attendance. “The support from this community – it’s great,” she said. Dunn said the fact attendance was so high is outstanding, and that led to a lot of new faces among the familiar volunteers for the event. “We’d be nowhere without the people who line up to contribute,” Dunn said. Another record this year was the fundraising and business support from the Photo by Rick Orndorf community, Dunn said. Lakeville North High School student Nicholas DeGrood “It’s exceeded all our ex- E-mail Derrick Williams at: leads the school’s marching band down Holyoke Avenue pectations. We want to look lakeville.thisweek@ecm-inc.com during the Pan-O-Prog grand parade July 10.
Educator, father, community leader Don McGuire dies
Miss Lakeville crowned
Former Lakeville schools superintendent ‘always put others before himself’ by Derrick Williams THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Donald J. McGuire, a man who was as well known for his smile and positive attitude as he was for his contributions to the Lakeville community, died July 13. He was 82. The milestones and depth of McGuire’s career and service to Lakeville could run for pages, his son Tim said. “I can say that he was someone to admire. I had total admiration for him and I was truly honored and blessed to have had him as a father,” Tim, 47, said. “I’m just so proud. He always put others before himself. Always.” McGuire served as superintendent of Lakeville schools from 1960 until he retired in 1982. Before that, he served as principal at Lakeville High School for two years. Upon leaving Lakeville schools,
LAKEVILLE McGuire served as superintendent of Dakota County Vocational College, now Dakota County Technical College, until he retired in 1989. “Don was such a very special person to all of us Don in the Lakeville commuMcGuire nity,” said former Lakeville city administrator, current school board member, and friend to McGuire, Bob Erickson, 64. “He gave so much back. He was an extraordinary educator, coach, humanitarian and human being. We’ve lost a special person.” McGuire was also very active in the community. He was a devoted member of the Lakeville Lions Club, was active See McGuire, 5A
Photo by Rick Orndorf
Last year’s Miss Lakeville, Katie Kranz, left, bestows the crown upon this year’s winner, Jenna Diercks. Read more about Diercks on Page 3A.
Book helps military teens cope Dew Days has positive balance Authors share insight from teens, offers support for military families; local event scheduled by Kara Hildreth THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
When a parent is deployed away from home and family members, teenagers may be the most at risk of suffering from a range of negative thoughts. DeAnne Sherman, co-author of “My Story: Blogs By Four Military Teens,” will address concerns related to the impact of military deployments on teens at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 17, at Farmington Library, 508 Third St. Published in October 2009 and written with her General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
Event organizers to use estimated $8,000 to pay back loan by Kara Hildreth THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
FARMINGTON
IN BRIEF
daughter Michelle Sher man, who is a practicing psychologist at a ve t e r a n s ’ hospital in DeAnne Oklahoma Sherman City, the book’s mission is to help teens with parents in the military cope and serve as a resource for youth leaders and teachers. “The book was written for teens to honor them See Book, 10A
Author DeAnne Sherman will speak and sign her b o o k “ M y Story: Blogs By Four Military Te e n s ” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 17, at Farmington Library. The book can be found at www.seedsofhopebooks.com.
Dew Days 2010 organizers report returning many events to downtown Farmington was a hit that helped this year’s festival finish with $8,000 in the bank. Brian Lindquist, chair for 2010 Dew Days committee, told the Farmington City Council on July 6 that the funds will be used to pay off a portion of the city’s $23, 271 loan to Castle Rock, Eureka, Empire and Farmington Enhancement Group. The nonprofit CEEF, which backs Dew Days financially, obtained the
FARMINGTON loan in October 2009 after Farmington’s summer festival went into debt. This year’s approximate $8,000 fund balance came from carnival proceeds, parade entries, arts and crafts vendor fees and Dew Days buttons sales. Another reason Dew Days ended up in the black was because the bands that played downtown did so for free. Kyle Tharalson lined up the bands and the sound system, Lindquist said. Lindquist thanked businesses that sold carnival tickets and changed
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hours of operation to allow event coordinators to shut down streets. “We sold more buttons this year when it was not required than last year when it was required,” said Jeff Thelen, treasurer for CEEF. Miss Farmington and Little Miss contestants sold close to 2,200 Dew Days buttons designed with a sunburst logo by Lisa Dargis from the city staff. Button sales also likely increased after Amy Nielsen, who runs Grand Hall Studio, worked on behalf of the Farmington See Dew Days, 17A
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