Rosemount author LG Bradshaw will speak about his new novel, “Dot to Dot,� on Sept. 14 at the Robert Trail Library. SEE STORY IN THISWEEKEND PAGE 7A
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville AUGUST 27, 2010
VOLUME 31, NO. 26
www.thisweeklive.com
Opinion/5A
Real Estate/9A
Public Notices/10A
Sports/11A
Classifieds/12A
Announcements/16A
Farmington School Board chair Bob Heman resigns by Kara Hildreth THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
The Farmington School Board accepted the resignation of its chair Bob Heman at the Monday, Aug. 23, school b o a r d meeting. Bob Heman Heman resigned from the school board effective Thursday, Aug. 19. He also withdrew his candidacy to run for re-election after filing last week. Asked why he resigned, Heman said he was devot-
FARMINGTON ing too much time to serving on the board and the workload became more than a part-time job. Working to maintain a balance between work and family, Heman said all his time off was devoted to the school board. “My time was very rewarding, and I got to see a lot of changes throughout the district,� he said. “I have seen tremendous gains everywhere in the district.� Heman served from 1994 to 2001, and returned in 2006 to run for school board when there
was a lack of interest and an uncontested election. “It is time to step aside and let someone else do the job,� said Heman. Heman’s colleagues on the board thanked Heman for his years of service. “I was disheartened when I heard he had resigned because we are losing a very effective board member – one who cared deeply about this district and the students in the district,� said John Kampf, school board member. Kampf served for many years and many board terms alongside Heman. Kampf thanked Heman See Heman, 6A
Photos by Jessica Harper
Gardens of Eagan grows certified organic fruits and vegetables at its 100-acre farm in Farmington.
Photo by Jessica Harper
Mykola Nicolaichuk, an agriculture exchange student from Ukraine, tediously hand-picks edamame, young soybean pods, at Gardens of Eagan.
Organic farm hopes to Seven candidates vie for two seats on Farmington City Council raise money for educational program by Kara Hildreth THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Seven Farmington residents are seeking two open seats on the Farmington City Council. Two incumbents – Christy Jo Fogarty and Steve Wilson – will fight to defend their council
FARMINGTON
seats. Five other residents have thrown their hats in the ring. Christy Jo Fogarty, city council member since 2002, said she will seek reelection for the final time. Fogarty works as a den-
tal hygienist in Hastings. She has three children with her husband, Steven, a Minneapolis police officer. As the chair of the Farmington Economic Development Authority, Fogarty has served on sevSee Council, 6A
Lakeville man charged for alleged role in Ponzi scheme Authorities say man bilked banks out of $80 million by Derrick Williams THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
A Lakeville man federal prosecutors say is behind an $80 million Ponzi scheme has been charged with fraud and filing a false income tax return. Corey Noel Johnston, 40, is accused of running the same kind of financial fraud that sent Minnesota businessman Tom Petters and national businessman Bernie Madoff to jail. According to a report in the Star Tribune, federal prosecutors in Minneapolis allege Johnston arranged the fraud from 2005 to March 2009.
LAKEVILLE The report said federal and state court records show Johnston, through his business services company First United Funding LLC, arranged multimilliondollar commercial and personal loans and then sold the loans back to banks to receive repayment directly. However, Johnston oversold them, resulting in a loss of $79.5 million for 17 different lenders. A phone message left to a number listed for First United Funding wasn’t immediately returned. According to the report,
the lawsuit alleged Johnston used the money on personal expenses including payments for corporate jets and vacations. The report says federal prosecutors believe Johnston falsely reported a 2005 taxable income of $383,000, while concealing $1.37 million he allegedly used to renovate his Lakeville home. If convicted of bank fraud, Johnston faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. E-mail Derrick Williams at: lakeville.thisweek@ecm-inc. com
Fund raising dinner set for Sept. 11; portion of proceeds will also go toward food shelves by Jessica Harper DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
For the past two years, Gardens of Eagan, an organic cooperative farm in Farmington, has been working to educate the public about the benefits of organic cultivation through a nonprofit program called Organic Field School. The only problem is the school is struggling to find funding. The solution — a Farm Fresh Dinner on Saturday Sept. 11 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the 100-acre farm at 25494 Highview Ave. in Farmington to raise funds for the school. “Raising awareness is as important as raising money,� said Linda Halley, farm manager at Gardens of Eagan. “Most people think organic farming is just about farming without chemicals ... but the main message is that orSee Gardens, 10A
Photo by Jessica Harper
Katie Greene searches for ripe tomatoes at Garden of Eagan in Farmington. Produce grown and harvested at the farm is sold at cooperatives in the metro.
Baldy’s gets liquor license After 10 months, Baldy’s BBQ allowed to sell beer by Derrick Williams
LAKEVILLE
THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
When Baldy’s BBQ opened last October it was Lakeville’s only barbecue restaurant. It was also the first restaurant in years to have a liquor license request denied. But after 10 months, and a partnership shake-up, owner Brian Wheeler finally got his liquor license in July. “It’s a good thing, I’ll tell you that,� Wheeler, 35, said after his application was approved. Lakeville’s City Council denied Wheeler’s application for a liquor license last year after having issues Photo by Derrick Williams
Brian Wheeler, 35, opened Baldy’s BBQ last October, but Lakeville’s City Council denied a liquor license at the time because of Wheeler and his business partner’s past criminal history. In July, however, the City Council approved a 3.2 license, now allowing him to sell beer. General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
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The Lakeville City Council, which had named longtime businessman Jerry Erickson a city “pioneer� shortly before his death on July 30, is dedicating a plaque to Erickson’s memory at a ceremony Sunday, Jerry Aug. 29, at Erickson Pioneer Plaza in downtown Lakeville. The plaque will be dedicated at a brief ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the park, which is at 20801 Holyoke Ave. The public is invited. Erickson founded Erickson Drug, the Ben Franklin store and was a founder of the city’s annual Panorama of Progress celebration, its chamber of commerce and its youth baseball program.
The Dakota County Tribune is your source for Business information south of the river.
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with criminal background checks done on him and his business partner, Sonny Mann. “We were both young once, you know,� Wheeler said at the time. “The stuff we did in the past, it’s just that, the past. I have a wife and a kid now.� But with Mann no longer a partner, Lakeville’s City Council was amenable to a different license this time around. The council approved a 3.2 liquor license, allowing Wheeler to sell beer and malt beverages only. Located at 11276 210th St. W., near the County Road 70 and Interstate 35 interchange, the restaurant features dine-in and take-out options and the menu includes appetizers, children’s items, entrees with traditional barbecue fare, and catering.
Lakeville honors Jerry Erickson
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