OF TASTEILLE LAKEV sue
in Included
Twin Cities Ballet presents a new twist on ‘The Wizard of Oz’ May 18-19 at the Burnsville PAC. See Thisweekend Page 9A
Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville
this is
MAY 6, 2011
VOLUME 32, NO. 10
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
www.thisweeklive.com
Messages/2A
Announcements/5A
Opinion/6A
Sports/7A
Classifieds/10A
Mother’s Day/14A
District 192 administrator has two out-of-state job prospects
An overcast Ironman
by Laura Adelmann
of three finalists considered for the superintendent position in Stillwater Area Public Schools. At the time this went to press, Meeks was one of three finalists for the superintendent position in the State College Area School District in Pennsylvania. Neither Weymouth or Meeks were available for comment for this story. Farmington School Board Chair Tera Lee said she was not surprised to learn that Weymouth was searching for a new job. “I know she’s been looking actively for some time to become a superintendent,� Lee said, adding that she understands Weymouth’s desire to further her career. Lee also expressed confidence in Farmington’s search for new district leadership, stating she thinks they will have a new superintendent in place before Meeks leaves. Under his separation agreement, Meeks can remain in the position until Aug. 31. Check out thisweeklive.com for updates on this story.
THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photo by Rick Orndorf
About 3,000 riders from 15 states turned out for the Minnesota Ironman Bicycle Ride on a cold, grey Sunday, May 1, in Lakeville. The riders (above) navigated unseasonably chilly winds at the intersection of Ipava Avenue and County Road 50. For more photos, go online at www.ThisweekLive.com.
Farmington School District Assistant Superintendent Christine Weymouth is one of the top four candidates selected for superintendent of Marquette Schools in Michigan. The Marquette Public School Board is expected to make its final decision Saturday. In addition, Weymouth is a finalist for the Onalaska School District superintendent position in Onalaska, Wis. and attended a public forum for candidates there Wednesday night, after this edition went to press. Other finalists are Fran Finco, director of Instructional Services for the Onalaska School District, and Jeremy Biehl, district administrator in the Hustisford School District, also in Wisconsin. Meeks, who will leave his post by Aug. 31 under a separation agreement announced Feb. 28, has also made top candidate lists for several superintendent positions over the past several years. Last year, Meeks was a contender to lead the Iowa City School Dis- Laura Adelmann is at laura.adeltrict and in March, Meeks was one mann@ecm-inc.com.
Residents reflect on death of bin Laden by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Nearly a decade ago, retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Joe Repya of Eagan received the terrible news that several acquaintances didn’t make it out of the Pentagon alive on Sept. 11, 2001. Two close friends – Terry Ford and Norm Gottlieb – managed to escape that day unscathed. Now Repya takes solace in knowing that the man who led the 9/11 hijackers – Osama bin Laden – is dead, and that the last thing bin Laden saw was U.S. military personnel “about to dish out justice for what he has done.� Bin Laden was killed in a raid of his compound Sunday in Abbottbad, Pakistan,
Kuyper ‘delighted’ to hear of Bin Laden’s death, no U.S. soldiers hurt by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Upon learning Sunday that the terrorist leader of the 9-11 attack on America, Osama bin Laden, was shot and killed by U.S. troops, Farmington Warrior to Citizen coordinator Annette Kuyper said she was “delighted.� Still jubilant Monday morning, Kuyper said she is equally thrilled that no U.S. soldiers were injured in the according to national reports. “This will never bring back those who died that day, but it is a tremendous event – it’s everything we’ve worked for,� Repya said.
Grand jury indicment in Lakeville ‘bees’ crash on I-35 A semi driver rear-ended two cars, killing the drivers and an unborn child by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
drove one of the cars. She died at the scene. Kari Rasmussen, 24, of St. Anthony, and her unborn child died at North Memorial Hospital. Rasmussen had been eight weeks pregnant. According to the Dakota County Attorney’s Office: Despite MnDOT warning signs about a lane closure ahead, Styrbicky did not brake or slow his semi and rammed into the rear of both cars. He told investigators with the Minnesota State Patrol that he was reaching down to the floor of his truck’s cab to retrieve an energy drink. The State Patrol investigation found that Styrbicky was driving without his required corrective eyeglass lenses.
A Dakota County grand jury returned an indictment today charging Jason Styrbicky, 37, of Buffalo, with three counts of criminal vehicular homicide and one count of careless driving for his connection to traffic deaths in a crash last year near County Road 70 and I-35 in Lakeville. On May 24, 2010, at about 11:30 a.m., Styrbicky had been driving his semi at full speed when he rear-ended two stopped vehicles, crushing them between his vehicle and that of the semi in front of him, according to the Dakota County Attorney’s office. The crash unleashed bees stored in the other semi, hindering rescue efforts. Pamela Brinkhaus, E-mail Aaron Vehling at aar50, of Elko New Market, on.vehling@ecm-inc.com.
General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
planned operation, carried out in Pakistan during a secret early morning raid. Kuyper said she and her husband were watching local news when the announcement came, and they began switching stations to find out more about the attack. “We were so delighted,� she said, laughing. “And we’ve had it on the news all morning. I could hardly sleep last See Kuyper, 15A
Shortly after 9/11 Repya, 65, came out of retirement to fight in Iraq, where several friends died in battle. The decorated veteran previously served in Vietnam and Desert Storm.
Repya said he believes those who have and are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan deserve recognition for their efforts, which have helped operatives make steps in defeating Al-Qaeda.
“They’ve done a marvelous job and should be applauded,� he said. Though Al-Qaeda’s leader is dead, the United States and Middle East are no safer than before, Repya emphasized. “We cut off the head of the big snake,� he said. “But there are still a lot of little snakes looking to attack.� The prospect worries Penny Brevig of Lakeville, whose son, Jason, is serving in Afghanistan. Jason had just arrived in Afghanistan, to drive tanks for the Army, on the very same day of bin Laden’s death. “I’m curious if he knew about it. Did they tell him in-flight? On the ground?� See Reaction, 8A
Residents invited to honor late veterans Thisweek Newspapers invites people to honor Dakota County residents who have died and served in the U.S. military in a Memorial Day special section. To honor someone, send a photo and information (name, hometown, branch of service) to editor.thisweek@ ecm-inc.com by Thursday, May 19.
Class keeps kids ‘avid’ about future success Organizational, social, academic skills emphasized in close-knit setting in Lakeville by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
It was a Monday morning at Lakeville North High School and a cadre of freshmen entered the media center with a level of excitement and focus often reserved for far more recreational weekend activities. The students in Amy Goldsworthy’s class are part of Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), an elective class designed to put kids on a track toward not only getting into college but staying there and excelling. AVID was started in San Diego in the early 80s and has spread all over since then. Since the 2008-2009 school year Lakeville’s high schools have hosted the class. Alondra Vega, one of the AVID students, said she registered for the class specifically because of the college prep element. “I’m dedicated to going to college,� Vega said. “It’s a priority.� That post-secondary message is pervasive. Wells
Photo by Aaron Vehling
Internationally-renowned artist Ta-coumba Aiken (wearing the green polo shirt) instructs students of one of Lakeville North’s AVID classes in the finer points of mural painting. This artistic outlet offers the students in the highly rigorous college preparatory class a chance to exercise their creative instincts. said 97 percent of AVID students attend some form of college or university. “They are prepared to be successful and complete college,� she said.
The course is aimed toward what can be an underrepresented group of kids: those in the middle, said Stacy Wells, the Integration and Equity Coordinator for
Lakeville Public Schools. “There are lots of enrichment opportunities for those doing well (gifted and talented and high-achievers) See Class, 14A
ďż˝
&
!""'! !
$