The breast cancer fundraiser concert Jug Jam returns to Lakeville. See Thisweekend Page 12A
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville MAY 27, 2011
VOLUME 32, NO. 13
www.thisweeklive.com
Public Notices/3A
Announcements/5A
Opinion/6A
Memorial Day/10A
Classifieds/13A
Helicopter crashes into Lake Marion Pilot aimed for water to avoid collateral damage by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
A helicopter crashed into the north side of Lake Marion, near Orchard Trail in Lakeville, at about noon on Tuesday, May 24. The pilot, operating a helicopter contracted by the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD), was spreading pesticide on a nearby swamp when he encountered problems, said Mike McLean of the MMCD. When it became clear that a crash was imminent, the pilot aimed the Bell 47 helicopter craft toward the lake to minimize harm to the neighborhood, according to Dakota County Sheriff Dave Bellows and McLean. Richard Artes, who has lived on Lake Marion for 27 years, said he heard a “big whoosh sound� while he was on the
Rossan, of Michigan, survived the crash but suffered a back injury and was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center, Bellows said. Before that, as Rossan was swimming toward the shore, he yelled out to Artes and a neighbor that his back hurt and it was tough to swim. Artes said neither he nor his neighbor was in physical shape to swim out to Rossan, but they tried to lure him in with some two-by-fours they had lying around. After about three or four minutes, Artes said, a group of wake-boarders showed up in their boat. Photo by Aaron Vehling Trevor Pearson, 27, of This is all that could be seen of a helicopter the Metropolitan Mosquito Control Dis- Bloomington was drivtrict contracted to spread pesticides on Tuesday, May 24. The pilot, 35-year-old Kevin ing the boat. He and five Rossan, purposely crashed it into the north side of Lake Marion to avoid collateral friends were wakeboarddamage. ing when they saw the hephone with his daughter. merged helicopter – with 35, struggling to main- licopter go down. “He was falling,� Artes said he ran out- only its blades showing – tain himself in the water side and saw the sub- and pilot Kevin Rossan, behind his yard. See Helicopter, 19A
Sports/16A
Herlofsky led city through difficult time Departing Farmington administrator: Some public criticism ‘unfair’ by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Development and the economy were booming when Farmington City Adm i n i s t rat o r Peter Herlofsky began his tenure with the city in 2006. After unexpectedly resigning from Herlofsky his post in March, Herlofsky will serve his last day leading the city May 31. When he started, Farmington’s future looked promising: The city’s tumultuous lawsuit with the Farmington School District regarding the location of Farmington High School had been resolved, and both sides were meeting to see the project was built. See Herlofsky, 20A
Photo by Aaron Vehling Photo by Laura Adelmann
Photo by Laura Adelmann
Thomas Murray, 5, smiled after receiving stickers from a Farmington firefighter after a fire at his home in Farmington. The firefighters had also given him a hat and teddy bear, which he clung to for hours afterward.
Michaela O’Brien, 17, was comforted by her mother, Kathleen Kaikkonen, after learning her beloved pet bearded dragon perished in the blaze that occurred at their home on Upper 182nd Street on May 23.
Photo by Jamie Matteson
Smoke and flames tore through the roof of Kathleen Kaikkonen’s Farmington home May 23.
Woman, grandson escape burning home Electrical problems suspected as cause of Farmington fire by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
A grandmother clutched her grandson and escaped her burning Farmington home, May 23. As soon as Kathleen Kaikkonen realized her
house, located at 479 Upper 182 St., was on fire, she grabbed 5-year-old Thomas Murray, the grandson she was babysitting, and ran to a neighbor’s home. A handyman was working on the electrical outlets at Kaikkonen’s home at the time of the fire also escaped without injury, but the family’s pet bearded dragon perished in the blaze.
A pregnant cat is thought to have survived by escaping through the garage. Lakeville and Farmington firefighters responded to the fire after receiving a report of smoke in the attic of the home, located at 5479 Upper 182 St., at about 10 a.m. Todd Kindseth, the Farmington Fire Department’s rescue assistant
chief, said firefighters were forced to break through thick insulation and sheetrock to reach the source of the fire. Eventually, they extinguished it, but left behind a gaping hole in the roof. The home also was damaged by water and smoke. Most people who lived in the home were at work See Fire, 20A
Lakeville municipal liquor study progresses Consultant recommends phases dependent on council aspirations by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Lakeville will take a phased approach to its study of municipal liquor stores. Earlier this year, the City Council voted to conduct the study into the liquor op-
erations, which earn more than $1 million a year in profit and are set to expand in the next couple years. City staff chose Shenehon Company over such familiar names as Ehlers and Springsted. Not only was Shenehon’s $56,500 bid the lowest of the four who submitted them, but it also offered something the others did not: a phased approach. Brenda Visnovec, the director of Lakeville’s liquor
operations, said that Shenehon realized the nearly $60,000 bid would be hard for the city to swallow, so it decided to split the process into phases. At a council work session on Monday, May 23, Visnovec presented the options. Phase 1, which would cost $25,000, consists of an analysis of economic impacts, comparisons of liquor operations to licensed private stores, among other
things. If the results led the City Council and staff toward staying in the liquor business, then Shenehon would execute Phase 2A. That would involve comprehensive financial analyses, siting studies and legislative review, among other things. This portion would cost $11,750. But if they decided that it would not be worth investSee Liquor, 18A
About 200 seniors turned out Monday, May 23, to learn about the proposal to house both the senior center and the historical society in the former police station on Holyoke Avenue.
Old police station proposal premieres before seniors Some called for a new Lakeville facility while others wondered why it seems they’re being left behind by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
The plans for a possible Lakeville Senior Center and Historical Society moving to the old police station on Holyoke Avenue made their debut in front of the senior community at mid-day Monday, May 23. About 200 seniors showed up at the Lakeville Area Arts Center downtown to see the plans, commiserate and ask questions of Parks and Recreation Director Steve Michaud and the Historical Society’s Wally Potter. The gathering was also the city government’s way to ascertain the probability of raising money from the community to support the move. But as Michaud and Potter carried on their presentation, the questions came out in full-force and the event became something of a discussion about a variety of topics: intergenerational obligations, advocacy, spending and concerns about the future of the Senior Center. At one point during the Q-and-A session, one man stood up and asked how seniors can advocate for what he considered a small gift to a population that lived for years in the city, giving time, talents and money. “We’re asking for something for people who’ve been giving for all these years,� he said. “What can we do to make people understand?� Though the event was not intended to feature any elected officials, Council Member Matt Little was present. He responded to the question. “(To advocate) you can come (to a city council meeting) and say you’ve built this city and we owe you respect,� Little said. “If you support this move – or if you don’t support this move – come and say that.� See Station, 19A
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