Thisweek Farmington and Lakeville

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R EASTE IP H S WOR E GUID this

‘The Story of Music, Stories from Home’ comes to the Lakeville Area Arts Center. See Thisweekend Page 8A.

A NEWS OPINION SPORTS

Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville APRIL 15, 2011

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VOLUME 32, NO. 7

www.thisweeklive.com

Announcements/5A

Public Notices/5A

Opinion/6A

Sports/7A

Classifieds/10A

Golf Guide/16A

Man vandalizes All Saints altar during Mass April 9 Off-duty police officer, parishioners restrain man who threw liquid, yelled ‘I hate Christians’ by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

A Lakeville man is facing charges in Dakota County after he allegedly desecrated the altar during Mass on April 9 at All Saints Catholic Church. Towa rd the begin- Steven Fay ning of the service at the Lakeville church, Steven Richard Fay, 34, approached the altar, turned toward the parishioners and opened a jar containing a yellow liquid believed to be urine, according to the criminal complaint. He proceeded to pour the liquid on the altar, the complaint said, which sullied the altar’s linen adorn-

ment and stained the Book of Gospels. As Fay attempted to leave the church, an off-duty police officer from South Dakota sought to restrain Fay, but Fay fought back, said Lakeville Police Chief Thomas Vonhof. The criminal complaint only identifies the off-duty officer by the initials “J.G.� “The man took a swing (at the police officer),� Vonhof said. After J.G. was able to restrain him, Fay slipped out of his jacket and made a run for it, the complaint said. Parishioners stepped in to assist J.G. with restraining Fay. According to the complaint, while the parishioners were holding him down, Fay yelled, “I hate Christians.�

Father Thomas Wilson said the man was not a parishioner and was not familiar to him. Wilson said that on Saturday evening the archdiocese gave him permission to reconsecrate the altar, which he did on Sunday morning before Mass. Wilson said the event was shocking, and that most property crimes involving churches he has encountered have centered on stolen property, not vandalism. “By all accounts, it’s a disturbed man,� he said. Fay has been in the Dakota County Jail since Saturday. He is being charged with one count of seconddegree criminal damage to property. E-mail Aaron Vehling at aaron. vehling@ecm-inc.com.

Photo by Laura Adelmann

Farmington Schools Superintendent Brad Meeks talked with district staff after the April 11 Farmington School Board meeting where several speakers cited concerns about recent leadership changes, including Meeks’ resignation.

Is Burke to blame for Farmington School Board problems? Burke considered resigning from the board by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Rollover with no injuries

Photo by Mike Jetchick

Two vehicles struck each other near Pizza Hut on Kenrick Avenue in Lakeville on Monday morning. According to police, one car failed to yield to the other, resulting in a collision and one of the vehicles flipping over; the injuries were not life-threatening.

He has been censured by fellow 2010 Farmington School Board members for allegedly violating board conduct codes, investigated for possible violations of data privacy laws, publicly criticized for recent district upheaval and may be drawn into a legal battle related to the investigation. So, has Farmington School Board Member Tim Burke considered resigning from the school board? “Yeah, I did,� Burke said, noting that he strongly contemplated the option this past November, December and early January. Burke said at the time, he consulted others for advice about the option. “Not one of them said I should quit,� Burke said. Since making that decision, Burke has been criticized by commenters on ThisweekLive.com, by speakers during the public comment portion of meetings, and fellow board

members have voiced frustrations about his actions during meetings. B u r k e ’s public batTim Burke tles with Superintendent Brad Meeks have led to some accusations that Burke is to blame for Meeks’ resignation, a contention Burke denies. “The things that have caused him to resign were not things I did ‌ I think there were issues he had to deal with and chose not to,â€? Burke said. Meeks did not return calls seeking comment. Tensions, heightened in the district for years, have recently been magnified by the additional resignations of the district’s human resources director and finance director. Additionally, the board is struggling with arduous budget decisions. In March, the board passed an unexpected vote to cut the director of administrative services position and three support staff members. Those kinds of major

Annual People’s Fair returns to Lakeville Celebration of diversity enters its 13th year by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

The 2010 Census Bureau numbers indicate Lakeville’s non-white residents comprise 11 percent of the population, an increase from 6 percent in 2000. So it may seem as if diversity is in its nascent stages in Lakeville; but it is not. Since 1999, Lakeville public schools and area businesses have sponsored the People’s Fair, a celebration of the city’s many diverse groups of people. The event celebrates its 13th year from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on April 19 at Lakeville North High School. Featuring the diverse musical, culinary and artistic creations of both local students and an array of guests, the People’s Fair is designed to “present diversity in a positive

Photo submitted

The Mu Daiko Taiko Drummers will be among the groups performing at Lakeville’s 13th annual People’s Fair, a celebration of the diversity in Lakeville. light,� said Renee Brekken, public schools Community tional component (to it),� enrichment and market- Education. said Brekken, who is spearing director for Lakeville “There’s also an educa- heading the event along

with a committee of community members. “People are able to learn about people and groups different from themselves.� Students from all of District 194’s schools are involved, as are community members and guests, Brekken said. The Duniya Drum and Dance group, led by master drummer Fode Bangoura, will perform its West African rhythms. Mu Daiko Taiko, a group that performs Japanese drumming worldwide, will offer its brand of rhythmic persuasion. Two local dance schools will also contribute to the entertainment. Holly’s Centre Stage Dance and the South Metro Dance Academy will each put on a performance sourced in the diverse expressions of humanity. See Fair, 9A

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More ISD 192 students plan for college, try drugs by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Most Farmington students are planning for college while avoiding alcohol and illegal drugs. But starting at younger ages, between 13 and 14 years old, some are engaging in risky behavior that includes drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana or hashish, a more potent form of marijuana. According to results of the Minnesota Student Survey, given every three years to sixth-, ninth-, and 12thgrade students, between 1 and 3 percent of those surveyed said they were under 10 years old when they first tried marijuana. No sixth-graders reported smoking the drug, but its use has risen among ninthand 12th-grade students since 2007, the last time the See Students, 16A

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decisions and changes have motivated principals, teachers and parents to raise concerns at board meetings about district direction and the board’s leadership style. Many of the speakers have intimated Burke is to blame for parts of the district’s situation and news coverage that some have said hurts the reputation of Farmington and its schools. At the April 11 meeting, parent Amee Christensen said she’s frustrated “one member of this board� has allowed the district to be cast in a negative and demeaning light. Bill Donohoe, another district parent, said the school board’s cohesiveness and positive working relationship have been eroded and he questioned whether the board’s focus has been on personal agendas. His comments echoed some that have been directed at Burke on the Thisweek Newspaper website. Burke said Meeks’ resignation was not his goal, but reiterated his belief the district needs new leadership. “Does that translate into me wanting to get him fired? See Burke, 9A

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