Sports Craig holds town hall in Burnsville Page 12A
Lakeville SunThisweek.com
Feb. 1, 2019 • Volume 39 • Number 48
Established 1975
Cold weather puts focus on homeless Several resources available in Dakota County by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
When it’s minus 32 degrees outside and wind is blowing, being inside becomes extremely important. But not everyone in Dakota County has a safe, warm place to stay. “Homelessness doesn’t really know what the weather is going to be,” said Christina Wood-
lee, associate director at Bridge for Youth. “There are people who will be sleeping outside (Tuesday night) for sure. We’re talking life or death.” The Bridge for Youth (www.bridgeforyouth.org) operates in Minneapolis, but serves youths from Dakota County, They provide shelters services for unaccompanied people under the age of 18.
Woodlee said the fastest growing population of those without homes are pregnant young women and people under the age of 18 with a child. “There’s a community gap right now,” Woodlee said. “I don’t think anyone wants to think about homeless babies sleeping outside right now, but there probably are.” Bridge for Youth is planning on launching a
service for pregnant and homeless teens in Minnesota this spring, but for now they’re focused on the increasing number of calls. Woodlee said there’s about 6,000 people under the age of 18 who are homeless in Minnesota on any given night and there’s only about 300 beds available. “There’s thousands of youth sleeping in places that are not safe,” Wood-
lee said. “And it takes about 72 hours for homeless youth to be drawn into prostitution and sex trafficking.” There are several resources for homeless individuals in Dakota County. The Matrix Emergency Shelter (651-319-2153) is operating a temporary winter shelter for 50 adults in Dakota County through mid-April. Currently it’s operat-
ing out of Grace Lutheran Church, 7800 W. County Road 42, in Apple Valley. The shelter is open from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. It serves both dinner and breakfast. The Link’s CORE Drop in Center (612-2057944) runs the daytime services at Grace Lutheran Church from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday for people of all ages. Dakota Woodlands See Weather, 2A
Local fire brings community together Hosanna adopts Two fifth-graders make hot cocoa to support local family
by Kayla Culver SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Waiting outside on New Year’s Eve without any shoes or coats was not the plan the Neyfeld family had for celebrating the beginning of 2019. They also were not expecting the support from the Lakeville community and two fifth-grade Cherry View Elementary students. It was after Tim Neyfeld, his wife Oksana and their three children Max, Yana and Roman finished dinner New Year’s Eve with friends and family that Tim started to smell something similar to cardboard burning. “I opened up the oven and there was nothing there, so I opened up the garage and a big wave of smoke just hit me. I opened up the garage door right away to clear out the smoke, but I think that’s what really got the fire going,” he said. After he realized this could become very dangerous, he quickly yelled, “Hey, we’re on fire,” to everyone in the home.
Index Opinion Sports
4A 17A
Announcements 10A Public Notices
21A
Classifieds
22A
Calendars
26A
new church and rebrands
Rejoice Church in Northfield becomes a part of Hosanna by Kayla Culver
SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Photo submitted
Chloe Cochrane, Addie Kloetzke and their classmate Samantha Ward sitting outside the Cochranes’ home at their hot chocolate stand. The fundraiser raised $950 for the Neyfeld family, who lost their Lakeville home to a fire on New Year’s Eve. Tim grabbed a bucket to Melonie Hagman, the raised $950 for the family try to put out the flames, Neyfelds’ neighbor, set from their hot chocolate but they began hitting the up a GoFundMe page stand. When their Cherryview ceiling and continued to in order to help rebuild their home. The page has Elementary teacher told escalate. The family, all dressed raised $13,945 within the them about the family, the girls knew they wanted to up for the New Year, 28 days it has been live. The Neyfelds’ neigh- do something to help. waited in their car for firebors were not the only “Our teacher told us fighters to arrive. The Lakeville com- ones ready to help. Fifth- about the house that burnt munity quickly respond- graders Chloe Cochrane down. Addie looked at See Fundraiser, 2A ed to the Neyfelds’ loss. and Addie Kloetzke
15322 Galaxie Ave., Suite 219, Apple Valley, MN 55124 952-894-1111 News | 952-846-2033 Public Notices | 763-691-6001 Classified Advertising | 952-392-6888 Delivery | 763-712-3544
&
!""'! !
$
Hosanna Church has moved to a modern look as it has redesigned its logo and rebranded over the last week. The change in look correlates to Hosanna Church officially adopting Rejoice Church in Northfield on Jan. 1, according to Director of Brand Communications Janelle Carbone. “We have a wonderful legacy. The church started in 1980 and has been through many seasons. I think we’re starting a new season and it was time to update our language and our look,” she said. Rejoice Church reached out to Hosanna to ask for its assistance after its lead pastor was called to another church last May. When Hosanna was assisting Rejoice, the two churches started the conversation about creating a partnership.
“It’s become very common for churches to partner. We are better together, leveraging talents and resources to advance our mission and vision,” Carbone said. Carbone said it was a natural move to make because the churches share a similar culture and theology. Dean Swenson, who served at Hosanna Church Lakeville, moved to the new Northfield location to serve as the campus pastor. Swenson served in Lakeville for 14 years leading worship and serving as the marriage and life events pastor. Returning to his hometown in Northfield was another natural move, according to Carbone. Swenson and other campus pastors are emSee Hosanna, 2A