The Scott County HHW Facility will be closed on Wednesday, November 11, in order to observe Veterans Day.

The Scott County HHW Facility and RE-USE Room are located at 588 Country Trail East (Hwy 282) in Spring Lake Township, just ½ miles west of the intersection of MN Highways 13 and 282 and County Road 17.

The Shakopee High School volleyball team, the two-time defending Class AAA champions, play Chaska at 6 p.m. today for the Section 2 championship at Chanhassen High School.

Read updates on the progress of the match on this web site tonight.

By Todd Abeln, Sports Editor

NORTHFIELD -- Shakopee High School ninth-grader Maria Hauger won the Class AA girls state cross country championship this morning in Northfield.

Hauger's winning time was 14:40.8, and she topped the second-place finisher by about a second.

As a team, the Saber girls finished eighth in the state.

In the boys' state race, Trent Lusignan finished in 13th place. 

By Mollee Francisco, Correspondent 

Chaska violin maker Tom Carlson took home fifth place in the Violin Makers Association
of Arizona International Competition last month. It was his best showing to date for one of his violins.

“We’re consistently improving,” he said. “I’m happy with it.”

Those following the reconstruction project on First Avenue in Shakopee may want to attend a special City Council meeting next Tuesday.

City councilors will receive an update on the First Avenue/County Road 101 redesign, proposed between Spencer Street and Marschall Road, from consultant Bolton and Menk.

A group of interested businesses and community leaders have been meeting periodically since June to review and discuss issues regarding the anticipated reconstruction.

A couple people have asked me what's being built by Home Depot in the Southbridge area. No, it's not a new building.

Crews are constructing a right-in, right-out turn lane onto County Road 18. This is something the developer (and city) were seeking to spur business development in that area.

Developer Steve Soltau had said he couldn't get businesses to come in without that access. The county finally agreed to allow the connection when negotiating with the city about the Co. Rd. 21 extention project. The work is being financed by Soltau's company.

Shakopee continues to be the Twin Cities leader in new-housing permits and for the number of housing units planned, according to the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC),

 Shakopee was the top city in the metro area with 54 permits issued in October, followed by Blaine (30), Maple Grove (24), Woodbury (23) and Lakeville (20).

Shakopee High School invites fans to wear red as it takes on Chaska High School in the Section 2A final Saturday.

The undefeated Shakopee volleyball team competes against Chaska at 6 p.m. Saturday at Chanhassen High School, 2200 Lyman Blvd., Chanhassen.

By Shawn Hogendorf, Correspondent 

Citations were issued to two Prior Lake High School students after an unannounced drug sweep was conducted on the school campus the day before Halloween.

No narcotics or contraband were found inside the school on Oct. 30, but K-9 drug dogs did alert Dakota County Drug Task Force agents to a number of vehicles in the parking lot, according to Capt. Dave Muelken. In all, more than 10 vehicles were searched, but narcotics were only located in two.

I love the smell of off-season trades.

The Twins need to get over the hump - you know, win a couple playoff games. And they need to do it in the off season.

Going into October, most will agree signing Joe Mauer to a multi-year deal is the team's top priority. It has to get done. Fixing their weak spots comes to No. 2.