By Shannon Fiecke, Staff Writer 

There are still months of budget discussions left, but Scott County commissioners are prepared to cap growth of the main county taxes to at least 5.8 percent.

Reaching back to its rural, agricultural roots as it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is proud to present an exhibit of paintings showcasing a vanishing American icon – the painted barn.

Three Rivers Park District is offering several opportunities to get out and experience a park at night! Enjoy a naturalist-led hike under the Snake Moon, or hike Gale Woods Farm and paddle Whaletail Lake, or take a moonlit paddle on Bryant Lake.

Christopher David Kleven, 44, of Prior Lake, passed away Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008 as a result of a fatal auto accident in Gillette, Wyo.

Visitation will be Thursday, Sept. 4, from 4-7 p.m. and one hour prior to the celebration of life service on Friday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m., all at Transfiguration Lutheran Church, 11000 France Avenue South, Bloomington.

Funeral arrangements by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Prior Lake, 952-447-2633. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com

Dar Laing, 67, of Shakopee, has passed away.

Memorial service is Friday, Sept. 5, 2008 at 10 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 7800 West County Road 42, Apple Valley, Minn. Family will receive friends one hour prior to service at the church.

Full notice will be in next week’s Shakopee Valley News.

Condolences may be left at www.mcnearneyfuneralhome.com Funeral arrangements are being handled by the McNearney Funeral Home, Shakope, 952-445-2755.

Marty Fritz, 48, of Jordan, died Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 in Henderson, Minn.

Memorial service is Tuesday, Sept. 2, at the Bertas Funeral Home, Chaska.

Funeral arrangements are with the Bertas Funeral Home of Chaska, 952-448-2137.

Nearly 50 percent of those participating in the 2008 House of Representatives State Fair Poll support raising the state’s sales tax by three-eighths of 1 percent with the money dedicated to the environment and arts.

During the 12-day run of the Minnesota State Fair, 7,465 fairgoers took the poll conducted by nonpartisan House Public Information Services. It is an informal, unscientific survey on issues discussed in prior legislative sessions and may again be topics of discussion.