The Catholic Spirit has a great story about the seven seniors from Shakopee's championship volleyball team who have played together since their Catholic grade-school days. Before the state tournament, the girls
returned to SACS for Mass and a special blessing from the Rev. Peter Wittman.

Shannon Fiecke 

Minnesota Wild hockey has gotten ugly lately.

No, it's not the team's 7-12-2 record. No, Derek Boogaard isn't making any nastier hits than normal.

It's the mustaches.

A number of Minnesota Wild players are growing mustaches during the month of November in honor of "Movember."

According to the Minnesota Wild Web site, Movember is "changing the face of men's health" by raising funds and awareness for prostate cancer research.

Over the weekend, I spent a couple days with a college friend in her hometown of Fergus Falls.

I've stayed with her family several times over the years, including fall break our junior year in college when I had my first lesson on farming, a lesson which came in handy during writing about corn and soybean yields in Litchfield.

As I stood outside my husbands parents house last weekend in Montevideo I looked at a house across the street. A little old lady was already putting up her Christmas tree. It made me sad to think of her doing it all by herself, not knowing if she had family members to help her or even come celebrate the upcoming holidays with her. So PLEASE don't forget our seniors in the upcoming holiday season. Go visit seniors in your neighborhoods or go to an area nursing homes/assisted living place and bring some holiday cheer!

It has become apparent that there are people in Shakopee who are not "American friendly." At least once a year, I have my flag and flag pole stolen off the front of my house. I chalk that up to kids on scavenger hunts and I really don't pay much attention to it and put up another one. However, between July and October, I have had five flags and flag poles stolen off the front of my house. Talking with neighbors, I have found similar stories and one neighbor has had ****** thrown at her flag. My last flag and pole, didn't even make it 6 days.

Dylan Jackson, a junior at Shakopee High School, was quoted in a column by Star Tribune's Gail Rosenblum about the challenges children of military troops face when their parent is deployed. Jackson's dad has been deployed since February.

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.

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.

South Metro Chorale 2009-2010 Concert Season

"The Sounds of Christmas"
"Cabaret"
Mendelssohn's "Hymn of Praise"

For details please see attached brochure or visit www.southmetrochorale.org

Cub Scouts Pack 619 in Shakopee was mentioned In Scouting Magazine, the pack is mentioned for its collection of canned goods. Cubmaster Rob Crowe is quoted.

Dave Crowley of Shakopee, a big Packers fan, is quoted in Jim Klobuchar's MinnPost column about Favre's performance Sunday at Lambeau Field. Read more here.