Shakopee, Minnesota |  22 February, 2012 | (952) 445-3333
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Catch Up
Been away? Use this Catch Up section to read all the news, reader submissions and recently posted events that happened while you were gone. All content is sorted from the top of the page from newest to oldest. Just read until you're caught up.
Meeting on environmental impact of first of two proposed area frack mines planned
by Pat Minelli
Recent increases in crude-oil production and rising natural gas prices have created increasing use of silica sand in a process called hydraulic fracturing — also known as “fracking” — which increases the yield of oil and natural gas from deep shale formations. There are two proposals to mine frack sand being considered within Scott County. One, Great Plains Sands, is located at the site of a previous silica mine along the west side of Highway...
Report: State housing market improves, but median home price still lags
by Pat Minelli
The housing market in Minnesota continues to show signs of stabilizing with nine of the 10 key market indicators showing positive movement in January, according to the Minnesota Association of Realtors. However, the median home price is still lagging, said the association, dropping by 0.5 percent in January. Statewide, closed sales for the first month of 2012 were up 6.4 percent and pending sales were up 14.5 percent compared to 2011. Highe...
Obituary for Julie Lynn Selsvold
Julie Lynn Selsvold was born April 17, 1960 in Shakopee, to parents Eugene and Mary (Cizinski) Selsvold. She was the oldest of three children. Julie’s childhood years were spent in Shakopee, where she later graduated from Shakopee High School. Julie enjoyed working for Schwan’s. She especially appreciated her employer and her work associates during her illness as they gave her strength and support during this difficult period. After Julie...
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Improved 169/494 helped Shakopee land 3 projects, report says
by Shannon Fiecke
A report out by Finance and Commerce says the $125 million reconstruction of the Highwy 169/Interstate 494 interchange was a major factor in the city landing three development projects. Trystar , a Faribault-manufacturer, and SanMar , a clothing distributor, both recently announced building plans in the city. In addition, Imagine! Print Solutions is planning a half-million square-foot expansion. The removal of the stoplights at the int...
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On the Web: Shakopee mayor's snow tweet became FOX9 story
FOX9 News did a segment Tuesday night on Shakopee Mayor Brad Tabke's use of social media following Monday's snowfall. The segment focused on a Tuesday morning tweet by Tabke noting that Shakopee streets were unplowed and promising citizens to look into it. He researched city policy to discover Shakopee does not plow with less than 2 inches of snow. FOX9 reporter Jody Ambroz called Tabke's tweet "a very visible gaffe." Tabke also wrot...
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Obituary for Michael J. Monnens
Michael Monnens, 48, of Shakopee, died Monday, Feb. 20, 2012 at his residence in Shakopee, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Shakopee, May 30, 1963 to Clarence and Betty (Meuwissen) Monnens. He and Kristy (Benson) were married Aug. 18, 1990 on Lake Minnetonka, Excelsior, MN. For over 30 years, Mike has been a “perfectionist carpenter”. He was a meticulous craftsman, and for the last 25 years, he and his brother, Jim, owned ...
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Savvy.mn: An evening with Gloria Steinem
by Sara Glassman
Feminist activist Gloria Steinem is known for spreading her wisdom through writing, producing, lecturing and as one-time editor of Ms. Magazine. Lucky for Minnesotans, Beth El Synagogue invited her to speak as part of their Inspiring Minds series, which has previously featured Jane Goodall and Deepak Chopra. Steinem will share her reflections on “Feminism: the Longest Revolution,” which will provide a perspective on the meaning of equality a...

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It's Greek to me
The "Greek Squad" took over Jackson Elementary last week during the school's Read-a-Thon Feb. 17. Students in Alisha Clarey’s classroom were reading Greek mythology, so her fifth-graders dressed like Greek gods and goddesses to introduce the books. The students posed like a "wax museum," sharing tidbits about the history of their figure. Each classroom had a different theme based on a genre of books, topic, series of books or author. Phot...
Lauren Peterson in her 2011 senior class photo.
Lauren Peterson in her 2011 senior class photo.
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UPDATE: Principal, cheer coach react to PLHS grad's death
by Alex Hall and Meryn Fluker
Lauren Peterson, an 18-year old from Prior Lake and a student at North Dakota State University, was killed Monday afternoon when she lost control of her vehicle in snowy conditions on Interstate 94 just west of Alexandria and swerved into oncoming traffic, according to the State Patrol. According to the State Patrol accident report, Peterson was driving westbound on Interstate Highway 94 in heavy snow and fog when she lost control, crossed th...
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Former para sentenced to 90 days for sex act with student
by Shannon Fiecke
Former Shakopee teacher's aide Michelle Rose Chlan was sentenced in Dakota County District Court today to 90 days in jail and 15 years of probation for performing sexual acts on a male student in her car behind a Burnsville department store in 2009. Chlan, who was fired this April from the Shakopee School District, pleaded guilty in December to one felony count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Two charges involving similar alleged in...
City Council passes resolution in support of racino
by Shannon Fiecke
Right after approving a multi-agency agreement with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota Community to work collaboratively on land-use planning, the Shakopee City Council approved a resolution the tribe doesn't support. The council voted 5-0 Tuesday night for a resolution supporting racino legislation, which would allow video gaming at Canterbury Park. Prior Lake's City Council previously passed a resolution opposing a racino. At the prompting...
Letter from Feb. 16
Council should rescind vote on prison fence To the mayor and Shakopee City Council: This past Wednesday you passed a motion favoring a fence around the women’s correctional facility with four in favor and one abstaining. Apparently you were not aware of the non-conforming conditional-use permit process or you did not understand it. Unless there has been a change, here’s how it works. When the state of Minnesota and Minnesota Department of ...
Valleyfair names new vice president, general manager
Cedar Fair announced today that Dave Frazier has been named vice president and general manager of Valleyfair Amusement Park. Frazier, 46, has more than 25 years of experience in the amusement and theme park industry, according to a press release . He spent 17 years within Cedar Fair beginning in 1984, including six years at Valleyfair in various seasonal roles. Most recently he served as the general manager of Nickelodeon Universe, an indoo...
Editorial: Governor’s support for bridge project welcome
From the Feb. 16 Shakopee Valley News Kudos to Gov. Mark Dayton and his staff for making good on a promise to return to Shakopee to tackle the County Road 101 river crossing project and for realizing its regional importance in pledging support for raising the crossing. During a tour of the area during the spring flooding last year, Dayton pledged to return to the area to talk river crossings. State Sen. Claire Robling, R-Jordan, reminded h...
Jackson and Louisville Townships are brought in to share a house district with Shakopee, while Prior Lake is split off. The Supreme Court metro map is misleading, however, because it cuts off the southern part of the new house district 55B.
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UPDATED: Redistricting scrambles Scott County
by Shannon Fiecke
Prior Lake and most of Shakopee are split from each other in a new House district map just released by the state Supreme Court, although the cities continue to share a Senate district. ( See court plans ) Most of Shakopee is now paired with Louisville and Jackson townships in a House district called 55A. These rural Shakopee townships were formely combined with Carver County. Prior Lake is now paired with Jordan in a House district (55B)...
Friendship Manor residents Gwen Ballinger, left, and John Hovanitz. Submitted photo.
Friendship Manor residents Gwen Ballinger, left, and John Hovanitz. Submitted photo.
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The royal couple
Gwen Ballinger, left, and John Hovanitz were crowned Queen and King of Friendship Manor Feb. 14 during the home's annual Valentine's Day festivities. The royal couple's duties include telling jokes, greeting and smiling at guests and playing cards. Eleven couples also enjoyed a Sweetheart Luncheon with music by Loren Wolfe. The day ended with Valentine's bingo.
Lauren J. Peterson in her senior class photo.
Lauren J. Peterson in her senior class photo.
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Prior Lake woman, 18, among four college students killed in crash
by Pat Minelli
A Prior Lake woman was among four college roommates killed on their way back to school in North Dakota Monday near Alexandria, according to the State Patrol. Lauren J. Peterson, 18, a 2011 graduate of Prior Lake High School, was the driver of the vehicle that crashed in heavy snow and fog on Interstate Highway 94 west of Alexandria, said the State Patrol. Also killed were Peterson’s passengers: Jordan N. Playle, 19, of Elk River; Megan R. Sa...
Shakopee, Prior Lake Councils to discuss planning group involving tribe
by Lori Carlson and Shannon Fiecke
Both the Shakopee and Prior Lake City Councils will discuss a plan Tuesday night to establish a committee among leaders from Prior Lake, Shakopee, Scott County and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota Community. Council members said at a meeting in January that they hope city, county and tribal staff can establish a sort of joint planning council to address land-ownership and other issues between them. Prior Lake leaders recently decided not to c...
UPDATE: Shakopee to get 2-4 inches of snow; roads are very slick
by Pat Minelli
Shakopee will receive 2 to 4 inches of snow, mainly before 1 a.m. this evening, according to the National Weather Service office in Chanhassen. Roads are already slippery and will continue to be so throughout the evening. Tuesday is expected to be mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow and a high of 37 degrees.
GOP, DFL plan redistricting bashes
by Shannon Fiecke
With the Minnesota Supreme Court's redistricting panel set to announce new legislative and congressional districts at 1 p.m. Tuesday, local Republicans and Democrats are both planning parties. Scott County is likely gain at least one legislative seat due to its growth and the burgeoning congressional District 2 must shed approximately 60,000 residents. REPUBLICAN GATHERING  Some of the state’s top Republican activists, conservative blogg...
Plaids, pleats and pastels
Fashion stylist Latrenda Schechter (www.ruby-madison.com) will be offering complimentary fashion ...
'Rehab Addict' returns Feb. 23
Savvy covergirl and Minneapolis resident Nicole Curtis returns to the DIY network for the second ...
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EP boys hockey: Health to determine section success
In near-unanimous fashion, the Eden Prairie High School boys hockey team was awarded the No....
EP swim/dive team stays on goal-seeking task
If the Eden Prairie High School swim/dive team was working off a grocery list, it would be h...
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« oldman1 wrote on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 07:12 PM »
How far will this publicity hound go to get his...
« Big_Phish wrote on Wednesday, Feb 22 at 01:08 PM »
Defendingfreedom: What is the "raising my Child...
« defendingfreedom wrote on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 05:06 PM »
This is the place that I am raising my children...
« chuck.berg wrote on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 02:36 PM »
This was exactly the map I had hoped for. If I ...
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