Canterbury Park has proposed a 62-day racing season in 2009, five fewer days than this year’s meet.

By Shawn Hogendorf, Correspondent

Police are investigating a second threat to Prior Lake High School received by e-mail Tuesday morning.

The school earlier received a threat of a potential incident at the school that could happen Thursday morning.

Late Tuesday afternoon, a bomb threat to the school was discovered for today.

Some deadlines for the Shakopee Valley News will change next week due to the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday.

The newspaper will be delivered on Wednesday next week. The newspaper office will be closed on Thursday but reopen on Friday.

U.S. Rep. John Kline today announced a lottery for constituents who would like tickets to attend the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.

Residents of Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District who want to be entered into the ticket lottery should call Kline’s Burnsville office at (952) 808-1213 or office in Washington at (202) 225-2271 not later than noon on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

The owner of Valleyfair said today the Shakopee amusement park will add a wave pool and expand its water park in 2009.

Operation: Kid Gloves was started in 2003 by Michael Chance, now a sixth-grader at Shakopee Middle School. Through the program, new winter clothing is collected for disadvantaged children locally and around the world.

Items collected this year will be distributed to children in an impoverished orphanage in Borzna, Ukraine, and to a missions program at Grace Church of Eden Prairie.

By Shawn Hogendorf and Pat Minelli, Staff Writers

Ruth Anne Maddox was only weeks away from being free from her troubled marriage and back in her home state of Indiana when she was found beaten to death in her Prior Lake home Wednesday.

By Shawn Hogendorf, Correspondent

On Wednesday morning, Ruth Anne Maddox was supposed to write the news, not make the headlines.

When Ruth Anne got out of bed in the morning, the world became a brighter place. After she was found murdered in her Prior Lake home early Wednesday, a dark cloud was cast over those who knew her both as a friend and respected journalist throughout the community.

Her wit, love of words, grammar and ability to tell a story was unparalleled, colleagues said.

Dear Readers:

We at the Shakopee Valley News and Southwest Newspapers can't begin to thank you for the notes and words of kindness we've received regarding the tragic death of our dear friend and colleague, Ruth Anne Maddox. We are devastated by her loss and your outpouring of sympathy helps us cope and makes us realize how special Ruth Anne was to her readers and friends and acquaintences.