Latest news with #ShakopeeValleyNews
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Politics
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Road is rocky for Shakopee, tribe
Shannon Fiecke of the Shakopee Valley News reports: Poor relations between the city of Shakopee and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota Community boiled to the surface earlier this month during discussions over a proposed road project in Shakopee. Because of other unresolved issues, city leaders came close to putting off an offer from the tribe to repave McKenna Road for free. For more than a year now, the city says the tribe has either cancelled or not responded to the city's requests for meetings to discuss long-term issues – such as the handling of future road and sewer projects. The Shakopee City Council ended up approving the road project on a vote of 3-2 at a July 3 meeting, but only with the verbal promise from tribal Administrator Bill Rudnicki that tribal leaders will meet. Shakopee Mayor John Schmitt, who opposed approval on July 3 along with Councilor Steve Clay, wanted to first meet with tribal leaders. Schmitt said the project, which Shakopee was planning to do in 2010, isn't something the city needs right now. 'What we do need is the opportunity to sit down at the table,' he said. Proposed project The tribe wants to repair and put another layer of pavement on the approximately 1.4 mile-long McKenna Road, portions of which lie in Shakopee and Prior Lake. The tribe originally paid to upgrade the road from gravel years ago. McKenna Road is used by the tribal community but also by Shakopee residents. Traffic on the road has increased and the tribe found 72 longitudinal cracks on the road, Rudnicki said. Last year, two bends were taken out of the road when the Shepherd of the Lake Church expanded. Traffic on the road has increased, he said. While Rudnicki agreed that the tribe and city have unresolved issues requiring attention, he was flabbergasted that city leaders would consider turning the project down. 'I saw it as a benefit to the city,' he said. 'I'm taken aback – speechless.' He said he was surprised to be asked to the city council meeting on the eve of the Fourth of July to discuss the project, instead of it being handled at a staff level. He said that's how it proceeded with the city of Prior Lake. Government relations While he's upset with the lack of communication with tribal leaders, Councilor Matt Lehman said he supported the road project and considered it a separate issue. 'I'm not going to stoop to the level of either we get this or you don't get that,' he said. The city planned on improving the road in 2010 for an estimated cost of $170,000, 30 percent of which would be picked up by neighboring properties, said city Public Works Director Bruce Loney. From a public works perspective, it's never too early to do an overlay, he said. Councilor Steve Menden said he appreciates the tribe picking up the cost. He echoed his colleagues' frustrations over other matters. 'We're neighbors and we don't always treat each other like neighbors,' Menden said. Because of the lack of face-face-interaction, Councilor Terry Joos said the communication with the tribe is left to e-mails, faxes, letters and lawyers. 'This is a frustration for all of us – not being able to sit down and talk,' Joos said. 'We don't want a bad working relationship. We just want a conversation with you about the future.' 'We want to know we disagree, versus we think we disagree,' Lehman said. The dispute over the tribe's application for putting land into trust (which removes it from property tax rolls and city zoning authority) might have been avoided had there been a good working relationship, it was suggested. Schmitt and Joos said the tribe overly paints itself as having good cooperation with the city for PR purposes and the land-trust application. The mayor said the tribe told the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, which recently approved of a tribe's land-trust application, that it provided the city a temporary easement for a storm-water project, but neglected to mention it charged Shakopee $50,000. Rudnicki took issue with the mayor's point. 'I negotiate to the best advantage of the community – on the same token you probably did your cost analysis' and found the easement beneficial, he said. Allowing the tribe to do things because they have dollars to do so doesn't mean the city and tribe work together, Joos said. While they haven't done a lot together, Rudnicki said there are some agreements for what have done, although 'we do have a lot to go from here.' He pointed to areas of cooperation – like serving together on a Scott County association of local governments and the mutual-aid agreement between fire departments. The tribal administrator also said the tribe must promote projects it participates in because of public misperception that the tribe doesn't do anything to help with local infrastructure. Improving dialogue Rudnicki pointed out that during his time as a tribal administrator, there have been six or seven mayors and a slew of different council members – all with divergent views. Some don't care to see the tribe participating at the Relay for Life event; others do, he said. Clay said he wants the same relationship with the tribe that Shakopee enjoys with its neighboring cities. The city's relationship with the tribe has been one-way – only when the tribe needs something – Schmitt said. 'This has to stop being a one-way street,' he said. Rudnicki noted that the drawn-out battle over the land-trust application has been a sticking point. 'The gorilla on our back is the fee-to-trust application,' he said. Both sides must commit to 'toning down' the dialogue, Clay said. Rudnicki said he knows there are issues that need discussion: 'I'm here to say, yes, we do want to have a meeting.' Shannon Fiecke is a staff writer for the Shakopee Valley News. She can be reached at sfiecke@
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Obituaries from the Jan. 14 Valley News
The following obituaries are from the Jan. 14, 2010 print edition of the Shakopee Valley News newspaper: John Elgethun John Elgethun, 91, of Shakopee, died Nov. 25, 2009. Memorial service is Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 at noon with visitation one hour prior and reception to follow at Washburn-McReavy Eden Prairie Chapel, 7625 Mitchell Road; 952-975-0400. Emil A. Kubiszewski Emil Kubiszewski, 52, of New Prague formerly of Shakopee, died Monday, Jan. 11, 2010 at his home. Visitation is Thursday, Jan. 14, from 4-8 p.m. and Friday, Jan. 15, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the McNearney Funeral Home, Shakopee. Memorial Mass is Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Mark's Catholic Church, Shakopee. Interment in the Catholic Cemetery, Shakopee. Complete obituary will appear next week. Arrangements with the McNearney Funeral Home, 952-445-2755. Jennifer Ann (Carlson) Ryan Jennifer Ryan, 47, of Waconia, formerly from Shakopee, died Monday, Dec. 21, 2009. She was preceded in death by her father, Wayne Carlson, and brother, Jerry Carlson. She will be greatly missed by her children, Brandon Fridolfson, Michael Ryan and Deborah Ryan; granddaughter, Lacey Fridolfson; mother, Judith Cramer; stepfather, Bill Cramer; siblings, Daniel Carlson, Jeffrey (fiancee Jodi) Carlson, Michael Carlson, Leslie (Wayne) Perkins, John (Robin) Carlson; stepbrothers, Scott (Rebecca) Cramer, Todd (Ann) Cramer, Wynn (Shelby) Cramer, Kipp (Caroline) Cramer, Trent (Amy) Cramer; numerous nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, Jan. 4, 2010 at 11 a.m., with visitation one hour prior to the service at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Savage. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred for the children's education fund. Thomas Drake Tom, a dedicated Christian, an avid sports fan and outdoorsman, with a passion for education. A dedicated husband, father and a special love for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Tom Drake, 77, of Prior Lake, and formally of Algona, IA, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010 at McKenna Crossing in Prior Lake. He was born Sept. 27, 1932 in Sutherland, IA, the son of John and Ella (Mahn) Drake. He was united in marriage to Phyllis Neibuhr in Zion Lutheran Church in Paullina, IA. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War. During his education years he was appointed by the Iowa governor as a member of the Professional Teaching Practices Commission. He also belonged and served as president of the Iowa Association of Secondary School Principals, and belonged to the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Tom was selected to membership in the Hall of Recognition of the Iowa State Teachers College. He was an honorary member of the Delta I.O.T.A. Chapter of the Beta Beta Beta Fraternity and the Kiwanis International. Tom was a volunteer at the Kossuth County C.A.R.E. Team, a women's shelter in Algona, as well as an active member of his political party. He served as an elder and member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Algona. As a lover of sports and the outdoors, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, jogging and biking. He loyally attended family sporting events and was also an avid fan of the Iowa State University Cyclones. Loved and missed by his children, Mike (Kay) Drake of Lincoln, NE, Steve Drake of Lancaster, PA, Paul (Pauline) Drake of Prior Lake, Kent (Kellie) Drake of Lewisville, TX, Mark (Nina) Drake of Des Moines, IA; 14 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brother, Dr. James (Marlys) Drake of Ocean Springs, MS; other relatives and friends. Tom is preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis; son, Gary Drake, and parents. Visitation will be Thursday, Jan. 14, from 4:30-7 p.m. with a memorial service at 7 p.m., all at McKenna Crossing Chapel, 13810 Shepherds Path in Prior Lake. The Rev. Dr. Marggi Pleiss-Sippola will officiate. Funeral services will be Saturday, Jan. 16, at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Algona, with an hour prior visitation. Pastor Steve Turner will officiate. A private family inurnment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Cedar Falls, IA. Memorials preferred and will be distributed by the family in Tom's memory. Urn bearer and honorary bearers will be his grandchildren. Funeral arrangements made by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Prior Lake Chapel, Prior Lake. Audrey Dawn Kasten Audrey, a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, who loved, protected and enjoyed spending time with her family. Audrey Kasten, 78, passed away peacefully Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010 at St. Gertrude's Health Care Center in Shakopee. Born Feb. 17, 1931 in Grayslake, IL, she was the daughter of Frank B. and Luella (Haldeman) Wilkinson and raised by Frank's brother George and Viola (Haldeman) Wilkinson. She was united in marriage to Alvin Otto Kasten on May 21, 1948 at the Methodist Church in Chemung, IL. Loved and missed by daughter, Audrey Ann Sharp of Duluth; son, Larry (Vicky) Kasten of Lydia; granddaughters, Heather Campbell, Rachel (Andrew) Olson; grandsons, Jeremiah (Stacy) Kasten and Josiah Kasten; great-grandchildren, Connor Campbell, Benjamin Simonitsch, Ezra Olson, Gabriel Kasten, Abigail Kasten; brothers, Harold (Arlene) Wilkinson of Johnson City, TN; George M Wilkinson Jr. of Ruskin, FL.; special cousin, Lois Prendergast of Lake Villa, IL; many nieces, nephews and cousins and a special church friend, Bradley Greenwald. She is preceded in death by her husband, Alvin, in August of 2009; granddaughter, Peggy Ann Taylor; parents; sisters, Luella Johnson and June Butte; brothers, Frank Wilkinson Jr., Charles Edwin Wilkinson and Calvin Daniel Wilkinson. Celebration of Life Service will be Saturday, Jan. 16, at 11 a.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service, all at Zion United Methodist Church, Lydia. Pastor Jon Marburger will officiate. Inurnment will be at Concord Hill Cemetery, Lydia. Arrangements made by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Jordan Chapel.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Public notices from the April 15, 2010 Shakopee Valley News
Are you interested in reading the public notices published in the April 15, 2010 print edition of the Shakopee Valley News newspaper? The page or pages on which those notices were printed are attached to this item,in the form of .pdf's that can be opened with Adobe Acrobat.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Cool Jobs: Only the tough need apply
Editor's note: This is an occasional series focusing on local residents' interesting, unusual or even oddball occupations. If you know someone with an odd job, e-mail editor@ The wildfire fighters worked fast with chainsaws. If they didn't, fire could get out in front of their crew of about a dozen, putting them in danger. Among them was Mike Riker, an 18-year-old Jordan High School football player and wrestler chosen to be part of the North Star Fire Crew in Alaska. The crew often spent two to three weeks at a time in the Alaskan wilderness after flying into isolation to work 16- to 20-hour shifts cutting wide swaths through the forest to rob a blaze of the fuel to rage on. Firefighters subsisted mostly on military-style ready-to-eat meals, carrying 50-pound packs, striking camp around three miles from their saw lines. 'Sometime's the nearest road's 100 miles away,' Riker said. Only the physically and mentally tough can make it and thrive in such a crew, where members deal with what Riker called 'long hours, little sleep and crappy food.' Some firefighters 'broke' and had to be taken back to civilization. 'They'd get sent back,' he said. Not Riker. This was pretty close to his dream job. He took a teenager's sense of invincibility to Alaska in mid-May and returned from the largest state in the U.S. feeling somewhat more finite. 'You definitely take a whole new perspective on the value of life,' Riker said. Read more in Thursday's Shakopee Valley News.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Public notices from the June 2, 2016 Shakopee Valley News
Are you interested in reading the public notices published in the June 2, 2016 print edition of the Shakopee Valley News newspaper? The page or pages on which those notices were printed are attached to this item, in the form of .pdf's that can be opened with Adobe Acrobat.
