2017 Street Improvement Public Hearing Next Monday
Town Tigers Still Alive
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ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIFTH YEAR
BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, AUGUST 10, 2016
75¢ SINGLE COPY
NUMBER 30
Man Killed in Motorcycle-Car Crash Friday in Belle Plaine
An Oakdale man riding his Yamaha motorcycle at high speed was killed atop the Belle Plaine interchange Friday (Aug. 5), when he hit a car turning across his path. Just before 9 p.m., William Aegerter’s Yamaha motorcycle was heading east on East Main Street (Highway 25). He hit
a Toyota driven by Clifford Boateng, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. Boateng, a Shakopee resident, was heading west and made a left turn from East Main Street (County Road 64) onto the ramp for northbound Highway 169. Aegerter could not avoid Boateng’s Toyota and hit
it broadside, according to the state patrol. Aegerter, 29, was transported to Fairview Ridges Hospital. He died from injuries sustained in the crash. Boateng, 55, was transported to St. Francis Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
Belle Plaine River Fishin’ Contest Starts Friday Zach Olson, a member of Belle Plaine Boy Scouts Troop 324, is leading an effort to raise money to pay for the remaining balance on a $19,000 loan the troop took out to buy a 2016 malt machine. The machines are used as fund-raisers to pay for Boy Scouts going to camp.
Belle Plaine Boy Scout Leading Effort to Repay Loan
Malt Machine Helps Pay for Trips to Scout Camp
Zach Olson aims one day to complete requirements to become an Eagle Scout. It’s a lofty goal, one that will take several years of work to complete. In
the meantime, he’s taken on an optional project that requires determination to complete a task. Olson is leading the effort to raise about $17,500 the troop still owes on a $19,000 loan it took out to purchase a new Taylor malt machine. The machine is used as a fund-raiser for both the troop and other groups that rent it out for their own fundraisers.
The stand is a popular stop during German Days and BarB-Q Days and other community events. 4-Hers, for example, rented the machine to sell malts as a fund-raiser during the recent Scott County Fair. The machine was also in use last weekend at the beep ball fund-raiser
B.P. Boy Scout
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National Night Out Guest Draws a Crowd Dozens of youngsters and adults waited in line to check out the North Memorial Hospital air ambulance last Tuesday (Aug. 2) during Belle Plaine’s National Night Out festivities at Heritage Square Park. The annual gathering is meant to help people meet Belle Plaine police, firefighters and emergency responders. Police served hot dog dinners. See photo on page 14. Bounce houses, games and free bike helmets were available with bike inspections.
The 41st coming of the Belle Plaine River Fishin’ Contest will take place this Friday and Saturday Two-Thousand dollars will go to the captor of the largest flathead catfish through a special sponsorship by Matt Saxe Chevrolet-Buick of Belle Plaine. In all, over $4,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded at Court Square Park in Belle Plaine, which is located off Highway 25 on the north edge of town. Last year’s $2,000 winner was Chris Baynes of Mankato with a 41.50-pound flathead. The year before that Andy Stueven of North Mankato won with a 39.25-pound flathead. The contest record is held by Mike Stuewe of Belle Plaine with a 52-pound, 7-ounce flathead he caught in the 2013 contest. The contest record prior to Stuewe’s flathead was caught by Tony Bentz of Belle Plaine in 2003. It weighed 51 pounds, 12 ounces. The state record for a flathead is a 70-pounder caught in the St. Croix River (Washington County) in 1970. This past May 8, Steven DeMars of Stillwater caught and released a flathead from the St. Croix River measuring 47 inches long with a 30inch girth. It is the state’s new “catch and release” record. The world record for a flathead is a 123-pounder caught in Elk City Reservoir, Kan., in 1998. The captor of the second largest flathead this weekend
will receive $800, while the tainers. They must be caught in third and largest fish is worth the Minnesota River between $400. The fourth-place prize Shakopee and St. Peter during contest honors (4 p.m. Friday to 4 p.m. Saturday). All fish weighing 20 pounds or more will be observed for up to two hours and then released by DNR officials. The traditional Tobacco Spitting and Keg Trowing contests will take place at the park shortly after the 4 p.m. fish weigh-in is a D&H Custom River Rod. deadline. Prizes will be awardThe largest fish that is not a ed to the top contestants. flathead is good for $200. The fifth through ninth largest fish Partial proceeds from the Minwill each be worth $60, while nesota River Fishin’ Contest go the 10th largest catfish will net to Belle Plaine area youth outits captor a 17-foot Alumacraft door programs. canoe. There’s also a carp category, with the largest being worth $300. The second and third Fire Department largest are worth $200 and $100, respectively. The captors Dance Saturday of the fifth through ninth largest The Belle Plaine Fire Departcarp will each get $30. In the bonus fish category, $50 ment Relief Association will will go to those who catch the hold its annual Street Dance 14th largest carp, 21st largest and other festivities on Saturcatfish and 28th largest catfish. day, Aug. 13. The entry fee for the contest is The Eddie Shimota & Friends $30. You can sign up anytime at Polka Band will play from 1-4 Sparetime Tavern or Borough p.m., followed by DJ Music Bowl. You can also register at from 4-8 p.m. The band Blurred Court Square Park between Vision will take the stage from noon and 8 p.m. Friday. Fish 8 p.m. to midnight. weigh-ins will be from 8 a.m. Other activities, including a to 4 p.m. Saturday at Court bean bag tournament (noon Square Park, where food and registration), fire truck rides beverages will be available for and a bounce house for the kids will take place throughout the purchase throughout the day. All fish must be brought afternoon. Food and beverages “alive” to the weigh-in station will also be available. in coolers or other suitable con-
Police Searching for Woman After Chase on Highway 169 Hot Pursuit Started in B.P.; Meth, Cash, Funny Money Found in Vehicle
Police are searching for a woman who bolted from a traffic stop just outside of Belle Plaine early Sunday morning. She later fled into a cornfield in Sibley County, leaving a man to face charges for possession of drugs and counterfeit currency. Around midnight Sunday (Aug. 7), police in Belle Plaine began the chase southbound on Highway 169, continuing onto Sibley County Road 8, where sheriff’s deputies took over the pursuit, according to a press release. Belle Plaine Police pulled the vehicle over near the intersec-
tion of Highway 169 at German Road (County Road 53) after an officer observed the driver weaving within a lane and crossing the white fog line twice, said Belle Plaine Police Chief Tom Stolee. As the officer prepared to approach the vehicle, the car sped away. The Belle Plaine police officer broke off the chase at the ScottLe Sueur County border. A Sibley County sheriff’s deputy picked up the pursuit on Sibley County Road 8. The vehicle, a maroon Chevy Impala, eventually stopped near County Road 8’s intersection with County Road 13 in Sibley Township, about five miles south of Gaylord, and the driver fled on foot into a cornfield. A passenger in the Impala was taken into custody, and in the car deputies found more than a half-pound of methamphetamine, as well as cash and
counterfeit currency, according to the release. The passenger is Oscar Garcia, Jr., a 53-year-old from Mankato. He was arrested and charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance. Following a court appearance Monday (Aug. 8), his bail was set at $50,000 cash or $400,000 bond. A complaint warrant has been filed against the alleged driver, Jacquleine Rodriguez, 22, of Gaylord, according to the release. She faces charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, both felony charges. Police used a canine in the search for the woman.
Primarily Slow Morning turnout was quite slow for Tuesday’s primary election at Belle Plaine City Hall, as is often the case for primary elections. As of about noon, 157 people had cast ballots. Featured on the local ballot was the mayoral race involving incumbent Mike Pingalore and challengers Chris Meyer and Mark Gerdes. The top two vote-getters of those three will be on the Nov. 8 general election ballot (see the Herald’s Facebook page for mayoral primary results).