BPHS Dancers Continue to Step Up
Arctic Creature Makes Rare Visit to Belle Plaine
Belle Plaine Pond Hockey Photos Page 2
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ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOURTH YEAR
BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, JANUARY 21, 2015
75¢ SINGLE COPY
NUMBER 4
Travis Otto Firefighter of the Year by Dan Ruud He sort of grew up with the department and now he’s a twotime Belle Plaine Firefighter of the Year. Travis Otto, who earned the award in 2006 and now again for 2014, is joined on the list of Firefighter of the Year recipients since the award was established in 1980 by brother Todd Otto and cousin Steve Otto, who won in 2000 and 2012, respectively. Dave Otto, a more distant relative, won the award in 2003. Travis’ brother Troy Otto is also a member of the department. Travis, Todd and Troy are the sons of Ken and Kris Otto of Belle Plaine. Travis said Todd was the most influential in getting him to join the department in 2003, but that he also “kind of grew up in it.” “My cousin Ivan (Otto) was in the department when we were kids and he would take us to ride in parades. Then Troy and Todd both joined,” said Travis, who graduated from Belle Plaine High School in 2000. Todd Otto, who was fire chief in 2013 and 2014, presented the 2014 Firefighter of the Year award to his brother during a recent ceremony at the fire hall. “The Firefighter of the Year award is given to a recipient who goes above and beyond the regular call of duty. This year’s Firefighter of the Year is one who achieves the most out of his job and has shown this by having over 125 training hours, as well as having the highest percentage of fire calls on the department,” Todd Otto said. “This year’s Firefighter of the Year has helped with fire prevention education each year, has a great knowledge of the fire scene and the trucks and equip-
The Sparetime Tavern Saturday morning was the setting of a shoot for the film “One-Eyed Jack.” Pictured at the far right in the white shirt is Chico Odeneal of Minneapolis, who is the writer, director and producer of the film.
Film Shot in Belle Plaine Could Become ‘Best of Fest’ Entrant
Travis Otto is Belle Plaine’s 2014 Firefighter of the Year. ment involved in each call. He has been a member of multiple committees to improve the direction of the department. He has shown a great effort in continuing education and has built a background in the department leadership over the last few years. It is our privilege to present the 2014 Firefighter of the Year award to Travis Otto,” Todd Otto concluded. Travis, who worked at Lange’s Plumbing and Heating in Belle Plaine for a number of years after high school, now works at Grainger Industrial Supply in Plymouth, where he makes the approximate 40-minute drive (both ways) daily. But that did not prevent Otto from responding to close to 90 percent of
Bieder Home From Hospital, Recovering Darrell Bieder, the man firefighters found unconscious in an upstairs hallway of his house on Union Hill Boulevard in the early hours of Jan. 8 while they fought a fire in the lower level, is at home recovering from his injuries. Bieder was released from Hennepin County Medical Center Saturday (Jan. 17). He still has some minor burns on his body and lungs doctors are keeping an eye on. “They’re really small. I’m fine,” he said.
A barking dog staying by its owner’s side in the smokefilled hallway and Bieder’s son, Chris, alerted firefighters the house was not empty. Two firefighters found Bieder, 69, unconscious on the hallway floor. The fire began in a former cistern now housing a wood burner on the lower level of the 100plus-year-old farmhouse, in an underground room. It started near a wood burner, said Belle Plaine Fire Chief Matt Stier.
some 120 calls in 2014. There’s other things that go with being a Belle Plaine firefighter as well, including chairing or being a member of the annual Fish Fry, Ladies Night and Picnic committees, all of which Otto has been a part of. He also served as the department’s secretary for several years. Like a number of other Belle Plaine firefighters this past decade, Travis said his most memorable call as a firefighter was the arson blaze that destroyed the historic former Professional Building at downtown’s main intersection in October of 2005. “There’s been a lot of memorable ones but that’s the biggest I’ve been on,” Travis said. “There were about 10 different departments and 150 firefighters on the scene.” The fire started in the evening and burned throughout the night, destroying the 100-plusyear-old landmark and two smaller buildings with it. New Fire Chief Matt Stier has succeeded Todd Otto as fire chief for 2015. Steve Otto, 2012 Firefighter of the Year, has become the second chief, while Ron Benck, last year’s Firefighter of the Year, is the treasurer. Doug LeMieux is
Travis Otto
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A short film shot largely in Belle Plaine, including Sparetime Tavern, this past weekend is destined to premier later this winter as an entrant in Z Fest in Minneapolis. According to the film’s writer, director and producer Chico Odeneal of Minneapolis, the film, called “One-Eyed Jack,” is about a man who brings his aged horse (blinded in one eye) to town one last time before having to put it down. The lead actor in the film is Steven Berg of Belle Plaine, who
plays himself (Cowboy Steve). The horse portrayed in the film is owned by Berg. There are a half-dozen other cast members and some 15 to 20 extras. The film, as of Sunday evening, is now in post-production. The production company is Ocean Deep Films. Odeneal is an actor, director and producer known for “Saving the End” (2014), “Come Carne” (2013) and “Allure” (2013). Z Fest is a film festival hosted by Z Systems and sponsored
by numerous companies and organizations in the area. The festival is held once a year in Minneapolis and is open to any group wanting to submit a film. This year, each team is producing a seven-minute film as well as a 30-second trailer to accompany it. The film “can be about anything.” On March 4-5, all qualifying films will be screened at the Riverview Theater in Min-
Film Shot
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Thursday (Jan. 15), Scott County staff took a first-hand look at the how the side of a ravine washed away from Nancy Ludden and Al Schendlinger’s house along County Road 60 in Blakeley Township following 7 inches of rain June 19. Commissioners approved an application for federal funding to buy the couple’s house and land yesterday (June 20). The house was built in 1990. It and the land are appraised at $500,000.
County Board OKs Application for House, Land Acquisition Additional Land Could Become Part of Blakeley Bluffs Regional Park Reserve
When Scott County and the Three Rivers Park District started creating a regional park reserve in Blakeley Township a few years ago, land Nancy Ludden and Al Schendlinger own was not included because of its proximity to County Road 60. It includes the kind of natural resources the county wants to preserve for future generations. The 29 acres the couple owns Fire destroyed nearly all of the contents of Rick Brown’s garage and damaged some of the was effectively became open kitchen at the house at 1022 East State Street last Wednesday (Jan. 14). Firefighters received for inclusion in the park reserve the fire call at 3:09 p.m. and kept the fire from spreading significantly. The fire started in a ga- after the June 19 storm dumped rage overhead utility heating unit. Rebuilding the garage and cleaning up the house will keep the family living in temporary quarters for some time. The garage had been converted into a “man cave,” said Rick Brown, the house’s owner. “I’m told most everything in the garage is history.” Other than the family dog and cat, the house was empty at the time. The pets were not harmed.
Garage Fire
7 inches of rain on already Today, the hillside continues saturated sand and clay soils, to slowly erode. washing away the hillside over- Since discovering the erolooking a wooded ravine right sion, the couple hired Wenck behind their couple’s house at County Board 15801 Blakeley Trail (County (continued on page 11) Road 60).
Belle Plaine Rural Fire Protection Association Meeting Next Monday Possible Purchase of The meeting will include the distribution of the annual fiNew Tanker Truck to nancial report, determination of yearly mill rate assessment and be Discussed the election of officers. Also up
The 69th annual meeting of the Belle Plaine Rural Fire Protection Association will take place 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26 at the Belle Plaine Fire Hall, 700 East Main Street. All rural residents in the Belle Plaine Fire District are members and are invited to attend. Food and refreshments will be served.
for discussion will be the potential purchase of a new tanker fire truck that could cost over $600,000, which could lead to a rise in the tax levy. Three seats will be up in the election of officers. Included are those of Jim Koonst, Brian Schmidt and John Murphy, the latter of whom has been on the board for some 30 years and is seeking reelection.