BPHS Baseball Team One Win Short of State Berth
State Track and Field Meet This Weekend
Tigertown Classic This Friday Through Sunday
Page 17
Page 11
Page 17
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIFTH YEAR
BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, JUNE 8, 2016
75¢ SINGLE COPY
NUMBER 24
Class of 2016 Graduates Sunday
The “One” and the Most! Belle Plaine High School senior Abigail Meger not only sold the most tickets (84) in the 2016 Belle Plaine Dollars for Scholars Car Raffle, but she also sold the winning ticket to Tim Burns of Prior Lake, who is a friend of the family. Meger received $400 for selling the most tickets and another $400 for the winning ticket. Burns’ prize was a 2010 Imperial Blue Metallic Chevy Cobalt, which was donated by Matt Saxe Chevrolet Buick of Belle Plaine. Pictured at the right is Matt Saxe, who said it was the seventh car his dealership has donated to the Dollars for Scholars Car Raffle since opening in Belle Plaine. Some $19,000 worth of $25 tickets were sold this year, proceeds from which go to scholarships for BPHS graduating students.
Staff Brings Concerns About City Hall Security to Council by Dan Ruud The Belle Plaine City Council Monday night unanimously authorized staff to apply for an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) grant that would be used to help cover costs for safety improvements at city hall. Staff reported that the current open floor layout does not provide for a safe work environment in that people from the public are able to walk through the lobby area to access the offices without limitations. It was also noted that some computer equipment is not secure. Interim City Administrator Dawn Meyer reported that staff
reviewed these items with Troy Walsh of the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust and that he concurred that safety improvements to the front lobby area would be beneficial. The proposed improvements include reconfiguration of the front office space to provide a service window and area for pool pass sales, and adding a wall to separate the lobby from the rest of the office area. The project would also include installing a secure door to limit access to the office area. Meyer said staff received an estimate from a local contractor of approximately $15,000 for the improvements.
As it looks to bolster its business in a growing marketplace, Sponsel’s Minnesota Harvest is requesting Scott County’s permission to continue hosting weddings, events and build a bed & breakfast at the orchard. But approval will likely be contingent on operations coming into compliance with existing permits and regulations. The Scott County Planning Advisory Commission will consider the orchard’s request Monday night (June 13) in the county board chambers at the Scott County Government Center in Shakopee. A public hearing is slated for 6:40 p.m. The hearing will be to consider amending Minnesota Harvest’s 1991 conditional-use permit (CUP) to allow weddings and other events at the orchard on Old Highway 169 Boulevard northeast of Belle Plaine. The CUP covers the production and sale of agricultural products. After sheriff’s deputies re-
ceived complaints, Scott County became aware of 60 weddings held at the orchard in 2015 and “at least 20” weddings scheduled for 2016. The hosting of events at the orchard has become “a significant part of their business and is not permitted under the 1991 CUP,” according to Marty Schmitz, the county’s zoning administrator. The county is seemingly willing to allow Sponsel’s Minnesota Harvest to host weddings and other events, but only if the orchard meets certain conditions. For example, a red storage shed built in 2013 for grain and storage equipment has been used for weddings. It must be brought into compliance with building codes. While Minnesota Harvest is not proposing any traffic management improvements, Scott County is also recommending additional
by Dan Ruud “I don’t have any intentions or plans for running. I’m flattered the question gets asked. I hope that it will lead to a woman running for president.” Those were the words of former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton to ABC’s Barbara Walters shortly before the Belle Plaine High School class of 2016 began kindergarten in 2003. The top kiddy movie of 2003 was “Finding Nemo.” The sequel for the movie, “Finding Dory,” will finally be released next Friday, five days after the Belle Plaine kindergartners of 2003 secure their high school diplomas. The biggest sports story of 2003 was the Florida Marlins defeating the heavily-favored New York Yankees in the World Series. Locally, both the Scott West wrestling and girls’ basketball teams won section championships and competed in the state tournament, the latter of which lost to Rochester Lourdes in the first round in Rochester. Nearly 130 members of the
class of 2016 (about 30 more than last year) are set to receive their diplomas at Sunday’s 2 p.m. ceremony in the school’s south gymnasium. BPHS Principal Dave Kreft will welcome the class and the choir will sing “You Raise Me Up,” accompanied by Mason Ponath. McKenzie Koepp will be the student speaker. Her speech is called “Belle Plaine Tigers.” Science teacher Brad Pederson will be the staff speaker. The title of his speech is less simple than Koepp’s – “Expeiri Cognitio.” Belle Plaine Dollars for Scholars President Tricia Ruud will recognize this year’s scholarship recipients. School Superintendent Ryan Laager will present the class and School Board Chair Dan Gardner will hand out diplomas. The ceremony will close with the song “Anchors Aweigh.” The class officers for the 201516 school year are President Trinity Webb, Vice President McKenzie Koepp, Treasurer Grace Olson and Secretary Kali Gorman.
The school had not yet publicly announced who this year’s high honor and honor students are when this edition of the Herald went to press on Tuesday. They will be published next Wednesday. The class song is “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire. The motto for the class of 2016 is from Nathan Scott (One Tree Hill): It’s the oldest story in the world. One day you’re 17 and you’re planning for someday. And then quietly, without you ever really noticing, someday is today. And then someday is yesterday. And this is your life.
Many Mankato Bound
Two dozen members of the BPHS class of 2016 will attend Minnesota State University Mankato next school year. Add to that South Central College, and approximately 33 Tiger alum will be attending school
Graduates
(continued on page 11)
“OSHA offers a grant for safety improvements and securityrelated improvements are eligible,” Meyer reported, adding that the grant would be a 50/50 match up to $10,000. “The city would be responsible for half of the costs if successful.” “The grant is ongoing, so there is not a specific deadline, but staff would apply this year with the intent of having the improvements completed by the end of the year,” Meyer continued. Staff’s request to apply for the grant was on the council’s con- Dave Kreft, Belle Plaine Junior-Senior High School principal, led a presentation to coaches and parents on the effort to upgrade the school’s weight room and create a new logo last Council Wednesday (June 1). (continued on page 15)
LOGO
Belle Plaine Schools Unveils Minn. Harvest Seeking County’s New Tiger Logos, Weight Room OK on Events, B & B at Orchard Laager: ‘Successful turn lanes and a bypass lane at the entrance/exit to the orchard for traffic management. The staff report also indicates Minnesota Harvest will have to bring its existing septic system into compliance to receive the updated CUP it is requesting. Commissioner Joe Wagner of Sand Creek Township expects the county will use the issuing of a certificate of occupancy as leverage to bring Minnesota Harvest into compliance. “There will be tighter inspections and follow-up once everything is in place, ” said Wagner, the county board’s liaison to the planning advisory commission. Schmitz said county staff is supportive of the structures on the property being used to host events as long as they meet existing building codes and requirements for septic systems serving the buildings and commercial kitchen space. Other county requirements include a midnight time limits for amplified music. The 300-acre orchard is surrounded by largelot residential property and agricultural land. The St. Lawrence Township Board of Supervisors is supportive of the proposed use of Activities for the kickoff party the orchard. will include an inflatable water slide, a slip-n-slide, treats and more. The pool itself will not be open during this event. The public is invited to attend.
Swimming Pool Kickoff Party This Thursday The Belle Plaine Community Swimming Pool will hold a kickoff party on Thursday, June 9 from 5-7 p.m. The pool will open for the season June 10.
People Are Much Greater Than a Test Score’
After months of behind-thescenes work on a new primary and secondary logos for its sports teams, student activities and other uses, the Belle Plaine School District unveiled its tiger Wednesday night. The new logo is a profile of right-facing tiger head. The district also OK’d secondary logos, an updated interlocking BP and Tiger paws. The approved logo is the result of months of work by a committee and artists working with Varsity Brands, the parent company of Herff Jones, Varsity Spirit and BSN Sports, the companies through which the district bought new weight room equipment. The approved new logo for Belle Plaine School and complementing font for B.P. apparel and equipment came at no cost to the school district since the school purchased the weight room equipment through the firms, said Dave Kreft, the junior-senior high school’s principal. Charlie Kern, a 2010 BPHS graduate, is a representative of BSN Sports and assistant BPHS football coach. He worked with the school and company artists to generate the new logos. The presentation of the new
logo last Wednesday (June 1) was timed with recognition of the completed upgraded weight room. School District Ryan Laager said the upgrades are meant to complement the efforts of Belle Plaine’s students and athletes. Hundreds of physical education students and studentathletes will use the upgraded weight room each week. The improved equipment -- worth about $60,000 – was funded by donations from a variety of community athletic, civic and other organizations. Using donated money, the school still
Tiger Logos
(continued on page 12)
INTERLOCK