Second Clue for Shamrock Medallion Hunt
BPHS Triple A, ExCEL Winners Announced Page 2
Belle Plaine Hoops Seasons End Pages 12, 13
Page 4
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOURTH YEAR
BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, March 4, 2015
75¢ SINGLE COPY
NUMBER 10
Council Orders Advertisement of Bids for 2015 Street Project Okays Loan for Annie’s Cafe and Catering
pected to start shortly thereafter. The project will consist of street reconstruction and utility improvements on Forest Street West between Grove Street and the railroad right-of-way, and by Dan Ruud Elk Street between Court and The Belle Plaine City Council Forest streets (one block). Also Monday night unanimously ac- proposed for the project are cepted the final plans and au- sidewalks on the west side of thorized the advertisement of Cherry and Elk streets. bids for this year’s street and On Feb. 17, the council and utility improvement project, staff concluded that there is not the estimated cost of which is enough room to include previ$1.3 million. ously-proposed sidewalks on Bids for the project will be the south side of Forest Street. opened April 9, with work ex-
In other business Monday night, the council unanimously approved a loan from the city’s revolving loan fund for $24,670 for Annie’s Cafe and Catering. Staff reported that the business owners, Ann and Johan Miller, requested the loan to help finance necessary commercial kitchen updates to meet department of health standards for their restaurant at 201 East Main Street. Staff added that the project is consistent with
Council Orders
(continued on page 2)
Members of the Scott West wrestling team celebrated with the third-place trophy following their 42-31 triumph over Totino-Grace Thursday evening at Xcel Energy Center.
Scott West Finishes Third; Fogarty, Flynn Win Titles by Dan Ruud The Scott West wrestling team won two of three matches in Thursday’s Minnesota State Class 2A Team Tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The Panthers, the No. 3 seed, got the day started by doubling up unseeded Milaca/Faith Christian 46-23 in the quarterfinals, which was followed a couple of hours later by a 39-21 loss to No. 2 seed Albert Lea. Several hours later, the Panthers were back on the mat wrestling for third place, prevailing over Totino-Grace 42-31 (see team tournament details inside). Simley successfully defended its state Class 2A title with a 34-21 victory over Albert Lea.
Individual Tourney Highlights
Jordan High School seniors David Flynn and Andrew Fogarty have a lot in common. They’re longtime friends, members of the Scott West wrestling team and both are headed to
North Dakota State University next school year, where they will be members of the Bison wrestling team. This past Saturday night in downtown St. Paul, on the same mat about 30 minutes apart from each other, Flynn and Fogarty both captured state individual championships in their respective weight classes after not surrendering a single point – Flynn at 132 pounds and Fogarty at 160 pounds. It was Flynn’s first state title and Fogarty’s second. They also helped lead Scott West to a third-place finish in the team tournament as both won all three of their matches on Thursday. Fogarty finished the season with a record of 48-0 and Flynn 47-3. Flynn and Fogarty both won their state championship matches Saturday night against the same opponents they won the section championship against the previous Saturday in Delano. Flynn defeated WatertownMayer’s Jackson Sweeney 9-0 at section and 6-0 at state. Fog-
OLP’s Gala Auction and Casino Night This Saturday Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic Church and School is hosting its 15th annual Gala Auction and Casino Night fund-raiser Saturday (March 7) in its new Parish Life Center starting at 6 p.m. The benefit features auction items, poker, blackjack and other fun games where partici-
pants can win prizes. There will be drawings for a $5,000 grand prize as well as $3,000, $2,000 and two $1,000 winners. Only 400 tickets worth $100 each will be available from the school office (873-6564) or a school family. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be available.
arty beat Waconia’s Nick Green 7-0 at section and 5-0 at state. Flynn and Fogarty both had to win three previous individual tournament matches to reach Saturday night’s finals. Flynn disposed of Jack Bourgeois of Monticello 6-1, Kendall Sandifer of Richfield by fall and Ryan Epps of Cannon Falls 2-0. Fogarty took care of Anthony Quigley of Dawson-Boyd-Lac qui Parle/Montevideo 16-0, Ben Boran of WEM/JWP 8-3 and Ryan Duffy of South St. Paul by technical fall. Flynn is the son of Al and Sarah Flynn, and Fogarty is the son of Bob and Sara Fogarty. Al Flynn has been a longtime assistant coach for Scott West and was mat-side when his son won his state title Saturday night. Shortly after giving David a congratulatory hug, Al Flynn was back in the tunnel with Andrew Fogarty awaiting the 160-pound championship. Al was mat-side for that contest as well. “They (David and Andrew) are as good of friends as you can be and have been forever,” said Al, adding that David and Andrew planned to hang out most of the night and celebrate their state championships. Flynn and Fogarty were also named to the state Class 2A AllTournament Team. Scott West 106-pounder Parker Huss joined Flynn and Fogarty on the all-tournament team after winning all three of his matches in Thursday’s team tournament. Teammate Jackson Stauffacher (113) also won all three of his matches for the Panthers but was edged out for the all-tournament team by Simley’s Jake Gilva. Stauffacher, a freshman, was among seven Panthers competing in the individual tournament, placing fourth. Parker Huss (106) also placed fourth, while Josiah Schatz (285) was
Scott West
(continued on page 14)
How Many Are There?
Spring Forward Saturday Night
Daylight Savings Time begins early this Sunday morning, This leprechaun is guarding a pot of gold coins in the store meaning you should set your window at Golden Touch Jewelry. The public is invited to stop clocks ahead one hour before by during business hours now through noon on March 14 to going to bed Saturday night. guess how many coins are in the pot. He or she who guesses closest “without going over” will win $100. Ballots are available at the store. The winner will be announced during the St. Patrick’s post-parade program the afternoon of March 14.
Workers at Cardinal Ridge are removing sheetrock from ceilings and walls, carpeting and other items damaged by water from a broken 2 inch sprinkler system pipe Feb. 6. Residents at the apartment complex will likely not be back in their homes for another six to eight weeks.
Displaced Cardinal Ridge Residents Facing Longer Wait A Month After Sprinkler System Failure, Residents Still Several Weeks From Returning
sibilities since the cleanup began. Robert Smith, Belfor’s general manager, estimates the cleanup of the 15 most severely damaged apartments is almost completed. The remaining cleanup and repairs will take another six to eight weeks, he said. The apartments that were not damaged by flowing water are also uninhabitable because the building does not have a working sprinkler system. Workers hope to have the system operational in the next week or two, Smith said. But residents’ are not certain when they’ll be able to return to their homes. Scott McCarty, the city’s building inspector, is waiting for a report on the scope
It was the afternoon of Feb. 6 when a 2-inch ruptured sprinkler system pipe sent thousands of gallons of water flowing down onto apartments in Cardinal Ridge’s north wing. The pipes are at the center of the apartment building repairs that will last another six to eight weeks. Workers from Belfor Restoration of Savage, the company cleaning up the damage, estimate about 20,000 gallons of water flowed through the 2 inch pipe. The water soaked drywall, insulation in the ceilings and walls between apartments, carpeting and tenants’ personal property. Apartments on the north end of the building took the brunt of the damage. The week after the flooding, Belfor hoped to have people back in their apartments. But Belle Plaine area townships the extent of the damage, and will host the yearly rite of delays caused by concerns over spring next Tuesday – the anthe sprinkler system, has de- nual meeting -- March 10. layed their return. With only a few examples, most area townships have Why? switched to fall elections to While everyone knows what save money and increase parhappened, why it happened is ticipation. That switch has left uncertain. setting a township’s annual levy “That’s the No. 1 question,” as the primary order of business said Paul Gregor, one of the during annual meetings. partners of Bessler Manage- In Scott County, Cedar Lake, ment, the firm that owns and Credit River, Jackson and New operates Cardinal Ridge. His Market townships still hold company and the firm that in- spring elections. In Sibley stalled the sprinkler system County, Green Isle Township have been discussing the pos- still holds a spring election
of work needed in the building. That report, he said, will go a long way toward determining when residents can move back into Cardinal Ridge. In the apartment building’s parking lot, storage pods houses tenants’ personal belongings. Workers report visits from residents looking for information on when they can return home is a daily occurrence. Paul Kitselman, who lived on the first floor, is one of the few residents who had rental insurance. He’s staying at a nearby motel, awaiting word on when he can expect to move back to
Cardinal Ridge
(continued on page 3)
Area Townships Hosting Annual Meetings March 10
while Derrynane and Tyrone townships in Le Sueur County still hold spring elections. In Carver County, San Francisco and Waconia townships still hold a spring election. Residents can also discuss with their respective township supervisors issues of concern. For example, Ted Kornder, chairman of the St. Lawrence Township Board of Supervisors, expects concerns might be raised about Mid-America Festivals potentially acquiring land in the township for a new site for the Minnesota Renaissance Festival in 2017.