Winter Sports Previews
All-MRC Volleyball and District Football Teams Page 19
Pages 9-12
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOURTH YEAR
BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, NOVEMBER 25, 2015
75¢ SINGLE COPY
NUMBER 46
Mn/DOT Has Big Plans for New Paving, Access to Highway 169 New Surface, Access Changes Eyed for 2017
An ambitious plan to resurface and control access to Highway 169 between Highway 19 south of Belle Plaine and Shakopee is being discussed with implementation possibly beginning with a resurfacing project currently planned for the 2017 construction season.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) is planning a $17 million resurfacing project between Belle Plaine and Jordan. The project includes at least one three-quarters access intersection, the potential closure of intersections with the highway and the possible elimination of several openings in the median between north and southbound lanes from Highway 41 in Louisville Township to as far south
as Highway 19 in Blakeley Township. The proposed changes are one of the by-products of an access management study Mn/DOT, elected and appointed city, county and townships officials have been discussing the past few years. The state’s concern is the volume of vehicles using Highway 169 in possible con-
Mn/DOT
(continued on page 4)
Firefighters from Belle Plaine were unable to save Sandra Hessing’s home on West Forest Street Sunday evening (Nov. 22). Fire destroyed the mobile home. The fire was detected just before 7 p.m. No one was injured in the fire. An additional photo is on page 18.
Fire Destroys B.P. Woman’s Home A Belle Plaine woman quickly grabbed whatever possessions she could gather before escaping a fire that destroyed her house on West Forest Street
Sunday evening. Sandra Hessing called for help just before 7 p.m. She escaped the burning house at 702 Forest Street W. after reporting flames
and smoke filling the house. Smoke detectors in the house
Fire Destroys
(continued on page 18)
City Council Selects Planning and Zoning Chair Henry Pressley Jr. to Fill Vacant Seat During a special session Tuesday night, the Belle Plaine City Council voted to appoint Henry Pressley Jr as its replacement for Scott Schneider, who resigned because he his moving to Shakopee. Schneider still had over three years remaining on his current term. Pressley is a 12-year member of the city’s planning and zoning commission and was chair at the time of his appointment to the council. Eight people had applied prior to last Tuesday afternoon’s
deadline. Besides Pressley, they were Tony Hetzel, Nate Hvidsten, Rick Krant, Nick Jensen, Joe Lenz, Kenneth Muzny and Leif Tharaldson. Hvidsten and Hetzel eventually withdrew from consideration and Krant was unable to attend the interviews due to prior commitments. The other five applicants were all interviewed. Pressley has lived in Belle Plaine for 14 years. He and his wife, Stephanie, have five children ages 5 to 16. Pressley said he’s both “nervous but excited”
to be joining the council. “On planning and zoning we had a smaller scope than the council has to deal with but I think my experience (on P&Z) will help me analyze the items before the council and help them reach the best outcome for the city. My fundamental desire on the council, as it was on P&Z, will be to chip in and help as best I can,” Pressley said. Pressley will be administered the oath of office at the city council’s Dec. 7 meeting.
Santa’s House, with a lift from Skelley Towing of Belle Plaine, arrived at its holiday season nesting place (the intersection of Main and Meridian streets downtown) last week and it’s expected that Santa will occupy it several times between now and Christmas. The first two scheduled dates for Santa to greet children in the house are Fridays, Dec. 4 and 11, both from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Arrangements are still being made for additional Santa House openings later in the holiday season.
Belle Plaine Holiday Activities Begin Next Week
Excellent photo opportunities await you at this year’s Belle Plaine Historical Society Open House at the Hooper-BowlerHillstrom House adjacent to Court Square Park. The event will take place on Thursday, Dec. 3 from 6-8 p.m. According to organizer Rick Krant, Santa will bring along some reindeer and a sleigh outside the house, where there will also be horse and wagon rides, Christmas carolers, refreshments, door prizes and more. Tours of the lower level of the historic house will be available along with musical entertainment, including by Wade and Mary Lou Fradenburgh. Santa Claus will be welcoming young visitors. In recognition of the 40th anniversary of the Belle Plaine Historical Society, one of the founding board members and first president, Ed Townsend, will flip the switch to light the community Christmas tree. That will take place at approximately 7:15 p.m.
day shopping. The cost of items generally range from $1 to $5. Toy donations and gifts for mothers will be collected for Southern Valley Alliance for Battered Women. Volunteers are sought to help set up and clean up, and/or to
work during the event. To get involved, contact Sheri Prokosch at 952-873-2415, ext. 1, or by e-mail at sprokosch@belleplaine.k12.mn.us.
Holiday Activities (continued on page 7)
Home Decorating Contest You can sign up now to enter the Belle Plaine Rotary Club’s annual Holiday Home Lighting Contest. Judging will take place Dec. 18-19 and winners will be announced in the Herald on Dec. 23, including photographs of
the top decorated homes. Prizes will also be awarded, for which the Rotary is seeking contributions from local business and organizations. To have your home placed on the list for judging, contact Diane Skelley at 952-873-2467.
Holiday Express Dec. 5
Belle Plaine Food Shelf Facilities Manager Pat Ollhoff (left) and David Pfannenstiel, a volun- Belle Plaine’s 12th annual teer at the downtown food shelf, prepared and distributed boxes of Thanksgiving dinners for Holiday Express will take place 40 families Monday morning. Saturday, Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon at Belle Plaine High School. Santa will be available for visits and there will be holiday craft activities. You can also enjoy a continental breakfast. The volunteers at the Belle turkey down to green bean cas- group of 40 families will re- The event is sponsored by Plaine Food Shelf know serole and pumpkin pie. ceive a similar meal at Christ- Belle Plaine Festivals and Thanksgiving isn’t always a Coborn’s Superstore in Belle mas, Ollhoff said The food Events, Parent Teacher Orgatime of celebration for every- Plaine is donating the major- shelf is providing the dinner to nization and Early Childhood one. For some, the traditional ity of the food, starting with the families of three to as many as Family Education. holiday meal can stretch a fam- turkey. The meal is worth about eight people. Santa’s Store will be open for ily’s budget tighter than it can $30, said Pat Ollhoff, facilities “There were people last year young shoppers to do their holihandle. manager of the Belle Plaine who didn’t get anything. We’re This week, the food shelf staff Food Shelf. trying to be fair,” he said. is helping 40 families with all The food shelf provided the “We’ve already had 13 families the ingredients of a traditional food to 40 families that signed sign up for Christmas.” Thanksgiving meal, from the up for the donation. A different
B.P. Food Shelf Helping Families Enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner
New Postmaster Brittany Hable is Belle Plaine’s new postmaster, taking over for Dave Ott, who recently retired. Hable’s postal service career started in Belle Plaine when she was a clerk from 20082010. She then became a city carrier in Glencoe for three years before becoming supervisor at Waconia for two years. Hable lives in the small town of Stewart, which is located about 15 miles south of Hutchinson. Hable said she has plenty of experienced employees (there are 14) to work with as she begins her new job at the time of the holiday rush.