Tigers Stuff Eagles
Harvest Medallion Hunt Begins on Page 4
Volleyball Team Still Unbeaten Page 13
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ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOURTH YEAR
BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, SEPTEMBER 23, 2015
75¢ SINGLE COPY
NUMBER 39
City Gets Break on Bridge Bids Lowest Bid $1.2 Million Below Estimate
by Dan Ruud Two big projects that will bring substantial change to Belle Plaine were given a boost over the past week. They include the upcoming construction of the Enterprise Drive extension and overpass project, and the Ridgeview Medical Center Clinic Belle Plaine High School will celebrate its Homecoming Week Sept. 28 to Oct. 2, during which special activities will take place near the intersection of Higheach day, including next Monday’s 8 p.m. coronation in the school’s north gym. More on next week’s festivities will appear in way 169 and County Road 3/ next Wednesday’s Herald. This year’s king and queen candidates are, from left, seniors Marcus Giesen, Ally Ann Fink, Paul Meridian Street. Nasby, Trinity Webb, Bernard Boateng, Maddi Lark, Ryan Siegle, Dakotah Poitra, Luke Narveson and Cassidy Burkman. The Belle Plaine City Council Monday night voted 4-1
King and Queen Candidates
to award the bid for the construction of the overpass project to S.M. Hentges and Sons of Jordan at the low bid of $3,179,966.84, which is over $1.2 million below the city engineer’s construction estimate of $4,387,703. Council Member Paul Chard, who has indicated throughout the process that the bridge should be built in a straight line where Highway 169 intersects County Road 3, accounted for the only no vote. Chard Tiling and Excavating of Belle Plaine had the next lowest bid at $3,273,167.55.
Bridge Bids
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B.P. School Board, Teachers Take Steps Toward Agreement Board Pitches New Approach on Money
Approving the inclusion of four preschool teachers into the agreement between the Belle Plaine School District and the union representing its teachers, the two sides continue moving toward a two-year agreement. But Monday’s (Sept. 21) twoplus hour negotiating session ended on a different note, one the board negotiators hope will be to the satisfaction of the Belle Plaine Education Asso-
as opposed to sick time/vacation time, and inclusion on the seniority list. The board has previously rejected PTO for the union, a request the union withdrew. The board agreed to allow the additional sick time the four preschool teachers have accrued to be banked at a pro-rated rate, said Director Matt Lenz, the lead negotiators for the school board. The board sought to include the four preschool teachers as part of the agreement rather than have them included as part of an attached memorandum of understanding. That MOU came after a mediated agreement last December that said the licensed teachers were teachers just like the elementary and secondary teachers. Luke Audette, the lead negotiator for the union, said pre$30 Oct. 2 to Race Day school teachers are teachers just Half-Marathon like elementary and secondary $40 by Oct. 1 teachers. “They just happen to have a shorter time with stu$50 Oct. 2 to Race Day dents,” he said. Half-Marathon Relay Lenz said moving the pre$60 by Oct. 1 school teachers into the contract $70 Oct. 2 to Race Day won’t cost the district any adIf you would like to preregis- ditional money since they were ter (walkers are also welcome), already covered by negotiated you can do so at belleplainef- terms of the contract. estivals.org or www.andersonraces.com. Ending the Race-day registration and ‘Volleyball’ Match packet pick up will open at 7:30 Rather than the two sides vola.m. at the park. leying offers across the bargaining table likes opposing teams in a volleyball match, the school board suggested a dif-
ciation (BPEA). The two sides will meet again and continue discussions Oct. 5 and 19 in the District Center. Negotiators for the union representing the district’s teachers and school board agreed that the four preschool teachers would be included in the contract agreement for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school year despite the three significant differences between licensed preschool teachers and their licensed elementary/secondary colleagues. Those differences include a shorter contract work year for preschool teachers (166 days versus 184 days), paid time off
Last Day to Preregister for Scenic Byway Races is Oct. 1 The deadline to preregister and receive a discounted price for entry in this year’s Scenic Byway races in Belle Plaine is Thursday, Oct. 1 (not Oct. 2 as previously reported). The fees for the races, which are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 10, are: Kids’ Fun Run $5 by Oct. 1 $10 Oct. 2 to Race Day 5K $25 by Oct. 1
Scott County Part of National Museum Day Event Sept. 26 The Scott County Historical Society will open its doors free of charge on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of Smithsonian magazine’s 11th annual Museum Day Live (see ticket information below). On this day only, participating museums across the nation emulate the spirit of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, D.C.-based facilities, which offer free admission everyday. Inclusive by design, the event represents Smithsonian Institution’s commitment to make learning and the spread of knowledge accessible to everyone. Last year’s event drew over 400,000 participants, and this year’s event is expected to attract more museum goers than ever before. “We’re excited to participate in Museum Day Live this year and welcome all visitors. The Scott County Historical Society shares the Smithsonian’s commitment to learning and access,” said SCHS Executive Director Kathleen Klehr.
At the SCHS, visitors will see Games and Chores and XMarks the Spot exhibits, which each include hands-on activities, as well as other galleries. Visitors will discover new aspects of their community in the SCHS’s extensive research library. In addition, SCHS presents “What Did You Dig Up?” archeology event. Do you have an interesting prehistoric or other artifact at home? Do you want to learn more about it? Then this free program is for you. Stop by anytime between 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26 and have you artifact identified by qualified archeologist Dr. Jeremy Nienow. The Museum Day Live ticket is available for download at http://Smithsonian.com/museumday. Visitors who present the ticket will gain free access for two at SCHS for one day only. One ticket per household, per e-mail address is permitted. For more information, visit http://Smithsonian.com/museumdaylive.
School Board
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Blakeley Road Resurfacing Work Nearly Complete Weather permitting, repairs to County Road 6 (Union Trail) should be completed by the end of next week (Oct. 2), according to the Scott County Highway Department. The road also known as “the Blakeley road” is being resurfaced using a process of full depth reclamation, said Scott County Highway Engineer Tony Winiecki. It serves about 600 vehicles a day.
Rick and Gabby (Persson) Stidger are committed to creating a place where parents who have lost a child can go to begin the healing process. A motorcycle-classic car run fund-raiser for The Jameson House is set for Oct. 3 in Belle Plaine. The couple knows that pain first-hand. Their first son, Jameson, died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) July 3, 2013. He was seven months old. They have since had a second child, Jack.
B.P. Native, Husband Aiming Higher for The Jameson House Even though he is gone, signs of the impact Jameson Stidger had on his parents are abundant around his parents’ home in Elko New Market. Less than a year after his birth, the death of Gabby and Rick’s infant son created a cause that is driving the couple to help others. Jameson died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) July 3, 2013. He was seven months old. Rick found the child lifeless in his crib that morning just after 7:15. Gabby, a registered nurse, would be home soon from the night shift. “When I went to turn him over, I knew he was not breathing. As panicked as I was, I gave him mouth to mouth and CPR,” the couple wrote in their story on a Web site dedicated to creating The Jameson House. “The image of that morning will be burned into my memory forever. Gabby came home to a nightmare that unfolded in front of her. Police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and, worst of all, the coroner’s vehicle.” Today, the couple aims to raise money to help couples who have lost a child. They want to raise money to create a place couples can go to begin the process of healing, a place where they are not immediately surrounded by reminders of the child they lost. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Neisen’s Corner Bar (Main & Meridian streets in downtown Belle Plaine), a motorcycle and classic car run will be held for The Jameson House. Registration
The Jameson House Motorcycle, Classic Car Run n When: Saturday, Oct. 3 n Where: Neisen’s Corner Bar, downtown Belle Plaine; registration, 11 a.m. Run begins at noon. n Includes: Food, music, raffle. n For more info: online at www.thejamesonhouse.com or Facebook/The Jameson House
begins at 11 a.m. and the run starts at noon. The fund-raiser will feature music, food and a raffle. Gabby (Persson) Stidger grew up in Belle Plaine, the daughter of Michelle and Glee Persson, and a 2007 BPHS graduate. Her husband, Rick Stidger, grew up in New Prague. They appreciate the support their dream has received the first two years. They have raised about $20,000 in two years. That’s an
impressive amount, but the couple knows their dreams carry a much higher price tag. Their hope is the money raised at the motorcycle-classic car run Oct. 3 will help fund larger events that will generate significant donations that will help make the dream a reality much faster. They’re working with Tammy Gilbertson, a Twin Cities-based event planner skilled at tapping non-profits, celebrities and other movers and shakers. “We need to get to the right people,” Rick said. Time is important because “nobody should have to go through this,” Gabby said. Heartbroken after Jameson’s death, she wasn’t going to get better at home. “Being here was too hard,” Gabby said. “Everywhere I looked, his things were there, a nook, baby wipes, shoes. I needed to go someplace.” He checked his wife into a
B.P. Native
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Red Cross Hosting B.P., Area Blood Drives Belle Plaine and area residents have the opportunity to donate blood during upcoming Red Cross blood drives locally and in the area. A Blood drive is slated for Belle Plaine’s Vets Club Wednesday, Sept. 30, 1-7 p.m. The Vets Club is at 218 Merid-
ian Street S. Other Opportunities to donate include Thursday, Sept. 24, 1:30-7:30 p.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Jordan, 313 Second Street E., or Monday, Sept. 28, 1-7 p.m., at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1300 Main Street E.