Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount www.dakotacountytribune.com
NEWS Area baptist church grows Berean Baptist Church in Burnsville is growing as other Christian congregations across the country are losing membership. Page 2A
OPINION University can’t afford misstep After a string of bad news stories, the University of Minnesota and President Eric Kaler need stability. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND
Coffee house sounds abound Julida Alter and Sean Alter of The Blacksmith’s Daughters are set to perform Friday, March 17, at BlueNose Coffee in Farmington. Page 15A
SPORTS
Tigers earn ďŹ fth place Farmington, celebrated heartily after defeating Eastview 3-0 in the Class AA fifth-place game Saturday at Ridder Arena. Page 9A
PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is an official newspaper of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District. Page 10A
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9A Public Notices . . . . . . 10A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 11A Announcements . . . . 14A
News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2019 Classified Advertising 952-392-6862 Delivery 763-712-3544
and the surrounding areas March 2, 2017 • Volume 132 • Number 1
Go green for a special day Rosemount Rotary fundraiser includes food, music, fun
District 196 aims to bring more perspectives in curriculum
by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Rosemount Rotary is the small club that aims to make a big impact in the community. That’s the way Rotary member Lisa Lusk describes the club, which will have its largest fundraising event of the year Saturday, March 18, during the Irish for a Day Soiree at the Rosemount Community Center. The evening of entertainment that will start at 5:30 p.m. and is suitable for an adult night out will include dinner, a cash bar, music, a drawing for prizes, silent auction and a chance to catch up with friends and neighbors while supporting Rotary’s community causes. “We are hoping it continues to gain some traction in the community,� Lusk said of the event’s fifth year. “The people who have come, they enjoy it. We would love to see it grow.� Lusk said having an Irish focused event on the St. Patrick’s Day weekend was a natural for Rosemount, which honors its founders’ heritage in many ways. The event includes many nods to that heritage. Aside from the wearing of the green by attendees, the Irish band Legacy will kick off the evening playing traditional Irish music and other selections during the cocktail hour. Dinner, catered by Rosemount’s Las Tortillas, will start at 7 p.m. Back by popular demand will be the FunKeys dueling piano show, which caps the evening with the musical fun starting after 8 p.m. Lusk describes the duo as part comedians and part very accomplished musicians.
Equity strategies described
by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The Irish for a Soiree includes opportunities for friends and neighbors to connect and listen to Irish music from the band Legacy (at left). Photos submitted
“They will play anything that can engage the audience in a sing along or banter with them,� Lusk said. She said people who attend will probably know all of the songs they play as they cover such artists and Billy Joel, Neil Diamond and Frank Sinatra. While people will walk away with memories, some of have the luck of the Irish will leave the night with even more than that. The grand prize for a drawing is a trip for two to Ireland. The package includes airline travel vouchers, a four-night stay at a bed-andbreakfast and car rental. Other prizes include a 60-inch high definition Smart TV, small
electronics and the Wall of Wine. Tickets for the prize drawing are available before and during the event. At the end of the night, while people will embrace the fun, Lusk hopes they also recognize the important work they are supporting. “We’ve done a couple of visioning sessions,� Lusk said. “The common theme through all three of those has been the passion for serving youth and families.� The fundraiser will support a variety of projects that have “a strong focus on youth and families,� Lusk said. See IRISH, 8A
Achievement and Integration strategies are being assessed in the Rosemount-Apple ValleyEagan School District through test scores, graduation rates and other data. For Integration & Educational Equity Coordinator Carita Green, one important measure often doesn’t show up in statistics. It’s found in the stories of each student. It’s reflected in the three graduates who emailed her a photo of them meeting together as University of Minnesota students still using the AVID support model for students in the academic middle. It’s found in another graduate who was ready to drop an AP psychology class in high school but persevered after working with Green and the teacher to overcome her stumbling block. As a college student, she told Green she was excelling in psychology. It’s seen in the way a student who became blind after a medical issue had the support of a multicultural family advocate, teachers and family to continue to advance in elementary school. With a population of more than 28,000 students, the district has stories like these developing each day through programs advanced by state AI funds, which totaled $4.3 million this academic year based on various racial and economic demographic data. See EQUITY, 10A
Farmington man convicted for hit-and-run death Sentencing is May 10 by Laura Adelmann SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
After a week of testimony and more than 17 hours of deliberations over three days, a Scott County jury on Feb. 24 convicted Matthew Keely Hartley, 34, of Farmington, on three counts of criminal vehicular homicide in the Sept. 25 hitand-run crash that killed Mollie Mahowald, 24, of Lakeville. Mollie’s father, Pete Mahowald, said the family was happy with the verdict and grateful to jurors for their time and careful review of the evidence, which included Hartley’s testimony and that of 22 witnesses for the prosecution. During deliberations, the six-man, six-woman jury twice briefly convened in the courtroom to review a short video clip of Hartley and friend Joshua Plan revving their
motorcycles before vaulted Mahowald quickly driving about 20-30 feet. east from the Elko Elko New Market New Market bar officers racing to Captain Black’s the scene to assist around 2:20 a.m. Mahowald reportSept. 25. ed Hartley passing The video Mollie them at a high rate shows some of the Mahowald of speed. spectators gathHartley testified ered as music plays and he did not see the police Hartley and Plan rev their and he was traveling about motorcycles. Some in the 30 mph. crowd shouted profaneJurors also reviewed a laced comments about 911 audio of a distraught their safety on the road. man reporting he had wit“Don’t (expletive) die!� nessed a motorcyclist hit a one yelled. female pedestrian “headNot recorded was what on� and take off. happened seconds later, Hartley, of Farmingwhen Hartley struck pe- ton, testified he saw a girl destrian Mahowald, an in front of him but did not Army specialist and Iraq know he struck her until War veteran. police tracked him down Witnesses testified after the next day. the crash Hartley, who was Hartley told the jury on probation for a 2012 he hid his dirty, damaged DWI charge in Dakota motorcycle first alongside County, scrambled to his a road, then under a canoe motorcycle and hastily left at his residence, covering the scene as Mahowald a protruding handlebar lay dying in the street and with a garbage can lid to many people were scream- keep it from the rain. ing at Hartley to stop. Hartley denied drinkCourt documents say ing any alcohol before the the impact of the crash incident, said he did not
know police were searching for him and testified he was taking a walk when they came to his residence that afternoon with a search warrant. After police located and arrested Hartley about 14 hours after the crash, he received medical treatment for an injured ankle. Hartley was convicted of all charges except one count of criminal vehicular homicide associated with being under the influence of alcohol. Scott County Attorney Mike Budka said outside the courtroom after the verdict was read, the family was emotional, hugging each other and wiping tears. Pete Mahowald said several jurors also hugged family members and expressed sympathy for their loss. Budka said Hartley is expected to be sentenced to the statutory maximum of 15 years in prison. He said he was pleased with the verdict and noted the
diligence of the police in gathering witnesses and evidence. “This was a difficult case in the fact that Mr. Hartley fled the scene,� Budka said. “Law enforcement did a really good job in tracking him down and getting me everything that I needed to make this presentation to the jury.� Hartley has an extensive criminal record. Court documents show he has been convicted of and/or pleaded guilty to more than 50 charges, many felonies, in dozens of criminal cases including domestic abuse, burglary, terrorist threats, obscene or harassing phone calls, financial transaction fraud, theft, DWI and driving after suspension. Sentencing is scheduled for May 10. “I’m glad this is over for the family,� Budka said. “It’s a long time coming.� Contact Laura Adelmann at laura.adelmann@ecm-inc.com.
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