Classic Friday night downtown
Sabers tapped as Missota favorites
A photo page of restored cars seen last week
Even with question marks, Shakopee team to beat
Page 15
Inside
SHAKOPEE SABERS Nick McBeain is defensive player the top Missota Conferenin the ce.
Football Preview Date
Playing the role of
FAVORITES
2011 Schedule
Fri., Sept. 2 Fri., Sept. 9 Fri., Sept. 16 Fri., Sept. 23 Fri., Sept. 30 Fri., Oct. 7 Fri., Oct. 14 Wed., Oct. 19
Opponent Fridley at Chanhassen Chaska at Farmington New Prague at Holy Angels Red Wing at Northfield
Time 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.
BY TODD ABELN tabeln@swpub.com
I
Even with que Shakopee team stion marks, to beat in Missota
n just over a year, the Shakop ee High School football team went from a Missota Conference also-ran and sometimes bottom-feeder those seven games. The closest to top dog. opponent came a conference to the Sabers
running back but don’t be surprised if get a chance others to carry the ball. “There are a lot of guys pushing carries,” Stone him for said. McBeain will handle the fullback while Conrad line will have duties was 21 points. will be the Sabers’ With that impressiv to get experienc at the receiver big-play guy fast.” e record behind e and mature Shakopee looks position. it, toward Stone said Taylor Seniors Scott Conference champion repeating as Missota Johnson Bode and Colton Watford will moving from s in 2011 — but Clark are come without also be options and Yaree linebacker to it won’t its challenge position. at the receiver defensive end Tony Sohns s. “We expect to will and win,” head coach The only players offensive line. play nose tackle and in said. “Will we the that Stone knows make it as stylish Jody Stone on the offensive In addition to will play I’m afraid that’s line are Sohns as last year? McBeain, Nick Steve Lattery not going to at center and Matt Conrad Larson and expect to go happen but we at tackle. All will play out other positions up for grabs. Trevor Mulcrone linebacker. game we play, and compete in every single are will play a rover even Even with the that is a hybrid “There are good the playoffs. position of safety the team knows question marks, Stone teams in the The other positions and linebacker. said maybe better what to do. than us but we’ll Missota and will have guys “Winning is up from the every game.” the ultimate have a shot in moving junior goal,” he said. teams into varsity varsity or even sophomo Shakopee must re “We will have roles. last year’s team, replace 17 starters from young guys that can run impact players. including some really highin the other positions,” Stone Stone said the said. “We program has feel comforta do that, but the players to ble with all that one never these knows how the players.” players will perform under new Offensively, pressure. “The deal is the Sabers there are a lot probably won’t he said. “The of unknown be seniors are a s,” powered as they as highlittle less known because they were last played JV. We year — they don’t know what’s going didn’t score to happen when Jody Stone fewer than 34 pressure.” they get under points a game Head coach — but will be One thing that more consuming offense. of a timeSabers’ coaching Stone and the rest of the staff know for “The offense Shakopee may sure is that is have eight-minute-drivebuilt to be a 10- to 11-play, Missota Conferen the best player in the offense and ce on its roster. spirit,” break your Stone said. Senior linebacke r Nick McBeain The Sabers must dynamic play made replace a lot after dynamic on offense, most of positions and should only play a year ago notably be better his quarterback, fullback, wide senior year. Stone said McBeain receiver and tight end, and almost the entire can be a Division college football offensive line. I player and that Right now, the depend on him the Sabers will quarterback to lead a young between Zak position is According to defense. Hoffman and Nick Larson. Stone said most returns a few Stone, the defense only likely Hoffman starters from the guy because last year and a couple of those will be Larson will players will and he wants play positions. be in new to limit the number on defense players they of two-way Besides McBeain have. “Both are quality returns to anchor , free safety Brady Fish guys at that the back of the Stone said. “We Thu., Sept. 2 ........... position,” “He’s [Fish] defense. feel Fridley .................... confi going to make dent with both them.” bail out a young Fri., Sept. 10 ........... ....W a lot of defensive line,” of plays and Chanhassen............W 40-7 Hoffman was That defensive Stone. Fri., Sept. 17............ 35-14 a workhorse line is almost Chaska.................... Sabers at running last year for new and the complete the Fri., Sept. 24 ........... ..W 37-14 back and will key to ly of opportun Farmington ............. get plenty “We will be as the defense. ity to carry the Fri., Oct. 1................ W good as our ball from the quarterback allows us to New Prague .............W 34-0 spot. be,” Stone said. defensive line Fri., Oct. 8................ “He will get “Our defensive Holy Angels ............W 44-7 his carries,” Fri., Oct. 15 ............. Stone said. Jordan Gunhus 62-28 Red Wing ................. is the main option Wed., Oct. 20 ......... W 38-0 at Northfield
That’s what happens when the Missota Conference like you roll through 2010. the Sabers did in Shakopee went and really didn’t 7-0 in conference play have a close contest in
“We will be as good as our defensive line allows us to be.”
www.shakopeenews.com
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011 1
$1
2010 Shakopee footbal l results
SHAKOPEE
VALLEY Catholic school site may be sold
SEASON
Senior Zak Hoffman will PHOTOS BY TODD ABELN move to quarterback this year after running back playing in 2010.
Sabers opponents b
Fridley Tigers
Chanhassen Storm
Chaska
Farmington
.................W Tue., Oct. 26 ........... Chanhassen............. 35-7 Sat., Oct. 30 ............ W 40-8 Hopkins ............ L 45-42, OT
N
news
New building, leaders, school year
County agency eyes it for senior complex BY SHANNON FIECKE sfiecke@swpub.com
Shakopee seniors who once played and studied at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Sommerville Street might be able to live there in just a few years. After years of discussion, the Church of St. Mary received word Friday that the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will allow the parish to sell the former Catholic school site. Scott County Community Development Agency Executive Director Bill Jaffa informed county commissioners of the news during a budget workshop Tuesday. He said the agency has plans to acquire the property next year. St. Mary’s has long considered new uses for the vacant lot, which is on the same city block as the church and rectory. The church has been in talks with the CDA over the last three years about a possible senior
St. Marys to page 5 ®
River gauge needed, but who pays? BY KRISTIN HOLTZ kholtz@swpub.com
County Road 101 commuters know when the river starts to rise, it’s time to pay attention to the numbers. The river hits flood stage at 708 feet in Shakopee. At 710, it closes the downtown river crossing. But those numbers are harder to decipher now that the river gauge was damaged and local leaders are not sure they’re willing to fork over the funds necessary for a new one. City, county, state and federal agencies have been discussing whether the ability to forecast river levels in Shakopee outweighs the $30,000 price tag of installing a new automated gauge and the ongoing maintenance costs that could tally up to $16,000 a year. The National Weather Service manual staff gauge was wiped out last spring by debris and its backup water-weight gauge was removed during construction of the Holmes Street bridge. The weather service office in Chanhassen uses river gauges to forecast flood events based on
Gauge to page 7 ®
PHOTO BY KRISTIN HOLTZ
Eagle Creek Elementary kindergarten teacher Sara Addler greets Cameron Lemos, left, to kindergarten Tuesday during the annual open house. Cameron’s brother, Marcus, a second-grader, accompanied him to the classroom.
About third of students in a new school BY KRISTIN HOLTZ kholtz@swpub.com
Shakopee school kids will be excitedly (or dejectedly) clambering up the bus steps Tuesday, but for many, it’s a new bus and a new school. Nearly a third of district students will be heading to a new school this fall after the Shakopee School Board redrew elementary attendance boundaries last spring. “Just a lot of new fresh families and
faces,” Sun Path Elementary Principal Patrick Leonard said. Shakopee readjusted its boundaries to accommodate the opening of its newest elementary building, Jackson Elementary. The new building, located near the intersection of 17th Avenue and Marystown Road, will open its doors Tuesday to approximately 700 students. Pearson Elementary staff
Schools to page 8 ®
Opening day projected enrollment Shakopee High School Shakopee Junior High Shakopee Middle School Eagle Creek Elementary Jackson Elementary Red Oak Elementary Sun Path Elementary Sweeney Elementary Total
1,524 991 1,147 700 703 820 794 695 7,374
Source: Shakopee Public Schools
Babe’s Place murals among things to see on historic site tour Sept. 10 BY KRISTIN HOLTZ kholtz@swpub.com
S
tudy the walls at Babe’s Place in downtown Shakopee and you might be left scratching your head.
PHOTO BY KRISTIN HOLTZ
Babe’s Place, 124 Holmes St., has been a saloon for most of its history.
Four murals run the length of the southern wall, depicting pastoral settings and a scene right off a pirate ship. What they mean exactly, no one really knows, said Babe’s Place owner Don Matta.
INSIDE OPINION/4 OBITUARIES/6 HAPPENINGS/9 CALENDAR/11 SPORTS/17-18 CLASSIFIEDS/24-27 TO REACH US SUBSCRIBE: (952) 345-6683 EDITOR: (952) 345-6680 OR E-MAIL EDITOR@SHAKOPEENEWS.COM.
Local artist John Kodylek painted the murals in the 1880s. Story has it, Kodylek was in town painting murals on the walls of St. Mark’s Church and the Opera House when he struck a deal with the owner of Babe’s building to paint the walls for food, beer and boarding. “This is the story I’ve always heard,” said longtime employee Mary Isakson. “I don’t know much about it, but it sounds good.” Located at 124 Holmes St., fact and lore have blurred at the downtown building.
Tour to page 16 ®
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