Burnsville | Eagan
www.SunThisweek.com NEWS Eagan author loves the hunt Kevin Lovegreen writes childrnen’s books about the sporting life he’s loved since childhood. Page 8A
November 2, 2012 | Volume 33 | Number 36
Local businesses among nation’s fastest growing by Jessica Harper SUN THISWEEK
OPINION Apple Valley woman honored 360 Communities honors the life of an Apple Valley woman who worked to help others escape abusive relationships. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND
Four of the nation’s fastest growing companies call Eagan and Burnsville home. Prime Therapeutics, Avionte and Intertech in Eagan, and Burnsvillebased Innovative Office Solutions were named last week among the nation’s 5,000 fastest growing companies by Inc. Magazine. Avionte experienced the greatest amount of growth at 294 percent in the past three years. The company – located at 1270 Eagan
Industrial Road – saw its revenue increase from $1.1 million in 2008 to $4.2 million in 2011. Avionte was founded in 2006 and develops and licenses staffing software and Web-based portal services that facilitate communication among recruiters, staffing agencies, employers and job candidates. It currently has 65 employees, which is 45 more than in 2008. Innovative Office Solutions in Burnsville also See BUSINESSES, 18A
‘Movember’ means mustaches for many Burnsville cops by John Gessner SUN THISWEEK
Burnsville police officers Jeremiah Mahler and Brian Beckstrom went with a hybrid look earlier this week: nearly cleanshaven heads and finely trimmed facial hair. You could say the patrol cops were in training for Movember, a month-long, mustache-growing movement to raise funds for men’s health issues, particularly prostate and testicular cancer. Mahler and Beckstrom had to shave before Nov. 1 to meet the Movember rule that participants start the Officers Brian Beckstrom, left, and Jeremiah Mahler grew month clean. But the usu- mustaches early this year to help publicize the Burnsville Police Department’s Movember campaign. They had to See MUSTACHES, 17A start over on Nov. 1.
BHS’ haunted hallways
Radio station hosts Kline and Obermueller’s only joint appearance
Holiday comedy in Lakeville “The ReGifters,” a stage comedy presented by Expressions community theater, comes to the stage of the Lakeville Area Arts Center. Page 10A
by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK
Photo by Rick Orndorf
SPORTS
Congressional candidates finally debate
The haunted hallways of Burnsville High School came to life on Oct. 27 courtesy of the Blaze robotics team and the BHS Theatre Guild, which staged Haunted Hallway 2012. The spooky tour had visitors on the run from zombie students and a robotic giant spider.
U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Lakeville, met challenger Mike Obermueller, D-Eagan, for their only debate of the 2012 campaign on Monday in the St. Paul studio of Minnesota Public Radio. The time focused largely on health care along with brushing on taxes, the na-
tional debt and each candidate’s appeal to voters that they are the right person to represent the reshaped 2nd District. The 2nd District, which comprises all of Dakota County, has sent Kline to serve it in the past five elections. Kline, a retired U.S. Marine colonel and chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, touted his ability to work in a bipartisan manner to deliver payments to recently returned war veterans, improve charter school law and repeal No Child Left See DEBATE, 26A
Board shop owner honored for contributions to youth by John Gessner SUN THISWEEK
Eastview boys soccer on a roll Lightning boys advance to the state final for the second season in a row. Page 20A
ONLINE Look for election results at SunThisweek.com on election night and the following morning for a wrapup of all the local and state races. Those looking for voter information can read candidate responses to Sun Thisweek questionnaires online.
At 33, Shawn Solem is one of those adults other adults might envy. He’s managed to channel the passions of his youth – skateboarding and snowboarding – into an avocation. Solem owns and founded Zombie Boardshop at 15100 Buck Hill Road in Burnsville. His transition from “shop kid” to shop owner has brought with it a sense of civic responsibility. Solem serves on a committee raising funds for long-term improvements to Burnsville’s public skateboard park. His efforts, which include donating a small portion of each skateboard sale to the campaign, earned Solem a Community
has been skating since age 12, beginning at parks from Hudson, Wis., to Minneapolis, and on the snow at Afton Alps. “You wouldn’t even think about what you were really doing the next day,” he said. “You knew you were going to skate.” As a kid he worked in the “tuning” (repair) shop at Afton Alps. He attended college off and on before moving to Vail, Colo., with soon-to-be wife Ashley to work in a tuning shop there. When the couple returned to Minnesota, Shawn went to work at Gravity Lab and GLX, a newly opened Photo by John Gessner pair of shops in the old BeaShawn Solem is founder and owner of Zombie Boardshop on Buck Hill Road in Burnsville. ver Mountain waterslide Builder Award this month 2012 Community Builder the Burnsville Women of building just north of Buck from the City Council. Awards are Metcalf Junior Today. See SOLEM, 26A Other recipients of the High teacher Sue Borne and Raised in Afton, Solem
Election 2012
INDEX
Local races pack Burnsville ballot
Legislative races Eagan highlight
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A
Burnsville voters will vote on city, school district, state and county candidates in Tuesday’s election. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In the city election, Mayor Elizabeth Kautz faces Jerry Willenburg. Four candidates are running for two open City Council seats: Steve Cherney, Bruce Johnson, Suzanne Nguyen and incumbent Mary Sherry. Ten candidates are seeking four seats on the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage District 191 School Board. Candidates for three four-year terms are incumbent DeeDee Currier, Steve Dove, incumbent Ron Hill, Mark Korman, Seema Pothini, incum-
Eagan voters will cast ballots for city, state and county candidates in Tuesday’s election. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. City Council members Meg Tilley and Cyndee Fields are running unopposed. Candidates for Eagan-area state legislative seats are: Senate District 51 — Republican Sen. Ted Daley and DFLer Jim Carlson. House District 51A — Republican Rep. Diane Anderson and DFLer Sandra Masin.
See BURNSVILLE, 16A
See EAGAN, 17A
Announcements . . . . . . 9A Sports . . . . . . . . . 20A-21A Classifieds . . . . . . 22A-23A Public Notices . . . . . . . 19A
General Information 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
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VOTE November 6 FOR
Our State Senator
www.DaleyforSenate.com