Twbv12 1 17

Page 1

www.SunThisweek.com NEWS Indian grocery store opens A Lakeville family has opened an Indian grocery store in Apple Valley. Page 2A

Dec. 1, 2017 | Volume 38 | Number 39

Fire forged unity in crisis

Eagan may revisit solar regulations

Ex-school officials recall Burnsville High arson of 1994

New array reveals ‘weakness’ in code

by John Gessner SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

OPINION Looking into the future Twin Cities leaders talk about and try to predict what the workforce and business climate will be in the future. Page 4A

THISWEEKEND

First came the fire, then came a rainbow. Less than two months after an arsonist decimated their building, members of Burnsville High School’s Class of 1994 rushed through their outdoor commencement ceremony as storm clouds gathered. A group of graduates, diplomas in hand, spotted a rainbow that they said seemed to stretch from the high school stadium all the way to Metcalf Junior High, Vicki Roy recalled. “Even that ended up with this story-tale ending for them,� said Roy, a District 191 School Board member at the time. “It was what they needed to bring their high school career to a positive end.� Roy and two other former Burnsville-EaganSavage school officials

A Division of ECM Publishers, Inc.

Burnsville | Eagan

by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Burnsville Historical Society photo

Former Principal Howard Hall discussed the 1994 Burnsville High School arson fire Nov. 9 at the Ames Center in Burnsville. reunited Nov. 9 to tell the Burnsville Historical Sostory of the historic fire ciety, which made a video and its hectic, costly but recording of the meeting, unifying aftermath. They See FIRE, 12A were assembled by the

The city of Eagan may revisit its code for neighborhood solar arrays after one installation became a bit too big of an eyesore for neighbors. The city has approved a few residential solar panel arrays in the past as long as they adhere to code, but one caught the attention of a neighbor in a big way. During last week’s City Council meeting resident Bridget Bataglia officially appealed the City Council’s decision to allow the zoning of a neighboring solar array off Dodd Road near Bur Oaks Park. A 11.5 kilowatt, 12-foot high, 60-foot long solar array looms over her property, she said. There’s no large trees or other vegetation in the way.

“It’s clearly visible from my property,� Bataglia said. She showed a picture to the City Council that the solar array was visible from the front of her house. Solar array owner Dan Kieffer confirmed that planting trees and other vegetation would be a solution that he would offer. He said he put the solar array where it is because there are easements, a septic system, trees, and other structures elsewhere on the property. There’s a tree line along the north portion of his property, but a gap by Bataglia’s house. “My intention is to close the gap on in the tree line between properties,� Kieffer said. Whether that solves the issue remains to be seen. The City Council voted to extend the deadline to decide whether to confirm the approval of the See SOLAR, 9A

Band shares its gift with the world

Community band to play The Rosemount Community Band is slated to play its annual Christmas concert next week at the Steeple Center. Page 17A

SPORTS

Eastview aims for the top The Eastview High School girls basketball team is aiming to ascend to the top of the state rankings again this year. Page 10A

PUBLIC NOTICE Burnsville-Eagan Sun Thisweek is the official newspaper for the cities of Burnsville and Eagan and school districts 191 and 196. Public Notices are on Page 11A.

INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 10A Public Notices . . . . . . 11A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 13A Announcements . . . . 16A

General 952-894-1111 Display Advertising 952-846-2019 Classified Advertising 952-846-2003 Delivery 763-712-3544

Rosemount High School marching band’s hard work pays off in NYC by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Thanksgiving Day is typically not reserved for giving presents, but the Rosemount High School marching band offered up a priceless gift to people numbering in the hundreds, thousands or maybe even more than that last week. After countless hours of practice, performing, fundraising and preparations, band members put everything they had been working toward the past 18 months into marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Hearts back home in Rosemount swelled with pride upon seeing the 1-minute, 15-second performance in Herald Square on NBC-TV, shouts of encouragement and applause rang through

Photo by Kevin McCormick/GroupPhotos.com

The Rosemount High School marching band traveled to New York City last week for its performances in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 24. The trip included time for sightseeing, along with the big performance through the streets of Manhattan. the streets of Manhattan as they marched in front of 400-some family and friends along the parade route who traveled to New

York City to support the band, but they weren’t the only ones captivated by the band. The throngs of people

who watched the parade from packed sidewalks, apartment balconies or rooftops sang along with the band’s renditions of

See BAND, 18A

Burnsville’s proposed tax Cartoons and monster cereals artist hike low by comparison Burnsville pursues book Vote on budget and levy is Dec. 5 by John Gessner SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Burnsville’s proposed 2018 city tax increase is lower than those in many suburbs in and around Dakota County. Burnsville’s proposed 3.9 percent levy increase is fourth-lowest among 14 metro suburbs chosen by city staff for comparison. Lakeville’s 5.9 percent increase topped the list. On the low end, Burnsville and Minnetonka are at 3.9 percent, Apple Valley and Woodbury are at 3.8 percent and Maple Grove is at 2.4 percent. “We’re on the low end in comparison to other

similar cities,� Finance Director Kelly Strey said at a Nov. 28 budget work session, the last before the council votes on the 2018 budget and levy on Dec. 5. Statewide, the average proposed increase is 6.8 percent. In Dakota County, only Apple Valley is lower than Burnsville, and not by much. Apple Valley’s proposed increase is 3.84 percent, compared with Burnsville’s 3.88 percent. West St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights and South St. Paul occupy the high end, at 11.3 percent, 11.18 percent and 9.39 percent, respectively. Burnsville Council Member Dan Kealey apSee TAXES, 8A

project on the side by John Gessner SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Burnsville artist Cedric Hohnstadt is raising money to publish a book of original cartoons he calls “Mostly Nonsense.� His day job has its own share of whimsy. Working from his basement studio, Hohnstadt was once hired to illustrate the backs of the “monster cereal� boxes — the General Mills products that include Count Chocula and Franken Berry. He also collaborated on two bonus characters, Yummy Mummy and Fruit Brute, that

Photo by John Gessner

Professional illustrator and cartoonist Cedric Hohnstadt works out of his basement studio in Burnsville. made the front of the box. a professional illustrator, “And I’ve done one for with three young daughCocoa Puffs as well — I ters and a wife who chose did the back of that cereal to stay home raising them box,� said Hohnstadt, 45. See ARTIST, 9A After two decades as

/n[n�ón ¯ß Ÿ ¨|| A fee is charged at some locations to cover distribution costs.

“Santa Claus is Coming to Town� and “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow.� “The coolest thing for me was seeing everyone singing the Christmas songs,� said senior drum major Colette Edgar. “These are people who had not met each other previously and now they were all singing Christmas music together.� She thought it especially heartwarming since it was Thanksgiving, a time when people come together to give thanks for what they have. Edgar said it was unexpected that people were singing-along with the music, but band director Bo Hoover said the Macy’s parade crowds are known for their liveliness. Bo Hoover described the parade scene in the “concrete jungle� as loud with people cheering all the way through. He said at one point when they turned a corner he could see people lined up 50 deep

:n ¨ón ܨÌĂ? ¡nĂ?Ă“t

|ĂŚÂ˜Â˜ÂŽÂƒĂ?¨¨Âž Ă“nĂ?ĂłÂ?[n Â?ÂŁ AÂŁĂ™ nQ ä߯sz ¨¨Â— "¨ôz š£¨Ă? ĂłA˜Â?e Ă´Â?Ă?ÂŒ AÂŁĂś ¨Ă?ÂŒnĂ? ¨||nĂ?Ă“ ¨Ă? eÂ?Ă“[¨Ì£Ă?Óº

šĂ˜~ÂŻÂş ¤¤sÂŽ-nĂ?Ă“šĂ—Ă&#x;sĂ—Âş ôôô½¡AĂ´Â˜Â?Ă“ÂŒne¡nĂ?Ă“½[¨Âž &

!""'! !

$

A˜˜ £¨ô |¨Ă? ¡¡¨Â?ÂŁĂ?žnÂŁĂ?

¯ß¯Ă˜ Â?| nĂś /¨Aeb 0ĂŚÂ?Ă?n ~ßß AƒAÂŁb !" ~~¯äĂ&#x;

tAÂŁe Ă?ÂŒnĂś ˜¨ón ĂŚĂ“z


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.