www.SunThisweek.com NEWS Eagan mother denies abuse charges A woman accused of forcing her teenage son to live in untenable conditions and perform grueling exercises pleads not guilty. Page 2A
OPINION All-day K deserves funds The Minnesota Legislature should approve a proposal to fund all-day kindergarten statewide. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND
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Burnsville | Eagan March 29, 2013 | Volume 34 | Number 5
Engineer by trade, Ebeling saw the big picture Three are finalists to replace him as Burnsville city manager by John Gessner SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
A Burnsville City Council proclamation honoring retiring City Manager Craig Ebeling stuffs many accolades onto one page. It traces his ascent from assistant city engineer and includes an appreciation of his “humble nature” and “self-deprecating sense of humor.” If you ask Ebeling how a civil engineer by trade rises to the top of city government, the self-deprecation begins to show. “There’s a perception that engineers can’t see the forest for the trees and that if you ask them what time it is they’ll tell you how to make a watch,” Ebeling said. “There is a
Craig Ebeling is retiring March 29 after 10 years as Burnsville city manager and a career with the city spanning 26 years. (Photo by Rick Orndorf) certain analytical bent to people who are engineers. But I think some of that is a little unfair, because there are engineers around who are able to be ana-
lytical but also to understand that not everything is formulaic and to see the bigger picture. I hope I’ve been one of those that’s been able to see the big
picture.” Ebeling has been city manager for 10 years, a period that included budget retrenchment, construction of the Performing Arts Center and culmination of a “trust fund” for Burnsville’s aging infrastructure that he helped create. “I think the city’s had a very good run over the last 10 years, and longer,” said Ebeling, whose last day of work is March 29. “I think that we should take some pride in continuing to flourish through some very difficult economic times. The council had to make some really tough decisions.” Three candidates are in the running to replace him, including Heather Johnston, Burnsville’s director
of administrative services and chief financial officer (see related story). “I’m going to miss him a lot,” Mayor Elizabeth Kautz said, praising Ebeling’s relations with the City Council and “compassionate” leadership of city employees. “We give him direction on what to do, and he articulates that in a way that allows our people to get the work done. It’s inspirational. And he doesn’t micromanage. He really has done a wonderful job. We have a great culture inside our organization.” The proclamation notes Ebeling’s community involvement through the Minnesota Valley YMCA board of directors, the See EBELING, 14A
Bringing new ideas to the table New healthy eating initiatives provide food for thought by Sarah Barchus MURPHY NEWS SERVICE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION
Traveling through time Local author Martin Bracewell is taking readers on a trip through time with his new book “Peace, Man.” Page 21A
SPORTS
High hopes for Blaze softball Burnsville has a new softball coach but plenty of returning players. Page 15A
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Children are eating fewer calories, a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals. Minnesota is doing its part as its schools continue to bring new ideas to the table to promote healthy eating. Efforts are somewhat limited by strict standards, shrinking financial support and children who are unwilling to eat their greens. The Rosemount-ApStudents at Southview Elementary eat lunch during a 2011 special event. The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District was the first Minnesota district to receive ple Valley-Eagan School HealthierUS school challenge silver award in 2010. The district continues school lunch District led the way for healthy eating in 2010 nutrition focus to this day. (Photo by Rick Orndorf)
Eagan mayor: City is ‘positioned to succeed,’ must adjust to change by Jessica Harper SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Eagan is positioned to succeed, but there is still work to be done as the city faces changing demographics and lifestyles, Mayor Mike Maguire said during his State of the City address. “Building on the grit and determination of Eagan’s founders, I believe we start by developing a mindset as a city government and as a community that we are not only open to change, but we will capitalize upon it,” Maguire said. The Eagan leader gave his speech March 21 in front of members of the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the event at the Eagan Community Center. Maguire’s speech was also televised on Eagan public access. Demographers predict Eagan in the near future will have growing numbers of seniors and minorities, and fewer children. But Maguire said this shift is already occurring.
In the past decade, Dakota County’s minority population has grown by 92 percent. “That is the face of Eagan right now, not projections, but when you conjure up your image of Eagan, has your world view adjusted to see the Eagan of today?” he said. Maguire pointed to Eagan’s growing number of minority-owned businesses as evidence of the city’s transformation into a melting pot. Maguire encouraged residents and business leaders to consider whether Eagan is becoming a “global city” competing in a world economy. “It’s important to think about because many of our current and future workers, high-skilled workers, will come from emerging populations that some people may not instinctively think of as ‘Eagan’ even though these citizens buy Eagan homes, shop at local stores, go to local dentists and doctors, and add immeasurably to See MAGUIRE, 13A
when the HealthierUS school challenge awarded it a silver rating for its efforts, making it the first district in Minnesota to receive that recognition, said Barbara Griffiths, the district’s food and nutrition supervisor. “It was a community effort and achievement,” Griffiths said. “We are ahead of the game and should be very proud of what we are serving our students.” During the first week of March the district, like many in the state, took part in National Breakfast Week activities to underscore the importance of students starting each day See LUNCHES, 13A
Coroner rules Eagan death a homicide by Jessica Harper SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Mayor Mike Maguire described Eagan as being “positioned to succeed” during his State of the City Address on March 21 at the Eagan Community Center. The event was sponsored by the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce. (Photo by Jessica Harper)
The death of an Eagan man in January has been ruled a homicide by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Samuel Petersen Office. After performing an autopsy earlier this year, the coroner determined in a March 22 report that Jonathan T. Lahr, 36, died of blunt force injury to his head an neck. Investigators believe alcohol was involved in the incident. Lahr’s roommate Samuel W. Petersen, 28, called 911 on Jan. 1 when Lahr became unconscious and stopped breathing. According to police, Petersen told the dispatcher he had been fighting with his roommate. When officers arrived on See HOMICIDE, 14A