Members of the Coon Rapids American Legion Auxiliary served lunch to some 60 residents of Camilia Rose Care Center May 7. Auxiliary members have served lunch twice a year for more than 20 years. Photo by Kelly Johnson

The lunch, which featured bingo after the meal, included some 60 residents of the care center.

For more than 20 years, members of the auxiliary have served the lunch each spring and fall.

Funding for the lunch comes from community services projects the auxiliary does throughout the year, according to Diane Bohlman.

Kelly Johnson is at kelly.johnson@ecm-inc.com

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Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Area Wildlife Supervisor Tim Marion May 6 updated the St. Francis City Council on the DNR’s intention to purchase a 40-acre parcel east of the Carl E. Bonnell Wildlife Management Area from a private seller. Marion was at the meeting to gain support from the city council of the upcoming transaction, which Mayor Jerry Tveit voiced on behalf of the council.

Next the DNR will need to gain approval of the sale from the Anoka County Wetlands Committee and then the Anoka County Board. Marion said he expects the sale to close sometime this summer.

The wildlife management area is currently 40 acres in size and is located 4 1/4 miles north and west of St. Francis on County Road 28. It comprises about 50 percent upland forest and 50 percent lowland shrub swamp. Hunting options in the wildlife area include deer, bear, small game, forest game birds, pheasants and turkeys. The pending land acquisition will expand the Carl E. Bonnell Wildlife Management Area to a full 80 acres.

Marion said that motorized vehicles are generally not allowed in wildlife management areas; however, there is an existing snowmobile trail that goes through the Bonnell property that riders may use, but snowmobiles must stay on the trail when crossing the property.

Wildlife management areas were established to protect Minnesota’s lands and waters that have a high potential for wildlife production, public hunting, trapping, fishing and other recreational uses. This system started in 1951 and has the goals of protecting wildlife habitat for future generations, providing citizens with opportunities to hunt, fish and watch wildlife, and to promote wildlife-based tourism in the state

According to the DNR, there are currently more than 1.29 million acres of high-quality habitat in 1,440 wildlife management areas throughout the state.

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Brent David Simonson, 34, 9342 Sixth St. N.E., was arraigned May 3 on a felony charge of intentional discharge of firearm (endangering the safety of another).

According to the criminal complaint, Anoka County dispatch 9:26 p.m. April 30 received a 911 call from Simonson that eight people were robbing his house and that he had a shotgun. The dispatcher allegedly heard two shots before the call abruptly ended.

Blaine Police responded and allegedly heard three additional shots. They then saw Simonson standing outside with a shotgun. More officers arrived and Simonson allegedly tried to run away, but was confronted by more officers. He surrendered his weapon and complied with commands, according to the complaint.

Capt. Kerry Fenner of the Blaine Police Department said this incident could have been much worse if Simonson had not surrendered. He never fired at officers during the incident.

“This could have been a bad outcome for him,” Fenner said. “Thank goodness he complied with officers’ commands.”

An investigation found spent shotgun shells lying in the backyard and saw that pellet shots from a shotgun had impacted a barbecue grill in his backyard and the side of a neighbor’s garage, according to the complaint.

Officers conducting a search warrant of Simonson’s house allegedly found spent shotgun shells and two holes in a window screen in his bedroom along with numerous other firearms and ammunition in the home, according to the complaint.

Fenner said police could not find any evidence of an attempted burglary. A person living with Simonson allegedly told police that Simonson had been drinking a lot that day and at one point told him that people were trying to get in the house, but the roommate did not see anyone trying to break in.

He told Simonson to put the shotgun down, but he later heard Simonson on the phone and shots being fired. Officers allegedly smelled alcohol on Simonson, according to the complaint.

Fenner said this was only the third time in the last six years that Blaine Police have had any interaction with Simonson. He was arrested once for driving while intoxicated in Blaine and police stopped by his home another time because of a noise complaint.

Eric Hagen is at
eric.hagen@ecm-inc.com

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Northwest Asphalt was the low bidder in the amount of $1,266,997.49 for reconstruction of 2.9 miles of residential streets in a neighborhood west of Crooked Lake Boulevard and north of 113th Avenue plus Oakwood Drive between Ninth Avenue and Eldorado Street.

The engineer’s estimate was $1,331,288.25.

In the second project, 4.2 miles of residential streets in a neighborhood east of Crooked Lake Boulevard and north of Coon Rapids Boulevard, the council awarded the contract to North Valley Inc. in the amount of $1,646,916.58

The engineer’s estimate was $1,731,203.35.

Both low bidders have completed several projects in Coon Rapids and performed very well, according to City Engineer Bob Moberg.

It is anticipated that work on both projects will begin May 20 and be completed at the end of August, Moberg told the council.

Streets to be reconstructed in the area west of Crooked Lake Boulevard and north of 113th Avenue are:

• Heather, Ivywood, Jonquil, Kerry and Lily streets between 113th and 115th avenues.

• 113th Avenue between Lily and Jonquil streets.

• 113th Lane between Kerry and Jonquil streets and 114th Lane between Jonquil and Ivywood streets.

• 115th Avenue between Heather Street and Crooked Lake Boulevard.

• 115th Lane and 116th Avenue between Heather and Eidelweiss streets.

• 116th Lane between Kerry and Heather streets.

• Eidelweiss, Gladiola and Heather streets between 115th and 117th avenues.

• 117th Avenue between Heather and Gladiola streets.

Improvements include removal and replacement of existing bituminous pavement and gravel base, removal and replacement of damaged curb and gutter, sidewalk and driveway aprons, installation of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant pedestrian curb ramps as needed, and repair or replacement of fire hydrants, storm sewer, sanitary sewer and watermain as needed, according to Moberg.

All curb and gutter on Kerry, 113th Lane, Ivywood and 114th Lane will be removed and replaced as part of the project, Moberg wrote in his report to the council.

The council also approved the assessments for the project, which will total $454,064.37 and will be spread over 255 properties, of which are 251 single-family lots, one apartment building, the WCCO radio tower site, one county property and one city property.

The single-family home assessment is $1,620 to be levied over a 10-year period at an interest rate of 2.7 percent.

The balance of the cost will come from various city funds – $619,036 from the street reconstruction fund, $79,700 from the storm water utility fund and $240,900 from the water maintenance fund.

The project east of Crooked Lake Boulevard and north of Coon Rapids Boulevard includes 15 streets.

• South Heights Drive from Crooked Lake Boulevard to where it ends east of Wren Street.

• 113th Avenue from Crooked Lake Boulevard to where it ends east of Bittersweet Street.

• 112th Lane from Crooked Lake Boulevard to its east terminus.

• 112th Avenue between Crooked Lake Boulevard and Yukon Street.

• 111th Avenue between Bittersweet and Zion streets.

• 110th Lane west of Zion Street.

• 110th Avenue from Yukon Street to where it ends east of Wren Street.

• Coon Rapids Boulevard Service Drive west of Bittersweet Street.

• Crocus Street between 112th and 113th avenues.

• Bittersweet Street between Coon Rapids Boulevard and South Heights Drive.

• Arrowhead Street between 111th Avenue and South Heights Drive.

• Zion Street between Yukon Street and South Heights Drive.

• Yukon Street from 109th Avenue to where it ends east of South Heights Drive.

• Xavis Street between 110th Avenue and Yukon Street.

• Wren Street between 110th Avenue and South Heights Drive.

According to Moberg, improvements will include removal and replacement of the existing bituminous pavement and gravel base, removal and replacement of damaged curb and gutter, installation of Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant pedestrian curb ramps as needed and repair or replacement of storm sewer, sanitary sewer and watermains as needed.

The project also includes the extension of storm sewer on Yukon from 112th Avenue to South Heights Drive at a cost of $28,000 to eliminate two cross gutters on South Heights Drive

Assessments approved by the council include 379 properties, of which 373 are single-family lots, one is a townhouse complex, three are commercial properties and one is city property.

The city will be assessing $635,456.52 with the rest coming from the street reconstruction fund ($811,144), storm water utility fund ($98,500) and water maintenance fund ($348,900).

Peter Bodley is at peter.bodley@ecm-inc.com

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Erick Antwan Casey, 28, had been scheduled for trial May 13, but following a court hearing earlier this month, the trial will now begin July 15.

Casey was arraigned in court on the charges Feb. 1 when bail was set at $125,000 without conditions or $75,000 with conditions. A no contact order has been issued.

He has been accused of sexual assaulting a daughter, now age 13, of his girlfriend, first in Wisconsin starting in September 2011 and since they moved to Anoka, most recently Jan. 29 this year.

Defense attorney Bryan Leary has filed a motion with the court seeking dismissal of the charges because of alleged prosecutorial misconduct, or failing that, suppression of evidence for alleged illegal search and seizure and from statements allegedly made by Casey to investigators in an interview of which Leary was not informed, thus violating Casey’s constitutional rights.

Anoka County District Court Judge Jenny Walker Jasper said she would address those issues at trial, court documents state.

According to the complaint, siblings of the girl contacted Anoka Police Jan. 30 after reading a letter the girl had written the day before about inappropriate behavior by Casey.

In an interview with investigators, the girl alleged that Casey had sexual intercourse with her almost every-other-day except when he was incarcerated while they were living in Wisconsin.

And when he got out of jail in Wisconsin and he was picked up by her mother and driven to Anoka where they were now living, the girl alleged the sexual contact continued.

The complaint alleges that the girl’s siblings made statements that they had seen their sister and Casey in bed together and on one occasion when they heard moaning coming from a downstairs room, they found Casey with their sister.

Peter Bodley is at peter.bodley@ecm-inc.com

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Mary Clarkson, Anoka-Hennepin’s special education director, visits with students May 2. Clarkson recently received the 2013 New Special Education Leader Award from the Minnesota Administrators for Special Education.

And for the Anoka-Hennepin School District’s special education director, that makes being given the 2013 New Special Education Leader Award by the professional organization she’s a part of, all the more humbling.

Clarkson was given the honor by the Minnesota Administrators for Special Education (MSAE), a professional association that, among other things, promotes education and services for children with disabilities.

“I’m very, very honored to have got the award,” Clarkson said. “But it’s less a reflection on me and more a reflection on the wonderful people I work with and collaborate with.”

The “new leader award” that Clarkson won goes to professionals who have fewer than five years experience in their roles as leaders.

She’s been Anoka-Hennepin’s special education director for a little more than four years. Before that she spent three years as a special education coordinator in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District and prior to that, three years in a similar role in District 11.

Clarkson said she’s been drawn to special education since she was in high school, during a period that she worked for what was then the Brainerd State Hospital.

“It was really hard to see children and adults institutionalized,” she said. “Professionally, I knew I wanted to do something with children, that was a given, but the genesis of working in special education — that happened at the hospital.”

Today, Clarkson is passionate about seeing schools become more inclusive.

“Instead of seeing children with disabilities, we need to see children with unique abilities,” Clarkson said. “We should make everyone be a part of the school community, no matter where we are.”

Cherie Peterson, Anoka-Hennepin’s assistant director of special education, who helped nominate Clarkson, said she’s “a visionary leader who understands the complexity of meeting the needs of special education students.”

Clarkson serves on the MASE Board of Directors and is an adjunct professor at her alma mater, St. Cloud State University, where she teaches aspiring administrators.

“I will always advocate for special education,” Clarkson said.

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The concert is part of Vocal Essence’s annual celebration of educational, international partnership ¡Cantaré! Community Concerts.

Tickets are available through VocalEssence partners Wayzata Community Church, Consulate of Mexico, Latino Communications Network and the Neighborhood House at Wellstone Center.

The world premiere performance celebrates the musical traditions of Mexico. Students are collaborating with famed Mexican composers Gerardo Cardenas and Novelli Jurado in a cross-cultural exchange.

A concert featuring Twin Cities elementary school singers precedes the concert. The elementary concert starts at 6 p.m. doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Artistic director Philip Brunelle founded VocalEssence in 1969.

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Featured plants this year include select specialty annuals such as sunny coleus, calibrachoa, sweet potato vine, sunpatiens and many more.

Other popular plants available include perennials for sun, perennials for shade, tomatoes, herbs, vegetables, daylilies, dahlias, hostas and houseplants.

Proceeds from this plant sale help to support the Anoka County Master Gardener volunteer program and its efforts in delivering education through a variety of programs including the Walk in the Garden classes, plant and insect diagnostic clinics, Ask A Master Gardener booths, the Home Landscaping and Garden Fair and many projects.

Master gardeners will be on hand and available to assist with questions about lawns, trees, flowers, fruits, vegetables and pests.

People can bring in plant disease or insect samples to be evaluated free by Master Gardener diagnosticians.

To learn more about the plant sale or other programs offered by master gardeners, call 763-755-1280 or visit http://anokamastergardeners.org.

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Chue Yang, left, and Win Dao were among those who last week performed a Hmong dance to mark Asian Heritage Month at Spring Lake Park High School. Photo by Elyse Kaner

May is Asian Heritage Month and what better way to share cultures than to perform a nation’s traditional dance?

Some students in the audience watched with rapt attention, while others videotaped with their iPads.

Fourteen Asian students May 10 performed a Hmong dance choreographed by twin sisters Nhia Kao Yang and Lia Yang, both members of the club and seniors.

They presented the dance during three lunch periods in front of a plethora of flags from different countries as a backdrop in the school’s cafeteria.

“The best part was everyone was willing to participate and have fun,” said Nhia, vice president of the Asian Club. “We’re not looking for perfect here.”

Stories told via dance

Dancing in their stocking-feet, the boys wore black pants, white shirts and a red sash – cummerbund style – while the girls wore black tops and white skirts with red sashes draped around their waists. The girls danced barefoot.

The Yang sisters at first rehearsed the boys and girls separately, Lia teaching the boys and Nhia teaching the girls. For music, they joined two recorded Hmong songs back to back for the more than four minute presentation. The idea was to tell two stories through dance. One of a Hmong village, the other a love song, a couples dance.

The later scenario centered on a poor boy courting a girl. Twice in the dance, the boys pulled a dollar bill from their pockets and gave them to the girls, but the girls tossed the bills on the floor.

The idea was the girls were willing to love them regardless of whether they had money or not.

When the twins found themselves short of boy dancers, they recruited help from the school’s Break Dancing Club.

Ninth-grader Tony Pham was one of the B boys, as they call themselves, to volunteer. Pham enjoys trying new things and learning about different cultures, he said. So, briefly, he changed his rapid-paced, back-spinning-on-the-floor-style dance moves to those of graceful Hmong dance moves.

“It’s more like upbeat slow dancing,” he said of the experience.

The dancers met in rehearsal about two to three times a week after school, two to three hours at a time, for about a month.

“The best part was when everyone was happily doing it,” said twin Lia, secretary of the Asian Club. “When everyone was having fun doing their best and experiencing a new culture.”

The performance was met with an enthusiastic round of applause from the student diners.

The club

In its third year at Spring Lake Park High School, the Asian Club has about 30 members, with 20 who attend regularly.

“It has evolved,” said advisor Dan Nelson. “It’s gotten stronger. It gives them purpose. Makes them more connected. They feel a strong sense of belonging.”

The group hangs out, chats and has fun. Among activities, they ran a fundraiser during Valentine’s day to raise money for a field trip, possibly to Valley Fair or Brunswick Bowl. They have enjoyed a movie night and have learned origami, the art of paper folding.

The group is a mix of Vietnamese, Hmong, Korean, Filipino, Pakistani and African American students.

“It’s really about building community and cultural awareness at Spring Lake Park High School,” Nelson said.

The number of Asian students in District 16 totals 126, just under 10 percent of SLP High School’s student population of 1,343.

Districtwide, the total of Asian students is 697 out of 5,300 students or slightly more than 13 percent, according to Nelson.

The student-led Asian Club meets Mondays after school in Spring Lake Park High School’s upstairs multipurpose room for about 90 minutes. For more information, contact Dan Nelson at 763-786-5571.

Elyse Kaner is at elyse.kaner@ecm-inc.com

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Way to Well Health paramedic Carlos Perez watches results roll in as Andy Leach stands and grips the device calculating a comprehensive weight assessment. Photo by Sue Austreng

Parked there from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. the bus hosted dozens of folks stopping by for tests and services.

“The fact we’ve stayed busy is a good representative that people here care about their health,” said tour manager Veronica Marmolejo as the six-hour tour came to a close that Friday afternoon.

Inside the bus – a giant charter bus decked out in sky blue Way to Well Health colors – adults age 18 and older were offered free health tests and services. Those tests included cholesterol and glucose checks, blood pressure testing and a comprehensive weight assessment. Total value of the  series of tests totals $100, according to Way to Well health tour bus spokeswoman Adriana Vasquez.

Paramedics, certified health screeners and LPNs administer the tests at three stations inside the bus. Privacy is assured when curtains are drawn, and those waiting to be seen can relax on a couch and get some health and wellness tips broadcast on a wide-screen television.

There are five Way to Well Health buses on the nationwide health tour and the University Avenue Walgreens was chosen as a stop “due to population numbers,” said Vasquez.

Also, the bus had stopped at the University Avenue Walgreens story back in 2011, as store manager and community leader Dave Caroon reports.

“The bus was here the year before last and lots of people stopped in for tests and services, so we’re glad they’re back,” Caroon said.

Before stopping at the corner of Egret and University on May 10, the Way to Well Health Tour with AARP bus had visited Elk River, St. Cloud, St. Paul and Minneapolis. From there, the bus was headed for Roseville, St. Paul, Minneapolis and beyond.

The Way to Well Health tour is a charitable component of Walgreens Way to Well Commitment, a four-year, $100 million initiative working to improve the health of Americans nationwide.

The initiative also provides accessible, affordable resources for prevention and early detection of major chronic diseases – heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

To learn more about the Walgreens Way to Well Health tour bus, to track its progress and to see where it stops next, visit www.Walgreens.com/WaytoWell.

Sue Austreng is at sue.austreng@ecm-inc.com

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Chloe Oltmanns and Cody McLain at the Northwest Passage High School prom.

The idea all started from a student-led project. Two NWPHS students, Chloe Oltmanns and Xaria Barkley, crafted a project that included a detailed plan and budget for making a prom happen.

From there a Prom Committee was formed. Six months of planning and fund-raising later, the group of dedicated students saw their vision become a reality.

“I’m kinda surprised that it actually took off like it did and turned out so well,” Barkley said.

NWPHS is a small school of 130 students and has never had a formal dance in its 14-year history.

The Prom Committee chose the school’s “Barn” for the event, transforming the large high-ceiling atrium into a ballroom with lights and decorations.

Over 60 students and guests attended the event. The night included a grand march, where family and friends could come take pictures and watch their kids be introduced.

After that there was three hours of dancing and having fun. The DJ got students on the dance floor with a mix of today’s hits and golden oldies.

NWPHS student, Maddie Lawson said, “I loved it. It was awesome because there was a lot of people there and because we all knew each other, everyone was willing to dance and have fun.”

The night was a huge success and it was all made possible by the group of students who volunteered their time and energy to make it happen, according to Ryan Haasch, adviser/instructor at the school.

Theresa Boisjolie, a teacher of 14 years at NWPHS, said, “It was great to be a part of something students worked so hard for and have wanted for so many years.”

The students are already talking about and looking forward to NWPHS Prom 2014, Haasch said.

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Plenty of ice still roaming around our larger lakes as our smaller lakes begin to open up.

Just because lakes are free of ice doesn’t mean fish are biting. Water temperatures need to in the high 40s before they become active.Submitted photo

Because we are faced with such an unusual spring, fishing tactics will have to be adjusted to help us put fish in the boat under difficult conditions. The water temperatures are lagging behind requiring the modern angler to shift fishing presentations accordingly. Here are some thoughts on how to handle these conditions and some strategies for our early season.

Water temperatures dictate experimentation

As the ice leaves our larger lakes expect water temperatures to be lagging behind well into the low 30s. Just because the lake becomes ice free doesn’t mean the fish are biting. Water temperatures need to accelerate into the high 40s to get the fish active and biting. Instead of just fishing the shallows like we do traditionally year after year you can bet those fish won’t be shallow at least for the first couple of weeks especially on the larger waters.

Think deep initially

When I am faced with a late spring I actually look to the deeper water where the gamefish are staging and try and catch these somewhat neutral fish before they move shallow. This means typically 20 to 40 feet of water very nearby their shallow spawning areas.

Remember that all walleyes don’t do the same thing at once, they tend to deviate from day to day which is a good thing for their reproduction. Even some of the early spawners will be hanging out in deeper water.

Instead of doing the traditional drift in your usual fishing spots, look deep to the first break and start from there.

Deep presentations

This is the time for slow moving baits and spending a lot of time looking and snooping with your electronics. I make it a point to start looking in these deeper breaks and scan the breaks from top to bottom looking for fish on the screen. I never stop the boat for single marks but rather wait until I spot a small group from three to five fish.

These are worth stopping for and fishing for when they are in small groups. I drop down a small leech or feisty fathead minnow on a plain-jane livebait rig and use my electric trolling motor to move through these fish. Chances are with proper boat control you can catch a fish or two before spooking the small school.

If you hit enough spots with this technique you should have a nice collection of fish after a few hours. Even if these fish are neutral with the cold water, very few walleyes can ignore a slow moving, enticing leech or minnow just above their heads.

I use a plain hook (non colored) with a 3/8 ounce sinker and a five-foot leader. Slow is the name of the game with late springs such as we are experiencing right now.

Lake choices

My first few weeks of this open water season I will be targeting small lakes from 800-to 1,500-acres trying to catch these fish in a later stage of development.

This means your odds are much better on a lake that has warmed sooner and the fish should be more active and ready to bite versus the larger, open lakes with deep water and large expanses.

I would expect our larger and smaller lakes will be peaking much later this year probably around Memorial Day. At that time, nature will correct this goofy spring and fishing will be red hot throughout the entire state of Minnesota.

Geat ready!

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• Two area high school graduates were named to the 2013 MIAC Softball Playoff All-Tournament team including Augsburg senior outfielder/shortstop Bri Dorale (Anoka) and St. Catherine junior outfielder Alyssa Luedtke (Spring Lake Park). Dorale, the 11th-ranked Auggies lead-off hitter went 4-for-5 with three runs, two walks and one stolen base in losses to Bethel (11-2) and Saint Benedict (8-5) to end the season with a 12-28 record.

Luedtke, St. Catherine’s leadoff hitter went 5-for-8 in the two-game set. She scored five runs in a 13-12 win against Macalester and drove in one run and scored another in a 6-2 loss to top-seed St. Thomas, May 3.

Each were also named to the All-MIAC squad along with Hamline senior outfielder Laura Randall (Spring Lake Park).

Lacrosse

• North Central College freshman Katlyn Wilke (Andover) played in 14 of the Cardinals 17 games, starting three times. She finished with two goals, one assist, eight ground balls and four caused turnovers to help the team set a new program high for wins with a 12-5 record.

Baseball

• St. Thomas sophomore secondbaseman Sam Miller (Anoka) went 1-for-4 to help the Tommies capture its ninth straight post-season MIAC Tournament, 33rd regular season title and 11th in a row. St. Thomas beat Concordia 11-2 in the MIAC Championship game after posting a 19-1 regular season record. Miller hit .227 (22-97), 22 runs scored, four doubles, one home run and drove in 15 runs in 37 games as the Tommies prepare for the NCAA Division III national tournament.

• Augsburg freshman infielder, Andrew Juhlkowski (St. Francis) went 3-for-9 at the plate with one triple, drove in five runs. scored three runs and had three walks in three starts this spring.

Golf

• Carlton College sophomore Jorde Ranum (Spring Lake Park) was named to the 2012-13 All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team. Ranum carded 11 rounds between the fall and spring seasons with an 83.2 scoring average. His latest event being the St. Johns Winter Invite, April 28, which he carded a two-round +20 over par tie for 63rd place out of 89 golfers. He placed 11th in the season-opening Bethany Lutheran Triangular with an 11th place overall finish Sept. 6, 2012.

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Justin Lyle Robb has been charged with simple robbery and third-degree assault for his role in an Aug. 24, 2012 assault that took place at Spring Lake Park Beach. His first court appearance is scheduled for May 23.

Spring Lake Park Police officers were called to Unity Hospital Aug. 24 to talk with a 20-year-old man who had facial injuries, including a broken nose and eye socket.

According to man, he set up a deal to purchase marijuana at Spring Lake Park Beach.

When he arrived two white men were waiting for him, one of whom grabbed the victim from behind and restrained him while the other man, later identified as Robb, allegedly hit him in the head and face.

Robb allegedly then went to the victim’s car and took out a safe. The victim was ordered to open the safe, which he did, and the two men took the $2,000 that had been in the safe, the complaint alleges.

The telephone number the victim used to set up the drug deal was given to the officers and it allegedly belonged to Robb.

Tammy Sakry is at tammy.sakry@ecm-inc.com

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Mayor Tim Howe (left) proclaimed May 17 and 18 Poppy Days in Coon Rapids. He is pictured with, left to right, Diane Bohlman, poppy chairperson for the Coon Rapids American Legion Auxiliary; Marv Roepke, poppy chairperson for the Coon Rapids VFW; and Helen Steffen, Coon Rapids American Legion Auxiliary president.

The two days have been designated Poppy Days in the city in a proclamation approved by the Coon Rapids City Council.

The American Legion, VFW and ladies auxiliaries have adopted the poppy as their commemorative symbol.

Poppy Days pays tribute to those killed in war and benefit living veterans and their families.

Its theme is to “honor the dead by helping the living.”

All the money collected by the Coon Rapids veterans organizations during Poppy Days goes back to their programs for veterans and their families.

“We encourage people to donate,” said Marv Roepke, past commander of the Coon Rapids VFW.

Peter Bodley is at peter.bodley@ecm-inc.com

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The city of Andover would build a maintenance driveway to the landlocked James Selmer-Hazel Blanchette parcel, but there will be no public road until homes and streets are built nearby.

The Andover City Council May 7 unanimously approved a $300,000 offer to Hazel Blanchette and James Selmer. City Administrator Jim Dickinson said a purchase agreement is still being drafted.

Mayor Mike Gamache said this was the best property that the Open Space Advisory Commission has been looking at.

“Saving the open space and saving it at a good price I think is the vital aspect of this program and it’s been successful,” Gamache said.

Although the property is landlocked, Dickinson said the $2 million open space referendum voters approved in 2006 was about preservation and not access. The city has been approached by half-a-dozen residential developers over the past month looking for land throughout the community, according to Community Development Director David Carlberg.

At a recent council workshop, City Engineer and Public Works Director David Berkowitz showed that over 100 more homes than anticipated by the city’s 2003 comprehensive plan could be developed in this general area north of 161st Avenue, near the Country Oaks West and White Pine Wilderness developments. Berkowitz said the Metropolitan Council would have to approve a comprehensive plan amendment before any sewer and water extension could occur, however.

Gamache anticipated it would have been taken longer to develop homes this far north of 161st Avenue, but things can change in a hurry. He recalled that some snowmobilers in the mid-1990s wondered how they would get to Pov’s Sports Bar when the city started eliminating snowmobile routes in southern Andover. This area has obviously changed a lot in the last 15 or so years.

The Selimer-Blanchette parcel would be the third purchase the city of Andover will have made since voters approved a $2 million open space refrendum in 2006. Submitted file photo

The city last fall made tentative offers to Selmer and Blanchette for their 40-acre parcel as well as Dennis Kuiken for 10 additional acres to the north and Douglas and Joann Lawrence for a road easement from Hanson Boulevard. The city cancelled the offers after the New Year when it was determined that the access road through a wetland could have cost approximately $200,000.

There will be an alternative route for a maintenance vehicle road, but the general public will have to wait for land to the east or north to develop.

Open spaces have never been viewed as high foot traffic parks. The focus has been on maintenance. The city received a $20,000 grant from Great River Greening (www.greatrivergreening.org) for buckthorn removal, prairie restoration, slope stabilization at its Martin’s Meadows open space property and the adjacent city park.

There have been discussions about trying to improve access at this 38-acre property along the Rum River that the city purchased for $930,000 in November 2009, but the easiest way to get there is by canoe.

The 20.6-acre North Woods Preserve property was the second property purchased in September 2010 for $320,000 is the easiest to get to, but there is only a short residential street to park on and no designated spots. Staying on the right path can be confusing because the access and parts of the trail are right next to private property.

In fact, the family who sold the land to the city and still owns property next to it had to put up a no trespassing sign at the end of the long driveway to their home that is located next to the entrance of the open space just east of Crane Street and north of 161st Avenue.

Although the main goal of the 2006 open space referendum voters approved is to protect land from development and not create more city parks, the council is interested in some public access in the future.

Councilmember Sheri Bukkila said she was originally not in favor of this purchase because of the money that would need to be spent on the road, which would have come from the city’s general fund, but she is supportive now because of the plan for future access.

“The important thing to know is we’re not paying an exuberant amount of money,” Bukkila said.

Dickinson said last fall that the city was offering less per acre for the Blanchette-Selmer parcel because it is landlocked. At that time, the city offered $342,000, but it is offering even less now with the access road from Hanson Boulevard across the Lawrence property no longer a possibility.

A future council and city staff that addresses surrounding housing development will have to be “on their game” to get the developer to help get access to the open space, Dickinson said.

Assuming this third purchase goes through, Dickinson said the open space account that started with $2 million in 2006 will have $450,000 left in it. Councilmember Julie Trude would like the open space advisory commission to look at easements, perhaps along the Rum River, and not just large parcels and would like a reminder letter sent to property owners that the city is still looking for willing sellers.

Eric Hagen is at eric.hagen@ecm-inc.com

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David Davis (left) helps Leo Schmidt sand his limberjack pieces. Photo by Kelly Johnson

Excitement is high as the Hamilton Elementary School, Coon Rapids, students test out their creations.

Over two days, Monday and Tuesday, Hamilton fourth-graders worked with volunteers from the Coon Rapids Senior Center to create the limberjacks, a wooden folk art toy.

In small groups, they sanded and assembled the limberjacks at the senior center. The students will take the limberjacks home and dress them in outfits before staging two performances, complete with folk dances and songs, with their limberjacks at the school May 20.

This is the 12th year the fourth-graders and seniors have built limberjacks.

Ross Sutter, a folk artist, is working with the students as an artist in residence at Hamilton, doing a week of special art, story telling and music with students.

Delyanah Mogeni checks her limberjack’s arm movement. Photo by Kelly Johnson

The limberjack pieces are cut and sanded in advance by the senior center’s woodcarving club.

Together, the students and seniors sand a few rough edges, hammer in the shoes and hook together the arms and legs.

A stick stuck in the limberjack’s back gives the toy movement while the students make their creation dance on a piece of wood held in place while seated on a chair.

“It’s something they get to take home and keep,” Sutter said about the limberjacks.

Besides coming home with a folk art toy, the students and seniors forge a unique connection, chatting about lunch options and other activities while assembling the limberjacks.

“The connection with the seniors is fabulous,” said teacher Nyomi Davis. “How many times do they get to hammer and sand?”

“This is really fun,” said Grace Desjarlais, a fourth-grader. “I wanted to do this since first grade.”

Kelly Johnson is at kelly.johnson@ecm-inc.com

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Blackfoot, which was originally constructed in 1981, is a city collector street from 119th Avenue to Coon Rapids Boulevard and covers 0.18 of a mile. The reconstruction is being done in conjunction with Allina’s medical building project, now well under way.

According to City Engineer Bob Moberg, the project will involve the full replacement of the pavement and underlying gravel base with storm sewer, curb and gutter, sidewalk, driveway aprons replaced as needed and street signs.

The Allina project is expected to have progressed to the point that would allow the Blackfoot project to be under construction in August, Moberg wrote in a report to the council.

“This would allow heavy construction on the building site to be completed in advance of street reconstruction and for street reconstruction to be completed before building occupancy occurs in February 2014,” he wrote.

Construction would be completed in October.

The Blackfoot reconstruction was originally scheduled for 2012, but was postponed because of the Allina project.

The estimated cost of the project is $170,500 with the total to be assessed to benefiting property owners $62,665 and the balance coming from two city funds – $97,335 from state aid dollars and $10,500 from the water maintenance fund, according to Moberg.

The project directly affects 14 townhouses and four commercial properties, Moberg wrote in the feasibility report.

Peter Bodley is at peter.bodley@ecm-inc.com

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The theatrical poster for the computer-animated movie, “Wreck-it Ralph,” which will be screened at Sand Creek Park Friday, May 24 as the first of the Movie in Park events this year sponsored by the city of Coon Rapids and the Coon Rapids Community Strength Foundation.

The first, which will take place Friday, May 24, will screen “Wreck-it Ralph,” a Disney computer-animated, comedy adventure.

The movie will be shown on softball field two at the park, which is located at 1008 Northdale Blvd.

Activities at the park begin at 6 p.m. with the movie starting at dusk, about 8:30 p.m.

There is no charge to see the movie, but the activities for kids prior to the movie will have a nominal fee.

A concession stand operated by the Coon Rapids North Star Lions Club will open at 6 p.m.

“Wreck-it Ralph” is about a titular arcade game villain named Ralph who rebels against his role and dreams of becoming a hero.

According to the Wikipedia website, he travels between games in the arcade and ultimately must eliminate a threat that could eliminate the entire arcade and one that Ralph inadvertently began.

The movie premiered in late October 2012 and went into general release in early November.

It won the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature and the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Actors voicing the characters in the movie include John C. Reilly (Ralph), Sarah Silverman, Jane Lynch, Ed O’Neill and Dennis Haysbert.

The second Movie in the Park presentation is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 9 at Sand Creek Park.

The Coon Rapids Community Strength Foundation formed in 2011 was the idea of Mayor Tim Howe.

It brings together representatives of community/civic groups under one umbrella as well as representatives of the city.

The foundation is operated exclusively for charitable purposes, promoting Coon Rapids “through civic celebrations, the arts and healthy community building events and activities,” according to its articles of incorporation.

The foundation’s funds don’t come from the taxpayers. The annual Twin Cities Gateway grant to the city is one source, so is 90 percent of the 5 percent the city gets from local charitable gambling license holders.

Peter Bodley is at peter.bodley@ecm-inc.com

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Making his way through the crowd of students, parents and staff waiting to address assembled board members during the open forum portion of the May 13 Anoka-Hennepin school board meeting, Champlin Park High School senior Ellis Sherman approaches the podium, making an urgent plea to keep student learning advocates in the schools. Photo by Sue Austreng

That seems to be the case in Anoka-Hennepin School District as administrators informed staff last week that all 22 of the district’s student learning advocates (SLA) would be eliminated due to a cut in the state’s integration fund.

You see, due to those cuts, Anoka-Hennepin will have $450,000 less in the integration fund this coming school year and $1.5 million less the next year.

SLAs, hired on a year-to-year basis using money from that fund, serve Anoka-Hennepin’s diverse population of students, serving as mentors, providing leadership, offering encouragement and accountability and motivating students to succeed.

Some two dozen of those students attended the school board’s May 13 meeting, addressing assembled board members during open forum and desperately seeking to save those SLAs.

“You take the SLAs away, it’s like sending your child into the jungle without a guide,” said Champlin Park High School graduate Mary Page. “Relating to someone who looks like you – that is who can help you. They’re the ones who come to us with open arms. SLAs are our parents away from home.”

Those sentiments were repeated many times and in many ways by those who addressed the board.

Students – nearly all of whom are Champlin Park High School students or recent graduates – told board members they wouldn’t be who they are or have the success they’ve realized without the influence and service of the SLAs.

They spoke of rescue from destructive behaviors, renewed confidence, newfound ambition and determination, a greater sense of purpose and value.

They spoke of the loss and the fear that they believe will result if SLAs are no longer in the schools.

Champlin Park senior Arthur Rundles said, “SLAs have showed me who my real self is. They help all kids, all nationalities. If those are dropped I feel really sad for those generations.”

Alexis Barmon, a junior at Coon Rapids High School, put it this way, “My SLA is the reason I believe in myself. When another black woman is standing before me telling me I can do it, it’s different, it gives me self-empowerment, self-respect. The SLAs give us what the school textbook cannot give us.”

Notes sent by Anoka-Hennepin school faculty members to ABC Newspapers described a “huge loss for our most at-risk population” and said they felt cutting the SLAs would be “a serious loss for the district and will work directly against efforts to reduce the racial achievement gap in our district.”

Jefferson Fietek, drama teacher at Anoka Middle School for the Arts, spoke of that school’s SLA and his profound connection and uplifting influence on students there.

Lisa Christensen, English teacher at Champlin Park High School, told board members that “these people (SLAs) are irreplaceable.”

In fact, Champlin Park senior Ellis Sherman said SLAs “helped me learn to focus on school, challenge myself, they motivated me to do more. SLAs are the reason behind improved test scores,” he said.

Ekow Nana-Kweson, a student at Champlin Park, put it this way, “Education is a greater investment than the dollar amount saved by losing the SLAs.”

Once all the testimonies had been delivered, School Board Chairman Tom Heidemann thanked those seated in the packed board room for their decorum, their patience and their respect.

Then he told them, “We’re looking at a $10 to $17 million cut in Anoka-Hennepin. This is the start of very painful conversations, and we are committed to doing our best to balance all the needs.”

Superintendent Dennis Carlson echoed those sentiments, and then said, “We’ve been fighting this battle for a long time and we are pledging to bring back restructured student support.”

“It’s a tough charge,” he said, “but that’s where we are and I’m sorry our students and staff have to pay the price for chronic underfunding.”

Indeed, the Anoka-Hennepin student services department is currently working to establish a way to continue offering support to students.

No action or announcement was taken or made during the May 13 school board meeting.

Sue Austreng is at sue.austreng@ecm-inc.com

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