To raise funds for breast cancer research, July 10 is Tough Enough to Wear Pink night at the Hamel Rodeo. Fans are asked to join in by wearing pink to show their support of the fight to end breast cancer.

For every person at the rodeo on July 10, $1 will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. The rodeo will be held at Corcoran Lions Park, three miles north of Hamel at the junction of County Road 10 and Highway 101.

There’s a difference between being bored and being board.

Huh?

Bored is not knowing what to do. Board, is, well, just about the coolest thing ever.

Stu Bickel, a 21-year-old who just finished his freshman year playing hockey for the University of Minnesota, signed a two-way deal with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks.

His pro career is likely to start in the AHL.

WHAT
Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) Minnesota Trap State Championship.

By John Mallo

A Civil War Soldier

John McClay

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY GRANT John McClay in his Civil War uniform.

Patrick and Tara Haley of Eden Prairie announce the birth of their son Liam John on April 30, at 1:33 p.m. at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina.
The baby boy weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce and was 20.5 inches long. He has blue eyes and blond hair.
Grandparents are David and Susan Haley of Rush City, Minn.; Alan and Nora Miller of Boise, Idaho; and Arthur “Skip” Bennett, Ontario, Or. Great-grandparents are Loraine Bennett of Ontario, Or., and Anthony Wonka of Ontario, Or.
Baptism was May 6 in Eden Prairie. He was dedicated at Prairie Hill Evangelical Free Church May 11.

A Minnesota Department of Revenue news release reminded taxpayers that the 0.25 percent transit sales and use tax was to go into effect on Tuesday, July 1, 2008.The taxes will be used to fund the transit system including light rail, commuter rail and bus rapid transit.
The five metropolitan counties affected are Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington. The tax is separate from and in addition to the Hennepin County, St. Paul and Minneapolis sales and use taxes already in existence. It does not replace these taxes.

The filing period for federal, state and judicial offices began Tuesday.
Candidates may file July 1 until 5 pm. July 15. The last day for withdrawal is July 17.
The place for filing for federal office is at the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office in St. Paul. Those seeking election to state or judicial office may file in the county they live in.
For those candidates filing for municipal, school district, and other local offices, dates vary. Filing for the two Eden Prairie City Council seats up for election is open from Aug. 26 to Sept. 9 (last day for withdrawal is Sept. 11).

The Taxpayers League of Minnesota recently gave Sen. David Hann (R-42) and seven other legislators “Best Friend of the Taxpayer” awards. This is Sen. Hann’s ninth award. To be named a “Best Friend of the Taxpayer” during a legislative session, a representative or senator must score a perfect 100 percent on the votes selected by the Taxpayers League.

Mitchell Lake Association project restores native plants to EP lake’s shoreline

Since its formation in 2006, the Mitchell Lake Association has taken a proactive approach to restoring the water quality of Mitchell Lake. The association has reached out to both the city of Eden Prairie and the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District to secure support in cleanup projects. Now the group looks to be a model for taking a hands-on approach to water quality improvement with a shoreline restoration project.

By Forrest Adams

Dead fish floating in water that looks like green pea soup and stinks like a swamp might tell the story of a blue-green algae contamination. Mitchell Lake in Eden Prairie is contaminated, and the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District is taking actions this summer to begin correcting it.

Two floating, stainless steel, solar-powered water circulation machines, called Solar Bees, were installed in Mitchell Lake last Wednesday as part of a pilot study to treat the harmful algae. The study has wide implications because watershed officials will base the results of this study on the solutions they offer for other area lakes with blue-green algae problems, including Lotus Lake, Riley Lake and Lake Susan in Chanhassen and Round Lake in Eden Prairie.

Watch a video of the Solar Bee installation.

Reuse study to look at feasibility of moving barn

The barn that sits on Pioneer Trail is in “pristine condition,” according to Robert Vogel, of Pathfinder CRM, a preservation consultant.

The challenge is what to do with the barn, which had been set for demolition to make way for a stormwater pond for the new Pioneer Trail.

The following is a news release from the City of Eden Prairie:

Eden Prairie and Bloomington Police plan to increase DWI patrols this month, as July is one of the deadliest periods for impaired driving in Minnesota. The increased efforts are part of a statewide impaired driving enforcement sweep, coordinated by the state Department of Public Safety (DPS) as part of the Safe & Sober campaign, and will include participation from more than 400 Minnesota law enforcement agencies.

The grand opening celebration for the final segment of new Highway 212, connecting Eden Prairie to Carver, was held Tuesday afternoon. The roadway will open to drivers on July 14.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced appointments to the High-Speed Broadband Task Force on Monday.
Eden Prairie residents JoAnne Johnson and Richard King join Stephen Cawley, Brent Christensen, Thomas Garrison, Dr. Jack Geller, Ph.D., Barbara Jo Gervais, John Gibbs, Mike O’Connor, Dr. Kim Ross, Ed.D., Vijay Sethi, Richard Sjoberg, Karen Smith, John Stanoch, Chris Swanson, Craig Taylor, Mary Ellen Wells, Peg Werner and Robyn West on the High-Speed Broadband Task Force. All 20 are appointed to terms that expire on March 2, 2010.