South metro briefs: Seat opens in Prior Lake City Council race

Prior Lake

Seat opens in race for City Council

Only one of the Prior Lake City Council members whose seats are open has filed for re-election.

Council member Mike McGuire will be on the ballot along with aspirants Andy Gonyou and Annette Thompson for two four-year positions. Council member Vanessa Soukup opted not to run.

The general election is on Nov. 4. For more information and a map of the City's precinct boundaries and voting locations, visit the city's website.

Shoreline workshop is free at City Hall

Prior Lake will host a free workshop on shoreline restoration next month. The event is Sept. 4 from 6-8 p.m. at City Hall. It's designed for folks whose shoreline was damaged by this year's flood or those with general questions about working with shorelines.

One topic will be grants to fix erosion problems and install natural plant buffers.

Sex-trafficking program gets visit

Minnesota Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson last week visited a program in Prior Lake for sexually exploited young people.

Passageways, on McKenna Road earlier this year got a two-year, $190,000 annual grant from the department.

It provides emergency shelter and other forms of housing for sex-trafficked minors.

Some units can also serve young parents and their children.

A new law effective this month is "designed to ensure that juveniles who are sexually exploited or at risk of exploitation are treated as victims under Minnesota law," officials say.

Burnsville

Local show up for regional Emmy

Burnsville Community Television has been nominated for a regional Emmy award.

The Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences offered up the video, "We Are The Burnsville Police Department: Core Values."

Other nominees in the category are Edina Community Television; Carlini Entertainment, and Twin Cities Public Television (TPT).

The video interviews police officers and others and can be viewed online at http://tinyurl.com/bvemmy.

The awards will be presented Sept. 13 at Target Field, Minneapolis.

The Upper Midwest chapter includes Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and parts of Nebraska, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Scott County

Free computer classes offered in fall

Free computer classes are being offered in Shakopee this fall.

Registration is required. Call (952) 707-1770 or visit the Savage Library, 13090 Alabama Ave. S., to sign up.

Classes are at the Scott County Government Center's Professional Development Center, 200 4th Ave. W., Shakopee, second floor.

Saturday mornings:

Essential Computer Skills Part 1: Sept. 6, 10 a.m.-noon.

Essential Computer Skills Part 2: Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-noon. Basic computer skills, and shortcuts to save time.

Internet Basics: Sept. 20, 10 a.m.-noon. Navigate the web with browsing, addresses and search engines.

E-Mail Basics: Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-noon. Set up a free e-mail account, send and receive messages, and add attachments.

Word Basics Part I: Oct. 11, 10 a.m.-noon, and Word Basics Part 2: Oct. 18, 10 a.m.-noon. Enter and edit text, format, etc. In part two, page layout, margins, and others.

Tuesday evenings:

PowerPoint Basics: Oct. 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Format slide text, add images and select transitions.

Excel Part 1, Oct. 21, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Part 2: Oct. 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Work with spreadsheets, create formulas, and build a budget, and more.

Make the Most of Google Docs: Nov. 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Learn about Google's version of documents, spreadsheets, forms, presentations, and drawings. Learn how to create, manipulate, manage and collaborate with Google Docs. Hands-on class designed for job seekers, business owners and members of organizations seeking ways to collaborate.

All classes are presented by the Science Museum of Minnesota Computer Education Center Alliance and funded by metro libraries.

Shakopee

Recycling offered at city parks

Recycling is being offered in Shakopee parks.

Yellow-lidded carts are in all city parks, for plastic, aluminum and paper leftovers.

Many have requested it for years, said parks director Jamie Polley, Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources director. "The ability to now have single-sort recycling opened up the opportunity to recycle more in the parks without a great deal of separation needed."

You'll find recycling carts near parking lots and the park entrances, usually next to trash containers.

Staff reports