South metro town briefs

EUREKA TOWNSHIP

A proposed project will include extracting and processing aggregates from above and below groundwater from an 80-acre area east of Dodd Boulevard and north of W. 235th Street. An Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) can provide more details for anyone interested.

The mining by Kelly Aggregate, Inc. will come in phases: stripping, extraction, processing, and stockpiling of aggregate, recycling concrete and asphalt, and finally, site reclamation. A copy of the EAW can be viewed at Eureka Town Hall, 25043 Cedar Av., Eureka Township. Call 952-469-3736 before coming to make sure someone will be there. A copy of the EAW is also available for review at the Farmington Library, 508 3rd St.

The 30-day public comment period for the EAW began Monday. Written comments will be accepted through Dec. 17 and should be sent to Nanett Sandstrom, Town Clerk, Eureka Township, PO Box 576, Lakeville, 55044, or e-mailed to eurekatn@frontiernet.net.

For more information, contact Sherri Buss, Manager, Planning Group TKDA, 444 Cedar St., St. Paul, 55101. You also can call 651-292-4582 or e-mail sherri.buss@tkda.com.

DAKOTA COUNTY

Many of Dakota County's nonprofit organizations and leaders have come together to form the Nonprofit Network in Dakota County, a collaborative group that helps them share resources, information and opportunities for collaboration.

After a group of nonprofit leaders approached the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits to form a chapter in Dakota County, the St. Paul-based association launched the group in March 2007. Nonprofit leaders from such organizations as Cheerful Givers, Smoke-Free Dakota and DARTS worked to build new relationships and work together on projects and events.

The network is planning a networking event from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Burnsville City Hall, 100 Civic Center Pkwy., where volunteering managers can meet like-minded professionals, learn about their agencies, and share ideas for recruiting and retaining volunteers.

Contact Rut Newman for more information or to RSVP at 952-894-5000 ext. 31 or rut@mvhspets.org.

Want answers to your pressing questions about democracy in Minnesota? Rep. Dennis Ozment, R-Rosemount, and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie will be available for a Q&A on democracy and civic engagement at 7 p.m. today in West St. Paul. Ozment and Ritchie will discuss Minnesotan's involvement in democracy from the state's beginning and into the future and will answer audience questions. The discussion will be moderated by Ken Behringer, director of the Dakota County Library System.

The event will be at the Wentworth Library, 199 Wentworth Av. E. in West St. Paul. For more information, visit www.dakotacounty.us/library.

SOUTH METRO AREA

Three south-metro military veterans were among six Minnesotans to receive cash grants from the Minnesotans' Military Appreciation Fund last week.

Specialist Leland Thompson, a double Purple Heart recipient from Prior Lake, served with the Army from February to June 2007. He was injured on two separate occasions and received $9,000 in MMAF grants. Lance Cpl. Brady Gustafson, a Purple Heart recipient from Eagan, served with the First Marine Division in Afghanistan, lost part of his right leg and received a grant of $2,000 and is eligible for up to $8,000 in additional MMAF grants. Cpl. Spencer Autenrieth of Jordan, who served in Iraq with the Marines from January 2004 to January 2005 and is scheduled for redeployment next year, received a $500 grant.

LAKEVILLE

Interpretive plaques that commemorate historical locations in Lakeville will be unveiled at a public ceremony Friday. Plaques will be dedicated at the former Weichselbaum Resort, 205th St. Trailway at Jasmine Path, at 3 p.m.; the former Antlers Amusement Park near the Antlers Park parking lot at 3:20 p.m.; and downtown at the former bank building, now Mainstreet Café, and the old Fire Station/Village Hall, both near Holyoke Avenue and 208th Street at 3:40 p.m.

City officials and members of the Lakeville Area Historical Society will be present.

The Downtown Lakeville Business Association will host its first annual holiday lighting ceremony at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday. The public is invited to join in the countdown and witness all the lights decorating the trees turn on at Pioneer Park Plaza, Holyoke Avenue and 208th Street.

Entertainment will be provided by the Now and Then Singers from Lakeville North High School and refreshments provided by Mainstreet Coffee Café and Kazolly's Sweet Shop.

For more information, call Judy Tschumper at 952-985-0517. 

DAVID PETERSON, JEANNINE AQUINO AND DYLAN BELDEN