South metro briefs: Mild winter meant less time at city rinks

Warmer weather shrinks municipal skate seasons

For the second winter in a row, the party ended early at Dakota County's municipal ice rinks.

Warmer temperatures this year meant shorter skating seasons, with opening dates near the beginning of January and closings around mid-February — similar to last year. Typically, cities aim to open ice rinks around mid-December.

"The temperatures didn't cooperate with us this year," said Eric Carlson, parks and recreation director in Inver Grove Heights.

Participation numbers were down as a result of the short season, although some cities got more skaters per day than in recent years. Apple Valley counted several thousand fewer skaters total this year than in each of the two previous years, but the daily average was higher.

"I think people, at the time that we did open up, were anxious to skate outside," said parks and recreation director Barry Bernstein.

Shortened skating seasons mean a little bit of savings for cities, which often pay teenagers to man warming houses. The warmer temperatures also mean it's time to start preparing for spring.

Construction is underway again on Robert Street, and West St. Paul officials are hosting an open house to address community concerns.

The city and project staff will answer any questions about street construction during the open house at the Wentworth Library from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday. The city completed the first phase of construction in 2015, and the second phase will soon be in full swing.

The city is kicking off construction on the south end of the road this spring, from Thompson Avenue south to Mendota Road. The majority of construction on the north end was completed last year, but the city is still putting the finishing touches on the sidewalks and landscaping.

At the open house on Monday, residents can get the latest information on the construction, and view project plans and maps. West St. Paul is asking for $12 million in state funding for the project, which is already more than a million over budget.

The city expects to wrap up construction this fall.

The Scott County Sheriff's Office recently launched a free smartphone app for residents to anonymously report tips or suspicious activity.

Similar to the county's text-a-tip system, the SCSOTips App is another mobile resource for community members to share information and photos with sheriff staff. Deputies receive the tips on their phones and can respond back creating an anonymous two-way conversation within the app.

"We believe the public is our greatest law enforcement resource," said Chief Deputy Luke Hennen in a statement. "Our new SCSOTips App, along with our existing tip411 anonymous text-a-tip system, will help our residents play a more active role in keeping the citizens of Scott County safe."

The SCSOTips App can be downloaded for free using the Google Play store, iTunes app store or going online to the sheriff's website at scottcountymn.gov.

Karen Zamora

Calvary Church, a Pentecostal organization, celebrated its first Easter services in Savage since purchasing the building on March 21. The organization's new building on Quentin Avenue S. formerly housed St. Mary Magdalene Lutheran Church, which closed in 2014.

Minnesota's Calvary Church community started in 1974 in Bloomington and has since attracted between 300 and 400 registered members. Calvary is part of the United Pentecostal Church International, which counts more than 40,000 congregations worldwide.

Calvary members can now attend Sunday services at 11:30 a.m. in Bloomington or at 9:30 a.m. in Savage. The organization also offers Sunday school and focused prayer at 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

Natalie Daher

Transitions are in store at Jordan's middle and high schools as both schools' principals prepare for retirement. Lance Chambers' resignation was approved at a February school board meeting. Barb McNulty, high school principal, gave her resignation at the March 14 meeting. Both administrators will officially end job duties June 30.