South metro briefs: Neighborhood rinks won't open in Prior Lake this winter

Neighborhood rinks won't open this winter

Neighborhood ice skating rinks in Prior Lake won't open this winter because of an equipment breakdown. A water truck used to flood the rinks is unsafe to use, and repair would not be cost-effective because the truck is scheduled to be replaced in 2016. Pleasure and hockey rinks in Lakefront Park will be open once temperatures are low enough to sustain ice, the city said. The City Council is asking residents to take a short survey on the city's website — www.cityofpriorlake.com — about how the neighborhood rinks should be used.

A public budget meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at Prior Lake City Hall. Citizens are encouraged to provide input or comments on the proposed 2016 budget and tax levy.

Authorities in the south metro are warning people about holiday scams.

• Be leery about e-mails and social media ads that offer big discounts on gift cards or free stuff. Some e-mails and posts may be shared by a friend; that friend could have been hacked, so don't assume every offer is legitimate.

• Beware of e-mails supposedly sent by UPS or FedEx that claim there's a problem with your order and asking you to click on a link or attachment. That link or attachment could contain a computer virus or be ransomware that holds your files hostage until you pay a fee.

• E-mails from sites like Amazon or eBay may claim there's a problem with your order and you need to click a refund link. Those links will ask for personal information that is then sold to cyber criminals.

Winter hasn't even officially started, but the Scott County Soil and Water Conservation District is already holding its 2016 tree sale.

The tree sale continues through April, when customers will pick up their prepaid orders and buy smaller bundles of remaining seedlings at the Scott County Fairgrounds in Jordan.

For more information, call 952-492-5425 or e-mail scottswcdtrees@gmail.com. Information and order forms also can be found online at www.scottswcdtrees.com.

Scholar and researcher Terry Flower will give a presentation on the Star of Bethlehem next Sunday at the LeDuc Historic Estate, 1629 Vermillion St. in Hastings.

The program starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $10, and reservations are required. Call 651-438-8480.

Randy Monnens won a runner-up prize for "Eagle Soars by Shakopee Water Tower." Sarah Deppe won runner-up for "Winter in Memorial Park."

The winners were recognized at the Dec. 1 City Council meeting. The winning photos can be seen at www.ShakopeeMN.gov/showoffshakopee.

The Savage Toys for Tots program runs through Wednesday. Donation boxes are in the lobbies of the Savage Police Department, 6000 McColl Drive; KleinBank, 14141 Glendale Road; Wells Fargo Bank, 5705 Loftus Dr.; Sterling Bank, 14185 Hwy. 13, and the Villas by Mary T office at 6941 W. 140th St.

If the weather cooperates, Burnsville's cross-country ski trails will open Saturday, Dec. 19.

Trails are open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pets and motorized vehicles are not allowed. Ski trails are one-way. Walking on the trails is not allowed, and the trails will close if the temperature is minus-21 or lower.

Maps of the Alimagnet Park and Terrace Oaks Park trails can be found at www.burnsville.org.