South metro briefs: Plans for Hy-Vee advance in Farmington

The city's Planning Commission approved a site plan for a potential 57,000-square-foot store at the Vermillion River Crossing development on Aug. 16. The plans now go to the City Council.

The proposed site includes produce, baked goods, meat, dairy, delicatessen and general groceries. Beyond convenience items, the site may include other services, such as a gas station, coffee shop and carwash. The store would likely hire about 400 employees.

Hy-Vee entered the Twin Cities market last fall with two stores. Plans for another location are advancing in Shakopee, and stores are also coming to Eagan, Savage, Cottage Grove and Maple Grove.

The chain put plans for a store in Robbinsdale on hold because of a controversy over the demolition of a historic theater. The latest location opened in Lakeville.

Natalie Daher

West St. Paul City Council approved a conditional use permit for a medical care center on Robert Street.

The council voted on the permit to allow a MedExpress Urgent Care to move to 1963 Robert St. in a new building where Aspen Dental also resides.

The county also approved a variance for the company to add in four additional parking stalls. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the permit on Aug. 16.

Beatrice Dupuy

Burnsville is looking for volunteers to help protect its lakes, rivers and wetlands.

Using stencils and white spray paint, volunteers will mark storm drains with an image of a fish and the words "Dump no waste, drains to lake." They'll also pass out fliers to residents explaining the stencils and offering tips for improving water quality.

Stenciling typically takes a few hours, according to a release from the city.

Emma Nelson

A guitarist with the Chicago rock band Emperors and Elephants died this month at Neisen's Sports Bar in Savage shortly after his band played the opening set.

Jeff Windisch died of a heart attack Aug. 13 while he was watching another band, Lynch Mob, play in the bar's backroom, said owner Dan Neisen, who had just left the bar when it happened.

"I guess he was just watching the show," Neisen said. "It's just unbelievable."

After 911 was called, an ambulance arrived along with police and the fire department, Neisen said. The police cleared the room and chest compressions were performed on Windisch, but he was pronounced dead.

According to Windisch's obituary, his funeral was held Aug. 20 in Chicago.

Erin Adler

The Carver County Parks Department closed the beach at Lake Waconia Regional Park in Waconia on Monday after higher-than-normal levels of E. coli were discovered in the water.

The closing was done as a precaution, according to a Carver County news release, and there haven't been any reports of health problems among beach visitors.

Factors causing high E. coli levels include water temperature, stormwater runoff, animals or something else, according to the release.

Other parts of Lake Waconia Regional Park remain open for outdoor activities.

Erin Adler

A 14,450-square-foot orthopedic clinic and wellness center has opened in Woodbury's reconstructed Bielenberg Sports Center, providing an annual lease payment to the city of $130,665.

Summit Orthopedics, which has headquarters in Woodbury, built the two-story clinic at no cost to taxpayers, city officials said. After signing the lease Summit donated $100,000 to wellness initiatives, including support for the Madison Claire Foundation to help pay for Madison's Place, the east metro's first completely handicapped-accessible playground that opened in June.

In addition, Summit will donate up to $50,000 per year for other wellness initiatives throughout Woodbury, the city said.