South metro news briefs: Inver Hills hosts cybersecurity competition

Scott County's Historical Society is hosting an evening of storytelling as it hosts a new exhibit, "Storied Treasures: Highlighting the Collections of the Scott County Historical Society."

The opening event is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 26. The goal is to tell stories associated with objects from the past: what they are, how they were used, who owned them and what they mean.

Admission is free for society members, and $4 for other adults and $2 for students. To learn more, call 952-445-0378 or e-mail sherrick@scottcountyhistory.org.

A community college in Dakota County is hosting a competition aimed at inspiring young people to get into the field of cybersecurity, defending the nation's computers from online attacks.

Inver Hills, in Inver Grove Heights, is one of 10 community colleges nationally chosen by the federal government to hold a state competition, officials say. The Minnesota Cyber Aces competition will be the third, after New Jersey and Virginia.

The first round takes place Oct. 15, and it's called Cyber Aces Online: three online modules.

No formal experience is required to take part. High school and college students, and veterans, are encouraged to join in. Register at www.cyberaces.org.

To learn more, call 651- 450-3526 or e-mail kgyolai@inverhills.edu.

An artist who works with a spray bottle and blow dryer is being featured at Savage's City Hall.

Rick Mittlestadt of Prior Lake is exhibiting acrylic and watercolor paintings until Oct. 3 at the City Art Wall, 6000 McColl Drive.

The artist does traditional landscapes as well as abstract paintings. Acrylic paint dries quickly, so he uses a spray bottle to keep paint wet as he works on it, and a blow dryer if it gets too wet. He calls the resulting works "a gift of enchantment, amusement and emotional connection."

The Savage Arts Council organizes City Art Wall exhibits to give residents a free peek at fine art close to home. The lobby is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

It also has authorized a study of the future of its main corridor through the older part of town.

The firefighter hirings are a response to challenges suburbs often face in covering daytime fires, when so-called "volunteer" firefighters — actually paid per call — are often far from town, having commuted to jobs. The goal is to improve response times in the Southbridge neighborhood, newer subdivisions south of Hwy. 169.

Four men were chosen from more than 230 applicants after a written test and interviews and will start this month.

The development study, being done along with Scott County, is aimed at the future of the First Avenue corridor from the Hwy. 101 bridge over the Minnesota River to Memorial Park.

In a blog post, Mayor Brad Tabke said of the goal:

Shakopee is reminding folks to follow the rules concerning hunting within the city.

Shotguns, BB guns and bows and arrows can be used only in the area north of the Minnesota River and west of County Road 101; the area south of Vierling Drive and east of Spencer Street (County Road 79); and the area east of Valleyfair and north of County Road 101.

Shooting needs 40 acres or more of adjoining tracts of land, with written permission of landowners, and never within 500 feet of a building or public road.

For more information about city hunting regulations, including a map, go to www.ci.shakopee.mn.us/hunting.cfm.