South metro news briefs: Tornado strikes mayor's family farm in Iowa

Shakopee Mayor Brad Tabke was sidelined from his reelection campaign after a tornado leveled his parents' farm in Iowa on Oct. 4.

Tabke has been spending a lot of time in Moville, Iowa, since the storm moved through and spared only the house and almost all of the 1,500 head of hogs, he reported last week in his blog.

"Mom was with us in Shakopee for Grandparents Day at Jackson Elementary and my Dad, sister and her two daughters (4 and 2) were in the basement when the storm moved through," he wrote.

The outpouring of support has been "incredible," he added, with 75 to 100 people showing up the day after to help with cleanup. The Red Cross was "beyond amazing," stopping by the house three to four times a day as friends in Shakopee help here.

High schools in the area were to let out for a day to help with various farms in the area, he said, so that debris could be removed in time for harvest combining.

The mayor is up for his second term in office in a contested election next month with longtime Council Member Matt Lehman.

A family will soon be moving into the first ever Habitat for Humanity home in Eagan.

A Community Build Day last week featured as volunteers a number of civic leaders.

The home went through foreclosure, Habitat officials say, and the owner, Bank of America, donated it to Habitat.

It needed lots of repairs, which were being carried out by volunteers. The family eventually chosen to occupy it will be required to put in hundreds of hours of sweat equity as well.

The family will pay a zero percent mortgage, with payments going to create more such opportunities for others.

With school not in session today, Prior Lake has arranged for a canoeing and hiking outing at Fort Snelling State Park.

No experience necessary, but bring a bag lunch. It's for ages 8 and up.

The event is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with pickup and drop off at Lakefront Park pavilion.

The cost for residents is $35, and for nonresidents, an extra $5.

On Halloween in Prior Lake, there's a free trick-or-treat event at City Hall and police headquarters.

Kids can come dressed in costume and each department will have a treat.

A Halloween-themed craft event for kids is coming up at the Stans Museum, sponsored by the Scott County Historical Society.

The story "Mookie's Teeth" will be read by Cristina Oxtra, and kids will make their own paper bag monsters.

The session takes place Oct. 26 from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. It's free, but registration is required so organizers can arrange for supplies. Call 952-445-0378 or e-mail sherrick@scottcountyhistory.org.

The event is part of a monthly Kids Kraft program, engaging children through pictures, stories and hands-on activities. It's aimed at kids aged 4 to 8.

The historical society is at 235 Fuller St. S., Shakopee.