South metro town briefs

Geothermal system for new liquor store For an example of alternative energy use just around the corner, look no further than Apple Valley's third municipal liquor store. The building, under construction at 157th Street and Pilot Knob Road, will use geothermal heating instead of natural gas or oil.

The system will run piping in holes drilled 140 feet below ground, providing heat, ventilation and air conditioning in the store.

It's Apple Valley's first municipal geothermal project, though the Minnesota Department of Health has issued permits for more than 1,500 geothermal systems since 1984.

The $4.9 million liquor store is slated to open in time for the holiday season.

Horse track dedicates Kutz memorial chapel Canterbury Park has installed what it is calling the Dean Kutz Memorial Chapel in its stable area overlooking the track.

Donors and volunteers are largely responsible, officials say, for the 3,000-square-foot facility with a multi-purpose area, meeting room, office and kitchen, which is to be used for worship services and other events. It will house the track chaplain, who conducts worship services and provides other assistance to the hundreds of workers and their families who live in dormitories on-site or off.

The late Dean Kutz was a popular and successful jockey who became the first rider inducted into Canterbury's Hall of Fame.

Thirteen-year-old Sarah Condon's photograph of a caterpillar stretched across a flower took the top prize in the youth division.

More than 80 entries were submitted. Other winners included Amy Olson, Joy King, Rachel Malsom, and, in the youth division, Ellen Grandrud, age 6.

There is a link to all of the winners' work on the city's website, www.ci.savage.mn.us.

Oldies roaring back at Market Fest tonight Tonight is classic car and oldies night at the Eagan Market Fest, which runs from 4-8 p.m. Wednesdays through Sept. 24. The Rockin' Hollywoods will play, with a guest appearance from Elvis-impersonating Jim Backstrom, the Dakota County attorney. The event kicks off a Dakota County initiative dubbed "Living Longer and Stronger." The location is the Central Park Festival Grounds and bandshell, at the Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Pkwy.

Aug. 6 will be family night at the Market Fest, with the local Eagan Youth Dance Showcase from 5-6 p.m. and 7-8 p.m.

A chance to check out the new police station Lakeville police will hold an open house on Sunday to show off their new station, a $15 million facility with more than twice the space of the department's old quarters and features such as a high-tech crime lab.

Tours and a safety fair run from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a dedication ceremony at 1 p.m. at the new station, located at 9237 183rd St. The event includes free food and drink, music by Neptune Cocktail, emergency vehicles on display and a collection of nonperishable items for the local food shelf.

City's farmer's market moves to Main Avenue The Prior Lake Farmer's Market has moved.

Formerly located south of County Road 21, it's now closer to downtown, on Main Avenue, not far from City Hall.

Each Saturday morning the market offers fresh produce, plants and ready-to-eat foods. The market is open from 8 a.m. to noon, with parking on surrounding streets, in the city library lot and in downtown lots.

Johnson has been a city manager for nearly 30 years, working for Plymouth, Shoreview, Grand Island, Neb., and, most recently, Homer Glen, Ill., a new suburb of Chicago.

Johnson will replace former administrator Jamie Verbrugge, who left to accept a similar job in Brooklyn Park. He was chosen over four other finalists, including city administrators in Austin, St. Anthony and Afton, Minn., as well as Rosemount community development director Kim Lindquist.

If the council approves a contract with Johnson at its Aug. 4 meeting, he'll start work Aug. 18.

Cities encouraging Night Out parties Communities across the southern metro area are inviting neighborhoods to organize gatherings for the 25th annual National Night Out, a crime- and drug-prevention event from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Burnsville, for instance, is offering visits from police officers, firefighters and others to groups registering their block parties, cookouts and the like with City Hall. Contact Amber Nordland at 952-895-4575 or check out the city website at www.burnsville.org.

Bus service shatters its ridership record Minnesota Valley Transit Authority board members ate cake last week to celebrate a major milestone for the south-metro bus service.

In June, MVTA provided an average of 10,000 riders every weekday for the first time in its history. That brought year-to-date ridership to about 1.3 million, more than double the total number of bus riders in 1996.

MVTA runs buses in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Rosemount and Savage.