South news briefs: Corporate vet gets Savage liquor position

Corporate vet gets liquor positionA woman with decades of experience in the private sector has been chosen to lead Savage's sagging municipal liquor operations.

More than 70 people applied for the new position of liquor facility manager after the city decided to pursue a person who could bring in new ways of thinking about competing with the expanding private liquor business in the suburbs.

A background document furnished to the City Council doesn't say exactly where Stacy Schmidt has worked. But an online profile describes her as store manager for Cub's liquor offshoot in Eagan.

She has also clerked for Lakeville's much-envied municipal liquor operation, it adds, and been an assistant store manager for Lunds.

The appointment needed council approval this week, but city staff called her the "clear and superior choice."

Liquor space gives way to kids' bracesThe same turmoil in the liquor business that's affecting Savage has created an opportunity for an orthodontics practice in Prior Lake.

Using space abandoned by Dakota Liquors amid heightened competition from big-box operations, Cosmopolitan Orthodontics has opened a new and substantially larger office.

The renovation project involved essentially gutting the building to construct work space. It also added amenities such as a video game area that siblings can use when they get dragged to big or little sister's frequent visits.

Cosmopolitan also has an office in Lakeville.

City pitched in for fireworks displayA divided City Council in Shakopee agreed last week to save the pyrotechnics display at a major local festival with a $10,500 donation.

"The Derby Days committee unfortunately fell well short of the funding they needed to put together a successful celebration, with fireworks," Mayor Brad Tabke said. "We opted on a 3-2 vote to help them out one time with a city donation in addition to the in-kind work we already provide."

The event concluded last Sunday.

The free Aug. 16 event in the mall's rotunda previews the annual powwow itself, which begins the next day on the tribe's land in Shakopee.

Times are 2 and 5 p.m., with explanations from a master of ceremonies. A traditional native tent, or tipi, will be displayed in the Sears Court.