South news briefs: Girl Scout cookies go on sale Saturday

Girl Scout cookies go on sale SaturdayIt's Girl Scout cookie time, and soon you'll find Girl Scouts at your door or staffing tables at retail stores to sell eight varieties of cookies, from Do-Si-Dos to Thin Mints.

This year the cookies will come in packaging that highlights the business skills the girls learn selling them: setting goals, managing money and developing people skills in dealing with customers. They also learn about business ethics, problem-solving and making critical decisions.

The sales period is Feb. 2 -March 17. Cookie booths will be operated Feb. 11-March 17. A cookie booth locator is available at www.girlscoutsrv.org/cookies.

Each package of cookies costs $4, and of that amount, 70 percent goes to the Girl Scout troop and council to fund programs.

Last year, River Valley's Girl Scouts earned more than $2.9 million for Scout programs.

Free tax help offered for seniors, othersWith an assist from AARP, tax advisors will be helping seniors and low-income families this tax season for free.

The service is provided at Club Prior, the senior center in Prior Lake, on Tuesdays beginning Feb. 5 through April 9.

Council's doings become less obscureThe frustration factor in figuring out what City Hall is up to in Shakopee just faded a bit.

A $26,000 software upgrade is making it less of a hunt to check out upcoming agendas and background material on issues confronting the city.

Agenda Quick is the name of the software, and material can now be accessed agenda.ci.shakopee.mn.us.

Staffers had been creating paper copies of memos, then scanning them into a document management system that some folks found exasperating to penetrate.

The paperless system over the months to come will spread to advisory committees, officials say. The money comes from city cable fees.

Most events will be held Saturday at the Hayes Park community center and Sunday at Valleywood Golf Course.

Events include a medallion hunt, a snow softball tournament, a pie-eating contest, a Wii bowling contest, a volleyball tournament, cross-country skiing and ice skating.

The city's annual Frozen Apple concert series continues from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the new clubhouse at Valleywood Golf Course, 4851 W. 125th St.

The free concert, with food by Enjoy Restaurant, will feature Michael Moore blending vocals, handmade guitars and bamboo/crystal flutes.