South news briefs: Give Met Council a piece of your mind

Give Met Council a piece of your mindSouth-metro civic leaders and residents will have two chances this month to offer their thoughts to the Metropolitan Council as it crafts a new plan for the Twin Cities area's future.

A series of events described as "Thrive MSP 2040 Council Member Listening Sessions" has been arranged, with stops south of the river in Savage next week and later in Eagan.

Council members representing the area and staff members will be on hand to talk about the process of creating "the vision for the Twin Cities metropolitan region over the next 30 years." Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP by calling 651-602-1140 or e-mailing public.info@metc.state.mn.us.

There's more information about the overall planning effort and its goals at www.thrivemsp.org.

South-of-the river sessions are set for:

• Savage: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the McColl Pond Environmental Learning Center, 13550 Dakota Av.

• Eagan: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Wescott Library, 1340 Wescott Road.

Golf to fight drugs -- and a boat ride, tooA Shakopee golf course will be the venue this week for the Scott County meth task force's sixth annual Tee It Up for the Task Force fundraising tournament.

The task force seeks to fight drug use and this year is aiming in particular at the rising use of heroin, in addition to a program encouraging residents to properly dispose of unneeded prescription drugs.

The tournament starts early Friday at Stonebrooke Golf Course. There is a live auction and a barbeque lunch. The cost is $100 per registrant, with chances at large prizes, including a $100,000 shootout.

The tournament brochure can be found online at www.startribune.com/a1689.

Find out where your food comes fromA food co-op in Burnsville is inviting folks to meet more than 20 local food producers and vendors later this month and sample their fare for free.

Entertainment, including music and kids' activities, is planned, as well as tours of the co-op's garden. The store is at 13750 County Road 11.

Shoot now for city's first photo contestResidents of Shakopee have about a month to shoot images around town in hopes of winning the city's first photo contest. Officials have put a call for great pictures of the city's "breathtaking parks and scenery and lively entertainment venues," among other possibilities.

Pictures needn't be brand new but not more than two years old, and must show Shakopee, not Savage. Categories include people enjoying the city's amenities, action shots of sports, and fixed subjects such as buildings and natural sights.

There are lots of detailed rules on the city's website, including the address for submissions (129 S. Holmes St. S., Shakopee, 55379) and an Oct. 19 deadline. Images must be in color, in the .jpg format and on a CD -- no negatives or prints will be accepted.

For more information, call 952-233-9300.