South news briefs: Improvements ahead for museum garden

The Scott County Historical Society has received a $45,000 grant for its museum garden project.

The Toro Foundation is the donor, and the project involves a comprehensive landscape plan.

That means replacing an inefficient irrigation system, and creating a garden that complements the 1920s Stans House.

The offshoots should include more chances for "educational programs, interpretation and community involvement," the society said.

The group is located at 235 S. Fuller St., Shakopee.

Charcoal and pencil drawings of prominent Dakota tribe members from the 1850s are on display in Shakopee.

The artist is Bill Durand, and the nine portraits include Chief Sakpe, Chief Little Crow, Waa-Pa-Do-Ta (Red Leaf), Te-Na-Se-Pa (the Singer), Wa-Kan-O-Zhan-Zhan (Medicine Bottle), Ti-Hdo-Ni-Ca (One Who Forbids His House), Sna-Ma-Ni (Tinkling Water), Chief Little Crow and his son, and Ta-Te-Ka-Ga (Wind Maker).

Registrations are invited for the ninth annual Dakotah! Sport and Fitness Lakefront Days Triathlon.

The event is Aug. 2 at Cleary Lake Regional Park.

Sponsors include the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, the city of Prior Lake and the Three Rivers Park District. The event is in conjunction with Prior Lake's annual Lakefront Days, the following week.

The triathlon will start at 8 a.m. with a ½-mile swim at Cleary Lake Beach. That will be followed by a 14-mile bicycle loop through county roads. The third component is a 3.3-mile run through the park.

This year an awards ceremony will follow, with awards to the top three male and top three female finishers, as well as the first-place finisher in each of the men's and women's age group categories. All participants will receive a T-shirt and race bag in addition to a participation medal.

The fee is $70 per person, or $90 per team. Registration closes July 28 or when the event fills. Participants may register online. Mail-in registration forms and additional information are also available at www.dakotahsport.com.

For volunteer information, contact race director Renee Engeman at 952-496-6875.

Cleary Lake Regional Park is located at 18106 Texas Av., Prior Lake.

Information about the 31st annual Lakefront Days celebration from Aug. 7-9 is at www.lakefrontdays.com.

Inver Hills Community College has received a $50,000 grant from the Travelers Foundation to fund two programs, with the goal of providing underrepresented students with workforce experience.

The rest will fund five off-campus Travelers EDGE (Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment) internships.

In the past few years, the Travelers Foundation has donated more than $400,000 to Inver Hills to support scholarships, advising, financial literacy programs, career exploration opportunities and other student needs.