South news briefs: Organics recycling jumps by 1,000 in Scott County

The second year of free organics recycling in Scott County saw a leap of nearly 1,000 in the number of participants, officials say.

The Shakopee tribe's Organics Recycling Facility had 3,305 participants for that drop-off program in 2014.

The yard waste offer applied to county residents each Saturday during April, May, September and October.

The program ensures that local yard waste becomes compost. The facility set a record on the last day with 535 residents making drop-offs.

The tribe also works with the cities of Prior Lake, Shakopee, and Savage, and partners with waste haulers, food manufacturers, grocers, and school districts.

Residents buy finished compost for gardening and landscaping. For more information, visit www.smscorf.com or call 952-403-7005.

County Road 16 between Foothill Trail and Pike Lake Road in Shakopee is open once more after a closure lasting several months.

Scott County installed a larger culvert to handle flow from the Prior Lake and Spring Lake areas.

City buildings in Shakopee are serving as drop-off sites for donations to the Southern Valley Alliance for Battered Women's holiday gift drive, Gifts of Hope.

You're invited to drop off a holiday gift to benefit families hit by domestic violence.

Drop-off sites: Police Department, 475 Gorman St.; Community Center, 1255 Fuller St.; Public Library, 235 Lewis St. S.; City Hall, 129 Holmes St. S.

Toys should be new, unused and unwrapped and dropped off during regular business hours by Dec. 8.

Furry animals and snowshoeing are among the featured topics in programs for kids in coming days at Three Rivers parks in the south metro.

Insulators: Fur & Feathers: Dec. 9, from 9:30-11:30 a.m., Richardson Nature Center, Hyland Lake Park Reserve, Bloomington. Parents can drop off children for a program looking at animals and their winter habits. They also can make a craft. The program is taught in English with an introduction to the Spanish language. Cost is $10; reservations are required. Call 763-559-6700 to make a reservation, using activity number 112916-01. For ages 4-5.

Early Explorers — Fuzzy Furs: Dec. 9, from 10-11:30 a.m., The Landing-Minnesota River Heritage Park, Shakopee. Play, sing, read stories, create a craft, and explore the outdoors. Cost is $5; reservations are required. Call 763-559-6700 to reserve; use activity number 138403-01. For ages 2-5.

Nature Play Date: Dec. 9, from 10-11 a.m., Cleary Lake Regional Park, Prior Lake. Meet families interested in getting their children outdoors. Children 17 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Free and open to all ages.

Kids Can Snowshoe!: Dec. 10, from 9-11 a.m., at Cleary Lake. Drop off a child for activities, a story and time for the featured activity. Cost is $10; reservations are required. Call 763-559-6700 to reserve; activity number 124516-00. Ages 4-6.

Family cross-country ski day: Dec. 13, from 9 a.m. to noon, Hyland Lake Park Reserve. Cross-country skiing with instructors and the Minnesota Youth Ski League. Hot chocolate to warm up. Free rentals for ages 11 and younger; daily cross-country ski pass required for ages 12 and older. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Open to all ages.

Prior Lake hopes to open its ice rinks and warming house on Dec. 20, if the weather suits.

For an up-to-date status, call a hot line at 952-447-9825.

Warming House Hours: Monday through Friday: 5–9:30 p.m.; weekends and school holidays: noon to 8 p.m.; closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Prior Lake is looking for residents to serve on its Parks Advisory Committee.

It meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m.

Members assist the city in setting open space, land acquisition and development policies; recommends specific parks and open space development; and assists in researching funding sources.

An application is available online and is to be sent to Jennifer Dull at jdull@cityofpriorlake.com by Dec. 12.