South news briefs: Three-week ramp closure has begun in Shakopee

Motorists traveling between Shakopee and Eden Prairie will encounter a three-week detour, starting this week.

Carver County Road 101, formerly Hwy. 101, is the affected roadway.

The east ramp of 101 to Carver County Road 61 (Flying Cloud Drive) is closed. The west ramp of 101 will remain open to 61; this detour will not affect those who are driving between Chaska or Chanhassen and Shakopee.

The detour route will be Bluff Creek Drive and Pioneer Trail. The closure needs to occur before the winter season, officials say.

Information can be found at www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy101river.

A grand opening event for the Emerson Process Management expansion project took place last week in Shakopee.

Emerson bought the long-vacant ADC building in Shakopee and will use it as headquarters for its Rosemount business. Officials touted an investment of up to $70 million and say the new facility will add up to 500 jobs.

Parks and libraries are starting to merge in Shakopee.

The Countryside Homeowners Association installed a "little free library" at Royalty Park, 101 Ardennes Ave. W.

It's one of those "take a book, add a book" mini-libraries being seen these days more often along residential streets.

The little free library is one of four that a group of workers at Toro Co. constructed as a service project.

"The little free library is a wonderful community effort to promote reading and sharing among neighborhoods," said parks and recreation director Jamie Polley.

For information about little free libraries or to find others, visit littlefreelibrary.org.

Registration has begun for a Christmas-themed activity in Prior Lake.

The city is inviting children accompanied by adults to attend the Old Log Theater's 2014 holiday show, "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

The show lasts about an hour.

The outing is Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to noon. Participants will meet at the Lakefront Park Pavilion, 5000 Kop Parkway

Deadline to sign up is Nov. 3; each person must register and pay ahead of time.

A new plan for Metro Transit's local and express bus service is available for public comment.

The plan outlines 122 proposed improvements through 2030.

That means things like adding service to existing routes, and 11 bus rapid-transit lines for faster, more frequent service.

Details are at metrotransit.org/sip. Copies are at all county libraries and summary information is on all Metro Transit buses.

To comment, e-mail sip@metrotransit.org, send a letter to 560 N. Sixth Ave., Minneapolis, 55411 or call 651-602-1500.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is seeking help in becoming a "bicycle-friendly state."

The annual application involves questions about:

• Infrastructure and funding to provide safe biking places.

• Promotion of cycling.

The state is asking citizens to take a survey on these questions that lasts about five minutes. Responses will be anonymous.

The survey can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/s/GRCY8TJ

The survey needs to be finished by Thursday.

Questions should go to Michelle Pooler at michelle.pooler@state.mn.us or 651-366-4167.