Click here
to see updates on Minnesota River flood outlook.

The Eden Prairie School Board discussed how to move schools to a K-6 alignment during a work session Thursday.

Superintendent Melissa Krull said that two early decisions had been made.

Today’s fourth-graders will not be sent to Oak Point in the fall, then back to their elementary schools the next year.

The fourth-graders are to go to Oak Point in the fall and stay there for sixth grade, Krull said.

Prepare to use the Bloomington Ferry Bridge.

According to an update from Chaska Superintendent Tim Wiebe, Highway 101 and Highway 41 will both close between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. today.

"Things are changing by the minute," said Wiebe, who just estimated earlier this morning that 101 would close on Saturday, and Highway 41 would close on Sunday or Monday.

With the Jordan crossing closed, that leaves the Bloomington Ferry Bridge as the closest alternative.

- Mollee Francisco

By Forrest Adams

During a morning interview from Tucson, Ariz., where he was signing books at the Tucson Book Festival, Scott Simon came across every bit as relaxed as his radio personality.

“I was told the interview would be at 9 a.m.,” said the reporter, who waited dutifully until 10 a.m. (Center Standard Time) before calling the award-winning journalist’s cell phone number for a 9 a.m. interview, as instructed by Simon’s agent.

“So was I. The time here is 8 a.m.,” replied Simon.

The Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce’s eighth annual Home, Landscape and Garden Everything Spring Expo is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 20, at Grace Church. The show is set to include more than 100 booths.

“This show is totally free to attend and has free parking,” according to a news release. “Kids activities will be provided by KidCreate Studios, Underwater World, Kid’s Potting with The Mustard Seed Landscaping and Garden Center, and The Home Depot.”

Nominations for this year’s Eden Prairie Schools Legacy Awards are due March 19. The awards were established in 2008 by the Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools (FEPS) to honor outstanding employees, students, volunteers and alumni.

“The Legacy Awards will honor individuals who have contributed to the success and reputation of Eden Prairie Schools,” according to a news release.

Awards will be presented for:

* Teacher of the Year
* Staff Employee of the Year
* Alumnus of the Year
* Volunteer of the Year

Flood warnings have been announced throughout the metro.

Click here
for an update on the river levels around Shakopee.

Click here for an update on the City of Carver

Click here for info on Savage.

Tony Szczepaniak’s charity cribbage tournament will benefit the ABC Foundation this year. In addition, the event is accepting donations of food items for PROP.

Join Szczepaniak for men’s night at Eden Wood Center, 6350 Indian Chief Road in Eden Prairie, from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Friday, March 19. The tournament starts promptly at 7 p.m.

The cost benefits the foundation. Cost at the door is $30. Dinner will be served and a cash bar will be available.

For more information, contact Szczepaniak at 952-250-6937 or e-mail tony.szczepaniak@gmail.com.

The Eden Prairie Boy Scout Troop 342 Pancake Breakfast at Eden Prairie High School Sunday drew a crowd. Click below for a slide show.

Photo by Unsie Zuege

The Matsons of Chanhassen worked with Destiny Homes of Chanhassen to
remodel their kitchen. The challenge of their six-sided home made the remodel challenging but they love the results. A point of local
trivia--their home was once owned by Kevin Sorbo who starred in the
popular 1990s TV series "Hercules."

Are you interested in reading the public notices published in the March 18, 2010 print edition of the Eden Prairie News newspaper? The page or pages on which those notices were printed are attached to this item, in the form of .pdf’s that can be opened with Adobe Acrobat.

Harriman-Steiner
Randy and Ranee Jacobus announce the engagement of their daughter, Megan, 25, to Sam Steiner, 27, son of Rudy and Deb Steiner of Mukwonago, Wis.

Brindisi, Kangas among new ownership group

By Forrest Adams

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is now under new ownership, though some of the owners have familiar faces.

Long-time Resident Artistic Director Michael Brindisi and Choreographer Tamara Kangas Erickson are among a large cast now charting a path forward for the 41-year-old theater.

Auditions for the summer musical THE MUSIC MAN, will be held on April 12th and 13th at Central Middle School in Eden Prairie beginning at 7:00pm.

Eight performances will be held June 17-20 and June 24-27 at the Staring Lake Amphitheatre.

Those interested in auditioning can find complete information by following this link to the EDEN PRAIRIE PLAYERS WEBSITE.

Auditions for the summer musical THE MUSIC MAN, will be held on April 12th and 13th at Central Middle School in Eden Prairie beginning at 7:00pm.

Eight performances will be held June 17-20 and June 24-27 at the Staring Lake Amphitheatre.

Those interested in auditioning can find complete information by following this link to the EDEN PRAIRIE PLAYERS WEBSITE.

TIME: 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM

LOCATION: 8911 Columbine Road, Eden Prairie

If you are ready to make education a priority for your future, please join us to:
• Attend free seminars
• Tour the school
• Visit with instructors
• Observe student projects
• Enjoy complimentary snacks

RSVP: J. Lewis at 952.914.5317 or jalewis@itt-tech.edu

After years of delays, it appears funding is in place to fix the traffic-clogged intersection of Highway 169 and Interstate 494. Reconstruction of the interchange will likely start in spring 2011.

Wednesday, the Met Council’s Transportation Advisory Board voted in favor of allowing the Minnesota Department of Transportation to use $34 million owed to TAB for improvements to 169/494. The money had been loaned to MnDOT for the Crosstown project.

The following obituaries are from the March 18, 2010 print edition of the Eden Prairie News newspaper:

The Google Fiber project is drawing out all manner of promotional antics from cities around the country in a bid to be the chosen site for a pilot project to test an ultra-high-speed broadband network. The enticement for cities is that such a project could offer their citizens Internet speeds 100 times faster than what they currently have access to.

Using his line item veto, Gov. Tim Pawlenty trimmed $319 million from the nearly billion dollar bonding bill passed by the Legislature this week. Among the projects cut was a $10.5 million request to fund a project at both campuses of Hennepin Technical College, located in Eden Prairie and Brooklyn Park. According to HTC President Cecilia Cervantes, the project would renovate the resource centers at the campuses bringing together the library, assessment center, tutoring areas and other student services into one cohesive space.