As the world casts its eyes toward Beijing for the summer Olympics, a group of Eden Prairie students can offer their own unique perspective on China. Nineteen Eden Prairie High School students along with four district staff members recently returned from two weeks in the country, seeing the sights of Shanghai, Beijing and Loudi, a city Eden Prairie has forged a partnership with over the past couple years.

Marine Cpl. Joe Piram turned age 23 on July 20 and his birthday included a major gift:

“He got to stand up for the first time in a month,” said Joe's father, Charlie Piram.

The proposed expansion of Flying Cloud Airport has been a decades long process, fraught with legal wrangling, legal agreements, dust ups, and passionate voices on both sides.  But, this fall, the wait is over for those who might cheer or jeer at the airport expansion.

The following obituaries are from the Aug. 7, 2008 print edition of the Eden Prairie News newspaper:

The sign of a good, possibly great, team is the ability to play your best when it matters most.

By the looks of it, the Eden Prairie American Legion baseball team is one of these teams.

Katrina Radke met Olympian John Naber at a young age. Later, she’d meet Tracy Caulkins, in Radke’s eyes, the best female swimmer ever.

Nowadays, fans seek out Radke.

Freshmen cheerleading tryouts will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Aug. 11, Aug. 13 and Aug. 14 in the Eden Prairie High School Activity Center. Candidates must register in the Activities Office by August 8. For more information, contact Julie at 952-239-1940.

Antiquing enthusiasts get ready for the second Eden Prairie Antique Fair set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9.
The Dunn Bros. in the Smith-Douglas-More House, 8107 Eden Prairie Road, plays host to the event, which features live music throughout the day.
Performances are set as follows:
* 9 a.m. – Paul Cassady, “Standing Waves”
* 10 a.m. – Prairie School of Dance
* 10:20 a.m. – Ralph Bailey
* 11 a.m. – Pippi Ardennia
* noon – Prairie School of Dance
* 12:20 p.m. – Mark Subialka
* 1 p.m. – Dave Cotten
* 2 p.m. – Ace and the Holz
* 3 p.m. – David Bartholow

A Quality Bicycle Products facility tour will be part of the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District’s 2008 Summer Education Series.
Quality Bicycle Products has LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Council and also has been awarded the Carbon Buster Award from the State of Minnesota. When company officials were asked why they decided to go green, the response was that the company has always had a strong environmental culture and because it’s just the right thing to do, according to a news release.

By John Knauss, Associate Librarian, Eden Prairie Library  

Glen Wilson, 83, of Eden Prairie, died Sunday, Aug. 3, 2008.

Service is Thursday, Aug. 7, at 3 p.m. at St. George Episcopal Church, 5224 Minnetonka Boulevard, St. Louis Park, with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church.

Washburn-McReavy Eden Prairie Chapel, 952-975-0400.

As 10th District Champions, the Eden Prairie American Legion baseball team earned a state tournament berth. Eden Prairie, the state's top ranked team, enters the tournament as defending state champions.

The Scott Carver Threshers festival took place last weekend in St. Lawrence Township. Here are some videos of just a few of the sights and sounds from the event: