Author: EPLN Staff Reports

Kathleen Porta won a $100 Visa gift card in the recent Eden Prairie Local News contest, in which readers were encouraged to get friends and neighbors to sign up for EPLN’s free email newsletter. Sandy Olson won a $50 gift card and Smriti Srivastava won a $25 gift card as the contest’s second- and third-place winners, respectively. The contest was open to existing subscribers between March 15 and March 31 as a campaign by EPLN to expand its base of readership and support. Thank you to everyone who participated! The nonprofit news organization was founded in 2020 to provide important…

The Eden Prairie Optimist Club recently held its annual Oratorical Contest, providing young people with the opportunity to speak about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. This year’s theme was “Discovering the Optimism Within Me?” The contest was sponsored by Optimist International and held on April 5 at the Star Bank in Eden Prairie. The following students placed in the top three of the Oratorical Contest: In addition to developing skills for public speaking, participants also have the opportunity to move on to compete for a college scholarship. The top finishing students were awarded gold, silver…

The Eden Prairie AM Rotary Club will host its second annual ECO EXPO from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 22, in the center court of Eden Prairie Center mall. Admission is free, but a $10 donation to the Eden Prairie AM Rotary Foundation is suggested to help fund the club’s upcoming grants. According to a news release, the organizers created this family-friendly event to inspire the residents of Eden Prairie and surrounding communities to “live sustainably” by contributing to their city’s eco-friendly goals, and “do good” by helping to fund the club’s upcoming grants. The event will showcase…

A Friday afternoon house fire in the 17000 block of Rustic Hills Drive in Eden Prairie resulted in the death of one person. Officers and firefighters responded to the incident after a neighbor reported the garage of the home was on fire at about 4 p.m., according to a social media post by Eden Prairie authorities. When responders arrived at the house, they discovered it was fully engulfed in flames and could not account for one occupant. Later, the deceased adult was found inside the home by responders. Although the fire has been extinguished, the home suffered significant damage, and…

Angelinde Sophie “Angie” (Pass) Rogers, age 93, of Eden Prairie, passed away April 8, 2023, from Alzheimer’s disease exacerbated by complications from a hip fracture and finally succumbed to COVID-19. Angie was the second child born to Peter and Rose (Williams) Pass on March 29, 1930. On June 6, 1951, Angie married Norbert “Bert” Rogers at Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Chaska. Angie and Bert spent many years on the Rogers’ farm in Eden Prairie, where they raised their beloved son Mike. They worked together to run a dairy farm along with pigs and chickens, from which Angie started her…

Susan Gwen Sneer, age 85, of Eden Prairie, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2023. Susan (Sue) was born on January 18, 1938, in Fulda, Minnesota, to Fred and Esther Penrod. Sue graduated from Minnesota State Mankato with a degree in home economics. She spent her life being a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Sue was also a loyal, instrumental partner in the family banking business. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, traveling, reading, quilting, sewing, crafting, and had a love of learning. Sue was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Esther Penrod, her…

The City of Eden Prairie will start its annual flushing and maintenance checks on its 4,000 fire hydrants on Monday, April 17. The process is expected to last for three weeks. According to a city news release, flushing the hydrants removes any accumulated sediment in the pipes, ensuring that the hydrants function correctly and the water quality within the distribution system is maintained. For safety, motorists are advised to exercise caution when driving in and around the testing sites. The city’s utility division is available to answer any questions or concerns, and they can be contacted at 952-949-8530.

Eden Prairie, in partnership with Edina, Minneapolis, and St. Louis Park, has launched the Electrify Everything MN campaign to help residents reduce their home energy use and transition to clean and renewable energy sources. According to the City of Eden Prairie, significant progress has been made in cutting carbon emissions from energy production in Minnesota. The campaign educates residents about transitioning from gas-powered appliances to electric-powered options. Residents of Eden Prairie and the other cities can attend free workshops in May to learn more about reducing home energy use and transitioning to clean and renewable energy sources. The workshops will…

During Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, Eden Prairie police officers are working designated shifts to keep an eye out for motorists not paying full attention while driving. According to an April 11 post on the EPPD blog, distracted driving remains a significant problem in Minnesota, with 22 distraction-related fatalities and 126 serious injuries reported in 2022. In Eden Prairie, officers issued 164 citations and 57 written warnings for distracted driving last year. The EPPD would like to remind drivers that having a phone in their hand while driving is illegal, even when stopped at a traffic light or sign.…

A 19-year-old woman from Eden Prairie was injured in a single-vehicle accident on southbound Interstate 35 in southern Minnesota’s Freeborn County. The incident occurred at about 6:15 a.m. on Monday, April 10. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Kassandra Marjorie Caron was driving a 2008 Chrysler Pacifica when she lost control of the vehicle, causing it to enter the ditch and roll over. The airbag was deployed as a result of the accident. Caron was transported to Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea with non-life-threatening injuries. She was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, and alcohol was…