Author: EPLN Staff Reports

The non-profit Wings of the North (WOTN) hosted its 25th annual AirExpo this past weekend at the Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, drawing crowds with an impressive display of historic aircraft. AirExpo 2023 featured 30 to 40 vintage aircraft, including the C-130 Hercules cargo plane from Minnesota’s 133rd Airlift Wing. It is touted as the largest aircraft ever to land at Flying Cloud Airport. Visitors also had the chance to see several World War II-era planes. These included the “Sierra Sue II,” a P-51D Mustang, the F4U-4 Corsair, and the N2S-1 Stearman, a training biplane once piloted by President…

Young performers added costumes to their rehearsals as they prepare for next weekend’s productions of “The Princess King.”

Kathleen Ann Knutson, 75, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at her home in Eden Prairie. Kathy was born to John and Agnes (Budde) Lynch on Jan. 9, 1948, in Shakopee. She was raised in Shakopee and graduated from Shakopee High School in 1966, where shortly after, she met the love of her life, Gary Knutson. They married on July 15, 1967, and had one daughter, Jennifer, and two sons, Erik and Brian.  After brief homesteads in Minnesota and North Dakota, Gary’s occupation brought the family to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Kathy made…

A fire late Friday night damaged two townhomes and four attached garages in the 6000 block of St. Johns Drive, just off Baker Road in Eden Prairie. According to a city spokesperson, the Eden Prairie Fire Department responded to the blaze at about 10:30 p.m. on July 21. Firefighters were successful in extinguishing the fire, but not before it caused substantial damage. No injuries were reported in connection with the incident. Fire departments from several neighboring cities, including Bloomington, Chanhassen, Edina, Excelsior, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and St. Louis Park, provided mutual aid.

The 55-piece concert band 20-piece Jazz on the Prairie will perform Sunday, July 23, at Staring Lake Amphitheatre.

The theater has already sold more than 4,000 tickets for the weekend premieres of the “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” movies..

Eileen R. Blixrud passed away July 11, 2023 in Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Rebecca Middeke-Conlin takes office as an ELCA bishop; founders of Lifetouch inducted into School Photographers of America Hall of Fame.

Rising costs, interest rate increases, and poor credit have put many people in a financial bind. To address these challenges, PROP Food, in partnership with LSS Financial Counseling, is hosting no-cost financial support sessions at the Eden Prairie Library. These sessions offer practical financial guidance to Eden Prairie and Chanhassen residents. “We are excited to announce that a recent partnership with LSS Financial enables PROP Food to offer a valuable service to the entire Eden Prairie and Chanhassen communities by providing no-cost financial support sessions open to all residents, not just PROP clients,” said PROP Executive Director Jenifer Loon. “During…

Carol Jean (Bietz) Stoebner passed away peacefully on June 30 at the age of 78 years after a brief stay in hospice where she was surrounded by her husband Joe Stoebner, daughter Tamara Schryver, son Jeff Stoebner, son- and daughter-in-law (Robbie Schryver, Renee Stoebner), and seven grandchildren (Conor Stoebner, Parker Stoebner, Addison Stoebner, Jett Schryver, Gia Schryver, Bennett Stoebner, and Samantha Stoebner). Additional familial survivors include her sister Shirley Huber and brother Ken Bietz and their families. Carol was raised on a farm in Tripp, South Dakota, by Arthur and Rosie Bietz, where she attended a one-room schoolhouse through 8th…