Author: EPLN Staff Reports

Robert (Bob) John Hamilton of Savage, formerly of Eden Prairie, passed away suddenly on Jan. 15, 2023, at age 65 from a ruptured aortic aneurysm.  He was preceded in death by his parents, John Richard and Joan Clara (Streng) Hamilton. Bob grew up and went to high school in Epworth, Iowa, before attending the University of Northern Iowa (a school he titled the “Harvard of the Midwest”). It was during his time at UNI that he met his future wife, Carmen Blake. They married on Sept. 20, 1980, in Mason City, Iowa. They first met in tax class, and their…

A panel discussion, including three DFL state legislators representing Eden Prairie, is scheduled for January 21 in Hopkins. The Minnetonka-Eden Prairie-Hopkins (MEPH) Chapter of the League of Women Voters is sponsoring the meeting with five state legislators who will discuss and answer questions about the 2023 legislative session. The event is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 in the third floor classroom of the Hopkins Fire Department, 101 – 17th Ave. S., Hopkins Attending are Sen. Steve Cwodzinski, Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, and Rep. Laurie Pryor, all of whom represent Eden Prairie in the state legislature. Also attending are Rep. Patty Acomb…

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is Monday, Jan. 16. The day is a federal holiday, so schools and libraries will be closed, as will most federal and state offices. There will be no regular mail delivery. In addition most court buildings and banks will be closed. ATMs will still be open. The Eden Prairie City Center is also closed Monday. Hours for other city facilities are available at edenprairie.org/Calendar.

Eden Prairie residents are being sought to apply for several city commissions. New members are encouraged to apply for the following commissions: Learn more and apply at edenprairie.org/Commissions

Fred Chung-man Ho, 74, of Eden Prairie died Jan. 7, 2023 after a brief illness with pancreatic cancer. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Fred came to the U.S. in 1970 to attend the University of Hawaii, receiving a B.S. in Biology. He proceeded to Iowa State University where he earned a Master’s & Doctorate in Statistics and Industrial Engineering. He met Martha Cox at ISU and they have been happily married since 1983. After teaching statistics at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, he joined GE Nuclear/Keane Consulting in San Jose, CA before settling in Eden Prairie in 1995. …

Final approval of ordinances that increase street-maintenance fees is expected at the Tuesday, Jan. 17 meeting of the Eden Prairie City Council. The city fees appear on monthly utility bills that go to customers of Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy, and a small number of EP customers that are served by Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative. The so-called “franchise fees” have been charged since 2012 as a way to finance the maintenance of city streets, rather than relying on the city’s general fund or large special assessments levied against benefiting properties. Tuesday’s action would increase the monthly fees charged to residents…

The Eden Prairie Police Department (EPPD) has received the FBI-LEEDA (Law Enforcement Executive Development Association) Trilogy Award given to law enforcement agencies whose command staff have completed training in supervision, command, and executive leadership. Eight EPPD supervisors have completed the series and others are in process, according to a press release. “Sending supervisors to the FBI-LEEDA courses is a way to invest in our staff and provide them with the tools they need to perform at the highest possible level,” the release said. The award was presented to the department Jan. 10 by Anne Kirkpatrick, an LEEDA instructor.

Eden Prairie Schools notified families that there will be a two-hour late start on Wednesday, Jan. 11 due to unexpectedly icy roads. The following programs have a two-hour late start: The following programs are closed or canceled: The following programs are continuing as scheduled:

What do a homeless family with three kids, a Ukrainian student who escaped a war, and an elderly man whose vehicle ran out of gas have in common? First, they were “caught” by one of the Eden Prairie Police Department’s 75 staff members. Second, they were given $50 in cash to help them out during the holidays. The lucky recipients were part of the Eden Prairie Police Department’s (EPPD) Cops and Cash for the Holidays program. The money was handed out throughout the month of December. This is the third year in a row that EPPD staff got to brighten…

The Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District (RPBCWD) is hosting a photography contest to celebrate the beautiful natural resources within the district and is seeking submissions from residents. According to a press release, the contest aims to celebrate the district’s lakes, streams, parks, recreation areas, wildlife, plants, and other outdoor features. Photos can be taken during any season and must be taken within the district’s boundaries in 2022 or 2023. The winning photographs will be featured in the district’s 2024 calendar and shared on its website, as well as its Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. Submissions are due by Sept.…