Author: EPLN Staff Reports

SouthWest Transit (SWT) has been awarded a low or no emission vehicle grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for over $8.1 Million. It will allow SWT to replace 10 aging diesel/gas vehicles with fully electric vehicles (EVs) by 2026. According to a news release, the 10 EVs slated to be purchased include four new fully electric coach express buses, six new all-electric SW Prime vehicles, and the necessary charging infrastructure needed to power the vehicles. The grant also includes funding to provide EV training to SWT’s vehicle maintenance team.   SWT expects the 10 new EVs to be in service…

The League of Women Voters of Minnetonka-Eden Prairie-Hopkins (LWV MEPH) is collecting questions for its Wednesday, Aug. 31, Eden Prairie City Council and mayoral candidates’ forum. The deadline is noon on Sunday, Aug. 28, to submit questions for this forum via email only to lwvmeph@lwvmn.org.  LWV MEPH recommends that questions be short and direct so that the candidates will address the topic. Please note that questions may be combined with similar questions in order to cover as many topics as possible. Candidates are not given the questions before the event. Questions for the Senate District 49 Candidate Forum on Wednesday, Sept.…

Here’s a bit of Eden Prairie beach news. Round Lake Park beach has closed for the summer, and Riley Lake Park beach will be open through Sunday, Aug. 14. The Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation Department operates both beaches.  Also, the swimming beach at Bryant Lake Regional Park, scheduled to stay open through Labor Day, is currently closed due to high E. coli levels. The Three Rivers Park District, which operates the regional park in Eden Prairie, provides information on why beaches close. 

Eden Prairie is now accepting nominations for the annual Sustainable Eden Prairie Award, which recognizes significant and innovative investments that contribute to the overall vitality and sustainability of the community. Initiatives implemented by an Eden Prairie resident, business or organization that serves Eden Prairie are eligible. Residential, commercial, industrial, and office properties may be nominated in four categories that align with Sustainable Eden Prairie’s focus areas: energy, landscape, waste, and water. The deadline for nominations is noon Wednesday, Sept. 7. 

Steven Lorne Sandness, 77, of Eden Prairie, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Aug. 7, 2022. Steve is preceded in death by his parents, Allen and Bernice Sandness, and his brothers, Richard and Thomas. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Susan Sandness; three sons, Kurt (Betsy), Michael (Kellie Brazil), Peter (Polly); Trish Sandness; six grandchildren, Kaleigh, Koury, Madeline, Chloe, Maren, Tyler; and his sister Kathleen Smith. Steve was born and raised in Two Harbors, Minnesota. He played football, hockey, and golf for the Agates; most importantly, it is where he met “Susie.” He is…

Polls in Eden Prairie will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the Tuesday, Aug. 9, primary election. To find your polling location, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website. Sample ballots are also available there. Additional voting in Eden Prairie is available on the city’s website. For those who want to vote before then, early in-person voting for the state primary election can be done at City Center, 8080 Mitchell Road, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8. Eden Prairie residents will help decide which candidates for Hennepin County…

The League of Women Voters (LWV) will host individual candidate forums for mayoral and city council, state House and Senate, and school board candidates beginning at the end of August. Forums begin with City Council and Mayoral candidates on Wednesday, Aug. 31. The State and House District 49 forum is Wednesday, Sept. 7. The Eden Prairie District 272 School Board forum is Wednesday, Sept. 14. All forums begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Eden Prairie City Council chamber, 8080 Michell Road, according to the LWV website, and will air on Comcast Channel 16 and at lwvmeph.org, Written questions from the public…

Jack Hacking, Eden Prairie Police Department’s (EPPD) first chief, has died, according to an EPPD Instagram posting July 27. Hacking started the department on Jan 1, 1973 along with five other officers, the post said. He served as chief until Dec. 1985. EPPD grew from six officers to about 30 officers during his tenure, and “…multiple new programs were implemented, including the Reserves, the school liaison program, the K-9 unit, and the community service officer program,” the post continued. “The department is saddened by his loss and offers condolences to his family,” it concluded.

Eden Prairie-based hearing aid manufacturer Starkey has named Denise Steinbring its new chief marketing officer. Steinbring has 30 years of experience in sales and marketing for the medical device and healthcare industries, including 18 years at Medtronic. “Through a commitment to marketing excellence, Denise offers caring, values-centered leadership and strategic thinking, which will help Starkey continue to deliver on our brand promise and consistently position us to serve our customers better than anyone else,” said Brandon Sawalich, president and CEO of Starkey. Steinbring holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with a minor in management from the University of…

Thomas F. Striker, 86, of Eden Prairie, passed away Dec. 27, 2021, with family at his side. His family will be having a celebration of life from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 31, at Bearpath Golf & Country Club, 18100 Bearpath Trail, Eden Prairie, MN 55347. Casual attire. We hope you can join us to celebrate this amazing man. Please send RSVP to jstriker@tfstriker.com.