Author: EPLN Staff Reports

PiM Arts High School in Eden Prairie will be distance learning on Thursday, May 13, and Friday, May 13. In a May 11 message to students and parents, Matt McFarlane, the school’s executive director, stated there are currently 28 students out with COVID-19. It is the school’s largest in-building spread of COVID-19 to date. “We have many important activities in the next three weeks, including concerts, prom and graduation activities,” McFarlane wrote. “In order to give all of you the best chance to participate fully in these activities, we are going to do distance learning days on Thursday and Friday,…

Maneeya Leung and Abi Rajasekaran have been awarded Dr. Jean L. Harris Scholarships from the Eden Prairie Community Foundation. The $1,000 scholarships being awarded to the two seniors at Eden Prairie High School recognize their outstanding work in areas including human rights, diversity, inclusion and equity, and can be renewed for an additional three years of college, for a total of $4,000 apiece. The Harris Scholarship is named in honor of Dr. Jean Harris, Eden Prairie mayor from 1996 to 2001. Harris was Eden Prairie’s first female mayor and first Black mayor, and one of her many accomplishments while in…

Randall (Randy) D. Hildreth, 78, of Eden Prairie: The long goodbye ended for Randy on May 1, 2022. He did not lose a battle with cancer because cancer is not a worthy adversary. Rather, his life was stolen by the thief cancer that takes what we value most. Randy was preceded in death by his parents, Chet and Dorothy Hildreth, and several beloved Airedales (Bear, Rowdy, Max, Lucy and Annie). He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Joan Palmquist, brother, Eugene (Gale) and many nieces and nephews, in-laws, cousins and friends. Some nieces and nephews were like…

Wallace Leslie Conrad, of Pine River, Minnesota, age 100, left this life peacefully surrounded by family on May 3 at Augustana Chapel View, Hopkins. Wally was born on Aug. 19, 1921, in Lamberton, Minnesota, to Ida and Fred Conrad. He grew up working on his family farms. He joined the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) when he was 16. After that, he worked picking crops following the harvest in California. He was invited to join the U.S. Army on Aug. 24, 1942, and served until Dec. 8, 1945, during WWII. His detail was to drive a 2.5-ton truck in France, Germany,…

Civic and business leaders gathered Thursday, May 5, for the dedication of Flagstone senior living community, 8350 Commonwealth Drive, Eden Prairie. Flagstone is the newest senior living community by St. Paul-based Presbyterian Homes & Service (PHS). The dedication ceremony marked the completion of construction to meet the needs of a rapidly growing senior population, according to a news release. Flagstone includes independent living, assisted living, memory care apartments, and a care center with private suites. Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case expressed his gratitude to PHS for Flagstone. “I was part of the groundbreaking for this development back in 2019,” said…

The University of Missouri has proposed disciplinary sanctions against 13 students stemming from an October 2021 hazing incident that resulted in an Eden Prairie man suffering severe brain injuries. In a Thursday, May 5, news release, the university called those proposed sanctions “an important first step” in its investigation of the incident resulting in the alcohol poisoning of freshman student Danny Santulli, 19. The incident occurred during the early hours at the now-closed Mizzou chapter of Phi Gamma Delta (also known as Fiji) house. Santulli, an incoming fraternity member, was found in cardiac arrest inside a car at University Hospital on…

The May 19 catalytic converter marking event hosted by the Eden Prairie Police Department is filled and no longer able to take more participants. But, according to the May 4 Eden Prairie police blog, there may be additional marking events in the future. For those unable to register for the May 19 event, the city is also participating in the state’s Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Program Pilot, which gives vehicle owners the ability to self-apply permanent, unique labels to their catalytic converters. Qualities are limited, and the kits are available for Eden Prairie residents only during business hours at the police…

The Eden Prairie Post Office’s annual food drive is on Saturday, May 14. It is part of Stamp Out Hunger, the one-day food drive conducted by the National Association of Letter Carriers in the United States on the second Saturday of May each year. Stamp Out Hunger provides people with an easy way to donate food to their neighbors in need. Eden Prairie residents can leave donations of non-perishable food items next to their mailbox in a sturdy bag or box before the delivery of the mail on May 14. Letter carriers will collect these food donations as they deliver mail…

Though most of the heavy construction on the METRO Green Line Extension portion in Eden Prairie has been complete, motorists can still expect a few traffic disruptions. An April 29 project bulletin listed where light rail construction will impact traffic along the route in Eden Prairie.  Crews will be pouring concrete for the upcoming LRT bridge over Nine Mile Creek. That will cause delays for motorists traveling along Flying Cloud Drive between Shady Oak and Valley View roads. Flaggers will be on-site to direct traffic.Expect outside shoulder closures on westbound Highway 62 near Shady Oak Road for the next week. The entrance ramp…

Six finalists will compete for a chance to win thousands of dollars in cash and prize packages at the first Entrepreneurs Challenge. The “Shark Tank”-inspired showcase will occur at Center Court of Eden Prairie Center mall from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 21. Hosted by Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, it’s free to attend. Finalists are Carol Giuliana of Senior Travel Companion Service; Cheri Monson of CLM Creations; Lesley Fahey of Food Safety MN; Matt Rosen of Sergeant Shortbread; Michele Krauss of J. Etta Couture; and Seher Kaplan of Coccinella. Competitors will pitch their ideas/inventions/products/services to a panel of four…