Author: EPLN Staff Reports

Six students were recently recognized by the Eden Prairie Optimist Club for their submissions in the club’s annual essay contest based on the theme: “How does an optimistic mindset change my tomorrow?” Below are the winning essays (with headlines added by Eden Prairie Local News). The Optimist Club sponsors the contest to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. The approach can encompass a young person’s personal experience, the experience of their country or a more historical perspective. Judges picked the following winners (broken into two divisions, one for…

Marla Helseth of Eden Prairie was endorsed unanimously on March 6 by Eden Prairie and Minnetonka Senate District 49 Republicans for the state Senate seat currently occupied by Steve Cwodzinski. “I am thrilled and honored to have the endorsement of the delegates of my district, and I am excited to campaign for this Senate seat,” said in a news release. “My husband and I along with our two children have lived in this area for nineteen years and have loved it. It’s time, however, for some new political energy in this district from a non-politician.” Helseth will file her candidacy…

David Joseph Rowekamp, 58, of Eden Prairie, passed away surrounded by family on Feb. 27 from Alzheimer’s disease. Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Gene and Dorothy, his first wife Jody, and his brother Mike. He is survived by his siblings: Mike’s wife Terese, Greg (Cheri) Rowekamp, Paul (Kim) Rowekamp, Kevin (Julie) Rowekamp, and Kim (Jim) Seitz, his wife Linda, and his six children, Taylor, Meg, Lizzy, Ryan, Erik, and Anthony. Dave grew up in Rochester playing sports, hanging out with friends and siblings, and sometimes causing trouble with a combination of those two. He was always the…

Eden Prairie High School sophomore Sasha Allen is an honorable mention winner in C-SPAN’s national 2022 StudentCam competition. Allen will receive $250 for her short video documentary, “Something in the Water: When Will the Federal Government Regulate PFAS?” Narrated by Allen, the documentary is about 6 minutes long and focuses on the dangers of forever chemicals called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Allen describes in her documentary how PSAS have been “silently but surely polluting our air, soil and bodies” since the 1940s. According to the documentary, PFAS are oil, stain and water-repellant chemicals used to make non-stick pans, outdoor gear, firefighter…

An Eden Prairie outhouse is getting a new roof. (Now, there’s a sentence we never thought we would write.) In truth, however, the roof work is slated for a trio of historic Eden Prairie structures, thanks to a state grant combined with funds from the City of Eden Prairie and Eden Prairie Historical Society. The roof work is slated next summer or fall for the Cummins-Grill-Phipps House and its nearby shed and no-longer-in-use outhouse, all located at 13600 Pioneer Trail, about one block west of Flying Cloud Drive. The house, which is owned by the city and used for private…

The Eden Prairie Optimist Club encourages area students to speak their minds about the topic “Staying Optimistic in Challenging Times” as part of the 2022 Optimist International Oratorical Contest. Students interested in participating can submit an Oratorical Contest application by Friday, April 1. The speech contest is open to students who have not yet graduated from high school and are under 19 as of Oct. 1, 2021. Speeches will be conducted and judged at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, at Star Bank, 250 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie. Contestants are asked to arrive at 5 p.m. The Optimist Club will judge the…

Pastor Michael Crawford of Grace Church in Eden Prairie recently joined the city’s volunteer Police & Fire Chaplain Unit. The announcement was made Thursday, March 10, on the EPPD (Eden Prairie Police Department) Blog. According to the blog, the unit was started in 1992 to provide a ministry of presence to community members and public safety responders in times of need. They serve on-call, responding to car accidents, deaths, fires and other emergencies, and provide emotional and spiritual care to those affected. Crawford, who lives in Eden Prairie with his wife Latosha and their two small children, serves as the…

The Eden Prairie Local News Team of editors, reporters, photographers and business guys are eager to meet you in person at the Everything Spring Expo. It takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 12, at Grace Church, 9301 Eden Prairie Road. We want to hear your story and tell you a little about Eden Prairie Local News. After all, Eden Prairie Local News is … The Story of Us. This free Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce expo will be lush with exhibitors. Look for the EPLN banner and walk over to our spot for a chat, an…

An Eden Prairie acupuncturist is charged with defrauding Minnesota’s Medical Assistance (Medicaid) program out of over $1.6 million through her business, Chinese Acupuncture and Herb Center (CAH), according to the Minnesota Attorney General’s office. Xiaoyan Hu, 60, is charged by criminal complaint in Hennepin County District Court with 17 felony counts of theft by false representation. If convicted of even one of the counts, Hu could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. From March 4, 2016 through June 25, 2020 CAH operated throughout the Twin Cities, including in Edina, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Burnsville. Hu, a licensed acupuncturist,…

The Eden Prairie School Board will conduct a “Listen & Learn” session from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 8 at the Central Middle School Performing Arts Center. The evening will include break-out listening sessions and a brief overview of district operations and oversight. Check out the district’s Facebook event page for more information: Listen & Learn Facebook event.