Author: EPLN Staff Reports

Recently the SouthWest Transit Commission honored six individuals with the agency’s 2021 Leadership Awards. These awards were provided to individuals or elected officials who have supported Eden Prairie-based SouthWest Transit through pro-active leadership, advocacy, and legislative initiatives. Award recipients included U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips and his chief of staff, Zach Rodvold; Edina Mayor Jim Hovland; Bountiful Basket Chairman Tom Redman; former SouthWest Transit commission chair, Brad Aho; and former SouthWest Transit chief operating officer, Dave Jacobson. SouthWest Transit is the public transit agency for Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Chaska, and Carver. The commission, which has representatives from each of those cities,…

Dennis Lee Moberg, 74, of Eden Prairie, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at sunset on March 10, under clear skies safe for travel. Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Pearl (Lindberg) and Oscar Moberg; father- and mother-in-law, Howard and June Rein; three brothers-in-law, John Krier, Howard (Butch) Rein, and Leonard Lokken; two sisters-in-law, Merideth (Rein) Krier and Rebecca (Rein) Dahlberg; special nephew, Travis Lokken; and Brunch Bunch friends Karen and Steve Graves. Survived by his lovely wife, Christine; his Girly Girls, Sarah Moberg (Brian Smoliak) and Rachel (Derek) Baldridge; two grandchildren, Luke and Nora; brother, David (Judy)…

The Eden Prairie A.M. Rotary Club and the City of Eden Prairie are co-hosting the premiere of the EP Eco Expo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at the Eden Prairie Community Center, 16700 Valley View Road. This family-friendly event was created to inspire Eden Prairie residents to “Go Green” by fulfilling the City of Eden Prairie’s sustainability goals, and to “Do Good” by helping to fund the Rotary Club’s community and global grants. Admission is free, but a $10 donation to the Eden Prairie A.M. Rotary Foundation is suggested to help fund the Rotary Club’s upcoming…

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…