Michelle Leonard
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Michelle Leonard joined the Woodbury Bulletin staff in November, 2014, after 14 years covering news for the Bulletin's sister publication, the Farmington Rosemount Independent Town Pages. Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications: News-Editorial from Mankato State University in 1991. She is an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary Clifford Larson Unit 189 of Farmington, and served as the 2014-15 Third District President to the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Minnesota. Michelle is also the volunteer coordinator for the Minnesota Newspaper Museum which is open annually during the Minnesota State Fair. She has earned Minnesota Newspaper Association awards in Investigative Reporting, Local News Coverage, Feature Photography and Column Writing.
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Accessing the city of Farmington’s meeting agendas from mobile devices just got a little bit easier. And a little more efficient for city staff, too. The city of Farmington has entered into a license agreement with Novusolutions to implement a meeting management solution called NovusAgenda. Right now, Farmington human resources director Brenda Wendlandt said, the city is participating as a pilot for the NovusAgenda technology.
I have this friend — an online pen pal, really — who is coming to Farmington for the first time next week. She’s very excited about the trip. I’m just trying to figure out what to share with her when she gets here. Her name is Carolyn Quinn. She and I met about a year and a half ago, when I heard something about some woman writing a book about Rose Hovick Thompson, the mother of Gypsy Rose Lee. In her research, Carolyn learned that part of Rose Hovick Thompson’s childhood was actually spent in Farmington. I remember visiting with her on a Saturday afternoon.
There were no simple answers when the Farmington City Council, Economic Development Authority and Planning Commission members got together to talk about Vermillion River Crossings Monday. But at least they started to talk about the long-stalled commercial development and its future. Planned in 2003 and platted in 2005, Vermillion River Crossings has long been identified as an area of commercial growth of Farmington.
The staff at Riverview Elementary School is always trying something new to teach students. The latest project, though, focuses on a topic as old as time itself — nature. Earlier this month, the school created its first Outdoor Wonders Learning Station on the grounds outside of the school. On May 2, a group planted nine new trees on the land adjacent to the playground equipment.
Every desk was filled in Sara Drazkowski’s fifth grade class at Akin Road Elementary on May 7. After all, her students were expecting a very important guest that day. It was an exciting day all over the school, because ARES students got to spend some time with Jeff Kinney, author of the popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Kinney came to Farmington after students in Drazkowski’s class read more than 130,000 minutes this school year, as part of a reading incentive program sponsored by Pizza Hut called, “Book It!” More than 20,000 classrooms nationwide participated in the Book It!
50 years ago From the May 7, 1964 edition of the Dakota County Tribune Farmor store hosts grand opening May 7, 8 The Farmor Store under the management of Harold and Sandra Nelson of Farmington, invites the public to attend their grand opening on Thursday and Friday of this week, May 7 and 8. The new business located at Town’s Edge Shopping Center, Farmington, will provide all general farm needs. Valuable merchandise prizes will be awarded and free coffee and donuts will be served both days during the grand opening. Man recovering after 1,800 lb.
A little planning ahead this spring may pay off. At least, that’s what Farmington city engineer Kevin Schorzman hopes will happen after the city takes road core samples around the area of Hickory and Ninth streets later this spring. On Monday, the Farmington City Council gave Schorzman the go-ahead to start collecting core samples of several older streets on the eastern side of the city. Depending upon the condition of the streets, a full or partial rehabilitation project will likely be on the books for 2015. The proposed project area includes Maple Street between Hwy.
rThe trial schedule has been set for a 21-year-old Farmington man facing several felony charges related to child pornography. Miles Kielas appeared in Dakota County court April 29. At that time, according to Dakota County Attorney’s Office spokesperson Monica Jensen, a contested omnibus hearing was scheduled for 9 a.m. June 27. What that means, Jensen said, is that Kielas’ defense attorney is contesting some of the evidence on file. The county will not find out what evidence is being contested until that hearing. A settlement conference has been scheduled for Oct. 15, Jensen said.
For more than 20 years, the city of Farmington has used assessments to help pay for its road construction projects. That may soon change. Later this month, Farmington City Council members will consider a new policy that moves funding for road projects away from using special assessments charged to the residents affected by the work. Farmington city engineer Kevin Schorzman brought the issue to the April 14 council workshop for discussion.
May 1 was a gloomy, cool, drippy and overcast day. But to the kids at Prairie Creek Community School in Castle Rock, it was another cheerful May Day. Since the mid-1980s, Prairie Creek Community School has celebrated May Day the old-fashioned way — by Maypole dancing. They start the celebration by conducting their own May Day parade through downtown Castle Rock. They walk, wave, blow bubbles and give smiles to everyone along the short route. Their route takes them to Castle Rock Bank, where they stop to sing a song for bank employees and patrons.