Rosemount Honors Local Police Officer, Firefighter at American Legion Ceremony

Shawn McMenomy and Carl Bourdages were recognized as the city's "Public Safety Employees of the Year" last Saturday.

A consistent, calm and humble "team player." That's how colleagues describe Shawn McMenomy, one of Rosemount's two "Public Safety Employees of the Year." McMenomy and firefighter Carl Bourdages received the honor on Saturday during an observance at the Rosemount American Legion Post. Public safety employees of the year are nominated by their coworkers and selected by department managers. Here's what city officials and nominators had to say about McMenomy and Bourdages: Officer McMenomy is being recognized for his work ethic. A colleague described his approach as "Officer McMenomy embodies the character and ethics of this Department and serves as a model officer for this agency." He is seen as a team player who carries out his duties in a …

• Photos (2)

South Metro Crime Report

Driver in Accident That Killed 2 Gets 30 Days, $100 Fine

In other crime news from around the South Metro region, a decaying body is found in the Vermillion River and a former American Legion commander is charged with swindling.

  The following stories first appeared on this Patch, or those of our neighbors throughout the South Metro region, last week. To read the full stories, click on the headline links.   Dakota County's Most Wanted, January 2013 A monthly rundown of the top suspects wanted by the Dakota County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff: County Resident Finds Body in Vermillion River The body appears to have been in the river for a long duration.   Owners of GrandStay Sue Builders for Faulty Construction, Negligence The ownership group behind the hotel say that less than five years after construction wrapped up the building began showing signs of "significant" deterioration.   Missouri Man Gets 30 Days, $100 Fine for Fatal Accident The Dakota County Attorney is…

• Photos (1)

Ceremonies to Honor Fallen Military Members This Memorial Day

Nearby ceremonies on Monday include events in Apple Valley, Eagan and Rosemount.

Memorial Day is a day to honor and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice—their lives—in military service to the United States. Local ceremonies on Monday give people places to gather to do just that: 11 a.m. Monday, in Veterans Park behind the Apple Valley American Legion Post 1776 Includes units from the Apple Valley American Legion, Sons of the American Legion, Legion Auxiliary, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Civil Air Patrol as well as music by the Scott Highlands Middle School band. All are welcome to participate in all events. Bring your family, friends, and lawn chairs. 2 p.m. Monday, at the Tribute & Memorial Plaza in Eagan's Central Park Eagan Patch blogger Margo Danner writes: Before the ceremony, music will be provided by the …

• Photos (2)

Experience Corners of the Universe From Apple Valley, Dakota County This Weekend

Fill your weekend calendar with shows that will take you around the world and beyond, or prepare to actually go there yourself.

Get ready to travel the world, or experience the corners of the world from the comfort of Apple Valley this weekend. 1. Passport Day in the USA When/Where: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; Dakota County Western Service Center, Apple Valley Why Go: Learn about travel requirements for U.S. citizens and get help applying for a U.S. passport on this national outreach day. Cost: Free 2. Mystery Dinner Theatre When/Where: 6:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday; American Legion Post 1776, Apple Valley Why Go: Register for this prime-rib dinner and theater combo, which will take you to the Caribbean and also let you participate in solving the show's mystery. Quiz the characters, analyze clues and try to figure out this whodunit. Cost: $33 per person 3. John Carter …

• Photos (1)

Veterans Honored at Apple Valley High School Ceremony

Dozens of Apple Valley-area veterans were recognized at a breakfast and all-school assembly Friday, which featured speakers and music.

For Jim Downey, Veterans Day is about remembering his military service, but also remembering and honoring those he knew who weren't lucky enough to return home.  Downey, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in World War II on the USS LST-620, said 80 percent of the crew on the ship were under 20 years old. Downey enlisted in September 1943, he said—four days before he turned 18. "Many of them never made it to their 20th birthdays," Downey—who also was recalled during the Korean War—remembered on Friday as he sat in the cafeteria at Apple Valley High School. Joseph Yurchisin was in the 7th Air Force during World War II, a navigator on a B-24 bomber in the Pacific from May 1943 to January 1946. "You do reminisce," he said about each Veterans Day, …

• Photos (1)

Apple Valley Patch's Week in Review

It's a long weekend, which means you've got a little extra time to catch up on last week's stories, photos and videos.

We talked to the Christiansen family of Apple Valley about why three generations have chosen to stay in the city—all within two blocks of each other. The third generation of nine children all will attend the same three schools as their parents. U.S. military veterans from around the world visited Minneapolis for the 93rd American Legion National Convention, and spent part of Monday at the American Legion Post 1776 in Apple Valley for the annual 4 Corners event. Check out photos and some comments from post Commander Lowell Huber. We shared stories from residents of all the Twin Cities Patch sites about their connections and reactions to 9/11, as we approach the 10-year anniversary. We picked five end-of-summer activities to fit in before …

• Photos (15)

Photos: Visiting Veterans Flock to Apple Valley Legion During Convention

Thousands of American military veterans from around the world, in town for the American Legion's national convention, spent Monday in Apple Valley for the convention's annual 4 Corners reception.

The camaraderie was abundant Monday at Apple Valley's American Legion Post 1776, the location of the annual 4 Corners reception that's part of the American Legion National Convention each year.  Most of the events of this year's 93rd annual convention are at the Minneapolis Convention Center, including a Tuesday appearance by President Obama. But for the 4 Corners event, buses travel between Apple Valley and eight Minneapolis hotels to bring attendees—mostly upper echelon Legion members and delegates from different states and countries—together for a social day of music, food and remembrance. Apple Valley Post Commander Lowell Huber said he expected between 2,000 and 4,000 veterans throughout the day. One prominent attendee was Fang A. …

• Photos (45)

5 Things to Know in Apple Valley This Week

Apple Valley's American Legion Post 1776 on Monday will host members attending the Legion national conference in Minneapolis.

Editor's note: Look for this "5 Things" feature each Monday to fill you in on a few items to know about in Apple Valley for the week. 1. Culver's in Apple Valley will host an American Red Cross blood drive from noon to 5 p.m. Monday. All donors will receive a coupon for a free pint of Culver's frozen custard. If you miss Monday's, on Wednesday, River Valley Church in Apple Valley will host another blood drive, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 2. Storm water improvements to Whitney Pond in Apple Valley are slated to begin this week, according to Apple Valley's Public Works Department. Workers will begin by removing trees and lowering the water level to excavate the pond and install pipes. Staff anticipate that they'll be able to put back the …

• Photos (1)

Photos: Memorial Day Ceremony in Apple Valley

A Memorial Day service was held at Veteran's Park in Apple Valley on Monday.

Apple Valley residents gathered Monday morning for a Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Park; the event featured groups from Apple Valley's American Legion Post 1776, Sons of the American Legion, Legion Auxiliary, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Civil Air Patrol. The Scott Highlands Middle School band and the Velvet Tones contributed music to the ceremony to honor fallen soldiers.

• Photos (30)

Legislative Town Hall Meeting in Apple Valley Draws Crowd of Opinionated Constituents

State Sen. Chris Gerlach and State Reps. Kurt Bills and Tara Mack fielded questions from constituents Thursday at the Apple Valley American Legion.

State Sen. Chris Gerlach (R-Apple Valley) and Reps. Kurt Bills (R-Rosemount) and Tara Mack (R-Apple Valley) stepped out of their state Capitol building hub on Thursday, breaking from work on budget bills to connect with their constituents en masse. In a packed dining room at the American Legion Post 1776 in Apple Valley, residents of Apple Valley, Burnsville and Rosemount brought up a range of topics with their three legislators, each of whom represents at least part of Apple Valley. Residents asked for legislator opinions on racinos and for action on dental insurance monopolies, but the topics that stirred the crowd most related to education finance and reform, and to who should bear the state tax burden. While the discussion remained …

• Photos (6)
• Videos (1)