Author: Jim Bayer

By the time Caroline Larsen goes back to school this fall, she will have traveled more than 17,000 miles – 50 meters at a time. Larsen, Eden Prairie’s elite swimmer, specializes in sprints – typically 50 and 100 meters – and has established herself among the best as she continues her quest to eventually swim for her country in the Olympics. In the past couple of months, she has traveled to Indiana, California, and soon to Israel in pursuit of high-level competition and faster times. Her performance at the Phillips 66 National Championships in Indiana in late June qualified Larsen…

DNA evidence has resulted in third-degree burglary charges against a 25-year-old man related to several minority-owned business break-ins in Eden Prairie in the fall of 2021. Yahaya Abdishakur Mohamed of Shakopee was linked by DNA to at least two of the burglaries, and a second suspect was linked to another, according to charges filed in Hennepin County District Court on June 22. The complaint’s statement of probable cause links all of the cases to Mohamed. A complaint involving a second suspect was referred to the Hennepin County Attorney’s office in early April and is still being reviewed by them, according to…

When Monica Opalinski looks at a piece of old, tired, forlorn furniture, that’s not what she sees. Instead, she sees its potential with a little work and a lot of love. Whether it’s a ’50s-era six-drawer oak dresser stained dark brown with elaborate hardware or a slightly worn end table, Opalinski envisions a bright future for each piece. Opalinski is the owner and sole proprietor of Opal Upcycled and Recycled Home Furnishings, tucked into an 1,800-square-foot office/warehouse space just off Highway 5 in central Eden Prairie. She opened the doors on March 4 at 7887 Fuller Road #116. The location’s nondescript…

The Eden Prairie boys volleyball team ended its season recently after a strong showing at the state tournament. But the sport’s future at Eden Prairie High School and statewide is only beginning after boys volleyball was sanctioned as an official high school sport by the Minnesota State High School League in May. Boys volleyball becomes a sanctioned sport in the 2024-25 season. The team began its state tournament showing with a hard-fought five-set match against Como Park. After losing the first two sets (25-27, 21-25), the Eagles won the final three sets (25-15, 25-13, 15-9) to move on. Adam Berger had 25…

Four more Twin Cities area men – none from Eden Prairie – have been charged in Hennepin County District Court with gross misdemeanor counts of prostitution following a multi-agency sting operation on May 18 that included the Eden Prairie Police Department. The charges follow those against four other men announced in June. They were from Elk River, Mound, Chaska, and Shakopee. The sex trafficking and prostitution operation dubbed “Hot 21 Girl Next Door” was conducted on May 15 and 18 and also involved officers from Bloomington, Edina, and Plymouth. The sting was set up using multiple advertisements posted on websites…

Four men have been charged with prostitution in Hennepin County District Court after being arrested at an Eden Prairie hotel, part of a multi-agency sting operation in May that included the Eden Prairie Police Department. The sex trafficking and prostitution operation dubbed “Hot 21 Girl Next Door” was conducted May 15 and 18 and also involved officers from Bloomington, Edina, and Plymouth. The sting was set up using advertisements posted on websites between May 15 and 17 that included three clothed photos of an undercover police officer with a narrative beneath them. That narrative used “phrasing and style of language…

Hidden in the back of a one-story office complex beneath a mammoth concrete bridge that will one day carry the Southwest Light Rail Green Line Extension, and complete with a sidewalk patio, Flying Dutchman Spirits has something of an urban feel tucked into a suburban landscape. Founded in 2017 by two hobby pilots and joined by a third friend, Flying Dutchman Spirits — known as a small batch craft distillery — offers a menu of 45 cocktails featuring the gin, vodka, rum, and blue agave produced on-site in its Hungarian-made Hagyo still. Co-owners include Brandon Thornton, originally from Eden Prairie…

Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) senior Henry Whittemore was smiling broadly as he sat near the Eagles logo in the middle of the Aerie Stadium football field Tuesday night with his classmate, Abby Hase. They were there to celebrate Senior Sunset with a few hundred of their fellow graduating colleagues. Suddenly Henry turned serious. “It’s sad,” he said. “Emotionally, really sad.” But he was looking forward to graduating and he and Abby are excited to attend the school district’s TASSEL program in the fall, a transition program for students 18-21. “Have a good night!” he said, his smile returning as…

Elizabeth Liu’s dream of becoming an Eden Prairie High School varsity pitcher began at age 11. Her dad, Lou – like all parents of new pitchers – sat on a bucket for hours catching thousands of pitches, bruised legs a constant reminder. That dream was alive and well at the beginning of her junior year in 2022. There were going to be opportunities to back up fellow junior, and starting pitcher, Kari Welter. On April 11 – Elizabeth’s number was called to finish up a game against Chaska. “I pitched the last inning,” she said. “It was the first game…

Eagles head softball coach Dan Rubischko is known for his honesty in post-game huddles. That honesty often includes constructive criticism along with coaching the team up for the next game. This time it was following a season-ending 2-1 loss to Shakopee in the Section 2AAAA championship final. And his observations were decidedly positive. “It was a great game,” he said. “Hats off to their pitcher. We weren’t able to score enough runs to win the game.” He thanked an emotional group of seniors for their contributions, some of whom began playing high school softball in the eighth grade. Game summary…