Author: Jim Bayer

Summer in Eden Prairie offers many opportunities: afternoons at the beach, picnics in the park, walking the city’s many trails, and backyard barbecuing. It also offers thieves many opportunities that can ruin the fun. For example, a burglar hit the southwest corner of Eden Prairie, walking into several homes unabated and stealing cash, credit cards, and more. On June 25, a purse and wallet were taken from a vehicle at Staring Lake Park. The day before, catalytic converters were stolen from two vehicles on Golden Triangle Drive. EPLN asked Sgt. Lonnie Soppeland of the Eden Prairie Police Department how city…

A Plymouth man suspected in eight residential burglaries in the early morning hours of May 31 in southwestern Eden Prairie has been charged with five first-degree burglary counts. Jaleel Francis Wah, 24, is being held in Washington County on similar charges in that county, according to Hennepin County District Court charging documents signed June 23. Bail is set at $200,000. Eden Prairie Police announced on June 8 that it had a suspect in the burglaries that occurred in the area of Frontier Place, Acorn Ridge, Overland Trail and Cedarcrest Drive. According to the criminal complaint: Eden Prairie Police responded to several burglary reports…

Eden Prairie’s newest water storage tank, a 4 million gallon behemoth north of Highway 212 and east of Eden Prairie Road, has “crushed” the competition to win Top Tank of the Year. The contest, sponsored by Preload, a leader in the design and construction of prestressed concrete tanks, pitted 20 water tanks from across the country in its contest which EPLN reported on recently. “Thanks for casting your votes to help our tank take top honors!” Eden Prairie City Manager Rick Getschow wrote in his July 1 Friday Report. To honor the city’s first-place finish, Preload will donate $3,000 to Water for People, a…

The Hopkins man whose car collided with one driven by an Eden Prairie man in Shakopee on June 21, killing him, has been charged with two counts of felony criminal vehicular homicide in Scott County District Court. The crash killed Charlie Alleman, 19, of Eden Prairie. The driver, Jacob Austin Lederer, 26, admitted to police that he drank several alcoholic beverages at Turtles Bar in Shakopee minutes before getting into his car and heading east on Highway 101. Witnesses told police that Lederer’s Mitsubishi Outlander passed them on the highway at speeds estimated at between 85 and 90 mph, according…

You are reading the 1,000th article published by Eden Prairie Local News. Our first three stories were published mid-COVID on Sept. 25, 2020 by Brad Canham, the first editor of EPLN. Fittingly, they introduced three candidates for the upcoming City Council election. Informing you about news of civic importance – including elections – was one of the primary drivers that brought a group of concerned citizens together to somehow, some way, fill the news gap that occurred when the Eden Prairie News, the city’s long-time weekly newspaper, was shuttered earlier that spring. My first byline didn’t come until Oct. 3 of…

Twenty-six 12-and-Under B fastpitch softball teams from across the Twin Cities battled Saturday at Eden Prairie’s Miller Park for a spot in their state tournament later this summer. Two Eden Prairie teams, Red and Black, were among the teams hoping to move on. Teams competing Saturday must win one game over the course of the weekend to earn a berth in the state tournament, a portion of which will be held at Miller Park July 9 and 10.

Absentee and early voting is open in person or by mail for the Aug. 9 primary election. Eden Prairie residents can vote in person through Monday, Aug. 8 at the Eden Prairie City Center weekdays during business hours, and 10–3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6. Get registered Voters must register by Oct. 18 for the General Election on Nov. 8. Voting registration can be done anytime, including at the time of voting. Register to vote by Tuesday, Oct. 18 for the General Election. Check your voter registration to make sure your current address is listedYou may register online or print and fill out a paper version to return to Hennepin CountyIf your address…

Charlie M. Alleman, 19, of Eden Prairie has been identified as the man killed June 21 when the vehicle he was driving was struck by another car in Shakopee, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. Alleman was driving a 2014 Volkswagen Golf and was making a turn from westbound County Road 101 to southbound Valley Park Drive near Valley Fair when he was struck by a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander driven by Jacob Austin Lederer, 26, of Hopkins. Lederer received non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center. According the patrol website, that Lederer had been drinking. Editor’s…

A 19-year-old Eden Prairie man was killed late Tuesday night, June 21 when his car was struck by another driver in Shakopee, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. The name of the man who died is expected to be released Thursday afternoon, according to the patrol. The victim was driving a 2014 Volkswagen Golf and was making a turn from westbound County Road 101 to southbound Valley Park Drive near Valley Fair, when he was struck by a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander that was traveling eastbound on County Road 101. The driver of the Mitsubishi, a 26-year-old Hopkins man, received non-life…

The City of Eden Prairie has announced the cancellation of adult softball and sand volleyball leagues on Monday, June 20. Early-afternoon temperatures had reached 96 degrees with a heat index temperature of 105 degrees. The high temperature is predicted to be near the 100-degree mark. The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning until 1 a.m. Tuesday. The weather service urged people to: drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check on neighbors and relatives. Young children and pets should not be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances,…