Author: Staff Reports

Rebecca Middeke-Conlin takes office as an ELCA bishop; founders of Lifetouch inducted into School Photographers of America Hall of Fame.

Rising costs, interest rate increases, and poor credit have put many people in a financial bind. To address these challenges, PROP Food, in partnership with LSS Financial Counseling, is hosting no-cost financial support sessions at the Eden Prairie Library. These sessions offer practical financial guidance to Eden Prairie and Chanhassen residents. “We are excited to announce that a recent partnership with LSS Financial enables PROP Food to offer a valuable service to the entire Eden Prairie and Chanhassen communities by providing no-cost financial support sessions open to all residents, not just PROP clients,” said PROP Executive Director Jenifer Loon. “During…

Carol Jean (Bietz) Stoebner passed away peacefully on June 30 at the age of 78 years after a brief stay in hospice where she was surrounded by her husband Joe Stoebner, daughter Tamara Schryver, son Jeff Stoebner, son- and daughter-in-law (Robbie Schryver, Renee Stoebner), and seven grandchildren (Conor Stoebner, Parker Stoebner, Addison Stoebner, Jett Schryver, Gia Schryver, Bennett Stoebner, and Samantha Stoebner). Additional familial survivors include her sister Shirley Huber and brother Ken Bietz and their families. Carol was raised on a farm in Tripp, South Dakota, by Arthur and Rosie Bietz, where she attended a one-room schoolhouse through 8th…

With fewer than a third of Minnesota students achieving grade-level proficiency in literacy and math, one Reading Corps, five Math Corps, and two Early Learning Corps tutors are being sought to serve in Eden Prairie area schools beginning in August.  “Those numbers seem really daunting, but the good news is we have a solution that works,” says Christine Fankhanel, director of Minnesota programs with Reading Corps, Math Corps and Early Learning Corps. “When students work with a tutor, incredible things happen. They often make more than a year’s progress during the school year!” Tutors placed at local schools can choose to serve 35, 25 or…

Alice R. Cronk, 100, passed away peacefully on June 16, surrounded by family at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina. Alice was most recently a resident of The Waters of Eden Prairie and formerly a long-time resident of Edina and Ridgway, Pennsylvania. Alice is survived by two children: Theodore “Ted” (Carol) Cronk of Kiawah Island, South Carolina, and Cynthia Cronk of Johns Island, South Carolina. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Caroline (Jayme) Meyers of Edina, and Caitlin Cronk of New York City, as well as one great-grandson, Luka Meyers. Alice was born Feb. 25, 1923, in Ridgway, Pennsylvania, the…

The Eden Prairie Police Department (EPPD) announced its participation in a statewide campaign, led by the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety, in a blog post titled “Watch Your Speed!” on Wednesday. The campaign aims to crackdown on speeders throughout July. According to preliminary reports from the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety, speed-related traffic crashes claimed the lives of 129 people across the state last year. In 2022, Eden Prairie officers issued 2,009 citations for speeding. So far, in 2023, EPPD officers have issued 887 speed citations. The EPPD highlights the following consequences of speeding: The EPPD reports that the cost…

A pilot reported engine trouble and successfully landed a single-engine airplane in a field south of the corner of Flying Cloud Drive and Eden Prairie Road on Sunday morning. The incident occurred at about 10 a.m. on July 2, according to an Eden Prairie Police Department spokesperson. The pilot, who was the only occupant on board, contacted Flying Cloud Airport about a mile south of the landing site to report the issue. No injuries were reported in connection with the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been notified and will investigate the matter. Further details regarding the cause of…

Attention singers! Mark your calendars for an upcoming event featuring local vocalists. The “Eden Prairie Sings! Amateur Vocal Competition” takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. on Aug. 19 at Purgatory Creek Park as part of the city’s Arts in the Park event. Arts in the Park is a full-day affair, running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it offers a wide array of unique crafts, artwork, food, and art activities. Eden Prairie Sings! is hosted by the Eden Prairie Optimist Club and the School of Rock in Eden Prairie in collaboration with the Eden Prairie Players. Singers between…

Steven Michael Dennis, 69, of Eden Prairie, passed away in a house fire on June 25. Steven was preceded in death by his parents, Geraldine and Conway, his wife Susan, and his daughter Elizabeth. He is survived by his sister Judy Cihak, his children Rachel, Nicholas, and Zachary, and his adoring granddaughter Maggie. Memorials are preferred to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Special thanks go to Steve’s neighbors and the emergency workers of Eden Prairie for their efforts to help. Interment will be at Dawn Valley Cemetery in Bloomington. Services were held at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 30. Washburn-McReavy…

City employees ran three miles through Eden Prairie on Friday, June 23, carrying the Special Olympics Minnesota torch. According to a Tuesday post on the Eden Prairie Police Department blog, city staff received the torch from the Minnetonka Police Department and passed it on to two Special Olympics athletes in the parking lot of Eden Prairie Center mall. From there, it traveled to Stillwater Area High School, where the 2023 Special Olympics Summer Games were held last weekend. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is an annual fundraiser for the Special Olympics, aiming to raise funds to support athletes’ participation in…