Author: Staff Reports

Sheldon Smith’s wrench will go missing, later this month, and the person who finds it will receive a $200 gift card from Smith Coffee & Café, located in the historic Smith-Douglas-More House that Sheldon built at 8107 Eden Prairie Road. The wrench hunt, which starts Feb. 21, is a Smith Coffee tradition. Prior to the start of this year’s hunt, the wrench will be hidden in an Eden Prairie city park. Cryptic clues will be posted daily at 2 p.m. at Smith Coffee to help searchers pinpoint the location of the wrench. (Searchers are asked to respect public and private…

Students have until Friday, Feb. 18, to turn in submissions for the 2022 annual Eden Prairie Optimist Club essay contest. Participants are encouraged to contemplate the phrase, “How does an optimistic mindset change my tomorrow?” as part of the Optimist International Essay Contest. It’s open to any area students under 19 as of Oct. 1, 2021. The contest includes three age categories, with the essays judged separately in each age group. The club will be awarding Barnes & Noble gift cards for first-, second-, and third-place winners in each age group. The winner in the top age group moves on…

The City of Eden Prairie has temporarily closed its warming houses, ice rinks, and sledding hills due to cold weather. Go to the city’s website or call the weather line at 952-949-8449 (option 1) for updates and information about the closures.

Two suspects in a “grandparent scam” in Hastings were arrested in Eden Prairie last week. Hastings police received a crime alert Wednesday morning, Jan. 26, from Savage police of a person who possibly was running a grandparent scam in the community about 30 miles southeast of Eden Prairie. According to a police statement, this involves scammers calling an elderly person pretending to be a grandchild in serious legal trouble and needing cash for bail. That afternoon Hastings police responded to a report of a resident swindled out of $18,000 through such a scam. The elderly victim sent an additional $25,000…

Alvin (Larry) Kleven, 87, formerly of Eden Prairie, currently of Chanhassen, passed away at home, surrounded by his loving family, on Monday, Jan. 17. He is a retired teacher and coach from Eden Prairie Public Schools. He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. Survived by loving wife of 62 years, Grace, one daughter; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and five sisters. Memorial service is at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, at Wooddale Church, 6630 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prairie. Visitation is one hour prior to service. Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at…

High school seniors from Eden Prairie are invited to apply for a newly expanded set of Dr. Jean L. Harris Scholarships available from the Eden Prairie Community Foundation. The Foundation is seeking applicants who have promoted human rights, fostered diversity, and possess an inclusive community spirit – which are attributes that Harris demonstrated. The Harris Scholarship is named in honor of Dr. Jean Harris, Eden Prairie mayor from 1996 to 2001. Harris was Eden Prairie’s first female mayor and first Black mayor, and one of her many accomplishments while in office was community adoption of the Eden Prairie Manifesto, a…

Robert Edward Martinka, 89, of Chanhassen, entered eternal life on Jan. 23. He passed away at home with family at his side and enveloped in prayer. “Bob” was born on Dec. 1, 1932, in Lucan, Minn., to Herbert and Agnes (Steffl) Martinka. He grew up in New Ulm along with his older sister and brother and graduated from Holy Trinity High School. As a teenager, Bob played the trumpet for school and city groups and sat in with some of the big bands that performed at the Kato Ballroom, which his father owned. As student coordinator for the Blessed Mother…

Flagship Bank Minnesota CEO Andy Schornack is one of this year’s 40 Under 40 honorees by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. This award recognizes young business and community leaders from across the Twin Cities and encompasses a variety of industries. Schornack has been CEO of Flagship Bank Minnesota, headquartered in Wayzata, since 2014. Flagship Bank has six branches, including Eden Prairie, where Schornack is based. “I am honored to have been afforded this opportunity alongside such great local leaders,” Schornack said. “A huge thanks to my team at Flagship Bank Minnesota who helps us achieve these great results, day-in and day-out.” A…

Our hearts are heavy as we announce the passing of Karen A. Olsen, 81, on Friday, Jan. 21. Olsen graduated in 1958 from Elcho High School. She then earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a master’s degree in industrial psychology from the University of Minnesota.  Olsen began her profession in 1963 at General Mills in the personnel department. Later, she was a principal consultant and partner of Labor Relations Associates. She was considered an early female leader in industrial relations in Minnesota and related professional organizations. For those who knew her personally, she was…

University of Iowa, Iowa City The following Eden Prairie residents were named to the fall semester 2021 dean’s list: Felicia Adeniran-Ogunsanya Margaret Belongie Ethan Bley Matthew Deavan Kevin Dodge John Enck Frances Murphy Layne Olson Ryan Pokrzywinski Hallie Roach Sydney Shields Justice Sullivan Amelia Thoreson Missouri State University, Springfield The following Eden Prairie resident was named to the fall semester 2021 dean’s list: Michelle Nelson University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa The following Eden Prairie residents were named to the fall semester 2021 president’s list: Sophia Klein Rachel Ray Kutztow University (PA) The following Eden Prairie resident was named to the fall…