Author: EPLN Staff Reports

Minnesota state Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (DFL-49, Eden Prairie) is co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill (SF 494) that seeks to secure $7.65 million for 30 additional schools in the state to implement the Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR) system. The BARR system is an educational model that aims to address the academic, social and emotional needs of students through the use of data and relationships. According to a press release from the BARR Center, educators from five schools in Minnesota that already use the BARR system testified in support of the legislation during a Senate Education Finance Committee meeting last week. The…

Thomas Reid Bracher, age 76 of Chaska, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, surrounded by family members. Born Jan. 20, 1947, he is preceded in death by his parents Richard George Bracher and Mary (Neemes) Bracher, brother Richard Bracher, and nephew Todd Bracher. Survived by sister, Patricia (Bracher) Jensen of Eden Prairie, brother, Christian Carl Bracher (Kathy) of White Bear Lake, nephews Scott Soderberg (Cathy), Troy Bracher (Biz), Chad Bracher, nieces Elizabeth Soderberg Chollar (Andrew), Kerri (Bracher) Lesch (Paul), along with 12 great-nieces and nephews and one great, great nephew. Tom was born in Minneapolis. He grew up in St.…

Residents and commuters in Eden Prairie have been warned of upcoming temporary traffic disruptions by EP City Manager Rick Getschow in his Friday report. On Monday, Feb. 13, starting at 7 p.m., the traffic signal at the corner of Prairie Center and Technology drives will be temporarily out of service as part of the Metro Green Line Extension project, with crews replacing the traffic signal cabinet. According to Getschow, traffic flow in both directions will be reduced during the maintenance work. However, it is expected to be completed before 5 a.m. on Tuesday. Commuters and residents are advised to plan…

It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Matthew P. Pellowski, 54, on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, due to a tragic snowmobile accident.  Matt was born on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 1968, in Winona, Minnesota, to Janice and Mark Pellowski. He was the seventh of eight children. After graduating from Winona Senior High, Matt worked his way through college as a school bus driver and graduated from Winona State university with a bachelor’s degree in business. During college he joined the business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi and made many lifelong friends. Matt moved to the Twin Cities…

Smith Coffee & Café in Eden Prairie is hosting its 15th annual Sheldon’s Wrench Treasure Hunt beginning on Feb. 27. The grand prize for finding the hidden wrench is a $200 gift card to the cafe. The tradition of treasure hunt dates back to Sheldon Smith, who built the historic Smith-Douglas-More House in which the cafe now operates at 8107 Eden Prairie Road. The wrench was a treasured tool of Sheldon’s and the hunt for it has become a beloved city-wide event. Each day at 1 p.m., a new clue will be posted in the cafe to help participants find…

An Eden Prairie man was killed in a snowmobile crash in Cass County, Minnesota, according to Sheriff Bryan Welk. The victim has been identified as 54-year-old Matthew P. Pellowski, as stated in an obituary posted on the Huber Funeral Homes website. On Tuesday, Feb. 7, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call about the crash, which occurred on the Maple Leaf Snowmobile Trail along County Road 1 in Maple Township west of Pequot Lakes. The victim was operating a 2009 Ski Doo snowmobile when he was thrown from the vehicle while attempting to navigate a driveway approach on…

The Eden Prairie Optimist Club invites students to participate in the organization’s annual speech and essay contests. Speech contest The speech contest topic is “Discovering the Optimism Within Me,” as part of the 2023 Optimist International Oratorical Contest. The contest is open to students under the age of 19 as of Oct. 1, 2022, who have not graduated from high school. Students placing in the top three places will receive Barnes & Noble gift cards. Area students passionate about speech should submit the application form and digital copy of the speech in Word format to ryanaffolter.optimist@gmail.com by Friday, March 31. Speeches will…

Brent Levi Rickenbach, 59, of Chanhassen, died peacefully in his home on Friday, Feb. 3.  He is survived by his wife, Cathy; children, Emily, Levi, and Sarah Rickenbach; parents, Richard and Marilynne Rickenbach; brothers, Brad (Meg) Rickenbach and Brian (Jennifer) Rickenbach; parents-in-law, Walter and Ardis Rafteseth; siblings-in-law, Diann Johnson, Karin (Dean) Peterson, David (Catherine) Rafteseth; many nieces and nephews; and other loving relatives and friends that he considered family. Brent was born in Minneapolis on April 4, 1963. He attended various schools, making friends around the country, as his family moved for his dad’s job. He graduated from the University…

Several colleges and universities have named Eden Prairie students to their respective dean’s list. Others have announced graduations. EPLN relies on schools to send us this information. If you don’t see your student’s school listed, please send your student’s name, the school’s name and location, award (e.g., dean’s list), year in school, and major to editor@eplocalnews.org with subject “Student Recognition.” Dean’s List Central College, Pella, Iowa Drew Edwards, senior Miami University, Oxford, Ohio Lydia Humphrey, business and marketing Ryan Lothenbach , architecture The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, Minn. Shelby Benkofske Rachel Kranitz University of Vermont, Burlington Claire Purdue, music University…

Improvements to the Dairy Queen parking lot to remedy congestion between dine-in patrons who are parking their cars or leaving and those using the drive-thru are among the items being considered by the Eden Prairie City Council at its Tuesday, Feb. 7, meeting. Under Dairy Queen’s proposed plan, the existing parking lot would be re-striped so as to be one-way with angled parking, allowing room to create a new, dedicated drive-thru lane on the perimeter of the lot, nearest Eden Prairie Road. Currently, when drive-thru traffic stacks up, it interferes with the parking area used by customers dining inside, according…