Shakopee Snapshots

A look back at what happened in Shakopee history. You may also find this column in the Shakopee Valley News.

125 Years Ago: From the April 9, 1896 Scott County Argus

It is stated that Wm. Germond of Minneapolis will make arrangements this week for putting in a first-class barbershop here. With four shops handy Shakopeeans’ birute appendages ought to be well cared for.

100 Years Ago: From the April 7, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

Mr. and Mrs. R. T. Schumacher and family have moved into their home recently purchased from T. J. Nickolay. Mr. and Mrs. George Dellwo who had occupied the place have moved into the Mrs. H. Heller house on fourth street.

75 Years Ago: From the April 4, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Legion Band To Rehearse Thursday Night

First rehearsal of the new Legion sponsored community band now in the process of organizations has been set for 7:45 p.m. next Thursday, Roman J. Kopp, Legion Commander, announced Tuesday.

The band will be under the direction of Joseph Schmitz and membership is open to any men or boy who plays a band instrument, it was learned. Residence in Shakopee or membership in the Legion are not essential to a place in the band.

In announcing the first rehearsal sponsors urged all likely band members to bring their instruments. The rehearsal will be held in the Legion club.

50 Years Ago: From the April 7, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

Easter Egg Hunt Will Be Held Saturday

Shakopee’s annual Easter Egg Hunt for youngsters will be held again this year, according to the Shakopee Jaycees, who act as the Easter Bunny’s helpers in staging the event on Saturday, April 10 starting at 1 p.m.

The location of the hunt is different this year than last. Jaycee Project Chairman John Schmitt said the affair will be held in the swimming pool recreational area south of Sweeney Elementary School along County Road 15. Previously it has been conducted at Memorial Park.

Areas will be set aside for three age groups – Preschoolers, Kindergarten through second graders, and third and fourth graders. Schmitt said the event is free, and numerous prizes will be awarded in each age group.

25 Years Ago: From the April 4, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

City Council approves short-term goal list

A decision on downtown Blocks 3 and 4 is the top short-term priority for the Shakopee City Council, according to the results of a goal-setting work session it held last week.

The two-hour session on March 26, which was attended by eight city staff members as well as the council, produced a top-10 list of goals for the coming six months. Elected officials had submitted a list of their priorities before the session. Councilors and staff first rated each item for its short-term importance.

In descending order of importance, the top picks were:

• Blocks 3 and 4.
• A second fire station – finding a location and deciding on a building plan.
• Begin preliminary action on the 1997 budget process.
• Metropolitan Council issues – MUSA line, Comprehensive Plan, Livable Communities Act, a possible conference of southwest metropolitan mayors.
• A review of building department staffing.
• Scott County justice center campus project – planning and impact.
• City employees – staff incentives and customer service issues.
• Establish an office of economic development coordinator.
• Adopt a city telecommunications ordinance.
• Meet with school and county officials in semiannual meetings.

A look back at what happened in Shakopee history. You may also find this column in the Shakopee Valley News.

125 Years Ago: From the April 2, 1896 Scott County Argus

It is stated on good authority that the “Bierline foundry” has been purchased by Joseph Ess, the well-known foundryman of Chaska, and that he will place his two sons in charge and commence operating this valuable piece of property in the immediate future. The young men are practical founders and will be able to give good amount of themselves in their undertaking. The arrangements for the transfer of the property are practically complete, but the title of the property is in Robert Hamilton of California at present, and for him James Sullivan is agent.

100 Years Ago: From the March 31, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

H. G. Swenson, of the Swenson Drug Co. of Minneapolis, is opening a store in the building formerly occupied by Christis Candy Kitchen. He will handle ice cream, confectionery and drug sundries.

75 Years Ago: From the March 28, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

$294,000 Goal of School Bond Election Scheduled To Be Held Here April 15

Directors Adopt Resolution at Special Meeting Monday Night. Proposition Lists New Site, New School, Remodelling, Repairing, Equipment, Among Possibilities

Setting $294,000 as the amount to be raised, and fixing April 15 as the date for voting, the directors of Independent School District No. 1, meeting in special session here Monday night, adopted a resolution calling for a special election on a bond issue for “purchasing a site for a new schoolhouse … building, rebuilding, remodeling, repairing, furnishing and equipping a school house.”

Although the proposition, which is made a part of the resolution, stipulates several expenditures any one of which could consume a part or all of the total amount of the bond issue, school authorities point out it is not the intention of the board to move toward the completion of any one of the included projects until a thorough study of the entire matter has been completed.

Likewise, passage of the bond issue, it was determined, does not mean that a new site will be acquired, a new school built, the old building remodelled or repaired, because there is not now available any positive estimate of the probable costs involved in any of the proposals…

Passage of the bond issue, it is understood, has the effect of authorizing the Board of Education to take the steps it deems necessary to solving the problems confronting it. What the solution will be is not now known…

50 Years Ago: From the March 31, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

A calendar of events is being established in the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce office…The calendar will coordinate clubs’ and organizations’ events and promotions to avoid conflicts. Organizations are asked to call the Chamber office at 445-1660 for further information and to give listings of events.

25 Years Ago: From the March 28, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

County seeks architect to plan justice center

With the purchase of the St. Francis Regional Medical Center site completed, now begins the search for an architect for Scott County’s proposed justice center…

Earlier this month the Scott County Board agreed to purchase the hospital for $2 million. The sellers are required to have the building razed and the site cleaned up by the end of this year.

The board on March 19 approved a recommendation by the county’s Building Committee to select an architect and, if necessary, a construction manager using a request-for-proposal process… Construction of the justice center could begin as early as next spring.

A look back at what happened in Shakopee history. You may also find this column in the Shakopee Valley News.

125 Years Ago: From the March 26, 1896 Scott County Argus

The old Koerner home, one of the most ancient landmarks of the town, erected when the ferry near Withey’s, the steamboat levee at the foot of Holmes street and the stage route that stretched from St. Paul on into the unknown west, were points of greater interest than the drawbridge, union depot, and three railroad lines are today—the battered and weather-worn structure that has withstood the devastations of merely forty years, is at last succumbing to the axe and hammer of the carpenter. It will be torn down and removed at once to make way for a neat residence of modern design erected by H. H. Heller. The new house will be occupied by Joseph Buch, formerly removed here from Fessenden, S. D.

100 Years Ago: From the March 24, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

A friend of St. Mark’s school has donated a sum to equip to some extent the pupils’ playground. For the present a merry-go-round with a capacity for 24 children, a combination of swings, rings and trapeze, and two teeter-totters are being erected. The boys of the 7th and 8th grades are the erecting crew under their own chosen foreman, Hubert Paron.

75 Years Ago: From the March 21, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Deutsch Drug Store, Operated Since 1893, Sold in Past Week

Brothers To Retire from Business

50 Years Ago: From the March 24, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

Pearson School Design Wins National Honor

One of 17 Best in Country…

An elementary school which had its basic design roughed out a meeting of the Shakopee elementary school faculty and administration has won nationwide accolades, it was announced this week.

Shakopee’s newest school, B. F. Pearson Elementary, was one of 17 elementary schools built in the nation last year to receive a special citation at the American Association of School Administrators national convention…

25 Years Ago: From the March 21, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

Long-range facilities study approved by board

A long-range facilities study, with the St. Paul architectural firm Wold & Associates serving as consultants, was unanimously approved by the Shakopee School Board Monday.

Wold & Associates will receive a maximum fee of $8,000, plus reimbursables, for its part in the planning process. The district has previously worked with the firm, which most recently designed the additions to Pearson and Sweeney Elementary schools, and the athletic complex at the high school.

The district’s current and projected enrollment growth dictates the need for a comprehensive examination of future facility needs, according to district administrators.

Citizen participation, through a task force, will be a key element of the long-range facilities study, which is expected to begin in April and conclude in November…

The task force will have a number of responsibilities. Among them are to: review and validate long-term student enrollment projections and related demographic data, review the present grade structure for the schools, study various options for housing the projected school population, develop a consensus position regarding preferred direction for resolving the district’s long-term facility needs, develop a consensus position on the nature and timing of technology improvements to district buildings, and advise the School Board on the scope, content and timeline for future bond referendums. Sullivan said one of the most difficult issues the task force will deal with is Central Elementary School, which now houses grades five and six, as well as district offices. Central is the district’s oldest building. Board members and administrators are concerned about a number of maintenance issues at Central, including the condition of its roof…

A look back at what happened in Shakopee history. You may also find this column in the Shakopee Valley News.

125 Years Ago: From the March 19, 1896 Scott County Argus

Dr. H. P. Fischer has purchased the How residence property and will take possession soon. The consideration was $2,500 more or less. It is understood that Mrs. Mary M. How will fit up the room in the How Block, recently vacated by the “Minnesota Post,” as living rooms for her occupancy.

100 Years Ago: From the March 17, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

The Redman Ice Cream Co. of this city is turning out about the finest ice cream ever sold here and it is being handled exclusively by our dealers, as it should be. Mr. Redman has now added other popular products, as shown in his ad, that are taking well with Shakopee housewives.

75 Years Ago: From the March 14, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Austin Men Purchase Machine Shop Here

In a transaction completed late last week Fred Wolf and Levi Mallan, formerly in the maintenance division of the Hormel company at Austin, purchased the machine shop which had been operated by William Laddusaw here.

The new owners, both highly skilled machinists, have added new machine tools to the plant and are expanding the business to include wheel metal work…

50 Years Ago: From the March 17, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

Renovated Raceway Will Open April 4

A renovated Raceway Park will greet auto race fans when that track officially opens the Tri-Circuit stock are racing season on Sunday afternoon, April 4th, according to track owner and operator Phil Stewart.

Heavy equipment has been hard at work the past week removing much of the winter’s snow cover to make way for improvements. New Cyclone fencing is being installed on the north end, the backs of old race cars has been removed, the pits will be covered with a layer of crushed rock and more restrooms are being installed.

Weather conditions permitting, more seats will be also installed, although that project is not expected to be ready for the opener…

25 Years Ago: From the March 14, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

County agrees to buy hospital for $2 million

Justice center is now likely to be built near courthouse

Scott County has agreed to buy the St. Francis Regional Medical Center building in downtown Shakopee for $2 million. The purchase virtually guarantees that Scott County will construct a justice center near the courthouse in Shakopee.

The Scott County Board approved the purchase Tuesday, handing over $1.1 million as part of the terms of the purchase agreement. The final $900,000 will be paid at the final closing after the building has been demolished…

The purchase agreement stipulates that St. Francis will be responsible for all salvage and demolition operations of the structure, which is located two blocks west of the existing courthouse. Demolition costs have been estimated at $1.1. million…

According to Theresa Johnson, director of community relations for St. Francis, the hospital expects to move out of the building in July to its new site, located near the Shakopee Bypass off of Marschall Road.

The terms of the purchase agreement require removal of asbestos from the building to begin before September and demolition to begin before Nov. 15. The site is to be cleared by Dec. 1. The closing date is set for Dec. 15 or earlier if all demolition and cleanup requirements have been met by St. Francis…

A look back at what happened in Shakopee history. You may also find this column in the Shakopee Valley News.

125 Years Ago: From the March 5, 1896 Scott County Argus

John Poetz lost a valuable new milch cow last night from milk fever.

100 Years Ago: From the March 10, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

J. A. Ring informs us that he has leased the property opposite the Pelham hotel for a term of years and will make extensive improvements by remodeling the building and fitting it up for a first clast Travelers Inn with eating place, ladies dressing rooms, etc. In addition he plans to build automobile sheds to accomodate tourist and farmers cars.

75 Years Ago: From the March 7, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

To Open New Funeral Home Here Monday

Walter A. Majerus announced this week the opening of a new funeral home. Modernly appointed, it is located in a newly remodelled and redecorated building at 116 Holmes street…

50 Years Ago: From the March 10, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

Charter Amended by Commission

Police Civil Service Retained…

Unable to get the City Council to advise them at an executive session of the Council Tuesday, March 2, members of the city charter commission met last Thursday evening and decided among themselves to amend the city charter now being introduced into the state legislature for consideration.

The amendment decided upon was the exclusion of the city’s police department from the charter’s merit board provision, and exclusion which means the police would still operate under state police civil service commission statutes…

There remains another serious threat to the special legislative charter, however, as made clear by Utilities Secretary Martin Walsh at the meeting.

The Shakopee Public Utilities Commission, he said, was not satisfied with the charter, and might follow the same route the police did in attempting to gain an amendment excluding their commission from charter control.

It is unlikely that the charter commission would agree to that, however, as one of the basic reasons the charter is being proposed is to unify city government by placing control of the Public Utilities under council and city manager control…

25 Years Ago: From the March 7, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

Long-term care facility to be built

A ceremony to mark the start of construction of a long-term care facility on the SouthValley Health Campus in Shakopee will be held on Monday from 4 to 5 p.m.

The facility will be owned and operated by Health Dimensions, based in Cambridge, Minn., which has similar facilities in 18 communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The firm manages Valleyview Health Care Center in Jordan. Plans call for the facility to be completed by Dec. 1.

The facility will feature a transitional-care unit deigned for short-term stays for patients discharged from the hospital but unable to return home. It will also have available to those patients rehabilitation and therapy programs.

Longer-term nursing and rehabilitation services for seniors will also be available.

The facility will be part of the health campus, which will include a new St. Francis Regional Medical center that is scheduled to open later this year, a Park Nicollet Clinic, which is now open, and a medical office building, which is being developed by Frauenshuh Cos. A reception will be held Monday in the atrium of the campus, located off of County Road 17.

A look back at what happened in Shakopee history. You may also find this column in the Shakopee Valley News.

125 Years Ago: From the Feb. 27, 1896 Scott County Argus

Anthony Marschall has purchased a Davis cream separator for use in the dairy, and is delighted with the work it does. The milk, fresh from the cows is poured into the separator, the cream is straightway taken from it and the skim milk can then be fed. The butter is better in every way, and the care in handling the milk and cream is much lightened. Those of his neighbors who are not familiar with the workings of a cream separator would do well to visit Mr. Marschall’s farm to see it in operation. The cream separator will soon be deemed as indispensable to the farm as the cows themselves.

100 Years Ago: From the March 3, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

Sam Kahn has sold his soft drink establishment to Jack Dale of Belle Plaine. We understand the new proprietor has leased the entire building and will conduct a rooming house upstairs.

75 Years Ago: From the Feb. 28, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

New Shakopee American Legion Home

When the Shakopee Post of the American Legion holds its regular session Monday night it will be meeting for the first time in the new home at the corner of Holmes and Second streets.

Now known as the Legion club, the building, formerly the Shakopee hospital, was purchased by Legionnaires Aug. 31 from Dr. J. A. Malerich. Immediately following the purchase members of the Legion began remodeling the structure and most of the work is now completed, officers said.

The second floor of the cub now includes a spacious meeting room which is ready for occupancy. Work on other facilities for the second floor is still in progress.

On the first floor a lounge, check room and kitchen have been provided, as well as quarters for the Legion Auxiliary. Redecorated, papered and painted the club is expected to become one of the most pleasant and popular meeting places in Shakopee and is already receiving much favorable comment from men and women who have seen it.

50 Years Ago: From the March 3, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

Reorganization of City Staff Is Proposed

Convening Tuesday night in a special session called by Mayor Ray Siebenaler, the Shakopee Council gave first reading to an ordinance which was billed as the first step in a reorganization of Shakopee City government.

The ordinance, which will be discussed further with the Shakopee Public Utilities Commission before its second reading and publication, would combine the offices of Shakopee Treasurer and Assessor.

Under the plan, Shakopee Public Utilities Secretary Marty Walsh would become City Treasurer and continue with his assessing duties, and Shakopee City Coordinator Robert Erickson, presently City Treasurer, would take over Walsh’s duties as Public Utilities Secretary.

The move is being proposed in an effort to improve communications and cooperation between city government and the Public Utilities Commission…

25 Years Ago: From the Feb. 29, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

Council votes for city to join area prosecution group

The Shakopee City Council last week moved to join the Scott Joint Protection Association (SJPA) by unanimous vote.

The SJPA is a consortium of Scott County cities – Savage, Prior Lake, Belle Plaine, Elko/New Market, Jordan, and soon, Shakopee – that has pooled its resources for prosecuting most gross misdemeanors and misdemeanors committed within these cities. All member cities must now sign a joint powers agreement with Shakopee in order for the city to become a member of SJPA…

A look back at what happened in Shakopee history. You may also find this column in the Shakopee Valley News.

125 Years Ago: From the Feb. 20, 1896 Scott County Argus

Kopp & Kopp, scientific horseshoers, have just added a power horse-clipping machine, and are now prepared to do horseclipping in short order.

100 Years Ago: From the Feb. 24, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

Miss Anna Mergens has taken a position as local editor of the Tribune and began work Monday. Miss Mergens has a wide acquaintance in Shakopee and is well fitted for the task of gathering news for the paper and we trust she may have the co-operation of our readers so we can get all the news items available each week. Just use the phone when you know an item.

75 Years Ago: From the Feb. 21, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

New School To Be Topic of Civic Club

Supt. Wurst Will Address Commercial Group at March 6 Meeting

One of the city’s most vital questions will be presented to members of the Shakopee Commercial club when Supt. Al N. Wurst discusses the matter of a new school building at the club’s March 6 meeting, officers announced Tuesday.

For many months a topic of discussion by school board members and Shakopee citizens the issue is expected to become more generally understood as a result of the scheduled talk by Mr. Wurst…

50 Years Ago: From the Feb. 24, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

Metro Council Planner Advocates Shakopee-Eagle Creek Merger

Also Recommends Part of Eagle Creek to Prior Lake or Savage…

Eagle Creek Township would be ideally served by splitting it between Shakopee and Prior Lake or between Shakopee and Savage, according to a planner associated with the Metropolitan Council.

The Minnesota Municipal Commission (M.M.C.) heard a full day of hearings last Wednesday, Feb. 17, on the incorporation of Eagle Creek Township and consolidation of Eagle Creek with the City of Shakopee. The Village of Prior Lake is also actively involved, having filed an intervention. Hearings were continued to Monday, March 15.

Ian Ball, a Metro Council planner, was called as a witness for the M.M.C…

25 Years Ago: From the Feb. 22, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

Four sites for second fire hall are proposed

Cost, response time are among primary factors

The field has been narrowed to four potential sites for a second fire hall in Shakopee, but choosing one could prove more difficult than the initial winnowing process…

A task force composed of city firefighters found four sites in the target area. At a meeting of the Council Committee of the Whole last week, Assistant City Administrator Barry Stock presented information on the four sites, as well as the task force’s recommendation.

The recommended site is about 15 acres located just south of the intersection of Vierling Drive and County Road 16, adjoining both roads.

An alternative site is directly west of the recommended site and is near Calvary United Methodist Church. However, this 8-acre parcel has a large Minnegasco pipeline running across it, which could cost $50,000 to $200,000 to move, Stock said.

Another site, located just south of the intersection of county roads 83 and 16, was eliminated for consideration quickly by the task force because it was deemed too far away from development as compared to the others, Stock said. But it was a … north of County Road 16, near the southwest corner of the Canterbury Park racetrack, that attracted the attention of some councilors…

A look back at what happened in Shakopee history. You may also find this column in the Shakopee Valley News.

125 Years Ago: From the Feb. 13, 1896 Scott County Argus

Shakopee’s bonded indebtedness has been reduced from $60,000 to $27,000. In another two years it will be time to talk up electric lights.

100 Years Ago: From the Feb. 17, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

Women’s Reformatory Presented With Flag

The State Reformatory For Women was presented with a very beautiful silk flag on Lincoln’s birthday, last Saturday by the Minnesota Department of the Ladies of the G. A. R. A delegation of the G. A. R. Ladies from the cities came out for the function and the presentation was made by Mrs. Mary S. Lawler, department patriotic instructor.

75 Years Ago: From the Feb. 14, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

School Burglarized Early Wednesday

At least $70 was stolen from the rifled safe in the superintendent’s office in the high school early Wednesday, Al N. Wurst, superintendent, disclosed.

Receipts from Tuesday night’s basketball games were included in the theft. The money was placed in the safe about 10 p.m. Tuesday and the last persons to leave the building are believed to have left after midnight. The burglary was discovered by Mr. Wurst when he entered his office at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

State crime bureau operatives, the Scott county sheriff’s office and the Shakopee police department are working on the case.

50 Years Ago: From the Feb. 17, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

Decision nears on Architect Choice

For County Office Building…

Members of the county building committee have been screening architectural firms for the past month and will be ready to recommend two of the firms to the County Board of Commissioners next week.

County Commissioner Vern Lang, who acts as the board’s liaison to the building committee, told other commissioners Tuesday morning that the final two firms would be screened by the committee Wednesday evening, Feb. 17…

The proposed building if approved by voters would be constructed on land purchased by the commissioners along the southern border of Shakopee and east of County Road 17.

It is likely, in line with current thinking that such a building would not house the courts and related activities, which would stay at the present site…

25 Years Ago: From the Feb. 15, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

EDA gets face lift; CDC dissolved

The Shakopee Economic Development Authority (EDA) will soon be “weaned” from the City Council and Tuesday night meetings.

By unanimous vote, the City Council last week moved to restructure the seven-member EDA, a body which has tax-levy power and primarily oversees the city’s tax-increment financing districts. The EDA is also in charge of redevelopment of Blocks 3 and 4 in downtown Shakopee.

Major development and redevelopment plans and issuance of bonds by the EDA must be approved by the City Council.

The current EDA is comprised of the four city councilors, the mayor and two members from the five-member Community Development Commission (CDC). There was consensus among councilors that a broader community representation in the EDA was desirable.

The council action leaves only two council members on the EDA, with the other five members coming from the current CDC. In a separate motion, the council eliminated the CDC. Members of the EDA, who are appointed by the mayor, will serve six-year terms…

A look back at what happened in Shakopee history. You may also find this column in the Shakopee Valley News.

125 Years Ago: From the Feb. 6, 1896 Scott County Argus

The event of the season was the Calcio Ball given by the thriving Degree of Honor Lodge last Friday evening. Perfect weather, excellent music and prompting, a dance floor in prime condition, and a thoroughly congenial crowd of dancers made the hours from nine until four slip by all too rapidly. The affair was a grand social success, and reflects much credit upon the various committees in charge.

100 Years Ago: From the Feb. 10, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

We learn with regret that the Shakopee Laundry will close down after this week as the patronage has not been sufficient to make the venture a success. It is too bad that a home institution of this kind is not supported on a scale to make it successful. The laundry has been doing good work and the families who have been getting their work done thee have been well satisfied.

75 Years Ago: From the Feb. 7, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Nine Communities To Join In Scout Ceremony Here

As a part of the nation wide observance of Boy Scout week Feb. 8 to 14 and this year marking the 36^th anniversary of the movement in America, nine troops of the Lake District of the Minneapolis Area council will join in starting a public court of honor and memorial service in the high school auditorium here at 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon…

50 Years Ago: From the Feb. 10, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

School Board Approves Staff for Another Elementary School

Shakopee Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Mayer was authorized by the board of education to hire six elementary classroom teachers, a physical education teacher, a music teacher, three para professionals, a principal and a secretary Monday night.

The approval on the part of the board amounts to the establishment of a third elementary school in Shakopee, but there is still a question about where it will be located. The cost estimate of hiring the additional personnel was given at $87,000 per year. Six of the 13 classrooms needed will be located in the Junior High School building, as at the present, but where the remaining seven will be is still undetermined. Shakopee Senior High School has been used to house some elementary classes in the past, a situation which has caused complaints on the part of some of the senior high school students…

25 Years Ago: From the Feb. 8, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

County government is about to enter another dimension

…County commissioners last week gave staff an informal go-ahead to bring the county on-line.

Cyberspace – as the quasi-dimension of computer interaction has come to be called – is a subject rile with jargon. In a presentation designed to chop through the backwoods, commissioners were given an explanation and demonstration of on-line capabilities by Keith Hegg, the county’s director of computer systems.

Hegg proposed building a county “homepage,” which would link certain components of the county’s computer network to the Internet. The homepage would serve as a directory of county offerings and information for Internet users…

A homepage for Scott County would allow the public to electronically peruse such county items as meeting agendas, code and permit information, personnel directories and job postings. Eventually, applications for county services might become available via electronic mail, often called e-mail…

On-line implementation will be done in three phases – design, installation and maintenance, Hegg said. He estimated the usual, one-time cost to be $12,500. The bulk of that is from two expenditures: $5,000 for the initial design of the system, which will likely be done by Barr Engineering. Another $4,800 is slated for software that would protect the county’s private and confidential files from computer hackers. Security software can cost up to $14,000, Hegg said…

A look back at what happened in Shakopee history. You may also find this column in the Shakopee Valley News.

125 Years Ago: From the Jan. 30, 1896 Scott County Argus

James Kohler is honing his way into the mysteries of the barber’s art in the Central Barber Shop.

100 Years Ago: From the Feb. 3, 1921 Shakopee Tribune

With the approach of the municipal election in Shakopee the coming spring we hear persistent rumors of a “Women’s Ticket” to be placed in the field. How much basis exists for the rumor we do not know. The story is that the ladies will have a candidate for mayor and one for alderman in each ward.

75 Years Ago: From the Jan. 31, 1946 Shakopee Argus-Tribune

Commercial Club To Meet

County Fair, Baseball to Be Topics at Supper Session at Riviera

The possibility of reviving the traditional Scott county fair and the promoting of a municipal baseball team are on the list of topics scheduled for discussion at the supper meeting of the Shakopee Commercial club at the Riviera Wednesday evening, officers announced.

A committee appointed to consider the fair proposition is to make its report at the meeting and a general discussion is expected to follow. Men interested in amateur baseball will lead the discussion on that topic with a view to having the city represented in league play…

50 Years Ago: From the Feb. 3, 1971 Shakopee Valley News

State Approves of Truck Parking Ban

A request by the City Council asking that truck parking restrictions be imposed on First Avenue in Shakopee has been given favorable response by the State Highway Department.

In a letter to the Council, Highway Department officials indicate they were in favor of the city’s overall objective, but asked for more detailed information on types of trucks referred to, and times of restriction.

The parking ban would be applied to all semi-trailer and over-the-road-type trucks which the city contend block vision and obstruct driving lanes when parked along First Avenue.

25 Years Ago: From the Feb. 1, 1996 Shakopee Valley News

City Recreation Center opens Monday

The Shakopee Community Recreation Center opens all its doors to the public on Monday.

The facility’s ice rink opened Dec. 1, with construction – which began last spring – continuing throughout the rest of the building since that time.

The $5.5 million Recreation Center is located on 30 acres off of Fuller Street, just south of the Shakopee High School.

Besides the ice rink, the 68,000-square-foot center is home to a gymnasium, wrestling room, gymnastics room, walking track, public access cable television studio, concession stand, meeting rooms, a Family Net intake center and locker rooms. A planned fitness center will not be ready for the grand opening, but it will eventually offer aerobic and weight equipment.

The Recreation Center also has a spacious lounge near its front entry for reading or conversation. The lounge features a fireplace and abundant window lighting…

A three-day grand opening is planned for Feb. 15-17, according to Assistant City Administrator Barry Stock. Admission will be free those days… The city’s Recreation Department staff moved to the building last week, Stock said. About a dozen part-time people have been hired for the center’s various operations, he said…