Community Corner

Bow-and-Arrow Drive-By And Mourning Those Who Died: Feedback Friday

The most thoughtful, moving, controversial or just plain funny comments from around the west metro between June 22 and June 28.

Each week, Patch users contribute numerous insights, opinions and observations. The following is a collection of the most thoughtful, moving, controversial or just plain funny comments that appeared on Patch sites in EdinaGolden ValleyHopkinsLake MinnetonkaMinnetonkaPlymouthRichfieldShakopeeSt. Louis Park and St. Michael. Click on the headline to read the full story and join in the conversation.

(The comments below are not meant to reflect the opinions of Patch or its staff.)

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Find out what's happening in Hopkinswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Just hours after divers recovered his body, Kennedy Maddox's friends came together to grieve the 20-year-old's sudden death.

Find out what's happening in Hopkinswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Robert Edmondson didn't know Maddox, but he posted a poem on Patch Thursday morning in memory of the Minnetonka High School graduate.

Goodnight Kennedy

Given such a noble name. 
Taken away much to soon. 
Now YOUR eternal flame 
shimmers beyond the moon.

I knew not ye but what I can see 
Your potential in heaven awaits. 
Taken away without a reason some will say. 
To never be forgotten is what we all must exclaim.

I lost my brother in that lake, 
so very long ago. 
A mystery still surrounds that day. 
But I have come to grips with it in my own way.

It is your time to sleep now.... 
Goodnight Kennedy.....goodnight.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office on Monday issued a warrant for an Edina man suspected of shooting a bow and arrow at the front door of Hopkins’ Officers found a broken piece of an arrowhead wedged inside the front door and a “wrench-like tool” wedged between the doorframes. The suspect’s name was written in marker on the tool.

ERB joked about what it meant for criminal elements of the city:

While "Kirk" doesn't sound like the name of a gang member, I think we all are concerned about the possibility of local gangs outfitting their members with bows and arrows. That's the last thing we need in this community. Terrifying!

Since the Blockbuster on County Road 101 near Target in Minnetonka closed in 2011, there has been much speculation surrounding the retail stores and especially the restaurant that would potentially open in the newly renovated building. It’s a Caribou Coffee, according to Peter Armbrust, leasing agent at Cushman and Wakefield, which is leasing the building for owners 7-Hi Retail LLC. The Caribou Coffee currently located in Westwind Plaza will only have to move across the street to its new home, where it will gain a drive through.

Gretchen Sebald was not thrilled with the announcement:

I, along with countless others, would prefer a Chipotle. Who needs another drive thru coffee shop? The high schoolers could enjoy a restaurant, like Chipotle, that is a step of from fast food and not in a bar atmosphere. The old K-Mart corner would be possible spot for Chipotle but the space by Target would have been better.

After being diagnosed with a high-risk form of leukemia in August 2011 and subsequently undergoing treatment, Derrick Keller passed away Tuesday afternoon. 

St. Louis Park City Council member and local baseball supporter Steve Hallfin had this to say about the 2011 Park graduate:

Today is a very sad day, not only for St Louis Park Baseball, but for the entire St Louis Park Community. The ranges of emotions being felt are all over the board, and it is very difficult to concentrate on anything.

Bob and Linda I am so truly sorry for your loss, Derrick made the world a better place, and there is a hole in the heart of everyone who has been touched by Derrick’s generous soul.

I know I speak for the SLP Baseball Community when I say we just lost one of the best baseball players who ever wore an SLP on his chest, having said that, we lost not only a great baseball player, but a better person.

After a parent reached out to St. Michael Patch with concerns about drivers not stopping for people in a crosswalk (which is state law), several readers responded to our column on the subject. 

Reader Rose Thunder said: 

Traffic near the Highwood's Park on Frankfurt Parkway is another really bad place for kids to cross. The park is right there and last year my son almost was hit by a car that didn't even slow down in that area. Last night cars would not stop on Nabor and Frankfurt Pakway to allow a mother with a stroller to cross the street. I stopped but the car behind me went around me on the right and the oncoming traffic didn't stop either!

The final pleas of the hopeful Pillsbury Commons developer, Ron Clark Construction & Design, fell on deaf Richfield City Council ears Tuesday night. The council struck down the developer’s request for reconsideration of the , which essentially killed the project as is and spurred other denials from other city commissions.

Barry LeBlanc, a resident and member of the Pillsbury Commons opposition group Richfield Commoners United, asked the developer to do what he thought was "the right thing" and also reminded Clark of his 2008 Minnesota Business Ethics Award.

Ron Clark please do the right thing, Please do not close on the land and let it go. The only ones who will start to make money off of this land deal is the Lawyers....they gave this award to you, please look at it on your wall and ask your self if you are failing to live up to standard: http://mnethicsaward.org/past-recipients/

Some Shakopee residents living near the intersection of County Road 16 and Canterbury Road (83) have been turning up their noses lately at the odor omitted by Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Organics recycling facility that opened for business last year.

Bill Stallone is so upset over it, he's planning to take his business and move out of Shakopee.

The Whole city stinks! We have the Water Treatment plant on one side of us and now the Compost dump on the other side. What more can I say, the place just stinks. I am glad I am an industrial renter in Valley Green who will move my business out as soon as my lease is up. By the way, my taxes went up 1,200 per year on the place making my rent with tax and C.A.M $12,000 per month. Pretty steep considering customers and prospects visiting often comment on how much the place stinks. It is hard to overcome that negative first impression.

Budget, Technology Purchases Top School Board Agenda

The Edina School Board met Monday, June 25, and approved the purchase of a number of new technology devices for the district. That purchase list included 195 Google Chromebooks, 190 iPads and 35 Lenovo All-in-One computers, among others. For those wondering where the money came from, it's thanks to a $4.5 million .

David F was concerned with the decision to buy a variety of technology products, rather than focusing on one established platform.

Why doesn't the school board consider standardizing its technology on a known mature technology platform instead of buying a variety of technologies. It is less expensive to train, upgrade, maintain and teach on one technology platform. Chasing the newest technology is difficult and expensive for a school system.

The Chromebooks rely heavily on cloud based technology and work poorly as a stand along device. The Chromebooks also have poor printing capabilities.

It would be nice if the school board was given a pro and con of each hardware platform instead of relying on media buzz.

Plymouth Man Charged For Threatening Woman With Knife

Nicholas Jay Fink, 22, is charged with making terroristic threats, a felony, just days after he pleaded guilty and was sentenced on a charge of disorderly conduct.

rob_h78 gave his two cents on the Fink's actions:

Typical - a real tough guy when he had a knife and a woman cornered but as soon as a few other guys show up with guns he drops his knife and crawls into custody...


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