Monday, March 25, 2013
A fleet of six steamboats named after Minnesota places once kept Lake Minnetonka communities connected.
A century ago, the Twin Cities’ streetcar network once extended virtually into the very waters of Lake Minnetonka. The Twin Cities Rapid Transit Co. wanted to connect Lake Minnetonka communities to an Excelsior dock station. So on May 7, 1906, it launched a fleet of six steamboats named after communities and resorts that the company served: Como, Harriet, Hopkins, Minnehaha, Stillwater and White Bear. The 120-passenger boats were painted a bright yellow to match the appearance of the company’s streetcars. Seating in the boats was even set up similarly to their land-based counterparts. Westonka Historical Society member Jeanne Brustad detailed the boats’ history in a video posted to YouTube. Watch the video in the player above.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
After removal dates, shelters may remain on the ice between midnight and one hour before sunrise only when occupied or attended.
- NEWS
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Tuesday, February 26
Editor's Note: The following reminder comes from Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources. Minnesota’s ice fishing shelter removal dates are approaching, and dark houses, fish houses and portables must be off Lake Minnetonka no later than midnight on March 4. Enforcement action will be taken if shelters are left after the deadlines. Those not removing shelters will be prosecuted. Conservation officers may remove the structure and confiscate or destroy it. It is also unlawful to store or leave a shelter at a public access. Anglers are advised to remove shelters earlier, if ice conditions warrant. For border waters, the shelter removal deadlines are: Minnesota-Iowa, Feb. 20; Minnesota-Wisconsin, March 1; Minnesota-North Dakota and South…
Monday, February 18, 2013
Two recent cases have emphasized the breadth of the legal definition. Patch wants to know what the word means to you.
“Murder” and “homicide” are loaded words that conjure images of malice and deliberate violence. This month, though, the west metro has been reminded that that’s not always the case. At the beginning of February, prosecutors charged Jonathan Markle with criminal vehicular homicide in connection with the drowning of his 9-month-old daughter. Prosecutors say Markle's blood alcohol level was .13 when his vehicle broke through the ice Jan. 18 after he tried to drive underneath the Halstead Bay Bridge on Lake Minnetonka. Hennepin County Mike Freeman acknowledged that the legal system has "no penalty that can approach the grief and agony this man might feel by the death of his daughter at his own hand." But Freeman went on to say he wants this …
Friday, February 8, 2013
The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is adding orange fencing around "Thin Ice" signs in an attempt to draw more attention to them.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
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Friday, February 8
Editor's Note: The following is a Hennepin County Sheriff's Office release. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office continues to warn motorists to stay off of thin ice. Our Special Deputy volunteers are providing safety information to people using Lake Minnetonka and many other lakes throughout the county. It is especially important to avoid channels and pressure ridges on Lake Minnetonka because those areas have thin ice even in the coldest of Minnesota winters. The Sheriff's Office is placing orange snow fencing around "thin ice" signs in order to provide greater visibility to these signs. It is the responsibility of motorists to respond appropriately to these warning signs and to make safe choices when they are behind the wheel.
Friday, January 25, 2013
After seven vehicles plowed through the ice on Lake Minnetonka, Sheriff Stanek reminds citizens to be safe.
Editor's Note: The following is a Hennepin County Sheriff's Office press release. With warmer temperatures expected this weekend, more people are expected to be using the county’s lakes for recreation. The Sheriff’s Office urges all residents to use caution when using area lakes and other bodies of water. Remember that no ice should ever be considered completely safe. Freezing and thawing have created variable ice conditions. Last weekend, there were seven vehicles broke through ice on Lake Minnetonka. Hennepin County residents are urged to review these safety guidelines: · Anyone using the ice –including people on foot, snowmobiles and ATVs --should use safety precautions such as wearing life jackets. Sheriff’s deputies wear life …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
After the death of a baby, Sheriff Stanek reminds citizens of ice dangers.
There have been seven vehicles that have broken through the ice on Lake Minnetonka in four days, Jan. 18-21. Tragically, one incident resulted in the death of an infant, an 8-month-old girl from Minnetrista. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office reminds residents that no ice should ever be considered safe. Residents are urged to review these safety guidelines: · Despite the recent cold weather, channels of Lake Minnetonka remain dangerous and should be avoided. A vehicle, such as a car, truck, or SUV, should NEVER be driven through a channel. The weak ice in a channel is due to water constantly running from one bay to another bay. The friction of the running water causes the ice to weaken. · Channels should also be avoided by people on …
Sunday, November 18, 2012
This week's selections from around the West Metro also include a new interchange in Albertville, Popeyes popping up in Richfield and a story that turns the lens on a popular photographer. Plus, a Jack Jablonski update.
Editor’s Note: Every week we will bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Richfield, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, and St. Michael. 'He Makes High Schoolers Feel Like Pro Athletes' If you've been to more than a couple Minneapolis high school sporting events,you've probably seen photographer Steve Kotvis before. You just wouldn't recognize him on the street, unless he held a giant camera lens in front of his face. Edina Police Ditching Razors for Worthwhile Cause More than 30 members of the Edina Police Department are taking part in Movember—an annual, month-long event that sees men all over the world grow …
Thursday, August 23, 2012
The presumed Republican nominee made his way to the Twin Cities Thursday night.
Next week, Mitt Romney will be oceanside in Tampa, FL as he attempts to earn the Republican nomination for President of the United States. Today, however, he was lakeside at the Lafayette Club as he visited the Twin Cities for a Republican fundraiser. His motorcade was greeted by protesters, including a busload of supporters of President Barack Obama with signs and chants. Here's some local reaction from social media users around the Twin Cities.
With chants, masks and signs, protesters made their presence felt during the Republican frontrunner's visit to Minnesota.
As presumed Republican nominee Mitt Romney prepared to descend on the Lake Minnetonka area Thursday evening, an estimated 50 to 75 protesters began to assemble at one of the prime spots for his visit, Lake Minnetonka's prestigious Lafayette Club. With Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan still a questionable arrival, demonstrators made sure his presence was known with cardboard masks. St. Louis Park resident Ilo Madden attended the protest rally because she's "worried about democracy." She said she's saved $300 so far under the new health care plan. "I love 'Obamacare.' I don't like Bush tax cuts," she said. Her personal slogan, she said, is "keep your 'mitts' off my healthcare." Most of the people in expensive vehicles driving by …
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Big Island Shandy is one of the most popular beers of the summer, and profits help fight invasive species in state's lakes and rivers.
A war is “brewing” in Minnetonka to eradicate invasive species from Minnesota’s lakes and rivers. Lake enthusiast Jason Landstrom fired the first shot by helping found the Tonka Beer Company. The craft beer company, whose beer is available in three Hopkins locations, donates 100 percent of profits to help prevent the spread of invasive species in Minnesota. The goal is to donate at least $10,000 this year, and twice that amount next year. “We like to say our craft beers are the only hops fierce enough to kill carp, zap zebra mussels and choke milfoil,” said Landstrom, a founder of Tonka Beer Co. “The reality is invasive species are no joking matter. They pose a serious threat to the health of our lakes and rivers in Minnesota and around …
Rachel Powell
7:47 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
not quite sure how they all got away without being charged with war crimes more ›