By Chuck Friedbauer

The District 112 Foundation has announced five finalists for the 2010 District 112 Foundation Teacher of the Year Award.

Finalists include Rob Jacobs, engineering teacher at Chaska High School; Jeanne LaMoore, Pioneer Ridge Middle School media specialist; Jodi O’Brien, first-grade teacher at Clover Ridge Elementary School; Mary Perrine, Chaska Middle School East math teacher; and Jennifer Stone, Chaska High School math teacher.

The Carver County Community Development Agency has pushed back its Carver development.

The CDA had offered a joint development with the city of Carver to include a $2.3 million, 11,250-square-foot city hall with a CDA housing development.

Plans were initially on the fast track, with a fall groundbreaking. The Carver Council appeared to be leaning toward the plan, but officials had concerns related to keeping city hall downtown and the impact on Carver taxpayers.

Each week we publish a detail of a local building. The next week we indentify the building. Do you know where the heck this is? Post your answer; e-mail [email protected]; or call (952) 345-6574.

By Chuck Friedbauer

The District 112 School Board unanimously approved a teachers contract on Thursday night.

On Tuesday, the Chaska Education Association members had ratified the tentative contract by nearly 80 percent approval. A total of 514 teachers voted, with 406 accepting the contract and 108 voting against it. The union membership is 640.

CEA president Tim Griffin said the CEA ratification occurred primarily due to the inclusion of steps, or pay increases based on time spent in the district.

Over the past few weeks, this series has pondered a few ways the city of Chaska could help downtown – through urban planning, downtown city functions, and building trail connections.

Of course, the city isn’t in the business of directly subsidizing downtown businesses. The more it takes on that role, the stickier it gets – case in point, the ongoing Klein mansion restaurant quagmire.

By Mark W. Olson & Cliff Johnson

At a special April 7 meeting, the Carver City Council offered its city administrator position to Brent Mareck, who currently serves as Winsted city administrator.

Mareck begins his job on May 17, according to City Planner Cindy Nash.

Ron Moorse was also a finalist for the role. Moorse was Orono city administrator for 16 years, and later served as administrator for Arden Hills. Moorse and Mareck were among a pool that started with 46 candidates.

Chaska may not be home to Kate Moss, Giselle Bunchen or Heidi Klum, but a quick glance at the fashions on display at the Chaska History Center paints a picture of women up on the latest trends at the turn of the 20th century.

“What She Wore” is the latest exhibit at the History Center. It explores not only fashion, but the women and tools behind the clothes.

“The reason we did this was that we never get these out,” said Tracy Swanson, president of the Chaska Historical Society, as she pointed to a collection of pre-1940s dresses.

Highway 101 between Flying Cloud Drive and downtown Shakopee will reopen to traffic by the start of afternoon rush hour on Friday, April 16, according to a MnDOT press release.

The roadway has been closed since March 19. After the floodwater had abated, crews were able to maneuver heavy equipment into position and make repairs to the roadway’s shoulder, slope and the Highway 101 bridge abutments.

Editor Mark W. Olson reveals the winner of the Herald's Kill the Messenger contest to guess when Highway 41 would reopen to traffic after floodwaters forced its closure on March 19.

Carver County Commissioner Jim Ische has announced that he will run for re-election to the Carver County Board, representing District 5.

District 5 includes the towns of Cologne, Hamburg, Mayer, New Germany and Norwood Young America, and the townships of Benton, Camden, Dahlgren, Hancock, Laketown, San Francisco and Young America.

“I will continue to be that strong voice for you as I have committed myself to the needs of the cities and large rural area of District 5, in which I represent,” he stated in a press release.