By Mark W. Olson

Homeowners not only deal with impending foreclosure, but also with con artists.

Housing councilors have been hearing from homeowners in danger of foreclosure, who have also been victims of fraud, said Eric Gentry, housing assistance manager with the Carver County Community Development Agency.

“There’s lots of scams out there,” Gentry said. Potential customers are told, “If you give us $3,000, we have an attorney on staff and promise you a loan modification,” he said.

“We probably won’t quit until it’s taken away,” said Norm Kraus matter-of-factly.

After several unsuccessful years of trying to open a fine dining restaurant in the historic C.P. Klein mansion on the northeast corner of Fourth and Walnut streets, Norm and his wife Jan Fox-Kraus refuse to give up on their dream, though obstacle after obstacle threaten to derail the entire project.

“We know this is going to do well if it ever opens,” said an optimistic Jan.

By Mollee Francisco, staff writer

The dour economy isn’t doing many favors these days, and Chaska is no exception.

“We’re pretty normal as far as residential development,” said Chaska City Administrator Matt Podhradsky. “The same thing has happened in all cities.”

Where it once giddily received building permits for upward of 500 new housing units a year, Chaska now sees permits for 40 to 50 new units annually.

The city of Chaska has regained ownership of the C.P. Klein mansion.

Monday night during its Economic Development Authority meeting, the Chaska City Council approved a lien settlement that allowed the city to take back the historic property.

In 2007, the city agreed to sell the mansion to Jan and Norm Kraus for $200,000 on a 25-year contract for deed in order for them to renovate the building and open it as a fine dining restaurant. The city co-signed on $780,000 in bank financing for permanent capital improvements to the building.

In today's print edition of the Chaska Herald, we chronicle third-generation milkman Matt Heger. Follow Matt on his early morning route in the video below. He rises around 2 a.m. and finishes in the mid-afternoon.

Chaska's sole Indian restaurant will soon become a malt shop. Signs went up on Spice Up's door last week indicating the establishment was closed for renovations.

"We are closing restaurant effective from 9/28/09 until 11/01/09 for renovation. We are appreciating for your good support and hope you have enjoy our food and service. For any question, please contact at 952-448-7877. Management."

Waconia residents Paul and Sheila Steiner know the value of a peaceful death.

“When [Paul’s] sister died, it was very sad,” said Sheila. “And we were all huddled in a hospital room. It could have been so much better.”

A popular local hamburger joint has a beef with McDonald’s, one so big it’s taking on the industry Goliath for trademark infringement.

Lions Tap filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s in federal court on Aug. 28, claiming the fast-food giant stole its trademarked logo, “WHO’S YOUR PATTY?”

Rumors of Pauly's American Grill closing are not true, said owner Russ Pauly. Questions about the restaurant's future have come up in emails, news tips and phone calls to the Chaska Herald and were even batted around by councilors at Monday night's City Council meeting.

"We're open," said owner Russ Pauly when asked if there was any truth to the scuttlebutt about his restaurant's demise.