In the recent aftermath of the mass shootings of El Paso and Dayton, the issue of gun reform or gun safety laws have come into the forefront of political conversations from presidential candidates, halls of Congress and talk shows.
I was very disappointed with the manner in which the writer of the article "Pregnant in Prison" described this pregnant woman: waddled, watermelon, loose skin, etc. The words were very crass, derogatory, and just plain mean. I expected better from this paper. In this day and age we don't nee…
Thank you to Rep. Brad Tabke for serving our district and the people of Minnesota.
We have attended the Rhythm on the Rails concerts since they began and, once again, we want to say thank you to all who support it and put so much effort into this wonderful event. That, of course, includes the Chamber of Commerce and all their volunteers, our public works and police departm…
On behalf of the Shakopee Class of 1989 Reunion Committee, I want to thank all of the classmates who attended our 30th class reunion on Aug. 9. We laughed, we shared, and we reconnected. The event was also used as a fundraiser for Dollars for Scholars and raised $1,350 in memory of our three…
There is a very common prayer that goes like this:
Beating cancer takes more than breakthrough research. You’re invited to make a difference right here in Scott County in this fight. Please attend and support the Relay For Life movement in our community, so together we can help the American Cancer Society attack cancer from every angle.
I’m writing today because of the frightening growth rate of the opioid crisis. In fact, last year a record number of 422 Minnesotans died from opioid overdoses.
Brad Tabke is a real piece of work. We all know his reputation by now but he’s not slowing down.
Great article by SPU Commissioner Mathew Meyer. The SPU Commission is doing its job. Large Shakopee developments are favored with Tax Increment Financing. Individuals and small developers are not.
In his book, "How Civility Works," Syracuse political science professor Keith Bybee defines civility as “the baseline of respect that we owe one another in public life." Civility is a trait so appealing by definition that we ought to have figured it out in the 243 years of the United State’s…
Back in “the day,” servers at restaurants made enough money to survive on their wages. Not only could they survive, but many people could afford to have kids, pets, and a home of their own.
The recent law to stop cell phone usage and texting is a wonderful thing.
Since being sworn in, I have traveled all across this Congressional District on a Healthcare Listening Tour, and no matter where I am, folks are saying the same thing: we need to address the cost of health care, and we need to do it now.
This legislative session, Rep. Brad Tabke chief authored a bill on behalf of the Minnesota Sheriffs Association and the Minnesota Department of Corrections to authorize state and local correctional facilities to use body scanning technology.
I am very unhappy with the new Farmers Market. Last year it started on Lewis and pretty soon there were tents at the Legion again on Thursdays. I have talked to a few people and along with me, we want our fresh vegetables for gatherings on Sunday.
Over the last months through the Minnesota legislative session, Rep. Brad Tabke has shown complete contempt for his constituents.
I'm one who normally stays out of politics, but when it comes to horse racing at Canterbury I get excited.
We’ve never had a perfect president. Some have been good, some not so good. Too many Americans have very short memories. And although individual perspectives often vary, facts never do. Let’s review just some achievements of two presidencies.
According to the recent Hometown Messenger, Shakopee leaders are wondering what to do about the low scores on the community survey.
Ten years ago, "16 and Pregnant" aired on MTV. For five seasons, viewers followed young women as their experiences of being pregnant and a teenager were sensationalized. MTV provided the snappy editing expected of a reality show, but the situations the girls faced were real and are present i…
Shakopee’s Destination Imagination team called "Organized Mess" took first place in state and traveled to the Global Final competition in Kansas City. They took 14th place in the world. Pretty amazing group of kids.
A recent guest column was highly critical of electric vehicles and subsidies used to support their adoption. It was written by an individual from a Washington, D.C., think tank, and it made several false or misleading claims which must be corrected.
After over two years of indictments and convictions of lawyers, campaign managers, foreign nationals etc., the Mueller investigation led by Former FBI Director and Special Council under the U.S. Department of Justice did not find any real substantial evidence to convict President Trump of co…
Kudos to Jerry Poole on his letter to the editor (April 27) "Should fourth-graders be taught sex education"? If parents knew what students are being taught, if they had the time to check it out, they would be mortified. Teachers provide a valuable service to our students, but who is pushing …
I am writing to expand upon Jerry Poole’s letter to the editor from last week.
U.S. Rep. Angie Craig deserves thanks and credit for supporting farmers in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District by sponsoring the Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension Act of 2019 (HR 2089). This bipartisan legislation would provide a two-year extension of the biodiesel and renewable diesel tax i…
I applaud House DFLers for passing an education budget that invests in what matters most: our classrooms and our students.
I watched a session of the Minnesota House of Representatives where there was a discussion and a vote to mandate sexual education in our schools.
First off, I am a hunter and own four hunting guns but it has always seemed to me as I read the Second Amendment that the right to bear arms for hunting or self defense has nothing to do with the Second Amendment. That right is an entirely separate issue and requires separate legislation.
I am writing in response to the article about Brad Tabke's legislative bill to give illegal immigrants drivers' licenses to the state of Minnesota.
I would like to share with you my introduction to Shakopee, a city my husband and I moved to in the fall of 2018.
We all know that Brad Tabke has a history of doing what he thinks is right and not listening to his constituents at all. We have seen this behavior when he was the mayor of Shakopee and continue to see this while he is the state representative of Minnesota House District 55A.
There is growing awareness that sexual exploitation and trafficking is a tragic reality in our society.
Dear Jerome, I read your letter in the local paper this week and could not believe what I was reading. You are making arguments that do not add up.
Over the last several months I have been working with OutFront Minnesota to finally ban conversion "therapy" in Minnesota.
Is there bias in your newspaper? Why were there three articles/letters against illegal immigrants and no article or letter in their defense.
After reading in the paper about Angie Craig's town hall meeting about a man who would not let her talk and answer him — the man talked about socialism like usual these people do not know what they are talking about.
I've been here in American for two-and-a-half years. I migrated using a K1 visa (fiance visa). We paid the right amount of multiple fees from filing the petition up to having my interview in the U.S. embassy in the Philippines. Obtaining any kind of visa is not easy but it is possible, it to…
On March 14, the Jordan Police Department ordered an evacuation of Valley Green Mobile Home Park in Jordan due to flooding on Sand Creek. The order led to the evacuation and sheltering of several Jordan citizens and a large public safety response that included multiple organizations and volunteers.
Some jobs come with mandatory overtime, whenever the need requires it. Shakopee Public Works employees fit this description.
My name is Laarnie Ortega-Henderson and I immigrated to the United States of America but I did so through the legal process. My home country is the Philippines but I am now proud to call myself an American citizen.
Anytime the term “undocumented immigrant” or “illegal alien” is brought up, something strange happens. Angry, xenophobic rhetoric is communicated without a hint of shame by the fearful few who feel as if each immigrating resident is a personal attack on the dominant culture.
Brad Tabke didn't listen to us as mayor of Shakopee when he crammed stuff down the throats of this community. Now after he has climbed the next rung of the political ladder, he is literally laughing in people's face online and poised to slam through his agenda over the objection of his const…
If you read the paper or watch the news there is little doubt that we live in some very challenging political times. Our constitutional form of government assures that the will of the people is met by requiring elections. During these elections the candidates need to differentiate themselves…
Full disclosure: The writer of the Feb. 2 letter that hit the raw nerve of Todd Fracek is my friend. And I can vouch for the fact that she did live under the Communist regime.
