Shakopee Letters to the Editor

Precinct caucus night is coming up soon: Feb. 25.

I was very pleased to see that the Scott County Board of Commissioners has continued to do what is right as opposed to what is politically expedient in the handling of the county’s fiscal stability. The board approved a 3.95% levy increase that will accomplish a variety of good things; but, …

There are only a few days left for Congress to pass legislation in 2019, and I would like to highlight an issue that I believe is critical for passage this year. As employers and families select insurance plans for the upcoming year, they are faced with the possibility that premiums could sk…

I moved here in 1979 with my family to open a retail store here in downtown Shakopee. This is my first letter to the editor in all that time. I love Shakopee! My kids grew up here. Over the years I have come to realize that the small businesses that I supported were the same people I found o…

The Shakopee Rotary Club, one of Shakopee’s great organizations, once again hosted their senior luncheon which was held at Turtle’s Social Centre on Nov. 12. In addition to the senior citizens that were invited by a Rotarian, many residents from St. Gertrude's, Friendship Manor and All Saint…

In the Nov. 9 edition of the Shakopee Valley News, Autumn Raw wrote that Shakopee “must declare a climate emergency” due to a river that floods and encroaches every single year.

Shakopee needs to declare a climate emergency.

Since 1963, the Jaycees have been active in Shakopee — helping young adults build professional skills, make connections, and create positive change. Our work this year has earned us recognition at the state and national levels, setting the stage for success in the future!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Shakopee has a garbage problem.

As a parent and coach of four children who participated in traveling sports while growing up, and as a board member and past president of the Spring Lake Park Traveling Basketball Association, I feel compelled to comment on Dr. Niehoff’s article that gave me the impression that traveling spo…

I am writing about the article “Winning in the pool” featured in the Sept. 28 Shakopee Valley News.

Thank you to the boy scouts, leaders and dads that came out to Calvary Cemetery last Saturday to help with removing the overgrown grass from the flat headstones, and to Steve Schiffman for making their help possible.

Echoing the views of a recent letter to the editor, regarding the Aug. 9 article "Pregnant in Prison."

Friendship Manor Health Care Center would like thank all our staff and volunteers who helped make the Hawaiian Luau Picnic that was held on Saturday Sept. 7 a big success. The weather was great, the food and entertainment were wonderful and the children enjoyed face painting and games.

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.

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 …

When You Hear a Baby Cry

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.