2011 Year in Review: February's Top Stories on Mendota Heights Patch

Clearing about 75 inches of snow in one winter has taken its toll on the Public Works Department of Mendota Heights.

Not one, but two large-rig plows broke down last Sunday as the department cleared the 70-some miles of city roads during the most snowfall the city has seen this winter.

The students and faculty of  would move in to a floor of the  building under a concept described by Superintendent Jay Haugen at the school board’s meeting Tuesday night.

The idea is one of several that could address a  by the district’s early education program, while bringing in additional lease revenue and lowering administrative costs—something other options can’t claim.

Haugen said the district will be collecting information and feedback on the concept in upcoming weeks, including how it would affect transportation, start times and extracurriculars.

“See those hooks up there?” Micah Witham points to a duo of sturdy, j-shaped bars attached to the arched ceiling, “Those were to hold the swing for the trapeze. We’re trying to see if we can bring that into a service.”

It’s not exactly the first landmark one expects to see on a pastor-led tour of a brand new church, but for Awaken, that’s part of the point.

Awaken is an Evangelical Covenant Church born in July of 2010. Led by Pastor and “Imaginator” Micah Witham, folks at Awaken are trying to re-imagine what exactly church is in our culture, how it speaks and where it lives.

The Miller family on Wagon Wheel Drive has a few things to boast about these days, including the invention of an sport, the successful launch of an event called Winch Fest, and a really big front yard.

The front yard, well, that was always there. The home where George, 23, and Alex Miller, 25, grew up sits on a 3.5-acre property across from Rogers Lake.

Their parents, Scott and Phyllis, used the safety and size of their property to encourage their two sons and their friends to get outdoors, get active and get creative while growing up. 

Those are lessons the brothers took to heart.

Henry Sibley High School's Warrior dance team advanced to the 2011 Minnesota state tournament with a third-place finish in the jazz division in the Section 3AAA  dance team tournament.

Spring Lake Park won both the high kick and jazz categories in the section meet, held Saturday at Bloomington Kennedy High School.  Centennial and Eagan finished second and third respectively in the high kick division. Mounds View was second in the jazz category.

"I'm super excited. We haven't gone to state in jazz since 2005, so this is a hugh step for us," said Henry Sibley head coach Molly Engle. "I'm disappointed in high, I'll be anxious to see the scores. I couldn't ask the girls to do a better job. We did fantastic. I wouldn't change anything."