Wednesday, August 10, 2011
The Mendota City Council evaluated switching police service providers at an otherwise routine meeting.
The Mendota City Council questioned Mendota Heights Police Chief Mike Aschenbrener about the possibility of changing Mendota’s service arrangement with his department at an otherwise routine council meeting Tuesday night. Revenue from the MHPD’s service contract with the city represents roughly 2 percent of the department’s budget. Yet the $65,000 per year for police service that Mendota pays is the single biggest expenditure in the city’s budget. “It’s our job to figure out all of our options when it comes to police protection,” said Mayor Brian Mielke, who asked Aschenbrener whether it would be possible to switch to another service provider at a lower cost. Aschenbrener estimated that, of nearby police forces, the MHPD was the most cost-…
44.88818
-93.16183
Vasatka-Goers WWII VFW Post #6690
1323 Sibley Memorial Hwy, Mendota, MN
/articles/cost-of-police-protection-in-mendota-weighs-heavily-on-financial-picture
1759720
/locations/5055841
Monday, August 1, 2011
A strike of bad luck occurred near Henry Sibley High School Monday afternoon.
A bolt of lightning is the likely cause of a house fire near Henry Sibley High School Monday afternoon. Homeowner Jackie Hanson said she, her daughter and grandchild were in the home at 592 Sibley Court when the lightning struck, a sound she described as “metal on metal. It was so loud.” According to Fire Chief John Maczko, fire damage was contained to the attic but a back bedroom and bathroom were also damaged in the course of fighting the fire. No one was injured. The Dakota Communications Center (DCC) received a call shortly before 2:30 p.m. reporting the fire. It took about an hour to put the fire out and ensure that no lingering flames were left in the structure. Maczko said it’s typical to get one house fire a year due to lightening…
44.884946
-93.111591
592 Sibley Ct, Mendota Heights, MN
/articles/lightning-blamed-for-mendota-heights-home-fire
/locations/4987713
Monday, May 16, 2011
An abandoned vehicle found by Mendota Bridge may be related to missing Minneapolis person.
The body of a man recovered from the Mississippi River near the Wakota Bridge in South St. Paul may be related to a missing person case being investigated by the Mendota Heights Police Department. A bicycle was found abandoned by the Mendota Bridge April 25. A vehicle nearby was also found abandoned later in the day, according to a statement released today by the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office. On April 29, a member of the clergy reported a missing person to the Minneapolis Police Department. The missing person was described as being depressed and possibly suicidal. According to the Sheriff’s report, the person identified in the missing person report has been identified as the listed owner of the vehicle found April 26. The manual for the …
Friday, May 13, 2011
City attorney isn't convinced a trial will occur.
The owner of Moose Country pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a liquor license violation charge related to out-of-control behavior at the Lilydale bar on Christmas night of last year. The city’s criminal attorney, Tom Lehmann, filed the charge Feb. 15 against Joe Schaefer, who also owns the Wild Onion in St. Paul. The misdemeanor charge asserts that by allowing alcohol to be served after hours, Schaefer was in violation of his liquor license, and thus city ordinance, a misdemeanor. Schaefer's attorney, Michael Black, said the lines of communication are open between his client and the city. "Unless we make a settlement we intend to pursue the court case." According to an incident report, police were dispatched to Moose Country at 2:16 a.m., …
44.904849
-93.1327
Moose Country
857 Sibley Memorial Highway, Lilydale, MN
/articles/moose-country-owner-pleads-not-guilty-to-license-violation
1722621
/locations/4312361
Monday, May 9, 2011
Watch out for increased bicycle traffic.
All information was taken from the Mendota Heights Police Department incident summaries from April 13-May 3. April 30 A resident on Lexington Avenue found a bag of mail belonging to several Eagan residents. April 29 A man with two felony warrants, a canceled drivers license and suspended vehicle registration was stopped at Holiday Gas Station on Highway 13 before taking off. April 27 Two solicitors without permits were cited on Quail Ridge. April 26 A driver left Holiday Gas Station in Lilydale without paying for his gas. Police identified a suspect based on the vehicle information but it did not match the description of the driver. April 25 An abandoned bike was found by the Mendota Bridge. April 25 A patrol officer spotted a vehicle …
Friday, March 25, 2011
Scuffles at high school, theft from unlocked cars reported.
All information was taken from the Mendota Heights Police Department incident summaries from March 1 -March 20. March 20 A black Suburban drove off from Holiday on Highway 13 without paying for a whopping $78.23 worth of gasoline. March 18 An inexperienced driver ran into a fence and utility box on the 1300 block of Sylvandale Road. No injuries were reported. March 16 A resident on the 1100 block of Sibley Memorial Highway reported her unlocked vehicle had been entered overnight while parked in the garage. A debit card had been stolen and used twice before it was cancelled. March 15 A home alarm went off on Victoria Road signaling a break-in. One item was reported missing from the home, and police suspect that the burglar was scared off by…
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The Dakota County Sheriff's Office is interested in another prescription take-back event in 2011. In the meantime, use these guidelines from the Federal Drug Administration.
The topic of last week’s Moms Talk, keeping medication away from kids, is a topic of growing importance not only among parents but also among the law enforcement and environmental communities. While the first priority of Dakota County Sheriff Dave Bellows is to ensure that unused prescription drugs like Vicodin are destroyed before they can be misused, he said he’s also aware that simple disposal methods like flushing pills or throwing them away may result in water pollution. “Dakota County has been talking about this issue for some time,” said Bellows. Last fall, local police departments and the county teamed up with the Drug Enforcement Administration for the first time to host a "Prescription Drug Take-Back Day." Residents could drop …
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Shoe assault and stolen checks reported to Mendota Heights Police Department.
All information was taken from the Mendota Heights Police Department incident summaries from Feb. 1-Feb. 15. Feb. 15 A small dog was spotted in the middle of Highway 110. A short chase ensued before police transferred the dog to Four Paws Shelter. Feb. 14 A resident on the 1700 block of Lilac Lane reported receiving mail congratulating him on the purchase of a new cell phone. However, the man had not purchased a new phone. Police assisted the man in closing the fraudulent account. A woman who attempted suicide was transported to Regions Hospital. Feb. 12 A resident on the 1100 block of Ivy Hill Drive reported property stolen and unauthorized transactions on financial accounts. Feb. 9 A suspect was cited for fifth degree assault after …
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Mendota Heights Police Chief Mike Aschenbrener offers insights about budgets, policing, and the peculiar effects of a long, cold winter.
To keep Mendota Heights, Lilydale and Mendota residents updated on the latest in police and public safety news, Patch will be sitting down with Police Chief Mike Aschenbrener every few weeks to discuss the latest crime news and safety concerns in the area. This week, Aschenbrener explains the unique challenges a hard winter and hard economy are throwing at area residents, and outlines the potential pitfalls of state budget cuts. What challenges has the police department faced in the last few weeks? The Mendota Heights Police Department has been dealing with the effects of both a tough winter and harsh economy, according to Police Chief Mike Aschenbrener. A series of gas thefts (people driving off from a gas pump without paying) have …
44.880743
-93.086063
Mendota Heights Police Department
1101 Victoria Curv, Mendota Heights, MN
/articles/top-cop-in-mendota-heights-talks-shop-with-patch-2
1722973
/locations/3398706
Monday, February 14, 2011
Owner says training and a card-swiping machine are now in place to prevent underage sales.
Sunfish Cellars Wine and Spirits in Lilydale will pay a $500 civil penalty to the city of Lilydale for failing a compliance check in December, just five days after opening its doors. The maximum penalty for the first violation of a liquor license in Lilydale is $1,000 and a three-day suspension. However, the business enrolled in the Mendota Heights Police Department's Best Practices program shortly after the violation. Businesses participating in the program face lighter penalties in exchange for providing employee training and implementing safeguards against underage sales. Because of the short time frame the business had to enroll in the program before the compliance check, city attorney Mike O'Brien and the department recommended to the…
44.906491
-93.130662
Sunfish Cellars Wine & Spirits
803 Sibley Memorial Hwy, Lilydale, MN
/articles/lilydale-liquor-store-faces-civil-penalty-for-alcohol-sales-violation
1860388
/locations/3399172
44.898319
-93.141111
Lilydale City Hall
1011 Sibley Memorial Hwy, Saint Paul, MN
/articles/lilydale-liquor-store-faces-civil-penalty-for-alcohol-sales-violation
1585530
/locations/3399173
Peggy Rodewald
11:04 am on Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Thank you Mayor - well said! more ›