Summer 2018 Hometown Messenger

Rhythm on the Rails returns to downtown Shakopee Downtown Shakopee is bringing back its popular downtown concert

series, Rhythm on the Rails, Wednesdays in July and August. The five-week series includes live music, food and beverage vendors,

A LOOK BACK On June 8, 1965, the Common Council of the City of Shakopee named a city park, located on 10th Avenue and Fuller Street, the Maurice H. Stans Park. More commonly called “Stans Park,” the name honors one of Shakopee’s most prominent figures. Maurice Hubert Stans was born in Shakopee on March 22, 1908, to James Hubert Stans, a Belgian immigrant and house painter, and Mathilda Nyssen Stans, whose family operated the Shakopee Brewery. He graduated from Shakopee’s Union High School in 1925 and moved to Chicago to work as a stenographer

kids entertainment and more from 5-9 p.m. on Lewis Street and First Avenue. Rhythm on the Rails kicks offWednesday, July 18. Music lineup to be announced at www.downtownshakopee.org. Community invited to donate to Pond statue A committee of local residents is fundraising to commission a bronze statue of the missionary Samuel W. Pond for display on the River City Centre plaza. The Pond statue and installation is estimated to cost up to $125,000. Tax-deductible donations can be made online or sent via check to the City of Shakopee, Attn: Joy Sutton, 485 Gorman St., Shakopee MN 55379. Garbage rates to increase Residents will see a slight increase on their residential garbage and recycling bills, beginning June 1. In May, the City Council split Republic Services' rate increase request in half. The total impact on residents is approximately $0.35 per bill (standard garbage collection) or $0.29/per bill (every-other-week garbage collection).

and bookkeeper. While attending evening classes at Northwestern University, he joined the firm of Alexander Grant and Co., certified public accountants. He became executive partner from 1940 to 1955. Stans political career began in 1954, when he volunteered his services to President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration. From 1955 to 1968, he served as deputy postmaster general, deputy director and director of the Bureau of the Budget. Stans then joined President Richard M. Nixon’s administration in 1968, serving as secretary of commerce until 1972. Maurice Stans is most notably known for his connection to the Watergate scandal. Stans resigned as secretary of commerce to head the Finance Committee to Re- elect the President. In the wake of Watergate, he was accused of accepting illegal campaign contributions and exchanging political favors for large donations. He appeared before the Senate Select Committee in 1973, and a year later he pleaded guilty to five minor charges of non willingly accepting illegal contributions. Stans was acquitted of criminal charges related to the Watergate scandal. With his wife Kathleen, Stans established the Stans Foundation which supported many causes. In Shakopee, the foundation provided financial assistance to graduating students and gifted money to many Shakopee institutions, including the Scott County Historical Society, The Landing, Shakopee Area Catholic Schools, Shakopee baseball stadium, St. Francis Regional Medical Center and Stans Park. His legacy is still a part of Shakopee today. Maurice H. Stans died in Pasadena, Calif., on April 14, 1998. He is buried at the Shakopee Catholic Cemetery.

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