Spring-Summer 2019 Hometown Messenger

Championing Shakopee students In January, the City of Shakopee and Scott County were officially designated as co-champions of the Human Services Academy at Shakopee High School. The academy encourages students to think beyond themselves with career fields like human development, psychology, law, education, law enforcement and public services. “We want to plant the seeds of public service in kids,” said City Administrator Bill Reynolds. “This is a great chance for students to explore careers they may not have otherwise known existed.” As co-champions, the city will provide in-kind learning opportunities, such as professional mentoring, in-class speaking, course development, job shadowing, teacher externships and student internships. “We want students from Shakopee to have opportunities to grow and learn in the community and, hopefully, eventually return to us because their experience was so great," said Assistant City Administrator Nate Burkett. Learn more about the Academies of Shakopee at www.shakopee.k12. mn.us/domain/2340.

The city and Scott County were officially designated as Academies of Shakopee champions Jan. 9. Pictured from left, Shakopee Supt. Mike Redman, Mayor Bill Mars, Scott County Commissioner Tom Wolf, Scott County Administrator Leslie Vermillion, Sheriff Luke Hennen and Shakopee City Administrator Bill Reynolds.

City receives $100,000 grant for pedestrian bridge The City of Shakopee NEWS & NOTES

recently received a $100,000 trail grant from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community to construct a pedestrian bridge and trail in Memorial Park.

The bridge will replace the former Memorial Park pedestrian bridge, which was removed in 2016 due to safety concerns, and would fill a gap in the Minnesota Valley State Trail. A portion of the grant will also go toward archaeological studies in and around Memorial Park. Read more about the bridge on page 7. The City of Prior Lake also received a $100,000 grant to complete the last remaining gap in a seven-mile trail system along County Highway 21 from County Highway 18 in Shakopee to Cleary Lake Park in Credit River Township.

GO RED FOR HEART HEALTH AWARENESS In honor of National Wear Red Day, city staff wore red Feb. 1 to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease. The city's employee Wellness Committee focused on heart health throughout the month with the kick off of its annual Biggest Loser contest and a heart scan reimbursement program.

6 Hometown Messenger