Latest news with #InverGroveHeights
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
After surviving collapse, fire and Dillinger escape, Dakota County swing bridge begins new chapter
At 130 years old, one Dakota County bridge has been traversed by horse-drawn carriages, a notorious bank robber and firefighters in the nick of time. But its story isn't finished yet. The Rock Island Swing Bridge, which juts out about 680 feet over the Mississippi River from Inver Grove Heights, will begin its latest chapter on the evening of Tuesday, June 17, as it's lit up with thousands of LEDs. 'Council members, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, residents … everybody wants to stake claim as to whose idea this was,' Adam Lares, parks and recreation director for Inver Grove Heights, said with a chuckle. The $553,000 project will culminate in nightly light shows that run every quarter hour from 7 to 10 p.m. through the summer, Lares said. 'It's part of our identity,' he said of the bridge. 'We want to preserve the history. That's the key in all this.' As for the lights, there are 54 interior light fixtures, each containing 256 LEDs. The historic section of the bridge features 30 exterior flood-light fixtures, each containing 500 LEDs, which amounts to 28,824 LEDs across the bridge. 'Each light, down to about a quarter of an inch, can be programmed,' Lares said. He recalled a recent test run with a patriotic theme where the lights were programmed to mimic a waving flag. During events, the light shows will also feature music, he said. Mike Reis, front office manager of Twin City Marina, located half a mile northwest of the bridge, said he doesn't anticipate the lights will cause any issues for boaters and he hasn't heard any complaints from customers. 'We're all for the lights to make things more visible,' he said, adding, 'The colors are neat; hopefully they can do Vikings colors someday.' The cost to run the lights, estimated to be about $4,000 annually, will be covered by the Parks Department's operating budget, Lares said, which is consistent with how electrical costs are managed throughout the park system. Inver Grove Heights isn't the only Dakota County city with an affinity for flare, er, flair. Earlier this year, Eagan re-lit its historic Sperry Tower after a lightning strike in 2023 left it dark. 'The (bridge) once connected across the river and it was vital infrastructure before I-494 came along,' Lares said. 'It gave you the opportunity to cross the Mississippi River. It was our legacy.' Completed in 1895 and spanning 1,661 feet, the Rock Island Swing Bridge was the largest of its kind in the country at the time. First used by horse-drawn wagons and trains, the bridge provided a connection between stockyards in South St. Paul and main rail lines across the river. The bridge's unusual double-decker design would later allow motor vehicles on the lower deck while trains rumbled across on the upper deck, the Pioneer Press reported. Rock Island Railroad operated it as a toll bridge until 1938, when the Legislature made it free to cross. As local legend goes, the bridge served as an escape route for Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger. The notorious outlaw crossed it in a stolen car while high-tailing to Chicago after a shootout with Dakota County authorities in the mid-1930s. In 1980, the railroad went bankrupt and as a result the bridge closed to rail traffic. Nearly two decades later, the bridge closed to vehicle traffic. In 2008, a 200-foot segment of the eastern stretch of the bridge collapsed into the riverbank and the remaining section was slated for demolition. Two days before demolition, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty gave the Dakota County side of the bridge a two-year reprieve when he signed the state's bonding bill, which included a moratorium. 'God bless Governor Pawlenty, different party than me, but we both traveled across that bridge as kids,' said Dakota County Commissioner Joe Atkins, who was a state representative at the time and introduced the moratorium. 'We passed that bill and got a respite to figure out the next steps.' Shortly after, the National Park Service hosted a bridge tour to gauge public interest in reusing the Inver Grove Heights side as a scenic pier. There were long lines all day to get on it, the Pioneer Press reported. In 2010, tragedy struck again as the bridge caught fire just three weeks out from being restored to a public pier. Firefighters worked for three hours on the pier and in boats to douse the burning creosote-soaked wooden deck stringers. It was concluded that the fire started from welding sparks. Despite the setbacks, the bridge reopened in 2011 as a public pier, spanning some 680 feet over the river. 'You've got this fixture in the community, over a century old, and it's found a way to remain relevant and popular with individuals and families for 130 years now,' Atkins said. 'This latest feature probably won't be the last. It seems to spur creativity and interest among residents across all ages and generations.' Northwest of the bridge sits Heritage Village Park, one of the city's latest development projects. At the park visitors will find an 11-acre off-leash dog park that was once a polluted rail yard. The dog park, which opened in 2019, cost just under $900,000, a total that includes a parking lot, lighting, fencing, benches, drinking fountains and storm water treatment. 'It's a very popular dog park. It is just off the charts the number of people that use it,' said Atkins, who was elected mayor of Inver Grove Heights in 1992 and held the position for 10 years. Next steps for the park include the construction of an inclusive playground, splash pad and expanded parking lot, according to city documents. Last November, Dakota County leaders celebrated construction of the first phase of the new Veterans Memorial Greenway, a three-part project that eventually will connect Lebanon Hills Regional Park and the Mississippi River Greenway with five miles of trails interspersed with memorials for military veterans and their families. Miss Juneteenth crowns Minnesota's young Black queens Here's how the 2025 MN Legislature impacted Ramsey, Washington, Dakota counties 2 federally charged with machine gun possession after violence at Twin Cities graduations Hastings' Smead Manufacturing sold to TOPS products in Illinois Metal manufacturer to lay off nearly 150 in Lakeville, Shakopee, Plymouth The first phase is the central section of the greenway, running for two miles between Alameda Path and Rich Valley Park in Inver Grove Heights. The Mississippi River Greenway, which runs for 28 miles along the river connecting St. Paul to Hastings, also includes a trailhead at the Rock Island Swing Bridge that opened in 2015. 'In my opinion, the swing bridge rivals the bison for the top spots people want to stop and enjoy along the Mississippi Greenway,' Atkins said, referring to the herd of American Plains bison that graze at Spring Lake Park Reserve northwest of Hastings. The bison, who were reintroduced to the prairie in 2022, are part of a plan to naturalize the park's landscape by restoring the oak savanna and prairie landscape of the past. 'We are trying to build connectivity back to that river,' Lares said of the lighting project. 'We're trying to make sure that we don't forget our history and pay homage to that bridge and the natural beauty around it.' When: 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, June 17 Where: 4465 E. 66th St., Inver Grove Heights Details: Cost: Free Miss Juneteenth crowns Minnesota's young Black queens Here's how the 2025 MN Legislature impacted Ramsey, Washington, Dakota counties 2 federally charged with machine gun possession after violence at Twin Cities graduations Hastings' Smead Manufacturing sold to TOPS products in Illinois Metal manufacturer to lay off nearly 150 in Lakeville, Shakopee, Plymouth
CBS News
11-06-2025
- CBS News
Inver Grove Heights police search for missing man, 25
Court filings reveal reason for federal raid in Minneapolis, and more headlines Court filings reveal reason for federal raid in Minneapolis, and more headlines Court filings reveal reason for federal raid in Minneapolis, and more headlines Police in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, are asking for the public's help to find a missing 25-year-old man. Tyler VanMeeteren was last seen "leaving a residence" in the city on Monday at about 9 a.m., police say. Tyler VanMeeteren Inver Grove Heights Police VanMeeteren is described as a White man who stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs about 170 lbs. He has blond hair and blue eyes, and was last seen wearing a light blue shirt and dark pants. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call police at 651-450-2525.
Forbes
05-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
World Environment Day 2025: Real Solutions To Beat Plastic Pollution
Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, Pine Bend sanitary landfill, the largest open landfill in Minnesota. ... More (Photo by: Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) June 5th marks World Environment Day, and this year's theme, 'Beat Plastic Pollution,' is pertinent as global plastic production has ballooned from 2 million tons in 1950 to a staggering 430 million ton annually today, according to the United Nations Environment Program. The World Economic Forum further shares stark data that 350 million tons of plastic waste is generated each year and of that 19 million leaks in the environment with 13 million onto land and 6 million into rivers and coastlines. The In 2022 the OECD warned that if current trends continue, plastic waste could nearly triple by 2060, with half ending up in landfills and less than a fifth recycled. A vendor arranges paper bags at Kimironko market in Kigali, Rwanda, July 14, 2022. TO GO WITH ... More "Feature: Rwanda makes strides in plastic ban" (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua via Getty Images) At the recycling center, plastic bottles are collected and packed for recycling Tackling plastic pollution requires systemic change that addresses the full lifecycle of plastic products. The journey to 'beat plastic pollution' has to start with strong policy frameworks such as Extended Producer Responsibility laws which are critical to shifting accountability onto companies and ensuring that environmental impacts are managed from production through to disposal. However, legislation alone is not enough. Consumer awareness must move beyond marketing claims like 'recyclable,' especially as most plastics are not truly recycled and end up in landfills and oceans. Consumers must focus on reducing unnecessary plastics through reuse and refill systems, supporting companies committed to genuine sustainability, and demanding greater transparency and accountability. These are powerful actions that individuals can take to drive the market transformation needed to create a future where plastic pollution is no longer inevitable but preventable. Ultimately, collective action from policymakers, businesses, and consumers is essential. On this World Environment Day, the call is clear: it is time to move beyond promises and take decisive action for a cleaner, more sustainable planet.
CBS News
02-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Nearly $400K in lottery prizes won this weekend in Minnesota
Some Minnesota lottery players won nearly $400,000 this weekend. State lottery officials say Inver Grove Heights' The Corner Store sold a North 5 ticket worth $276,186. Two $50,000 Powerball tickets were also sold at Newport's Winners Corner in Newport and Burnsville's Shooters Billiard Club & Cafe. Winners have one year to claim their prizes, and due to a state law signed in 2021, they can opt out of being publicly identified if they win more than $10,000. Minnesota has had its share of big wins this year. In early January, two Millionaire Raffle tickets were sold in Tracy and Nowthen. Weeks later, someone bought a Progressive Print-N-Play ticket worth $436,015 in North St. Paul. In February, someone bought a Powerball ticket in Lake City worth $94,949 on the same weekend another lucky customer won a $50,000 Powerball jackpot in Hastings. And in March, a North 5 ticket worth $137,742 was sold in Maple Grove. In last year's general election, Minnesotans voted overwhelmingly in favor of maintaining the policy of placing 40% of all Minnesota Lottery proceeds into the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. In January, it was announced $1.2 million of those funds would go to the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine for avian influenza research. If you or someone you know struggles with playing responsibly, the Minnesota Department of Human Services has resources available. Call 800-333-HOPE for free, confidential information and referral to services in your area or visit
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man killed in Inver Grove Heights apartment fire
The Brief A man was killed after a fire broke out at an Inver Grove Heights apartment complex. Crews responded shortly after noon to the report of the fire. The victim was found inside the apartment and rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. (FOX 9) - A man died after a fire broke out at an apartment complex in Inver Grove Heights on Sunday. The backstory The Inver Grove Heights Fire Department says it responded shortly after noon to the report of a fire at an apartment complex off Babcock Trail. At the scene, crews found a working fire inside an apartment unit. What we know While searching the apartment, firefighters say they found a victim who was pulled from the fire. The victim was treated at the scene and rushed to the hospital, where he was ultimately pronounced dead. What we don't know The cause of the fire is under investigation but fire officials say it appears to be an accident. The other side Firefighters say the fire was contained to the single unit. The fire is under investigation but is believed to be an accident.
