South Metro Roundup: Sixth-Grader's Tribute to Dad Takes Top Honors

Though you might live or work in Burnsville, chances are you traveling to or through our neighboring communities as well. Here are some of the stories posted on our neighboring Patch sites last week that could impact, help or be of interest to you. Read each story by clicking on the headline link.

Apple Valley

The Twins were touched by sixth-grader Deleena Simon's tribute to her father, who has raised her as a single parent since her mother died of breast cancer when she was one-and-a-half years old. She's one of 60 students the Minnesota Twins recognized as top writers in this year's Father-of-the-Year essay contest, which yielded more than 4,100 entries from kids across the state.

Lakeville 

Customers of Lakeville’s branch of InterBank will be doing business with another bank come Monday. The Maple Grove-based bank was closed by federal regulators with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency on Friday. Interbank deposits have been transferred to Great Southern Bank of Reeds Spring, MO.

A plan to reunite an 11-year-old boy with his father—who abandoned him at their Lakeville home last year—and his mother continues to be in the works. But the boy told a judge that he would prefer to stay in foster care with his maternal great-aunt than to live with his father, Steven Cross.

Rosemount

Rosemount High School graduate Tom Compton, a four-year starter at the University of South Dakota, was selected by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL draft. See what folks around the Twitterverse had to say in Rosemount Patch's Storify piece.

Eagan

A developer wants to demolish a gas station and car wash in Rahncliff Court and build a 7,150 square foot retail building with an outdoor dining patio. The developer behind the proposed Rahncliff Court project wants to begin construction on its multi-tenant retail project as early as this summer.

Like many coaches, Eric Drenckhahn makes sure his athletes get plenty of exercise, are properly motivated and eat enough healthy food to keep them energetic during competitions. But unlike most other coaches, Drenckhahn's athletes have feathers. Drenckhahn is one of a comparatively small group of people in the United States who breeds and races carrier pigeons.

What stories in our area are most interesting or important to you? What else would you like to see on Burnsville Patch? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.