Search Continues, Child Porn Conviction and 'Civil Marriage': Pick of Our Patches

This week's selections include a new Buddhist monastery, 100-meter dash record, Southdale Center on TV, hospital milestone and a record-breaking betting day.

Editor’s Note: Every week we bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Police Release Maps in Search for Mandy Matula Eden Prairie police have released maps of the areas where Mandy Matula, the missing Eden Prairie woman, might be located. The areas are in Benton, Carver, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties.  3 Years, 3 Months Behind Bars for Ex-City Staffer on Child Porn Conviction Scott Andrew Bradley of Oakdale, who once worked as communications coordinator for the City of Richfield, got the maximum sentence. MN Same-Sex Marriage…

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Fly Fishing and Fishing Camp in the Three Rivers Park District

The 2013 fishing season in Minnesota includes a several fishing events in the Three Rivers Park District.

Information provided by the Three Rivers Park District.  Fly Fishing Basics for Women Get the tools to master fishing techniques from instructors. Learn beginning casting techniques and how to choose proper flies. 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 16 at Silverwood Park in St. Anthony and Bryant Lake Regional Park in Eden Prairie. Free. Restricted to participants age 10 and older. Sponsored by Take Me Fishing. Reservations required.  Fly Fishing Basics Get the tools to master fishing techniques from our instructors and be sure your time on the water is well spent. Learn beginning casting techniques and how to choose proper flies. 6-8 p.m. Monday, May 20 at Lake Minnetonka Regional Park in Minnetrista and Coon Rapids Regional Dam in Brooklyn Park. Free…

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Odell Howard Sets New Fridley High School Record in 100-Meter Dash

The FHS junior led the preliminaries then came in second in the final at the 2013 Hamline Elite Meet, according to the Star Tribune.

Junior Odell Howard set a new Fridley High School record in the 100-meter dash at the Hamline Elite Meet on April 27, 2013, the Star Tribune reported: He settled for a runner-up finish in the 100-meter dash in a school-record time of 10.86 seconds. Odell vowed to throw himself even harder at his goal of returning to Hamline for the Class 2A state track and field meet in June. “He was disappointed with finishing second, and I don’t mind that he felt that way,” Tigers coach Nathan Porter said. “But I reminded him on the ride home that he still had a great meet and had to put that into the right context.” Read the full article, including a Q&A interview with Odell Howard, at startribune.com.

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Should Minnesotans Do More to Support Cycling?

The state dropped two spots in the League of American Bicyclists’ annual rankings.

(Editor's Note: The map above was created by the League of American Bicyclists.)  Minnesota is still among the top states in “bike friendliness,” but its ranking fell a couple notches in 2013, according to the League of American Bicyclists. The state was ranked fourth this year, down from second in 2012. It ranked high in legislation and enforcement, policies and programs and education and encouragement. But it was middle of the pack in infrastructure and funding and lower tier in evaluation and planning. Minnesota was also missing three of the league’s “Top 10 Signs of Success: Use the map above to see how Minnesota compares to other states in the various categories. Do you think Minnesota needs to do more to support cycling? Share your …

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Watts

3:39 pm on Friday, May 10, 2013

Has anybody else received the following when trying to reply in this thread: "This comment has been rejected." I received this as an immediate response from the Patch site, for a completely innocuous reply to somebody that was me actually agreeing with them and the post contained no foul language or anything that could be interpreted to violate any rules of the site. In fact, the reply came back …   more ›

Going Golfing: Four Courses in the Three Rivers Park District

There are also five driving ranges.

Throughout the Three Rivers Park District, there are 63 holes and five driving range in the Twin Cities area. Equipment rental is available at each course. Baker National Golf Course in Medina Glen Lake Golf and Practice Center in Minnetonka Eagle Lake Youth Golf Center in Plymouth Cleary Lake Golf Course in Prior Lake For mini-golfers Eagle Lake Youth Golf Center in Plymouth Due to varying weather circumstances, be sure to contact the golf course for hours, dates of operation. Share: Do you have a favorite golf course? Share your go to golfing destination in comments below. 

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Reports: Catholic High Schools to Meet about Forming Own Conference

Athletic directors from Twin Cities schools will discuss the idea May 16, 2013, according to local newspapers. Included are Totino-Grace, Benilde-St. Margaret's, Holy Angels, St. Thomas Academy, Hill Murray, DeLaSalle and Holy Family.

Seven Catholic high schools in the Twin Cities are talking about forming their own conference, depending on the outcome of a May 16, 2013 meeting of athletic directors, local newspapers have reported.  The schools, according to the Star Tribune, are: (Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul will not participate, the Star Tribune reported.) Talks are preliminary so far, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "We're just looking at and discussing possible options right now," St. Thomas Academy activities director Jack Zahr told the Pioneer Press on Wednesday, May 1. "We'll get together and exchange ideas. It's just discussion. It's nothing more than that." ... Benilde-St. Margaret's in St. Louis Park is in the North Suburban Conference—which will …

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Support Fridley HS Football At Saturday Barbecue

Indoor "picnic" will feature, silent auction, raffles, and the Tiger's new Defensive Coordinator, Justin Reese.

See Lindsay Whalen at Fridley Cub on Thursday

The Minnesota Lynx star will be at the grocery store from 6–8 p.m.

Meet Lindsay Whalen of the Minnesota Lynx at the Cub Foods store in Fridley on Thursday, April 24, 2013, from 6–8 p.m. Related:

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Boston Marathon Witnesses, New City Manager, Terminations and Resignations: Pick of Our Patches

This week's compilation includes voting for Vikings cheerleaders, Gov. Dayton congratulating wrestlers, WhirlyBall opening and a new bakery opens.

Editor’s Note: Every week we bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Marathon Suspect Shootout Witness Is Andrew Kitzenberg from Edina The Breck School alum photographed a clash in Watertown, MA, between police and the men they suspect of bombing the Boston Marathon.  Boston Marathon Explosions: Minnesota Runners and Residents Recount Experience, Share Updates Two explosions occurred the afternoon of Monday, April 15, 2013 near the marathon finish line on Boylston Street in Boston, MA. Wayzata Boston Marathon Runner to KSTP: 'Sounded…

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Local Marathoners "Speechless" at Bombing

Blogger Heidi Miller reacts to Boston attacks.