Commuters of Scott County rejoice! After years of delays, funding is
in place to fix the traffic-clogged intersection of Highway 169 and
Interstate 494.

The regional Transportation Advisory Board on Wednesday gave the green
light by voting for a funding package that includes the final $34
million needed to make the redesign happen. 

"This concludes a year-long battle and debate that led to great success," announced Scott County Commissioner Jon Ulrich of Savage in an e-mail to community leaders. 

By Meryn Fluker, Correspondent

A standing-room-only crowd filled the room Monday night (March 15) during a public hearing on the Prior Lake-Savage Area School District’s proposed budget cuts for the 2010-11 school year.

Some of the 50 attendees wielded band instruments while others wore bright, yellow stickers proclaiming “Synergy is important.” Many members of the audience did both.

The Minnesota River is at 699.29 feet as of 2 p.m. this afternoon, which is 2.16 higher than what was reported Tuesday afternoon. It is also about a foot less than the National Weather Service predictions for the river level for today.  

A wee bit o' planning for a safe and sober ride can keep St. Patrick's Day partiers out of jail on what is notoriously known as a dangerous holiday for drinking and driving.

By Shannon Fiecke, Correspondent

Scott County didn’t fare well in the final bonding bill that emerged from the state Legislature and was line-item vetoed down Monday (March 15) by Gov. Tim Pawlenty; however, there’s still a chance local projects could be funded.

A Savage firefighter was one of two people hurt Tuesday morning (March 16) at an apartment fire at The Observatory Apartments in Burnsville.

During the fire operation, a ceiling collapsed on the Savage firefighter and also one from Lakeville, which resulted in minor and nonlife threatening injuries. They were both treated at the scene by Allina.

U.S Census forms are arriving in the mail this week. 

And in an effort to help people complete the 2010 Census or to help them get the 10-question Census form, hundreds of  Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QACs) locations are opening statewide beginning March 19.

Are you in the March 13 edition of the Savage Pacer? If so, you can buy photographs that appear in the newspaper at http://savagepacer.smugmug.com/. Look below to see the slide show: