Bob Shaw / St. Paul Pioneer Press
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ANNANDALE, Minn. — A Woodbury man wants to demolish the home of the murderer of 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling. Tim Thone, owner of Thone Development LLC, is buying the house and destroying it as a Christmas present for his four adult children. "When it's done," said Thone, "then maybe we can all feel good." The house in Annandale, Minn., was owned by Danny Heinrich, 63, who confessed to Jacob's 1989 murder — one of the most notorious crimes in state history. Heinrich will spend at least 17 years in federal prison for possession of child pornography.
After a brief slowdown, Woodbury's housing stampede is about to resume. Two projects with more than 700 housing units have been proposed — which would join seven other developments in the Phase 2 area south of Bailey Road. The new projects will put Phase 2's growth projections back on track to reach 20,000 people by 2030. If that happens, Woodbury's population is projected to hit 80,000. A city that size today would be the fifth-biggest in the state. "We've had a great year," said Community Development Director Dwight Picha.
Dana Millington has done it. She has emerged from a 12-year odyssey of despair to reach her goal: building an $830,000 playground for children with disabilities. She named it after her daughter, Madison, who died when she was 2 years old. It will be a place where Madison might have played with other children, instead of feeling excluded. Madison's Place in Woodbury opened June 4. "Finally, on June 4, everyone will understand what we were trying to accomplish," said Millington, looking over the brightly colored equipment.
Mary Thoma squirmed as she waited for her first tattoo. Of all her core beliefs — love of family, religion, patriotism — only one was powerful enough to warrant signage under the skin. That was her love for Anytime Fitness. "I'll take the pain. I don't care," said Thoma bravely, perspiring visibly and nervously gulping wine. Thoma was about to get inked at Anytime Fitness's headquarters in Woodbury during a grand-opening celebration Wednesday.
ST. PAUL — A Hennepin County judge has removed a legal obstacle to a state lawsuit against the 3M Corp., clearing the way for potentially one of the biggest environmental actions in state history. District Judge John McShane on Friday rejected 3M’s argument that a law firm hired by the state in its 2010 suit over pollution from PFCs, or perfluorochemicals, should not be allowed to work on the case that centers on Minnesota’s Washington County in the eastern Twin Cities metro area. McShane ruled that the state could hire the firm and the suit could continue.