With a single vote Tuesday night, the Shakopee City Council ended a more than 13-year saga over the local tribal land-trust issue.

With Councilor Matt Lehman absent, the City Council unanimously approved a settlement reached with the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.

First, Shakopee Boy Scout Troop 619 lost a Christmas tree lot when the Denny Hecker auto dealership on Westin Court closed. Scouts had delivered the trees to the lot on Nov. 21 — a Friday night — only to find out soon afterward that they would have to move their trees.

Laurie Hartmann has been named publisher of the Shakopee Valley News by Southwest Newspapers.

She succeeds Stan Rolfsrud, who has retired after 35 years with the company. He will keep the honorary title of publisher emeritus.

ST. PAUL — More than a half-million Minnesotans have a DWI (driving while intoxicated) on record, a tally that will unfortunately increase during a December-long, statewide DWI enforcement campaign.

Safe Haven, a local organization that provides housing for troubled youths, has received a one-year grant of $45,000 from the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation.

The grant is startup support for the volunteer coordinator position and volunteer program as part of Safe Haven’s program-development effort to best utilize the Welcome Center serving homeless youth and those at risk of homelessness.

Starting this season, the recommendation for influenza vaccination for children was changed. All children between the ages of 6 months and 18 years are recommended to be routinely vaccinated for influenza.

Law enforcement personnel in Scott County will increase impaired-driving patrols throughout December.

The statewide impaired-driving enforcement sweep will cover December, one of the year’s deadliest months for alcohol-related crashes. The effort includes participation from around 400 law enforcement agencies across Minnesota.

Local agencies involved in the increased patrols include police departments in Shakopee, Prior Lake, Savage, New Prague, Jordan  and Belle Plaine and the Scott County Sheriff Office.

A public memorial service for Ruth Anne Maddox is planned for Saturday, Dec. 6 at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, 3611 Berens Road NW., Prior Lake (north side of County Road 42, east of County Road 83) at 10:30 a.m.

Dear Readers:

We at the Shakopee Valley News and Southwest Newspapers can't begin to thank you for the notes and words of kindness we've received regarding the tragic death of our dear friend and colleague, Ruth Anne Maddox. We are devastated by her loss and your outpouring of sympathy helps us cope and makes us realize how special Ruth Anne was to her readers and friends and acquaintences.