By Shannon Fiecke, Correspondent

Eleven soaring glass markers honoring each of the state’s tribal nations will greet football fans when they come for the first game at the new University of Minnesota stadium next fall.

The name and design details for the Minnesota Tribal Nations
Plaza, which will be the main gate to the TCF Bank Stadium, were revealed Monday, almost 11 months after the Shakopee Mdewakanton Siou Community donated $10 million for the arena.

Before I left for my Rotary exchange to Bolivia, Joanna Miller interviewed me and told me that the Prior Lake American website has blog-hosting capabilities should I feel the need to update folks back home. I´ve been in Bolivia for a little over a month now, and I´ve been dutifully keeping my own private blog (www.boliviablog.braveblog.com), but I didn´t see the need to start a Prior Lake American blog until now.

By Joanna Miller, Staff Writer

Winemaker Julie Welch took home a cache of awards from this year’s Minnesota State Fair.

It’s not surprising that someone with the last name Welch has a knack for a hobby focused on grapes. However, the amateur winemaker from Prior Lake boasted four wins under different categories, including wines made from a variety of fruits.

After rising for two straight years, the estimated number of violent crimes in the United States declined from the previous year’s total, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

It seems every day (especially during election season) we are bombarded with new polls letting us know who is ahead in a race, what the president's approval rating is, and so on and so on.
So do you put any trust in polls?
If so, which polls do you trust and why?
If not, why do you think polls are bunk?

I have to say watching the Vikings' defense hold the Colts in check the entire game on Sunday only to lose to a last second field goal was infuriating.
As I watched the game, all I could think was the defense looks good, but a string of field goals isn't going to beat the Colts.
As it turns out I was right.
For three-and-a-half quarters the Colts couldn't do anything, but anyone who has watched the NFL in the last decade knew you can't score 15 points and beat the Colts.
Now I'm not the biggest Tarvaris Jackson fan, but who else do we have?
Gus Frerotte?

The Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club, 2920 E. 220th St., Prior Lake, will offer a free family hunting expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16.

By Lori Carlson, Editor 

Residents, business owners, nonprofit club representatives and others in the community will take part in the annual Fall Community Fest from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, at Prior Lake High School, 7575 150th St., Savage.