Are you interested in reading the public notices published in the September 6, 2008 print edition of the Savage Pacer newspaper? The page or pages on which those notices were printed are attached to this item, in the form of .pdf's that can be opened with Adobe Acrobat.

By Tom Schardin, Staff Writer

The Prior Lake girls cross country team finished second at the 29-team Redbird Invitational in Montgomery on Sept. 4.

The No. 4-ranked Lakers had 98 team points, 13 shy of champion Shakopee (85). New Prague was third with 140 points.

The following obituaries are from the Sept. 6, 2008 print edition of the Savage Pacer newspaper:

By Tom Schardin, Staff Writer

The Burnsville girls cross country team finished fourth out of 13 teams at the Dewey Minneart Invitational on Sept. 4 at St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park in Hastings.

The No. 5-ranked Blaze had 145 team points, which was well behind champion Wayzata (83) and runner-up Eagan (88).

The Blaze was running without one of its top performers in senior captain Sarah Daniels, who was out with a leg injury.

By Jim Ross, Guest Commentary

Last year I was excited to hear of a new book coming out on our beloved Dan Patch called “Crazy Good” by Charles Leerhsen. This year I got a signed copy and even had my picture taken with the author at Dan Patch Days. Anyone with an appreciation of history has to be excited to read about our namesake, M.W. Savage, and have the legendary pacer’s story re-told.

Having read it, Leerhsen’s version is at times cleverly worded then poorly written; part revisionist history then traditional lore.

By Tom Schardin, Staff Writer

The Prior Lake girls swimming team nearly upset the defending Missota Conference champions in its season opener on Sept. 4.

The dual meet went down to the last race - the 400-yard freestyle relay - and the Wingers won the event and took third to earn a 94-91 win over the Lakers.

The Lakers took second and fourth in the 400 free relay.

The Wingers are a perennial power in Class A, taking eighth in the state team standings last season.

By Scott Kalb, Community Voices

The Olympics inspired me … to spend hours sitting on the couch, eating Doritos and drinking whatever the green stuff was in the refrigerator. I dreamed of winning the gold as I watched the best athletes in the world competing to be crowned the best in the world in their respective “sport,” which has been redefined by the Olympic Committee for Political Correctness as, “Everything except sitting on a couch eating Doritos and drinking green stuff from the refrigerator.”

By Tom Schardin, Staff Writer

The Prior Lake girls soccer team earned its first Missota Conference win on Sept. 4 with a 2-0 victory over Holy Angels.

Paige Kuplic and Chloe Winkelman each had goals for the Lakers, while Samantha Buescher and Jenna Nelson each had assists.

Kristine Thielen made seven saves in goal to get the shutout.

Prior Lake (2-3-1 overall, 1-1 in the conference) will return to conference action on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at Farmington at 5 p.m.

By Tom Schardin, Staff Writer

The Burnsville girls swimming team swept both Lakeville squads in a Lake Conference triangular meet on Sept. 4.

The Blaze (3-0) beat Lakeville South and Lakeville North the same margin, 100-83.

Senior Jenny Comstock was a double-winner for the Blaze. She had the top time in the 50-yard freestyle (25.65) and the 100 freestyle (56.78).

Anna Elling was the Blaze's other winner, claiming the 100 butterfly (1:00.87).

By Michael Tix, Spiritual Reflections

Around our church buildings there are many different gardens. A few years ago we asked parishioners to help tend the gardens by stepping forward to weed them. One man by the name of Wayne responded, “I know the difference between a plant and a weed.”