By Shannon Fiecke, Correspondent

A sheriff's deputy responding to a domestic violence call in rural Scott County on Sunday broke into the wrong home and fired five shots.

The deputy broke in through the locked front door and upon seeing one of the men had a firearm, started shooting. No one was injured.

Two men at the house had mistaken the deputy for an intruder, refusing to let him in and grabbing a gun.

Staff Writer Shawn Hogendorf reports from the Scott County courthouse:

The 43-year-old husband of murdered newspaper reporter Ruth Anne Maddox waived his right to a speedy trial during a hearing in Scott County District Court Wednesday afternoon.

With potential cuts in state aid to education funding, Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced a proposal this week that will require Minnesota school districts and charter schools to combine efforts to reduce costs.

“S/iced,” a play written by Metcalf Junior High Language Arts teacher Steven Orth, was originally presented two years ago with the purpose of educating the community about the signs and seriousness of self-mutilation, or more specifically, cutting.

New magnet schools and programs, scheduled to open in fall 2009, will be discussed at information sessions scheduled for January in Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191.

Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools is offering a Parent Information Night workshop 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28 at Grainwood Elementary School, 5061 Minnesota St., S.E., Prior Lake, to help parents learn how to transfer the Responsive Classroom approach to the home.

Students in first through fourth grade will have to opportunity to participate in Homeward Bound Theatre Company for “Broadway Kids,” an after school program from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. Jan. 22 through Feb. 26 at the performance center at Hidden Valley Elementary School, 13875 Glendale Road, Savage.

The Scott County Historical Society, 235 Fuller St. S., Shakopee, announces a new free program for families and children – Kids Kraft.

Offered on a regular monthly schedule, Kids Kraft will engage children (ages 4-8 years old), through pictures, stories and hands-on activities. This program introduces children to museums, promotes reading, and incorporates “old-fashioned” fun hands-on crafts that families can enjoy together.

The Minnesota River Valley Chapter of MDHA will be holding its annual banquet on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Shakopee.

Volunteers from the Carver Scott Humane Society will have a pet adoption Saturday, Jan. 17 from noon to 3 p.m. at Petco in Eden Prairie, located off of Singletree Lane, between Prairie Center Drive and Highway 212. CSHS is without its own building and all pets are housed in foster care.

Two rabbits, a ferret, 20+ kittens, and 31 cats ages 17 weeks to 8 years old will be available. There will be solids, tabby, bi-colored, tuxedo, and tortie cats.