Dead Man Elected, Yoga Pants Rejected and Movember Protected: Pick of Our Patches

Editor’s Note: Every week we will bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Eden Prairie, Edina, Fridley, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Richfield, Southwest Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, and St. Michael. 

'He Makes High Schoolers Feel Like Pro Athletes'
If you've been to more than a couple Minneapolis high school sporting events,you've probably seen photographer Steve Kotvis before. You just wouldn't recognize him on the street, unless he held a giant camera lens in front of his face.

Edina Police Ditching Razors for Worthwhile Cause
More than 30 members of the Edina Police Department are taking part in Movember—an annual, month-long event that sees men all over the world grow mustaches to raise awareness of prostate and other male cancer—for the first time in the department's history. Officers will be sporting goatees, beards, fu manchus and anything else imaginable in an effort to get Edina talking about cancer.

Police Chief Jeff Long said the idea of taking part in Movember came to him after hearing about members of the Minnesota Wild doing it last season. Long saw it as a fantastic way for Edina police to serve as "walking, talking billboards" for men's health issues during the month of November.

Controlled Burn in Corcoran Draws Big Interest in Maple Grove
Smoke from the controlled fire, behind Corcoran City Hall and off of a gravel road near County Road 101 and Rush Creek Elementary, could be seen throughout Maple Grove.

The long-anticipated addition to Interstate-94 West in Albertville opened to traffic Thursday.

Two Amputees Talk to Students About Prosthetics
On Nov. 13, School of Engineering and Arts students listened to Aaron Holm and Rob Rieckenberg, both amputees, talk about the challenges of living without legs, and the benefits of technology.

Dead Man Elected to Spring Park City Council
Mayor and council members will make an appointment to fill the seat won by John Ericson during last week's elections.

Minnetonka High School Principal Asks For Modesty; Doesn't Ban Yoga Pants
Principal Dave Adney sent an email to parents Monday explaining that "Some of our girls have chosen to wear t-shirts with the leggings, thus exposing more leg and backside area" and asked parents to encourage modesty. 

Popeyes is attempting to take over more than two-dozen bankrupt franchise locations, including the Richfield location.

Making Old Clothes New Again at JuJu Gear in Eden Prairie
The store features skirts and other clothing that has been created using cloth from otherwise discarded clothing.

Jabs Is 2012 Courage In Sports America's Choice Honoree
The Benilde-St. Margaret's hockey player was named the winner Nov.11 during the Courage in Sports broadcast on WCCO.