A Time Capsule, Dispatch Discussions and Erin Brockovich: Pick of Our Patches

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

(Click on the headline to read the full story.)

After two hours of complex work, crews with more than a dozen local agencies successfully freed a young construction worker from beneath a massive concrete slab in Edina's Rolling Green neighborhood. Fire Chief Marty Scheerer said the young man was "doing extremely well" throughout the lengthy rescue, but noted he was "lucky to be alive" given the circumstances.

The relationship between Holy Family Catholic and St. Louis Park's Sorenson Neighborhood has had its ups and downs. As the church nears the start of a project to expand its school, work is being done to heal some of the wounds.

More than 50 items were put in a waterproof time capsule and lowered into the ground in Golden Valley. The 72-pound capsule will be reopened in 25 years when the city celebrates its 150th anniversary.

Motion to Postpone Field Lights Fails

The Richfield School Board’s decision to use turf field revenues to install fields on the high school baseball field was upheld Thursday night, despite protesters', community members' pleas.

Twelve members of the Maple Grove Police Department finished the West Metro Leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics MN last week.

Amazing fireworks and awesome entertainment. What was there not to love about Minnetonka Summer Festival last Saturday?

Brockovich Town Hall: Talk of Litigation, Pollution, 'Fridley Cancer Cluster'

Famed activist Erin Brockovich, the subject of the Academy Award-winning movie, made her way to Fridley Wednesday.

Several St. Michael family members, including Olympian Chas Betts at the United States Olympic Training Center, are seeing the devastation of the Waldo Canyon Fire firsthand.

 is all set to give up its city-run dispatch center and move over to Hennepin County dispatch service—a transfer targeted for as early as Aug. 1. The County Board voted 5-1 on Tuesday to let Hopkins start using the county dispatch center.

Bloody Burglar Breaks Into Plymouth Business

A Plymouth man has been charged with burglarizing a Plymouth business and breaking into a vending machine last week after an employee found him covered in blood in the company’s conference room.

A 17-year-old Shakopee boy, Jason Daquon Lewis, who was rescued after being under water in Lake O'Dowd for up to 30 minutes Friday afternoon has died, according to the Scott County Sheriff's Office.