Runner’s Gate owner puts his best foot forward

Posted under Lakeville, South Metro Business News on Tuesday 15 December 2009 at 11:13 am

by Tad Johnson
Dakota County Tribunerunnersgatephil-c.jpg

For those who want to put their best foot forward, their first step starts at Runner’s Gate in Lakeville.

Billed as the south metro’s premier source for running shoes, apparel and accessories for athletes of all ages and abilities, Runner’s Gate was founded five years ago by owner Phil Hoffland after managing three fitness centers throughout the metro.

PHOTO: Runner’s Gate owner Phil Hoffland has a full line of high-performance running and walking shoes at the Lakeville shop. Photo by Tad Johnson

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Empty homes for sale receive staging style

Posted under South Metro Business News on Tuesday 15 December 2009 at 11:10 am

by Kara Hildreth
Dakota County TribuneDCTfiorellastaging2-c.jpg

Staging a home before it is listed “for sale” is like a dress rehearsal for a live theater production.

If a residential property is staged well, it receives a positive critics’ review, and that often means a quick sale at a higher negotiated price for the homeowners.

PHOTO: Fiorella Staging Concepts in Apple Valley created this “before and after” to show how staging can boost the visual appeal of rooms. Submitted photosDCTfiorellastaging1-c.jpg

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RELATED STORY: How homes are staged

Posted under South Metro Business News on Tuesday 15 December 2009 at 11:07 am

by Kara Hildreth
Dakota County Tribune

Staging may be a new concept to most homeowners, but to the real estate industry, it has been a critical element for ensuring faster and more profitable sales.

The staging process starts with an initial consultation with a stager, the homeowners and often times the selling agent.

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Two Eagan men charged in credit card scam

Posted under Eagan on Thursday 15 October 2009 at 3:47 pm

Suspects used device to record others’ account information and load it onto gift cards

by Erin Johnson
Thisweek Newspapers

Two Eagan men are accused of using a device called a “skimmer” to steal credit and debit card information from others and load it onto gift cards for their own use.

The Dakota County Attorney’s Office has charged Abe Walter Smith, 31, with one count of identity theft, and Gabriel Adam Alexander Langford, 23, with two counts of credit card fraud.

Police said the two men were part of a group that moves from place to place stealing credit card information, and Langford would stay with them at hotels when they were in the area.

The person in charge of the group would allegedly provide Langford with erased gift cards, and Langford would use the skimmer to load the gift cards with money using others’ account information.

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Eagan apartment fire caused by aquarium light

Posted under Eagan on Thursday 15 October 2009 at 3:45 pm

Homeowners’ cat dies, two bearded dragons survive

egfire-c.jpgby Erin Johnson
Thisweek Newspapers

An Oct. 9 fire that destroyed an Eagan apartment unit was caused by an aquarium heat light that ignited a sofa, the Eagan Fire Department said.

Firefighters from all six Eagan stations responded to the fire at 3410 Surrey Heights Drive at 11:50 a.m.

First arriving police officers reported heavy smoke on the ground floor of the apartment building and began evacuating residents from the building.

The fire was extinguished within 20 minutes.

The two adult occupants were not home at the time of the fire. Firefighters were able to rescue the residents’ two pet bearded dragons, but their cat died from smoke inhalation.

PHOTO: An aquarium lid with a heat light that was left sitting on a sofa is being blamed for starting an apartment fire in Eagan. The heat light was on a timer that went off when the occupants were gone. Submitted photo

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