Here's what's been going on in and around Belle Plaine lately, according to the Belle Plaine Herald:

- Belle Plaine issued four permits for new home during the first six months of the year. Ten years ago, the city saw the number more than double, increasing from 19 in 1997 to 46 in 1998.

- The Belle Plaine school board will dip into its budget reserves, despite receiving a surprise one-time increase in funding from the state.

- Three seats for the Belle Plaine City Council are open. Former Councilmember Cary Coop was the first to file.

Mathias Baden reports:

“A ways out there, but an appealing combination of pastoral and urban.”

Sound familiar, like someone is mentioning a little town you might have in mind?

In the July edition of Mpls St Paul magazine, Brian Lambert, Shawn Gilliam, and Sarah Howard combined to write an article about the best places to live in the Twin Cities, and Jordan made the list of 20 “great neighborhoods.”

The writers took into account crime statistics, school quality ratings, subjective insights of real estate industry professionals, and historical home sales.

Ten years ago, a 6-inch downpour chased the usual Concert in the Park indoors, creating a "Concert in the Gym." Still, 250 people attended and enjoyed the music, according to the newspaper account of the event.

For more information, read the Looking Back column in the July 3 issue of the Jordan Independent. Read it online in the Print Edition section, or subscribe by going to www.jordannews.com/subscribe.

Here's what's been going on in and around Belle Plaine lately, according to the Belle Plaine Herald:

- A "fried squirrel" made the front page of the June 18 issue of the Herald. The animal "made a fatal mistake," the article said, when it touched electrical switches at a substation and shorted out power for more than 1,000 Xcel Energy customers.

- The Belle Plaine City Council hired a firm to design a proposed building for the city's public works department.

Seventy years ago, the sixth annual graduation ceremony for pupils of rural schools in Scott County took place in Shakopee.

For more information, read the Looking Back column in the June 26 issue of the Jordan Independent. Read it online in the Print Edition section, or subscribe by going to www.jordannews.com/subscribe.

Here's what's been going on in and around New Prague lately, according to the New Prague Times:

- Minnesota Pipe Line Co. began local work on a $300 million project, part of which crosses southern Scott County. Crews were in the New Prague area, and grading has been completed near Belle Plaine, the Times reported June 12.

- Candidates for city administrator were scheduled to meet yesterday and today with the New Prague City Council, which is interviewing for the position that will open by July.

Ten years ago, 17 sixth-graders graduated from St. John the Baptist Catholic School.

For more information, read the Looking Back column in the June 19 issue of the Jordan Independent. Read it online in the Print Edition section, or subscribe by going to www.jordannews.com/subscribe.