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Loon sculpture takes flight, part of United Village project
The massive loon sculpture taking shape outside Allianz Field is expected to be complete by the end of this week or early next week.
ST PAUL, Minnesota — At the corner of University and Snelling, a fitting bird is finally taking flight.
“I was driving over here and I had assumed that some sort of building was going up and then it wasn’t a building and it was like, maybe a bird?” said Mikey Colins of St. Paul.
A massive loon sculpture by artist Andy Scott is being reassembled outside Allianz Field. The sculpture arrived to St. Paul from Los Angeles in 90 pieces. When complete, the 25-ton sculpture will span 89.5 ft. and stand 32.5 ft. high.
Called “The Calling,” some are hopeful it’s part of an answer to a long-awaited redevelopment for the Midway neighborhood.
“I work in a store that was displaced by the stadium,” said Colins, who works for Pearle Vision. The store relocated in the neighborhood but since then, Colins said, “It’s been a net negative over time and I think that is pretty similar with other businesses in the area because it sounds like that was a mall and other stuff going on. Then after COVID, I think a lot of things shut down here. So I hear from people in the area who’ve been here longer than I that they’re hoping for some revitalization in the area.”
The United Village project is focused on developing the area surrounding the stadium — led by Dr. Bill McGuire, owner of Minnesota United FC. However, MNUFC is not involved in the development project.
“If folks are familiar with where Allianz Field is, it’s the super block that surrounds Allianz Field between 94, Snelling Ave., University Ave. and Pascal to the east,” explained Mike Hahm, a project advisor to the United Village team.
In June, a fully inclusive playground opened on the site. Now, the loon sculpture will be part of a sculpture plaza.
Hahm said if all goes according to plan, construction on the office building, hotel and restaurant pavilion will be underway by next fall.
Allianz Field opened in 2019. Since then, the United Village project has scaled back from its original vision. Some business owners have expressed frustration over the pace of the project.
“We’re frustrated, too. We wish we were further along but we were responding to the same change in conditions that resulted from the pandemic, and our communities dealing with the murder of George Floyd and what followed, and how both of those things affected the economic conditions,” Hahm said.
But Hahm said looking at the present, “This is happening now. We’re not talking about something that is hypothetical or something that can happen.”
Midway Used and Rare Books declined an interview but pointed to the signs outside their store. One sign in the window says, “St. Paul gives millions of tax dollars for stadiums and statues, but nothing to help the Snelling-Midway neighborhood.”
Colins said he thinks people here are looking for more community and said, “I have my fingers crossed though… I’m ready for what the future holds for the area.”
Hahm said he hopes between the playground and the sculpture, it gives people visual reminders of what’s to come.
He said, “It’s a great opportunity for this community, both on this site and for the impact that it can have for everything that surrounds it. This community deserves it.”
The loon sculpture is expected to be complete by the end of this week or beginning of next week.
In a search warrant application, Richfield police detail reports by first responders alleging a slow staff response and allegations of forged documents in the death.
RICHFIELD, Minn. — A Richfield care facility is under investigation after allegations by first responders that staff there did not check on a patient as she was dying and then forged paperwork to cover it up.
In an application for a search warrant, police requested access to medical records and surveillance video related to the treatment and death of 55-year-old Candace Columbus, a patient at The Villas in Richfield. Investigator Sammy Gonzalez details a report by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) based on accounts from a Hennepin County paramedic on Oct. 7, 2024, the day Columbus died at the facility located at 7727 Portland Ave. S.
That paramedic reported that they suspected that facility staff suspected the patient was dying but did not check on her or call 911. The first responder said that when first responders were finally called, staffers claimed that Columbus had a Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR) but did not have a form on hand. Paramedics also reported seeing staff members filling out a DNR Form, which would constitute forgery.
Investigator Gonzalez says in the warrant application that body cam video from a Richfield police officer who responded to The Villas recorded the interaction between the reporting paramedic and care staff, including a phone conversation between one employee and someone claiming to be the facility manager, who appears to be giving the staff instructions on how to fill out the DNR form.
“Your affiant (Gonzalez) requests further information from The Villas at Richfield that will lead to further evidence of forgery and/or vulnerable adult abuse/neglect,” the application reads.
Richfield Police Lt. Brad Drayna told KARE 11 that the ongoing investigation prevents the department from providing anything beyond the information in the search warrant. An administrator for The Villas says a statement on the patient’s death and investigation will be released later Wednesday.
MINNEAPOLIS — Christmas came early for Minnesotans watching the trick-or-treat forecast for Thursday, as the news about impending snow is practically begging for related discussions about the infamous Halloween Blizzard of ’91.
While parents lugged their small ghosts, goblins and ghouls from door to door — layers of warm clothes and heaps of snow be damned — they could already tell this particular storm would be one for the record books.
When all was said and done, more than 8 inches of snow fell in the course of only a few hours, leaving Minnesotans with much work when the sun came up the next morning.
So, will we have a ’24-style repeat of ’91? Only time will tell, but for now, we’re bringing back a few classics from the archives to get everyone in the mood for another snowy (and spooky!) celebration.
See our story, “Helping in the Halloween Blizzard” above, and more from the archives below.
New York State authorities confirm that a woman and two kids children went over a guard rail and into the falls Monday night. They have not been found.
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — The New York State Park Police and the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation are investigating an incident on Goat Island in Niagara Falls.
According to a release on Tuesday by the New York State Police, officers responded to an incident that happened on or around Goat Island around 9 p.m. on Monday evening.
In an updated release on Wednesday the NYSP confirmed that a 33-year-old woman, a 9-year-old, and a 5-month-old crossed over the safety guard rail and went over Niagara Falls on Luna Island, which is attached to Goat Island.
The victims have been identified as Chaianti Means, 33, Roman Rossman, 9, and Mecca Means 5-months-old.
According to the NYSP release, “The investigation has determined that this incident was intentional in nature, though the circumstances remain under investigation. New York State Park Police and State Police search/rescue efforts were conducted with negative results. This incident deems no public threat to safety.”
NYSP Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Aviation, Underwater Recovery Unit, New York State Park Police and Niagara Falls Police Department are assisting in the investigation.
2 On Your Side will update this story when we receive new information from State Police.
