Top 10 feel-good Prior Lake stories of 2017

Prior Lake American

This last year had a lot of negative news, which means the positive stories can get lost in the mayhem and sadness. But, that doesn't mean they're not there.

Here are 10 positive stories from 2017 to lift your mood before heading into 2018.

1. Following heart transplant, Prior Lake teen gets special surprise

When Roman Garwood, a Prior Lake teenager, returned home after receiving a heart transplant, he had a whole new room courtesy of Make-a-Wish Minnesota and Gracie's Room. Garwood was born with a congenital heart defect and spent just six months on the transplant waiting list. His new room is described as "rustic industrial."

2. Local mail carrier donates stem cells to stranger

Prior Lake resident and Burnsville mail carrier Deb Ochetti was put on the Be The Match bone marrow registry in 2011. In 2014, she got the call — she was a match. Only four in 10 patients are usually able to find a donor. Doctors look for core matching markers in the DNA of the donor and the recipient.

3. Anchored: Three local 20-somethings begin their nonprofit in Bolivia

Lily Fluharty, Ellie Veldhuizen and Jessa Veldhuizen founded a nonprofit in Santa Cruz, Bolivia called "Anchor of Hope." The trio works to "spread the love of God in Bolivia by enabling needy and vulnerable youth to find hope and healing while equipping them for a flourishing future."

4. Give back, get a drink: Prior Lake bar patrons help families for the holidays

Patrons of Extra Innings Saloon, a bar just off downtown Prior Lake, raised more than $1,600 to sponsor 11 families from three different organizations around Christmas. This included the Passageways shelter, which houses trafficked youth. The patrons started raising money about four years ago.

5. Local nonprofit gives dogs one more chance

Prior Lake resident Casey Adams founded Spot's Last Stop Canine Rescue to foster dogs that would otherwise be euthanized in kill shelters. The organization, on average, rescues about 60 dogs every month and saved about 800 dogs that would have been euthanized.

6. Students find success at relationship-based Bridges ALC

Where students might fail in a traditional learning environment, they succeed at Bridges ALC. Bridges ALC is the alternative high school for about 100 students in the Prior Lake-Savage Area School District. When students graduate, they receive a Prior Lake High School diploma.

7. Prior Lake scout sells $7k worth of popcorn

Prior Lake Cub Scout Logan Stendera sold $7,000 worth of popcorn and other treats as a fundraiser for his troop in October. With some of the prizes which include gift cards and movie tickets, Stendera — who is a huge Star Wars fan — can take his family to see the new movies. He also wants to buy bigger shirts, since he grows so fast.

8. Prior Lake High School student beats cancer, rejoins classmates for graduation

Alex Schlink graduated from high school at 19 after having to leave school to be treated for cancer. He was diagnosed at 16 years old. Schlink went into remission and was able to join 600 students for graduation in June.

9. Dance of the seasons: A local dancer's passion

Shreya Mohan, a teenager from Prior Lake, has been dancing since she was 3 or 4 years old. She appeared in a production of Bharatanatyam dance called "Ritu: The Seasons" in January. "Ritu" was inspired by 4th century Indian poetry and 18th century Italian classical musical and celebrates the six seasons of India — spring, summer, monsoon season, fall, pre-frost and winter.

10. Local girl creating "ripples" with charity efforts

Prior Lake girl Sanya Pirani is the founder and CEO of her own nonprofit, an ambassador for Community Action Partnership in Scott, Carver and Dakota counties, the author of a fantasy book currently under review by a publisher, the organizer of numerous charity events and a sixth-grade student in Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools — and that's not even close to the whole list.