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

- For the first time in about a decade, property values did not increase across the board. In some cases, the Scott County assessors are decreasing estimated market values on which taxes are based. This could have an impact on county operations, because just more than half of Scott County's operating income comes from property taxes.  

- The Community Action Program (CAP) Agency is seeing unprecedented increases in the use of its food shelves lately in three of the Twin Cities' most affluent counties -- Scott, Carver, and Dakota. 

- CapX 2020 is looking to place its proposed high-voltage power line, near Belle Plaine -- possibly south of the city, not far from Highway 19. The line would run from Brookings, S.D., and Buffalo wind farms to the Twin Cities.

- Tim Rud, Lonsdale mayor, kicked off a campaign to unseat State Rep. David Bly as the representative for House of Representatives District 25B. Rud was endorsed by the Republican Party. The district includes Helena Township.

- The Minnesota River Conference named its first ever all-conference dance team, recognizing among the honorees three Belle Plaine High School seniors -- Sara Bigaouette, Ashley Krant, and Heather Johnson. Sibel Dikmen received an honorable mention.