The following obituaries are from the Nov. 20, 2008 print edition of the Chaska Herald newspaper:

AAA forecasts a small decline in the number of Americans traveling during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Approximately 41 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home, a decrease of 600,000 travelers (1.4 percent) from last year’s total of 41.6 million. This is the first decline in Thanksgiving holiday travel since 2002 and is the fourth consecutive travel holiday this year with a year-to-year decline in the number of travelers.

Congressman John Kline today announced a lottery for constituents who would like tickets to attend the inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama.

According to a Kline office press release, residents of Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional district who wish to be entered into the ticket lottery should call Congressman Kline’s Burnsville office at (952) 808-1213 or Washington, D.C. at (202) 225-2271 not later than 12:00 p.m. CST Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Among the items on tonight's Chaska City Council agenda are:

* Public hearing for easement vacation at county courthouse.

* Approval of final plat for county courthouse addition.

* Work session regarding administrator hiring process

Chaska City Council meetings are held the first, third and fifth Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. at Chaska City Hall, One City Hall Plaza.

Helen Eitel, 83, of Renville, died Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008 at the Golden Living Center in Olivia.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21 at First Lutheran Church in Renville.

Visitation will be held on Thursday from 5-8 p.m. in the Dirks-Blem Funeral Home in Renville. Visitation continues on Friday one hour prior to the services at the church. 

Lorance Felten, 67, of Chaska, died Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008 at his home.

Memorial Service is Wednesday, Nov. 19, 1 p.m. at the Bertas Funeral Home, 200 West Third Street, Chaska. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Funeral arrangements were with the Bertas Funeral Home, Chaska. 952-448-2137.

Jean A. Gilligan, 81, of Chanhassen, passed away on Friday, Nov. 14, 2008 at Auburn Manor in Chaska.

Mass of Christian Burial held on Tuesday Nov. 18, 12 noon at St. Hubert Catholic Community, 8201 Main Street, Chanhassen. Visitation one hour prior to the Mass at church.

Arrangements were made with the Johnson Funeral Home of Waconia, 952-442-2121. www.johnsonfh.com

By Pat Minelli 

The husband of Ruth Anne Maddox was charged this morning with second-degree murder with intent but without premeditation in her death.

Charles “Tony” Maddox, 43, made his initial court appearance in Scott County District Court in Shakopee. He faces a maximum of 40 years in prison. The case could go before a grand jury and the charges elevated to first-degree murder.

The Carver County deputies assigned to the cities of Chanhassen, Victoria, and Carver and the townships of Chaska, Laketown, San Francisco and Dahlgren responded to the following calls from Nov. 3 – Nov. 9:

Get a glimpse behind the friary walls. 

Guardian Angels Catholic Church invites visitors to “discover A little bit of Germany right here in Minnesota.”

The church is offering tours of its historic 140-year-old friary, located adjacent to the church at 218 West Second Street in downtown Chaska.

The Friends of the Friary – members of historically Franciscan parishes in the Minnesota Valley – are cleaning up and repairing the Friary, gradually returning it as much as possible to its original state.

Father Paul Jarvis, of Guardian Angels, and the Friends of the Friary offer tours on Saturdays in November, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., with the last tour beginning at 3:30 p.m.