FLOODING CAUSED BY DAYS OF HEAVY RAIN IN NORTHEASTERN NORTH DAKOTA HAS AFFECTED THREE COMMUNITIES AND A COUPLE OF HIGHWAYS…IN PEMBINA COUNTY, THE 1,300 PEOPLE IN CAVALIER HAVE BEEN EVACUATED AS OFFICIALS WORK TO SHORE UP THE RENWICK DAM ON THE TONGUE RIVER….OFFICIALS SAY THE DAM HELD OVERNIGHT…U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION IS ADVISING THE TRAVELING PUBLIC THAT ALL COMMERCIAL AND PASSENGER VEHICLE TRAFFIC TRAVELING THROUGH THE NECHE PORT OF ENTRY WILL BE REQUIRED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE AS U.S. HIGHWAY 18 HAS BEEN CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING…OFFICIALS SAY COMMERCIAL AND PASSENGER VEHICLE TRAFFIC CAN UTILIZE THE PORTS OF PEMBINA TO THE EAST OF NECHE AND WALHALLA, NORTH DAKOTA WHICH IS WEST , AS AN ALTERNATE TRAVEL ROUTE. …WATER CROSSING THE HIGHWAY SOUTH OF THE PORT OF ENTRY HAS MADE THE ROADWAY IMPASSABLE…STATE HIGHWAY 18 INTO CAVALIER ALSO IS CLOSED DUE TO THE FLOOD OPERATIONS…SOME OF THE 160 PEOPLE IN CRYSTAL HAVE VOLUNTARILY LEFT THEIR HOMES DUE TO FLOODWATERS MOVING OVERLAND THROUGH THE TOWN…IN WALSH COUNTY, OFFICIALS IN GRAFTON HAVE SHORED UP AN EMERGENCY LEVEE AS THE PARK RIVER NEARS A RECORD CREST THERE…THE STATE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT SAYS STATE HIGHWAY 18 IS CLOSED AT NECHE  DUE TO WATER ON THE ROADWAY…

 THE 2013 WARROAD HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS WERE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK….MANY SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS ARE GIVEN OUT EACH YEAR FROM AREA BUSINESSES AND GROUPS….THE GRAND TOTAL OF ALL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE CLASS OF 2013 IS  1 MILLION 197 THOUSAND 16 DOLLARS….THIS YEAR, THE TOTAL FOR WILLIAM S. & MARGARET W. MARVIN- SCHOLARSHIP, ONE OF THE BIGGEST OF IT’S KIND IN THE COUNTRY,  WAS 543 THOUSAND 608 DOLLARS IN BOTH 4 AND 2 YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS WON BY 19 WARROAD SENIORS….A 4 YEAR SCHOLARSHIP APPROXIMATE AMOUNT PER YEAR  IS AT 9 THOUSAND 228 DOLLARS AND A 2 YEAR SCHOLARSHIP APPROXIMATE AMOUNT PER YEAR AT 5 THOUSAND 502 DOLLARS…FOR MORE ON THE SCHOLARSHIPS, AND TO HEAR FROM A FEW OF THE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS, TUNE INTO THE KQ92 MORNING DRIVE SHOW THURSDAY MORNING AT 730AM… 

THE MINNESOTA D- N-R HAS LIFTED FIRE RESTRICTIONS IN ALL OR PARTS OF 32 MINNESOTA COUNTIES AS WET WEATHER LOWERS THE FIRE DANGER…THE RESTRICTIONS WERE LIFTED TUESDAY FOR COUNTIES SCATTERED ACROSS ROUGHLY THE NORTHERN TWO-THIRDS OF MINNESOTA….BUT,  RESTRICTIONS REMAIN IN COOK, KITTSON, KOOCHICHING, LAKE, LAKE OF THE WOODS, MARSHALL, PENNINGTON, ROSEAU, NORTHERN ST. LOUIS AND NORTHERN BELTRAMI COUNTIES… THE DNR EXPECTS THOSE RESTRICTIONS WILL BE LIFTED SOON…. ALTHOUGH STATE BURNING RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED IN THE 32 COUNTIES, LOCAL AREAS, COUNTIES OR MUNICIPALITIES MAY HAVE REGULATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS ON BURNING…CHECK WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO OBTAIN PROPER PERMITS BEFORE BURNING….

THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS OPENED HIGHWAY 317 AND HIGHWAY 220 FROM MARSHALL COUNTY ROAD 4 TO COUNTY ROAD 5….THE ROADS HAD BEEN CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING LAST MONTH…MNDOT SAYS MOTORISTS SHOULD USE EXTREME CAUTION AS FLOOD DEBRIS ALONG THE EDGES OF THE ROAD CANNOT BE FULLY REMOVED UNTIL THE AREA DRIES FURTHER….. THE AREA IS MARKED WITH ROAD BARRELS AND “ROAD WORK AHEAD” SIGNS…..WET CONDITIONS AND FLOODING CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE AREA AND CONDITIONS CAN CHANGE RAPIDLY…

FAVORABLE WEATHER HAS HELPED MINNESOTA FARMERS CATCH UP FROM A LATE START TO GET 70 PERCENT OF THEIR CORN CROP PLANTED…THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’S WEEKLY CROPS AND WEATHER REPORT FOR MINNESOTA SAYS WARM, DRY WEATHER GAVE FARMERS THEIR BEST WEEK FOR FIELDWORK YET THIS SEASON…STATEWIDE, AN AVERAGE OF 5.1 DAYS WERE SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK LAST WEEK…THAT LET CORN PLANTING ADVANCE BY 52 PERCENTAGE POINTS TO 70 PERCENT, THOUGH THAT’S STILL BELOW THE NORMAL PACE OF 84 PERCENT…MINNESOTA FARMERS TRY TO GET THEIR CORN PLANTED BY MID-MAY TO ENSURE THE BEST YIELDS…SOYBEANS WERE 23 PERCENT PLANTED, COMPARED WITH 51 PERCENT FOR THE FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE, BUT THEY DON’T NEED TO BE PLANTED AS EARLY AS CORN. ..SUGARBEETS ARE 89 PERCENT PLANTED, 5 POINTS AHEAD OF AVERAGE….

THE WARROAD HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP & AWARDS PROGRAM TAKES PLACES TONIGHT (MONDAY, MAY 20) BEGINNING AT 6:30 PM WITH A RECEPTION AND DESSERT FOLLOWED BY THE PROGRAM AT 7:00 PM IN THE WARROAD HIGH SCHOOL GYM…. ALL WARROAD HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS ALONG WITH THEIR PARENTS HAVE RECEIVED INVITATIONS AND IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC….

 SPRING TRUCK WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS ON STATE HIGHWAYS IN MINNESOTA’S NORTH AND NORTH-CENTRAL FROST ZONES WILL END THIS COMING FRIDAY…THEN,  SPRING LOAD RESTRICTIONS WILL HAVE ENDED IN ALL SIX MINNESOTA FROST ZONES…MNDOT OFFICIALS SAY ENDING DATES FOR SPRING LOAD RESTRICTIONS ARE ESTABLISHED BY MONITORING ROADWAY STRENGTH AS WEATHER CONDITIONS CHANGE….MIDDLE-RANGE OVERWEIGHT PERMITS BECOME AVAILABLE WITHIN EACH FROST ZONE WHEN SPRING LOAD RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED. FULL-SUMMER OVERWEIGHT PERMITS BECOME AVAILABLE WITHIN EACH FROST ZONE STARTING TWO TO THREE WEEKS AFTER SPRING LOAD RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED….  

THE ROSEAU ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME WILL INDUCT 9 INDIVIDUALS AND ONE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM THIS FALL…THIS WILL BE THE SECOND CLASS OF INDUCTEES WITH THE CEREMONY SET FOR OCTOBER 27^TH AT THE ROSEAU SCHOOL….THIS YEARS GROUP INCLUDES:

…HOCKEY HALL OF FAMER AND LONGTIME NHL STAR AARON BROTEN;

…FORMER NHLER AND MINNESOTA GOPHER HALL OF FAMER BRYAN ERICKSON;

…RAMS BASEBALL RECORD HOLDER AND ST. OLAF COLLEGE STANDOUT DOUG AMMERMAN;

…N-C-A-A TRACK CHAMPION HEIDI EVANS GREENWOOD;

… B-S-U HALL OF FAMER BRYAN GRAND;

…FORMER MINNESOTA GOPHER GOLF COACH AND MINNESOTA GOLF HALL OF FAMER NANCY HARRIS BLANCHARD;

…THE STAR OF ROSEAU’S 1946 BOYS STATE BASKETBALL TEAM AND FOUNDER OF CONCORDIA LANGUAGE VILLAGES GERRY HAUKEBO;

…COLLEGE SOFTBALL PLAYER AND COACH PAULA HOVDA; ….AND LEGENDARY ROSEAU YOUTH HOCKEY COACH DICK JOHNSON

….THE ROSEAU RAMS 2000 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GIRLS GOLF TEAM WILL ALSO BE INDUCTED…. 

THE CENTER FOR RURAL ENTREPRENEURIAL STUDIES WILL HOLD  IT’S INAUGURAL “ENTREPRENEUR AND SMALL BUSINESS EXCHANGE”  ON TUESDAY  FROM 11:00 A.M. TO 2:30 P.M….THE EXCHANGE WILL BE HELD IN BEDE BALLROOM, SARGEANT STUDENT CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON….THE EVENT IS FREE AND ORGANIZERS SAY IT WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND ADDRESS ISSUES THEY FACE… THE ENTREPRENEUR AND SMALL BUSINESS EXCHANGE WILL INCLUDE SPEAKERS, A LUNCHEON, AND A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION…ORGANIZERS SAY ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND FROM THOSE THINKING ABOUT STARTING A BUSINESS TO THOSE WHO OWN AN ESTABLISHED BUSINESS…THE CENTER  FOR RURAL ENTREPRENEURIAL STUDIES SERVES THE ELEVEN COUNTY REGION OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA, INCLUDING BELTRAMI, CLEARWATER, KITTSON, LAKE OF THE WOODS, MAHNOMEN, MARSHALL, NORMAN, PENNINGTON, POLK, RED LAKE, AND ROSEAU COUNTIES…IT IS  LOCATED  ON THE CROOKSTON CAMPUS….

WITH JUST DAYS LEFT IN THIS YEARS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, MINNESOTANS NOW KNOW WHICH TAXES DEMOCRATS PLAN TO INCREASE, AND HOW MUCH,  AFTER GOVERNOR DAYTON AND DFL LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ANNOUNCED THE DEAL THURSDAY NIGHT….. KEY FEATURES OF A TAX DEAL INCLUDE  NO* SALES TAX ON CLOTHING OR CONSUMER GOODS OR SERVICES…A TOP BRACKET INCOME TAX INCREASE…AND A DOLLAR-60 PER PACK HIKE IN THE CIGARETTE TAX….DFL STATE SENATOR ROD SKOE, OF CLEARBROOK, TOLD KQ92 NEWS TODAY THAT THEY HAVE THE OVERALL FRAMEWORK OF THE TAX BILL SOLVED NOW…SKOE SAYS THE BILL ACCOMPLISHES THE GOALS OF DEMOCRATS AND  WILL LEAVE ENOUGH MONEY AROUND TO PAY FOR ALL DAY KINDERGARTEN AND TO DO SOME INVESTMENTS IN HIGHER ED STUDENTS AND INSTITUTIONS…MEANWHILE,  REPUBLICANS SAY DEMOCRAT’S TOP-BRACKET INCOME TAX INCREASE WILL MEAN FEWER JOBS CREATED BY STILL-STRUGGLING BUSINESSES….THEY DEMOCRATS’ HUGE CIGARETTE TAX HIKE BREAKS THE PROMISE THEY MADE NOT TO INCREASE TAXES ON MIDDLE-CLASS  AND WORKING MINNESOTANS….AND HOUSE G-O-P LEADER KURT DAUDT (DOWT) SAID THE TIME IS DONE FOR PRESS CONFERENCES AND THEY NEED TO HAVE IT ALL IN BILL FORM SHORTLY…REPUBLICANS QUESTION WHETHER MINNESOTANS WILL HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO LEARN WHAT’S IN DEMOCRATS’ BUDGET BILLS BEFORE THEY PASS THEM….

NORTH DAKOTA IS PROMOTING ITS BUSINESS CLIMATE AT MINNESOTA’S EXPENSE….THE GREATER NORTH DAKOTA CHAMBER HAS CREATED BILLBOARDS THAT MOCK DECISIONS MADE THIS SESSION BY THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE, INCLUDING BILLS THAT RAISE TAXES ON INCOME AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS LIKE TOBACCO, GAS AND BEER…THE FIRST BILLBOARD WENT UP ALONG INTERSTATE 94 IN MOORHEAD,  ACROSS THE RED RIVER FROM FARGO….IT READS “NORTH DAKOTA” ON THE TOP LINE AND “OPEN FOR BUSINESS” ON THE BOTTOM…OTHER BILLBOARDS ARE PLANNED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER…CHAMBER PRESIDENT ANDY PETERSON SAYS MANY STATE BUSINESSES SHOULD BENEFIT FROM THEIR NEIGHBOR’S NEW LAWS AND EXPECTS TO SEE MORE MINNESOTA LICENSE PLATES IN THE PARKING LOTS OF NORTH DAKOTA STORES….

FIRE CREWS ARE SEARCHING FOR HOTSPOTS BY AIR USING HEAT-SENSING EQUIPMENT ABOVE A NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA WILDFIRE…A HELICOPTER IS FLYING LOW AND SLOW OVER THE GREEN VALLEY FIRE FRIDAY….CREWS ARE USING THE HAND-HELD SENSOR TO FIND SMOLDERING FIRES IN THE 7,100 ACRES BURNED BY THE WILDFIRE WHICH STARTED TUESDAY…MINNESOTA INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM SPOKESWOMAN BECCA MANLOVE SAYS THE FIRE IS NOT GROWING AND NO ADDITIONAL STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN LOST SINCE THE 55 HOMES AND BUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED EARLIER IN THE WEEK NEAR MENAHGA…MANLOVE SAYS THE FIRE IS 65 PERCENT CONTAINED AS FIREFIGHTERS MAKE PROGRESS IN SECURING THE CONTAINMENT LINES AROUND THE FIRE PERIMETER….THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION….NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED….

BELTRAMI COUNTY AUTHORITIES ARE WAITING FOR THE RAMSEY COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE TO  IDENTIFY THE BODY RECOVERED FROM A BELTRAMI COUNTY LAKE AND DETERMINE A CAUSE OF DEATH….THE ONLY ACTIVE MISSING PERSON CASE IN BELTRAMI COUNTY IS MATT PULIS, WHO DISAPPEARED LAST OCTOBER….POLICE DECLINED TO SAY WHETHER THE BODY COULD BE PULIS….WITH THE SNOW MELTED AND LAKES FREE OF ICE, BEMIDJI POLICE ENLISTED THE HELP OF A MINNESOTA STATE PATROL HELICOPTER IN THE SEARCH FOR PULIS….THAT’S WHEN THE BODY WAS DISCOVERED IN LAKE IRVING….

WATER SAMPLE COLLECTION IS AGAIN UNDERWAY ON AREA RIVERS…. LAKE OF THE WOODS SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT SAYS RIVERS AND CREEKS FLOWING NORTH INTO LAKE OF THE WOODS ARE BEING INTENSELY MONITORED FOR TWO SEASONS  TO ASSESS THE CONDITION OF  THESE WATER RESOURCES… STAFF MEMBERS FROM THE LOCAL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS (ROSEAU AND LAKE OF THE WOODS) ARE COLLECTING THE WATER SAMPLES AT DESIGNATED SITES….SITES ARE LOCATED ON THE WEST AND EAST BRANCHES OF THE WARROAD RIVER AND WILLOW, ZIPPEL, AND BOSTIC CREEKS….IN ADDITION TO THE WATER QUALITY DATA, INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIOLOGICAL COMMUNITY, SUCH AS FISH SPECIES, WAS COLLECTED IN 2012…OFFICIALS SAY THE STABILITY OF THE RIVER AND CREEK CHANNELS WAS ALSO ASSESSED TO HELP UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH EROSION IS OCCURRING…THIS ASSESSMENT INFORMATION IS BEING COLLECTED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOW TO MANAGE LOCAL WATER RESOURCES….THE STATE OF MINNESOTA HAS ADOPTED A 10‐YEAR CYCLE FOR MANAGING WATER QUALITY FOR EACH MAJOR WATERSHED IN THE STATE… ON A ROTATING CYCLE, EACH WATERSHED WILL UNDERGO AN INTENSIVE WATERSHED ASSESSMENT…THE GOAL IS TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO PROTECT HIGH QUALITY WATER AND RESTORE OTHER AREAS OF DEGRADED WATER QUALITY…THIS COMING WINTER ALL OF THE AVAILABLE DATA WILL BE REVIEWED AND COMPARED AGAINST CURRENT STATE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS. …WITH INPUT FROM LOCAL CITIZENS AND A COMPUTER MODEL DEVELOPED FOR THIS SPECIFIC AREA, RESTORATION AND/OR PROTECT STRATEGIES AND AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WILL BE DEVELOPED TO GUIDE FUTURE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES…. 

 AREA  D-N-R  FORESTRY PERSONNEL  CONTINUE TO BATTLE SMALLER WILDFIRES IN THE GRYGLA AREA… JOSH DONATELL, WITH THE WANNASKA FORESTRY OFFICE, SAYS THEIR CREWS ARE BATTLING  TWO WILDFIRES – ONE ABOUT A MILE NORTHWEST OF GRYGLA AND ANOTHER SOUTH OF GRYGLA… THE FIRES ARE FUELED BY DOWNED TREES AND PEAT PILES…MEANWHILE,  FURTHER SOUTH OF GRYGLA, GRASS FIRES ARE BURNING ON THE RED LAKE RESERVATION WEST OF HWY 89 AND NORTH OF HWY 1… THEY ARE ABOUT 12 HUNDRED ACRES IN SIZE… DNR FORESTRY CREWS, ALONG WITH THE RED LAKE D-N-R FORESTRY, AND OTHER ASSETS ARE WORKING ON THAT FIRE TO CONTAIN IT…AIRCRAFT AND OTHER EQUIPMENT CONTINUE FLYING IN THE AREA AS CREWS FOR ALL THE FIRES ARE BATTLING HEAVY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY THAT CONTINUE TO KEEP FIRE DANGER AT A HIGH LEVEL…. AT THIS TIME NO STRUCTURES ARE THREATENED…. 

THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE MINNESOTA STATE PATROL HAS OPENED HIGHWAY 220 FROM MARSHALL COUNTY ROAD 5 TO HIGHWAY 11 …THE ROAD IS STILL CLOSED FROM MARSHALL COUNTY ROAD 4 TO COUNTY ROAD 5 DUE TO WATER OVER THE ROAD….THE CURRENT CLOSURE IS EXPECTED TO LAST ANOTHER WEEK….THE AREA IS MARKED WITH BARRICADES AND FLASHING LIGHTS…. MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO AVOID THE AREA AND SEEK ALTERNATE ROUTES…

 AFTER A COLD AND WET SPRING, MINNESOTA FARMERS FINALLY HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN PLANTING…ACCORDING TO THE WEEKLY CROPS AND WEATHER REPORT FOR MINNESOTA, THE U.S.D.A. SAYS THERE WERE 3.6 DAYS RATED SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK LAST WEEK…THAT COMPARES WITH ONLY 1.3 DAYS THE WEEK BEFORE….BUT STATEWIDE TEMPERATURES REMAINED BELOW NORMAL AND PLANTING IS OFF-PACE…OATS ARE 33 PERCENT PLANTED, COMPARED WITH 100 PERCENT LAST YEAR AND A FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE OF 79 PERCENT….BARLEY IS 8 PERCENT PLANTED, COMPARED WITH 100 PERCENT LAST YEAR AND A 62 PERCENT AVERAGE….SUGAR BEETS ARE 50 PERCENT PLANTED, COMPARED WITH 100 PERCENT LAST YEAR AND AN AVERAGE OF 70 PERCENT… CORN IS 18 PERCENT PLANTED, WELL BEHIND BOTH LAST YEAR’S 86 PERCENT AND THE AVERAGE OF 68 PERCENT….

A CANADIAN MAN REMAINS IN CUSTODAY IN ROSEAU COUNTY FOR AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION THAT STARTED IN MANDAN, NORTH DAKOTA…MANDAN POLICE WERE CONTACTED BY AUTHORITIES AT THE WARROAD PORT OF ENTRY AFTER THEY ARRESTED 56 YEAR OLD RONALD HARVEY CUTHBERTSON, OF REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN…. A WARRANT WAS OUT FOR HIS ARREST AS PART OF A GROSS SEXUAL IMPOSITION INVESTIGATION BY THE MANDAN POLICE…BORDER PATROL AGENTS TOOK CUSTODY OF HIM AND AND HIS COMMERCIAL VEHICLE…HE`S CURRENTLY BEING HELD IN AT THE ROSEAU COUNTY JAIL AWAITING EXTRADITION…

 THE WARROAD AREA FORESTRY OFFICE SAYS DRY GRASS AND HIGH WINDS HAVE CREATED “EXPLOSIVE FIRE CONDITIONS” IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA…ANNUAL SPRING BURNING RESTRICTIONS ARE NOW IN PLACE AND AGRICULTURAL BURNING PERMITS ARE ALSO CURRENTLY RESTRICTED…AND OFFICIALS ARE  URGING PEOPLE TO USE EXTREME CAUTION OUTDOORS AND TO AVOID ACTIVITIES WITH THE POTENTIAL TO IGNITE A FIRE, INCLUDING SMOKING, COOKING, WELDING AND MOWING IN AREAS OF DEAD GRASS…WINDS ARE FORECASTED TO BE 25-30 AND GUSTY THRU TUESDAY….. 

THE LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET IN SESSION TUESDAY MORNING STARTING AT 9AM AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER IN BAUDETTE…THE BOARD IS EXPECTED TO HOLD A CONFERENCE CALL ON THE WILLIAMS CREEK WETLAND MITIGATION PROPOSAL AND THE RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO POSSIBLE BORDER CROSSING FEES…THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAY FUND A STUDY THAT WOULD LOOK INTO CHARGING A FEE FOR THOSE ENTERING BY LAND INTO THE U.S. FROM CANADA AND MEXICO…. 

THE WARROAD CITY COUNCIL MEETS IN SESSION TODAY AT 5:15PM AT THE WARROAD CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS…THE AGENDA INCLUDES DISCUSSIONS ABOUT PARK BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS TO INSTALL NEW SHINGLES ON THE PARK OFFICE, AND THE INSTALLATION OF ANOTHER DOCK AND ELECTRICAL OUTLETS AT THE CITY DOCKS…THE COUNCIL WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE PAINTING OF THE WATER TOWER AND A MAIL BOX ORDINANCE..THE COUNCIL WILL ALSO ADDRESS THE ROSEAU COUNTY WORKFORCE HOUSING M-O-U AND A REQUEST FOR ANNEXATION OF PROPERTY….

 COMMITTEE MEMBERS SAY THE INAUGURAL SEASON OF THE “KEEP IT CLEAN – LAKE OF THE WOODS” CAMPAIGN WAS A GREAT SUCCESS…THE GROUP SAYS THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE INITIATIVE IS PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF LITTER LEFT ON THE ICE DURING THE WINTER ANGLING SEASON…  THESE EFFORTS WERE LED BY A COMMITTEE MADE UP OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE LOW SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, TOURISM, LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY, D-N-R AND FRIENDS OF ZIPPEL BAY STATE PARK…AREA RESORTS HAVE ALSO BOLSTERED THEIR EFFORTS EDUCATING AND SPREADING AWARENESS….THIS YEAR, THE KEEP IT CLEAN INITIATIVE INCLUDED OVER 45 KEEP IT CLEAN SIGNS PLACED AT ACCESS FROM WARROAD TO BAUDETTE…6 NEW DUMPSTERS PLACED AT LAKE ACCESS POINTS…OVER AN ESTIMATED 80 TONS OF TRASH COLLECTED…STATEWIDE PROGRAM RECOGNITION…AND OVER A THOUSAND KEEP IT CLEAN DECALS DISTRIBUTED TO LOCAL RESORTS AND BUSINESSES….SPRING CLEANUP WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER ICE OUT BY THE CONSERVATION CORP MINNESOTA CREW THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE ON PINE ISLAND, MORRIS POINT, AND ZIPPEL BAY STATE PARK…THE TASK FORCE WOULD LIKE FEEDBACK FROM THIS YEAR’S EFFORTS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR…THE COMMITTEE SAYS YOU CAN STOP IN AT THE LAKE OF THE WOODS SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT OFFICE OR CALL 218-634-1842 EXT 3 WITH YOUR IDEAS AND COMMENTS…

MINNESOTA TOURISM OFFICIALS SAY A LONGTIME TRADITION PROMOTING ONE OF THE STATE’S MOST POPULAR PASTIMES WILL BE HOSTED BY THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA CHAMBER IN 2014….THE 67TH ANNUAL GOVERNOR’S FISHING OPENER WILL BE ON GULL LAKE NEXT YEAR WITH THE GRAND VIEW LODGE IN NISSWA SERVING AS THE EVENT’S HEADQUARTERS….THE FISHING OPENER HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1948 AND PROMOTES THE STATE’S TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY, WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO GENERATE NEARLY 12 BILLION IN ANNUAL GROSS SALES IN MINNESOTA…THE FISHING OPENER IN PARK RAPIDS THIS YEAR WAS A CHILLY ONE…BECAUSE OF THE RECORD-SETTING ICE-OUT DATES THIS SPRING, THE PLAN TO OPEN THE SEASON ON FISH HOOK LAKE WAS MOVED TO THE OPEN WATER OF FISH HOOK RIVER, WHERE THE GOVERNOR DID CATCH A WALLEYE SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT SATURDAY….

THE ROSEAU POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO A REPORT OF AN ARMED ROBBERY EARLIER THIS WEEK…ON TUESDAY AT APPROXIMATELY 4:05PM, THE ROSEAU POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO ELITE VIDEO & SOUND AFTER RECEIVING A REPORT OF AN ARMED ROBBERY…AN EMPLOYEE OF ELITE VIDEO & SOUND REPORTED THAT THE SUS PECT LEFT ON FOOT, WEARING A DARK COLORED SWEATSHIRT AND WAS ARMED WITH A KNIFE…OFFICERS FROM THE ROSEAU POLICE DEPARTMENT APPREHENDED A SUSPECT MATCHING THAT DESCRIPTION APPROXIMATELY THREE BLOCKS FROM ELITE VIDEO & SOUND…THE SUSPECT WAS LATER ARRESTED AND IDENTIFIED AS 21-YEAR-OLD HUNTER KEITH HIEBERT…HIEBERT APPEARED IN ROSEAU COUNTY DISTRICT COURT THE FOLLOWING DAY ON CHARGES OF ROBBERY…THE INVESTIGATION BY THE ROSEAU POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ONGOING…

MINNESOTA FARMERS HAD ANOTHER TOUGH WEEK TRYING TO GET INTO THEIR FIELDS TO START PLANTING…ACCORDING TO THE WEEKLY CROPS AND WEATHER REPORT FOR MINNESOTA, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SAYS THE LATE SEASON SNOWSTORM ADDED MOISTURE TO AREAS OF THE STATE THAT ALREADY WERE COLD AND DAMP…ONLY 1.3 DAYS WERE RATED SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK FOR THE WEEK ENDING SUNDAY…THE AVERAGE IS 3.2 DAYS….CORN PLANTING IS ONLY 2 PERCENT COMPLETE, ALMOST 50 PERCENT BEHIND THE FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE…OAT PLANTING IS 9 PERCENT COMPLETE, COMPARED WITH 96 PERCENT LAST YEAR AND AN AVERAGE OF 64 PERCENT…THE U-S-D-A SAYS LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SLOW GROWTH OF ALFALFA AND PASTURES…FARMERS EXPECT FULL-SCALE FIELDWORK TO BEGIN THIS WEEK… 

THE ROSEAU CIVIC AND COMMERCE WILL HOLD A REGULAR  MEETING WEDNESDAY MORNING STARTING AT 10:00 AM…THE MEETING WILL BE HELD IN THE LIBRARY MEETING ROOM  AT THE ROSEAU CITY CENTER AND IS OPEN TO EVERYONE…

THE CLASS OF 2013 WILL BE HONORED DURING COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON THIS WEEKEND….A SPECIAL RECEPTION WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY FOR ALL ONLINE GRADUATES FROM 2:30 TO 4:30 P.M. IN THE  ALSETH BUSINESS BOARDROOM LOCATED IN DOWELL HALL…ON SATURDAY, MAY 11^th… THE CEREMONY BEGINS AT 2:00 P.M. IN LYSAKER(LEE-sacker) GYMNASIUM AND WILL INCLUDE ALMOST 200 STUDENTS, REPRESENTING 13 COUNTRIES AND 25 STATES AND RECOGNIZING MORE THAN 25 ONLINE GRADUATES ….A RECEPTION IN THE NORTHERN LIGHTS LOUNGE AT THE SARGEANT STUDENT CENTER, WILL PRECEDE THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY FROM 11:00 A.M. TO 1:00 P.M. THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME TO ATTEND BOTH EVENTS…THE 2013 COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES MARK THE 105TH GRADUATING CLASS TO BE RECOGNIZED ON THE U-M-C CROOKSTON CAMPUS….  

ONE PERSON DIED IN A ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN MARSHALL COUNTY NEAR GRYGLA OVER THE WEEKEND….AUTHORITIES SAY THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AROUND 7:00PM FRIDAY NIGHT ALONG MARSHALL COUNTY ROAD 2 ABOUT  5 MILES SOUTH OF GRYGLA….AUTHORITIES SAY A 2003 BUICK REGAL WAS DISCOVERED IN A DITCH WITH STANDING WATER…MARSHALL COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH THE STATE PATROL AND GRYGLA FIRE AND RESCUE RESPONDED TO THE SCENE…WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OUT OF THE DITCH, THE BODY OF 36 YEAR OLD MICHAEL THEISEN,  OF WARROAD, WAS DISCOVERED DEAD INSIDE THE VEHICLE…THEISEN’S BODY WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE MARSHALL COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE IN GRAND FORKS FOR AN AUTOPSY…NO OTHER DETAILS WERE GIVEN….THE ACCIDENT REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION…. 

THE WARROAD AREA FORESTRY OFFICE SAYS THE THOMPSON FOREST ROAD IN ROSEAU COUNTY WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED THIS WEEK TO PUBLIC TRAVEL….OFFICIALS SAY THE  CLOSURE WILL BE SIMILAR TO LAST YEARS AND WILL AFFECT THE ROAD FROM THE BEMIS HILL CAMPGROUND ON THE WEST END TO WOBBLES GRADE ON THE EAST END….THE CLOSURE IS TO COMPLETE A RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT WAS INITIATED LAST YEAR…OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE SEVERAL STRETCHES OF THE ROAD THAT REQUIRE THE GRAVEL BE DISTRIBUTED MORE UNIFORMLY TO MEET THE CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS…THEY SAY THIS IS PART OF THE ORIGINAL PROJECT AND NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS ARE BEING INVESTED….THE CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO LAST APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK..THE COMPLETION DATE WILL BE DEPENDENT ON THE WEATHER CONDITIONS…. 

SKYWARN SPOTTER TRAINING FOR KITTSON COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS WILL BE HELD TUESDAY FROM  6-8:15 P.M AND THE KITTSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE MEETING ROOM IN HALLOCK…KITTSON COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND THE GRAND FORKS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE ARE PROVIDING THE FREE SKYWARN SPOTTER TRAINING CLASS, WHICH IS DESIGNED AS BOTH AN INFORMATIONAL CLASS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND CERTIFICATION TRAINING FOR THE SERIOUS SKYWARN SPOTTER…..

NOMINATIONS FROM COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE NOW BEING SOUGHT FOR THE 2013 OUTSTANDING SENIOR CITIZEN VOLUNTEER AWARD FOR ROSEAU COUNTY…THE AWARD RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING SENIOR CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL BE HONORED AT CHURCH NIGHT OF THE ROSEAU COUNTY FAIR ….BOTH A MALE AND FEMALE WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN FROM NOMINATIONS SUBMITTED TO THE SELECTION COMMITTEE…OFFICIAL NOMINATION BLANKS AND MORE INFO ARE AVAILABLE BY CALLING JOAN BERTILRUD IN THE GREENBUSH/BADGER AREA AT 782-2628….KAROLYN EASTMAN IN THE ROSEAU AREA AT 463-1621…. OR MARTHA WHALEY IN THE WARROAD AREA AT 386-3605….NOMINATION FORMS CAN ALSO BE PICKED UP AT AREA BANKS,  COMMUNITY CENTERS IN BADGER AND WARROAD AND 4-SEASONS OF ROSEAU; THE GREENBUSH CARE CENTER, LIBRARIES IN ROSEAU AND WARROAD; ROCKIN’ 50’S CAFÉ IN GREENBUSH AND PARADISE CAFÉ IN STRATHCONA; LEE’S STORE AND RIVERSIDE CONVENIENCE STORE IN WANNASKA….COMPLETED APPLICATIONS MUST BE RETURNED TO A SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBER ON OR BEFORE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26^TH…

THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE MINNESOTA STATE PATROL HAVE EXTENDED THE CLOSURE OF HIGHWAY 220 TO NOW EXTEND FROM MARSHALL COUNTY ROAD 4 TO HIGHWAY 11 DUE TO WATER OVER THE ROAD….THE CLOSURE, WHICH PREVIOUSLY ENDED AT COUNTY ROAD 5, IS EXTENDED BECAUSE MARSHALL COUNTY HAS NOW CLOSED COUNTY ROAD 5…THE AREA IS MARKED WITH BARRICADES AND FLASHING LIGHTS…MnDOT SAYS MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO AVOID THE AREA AND SEEK ALTERNATE ROUTES….HIGHWAYS THAT REMAIN OPEN, BUT AT RISK OF CLOSURE IF WATER LEVELS CONTINUE TO RISE:  INCLUDE      HIGHWAY 175 NEAR HALLOCK TO  KITTSON COUNTY ROAD 16…

 THE WARROAD SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL BE CONDUCTING  A SPECIAL EVACUATION DRILL THIS COMING MONDAY… WARROAD SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT CRAIG OFTEDAHL SAYS THIS TYPE OF DRILL, MEANT TO SIMULATE A PLAN TO EVACUATE AND MOVE STUDENTS FROM THE SCHOOL TO THE GARDENS ARENA,  WILL BE THE FIRST TIME FOR THE DISTRICT, AFTER A LONG PLANNING PROCESS….THE DRILL IS SET FOR 3:00 P.M.  MONDAY…FOLLOWING THE DRILL, SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY BUSES WILL LOAD AT THE ARENA AT 3:35 AND DEPART AT APPROXIMATELY 3:50 P.M…PARENTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO PICK-UP STUDENTS BEGINNING AT 3:30 P.M…

THE IDEA COMPETITION  HAS NAMED THE FOUR 2013 WINNERS … THE 2013 WINNERS INCLUDE  TIM AND JENNY SLUKYNSKY,  OF WARROAD, FOR LAMPLIGHTER HOCKEY – WHICH IS A HOCKEY STICK WEIGHT THAT OVERCOMES THE WEAKNESSES OF OTHER HOCKEY STICK TRAINING TOOLS ON THE MARKET TODAY….ANOTHER WINNER WAS  DR. JACK LUNDBOHM, OF ROSEAU, FOR STAND ALONE GAME CALLS – WHICH IS AN ELK HUNTING CALL THAT ALLOWS AN ELK HUNTER TO HUNT ALONE WHILE REMOTELY OPERATING A CALL THAT IS SET UP IN A SECOND LOCATION….THE OTHER WINNERS WERE   BRIAN & COREEN BERDAHL,  OF RED LAKE FALLS, FOR SPOT-KNOT – A FAST, EASY, AND ECONOMICAL ON-THE-SPOT SLIP KNOT TIE DEVICE THAT IS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN THE FISHING INDUSTRY….AND  JERRY TITERA, OF BAGLEY, FOR HUBMASTER   – AN INNOVATIVE TOOL THAT HELPS REMOVE THE TAPERED WHEEL HUB FROM BOBCAT SKIDSTEERS FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR….EACH WINNER RECEIVES 10 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CASH TO ADVANCE THEIR BUSINESS IDEA, PLUS ADDITIONAL SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE…. ORGANIZERS SAY  IN THE PREVIOUS THREE YEARS, 17 INNOVATORS FROM THROUGHOUT NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA HAVE RECEIVED I-D-E-A AWARDS…THEIR COMBINED ECONOMIC IMPACT INCLUDES:… 17 HIGH POTENTIAL INNOVATIONS IDENTIFIED, FUNDED, AND ASSISTED: …42  JOBS CREATED OR RETAINED AS A RESULT:…50 OR MORE JOB CREATION PROJECTIONS:….13 LOANS APPROVED….AND TOTAL COMBINED SALES REVENUES OF MORE THAN 5 MILLION DOLLARS…. 

A SPECIAL CAR SEAT CHECK-UP EVENT IS SET FOR ROSEAU THURSDAY AFTERNOON…LIFECARE PUBLIC HEALTH, ALTRU HEALTH SYSTEM AND SAFE-KIDS  WILL HOST THE FREE EVENT AT THE LIFECARE MEDICAL CENTER GARAGE…CARMA HANSON, WITH SAFE-KIDS, SAYS WITH NEARLY 4 OUT OF 5 CAR SEATS USED INCORRECTLY, THEIR FOCUS IS TO MAKE SURE KIDS ARE SAFE ….THE FREE CAR SEAT CHECK UP WILL TAKE PLACE FROM 2 TIL 6:30PM IN THE LIFECARE MEDICAL CENTER GARAGE, LOCATED BEHIND THE HOSPITAL IN ROSEAU….FOR MORE INFO OR TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT CALL LIFECARE PUBLIC HEALTH AT 463-3211…

THE WARROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S ANNUAL SPRING BOOK FAIR WRAPS UP THURSDAY…THE BOOK FAIR WILL BE HELD FROM 730AM TO 430PM…

 A ROSEAU COUNTY RELAY FOR LIFE TEAM CAPTAIN / COMMITTEE MEETING IS SET FOR THIS COMING MONDAY MAY 6 AT THE ROSEAU CITY CENTER….THE  CAPTAIN MEETING IS AT 6:00PM WITH THE COMMITTEE MEETING TO FOLLOW…

DESPITE THE SUDDEN WARM WEATHER,  MINNESOTA FARMERS ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE CHANCE TO GET INTO THEIR FIELDS….IN ITS WEEKLY CROPS AND WEATHER REPORT FOR THE STATE, THE U.S.D.A. SAYS MINNESOTA FARMERS HAVE MANAGED TO BEGIN ONLY VERY LIMITED FIELD WORK, MAINLY ON HIGHER GROUND AND WELL-DRAINED FIELDS…FLOODING IS STILL A CONCERN, ESPECIALLY IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY….MUDDY CONDITIONS ARE SLOWING PASTURE GROWTH…HE REPORT SAYS PRODUCERS CONTINUE TO EXPECT FULL-SCALE FIELDWORK TO BEGIN AROUND MAY 7, ABOUT 2  1/2 WEEKS LATER THAN THE FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE…     DESPITE THE LATE START, EXPERT SAY THERE’S STILL TIME….CORN YIELDS IN MINNESOTA DON’T TYPICALLY SUFFER UNLESS PLANTING IS DELAYED PAST MID-MAY, THOUGH THERE’S SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPACT ON YIELDS FOR SPRING WHEAT AND OTHER SMALL GRAINS….

 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND FORKS FORECASTS THAT EVERY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA CAN EXPECT TO SEE AT LEAST ONE TORNADO, ON AVERAGE, EVERY YEAR – AND SOME YEARS CAN SEE MULTIPLE SUCH EVENTS…. EVERY YEAR THERE WILL BE AT LEAST ONE DEVASTATING TORNADO WITHIN A HUNDRED MILES OF ANY GIVEN RESIDENCE… LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING DOWNBURST WIND EVENTS HAPPEN WITH AN EVEN GREATER FREQUENCY….MARVIN WINDOWS, POLARIS INDUSTRIES, ROSEAU COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE GRAND FORKS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE ARE PROVIDING FREE SKYWARN SPOTTER TRAINING CLASS TO HELP THOSE INTERESTED LEARN HOW TO DETECT, REPORT, AND SURVIVE DURING THIS YEAR’S SUMMER SEVERE WEATHER SEASON….THIS SKYWARN SPOTTER CLASS IS DESIGNED AS BOTH AN INFORMATIONAL CLASS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND CERTIFICATION TRAINING FOR THE SERIOUS SKYWARN SPOTTER…THE CLASS RUNS ABOUT 2 AND A HALF  HOURS IN LENGTH AND COVERS IN BASIC TERMS WHAT SEVERE WEATHER IS, HOW IT DEVELOPS, AND HOW SEVERE STORMS GENERALLY BEHAVE. …COMPUTER GRAPHICS, SLIDES AND VIDEO CLIPS WILL INTRODUCE THE PARTICIPANTS TO THE GREAT VARIETY OF STORM PHENOMENA WHICH AFFECT THE AREA….THE SKYWARN CLASSES WILL BE HELD: MONDAY MAY 6 AT  MARVIN WINDOWS IN WARROAD FROM 1:00 TO 4:00 PM …MONDAY MAY 6 AT     POLARIS INDUSTRIES 6:00 TO 9:00 PM…THE CLASSES ARE IDENTICAL TO ACCOMMODATE COMMUNITY ATTENDANCE….

A FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON  FOR A BIG CHUNK OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA, INCLUDING THE  LAKE OF THE WOODS AREA….THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS WARM TEMPERATURES TODAY INTO TUESDAY WILL CAUSE ADDITIONAL SNOWMELT AND RUNOFF…RAINFALL AMOUNTS AROUND A QUARTER TO THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH OF  RAIN TONIGHT INTO EARLY TUESDAY MAY SPEED UP THE SNOWMELT AS WELL….THERE MAY BE OVERLAND FLOODING AND FLOODING OF RURAL ROADS AS  THE WATER MAKES IT WAY TO STREAMS…RIVERS AND LAKES….IF YOU ENCOUNTER WATER OVER THE ROAD…DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS   AND USE ALTERNATE ROUTES…. 

ONE MAN IS DEAD AND TWO OTHER PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN SOUTHEAST MANITOBA OVER THE WEEKEND…R-C-M-P SAY THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED NEAR MARCHAND (MARSH-ON) MANITOBA ALONG HIGHWAY 210 AROUND 9:30PM SATURDAY NIGHT….AUTHORITIES SAY THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES…THE DRIVER WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS PRONOUCED DEAD AT THE SCENE…HIS NAME HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED…..TWO OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE CAR WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AND ARE CURRENTLY IN STABLE CONDITION…NO NAMES WERE RELEASED…AUTHORITIES CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH….

 THE ROSEAU/LAKE OF THE WOODS SPORTSMEN’S CLUB SAYS, DUE TO UNFAVORABLE ROAD AND TRAIL CONDITIONS,  THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL BELTRAMI ISLAND STATE FOREST CLEANUP WILL FOCUS ON TWO MAIN ROADS – THE THOMPSON FOREST ROAD AND DICK’S PARKWAY TO AXEL OLSON’S CORNER…THE EVENT WILL BEGIN THIS SATURDAY AT 9AM AND THE CLUB SAYS THEY WILL BE MEETING AT THE CLEAR RIVER PICNIC AREA SOUTH OF WARROAD ON #5 OR AT BEMIS HILL TO START….A FREE LUNCH WILL BE SERVED STARTING AT 2:00 AT THE CLEAR RIVER PICNIC AREA…THE GARBAGE DROP OFF WILL ALSO BE AT THE CLEAR RIVER AREA…

 THE WARROAD SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL BE CONDUCTING AN EVACUATION DRILL TO THE GARDENS ARENA ON MONDAY, MAY 6^TH AT 3:00 P.M…SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY BUSES WILL LOAD AT THE ARENA AT 3:35 AND DEPART AT APPROXIMATELY 3:50 P.M…PARENTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO PICK-UP STUDENTS BEGINNING AT 3:30 P.M…THIS DRILL WILL SIMULATE AN ACTUAL EVACUATION TO THE GARDENS ARENA, AS IF AN EMERGENCY HAS TAKEN PLACE AND THE NEED TO LEAVE THE CEDAR AVENUE SITE IS REQUIRED… STUDENTS WILL BE ESCORTED TO THE GARDENS ARENA WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE TEACHERS… STUDENTS WILL SIT IN AN ASSIGNED AREA WITHIN THE ARENA SO THAT ATTENDANCE CAN BE TAKEN AND ORDER IS MAINTAINED… AFTER ALL STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR, BUSES WILL BE WAITING AT THE ARENA TO PICK UP THEIR REGULAR PASSENGERS.  PARENTS THAT PICK-UP STUDENTS WILL DO SO IN THE ARENA LOBBY…THE REUNIFICATION OF PARENTS AND STUDENTS WILL BE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT THAN COMING TO THE OFFICE ON A REGULAR SCHOOL DAY, BUT SCHOOL OFFICIALS  HOPE THE PROCESS FLOWS FAIRLY SMOOTHLY…THE SCHOOL SAYS CRISIS PLANNING HAS BEEN PART OF THE DISTRICT FOR MANY YEARS, BUT HAS COME TO THE FOREFRONT IN RECENT YEARS….

THE LAKE OF THE WOODS HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOLDS ITS ANNUAL MEETING ON SUNDAY  AT THE BRINK SENIOR CENTER IN BAUDETTE…THE EVENING WILL BEGIN WITH AN ETHNIC POTLUCK SUPPER AT 5 P.M. WITH THE BUSINESS MEETING AND PROGRAM TO FOLLOW….ORGANIZERS SAY THE PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO COME AND BRING ANY DISH OF THEIR CHOICE…THE PROGRAM THIS YEAR IS “THE BOMBING OF THE BOG” …PRESENTER DOUG EASTHOUSE, SITE MANAGER OF BIG BOG STATE PARK, WILL EXPLORE THE HISTORY BEHIND THE MILITARY’S PRACTICE BOMBING RANGE THAT EXTEND FROM UPPER RED LAKE TO THE SOUTHERN TOWNSHIPS OF LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY DURING THE 1940S AND ’50S…THE MEETING WILL INCLUDE THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS… 

THE TEAM FROM GRYGLA CAPTURED FIRST PLACE AT THIS WEEK’S AREA ONE ENVIROTHON COMPETITION AT LAKE BRONSON STATE PARK, NEAR LAKE BRONSON….22 TEAMS FROM AREA SCHOOLS PARTICIPATED IN THE EVENT, WHICH TESTS STUDENTS KNOWLEDGE ON MANY OUTDOOR SUBJECTS…KITTSON COUNTY CENTRAL PLACED 2^ND AND MARSHALL COUNTY CENTRAL FINISHED 3^RD…ALL THREE TEAMS WILL NOW ADVANCE TO THE STATE EVENT MAY 20^TH AT ST. JOHNS UNIVERSITY….

A MAJOR WEEKEND WARM-UP WILL BRING RAPID MELTING ACROSS THE REGION...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND FORKS HAS ISSUED A  FLOOD WATCH FOR ALL OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON...SUCH A RAPID MELT MAY CAUSE WIDESPREAD OVERLAND FLOODING AND FLOODING OF RURAL   ROADS..OFFICIALS SAY MANY RIVERS IN THE REGION WILL BEGIN RISING AND GO ABOVE FLOOD STAGE IN THE NEXT WEEK....THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY BASED ON INFILTRATION RATES, FORECAST TEMPERATURES, AND POTENTIAL RAINFALL NEXT WEEK. ..OFFICIALS SAY LEVELS MAY FLUCTUATE AS ICE MOVES THROUGH THE AREA RIVERS...THE LATEST FORECAST FOR  THE ROSEAU RIVER AT ROSEAU HAS IT REACHING MINOR FLOOD STAGE EARLY NEXT WEEK...THE MINOR FLOOD STAGE IS 16.0 FEET....OFFICIALS HAVE THE RIVER TO RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE BY SUNDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE TO RISE TO NEAR 17.5 FEET BY MONDAY MID-MORNING...THE RIVER IS FORECAST TO CREST NEAR 17.5 FEET ON MONDAY MID-MORNING..MODERATE FLOOD STAGE IN ROSEAU IS 18 FEET...

THE WARROAD AREA D-N-R FORESTRY OFFICIE, SAYS  BURNING PERMITS ARE NOW REQUIRED FOR PILED VEGETATION AND AGRICULTURAL BURNS IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA…THE OFFICE SAYS PERMITS ARE NOW REQUIRED DUE TO THE ARRIVAL OF SNOW FREE CONDITIONS IN MUCH OF THE OPEN AREAS…PERMITS MAY BE OBTAINED BY CONTACTING LOCAL TOWNSHIP FIRE WARDEN OR LOCAL FORESTRY OFFICE…

PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER ARE RAISING MAJOR CONCERNS AS THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY’S FISCAL YEAR 2014 BUDGET REQUESTS A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF COLLECTING A FEE FROM PEDESTRIANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES CROSSING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA BY LAND…UNTIL NOW, NO FEES HAVE BEEN IMPOSED ON THOSE WHO ENTER BY CAR, BUS OR TRAIN... MINNESOTA U.S. SENATOR AL FRANKEN RELEASED A  STATEMENT SAYING HE DOES NOT  SUPPORT IMPOSING A FEE AND HE SAID HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THEY “NEED A STUDY TO TELL EVERYBODY WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW: THAT THIS WILL HURT TOURISM AND DISRUPT COMMERCE IN A WAY THAT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES ON,  OR NEAR,  THE BORDER WITH CANADA”…

AUTHROTIES SAY THE DEATHS OF A MAN AND HIS MOTHER IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA APPEAR TO BE A MURDER-SUICIDE…BAGLEY POLICE CHIEF LARRY PETERSON IDENTIFIES THE VICTIMS AS 41-YEAR-OLD JACK GERBRACHT OF BAGLEY AND HIS 64-YEAR-OLD MOTHER, DARLENE GERBRACHT….PRELIMINARY AUTOPSY RESULTS INDICATE THE TWO WERE SHOT TO DEATH…CLEARWATER COUNTY SHERIFF’S AUTHORITIES FOUND THE BODIES AT A HOME IN BAGLEY AFTER GETTING A 9-1-1 CALL MONDAY EVENING….THE MOTHER AND SON DID NOT LIVE TOGETHER….POLICE ARE STILL INVESTIGATING…. 

THE NORTHWEST MINNESOTA ARTS COUNCIL HAS ANNOUNCED THE AWARD WINNERS OF THE 14TH ANNUAL NORTHWEST MINNESOTA ART EXHIBITION,  AND PRESENTATION OF NORTHWEST STAR ARTIST AWARD AND ARTS ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR AWARDS…. NINETY-FIVE ADULT AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ARTISTS FROM THE SEVEN COUNTIES OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA PARTICIPATED IN THE EXHIBITION TOOK PLACE IN FOSSTON…THE NORTHWEST STAR ARTIST AWARD FOR 2013 WAS AWARDED TO JANE ANDERSON OF THIEF RIVER FALLS….THE ARTS ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR AWARD WAS PRESENTED TO RIC SORENSON OF FOSSTON….FIRST PLACE RECEIPIENT OF THE ADULT EXHIBIT AWARD WENT TO ROCK BAKKEN (BOCK-EN) OF HALLOCK….STUDENT WINNERS OF EXHIBIT AWARDS  INCLUDED  1ST PLACE TO  CHANDLER BLANTON, OF GREENBUSH….2ND PLACE  TO LUISE BENKERT, OF WARROAD….THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS WERE RECEIVED BY PAINTER ROCK BAKKEN OF HALLOCK IN THE ADULT CATEGORY; AND GABRIEL HANSON OF FOSSTON IN THE STUDENT CATEGORY….

COMMISSIONERS FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENTS OF HUMAN SERVICES AND EDUCATION WILL BE IN BEMIDJI FRIDAY,  IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSALS IN GOV. MARK DAYTON’S BUDGET…HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSIONER LUCINDA JESSON AND EDUCATION COMMISSIONER BRENDA CASSELLIUS WILL HOST A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION TO HIGHLIGHT MORE THAN 140 MILLION IN NEW EARLY CHILDHOOD INVESTMENTS IN DAYTON’S BUDGET….LOCAL AND STATEWIDE LEADERS WILL JOIN THE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION….PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE ALEXANDRA FITZSIMMONS, LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AND ADVOCACY DIRECTOR FOR CHILDREN’S DEFENSE FUND-MINNESOTA; CARMEN HAUGEN, ADOPTION PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR NORTH HOMES CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES;DAN WENNER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RURAL MINNESOTA CONCENTRATED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM; AND OTHERS…MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO ATTEND….THERE WILL BE TIME FOR AUDIENCE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FOLLOWING THE ROUNDTABLE, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE STARTING AT 10AM AT BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY IN BEMIDJI….

POLARIS INDUSTRIES HAS  REPORTED  A RECORD FIRST QUARTER NET INCOME OF 75.5 MILLION DOLLARS, FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31^ST….BY COMPARISON,  2012 FIRST QUARTER NET INCOME WAS 60.1 MILLION…COMPANY OFFICIALS SAY NET SALES FOR THE FIRST QUARTER 2013 TOTALED 745.9 MILLION, WHICH REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF ELEVEN PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR ….OFF-ROAD VEHICLE  SALES INCREASED SEVEN PERCENT TO 541.3 MILLION…THE COMPANY SAID THE INCREASE REFLECTS CONTINUED MARKET SHARE GAINS DRIVEN BY NEW PRODUCT OFFERINGS, INCLUDING THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL RANGER XP^® 900AND RANGER^® 800 MID-SIZE UTILITY VEHICLES….SNOWMOBILE SALES TOTALED  14.7 MILLION COMPARED TO 4.6 MILLION FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2012…ON-ROAD VEHICLE SALES, COMPRISED PRIMARILY OF VICTORY MOTORCYCLES, BUT ALSO INCLUDING INDIAN MOTORCYCLES AND GEM AND GOUPIL ELECTRIC VEHICLES, DECREASED THREE PERCENT FROM THE FIRST QUARTER 2012 TO 62.9 MILLION…PARTS, GARMENTS AND ACCESSORIES SALES INCREASED 27 PERCENT OVER LAST YEAR …POLARIS SAYS, IN ADDITION, GROSS PROFIT WAS 29 PERCENT OF SALES, OPERATING EXPENSES  GREW 13 PERCENT,  INCOME FROM FINANCIAL SERVICES WAS 10.1 MILLION, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 40 PERCENT…  

POLICE IN CROOKSTON ARE INVESTIGATING WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE A FALSE CALL OF A SHOOTING… SERGEANT AARON PRY CALLS THE PRANK A CASE OF “SWATTING” WHICH HE SAYS IS OCCURING MORE AND MORE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY…IN THE CROOKSTON CASE, A 15-YEAR-OLD MALE WAS THE VICTIM OF THE SWATTING…POLICE ARRIVED AT THE BOY’S HOME TO FIND HIM AND HIS FAMILY SAFE… OFFICIALS ARE STILL TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE THE ORIGINAL CALL ACTUALLY CAME FROM….

NORTHWEST ONTARIO HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY DUE TO A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING MILD RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS, AN OUTBREAK HAS BEEN DECLARED AT RAINYCREST LONG-TERM CARE …VISITING RESIDENTS IS PERMITTED, BUT THEY ARE ASKING THE PUBLIC TO NOT VISIT IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ANY SYMPTOMS OF ILL HEALTH, SUCH AS A COUGH, STUFFY NOSE AND SORE THROAT, FEVER, AND/OR FATIGUE AND WEAKNESS….SOCIAL ACTIVITIES WILL CONTINUE AS PLANNED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE FOR ALL RESIDENTS FREE OF RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS…THE OUTBREAK MANAGEMENT TEAM AT RAINYCREST WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION, AND A FURTHER UPDATE WILL BE PROVIDED AT A LATER DATE…MEANWHILE, DUE TO A NUMBER OF CASES OF GASTROENTERITIS IN THE LONG-TERM CARE UNIT OF THE RAINY RIVER HEALTH CENTRE, VISITING THERE WILL BE RESTRICTED TO FAMILY MEMBERS ONLY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE…ALL GROUP PROGRAMMING BY ACTIVATION ALSO HAS BEEN CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE….THE INFECTION CONTROL COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION, AND A FURTHER UPDATE WILL BE PROVIDED AT A LATER DATE…

THE WARROAD D-N-R FORESTRY OFFICE SAYS GATES WILL BE CLOSED ON MANY OF THE SECONDARY FOREST ROADS IN THE BELTRAMI AND LOST RIVER STATE FOREST BY THIS FRIDAY…OFFICIALS SAY  THESE ROADS CURRENTLY HAVE WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS OF 1THOUSAND POUNDS OR LESS…OFFICIALS ARE ALSO ASKING PEOPLE TO USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING ON OTHER FOREST ROADS THAT ALLOW VEHICLE TRAFFIC UNDER 9 THOUSAND  POUNDS DURING THE SPRING BREAKUP PERIOD AS FROST HEAVES AND STANDING WATER MAY EXIST…FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL THE FORESTRY OFFICE AT WANNASKA 425-7793 OR  WARROAD 386-1304…. 

A ROSEAU COUNTY WOMAN HAS PLED  NOT GUILTY TO CHARGES OF THEFT OF A FORMER LAKE OF THE WOODS MAN….36 YEAR OLD VENCHE KEELER, OF WARROAD, ENTERED THE PLEA IN PENNINGTON COUNTY DISTRICT COURT IN THIEF RIVER FALLS…KEELER IS CHARGED WITH FELONY THEFT AFTER AUTHORITIES SAID SHE ADMITTED TO TAKING 22 THOUSAND DOLLARS BELONGING TO A VULNERABLE ADULT WHO CURRENTLY LIVES IN GRAND FORKS…AUTHORITIES SAY KEELER TOOK THE MONEY FROM THE GLOVE BOX OF A VEHICLE OWNED BY THE 24 YEAR OLD VICTIM…BUT INVESTIGATORS HAVE SAID  THE GLOVE BOX MAY HAVE CONTAINED AS MUCH AS 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS…AUTHORITIES SAY THE VICTIM HAD  WITHDRAWN JUST OVER 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM A WARROAD BANK ACCOUNT LAST FALL… THIEF RIVER FALLS RADIO REPORTS KEELER IS BEING HELD IN THEIF RIVER FALLS AT THE PENNINGTON COUNTY JAIL PENDING BAIL IN THE AMOUNT OF 1 THOUSAND DOLLARS –  OR 10 THOUSAND DOLLAR SURETY BOND….

 SOUTHEAST MANITOBA R-C-M-P HAVE RELEASED AN UPDATE ON WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A SUDDEN DEATH IN MORRIS MANITOBA  TWO WEEKS AGO….ON APRIL 5TH MORRIS R-C-M-P BEGAN AN INVESTIGATION AFTER A MAN TURNED UP DEAD…AUTOPSY RESULTS INDICATE NO FOUL PLAY IS SUSPECTED…THE DECEASED IS A 56 YEAR OLD MAN FROM MORRIS BUT HIS NAME WILL NOT BE RELEASED…

 A ROSEAU NATIVE HAS RECEIVED A LONG-OVERDUE MEDAL FROM HIS TIME IN THE KOREAN WAR…ON SUNDAY, MINNESOTA U.S. SENATOR AL FRANKEN PINNED A LONG-OVERDUE BRONZE P-O-W MEDAL TO DUANE BROTEN’S LAPEL AT A CELEBRATION ATTENDED BY HIS FAMILY MEMBERS AS WELL AS OTHER VETERANS AT THE STATE CAPITOL..THE STAR-TRIBUNE REPORTS  80 YEAR OLD DUANE BROTEN, WHO WAS 20 AT THE TIME, WAS  CAPTURED BY NORTH KOREANS WHO OVERRAN HIS U.S. ARMY REGIMENT DURING INTENSE FIGHTING AT PORK CHOP HILL IN WHAT IS NOW SOUTH KOREA…THE SERGEANT LAY WOUNDED IN THE TRENCHES, DRIFTING IN AND OUT OF CONSCIOUSNESS DUE TO LOSS OF BLOOD FROM 27 SHRAPNEL WOUNDS…EVENTUALLY, BROTEN WAS FLOWN TO A SEOUL HOSPITAL AND IN TIME, MADE IT TO LETTERMAN ARMY HOSPITAL IN SAN FRANCISCO…OVER ABOUT SIX MONTHS, MANY PIECES OF SHRAPNEL WERE REMOVED, INCLUDING A PIECE FROM HIS RIGHT EYE, WHICH NEVER FULLY RECOVERED…AFTER HIS HONORABLE DISCHARGE, BROTEN RETURNED HOME AND HAD SEVERAL JOBS BEFORE BECOMING A U.S. MAIL CARRIER FOR 28 YEARS UNTIL HE RETIRED…DUE TO ARMY PAPERWORK MISTAKES AND RECORDS LOST FOR DECADES, BROTEN, NOW LIVING IN PRINCETON, NEVER RECEIVED OFFICIAL RECOGNITION FOR BEING A PRISONER OF WAR…HE HAD RECEIVED A PURPLE HEART FOR HIS INJURIES, WHICH LEFT HIM WITH POOR VISION IN ONE EYE, A MISSING FINGER AND A SERIOUS SHOULDER INJURY…BROTEN, UNCLE OF THE FAMOUS BROTEN HOCKEY-PLAYING BROTHERS FROM ROSEAU,  THANKED FRANKEN’S STAFF FOR PURSUING THE AWARD… 

THE ROSEAU COUNTY  BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET IN SESSION TUESDAY MORNING AT 9:00 A.M. IN THE ROSEAU COUNTY COURTHOUSE…THE BOARD IS SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH  KATHY CARNEY, A DEED FIELD OPERATIONS MANAGER, WHO WILL DISCUSS THE SERVICES DEED CAN PROVIDE TO ROSEAU COUNTY…TRACEY HALSTENSGARD, ROSEAU RIVER WATERSHED ADMINISTRATOR, WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON CURRENT WATERSHED PROJECTS….THE BOARD WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT R-E-A-M GRANT…REAM IS THE DEVICE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR THE MONITORING OF INMATES/CLIENTS OUT OF THE JAIL SETTING….THE BOARD IS EXPECTED TO ACCEPT A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN ROSEAU COUNTY AND INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS CONSULTING FOR THE AMOUNT OF 25 THOUSAND 500 DOLLARS TO DRAFT A ROSEAU COUNTY MITIGATION PLAN…THE CURRENT PLAN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31^ST… THE MONEY WILL BE REIMBURSED TO ROSEAU COUNTY THROUGH A MITIGATION GRANT…AND THE BOARD WILL MEET WITH SOCIAL SERVICES…THE SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD IS RECOMMENDING THAT BOARD AUTHORIZE AND APPROVE THE HIRE OF AN ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY WORKER AT SOCIAL SERVICES…

THE LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET IN SESSION TUESDAY MORNING AT 9AM AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER IN BAUDETTE…THE BOARD IS SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH RINKE/NOONAN ABOUT A DITCH 1 DRAINAGE SYSTEM OUTLET…THE BOARD IS WILL DISCUSS THE CONSIDERATION FOR A MULTI-SERVICES SUBSTATION FOR THE WHEELER’S POINT AREA….  

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RELEASED A NEW FLOOD OUTLOOK FOR THE RED RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES WEDNESDAY…OFFICIALS GAVE A  RUNDOWN OF THE 50-50 PROBABILITY THAT RIVERS WILL CREST AT,  IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE RED RIVER BASIN…IN OUR AREA, FORECASTERS SAID THE ROSEAU RIVER AT ROSEAU, IS EXPECTED TO CREST AROUND 16.3 FEET, FAR BELOW THE RECORD  23.4 FEET IN 2002…THE TWO RIVERS AT HALLOCK AT 809.9 FEET, WHICH IS  JUST LESS THAN A FOOT FROM THE RECORD  810.7 FEET IN 1997…ELSEWHERE, THE FORECAST FOR THE  RED LAKE RIVER AT CROOKSTON IS 23.7 FEET…THE RECORD IS 28.4 FEET IN 1997….AND THE  SNAKE RIVER AT ALVARADO IS FORECASTED TO CREST AROUND 107.2 FEET, OVER THREE FEET LOWER THAN THE RECORD 110.88 FEET CREST IN 1997…MEANWHILE, FORECASTERS SAID THE RED RIVER:AT FARGO IS NOW EXPECTED TO CREST AT  40.3 FEET – OR CLOSE TO THE RECORD  40.84 FEET IN 2009…THE RED IN  GRAND FORKS PREDICTED AT 49.6 FEET – FAR BELOW THE RECORD: 54.35 FEET IN 1997…BUT FORECASTERS DID SAY THE RED IN OSLO COULD REACH AROUND 38.5 FEET, WHICH WOULD PASS  THE RECORD  38.37 FEET IN 2009…THE RED AT BOTH DRAYTON AND PEMBINA ARE EXPECTED TO CREST FROM 1 TO 2 FEET BELOW RECORD LEVELS…. 

WITH  EARTH DAY  RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER ON MONDAY APRIL 22ND, MINNESOTA ENERGY RESOURCES IS OFFERING ALL CURRENT RESIDENTIAL NATURAL GAS CUSTOMERS IN WARROAD FREE WATER CONSERVATION KITS…JEFF LARSON,  SENIOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MANAGER AT MINNESOTA ENERGY RESOURCES, SAID THE KITS INCLUDE LOW-FLOW SHOWERHEADS, ALONG WITH KITCHEN AND BATHROOM FAUCET AERATORS…HE SAID THESE ITEMS ARE EASY TO INSTALL SO RESIDENTS CAN BEGIN SAVING ON  HOME WATER HEATING COSTS RIGHT AWAY…LARSON SAYS WARROAD RESIDENTS MUST HAVE A NATURAL GAS WATER HEATER TO QUALIFY; MUST BE A MINNESOTA ENERGY RESOURCES RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WITH AN EXISTING ACCOUNT;  AND NOT AVAILABLE FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION….THE FREE KITS CAN BE ORDERED BY VISITING minnesotaenergyresources.com OR BY CALLING 1-877-831-6050…MINNESOTA ENERGY RESOURCES DELIVERS NATURAL GAS TO 214 THOUSAND CUSTOMERS IN 165 COMMUNITIES ACROSS MINNESOTA… 

ORGANIZERS HAVE CANCELED THIS YEAR’S FARGO AIR SHOW  IN THE WAKE OF THE DECISION BY THE NAVY TO GROUND THE BLUE ANGELS FLYING TEAM BECAUSE OF FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS…OFFICIALS SAY THE LOSS OF THE HEADLINE EVENT WAS A MAJOR FACTOR IN CANCELING THE AIR SHOW BUT THERE WERE OTHER REASONS, AS WELL…OTHER BRANCHES OF THE MILITARY HAVE CUT BACK ON SUPPORTING AIR SHOWS, AND THE MAIN FOOD VENDOR FOR FARGO’S SHOW ALSO SUSPENDED OPERATIONS BECAUSE OF OTHER AIR SHOWS CANCELING EVENTS…THE FARGO AIR SHOW  HAD BEEN SCHEDULED FOR AUG. 10-11….

IT’S SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK …THE STATE OF MINNESOTA , IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, TEAM UP IN A CAMPAIGN TO HELP REMIND AREA RESIDENTS  ABOUT  WEATHER HAZARDS AND PROVIDES RESOURCES TO MINIMIZE THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERE WEATHER….THE STATEWIDE TORNADO DRILL IS SET FOR  THURSDAY…. TWO TORNADO DRILLS ARE PLANNED…THE FIRST WILL TAKE PLACE STATEWIDE AT 1:45 P.M.; THE CITIES OF ROSEAU, WARROAD, BADGER AND GREENBUSH WILL ACTIVATE THEIR OUTDOOR WARNING SYSTEMS….THIS FIRST DRILL ALLOWS SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, AND HOSPITALS TO PRACTICE THEIR SHELTERING PLANS…HE SECOND DRILL, AT 6:55 P.M., WILL ALLOW FAMILIES AND SECOND-SHIFT WORKERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE THEIR SHELTERING PLANS…ROSEAU COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REMINDS RESIDENTS, THAT DESIGNATED TORNADO SHELTERS HAVE BEEN SET IN THE AREA….IN BADGER AT THE BADGER CITY HALL BASEMENT….IN GREENBUSH AT THE GREENBUSH SCHOOL…IN WARROAD, AT THE GARDENS ARENA…AND IN ROSEAU AT THE SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH, AMERICAN LEGION BASEMENT, AND THE ROSEAU SCHOOL…

THE WARROAD SUMMER THEATRE KICKS OF THE 2013 SEASON WITH A SPECIAL SPRING DINNER THEATER PRODUCTION  OF “HOW TO TALK MINNESOTAN”, WITH OPENING NIGHT THURSDAY EVENING…ALL PERFORMANCES ARE TAKING PLACE AT ROCK HARBOR LODGE AT ARNESON’S ROCKY POINT RESORT….”HOW TO TALK MINNESOTAN” RUNS THRU SUNDAY THIS WEEK,  AND MAY 1-4….SEATING STARTS AT 6:00, SERVING BEGINS AT 6:30 WITH THE SHOW TO FOLLOW AT 7:30….NEW THIS YEAR IS A BRUNCH MATINEE ON SUNDAY, APRIL 21^ST…RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED AND CAN BE MADE BY CALLING ROCK HARBOR LODGE AT 442-7215….

 THE LAKE OF THE WOODS RELAY FOR LIFE TEAM CAPTAINS AND PLANNING COMMITTEE MET THIS WEEK IN BAUDETTE…ONCE AGAIN, PLANS ARE UNDERWAY FOR THE ANNUAL SURVIVOR DINNER THAT IS USUALLY IN MID-JUNE…ORGANIZERS SAY SUGGESTIONS FOR CATERING,  A SURVIVOR STORY OR ENTERTAINMENT CAN BE GIVEN TO LEAH STEPHANI-MILLER AT 434-0184 OR AMANDA RISSER AT 218-556-2977….THIS YEAR’S RELAY FOR LIFE WILL BE SATURDAY, AUGUST 10 FROM NOON TO MIDNIGHT AT THE LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS…THE COMMITTEE SAYS THIS YEAR WILL BRING SOME CHANGES THAT FOCUS ON COMMUNITY….THE NEXT MEETING MONDAY, MAY 20 AT 5 P.M. AT FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH…

CEREMONIES FOR THE INAUGURATION OF FRED WOOD,  AS THE FIFTH CHANCELLOR FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON ARE SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY ON THE CAMPUS…THE CEREMONY WILL BEGIN AT 12:30 P.M. AND A RECEPTION WILL FOLLOW AT 2 P.M….THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME TO ATTEND….. WOOD COMES TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON AFTER A 26-YEAR CAREER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS…EARLIER THURSDAY WILL BE  THE DEDICATION OF HERITAGE HALL, THE NEWEST RESIDENCE HALL ON CAMPUS….THE 43,043 SQUARE FOOT, TWO-STORY BUILDING CAN HOUSE UP TO145 STUDENTS IN 35 TWO-BEDROOM SUITES FURNISHED WITH A STUDY ROOM AND BATHROOM FACILITIES–APPROXIMATELY 700 SQUARE FEET PER SUITE….

A ROSEAU COUNTY  COUPLE  HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH CHILD ENDANGERMENT AFTER  ALLEGEDLY  LEAVING THEIR  7 YEAR-OLD CHILD WITH DISABILITIES IN AN UNATTENDED VAN FOR OVER AN HOUR  OUTSIDE A BAR IN HOUSTON, MINNESOTA  OVER THE WEEKEND….POLICE SAY 37 -YEAR OLD CLAYTON AHLBECK AND 36-YEAR-OLD TAMMY AHLBECK, OF ROSEAU, EACH FACES TWO COUNTS OF CHILD NEGLECT OR ENDANGERMENT; A GROSS MISDEMEANOR…. POLICE SAY THEY RESPONDED TO A CALL, AT 11:51 P.M., FROM TWO WITNESSES REPORTING A CHILD LEFT ALONE IN A VAN OUTSIDE A LOCAL BAR… WXOW-TV  REPORTS  POLICE SAW THE CHILD ALONE IN THE CAR, SLEEPING, FOR TEN MINUTES AFTER RESPONDING TO THE CALL…THEY SAY THE AHLBECK’S WERE IN THE BAR WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED, AND TAMMY AHLBECK CAME OUT OF THE BAR AND APPROACHED THE VAN AND OFFICER… POLICE QUESTIONED HER THEN BROUGHT HER HUSBAND OUT OF THE BAR…TAMMY SAID THE CHILD WAS LEFT ALONE FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES…BUT, WITNESSES TOLD POLICE THEY SAW THE CHILD ALONE FROM 20 MINUTES TO AN HOUR…AUTHORITIES SAY THEY TESTED THE AHLBECK’S BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS; TAMMY ALLEGEDLY REGISTERED A 0.14 AND CLAYTON REGISTERED A 0.276…ACCORDING TO THE COMPLAINT, THE AHLBECK’S TWO OTHER CHILDREN WERE IN THE BAR WITH THEM…THE PARENTS HAVE BEEN RELEASED ON 3 THOUSAND DOLLAR CASH BOND…. AND ARE DUE BACK IN COURT ON MAY 6…HOUSTON COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE SAID THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN AND SOCIAL SERVICES IN HOUSTON AND ROSEAU COUNTIES ARE INVESTIGATING… WXOW-TV  SAYS THE CHILDREN WERE RELEASED TO A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND ON SATURDAY NIGHT… 

SOUTHEAST MANITOBA POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A  TWO VEHICLE COLLISION MONDAY THAT LEFT ONE PERSON DEAD…STEINBACH R-C-M-P SAY A 2003 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO WAS NORTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 12 AT ABOUT 10:00 AM  WHEN IT WAS IN COLLISION WITH A SOUTHBOUND FREIGHTLINER SEMI….POLICE SAY THE MONTE CARLO WAS REPORTED TO HAVE LOST CONTROL AND SWERVED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC…ROAD CONDITIONS WERE REPORTED TO BE SLIPPERY, WITH HEAVY SNOW AND SLUSH…THE DRIVER OF THE MONTE CARLO, A 20-YEAR-OLD WOMAN FROM THE RM OF LA BROQUERIE, WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE…HER NAME WILL NOT BE RELEASED…THE DRIVER OF THE SEMI, A 47-YEAR-OLD MAN FROM WINNIPEG, WAS NOT INJURED…THERE WERE NO OTHER PERSONS OR VEHICLES INVOLVED…

AUTHORITIES ARE BRINGING STATE CHARGES AGAINST 21 INDIVIDUALS FOLLOWING A MAJOR INVESTIGATION INTO THE ILLEGAL SALE AND DUMPING OF THOUSANDS OF PROTECTED GAME FISH IN NORTH-CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA….THE THREE-YEAR SPECIAL INVESTIGATION, KNOWN AS OPERATION SQUAREHOOK, INVOLVED ABOUT 60 STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS…THE CASES INVOLVE ILLEGAL PURCHASE AND SALE OF GAME FISH, MOSTLY WALLEYE, TAKEN FROM POPULAR FISHING LAKES SUCH AS CASS, LEECH, RED AND WINNIBIGOSHISH LAKES ON THE RED LAKE OR LEECH LAKE RESERVATIONS…TEN MEN WERE INDICTED LAST WEEK ON FEDERAL CHARGES FROM THE SAME INVESTIGATION…THE SUSPECTS ARE FACING UP TO 35 MISDEMEANOR AND SIX GROSS MISDEMEANOR STATE CHARGES IN SIX COUNTIES IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, INCLUDING BELTRAMI, PENNINGTON, CLEARWATER, POLK, ITASCA, AND CASS COUNTIES…D-N-R OFFICERS DOCUMENTED THE SUSPECTS BUYING AND SELLING THOUSANDS OF WALLEYE, AND THEY ALSO DOCUMENTED HUNDREDS OF OTHER UNWANTED FISH, SUCH AS NORTHERN PIKE, BEING THROWN AWAY AND WASTED…THE ILLEGAL FISH WERE OF VARIOUS SIZES, FROM SMALL TO TROPHY SPECIMENS…

MINNESOTA POWER WILL HOST A SECOND SERIES OF PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE MEETINGS BEGINNING THIS WEEK,  TO GATHER INPUT AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ON ITS GREAT NORTHERN TRANSMISSION LINE WHICH WILL DELIVER EMISSION-FREE HYDRO POWER FROM MANITOBA TO MINNESOTA…THE PUBLIC MEETINGS WILL FOCUS ON THE PROJECT’S ROUTE ALTERNATIVES IN AN OPEN HOUSE FORMAT WITH NO FORMAL PRESENTATIONS…PROJECT TEAM MEMBERS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS…MEETINGS THIS WEEK INCLUDE TUESDAY AT 11AM AT THE GREENBUSH COMMUNITY CENTER AND 5PM AT THE LANCASTER COMMUNITY CENTER…WEDNESDAY, A MEETING IS SET IN ROSEAU AT THE ROSEAU CITY CENTER STARTING AT 11AM….THURSDAY, A MEETING WILL BE HELD IN GRYGLA AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER STARTING AT 11AM…THEN AT 5PM AT THE LAKE OF THE WOODS SCHOOL IN BAUDETTE….THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND A MEETING IN PERSON CAN VISIT AN ONLINE OPEN HOUSE MEETING SITE FROM APRIL 15-MAY 5 AT greatnortherntransmissionline.com

 POLARIS INDUSTRIES HAS ANNOUNCED THE ACQUISITION OF A.M. HOLDING S.A.S., WHICH OPERATES UNDER THE NAME AIXAM MEGA S.A.S., A PRIVATELY OWNED COMPANY BASED IN FRANCE WHICH MANUFACTURES AND SELLS ENCLOSED ON-ROAD QUADRICYCLES AND LIGHT DUTY COMMERCIAL VEHICLES IN EUROPE….COMPANY OFFICIALS SAY THE ACQUISITION OF AIXAM MEGA SIGNIFICANTLY STRENGTHENS POLARIS’ EXISTING SMALL VEHICLE PORTFOLIO, WHICH INCLUDES GEM AND GOUPIL VEHICLES, AND ENHANCES THE PROFITABILITY AND GROWTH POTENTIAL OF POLARIS IN THE E-M-E-A REGION….TERMS OF THE TRANSACTION WERE NOT DISCLOSED; HOWEVER, THE TRANSACTION WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH THE USE OF POLARIS’ CASH ON HAND….AIXAM MEGA IS A LEADING MANUFACTURER OF EUROPEAN ENCLOSED QUADRICYCLES…FOUNDED IN 1983, AIXAM MEGA OPERATES TWO FACILITIES IN FRANCE…

POLICE SAY THERE’S NO DANGER TO THE PUBLIC AFTER A WOMAN WAS FOUND DEAD IN A DETROIT LAKES APARTMENT AND A MAN WAS FOUND INJURED…KBRF RADIO REPORTS THE 69-YEAR-OLD WOMAN FOUND DEAD WAS FROM OTTER TAIL COUNTY…THE 56-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DETROIT LAKES HOSPITAL WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON…THE S-W-A-T TEAM AND A NEGOTIATOR WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AS WELL AS OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT…POLICE CHIEF TIM EGGEBRAATEN SAYS THEY’RE NOT LOOKING FOR SUSPECTS IN THE CASE….THE MINNESOTA BUREAU OF CRIMINAL APPREHENSION IS ASSISTING IN THE INVESTIGATION…. 

IN LIGHT OF THE REPORTED 95 PERCENT SHORTFALL IN ELECTRONIC PULL TAB REVENUE NEEDED TO FUND A NEW MINNESOTA VIKINGS STADIUM,  DISTRICT 1”A” REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAN FABIAN, OF ROSEAU, AND REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR BRANDEN PETERSEN, OF ANDOVER,  INTRODUCED A BILL TO REDUCE THE STATE’S STADIUM CONTRIBUTION BY 200 MILLION DOLLARS IN ORDER TO PROTECT GENERAL FUND DOLLARS THAT ARE RESERVED FOR CRUCIAL STATE SERVICES….LAST YEAR THE DAYTON ADMINISTRATION ESTIMATED E-PULL TABS WOULD GENERATE THE STATE’S 350 MILLION CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT STADIUM CONSTRUCTION, WITH 35 MILLION COMING IN THE FIRST YEAR…THE GAMBLING CONTROL BOARD HAS DOWNGRADED THAT PROJECTION TO ONLY ABOUT 1.7 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013, A 95 PERCENT REDUCTION…AND, FABIAN SAYS, ONLY 961 ELECTRONIC PULL TAB DEVICES HAVE BEEN SET UP AROUND THE STATE, WHICH IS A FAR CRY FROM THE OVER 15 THOUSAND PROJECTED….SENATOR PETERSEN SAYS MINNESOTA FAMILIES SHOULD BE NOT REQUIRED TO SUFFER FINANCIALLY FOR GOVERNMENT INEFFICIENCIES, AND THIS LEGISLATION WILL PROTECT HARDWORKING TAXPAYERS FROM GOVERNMENT GIMMICKS THAT DON’T WORK… 

MINNESOTA  7^TH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN COLLIN PETERSON SAYS NO ONE SHOULD GET TOO EXCITED ABOUT A NEARLY 38-MILLION-DOLLAR CUT IN FARM AID IN THE PRESIDENT’S BUDGET PLAN…THE RANKING DEMOCRAT ON THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE SAYS THE SAME THINGS WERE IN THE BUDGET LAST TIME AND CONGRESS LARGELY IGNORED THEM…THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION SAYS MANY OF THE SUBSIDIES CAN NO LONGER BE JUSTIFIED WITH THE VALUE OF BOTH CROP AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION AT RECORD HIGHS…

 THE ROSEAU COUNT Y BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS THIS WEEK SET THE DATE FOR A SPECIAL MEETING FOR THE BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION…THE MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 18^TH AT 6:00 P.M….

 ANNOUNCEMENT: ON THURSDAY MORNING (4/11/12)

WIKSTROM TELEPHONE WILL BE REPAIRING A FIBER OPTIC LINE NEAR GREENBUSH…DURING THAT TIME YOU MAY EXPERIENCE OUTAGES WITH TELEPHONE AND CABLE SERVICE…THIS INCLUDES LAND LINE PHONES, POSSIBLY CELL PHONE SERVICE, CABLE TV AND INTERNET SERVICES…THE AREA AFFECTED WILL INCLUDE GREENBUSH, BADGER, ROSEAU, WARROAD, ROOSEVELT, WILLIAMS AND BAUDETTE…THIS IS AN EMERGENCY REPAIR AND COULD NOT BE AVOIDED…WIKSTROM THANKS YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE DURING THIS OUTAGE…

LINCOLNSHIRE, ILLINOIS BASED  BIOSANTE PHARMACEUTICALS WILL HOLD A SPECIAL STOCKHOLDERS MEETING FRIDAY AT BIOSANTE’S CORPORATE OFFICE TO LEARN THE FINAL VOTE TALLY ON A PROPOSED MERGER WITH  A-N-I  PHARMACEUTICALS OF BAUDETTE…BIOSANTE  AND A-N-I  ENTERED INTO A DEFINITIVE MERGER AGREEMENT THROUGH AN ALL-STOCK TRANSACTION BACK IN OCTOBER….UPON COMPLETION OF THE MERGER, THE COMBINED COMPANY WILL BE RENAMED A-N-I PHARMACEUTICALS,  AND WILL OPERATE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE A-N-I MANAGEMENT TEAM, WITH ARTHUR PRZYBYL SERVING AS PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER…A-N-I PHARMACEUTICALS IS A FULLY INTEGRATED SPECIALTY BRANDED AND GENERIC PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY WITH TWO FACILITIES, INCLUDING CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, IN  BAUDETTE…

 RCMP CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE A CHILD DEATH IN SOUTHEAST MANITOBA TUESDAY…. SHORTLY AFTER 1:30 PM, MORRIS RCMP AND LOCAL AREA EMS RECEIVED A 911 DISPATCH TO P.R. 332 JUST EAST OF KANE, MANITOBA ADVISING THAT A YOUNG CHILD FELL INTO A BODY OF WATER, WAS PULLED OUT BUT WAS UNRESPONSIVE…MORRIS RCMP AND LOCAL EMS IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED…CPR WAS INITIATED AND THE CHILD WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE MORRIS HOSPITAL…HOWEVER, RESUSCITATION EFFORTS FAILED AND THE CHILD PERISHED…IT WAS LEARNED THAT THE CHILD, A 3-YEAR-OLD GIRL, WAS PLAYING NEAR HER HOME WITH OTHER CHILDREN OF THE FAMILY WHEN SHE WANDERED OFF AND FELL INTO A SMALL POND…AN AUTOPSY WILL BE SCHEDULED IN THE COMING DAYS….FOUL PLAY IS NOT SUSPECTED…RCMP WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE PUBLIC OF THE INCREASED WATER HAZARD DITCHES AND PONDS PRESENT TO CHILDREN WITH THE  SPRING THAW… 

THE U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM CAPTURED THE GOLD MEDAL AT THE 2013 INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A 3-2 VICTORY OVER CANADA IN OTTAWA LAST NIGHT…. AMANDA KESSEL SCORED THE GAME-WINNING GOAL IN THE THIRD PERIOD…..WARROAD’S GIGI MARVIN TALLIED AN ASSIST ON THE GAME-WINNING GOAL IN THE THIRD PERIOD,..KESSEL WAS NAMED U.S. PLAYER OF THE GAME….ITS A FOURTH GOLD MEDAL FOR GIGI MARVIN ..THE U.S OUTSHOT CANADA BY A 30-16 MARGIN EN ROUTE TO VICTORY…TEAM USA SECURED ITS FOURTH GOLD MEDAL IN THE LAST FIVE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AND FIFTH OVERALL IN TOURNAMENT HISTORY… 

ORGANIZERS SAY THE LAKE OF THE WOODS “CLEAN UP DAY”,  SCHEDULED FOR THIS SATURDAY,  HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW CONDITIONS ON THE ICE,  AND WILL NOT BE RESCHEDULED…THE DAY, INTENDED TO HELP SLOW A GROWING TREND OF TRASH AND DEBRIS LEFT ON THE LAKE AND SHORELINE,  WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 6^TH, THEN POSTPONED WITH HOPES MORE SNOW WOULD BE GONE BY THIS SATURDAY…BUT ORGANIZERS HAVE CANCELLED THE EVENT AND ARE ASKING ANYONE THAT WILL BE HEADING OUT ON THE LAKE FISHING TO PLEASE PICK UP ANY GARBAGE THEY SEE… FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL THE SOIL AND WATER OFFICE AT 634-1842 EXT 3….

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SAYS MINNESOTA FARMERS ARE GETTING OFF TO A SLOW START BECAUSE OF THE PERSISTENT WINTER….IN  ITS FIRST WEEKLY CROPS AND WEATHER REPORT OF THE YEAR, THE USDA’S MINNESOTA FIELD OFFICE SAYS THE COLD START TO APRIL AND CONTINUING DRY CONDITIONS HAVE LIMITED FIELD WORK COMPARED WITH LAST YEAR….ONLY 0.2 DAYS WERE SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK LAST WEEK, AND PRODUCERS DON’T EXPECT FULL-SCALE FIELDWORK TO BEGIN UNTIL ABOUT APRIL 26TH, ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER THAN LAST YEAR AND FIVE DAYS BEHIND THE FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE…AS THE DROUGHT PERSISTS, TOPSOIL MOISTURE SUPPLIES ARE RATED 10 PERCENT VERY SHORT, 30 PERCENT SHORT, 47 PERCENT ADEQUATE AND 13 PERCENT SURPLUS….SUBSOIL MOISTURE IS RATED 28 PERCENT VERY SHORT, 46 PERCENT SHORT, 23 PERCENT ADEQUATE, AND 3 PERCENT SURPLUS…

 TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE CATS INCREDIBLE FISHING TOURNAMENT IN EAST GRAND FORKS WILL GO ON THIS YEAR…WDAZ-TV REPORTS THE EAST GRAND FORKS ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS HAS AGREED TO TAKE OVER THE CATS INCREDIBLE FISHING TOURNAMENT FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WHICH SERVES BOTH GRAND FORKS AND EAST GRAND FORKS… ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE CHAMBER, THE TWO GROUPS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE CHANGE FOR THE PAST YEAR…THE TOURNAMENT IS SCHEDULED FOR JULY 27-28…ALL FISHERMEN CURRENTLY REGISTERED FOR THE TOURNAMENT WITH THE CHAMBER WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE TRANSFERRED TO THE NEW SPONSORING ORGANIZATION AND WILL RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION LETTER IN THE NEAR FUTURE…OFFICIALS SAID AT THIS TIME,  THE TOURNAMENT STILL HAS ROOM FOR MORE TEAMS…

THE  ROSEAU COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET IN SESSION TUESDAY MORNING  AT 9:00 A.M. IN THE ROSEAU COUNTY COURTHOUSE….THE BOARD IS SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH  D-U-I  COURT COORDINATOR,  MARIA PAHLEN,  WHO WILL GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE PROGRAM…THE BOARD WILL ALSO MEET WITH MARY  HILBRAND OF MINNESOTA  HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT….THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS CONTRACTS FOR BITUMINOUS AND SEAL COAT PROJECTS SCHEDULED IN ROSEAU COUNTY THIS YEAR, DISCUSS  A  REQUEST  TO RENEW THE CONTRACT WITH KEITH BLOCK FOR SOIL VERIFICATION DUTIES FOR 2013…OTHER AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE THE SETTING OF THE DATE, TIME AND LOCATION FOR THE 2013 COUNTY BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION MEETING…COMMISSIONERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE  “NEXT GENERATION 911 GRANT AGREEMENT”, WHICH IS FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA FOR IMPLEMENTING AND OR UPDATING THE 911 SYSTEM TO ACCEPT DATA CALLS FOR EMERGENCIES OVER THE WIRELESS NETWORK…THERE IS A 10 THOUSAND DOLLAR GRANT ISSUED BY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO COVER COST TO IMPLEMENT….AND THE BOARD WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE NEXT STEP IN HIRING AN EMERGENCY MANAGER… 

THE LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET IN REGULAR SESSION TUESDAY MORNING AT 9AM AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER IN BAUDETTE…THE AGENDA THERE INCLUDES A MINNESOTA STATE AUDITORS DESK REVIEW LETTER AND POINTS, AND THE REQUEST FOR A GAMBLING PERMIT FOR WHITETAILS UNLIMITED….

A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW ANGLERS TO ONCE AGAIN GET THEIR OWN BAIT IN THE MINNESOTA PORTION OF THE RAINY RIVER BASIN WILL LIKELY BE TABLED UNTIL NEXT YEAR….D-F-L STATE REPRESENTATIVE ROGER ERICKSON, OF BAUDETTE, AUTHORED THE BILL LAST MONTH THAT WOULD ESTABOLISH A SPECIAL PERMIT FOR RESIDENTS OF KOOCHICHING, LAKE OF THE WOODS AND ROSEAU COUNTIES TO HARVEST THEIR OWN BAIT…RESIDENTS WERE ABLE TO BEFORE INVASIVE SPECIES WERE DISCOVERED IN RAINY LAKE, RAINY RIVER AND LAKE OF THE WOODS NEARLY 10 YEARS AGO….BUT ERICKSON SAYS THE BILL,  CO-AUTHORED BY D-F-L STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAVID DILL, OF CRANE LAKE, THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED AND WAS FIRST READ BACK IN MID MARCH, AND WAS  REFERRED TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY COMMITTEE….THE BILL SAYS A PERSON RESIDING IN KOOCHICHING,  LAKE OF THE WOODS, OR ROSEAU COUNTY  WOULD BE ABLE TO HARVEST UP TO 24 DOZEN MINNOWS FOR NONCOMMERCIAL PERSONAL USE FROM RAINY RIVER OR LAKE OF THE WOODS WITH A SPECIAL HARVESTING PERMIT FOR A 10 DOLLAR FEE…

THE EARLY  OPEN WATER WALLEYE SEASON ON THE RAINY RIVER IS UNDERWAY, ATTRACTING ANGLERS FROM ALL OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST….MINNESOTA D-N-R AREA CONSERVATION OFFICER, JEFF BIRCHEM, SAYS TRAILERS ARE LINING MANY OF THE RIVER ACCESSES AND FISHING IS GOOD,  BUT SAFETY MUST BE THE PRIORITY…THE RIVER IS OPEN PAST THE FRONTIER ACCESS AND EXPECTED TO BE CLOSE,  OR JUST PAST,  THE CLEMENTSON ACCESS THIS WEEKEND…

A NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA BUSINESS HAS PAID A PENALTY TO THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY  AND TAKEN CORRECTIVE ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO SEVERAL STORMWATER AND HAZARDOUS WASTE VIOLATIONS….THE M-P-C-A SAYS LUCKEN TRUCKS AND PARTS OF WINGER HAS PAID THE 10 THOUSAND DOLLAR PENALTY AND HAS TAKEN ACTIONS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS DISCOVERED DURING THE 2009 INSPECTIONS…THE AGENCY SAYS THEY  FOUND THE COMPANY ALLOWED POLLUTED DISCHARGES FROM SUBSURFACE TILES TO DRAIN FROM THE PROPERTY INTO A NEARBY WATERWAY….THE COMPANY ALSO LACKED A REQUIRED STORMWATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PLAN, AND HAD NOT TAKEN ACTION TO PREVENT POLLUTED STORMWATER FROM RUNNING OFF THE SITE. … THE M-P-C-A SAYS IT ALSO FOUND THAT THE COMPANY HAD VIOLATED HAZARDOUS WASTE REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE STORAGE AND DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS SOLVENTS, CONTAMINATED RAGS AND SPENT BATTERIES. SOIL CONTAMINATED WITH WASTE AUTOMOTIVE FLUIDS WAS OBSERVED AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS ON THE SITE…THE COMPANY ALSO IMPROPERLY STORED AND DISPOSED OF SOLID WASTE AND USED TIRES….

THE RED LAKE WATERSHED DISTRICT IS HOSTING PUBLIC MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THE PROCESS BEING MADE ON A WATER QUALITY STUDY OF THE RED LAKE RIVER…OFFICIALS SAY DUE TO THE LARGE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA OF THIS WATERSHED, TWO SIMILAR MEETINGS ARE SCHEDULED…THE FIRST MEETING IS SET FOR TUESDAY APRIL 9, FROM 10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM AT THE GUESTHOUSE INN CONFERENCE ROOM IN GRAND FORKS…THEN, ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 10, FROM 10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM INFORMATION WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE RED LAKE WATERSHED DISTRICT OFFICE IN THIEF RIVER FALLS…THE RED LAKE RIVER WATERSHED IS BEING STUDIED TO DETERMINE ITS CURRENT CONDITION AND CREATE PLANS THAT WILL GUIDE FUTURE MANAGEMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRANT FUNDING…A 4-YEAR STUDY OF THE AREA BEGAN IN 2012 AND WILL WRAP UP IN 2016…OFFICIALS SAY THE GOAL OF THE STUDY IS TO CREATE A MANAGEMENT PLAN DESIGNED TO RESTORE REACHES OF THE RIVER WITH DEGRADED WATER QUALITY AND MAINTAIN THE HIGH WATER QUALITY IN OTHER AREAS….

 AN ETHANOL PLANT THAT SHUT DOWN FIVE YEARS AGO IN THE NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA CITY OF GRAFTON IS BEING DISMANTLED…THE ALCHEM  PLANT FIRST OPENED IN 1985 TO MAKE ETHANOL FROM CORN…. IT CLOSED IN 2007 AND WAS LATER SOLD AT AUCTION…AN IOWA-BASED ENERGY INVESTMENT GROUP PLANNED TO BUY THE PLANT A YEAR AGO AND USE IT TO TURN SUGAR BEETS INTO THE ALTERNATIVE FUEL…BUT THE PROJECT NEVER GOT OFF THE GROUND… GRAFTON CITY ADMINISTRATOR NICK ZIEGELMANN SAYS  THE COMMUNITY WAS HOPING THE PLANT WOULD BECOME OPERATIONAL AGAIN AND RESTORE THE 30 JOBS THAT WERE LOST….ANOTHER ETHANOL PLANT IN NORTHEASTERN NORTH DAKOTA, THE FORMER A-D-M CORN PROCESSING PLANT IN WALHALLA, CLOSED LAST YEAR…

LONGTIME  AREA  DISTRICT ONE STATE SENATOR LEROY STUMPF OF PLUMMER, A TOP SENATE DEMOCRAT, IS OUT WITH HIS PLAN TO CHOP PROPERTY TAXES BY 150 MILLION DOLLARS BY HAVING THE STATE ASSUME SOME SCHOOL COSTS NOW PICKED UP ON THE LOCAL LEVEL…STUMPF SAYS THE PROPOSAL WOULD BUY OFF LEVIES IN EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT…FOR MOST, IT WON’T MEAN NEW DOLLARS BUT IT WOULD GIVE THEIR PROPERTY TAX PAYERS MORE BREATHING ROOM…A SMATTERING OF DISTRICTS WOULD SEE UP TO 35 DOLLARS  MORE PER CHILD ADDED TO THEIR STATE EDUCATION ALLOWANCE…BUT THERE’S A CATCH: THE PLAN BRINGS BACK A STATEWIDE GENERAL EDUCATION LEVY THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPEALED…FOR NOW, IT WOULD GENERATE 20 MILLION DOLLARS…BUT BUSINESS GROUPS ARE SPEAKING AGAINST THE PLAN, EXPRESSING CONCERN THAT THE REVIVED GENERAL EDUCATION LEVY WILL RISE IN THE FUTURE…

 NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO AUTHORITIES HAVE IDENTIFIED THE MAN FOUND OUTSIDE THE LAKESIDE INN IN KENORA ON SUNDAY AS 36 YEAR OLD MICHAEL SYLBORNE OF TORONTO…THE O-P-P SAYS HE WAS STAYING IN KENORA WHILE WORKING ON A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN THE AREA…A POST MORTEM EXAMINATION WAS CONDUCTED IN KENORA….HE RESULTS ARE NOT BEING RELEASED AT THIS TIME PENDING FURTHER INVESTIGATION….AUTHORITIES SAY ON SUNDAY AT 3:45 AM THEY WERE  CALLED TO THE  LAKESIDE INN IN THE CITY OF KENORA….OFFICERS WERE RESPONDING TO A COMPLAINT OF OCCUPANTS CAUSING A DISTURBANCE, WHEN THEY ARRIVED THEY FOUND ONE MALE LYING ON THE STREET AND OBSERVED A WINDOW ON THE FOURTH FLOOR HAD BEEN BROKEN…SYLBORNE WAS TAKEN TO LAKE OF THE WOODS DISTRICT HOSPITAL WHERE HE DIED SHORTLY AFTER ARRIVAL….MEMBERS OF THE NORTH WEST REGIONS CRIME UNIT ARE CONTINUING THE INVESTIGATION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE OPP CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS BRANCH…. 

CREWS FROM CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY HAVE COMPLETED CLEAN-UP OF AROUND 15-THOUSAND GALLONS OF OIL THAT SPILLED NEAR PARKERS PRAIRIE…THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY’S DAN OLSON SAYS HE’S PRETTY CONFIDENT THERE HASN’T BEEN ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO SURFACE OR GROUNDWATERS….OLSON SAYS THE OIL WAS TRUCKED TO A LANDFILL IN GLENCOE… FOURTEEN TRAIN CARS CARRYING CRUDE DERAILED LAST WEDNESDAY AND THREE OF THE TANKERS LEAKED THE OIL… 

A SPECIAL CLEAN-UP DAY ON LAKE OF THE WOODS HAS BEEN POSTPONED….THE LAKE OF THE WOODS SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT SAYS THE CLEAN-UP DAY, ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE THIS SATURDAY, HAS BEEN MOVED TO SATURDAY APRIL 13^TH DUE TO TOO MUCH SNOW ON THE ICE….THE DAY WILL REMAIN AN ALL-DAY EVENT WITH TRASH BAG DISTRIBUTION FROM 7‐10 AM AT THE SAME LOCATIONS:

 ‐ADRIAN’S ICE ROAD ACCESS

 ‐BABBLER’S  ROAD

‐CYRUS RESORT

‐SWIFT DITCH

‐MORRIS POINT RESORT

‐CITY OF WARROAD

‐ZIPPEL BAY RESORT

‐WARROAD ESTATES

‐LONG POINT RESORT

‐SPRINGSTEEL RESORT…

THE SPECIAL CLEAN-UP DAY IS A RESULT OF AN EFFORT TO PREVENT A REPEAT  OF THE AMOUNT OF GARBAGE LEFT BY ANGLERS AND OTHERS IN RECENT YEARS…THE WINTER ICE FISHING SEASON OF 2011 – 2012 PROVED TO BE ONE OF THE TRASHIEST YEARS ON LAKE OF THE WOODS… IN THE SPRING,  BEFORE ICE MELT BUT AFTER SNOW MELT,  THE “FRIENDS OF ZIPPEL BAY STATE PARK” PICKED UP OVER 5 TRUCKLOADS OF TRASH AND WASTE ON JUST A SMALL STRETCH OF BEACH IN ZIPPEL BAY STATE PARK…THE SPECIAL CLEAN-UP DAY IS SET ASIDE FOR VOLUNTEERS TO  GO OUT ON THE ICE AND PICK UP TRASH… ALL PARTICIPATION IS WELCOME…. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL THE SOIL AND WATER OFFICE AT 634-1842 EXT 3… 

A BLOOD DRIVE IN GRYGLA IS SET FOR THURSDAY….THE BLOOD DRIVE WILL BE HELD FROM 11:30AM TO 5:30PM AT THE GRYGLA COMMUNITY CENTER…TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, CALL 294-6177 OR 459-3436…. 

A BLOOD DRIVE WILL BE HELD IN WARROAD NEXT WEEK…THE WARROAD  BLOOD DRIVE, SPONSORED BY THE WARROAD EAGLES AUXILIARY,  IS SET FOR TUESDAY APRIL 9^TH FROM 11:30AM TO 6PM  AT THE WARROAD COMMUNITY CENTER…TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, CALL 386-3692 OR GO TO THE WEB AT  bloodhero.com ….sponsor code warroad 

THE ’FLU OUTBREAK WARNING’ HAS BEEN LIFTED AT THE EMO HEALTH CENTRE IN EMO, ONTARIO…THE OUTBREAK WAS CALLED LAST TUESDAY AFTER THREE LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENTS HAD CONFIRMED CASES OF INFLUENZA ‘A’ AND FOUR OTHERS HAD RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS…OFFICIALS SAY, AS A RESULT OF THE OUTBREAK, IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS WERE ASKED TO RESTRICT THEIR VISIT TO THE RESIDENT ROOM AND REFRAIN FROM VISITING OTHER RESIDENTS WHILE AT THE EMO HEALTH CENTRE…CENTER OFFICIALS SAY ALL GROUP PROGRAMMING WAS CANCELLED AND WILL NOW BE REINSTATED….

NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF A MAN WHO WAS FOUND SERIOUSLY INJURED OUTSIDE A HOTEL IN KENORA EARLY SUNDAY MORNING….THE O-P-P WERE CALLED TO THE BEST WESTERN LAKESIDE INN AFTER A COMPLAINT THAT SOME PEOPLE STAYING AT THE HOTEL WERE CAUSING A DISTURBANCE AT ABOUT 3:45 A.M…WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED THEY FOUND A MAN LYING ON THE STREET AND NOTICED A WINDOW ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF THE BUILDING WAS BROKEN…THE MAN WAS TAKEN TO LAKE OF THE WOODS DISTRICT HOSPITAL WHERE HE DIED OF HIS INJURIES…O-P-P ARE NOT RELEASING HIS NAME UNTIL HIS FAMILY HAS BEEN NOTIFIED…THE FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION AND CRIME UNITS HAVE BEEN CALLED TO HELP OUT WITH THE INVESTIGATION…

AUTHORITIES IN NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA SAY TWO EMPLOYEES AT A SUGAR PLANT HAVE SUFFERED SERIOUS BURNS AFTER THEY FELL INTO SCALDING HOT WATER….THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED SATURDAY ABOUT 6 P.M. AT THE AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR COMPANY PLANT IN EAST GRAND FORKS….POLICE SAY THE MEN FELL INTO WATER THAT WAS NEARLY BOILING….A 21-YEAR-OLD SUFFERED SECOND- AND THIRD-DEGREE BURNS OVER HIS ENTIRE BODY, AND A 32-YEAR-OLD HAD BURNS ON HIS HANDS AND FEET….BOTH WERE TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL IN GRAND FORKS….THE 21-YEAR-OLD WAS AIRLIFTED TO A BURN UNIT IN THE TWIN CITIES…THEIR CONDITIONS WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY KNOWN….

THE MINNESOTA TURKEY RESEARCH AND PROMOTION COUNCIL HAS HONORED DOUG AND LINDA HEDLUND OF ROSEAU, WITH ITS 2013 “TURKEY PROMOTER OF THE YEAR” AWARD…THE HEDLUNDS ARE 2^ND GENERATION TURKEY FARMERS WHO RAISE 60 THOUSAND TURKEYS ANNUALLY FOR THE FARMER-OWNED NORTHERN PRIDE COOPERATIVE OUT OF THIEF RIVER FALLS… IN ADDITION TO THEIR FARM, DOUG AND LINDA TOOK OVER MANAGING CONCESSIONS AT THE ROSEAU HOCKEY ARENA 33 YEARS AGO…ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO THE TWO ADDED TURKEY WINGS TO THE MENU…WHEN THOSE PROVED TO BE A BIT TOO LABOR INTENSIVE, THEY SWITCHED TO A BONE-IN TURKEY BREAST SANDWICH SERVED ON A HAMBURGER BUN, WHICH REMAINS AN EXTREMELY POPULAR MENU ITEM TODAY…THE HEDLUNDS ALSO CATER WEDDINGS, GRADUATIONS, REUNIONS AND COMPANY PICNICS….

THE COUNCIL HAS ALSO NAMED IT’S 2013-14 OFFICERS: TREASURER GENE BROWNFIELD; PAST PRESIDENT DUANE JAENICKE OF ROSEAU, PRESIDENT JOHN ZIMMERMAN; AND VICE PRESIDENT JOHN GORTON…DUANE JAENICKE, WHO NOW STEPS INTO THE PAST PRESIDENT ROLE,  RUNS P & J FARMS OF ROSEAU, ALONG WITH HIS SON, SCOTT….THE FARM, WHICH STARTED IN 1982,  RAISES APPROXIMATELY 100 TO 130 THOUSAND  HENS FOR NORTHERN PRIDE COOPERATIVE IN THIEF RIVER FALLS… 

AREA MINNESOTA D-N-R FORESTRY OFFICIALS ARE REMINDING THE PUBLIC THAT BURNING PERMITS ARE NOT REQUIRED WHEN THERE IS AT LEAST 3 INCHES OF CONTINUOUS SNOW COVER…SO NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO BURN ANY BRUSH PILES…OFFICIALS ALSO SAY SPRING BURNING RESTRICTIONS WILL BE IN PLACE AGAIN, ONCE THE SNOW IS GONE…FORESTRY PERSONEL ALSO REMIND RESIDENTS THAT THERE CANNOT BE ANY BURNING OF PEAT, RAILROAD TIES, TARPAPER, TIRES, PLASTICS, GARBAGE OR ANY HAZERDOUS MATERIAL….

 THE LAKE OF THE WOODS SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT CURRENTLY HAS 16 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF LOW-COST TREES AND SHRUBS AVAILABLE FOR THIS SPRING…THE SPRING 2013 TREE ORDER FORM INCLUDES A WIDE VARIETY OF TREES AND SHRUBS SUITED TO THIS REGION… IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING TREES, THE DISTRICT SAYS IT CAN PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND COST SHARE ASSISTANCE FOR LARGER OR FUNCTIONAL TREE PLANTINGS AND ALSO HAVE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO PROTECT TREE SEEDLINGS….THE SALE CONTINUES UNTIL ALL STOCK IS SOLD OUT…TREE ORDER FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE LAKE OF THE WOODS SWCD OFFICE, LOCATED IN THE POST OFFICE BUILDING IN BAUDETTE, OR THEY CAN BE DOWNLOADED OFF OF THE WEBSITE lakeofthewoodsswcd.org….OR BY CALLING THE SWCD OFFICE @ 634-1842 EXT 3….

THE MINNESOTA D-N-R SAYS APPLICATIONS FOR MINNESOTA BEAR HUNTING LICENSES ARE AVAILABLE BEGINNING MONDAY, APRIL 1, AND WILL BE ACCEPTED THROUGH FRIDAY, MAY 3^RD…. A TOTAL OF 3 THOUSAND 750 LICENSES ARE AVAILABLE IN 11 PERMIT AREAS….HE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE LICENSES FOR 2013 IS ABOUT 35 PERCENT FEWER THAN THE 6 THOUSAND LICENSES AVAILABLE IN 2012…THE 2012 BEAR HARVEST WAS 2 THOUSAND 604…THAT WAS A 22 PERCENT INCREASE FROM 2011, DESPITE 15 PERCENT FEWER BEAR QUOTA LICENSES BEING AVAILABLE…OFFICIALS SAY THE INCREASE IN HARVEST FOR 2012 WAS LARGELY DUE TO POORER FALL FOOD CONDITIONS, MAKING BEARS MORE ATTRACTED TO HUNTERS’ BAITS…THE DNR’S GOAL WITH THE LOWER LICENSE QUOTAS IS TO ALLOW FOR A GRADUAL INCREASE IN THE CURRENT BEAR POPULATION…NOTIFICATION TO SUCCESSFUL LOTTERY WINNERS WILL BE MADE IN MID- TO LATE MAY…

MOST MINNESOTANS ARE MORE THAN READY FOR WARMER WEATHER BUT THAT ALSO MEANS THE START OF EVERY DRIVER’S LEAST FAVORITE SEASON:    ROAD CONSTRUCTION….THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNVEILED ITS 2013 PLANS….THE 1.1 BILLION DOLLAR PROJECT LIST INCLUDES 87 PROJECTS IN THE TWIN CITIES AREA AND 193 IN GREATER MINNESOTA….IN DISTRICT 2 , AREA PROJECTS INCLUDE: HWY 310 FROM  ROSEAU TO THE CANADIAN BORDER  TO  RESURFACE  11 MILES AND REPLACE CULVERT AT A COST OF  3.19 MILLION …THAT PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO START IN JUNE AND WILL INCLUDE DAILY LANE CLOSURES, RESTRICTIONS AND DELAYS…MNDOT SAYS THAT WILL IMPROVE DRAINAGE BENEATH THEROAD…ANOTHER PROJECT IS HWY 89 FROM SOUTH FORK OF ROSEAU RIVER, TO 5 MILES SOUTH OF WANNASKA TO  REPLACE A BRIDGE AT A COST OF  787 THOUSAND…THAT WILL START IN JUNE AND INCLUDE A DETOUR….ANOTHER PROJECT ON HIGHWAY 89 IS FROM  HWY 2 TO BELTRAMI COUNTY ROAD 26 TO  RESURFACE 12 MILES AT A COST OF  1.19 MILLION…THAT IS SET TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER….AND HWY 65  – 11 MILES SOUTH OF THE KOOCHICHING COUNTY LINE TO 5 MILES SOUTH OF HWY 71 TO  REPLACE 4 BOX CULVERTS NEAR THE LITTLEFORK RIVER  AT A COST OF 3.7 MILLION….THAT PROJECT WILL START IN  JUNE  AND INCLUDE A LENGTHY DETOUR… 

WARROAD SCHOOL P-T-O HAS ANNOUNCED THE ELECTION OF ITS EXECUTIVE BOARD THIS WEEK…THE EXECUTIVE BOARD WILL LEAD THE WARROAD SCHOOL PTO INTO ITS FIRST YEAR OF EXISTENCE… WARROAD SCHOOL PTO OFFICERS FOR THE 2013-2014 SCHOOL YEAR ARE:

PRESIDENT: DAVID PEDERSON

VICE PRESIDENT: JUSTIN FERAGEN

SECRETARY: TABITHA CADMUS

TREASURER: STEPHANIE HEPPNER

DAVID PEDERSON, WARROAD SCHOOL PTO PRESIDENT SAYS THE FIRST ACTION OF THE WARROAD SCHOOL PTO WILL BE TO MEET WITH TEACHERS TO SEE HOW THE GROUP CAN BEST HELP THEM…WARROAD SCHOOL PTO WAS OFFICIALLY FORMED FEBRUARY 26, 2013 BY A GROUP OF CONCERNED PARENTS WHO SAY THE PURPOSE OF THE PTO IS TO ENHANCE AND SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AT THE WARROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BY SUPPORTING ACADEMIC AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, TO DEVELOP A CLOSER CONNECTION BETWEEN SCHOOL AND HOME BY ENCOURAGING PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT, AND TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT AT THE WARROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THROUGH VOLUNTEER AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT….

A ROSEAU COUNTY MAN WILL SERVE ONE YEAR IN PRISON AFTER AN INCIDENT IN NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA IN DECEMBER…44 YEAR OLD SCOTT BOOTHMAN, OF WARROAD, WAS SENTENCED ON CHARGES OF D-U-I WITH A MINOR IN THE VEHICLE AND FELONY RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT IN NORTHEAST DISTRICT COURT IN GRAFTON… BOOTHMAN  PLED GUILTY TO THOSE TWO CHARGES IN JANUARY AND PROSECUTORS DROPPED CHARGES OF SIMPLE ASSAULT, INTERFERENCE WITH AN EMERGENCY CALL, AND TERRORIZING…BOOTHMAN WAS SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR IN PRISON FOR THE MISDEMEANOR D-U-I CHARGE, WHICH WAS SUSPENDED FOR TWO YEARS OF SUPERVISED PROBATION….THE COURT THEN SENTENCED BOOTHMAN TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON ON THE RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT CONVICTION…THE COURT SAID HE WILL SERVE ONE YEAR IN JAIL AND THE REMAINDER  SUSPENDED FOR TWO YEARS WITH SUPERVISED PROBATION…HE GETS CREDIT FOR 31-DAYS IN JAIL AND MUST UNDERGO A CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY EVALUATION….THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DECEMBER 9^TH  IN EASTERN WALSH COUNTY NEAR GRAFTON….AUTHORITIES SAY BOOTHMAN’S GIRLFRIEND REPORTED THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY TO GRAND FORKS WHEN SHE AND BOOTHMAN ARGUED AND HE ALLEGEDLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON I-29 NEAR THE GRAFTON EXIT AND FORCED HER AND HER 6 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OUTSIDE…AUTHORITIES SAID,  AT THE TIME, THAT DURING THE STORM THE WIND CHILL  WAS 25 TO 30 DEGREES BELOW ZERO…AND WHEN A WALSH COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTY RESPONDED TO THE GIRLFRIENDS 911 CALL,  BOOTHMAN FLED, REACHING SPEEDS OF MORE THAN 100 MPH BEFORE EVENTUALLY PULLING OVER….

 THE NORTHWEST MINNESOTA WOMEN’S FUND IS SEEKING NOMINATIONS TO RECOGNIZE AREA WOMEN AS COMMUNITY BUILDERS….WOMEN ELIGIBLE FOR THE AWARDS MUST LIVE IN THE COUNTIES OF BELTRAMI, CLEARWATER, MARSHALL, HUBBARD, PENNINGTON, POLK, KITTSON, RED LAKE, NORMAN, MAHNOMEN, ROSEAU AND LAKE OF THE WOODS…THE DEADLINE FOR NOMINATION IS JUNE 1…FOR MORE INFO, GO TO THE WEB AT  nwmf.org

 WITH THE LATEST FLOOD FORECASTS PREDICTING THE POSSIBILITY OF MAJOR FLOODING IN THE REGION, AREA TOWNS CONTINUE TO PREPARE….THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS IN THE ROSEAU RIVER BASIN,  RESIDENTS CAN  EXPECT SIGNIFICANT LOCALIZED RUNOFF…THEY SAY  SIGNIFICANT SNOWPACK AND SNOW-WATER SHOULD PRODUCE LOCAL RUNOFF AND SOME PONDING TO OVERLAND FLOWS….OFFICIALS SAID  MOST AREA SOILS ARE MORE POROUS AND WILL ALLOW FOR INCREASED INFILTRATION RATES…THE CITY OF ROSEAU IS AT 50% RISK OF MODERATE FLOODING – WHICH IS AT  16.4 FT…. IN KITTSON COUNTY AT HALLOCK,  ON THE TWO RIVERS- RIVER,  OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS AN 88% RISK OF MODERATE FLOODING….

NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO AUTHORITIES HAVE IDENTIFIED THE BODY OF A MAN LOCATED AT A DAM NEAR KENORA…THE O-P-P SAYS THE MAN IS  40 YEAR OLD THOMAS SZIRONY OF VANCOUVER…HE HAD BEEN REPORTED TO VANCOUVER CITY POLICE AS MISSING IN DECEMBER 2012….DNA PROVIDED BY THE FAMILY AIDED WITH POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION….AUTHORITIES RECEIVED A REPORT ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 7^TH  FROM THE NORMAN DAM WHERE  WORKERS LOCATED A BODY FLOATING AT THE INTAKE TO THE DAM….OPP MARINE UNIT ATTENDED AS WELL AS THE KENORA FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST WITH THE RECOVERY…A POST MORTEM EXAMINATION WAS CONDUCTED AT LAKE OF THE WOODS DISTRICT HOSPITAL, AND CAUSE OF DEATH HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED,  ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT SUGGESTS FOUL PLAY….THEY ARE WAITING A TOXICOLOGY REPORT THAT MAY PROVIDE SOME ANSWERS….

MNDOT SAYS THE ENDING DATE FOR WINTER LOAD INCREASES AND STARTING DATE FOR SPRING LOAD RESTRICTIONS IN THE CENTRAL, NORTH-CENTRAL AND NORTH FROST ZONES WILL BE THIS FRIDAY AT 12:01 AM…. SPRING LOAD RESTRICTIONS ARE ALREADY IN EFFECT IN THE SOUTH, SOUTHEAST AND METRO FROST ZONES… THE ENDING DATES FOR SPRING LOAD RESTRICTIONS ARE BASED ON HOW WEATHER IS AFFECTING ROADWAY STRENGTH…MNDOT SAYS THESE DATES ARE ESTABLISHED BY MONITORING ROADWAY STRENGTH AS WEATHER CONDITIONS CHANGE….ROAD RESTRICTION MAPS AND SPECIAL PERMIT INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE MNDOT SEASONAL LOAD LIMITS WEBSITE….

 HIGHWAY AUTHORITIES IN ROSEAU AND LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTIES HAVE ALSO ANNOUNCED SEASONAL ROAD RESTRICTIONS FOR COUNTY AND FOREST ROADS IN THE AREA WILL GO INTO EFFECT THIS FRIDAY AT 12:01AM…UNLESS POSTED OTHERWISE, OFFICIALS SAY AXLE WEIGHTS ON ALL BITUMINOUS SURFACED HIGHWAYS WILL BE 10 TONS PER AXLE…ALL GRAVEL ROADS IN BOTH COUNTIES WILL BE LIMITED TO 5 TONS PER AXLE….MEANWHILE, FOREST ROADS IN ROSEAU COUNTY WILL BE SET AT 3.5 TONS GROSS, AND LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY FOREST ROADS AT 4.5 TONS GROSS….

THE ROSEAU COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET IN SESSION TUESDAY MORNING AT 9:00 A.M. IN THE ROSEAU COUNTY COURTHOUSE…THE BOARD IS SCHEDULED TO GET AN UPDATE FROM ROD KJERSTEN  OF THE NORTHWEST REGIONAL LIBRARY BOARD AND DEB SLETTEN OF THE M-C-I-T BOARD…THE BOARD WILL ALSO ADDRESS THE CITY OF ROSEAU/UNORGANIZED TOWNSHIP FIRE CONTRACT, THE  ROSEAU COUNTY TRAILBLAZERS EASEMENT TRANSFER AND MORE…. 

THE LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET IN SESSION TUESDAY MORNING AT 9AM AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER IN BAUDETTE…THE BOARD WILL VISIT WITH STATE REPRESENTIVE ROGER ERICKSON AND DISCUSS THE LAKEWOOD PUBLIC HEALTH CONTRACT… 

THE MINNESOTA DNR NORTHWEST REGION IS OFFERING VOLUNTEER TRAINING WORKSHOPS FOR CITIZENS INTERESTED IN INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES AND HOW TO SLOW THEIR SPREAD…A TRAINING SESSION IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 27, FROM 9 A.M.-NOON, AT THE NORTHERN TOWN HALL BEMIDJI….ANYONE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING A TRAINING SESSION SHOULD CONTACT NATHAN OLSON, 218-739-7576, EXT. 259….

DETAILS HAVE BEEN RELEASED AFTER U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION IN BAUDETTE RECENTLY ARRESTED TWO  CANADIAN  MEN FOR POSSESSING APPROXIMATELY 958 GRAMS OF HASH AND 11 GRAMS OF METHAMPHETAMINES….THE INCIDENT HAPPENED MARCH 1^ST AND DETAILS WERE RELEASED THIS WEEK….STEPHANE GRIMARD AND SHAWN MENARD, BOTH OF  VALCOURT, QUEBEC,    WERE ENCOUNTERED AT THE BAUDETTE PORT OF ENTRY BY CUSTOMS OFFICERS….AUTHORITIES SAY A DETAILED INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE REVEALED TWO BRICKS OF AN UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE THAT FIELD TESTED POSITIVE FOR HASHISH….OFFICERS SAID METHAMPHETAMINE TABLETS WERE ALSO DISCOVERED IN THE VEHICLE….GRIMARD AND MENARD WERE BOTH IMMEDIATELY TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND TURNED OVER TO THE BAUDETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION….

A GREENBUSH MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ASSAULTING HIS WIFE…GRAND FORKS AUTHORITIES SAY 30 YEAR OLD BRADLEY KAML, OF GREENBUSH, FORMERLY OF GRAND FORKS,  APPEARED IN  NORTH DAKOTA DISTRICT COURT IN GRAND FORKS THIS WEEK, AND HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH GROSS SEXUAL IMPOSITION…AUTHORITIES SAY KAML’S WIFE SAID HE PERFORMED SEXUAL ACTS ON HER WHILE SHE WAS UNCONSCIOUS IN THEIR SOUTH GRAND FORKS APARTMENT AND RECORDED A VIDEO OF IT….INVESTIGATORS SAID KAML ADMITTED TO THE ACT AND THAT HE KNEW SHE WAS UNCONSCIOUS….AUTHORITIES SET KAML’S BOND AT 5 THOUSAND DOLLARS….THE GRAND FORKS HERALD REPORTS THAT WHEN THE SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGE WAS FILED, KAML WAS ALREADY IN JAIL, CONVICTED OF RESISTING ARREST, SPITTING ON OFFICERS AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT….HE WAS ARRESTED IN JULY AFTER UND POLICE OFFICERS SAID THEY FOUND HIM DRUNK AND “FLIPPING OFF TRAFFIC” ON GATEWAY DRIVE…. KAML IS SCHEDULED TO BE SENTENCED ON THOSE CHARGES APRIL 5….HIS PRELIMINARY HEARING ON THE NEW CHARGE IS SCHEDULED APRIL 15….

THE FINALISTS IN THE UPCOMING IDEA COMPETITION HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED…AND THERE ARE A FEW LOCAL PEOPLE NAMED…THE 2013 FINALISTS INCLUDE SCOTT JOHNSON OF WARROAD FOR SAND SHARK, A TILLER ATTACHMENT THAT REMOVES ROCKS AND DEBRIS FROM SAND BUNKERS AND BEACH FRONTS….TIM AND JENNY SLUKYNSKY OF WARROAD FOR LAMPLIGHTER HOCKEY, A HOCKEY STICK WEIGHT THAT OVERCOMES THE WEAKNESSES OF OTHER HOCKEY STICK TRAINING TOOLS ON THE MARKET TODAY…AND JACK LUNDBOHM OF ROSEAU FOR STAND ALONE GAME CALLS, AN ELK-HUNTING CALL THAT ALLOWS AN ELK HUNTER TO HUNT ALONE WHILE REMOTELY OPERATING THE CALL THAT IS SET UP IN A SECOND LOCATION…THE OTHER FINALISTS INCLUDE  LESTER WILKENS OF CROOKSTON FOR E-STUD, AN ENGINEERED STUD FOR NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION THAT RAISES THE R-FACTOR TO R-19 ON THE WHOLE STRUCTURE…MORGAN, RON AND BRENDA KNABLE, OF BAGLEY, FOR KNABLE MACHINE WORKS, A RIFLE ATTACHMENT THAT CONVERTS A GUN’S ACTION FROM RIGHT-HANDED TO LEFT-HANDED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS…JERRY TITERA OF BAGLEY FOR HUBMASTER, A TOOL THAT HELPS REMOVE THE TAPERED WHEEL HUB FROM BOBCAT SKIDSTEERS FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR…BRIAN AND COREEN BERDAHL OF RED LAKE FALLS FOR SPOT-KNOT, AN ON-THE-SPOT SLIP KNOT TIE DEVICE THAT IS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN THE FISHING INDUSTRY… AND DR. ALAN RUDNICK AND DAN KRAMER, BOTH OF BEMIDJI, FOR RUDNICK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, A SOLUTION FOR CHRONIC WOUNDS THAT REDUCES INFECTIONS, INCREASES CIRCULATION AND JUMP-STARTS THE WOUND-HEALING PROCESS…THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE IDEA COMPETITION AWARDS BANQUET, SLATED TO BE FROM 5-8:30 P.M. APRIL 24 AT THE RALPH ENGELSTAD ARENA IN THIEF RIVER FALLS….

NORTHWEST ONTARIO POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE   THEFT OF A BOAT, MOTOR AND TRAILER FROM LAKE OF THE WOODS TOWNSHIP…THE RAINY RIVER DETACHMENT OF THE O-P-P SAYS OFFICERS ON TUESDAY  RECEIVED A REPORT OF A THEFT FROM A SEASONAL COTTAGE IN THE LAKE OF THE WOODS TOWNSHIP POLICE SAY STOLEN ITEMS INCLUDED:

- ONE 1998 GREEN AND TAN COLORED 17 LUND

- ONE 1997 GREEN 115 HP JOHNSON MOTOR

- ONE 2004 YELLOW AND BLACK MINKOTA ELECTRIC MOTOR

- ONE 1999 GREY 9.9 HONDA MOTOR

- ONE 2006 GREY EZ LOADER TRAILER

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CRIME IS ASKED TO CALL THE OPP AT 1-888-310-1122 OR CRIME STOPPERS AT 1-800-222-TIPS….

 CARVER COUNTY IS RANKED AS MINNESOTA’S HEALTHIEST COUNTY IN A NEW REPORT WHILE CASS COUNTY IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST….THE 2013 COUNTY HEALTH RANKINGS WERE RELEASED WEDNESDAY BY THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN POPULATION HEALTH INSTITUTE AND THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION….COUNTIES WERE RANKED ON SUCH FACTORS AS SMOKING, OBESITY, PHYSICAL INACTIVITY AND TEEN BIRTH RATES….AFTER CARVER, MINNESOTA’S TOP FIVE HEALTHIEST COUNTIES ARE STEELE, WASECA, DODGE AND SCOTT….MINNESOTA’S BOTTOM FIVE HEALTHIEST COUNTIES, IN DESCENDING ORDER, ARE LAKE, TRAVERSE, MILLE LACS, MAHNOMEN AND CASS….COUNTIES ARE RANKED IN TWO CATEGORIES: HEALTH OUTCOMES AND HEALTH FACTORS (ALSO KNOWN AS HEALTH DETERMINANTS)… HEALTH OUTCOMES INCLUDE THE RATE OF PEOPLE DYING BEFORE AGE 75, THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO REPORT BEING IN FAIR OR POOR HEALTH AND THE RATE OF LOW BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS. ..HEALTH FACTORS INCLUDE HEALTH BEHAVIOR, CLINICAL CARE, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT…THE RANKINGS, LAUNCHED IN 2010, ARE DESIGNED TO COMPARE THE HEALTH OF COUNTIES…AREA COUNTIES IN HEALTH OUTCOMES:

LOW 19^TH….KITTSON 32…MARSHALL 36…KOOCHICHING 42…ROSEAU  49…PENNINGTON 73…BELTRAMI 80

 HEALTH FACTORS

ROSEAU 26…KITTSON 30…PENNINGTON 35…MARSHALL 52…LAKE OF THE WOODS 65…KOOCHICHING 70…BELTRAMI 86

A ROSEAU COUNTY COUPLE HAS BEEN SENTENCED IN THE MURDER OF A BADGER MAN LAST FALL…ON FEBRUARY 13^TH , 34 YEAR OLD JEREMY LEMEN, AND 25 YEAR OLD DISEREE SHINHOLSER,  BOTH OF BADGER, APPEARED IN ROSEAU COUNTY DISTRICT COURT AND ENTERED GUILTY PLEAS TO CHARGES STEMMING FROM THE OCTOBER 5, 2012, DEATH OF 31 YEAR OLD JOHN WILLIAM RYAN CURRIER, OF BADGER, FORMERLY OF INTERNATIONAL FALLS…..LEMEN PLEAD GUILTY TO SECOND-DEGREE MURDER WITH INTENT…SHINHOLSER PLEADED GUILTY TO  AID AND ABET MURDER IN THE 2ND DEGREE WITHOUT INTENT – WHILE COMMITTING A FELONY….THIS WEEK, LEMEN WAS SENTENCED TO 25 AND A HALF YEARS IN PRISON, WITH CREDIT FOR THE 164 DAYS ALREADY SERVED…..SHINHOLSER WAS SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON, WITH  CREDIT FOR 164 DAYS ALREADY SERVED ….BOTH  WERE ORDERED TO PAY RESTITUTION, WITH THE AMOUNT TO BE DETERMINED…AUTHORITIES SAID LEMEN AND SHINHOLSER  LIVED TOGETHER IN THE SAME APARTMENT BUILDING IN BADGER WHERE CURRIER LIVED…CURRIER’S GIRLFRIEND REPORTED HIM MISSING OCT. 6^TH , AND HIS BODY WAS FOUND IN A CRAWL SPACE IN THE APARTMENT BUILDING. …AUTHORITIES SAY LEMEN AND SHINHOLSER CONFESSED TO RESTRAINING CURRIER AND THEN BEAT, STRANGLED, AND USED AN AXE IN THE MURDER…

SOUTHEAST MANITOBA RCMP RECENTLY INVESTIGATED BOTH A DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE AND A DOMESTIC ASSAULT INCIDENT, OCCURRING IN STEINBACH AND WOODRIDGE…IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS MARCH 9^TH,  STEINBACH RCMP RESPONDED TO A COMPLAINT OF A DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE IN THE CITY OF STEINBACH…POLICE ATTENDED AND CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION WHICH RESULTED IN AN ADULT MALE FROM THE RESIDENCE BEING ARRESTED FOR BREACH OF PEACE…THE MALE WAS LODGED UNTIL SOBER AND LATER RELEASED…NO CHARGES WERE MADE DURING THAT INVESTIGATION….IN ANOTHER INCIDENT ON MARCH 10^TH,  AFTER AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH, STEINBACH RCMP SAY THEY  LOCATED A MALE THAT WAS WANTED FOR AS DOMESTIC ASSAULT IN THE TOWN OF WOODRIDGE….HE WAS LOCATED IN THE MARCHAND (MAR-SHAWN) AREA AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ARRESTED WITHOUT INCIDENT….THE MALE WAS LATER RELEASED AND IS SET TO APPEAR IN COURT IN STEINBACH IN APRIL….

RIVERSIDE HEALTH CARE OFFICIALS IN NORTHWEST ONTARIO SAY DUE TO A CONFIRMED CASE OF INFLUENZA “A” IN THE LONG-TERM CARE UNIT AT THE EMO HEALTH CENTRE, VISITING WILL BE RESTRICTED TO FAMILY MEMBERS ONLY – UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE….OFFICIALS SAY FAMILY MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO RESTRICT THEIR VISIT TO THE RESIDENT ROOM AND REFRAIN FROM VISITING OTHER RESIDENTS WHILE AT THE EMO HEALTH CENTRE…THE INFECTION CONTROL COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION…OFFICIALS SAY ANYONE WITH QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ARE ASKED TO CALL GLENNA  AT (807) 274-5603 EXT.  5603 OR JODI JEWELL, INFECTION CONTROL NURSE AT (807) 274-4835….

AN AGRICULTURAL DRAINAGE AND WETLAND RULE WORKSHOP IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY FROM 6:00 P.M.-8:30 P.M. IN THE COMMISSIONER’S ROOM OF THE GOVERNMENT CENTER IN BAUDETTE….THE PURPOSE FOR THE WORKSHOP IS TO PROVIDE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS INFORMATION ON HOW TO COMPLETE THEIR AGRICULTURAL DRAINAGE PROJECTS WHILE COMPLYING WITH STATE AND FEDERAL WETLAND RULES…PRESENTERS WILL BE THERE FROM THE LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY LAND AND WATER PLANNING OFFICE, COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, BOARD OF WATER AND SOIL RESOURCES, AND NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE… THIS WORKSHOP IS OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE AND IS OPEN TO ANYONE….ORGANIZERS SAY CLASS SIZE IS LIMITED, AND PRE-REGISTRATION IS PREFERRED… TO REGISTER, CALL THE LAKE OF THE WOODS SOIL AND WATER OFFICE AT (218) 634-1842 EXT. 3…. 

THE NORTHWEST MINNESOTA ARTS COUNCIL IS PRESENTING AN EXHIBIT OF ARTWORKS BY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM THE NORTHWEST MINNESOTA REGION….SHOWCASED ARE WORKS BY STUDENTS OF DEB AUNE  FROM GREENBUSH-MIDDLE-RIVER HIGH SCHOOL; STUDENTS FROM CROOKSTON HIGH SCHOOL TAUGHT BY GARY STEGMAN; AND STUDENTS OF ERIN NELSON OF EAST GRAND FORKS SENIOR HIGH…FEATURED WORKS BY 10TH THROUGH 12TH GRADE ART STUDENTS INCLUDE PAINTINGS EXECUTED IN ACRYLIC, WATERCOLOR, OIL, OR MIXED MEDIA; DRAWINGS AND MORE….THE STUDENT ART SHOWCASE WILL BE ON DISPLAY THROUGH APRIL 14 AT THE COUNCIL’S  GALLERY WITHIN THE RIVER WALK ARTISTS GIFT SHOP AND GALLERY  IN THE RIVERWALK CENTRE MALL IN EAST GRAND FORKS…   

ONE PERSON WAS KILLED AND  TWO OTHERS INJURED IN A TWO VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN KITTSON COUNTY SUNDAY AFTERNOON…THE STATE PATROL SAYS THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ALONG HIGHWAY 11 NEAR 310^TH AVENUE AROUND 215PM….THE PATROL SAYS 25 YEAR OLD BENJAMIN WINK, OF WARROAD, WAS DRIVING A 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX EASTBOUND ON 11 WHEN THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE CENTER LINE AND STRUCK A 2006 BUICK LUCERNE HEAD-ON…THAT VEHICLE WAS WESTBOUND AND DRIVEN BY 59 YEAR OLD MARK ENGEN, OF WARROAD, WHO WAS TRAVELING ALONE…ENGEN’S INJURIES WERE NOT DOCUMENTED…BENJAMIN WINK, AND ONE OF HIS PASSENGERS, 23 YEAR OLD LUKE WINK, ALSO OF WARROAD, RECEIVED SERIOUS, BUT UNKNOWN INJURIES IN THE ACCIDENT….THE OTHER PASSENGER IN THE WINK VEHICLE, 54 YEAR OLD STEVEN WINK, OF AITKIN, MINNESOTA, DIED IN THE CRASH…AUTHORITIES SAY ROAD CONDITIONS WERE ICY AT THE TIME…THE STATE PATROL, WHICH CONTINUES TO INVESTIGATE THE ACCIDENT, WAS ASSISTED AT THE SCENE BY THE KITTSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT. …

ITS BEEN  NEARLY 6 YEARS SINCE THE CONFIRMATION OF THE THE SPINY WATER FLEA –ONE OF MINNESOTA’S INVASIVE SPECIES –  IN THE RAINY LAKE, RAINY RIVER AND LAKE OF THE WOODS AREA…AT THAT TIME, THE STATE IMPOSED A SPECIAL LAW THAT RULED LICENSED BAIT DEALERS COULD CONTINUE TRAPPING MINNOWS ON LAKE OF THE WOODS AND RAINY RIVER,  BUT PRIVATE TRAPPERS IN THE AREA WOULD HAVE TO STOP…DISTRICT 2A STATE REPRESENTATIVE ROGER ERICKSON, OF BAUDETTE, IS INTRODUCING A SPECIFIC BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW RESIDENTS IN THE RAINY RIVER BASIN OF MINNESOTA,  TO ONCE AGAIN BE ABLE TO GET BAIT…ERICKSON SAYS THE BILL IS IN IT’S INITIAL STAGES AND BEING LOOKED AT BY SEVERAL AREA LAWMAKERS WITH SOME POSITIVE RESPONSE SO FAR…. 

A SPECIAL FUNDRAISER DINNER IS THIS SUNDAY IN MALUNG…THE MALUNG SCHOOL COMMUNITY CENTER COMMITTEE IS HOSTING A POTATO DUMPLING AND HAM DINNER, WHICH WILL BE SERVED FROM 4-7PM…THE EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND THE FUNDS RAISED WILL GO TOWARDS FUTURE PROJECTS…COMMITTEE MEMBER PAM IVERSON, TOLD KQ92, THE COMMITTEE WANTS TO REMIND EVERYONE THE VENUE HAS BEEN, AND WILL BE,  OPEN…

IVERSON SAYS THE COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO WORK ON REMODELING THE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING….PLANS FOR UPCOMING PROJECTS INCLUDE A HISTORY CENTER WHICH WOULD BE LOCATED INSIDE…MEANWHILE, IVERSON REMINDS ROSEAU SCHOOL SENIORS OF A SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE AGAIN THIS YEAR…FOR MORE INFO ON THE MALUNG SCHOOL COMMUNITY CENTER, CALL SUE HAGEN AT 424-7506… 

OPPONENTS OF WOLF HUNTING WIN A VICTORY AS A MINNESOTA SENATE PANEL VOTES 7-6 FOR A FIVE-YEAR MORATORIUM ON FUTURE WOLF SEASONS….SEVERAL METRO –AREA SENATORS AUTHORED THE BILL….WOLF HUNTING OPPONENTS ARGUED BEFORE THE SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE  THAT THE STATE ACTED TOO HASTILY WHEN IT DECIDED TO RESUME SPORT HUNTING AND TRAPPING AFTER THE REGION’S WOLVES CAME OFF THE ENDANGERED LIST EARLY LAST YEAR….HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS THEN KILLED 413 WOLVES DURING THE STATE’S INAUGURAL WOLF SEASON, WHICH ENDED IN JANUARY….SUPPORTERS OF THE WOLF HUNT TOLD THE COMMITTEE THE STATE’S WOLF POPULATION HAS RECOVERED ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR PROPERLY MANAGED HUNTING AND TRAPPING, AND THAT THE DECISION WAS MADE AFTER YEARS OF STUDY AND COURT BATTLES…THE BILL NOW GOES TO A SENATE ENVIRONMENT BUDGET COMMITTEE, WHERE ITS PROSPECTS ARE UNCERTAIN…

ORGANIZERS ARE GETTING READY FOR THE 2^ND ANNUAL “ST. PATRICK’S DAY 5K FUN RUN/WALK/DASH” THIS SATURDAY IN WARROAD….THE EVENT BEGINS WITH REGISTRATION SATURDAY MORNING AT 8AM WITH THE RACE TO START AT 10 AM…THE EVENT STARTS AND ENDS AT IZZY’S IN WARROAD….

THE 75TH ANNUAL RED RIVER VALLEY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION HONOR BANQUET WILL BE HELD THIS SATURDAY BEGINNING AT NOON IN BEDE BALLROOM, SARGEANT STUDENT CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, CROOKSTON….DEB ZAK, NORTHWEST DISTRICT EXTENSION DIRECTOR WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION SERVICE, SAYS THE BANQUET WILL HONOR AREA COUPLES INVOLVED IN AGRICULTURE….A TOTAL OF 16 COUPLES FROM NORTHWEST MINNESOTA WILL BE HONORED…..IN ADDITION, EACH YEAR, ZAK SAYS THREE NORTHWEST MINNESOTA YOUTH WILL BE HONORED WITH YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS AT THE BANQUET…TICKETS FOR THE NOON BANQUET ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE EXTENSION REGIONAL OFFICE, CROOKSTON OR CAN BE RESERVED BY CALLING 1-888-241-0781….ZAK SAYS PAYMENT CAN BE MADE AT THE DOOR…. 

NORTHWEST ONTARIO AUTHORITIES CONTINUE THEIR INVESTIGATION OF A BODY FOUND AT A DAM ON THE NORTH SIDE OF LAKE OF THE WOODS LAST WEEK….O-P-P  SAY A POST MORTEM EXAMINATION WAS CONDUCTED AT LAKE OF THE WOODS DISTRICT HOSPITAL THIS WEEK ON THE MALE BODY RECOVERED IN THE WATER AT THE NORMAN DAM NEAR KENORA….AUTHORITIES WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE WHERE WORKERS LOCATED A BODY FLOATING AT THE INTAKE TO THE DAM….OPP MARINE UNIT ATTENDED AS WELL AS THE KENORA FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST WITH THE RECOVERY…POLICE SAY THE CAUSE OF DEATH HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED,  ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT SUGGESTS FOUL PLAY…. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE BODY MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE WATER FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS…AUTHORITIES ARE WORKING TO CONFIRM THE IDENTITY OF THE DECEASED….BUT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE HE IS FROM THE KENORA AREA…THEY ARE WAITING A TOXICOLOGY REPORT THAT MAY PROVIDE SOME ANSWERS…..

lAKE OF THE WOODS DRIFTERS SNOWMOBILE CLUB WILL HOLD A MONTHLY MEETING WEDNESDAY EVENING STARTING AT 7:30PM AT THE BAUDETTE V-F-W….

A PENNINGTON COUNTY MAN REMAINS IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING A STANDOFF WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IN GOODRIDGE OVER THE WEEKEND…PENNINGTON COUNTY AUTHORITIES SAY 50-YEAR-OLD  WESLEY WALTON, OF GOODRIDGE, WAS ARRESTED SATURDAY NIGHT AFTER A LONG DAY THAT BEGAN WHEN WALTON ALLEGEDLY FIRED A GUN AT ANOTHER PERSON…THE PENNINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS THEY RECEIVED A CALL AT 3:54 P.M. THAT WALTON HAD FIRED ONE PISTOL ROUND AT ANOTHER PERSON IN GOODRIDGE…MEMBERS OF THE PENNINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, THE RED LAKE COUNTY TACTICAL TEAM AND MINNESOTA STATE PATROL RESPONDED TO THE SCENE…AFTER A NEARLY SEVEN-HOUR STANDOFF, AUTHORITIES ENTERED WALTON’S RESIDENCE AND TOOK HIM INTO CUSTODY AT 10:40 P.M….NO ONE WAS HURT IN THE INCIDENT…WALTON IS BEING HELD IN THE PENNINGTON COUNTY JAIL IN THIEF RIVER FALLS WITH CHARGES PENDING…..

IT’S DAFFODIL DAYS AGAIN…AN AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY FUNDRAISING PROGRAM, DAFFODIL DAYS IS AIMED AT GIVING HOPE TO PEOPLE FACING CANCER AND A CHANCE TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST CANCER BY RAISING FUNDS AND AWARENESS….IN ROSEAU COUNTY, DAFFODILS WILL BE DELIVERED TUESDAY….OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE EXTRA BUNCHES AND DAINTY DAFFS…ROSEAU DAFFODIL DAYS OFFICIALS SAY IF YOU DIDN’T GET A CHANCE TO ORDER PLEASE CALL NATALI AT 242-0623 OR SHIRLEY AT 463-2135…. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO HELP SORT AND DELIVER, YOU ARE ASKED TO PLEASE MEET AT THE ROSEAU FIRE HALL ANY TIME AFTER 10AM….

 THE MINNESOTA DNR IS CONDUCTING A LAKE SERVICE PROVIDERS MANDATORY AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES TRAINING CLASS ON WEDNESDAY FROM  9 A.M. – NOON, AT THE BELTRAMI ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE IN BEMIDJI….THE CLASS IS FOR LAKE SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO HAVE NOT YET TAKEN THE TRAINING AND BEEN ISSUED A PERMIT…IN AN EFFORT TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF AIS BETWEEN WATERS IN THE STATE, MINNESOTA’S INVASIVE SPECIES LAWS REQUIRE THAT PRIOR TO WORKING IN WATERS OF THE STATE, LAKE SERVICE PROVIDERS ATTEND A FREE TRAINING SESSION AND OBTAIN A PERMIT….LAKE SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE INDIVIDUALS OR BUSINESSES WHO INSTALL OR REMOVE WATER-RELATED EQUIPMENT SUCH AS BOATS, DOCKS, BOAT LIFTS OR STRUCTURES FROM WATERS OF THE STATE… FOR MORE INFORMATION ON LAKE SERVICE PROVIDER TRAINING, PERMITS AND SCHEDULED TRAINING SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, VISIT THE D-N-R WEBSITE…. 

THE ROSEAU COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET IN SESSION TUESDAY MORNING AT 9:00 A.M. IN THE ROSEAU COUNTY COURTHOUSE…CINDY HAMMARLUND OF MINNESOTA POWER WILL BE GIVING A BRIEF PRESENTATION TO COMMISSIONERS TO PROVIDE  AN UPDATE ON THE GREAT NORTHERN TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT….ALSO ON THE BOARD’S AGENDA IS THE 2013 HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT….ROSEAU COUNTY’S GRANT REQUEST OF 25 THOUSAND 500 DOLLARS FOR A CONTRACTOR TO DEVELOP AND ADOPT A ROSEAU COUNTY ALL-HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY F-E-M-A….THE CURRENT ROSEAU COUNTY ALL-HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN EXPIRES MARCH 31^ST….MEANWHILE, ROSEAU COUNTY’S HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR, GRACIA NELSON, WILL SUBMIT HER RESIGNATION TO THE BOARD…NELSON, WHO HAS WORKED FOR ROSEAU COUNTY FOR THE PAST 41 YEARS, IS RETIRING….NELSON’S LAST DAY OF WORK WILL BE APRIL 26^TH….THE BOARD IS ALSO EXPECTED TO DISCUSS THE  PRO-WEST PARCEL MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT AND THE  FIRE CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF GREENBUSH/JUNEBERRY TOWNSHIP…. 

THE WARROAD CITY COUNCIL MEETS IN REGULAR SESSION THIS AFTERNOON AT THE WARROAD CITY OFFICE/COUNCIL CHAMBERS….THE MEETING IS SET TO BEGIN AT 5:15PM….THE AGENDA INCLUDES AN UPDATE ON THE HIRING PROCESS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, DISCUSSIONS ON THE AIRPORT AND D-N-R REQUEST, AND A REQUEST FOR A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF RENEVATION PLANS FOR NORTHLAND HOUSING…

THE LAKE OF THE WOODS SCHOOL SPRING CHOIR CONCERT IS SET FOR TUESDAY EVENING IN BAUDETTE…THE CONCERT WILL BE HELD STARTING AT 7PM IN THE LAKE OF THE WOODS SCHOOL AUDITORIUM….. 

WEDNESDAY, THE LAKE OF THE WOODS CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY IS PUTTING ON A BLOOD DRIVE, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE FROM 9AM TO 5PM AT THE SCHOOL …STUDENTS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO GIVE …

A NATIONALLY KNOWN SPEAKER AND AUTHOR, WHO IS FIGHTING AGAINST THE ATTACK ON THE SECOND AMENDMENT , AND WHO SUPPORTS A RETURN TO SMALLER GOVERNMENT AND THE FOLLOWING OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, WILL BE APPEARING IN PERSON AT TWO LOCATIONS IN THE AREA THIS SATURDAY….KNOWN AS “SHERIFF MACK”,  RICHARD MACK STARTED THE THE CONSTITUTIONAL SHERIFFS AND PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION….AT SATURDAY’S APPEARANCES MACK SAYS HE WILL TALK ABOUT, NOT ONLY AN EFFORT TO LIMIT THE GUN RIGHTS OF U.S. CITIZENS, BUT ALSO MANY OTHER EFFORTS TO TAKE AWAY RIGHTS BY AN OUT- OF -CONTROL –GOVERNMENT….MACK, WHO HAS APPEARED MANY TIMES ON NATIONAL TELEVISION, AND WRITTEN SEVERAL BOOKS, WAS SUCCESSFUL IN HIS U.S. SUPREME COURT CASE AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S  “BRADY BILL”, WHICH DECLARED THE BILL UNCONSTITUTIONAL….MACK WILL BE SPEAKING IN THIEF RIVER FALLS SATURDAY MORNING AT THE LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE STARTING AT 10AM…AND WILL BE APPEARING AT THE ROSEAU SCHOOL THEATRE SATURDAY AFTERNOON STARTING AT 3PM….THE PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE FREE EVENTS…

THE THIRD ANNUAL JUSTIN KNEBEL ICE FISHING TOURNAMENT - HELD AT ZIPPEL BAY ON LAKE OF THE WOODS RECENTLY, SAW  OVER 75 PARTICIPANTS HELP RAISE MORE THAN 2 THOUSAND 800 DOLLARS FOR THE JUSTIN KNEBEL SCHOLARSHIP FUND AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, CROOKSTON….JUSTIN KNEBEL, WHO PLAYED BASKETBALL FOR THE U OF M, CROOKSTON GOLDEN EAGLES, GREW UP IN WARROAD…AFTER GRADUATION, HE ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, CROOKSTON WHERE HE PLAYED BASKETBALL AS A POINT GUARD FOR THE GOLDEN EAGLES… OFFICIALS HAVE SET THE DATE FOR NEXT YEAR’S EVENT…IT WILL BE HELD  ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2014, AT ZIPPEL BAY RESORT….

A NORTHERN MINNESOTA MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO AT LEAST 35 YEARS IN PRISON FOR A FATAL SHOOTING IN GRAND RAPIDS JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS… THE SENTENCE IMPOSED BY A JUDGE IN ITASCA COUNTY SAYS 26-YEAR-OLD WILLIAM LEVI PAYNE, OF BOVEY,  WILL HAVE TO SERVE AT LEAST 35 YEARS OF A 52 1/2 YEAR SENTENCE IN PRISON FOLLOWED BY SUPERVISION RELEASE… PROSECUTORS SAY PAYNE WENT TO THE HOME OF 59-YEAR-OLD ROSEMARY OBERG-JOHNSON ON DEC. 22 AND SHOT HER AND HER 32-YEAR-OLD SON PAUL JOHNSON, THEN KIDNAPPED HIS ESTRANGED WIFE WHO WAS VISITING THE HOME…OBERG-JOHNSON LATER DIED OF HER INJURIES…HER SON SURVIVED…. PAYNE  EARLIER ENTERED GUILTY PLEAS TO SECOND-DEGREE MURDER, KIDNAPPING AND FIVE OTHER CHARGES….

LAKEWOOD CARE CENTER IN BAUDETTE IS CLOSED TO VISITORS AT THIS TIME DUE TO ILLNESS…LAKEWOOD WILL UPDATE THE PUBLIC WHEN THE ILLNESS SUBSIDES AND VISITORS ARE WELCOMED BACK…PLEASE CONTACT THEM AT 218-634-3488 WITH QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS…THEY DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION…

 A STRANDED SNOWMOBILER HAS BEEN LOCATED ON LAKE OF THE WOODS TUESDAY….THE LAKE OF THE WOODS SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT RECEIVED A 9-1-1 CALL MONDAY EVENING AROUND 639PM FROM  ROBERT JOLICOEUR  THAT HIS SNOWMOBILE HAD BECOME STUCK IN SNOW AND SLUSH…. JAULICKER REPORTED THAT HE WAS LOST AND THEREFORE UNABLE TO REPORT TO POLICE HIS EXACT LOCATION…LAKE OF THE WOODS AUTHORITIES ALERTED THE RAINY RIVER DISTRICT O-P-P ….THE NORTH WEST REGION EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM RESPONDED,  WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF TRANSPORT AND RESCUE SQUADRON BASED OUT OF 17 WING WINNIPEG…AUTHORITIES SAY A CC 130 HERCULES FLEW OVER THE AREA AND LOCATED A FIRE ON BIGSBY ISLAND AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 AM TUESDAY MORNING…POLICE SAY  A RADIO WAS DROPPED TO THE MAN TO ALLOW FOR COMMUNICATION….THE TEAM  WAS THEN ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE ISLAND BY SNOWMOBILE AND LOCATE JAULICKER,  WHO WAS COLD BUT IN GOOD HEALTH….

 OPEN-WATER DUCK HUNTING WILL BE AMONG TOPICS AT A PUBLIC INPUT MEETING IN THIEF RIVER FALLS NEXT WEEK….THE MINNESOTA DNR IS SEEKING CITIZEN INPUT ON CREATING LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES FOR OPEN-WATER HUNTING FOR WATERFOWL AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF OTHER TOPICS AT THE MEETING SET FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 7-9 P.M., AT THE NORTHLAND COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE IN THIEF RIVER FALLS….ASIDE FROM OPEN-WATER DUCK HUNTING, THE DNR IS SEEKING INPUT ON PROPOSALS INCLUDING ALLOWING CANADA GOOSE HUNTING IN AUGUST TO ALLEVIATE DEPREDATION OF AGRICULTURAL FIELDS IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA…ALSO THE OPENING OF THE SECOND PORTION OF THE STATE’S 124-DAY CROW SEASON LATER IN THE YEAR; THE OPENING OF THE PRAIRIE CHICKEN HUNTING SEASON EARLIER IN OCTOBER THAN THE CURRENT SEASON; ALLOWING YOUTH AGE 17 AND YOUNGER TO HUNT DURING ALL SPRING TURKEY SEASONS WITH A LIMIT OF ONE; AND THE PROPOSAL THAT YOUTH WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO SELECT A PERMIT AREA…..MORE INFO CAN BE FOUND ONLINE AT THE D-N-R’S WEBSITE…

   THE SOUND OF SNOWMOBILE RACING WILL BE HEARD AROUND THE WARROAD AREA THIS SATURDAY….THE UNITED STATES CROSS COUNTRY WARROAD 100 IS SET FOR THIS SATURDAY….THE RACE WILL FEATURE PRO RIDERS FROM POLARIS, ARCTIC CAT, SKI-DOO AND YAMAHA…ORGANIZERS SAY  THERE WILL BE 19 CLASSES IN ALL WITH RACING TO START AT 9AM SHARP….ITS FREE TO THE PUBLIC….THE EVENT IS SPONSORED BY SEVEN CLANS CASINO IN WARROAD…

TWO NORTHWEST ONTARIO MEN HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING FOLLOWING THEIR ARREST IN FORT FRANCES….THE RAINY RIVER DISTRICT O-P-P SAYS THE FORT FRANCES COMMUNITY DRUG ACTION TEAM WITH THE ASSISTANCE FROM OPP NORTH WEST REGION EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM, FORT FRANCES CANINE UNIT, AND THE ORGANIZE CRIME ENFORCEMENT BUREAU EXECUTED A CONTROLLED DRUGS AND SUBSTANCES ACT  WARRANT AT TWO RESIDENCES LOCATED ON THE 300 BLOCK OF THIRD STREET WEST IN FORT FRANCES…POLICE SAY, AS A RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION,  POLICE SEIZED DRUGS, CASH AND DRUG ACCESSORIES…TWO FORT FRANCES MALES WERE ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES…BOTH MEN ARE SCHEDULED TO APPEAR IN COURT ON APRIL 2…

 THE ROSEAU SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS RECEIVED A GRANT RENEWAL AND EXPANSION FOR A READING PROGRAM FIRST STARTED IN THE DISTRICT THIS PAST FALL….ROSEAU ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL WAYNE LEPARD SAYS THE SCHOOL RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE MINNESOTA READING CORPS, AND THE SCHOOL IS EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO RENEW AND EXPAND THE PROGRAM…MINNESOTA READING CORPS IS AN AMERICORPS PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES TRAINED LITERACY TUTORS FOR CHILDREN AGE THREE TO GRADE THREE…LAUNCHED IN 2003, SERVING PRESCHOOL CHILDREN IN FOUR HEAD START AGENCIES. SOME OFFICIALS SAY THE EARLY RESULTS SHOWED THE PROGRAM MODEL WAS EFFECTIVE… 

MANITOBA  R-C-M-P SAY THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED IN A PICKUP/SCHOOL BUS ACCIDENT IN SOUTHEAST MANITOBA MONDAY….AUTHORITIES SAY THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED MONDAY MORNING AROUND  8:00 A.M…. ST-PIERRE-JOLYS RCMP RESPONDED TO A TWO-VEHICLE COLLISION NEAR THE RAILROAD TRACKS IN CAREY, MANITOBA…POLICE SAY A RED RIVER SCHOOL DIVISION SCHOOL BUS, TRAVELING EAST ON PROVINCIAL ROAD 205 WAS STOPPED AT THE RAILROAD TRACKS WHEN IT WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A 2007 DODGE RAM TRUCK DRIVEN BY A 31-YEAR-OLD MAN FROM THE R-M OF DESALABERRY….THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS ON THE SCHOOL BUS AT THE TIME DUE TO SCHOOL CANCELLATION IN THE DIVISION…THE BUS SUFFERED MINOR REAR END DAMAGE, THE TRUCK HAS EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE…. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO EITHER DRIVER….CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY ASSISTED WITH THE INVESTIGATION BY RESTRICTING RAIL TRAFFIC TEMPORARILY TO THE AREA UNTIL THE VEHICLES COULD BE REMOVED….BLOWING SNOW, POOR VISIBILITY AND SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS ARE CONSIDERED FACTORS IN THE COLLISION…..

A KOOCHICHING COUNTY MAN HAS WON A 250-MILE SLED DOG RACE THROUGH THE WILDS OF NORTHERN MAINE FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR….RYAN ANDERSON, OF RAY, SOUTH OF INTERNATIONAL FALLS, FINISHED THE RACE IN FORT KENT AT ABOUT 4 A.M. MONDAY TO WIN THE 250-MILE IRVING CAN-AM CROWN RACE IN A RUNNING TIME OF 31 HOURS, 22 MINUTES, 16 SECONDS….THIRTEEN TEAMS ENTERED THE RACE, WHICH IS BILLED AS THE LONGEST AND HIGHEST-CALIBER SLED DOG RACE IN THE EASTERN U.S. AND WHICH SERVES AS A QUALIFIER FOR ALASKA’S IDITAROD TRAIL SLED DOG RACE…

FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING AT SEASONAL OR MONTHLY CAMPING AT POPULAR AREA STATE PARKS,  THE D-N-R SAYS YOU HAVE JUST OVER A MONTH TO MAKE RESERVATIONS…THOSE INTERESTED IN SEASONAL OR MONTHLY CAMPSITES AT HAYES LAKE, OLD MILL AND LAKE BRONSON STATE PARKS SHOULD ACT NOW TO RESERVE SEASONAL CAMPSITES FOR THE 2013 CAMPING SEASON….A LIMITED NUMBER OF CAMPSITES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR MONTHLY OR FULL SEASON RENTAL, AND RESERVATIONS ARE DUE BY APRIL 10…TO RESERVE A MONTHLY OR SEASONAL CAMPSITE, CALL LAKE BRONSON STATE PARK, WHICH MANAGES RESERVATIONS FOR ALL THREE PARKS, AT 218-754-2200…..

MINNESOTA’S BUDGET PRESSURES HAVE EASED DRAMATICALLY…BUT THE POLITICAL DIVIDE REMAINS OVER HOW TO SHORE UP THE STATE’S FINANCES….BUDGET OFFICIALS SLASHED AN EARLIER DEFICIT PROJECTION BY MORE THAN 40 PERCENT…THAT LEAVES LAWMAKERS WITH A MORE MANAGEABLE 627 MILLION SHORTFALL AS THEY SET A BUDGET OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS….REPUBLICANS SAY THE REPORT VALIDATED THEIR HOLD-THE-LINE APPROACH TO SPENDING WHILE IN POWER…DEMOCRATS WHO ARE NOW IN CHARGE MAINTAIN HIGHER TAXES ARE STILL NEEDED TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY…REPUBLICAN DISTRICT ONE “A” STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAN FABIAN, OF ROSEAU, WAS POSITIVE IN REACTING TO THE BUDGET FORECAST, SAYING IT IS PROOF OF THE PROGRESS THAT WAS MADE BEFORE THIS YEAR…

D-F-L STATE SENATOR DISTRICT ONE, LEROY STUMPF, SAYS THE NEW FORECAST IS A POSITIVE SIGN THAT MINNESOTA’S ECONOMY IS EXPERIENCING A FRAGILE RECOVERY..HE SAYS THE STATE SEEMS TO BE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT  THE IMPROVED FORECAST NUMBER DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT AT 627 MILLION, MINNESOTA STILL FACES A SIGNIFICANT BUDGET DEFICIT AND SPENDING CUTS AND NEW REVENUE IS THE BEST BUDGET SOLUTION FOR MINNESOTA….  

MONTANA WHEAT AND BARLEY FARMER BING VON BERGEN WAS ELECTED AND INSTALLED AS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WHEAT GROWERS AT THE ASSOCIATION’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING THIS WEEK….HE SUCCEEDS ERIK YOUNGREN, OF HALLOCK, WHO HAS TAKEN THE ROLE AS IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT…VON BERGEN WAS INSTALLED AS THE GROUPS PRESIDENT AT COMMODITY CLASSIC….

THE ROSEAU COUNTY MUSEUM HAS SET THE DATE FOR THE GRAND OPENING OF THE “ONE WOMAN 2013” EXHIBIT…THE EVENT WILL HAPPEN SUNDAY MARCH 10^TH AT THE ROSEAU CITY CENTER COMMUNITY ROOM, LOCATED IN THE ROSEAU CITY CENTER…THE PROGRAM WILL BEGIN AT 1:00 P.M….THE EXHIBIT OPENING WILL BE HELD AT  2:00 P.M…. 

THE 49TH ANNUAL BAUDETTE V-F-W FISHING DERBY IS SATURDAY IN BAUDETTE…THE DERBY WILL BE HELD FROM 2:00 TO 5:00 P.M. ON THE BAUDETTE BAY….ANGLERS WILL BE GOING FOR THE TOP WALLEYE, NORTHERN, PERCH AND BURBOT…PRIZES WILL BE GIVEN THROUGHOUT THE DAY….

THE 31ST-ANNUAL NESTOR FALLS ONTARIO WINTER CARNIVAL IS SET FOR  THIS WEEKEND….THE EVENT WILL AGAIN BE BASED OUT OF THE NESTOR FALLS COMMUNITY HALL….THIS YEAR’S CARNIVAL WILL FEATURE MANY ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING THE FISHING DERBY, KIDS’ GAMES, AND CRIBBAGE TOURNAMENT…AND OF COURSE, FOOD AND MUSIC….THE ACTIVITIES GET UNDERWAY FRIDAY EVENING WITH ENTERTAINMENT BY THE ADAM T. ELVIS SHOW WITH THE GOOD ROCKIN’ TONITE BAND… 

THE  USDA SERVICE CENTER IN BAUDETTE WILL HOST AN OPEN HOUSE NEXT WEEK…THE EVENT IS SET FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 7^TH FROM  1– 3 PM AT THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE POST OFFICE BUILDING…THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO STOP BY FOR REFRESHMENTS,   TOUR THE NEW OFFICES. AND MEET THE STAFF FROM THE  SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, THE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE AND THE FARM SERVICE AGENCY… 

THE ROSEAU SCHOOL BOARD HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED TO AMEND THIS YEAR’S SCHOOL CALENDER TO MAKE –UP A RECENT LOST DAY TO WEATHER…THE ROSEAU SCHOOL WAS CLOSED  FEBRUARY 18^TH…THE BOARD DECIDED TO MAKE -UP THE DAY ON MONDAY APRIL 1^ST, WHICH MANY CONSIDER EASTER MONDAY….HOW RARE ARE WEATHER RELATED CLOSINGS AT THE ROSEAU SCHOOL?….ALTHOUGH THE DISTRICT HAS DELAYED THE START OF SCHOOL, OR DISMISSED SCHOOL BEFORE THE NORMAL END TO THE SCHOOL DAY DUE TO POOR WEATHER, THE LAST TIME THE ROSEAU SCHOOL DISTRICT EXPERIENCED AN EMERGENCY CLOSING DUE TO WEATHER WAS BACK IN FEBRUARY 2009…THE TIME BEFORE THAT WAS DURING THE WITNER OF 2004…..

A TEENAGER DIED IN A TWO VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA TUESDAY AFTERNOON…THE STATE PATROL SAYS THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AROUND 2:54PM ALONG HIGHWAY 32 IN POLK COUNTY NEAR FERTILE….THE PATROL SAYS 16 YEAR OLD CODY CHRISTIANSON, OF FERTILE, WAS SOUTHBOUND IN A 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT S-U-V, WHEN HE CROSSED THE CENTER LINE AND CRASHED HEAD-ON WITH  A SEMI DRIVEN BY 39 YEAR OLD BRIAN DOEHLING, OF HECTOR, MINNESOTA….DOEHLING HAD NO APPARENT INJURIES IN THE CRASH, WHILE CHRISTIANSON  DIED AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH…THE PATROL SAID THE WEATHER  WAS NOT A FACTOR AND THE ROAD WAS DRY AT THE TIME….. 

A SOUTHEAST  MANITOBA COMPANY HAS BEEN HONORED FOR PRODUCING THE BEST DRINKING WATER IN THE WORLD…..CANADIAN GOLD TOOK TOP PRIZE AT THE BERKELEY SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL WATER TASTING COMPETITION IN VIRGINIA….THE COMPANY GETS ITS WATER FROM A WELL IN MARCHAND(MAR-SHAWN), MANITOBA, LOCATED NORTH OF WOODRIDGE….PETER DE JONG OWNS THE BOTTLED WATER PLANT AS WELL AS A DAIRY FARM IN THE AREA….HE TOLD CBC NEWS HE FOUND OUT HIS WATER WON GOLD FROM HIS WIFE…..CANADIAN GOLD WATER IS SOLD AT SMALL STORES AND RESTAURANTS ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN MANITOBA….

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE  COLLIN PETERSON IS INVITING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT TO SUBMIT THEIR ARTWORK FOR THE 2013 CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION….THE COMPETITION IS OPEN TO ALL HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND THE OVERALL WINNER OF EACH PARTICIPATING DISTRICT WILL BE DISPLAYED FOR ONE YEAR IN THE CANNON TUNNEL LEADING INTO THE U.S. CAPITOL…THE CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION BEGAN IN 1982 TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO ENCOURAGE AND RECOGNIZE THE ARTISTIC TALENTS OF THEIR YOUNG CONSTITUENTS… SINCE THEN, OVER 650 THOUSAND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE NATION-WIDE COMPETITION…. PETERSON’S OFFICE SAYS ALL CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION SUBMISSIONS  WILL BE ONLINE TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL STUDENTS… THE DEADLINE FOR ALL SUBMISSIONS TO PETERSON’S OFFICE IS APRIL 22^ND… FOR MORE INFO, OR TO APPLY, GO TO  congressional.art@mail.house.gov

 THE ANNUAL MARLO FADNESS SNOWMOBILE MEMORIAL RIDE IS THIS SATURDAY…THE EVENT  IS A FUNDRAISER FOR FOR THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY’S  RELAY FOR LIFE…..THE EVENT WILL START AT 8:00 A.M AT THE VFW IN BAUDETTE WITH A PANCAKE BREAKFAST…. AND LATER MOVE TO THE WILLIAMS BAR AND GRILL STARTING AT 4PM….IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR WOULD LIKE TO ORDER A SHIRT, CALL  218-766-3270 OR 218-634-2282….THE EVENT IS PUT ON BY THE LAKE OF THE WOODS SCHOOL RELAY FOR LIFE TEAM, AND THE LAKE OF THE WOODS DRIFTERS SNOWMOBILE CLUB….TUNE IN TO THE MORNING DRIVE THIS FRIDAY MORNING AT 7:30AM AS SPECIAL GUEST JOYCE FADNESS WILL TALK ABOUT THE SPECIAL EVENT THAT IS IN IT’S 10^TH YEAR….

MARVIN WINDOWS AND DOORS, HAS BEEN HONORED WITH A 2013 COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD FROM MINNESOTA BUSINESS MAGAZINE….MARVIN WINDOWS AND DOORS WAS SELECTED AS THE WINNER IN THE EMPLOYMENT CATEGORY, WHICH HONORS COMPANIES THAT HAVE BROUGHT MAJOR EMPLOYMENT TO A COMMUNITY IN MINNESOTA – OR KEPT IT THERE…. SUSAN MARVIN, PRESIDENT OF THE MARVIN COMPANIES, SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THE COMPANY IS HONORED AND HUMBLED BY THIS RECOGNITION…SHE SAID  FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, THE COMPANY’S  PHILOSOPHY HAS BEEN TO DO WHAT’S RIGHT FOR THE COMPANY, CUSTOMERS AND COMMUNITIES….MARVIN EMPLOYS MORE THAN 2,000 PEOPLE IN WARROAD….THE COMPANY’S SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO PRESERVE AND GROW MINNESOTA JOBS DURING THE LONG ECONOMIC DOWNTURN HAVE BEEN COVERED WIDELY IN THE NATIONAL MEDIA, BY OUTLETS INCLUDING THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, BLOOMBERG BUSINESS NEWS, CNBC, FOX NEWS AND OTHERS….DURING THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, PRESIDENT OBAMA REPEATEDLY HELD UP MARVIN AS AN EXAMPLE TO THE NATION FOR ITS EFFORTS TO PRESERVE JOBS. …REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE MITT ROMNEY ALSO PRAISED MARVIN…DESPITE THE WORST CONDITIONS IN THE HOUSING INDUSTRY SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION, MARVIN DIDN’T LAY- OFF  ANY OF ITS WORKERS….  

A DETOUR WILL BE IN PLACE NEXT WEEK IN WARREN ALONG HIGHWAY 75 AS OFFICIALS WITH THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY GET SAMPLES BELOW THE HIGHWAY AND NEARBY….THE DETOUR IS PLANNED FOR MONDAY MARCH 4^TH THRU WEDNESDAY MARCH 6^TH  ON HIGHWAY  HIGHWAY 75 IN  THE TOWN OF WARREN….THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY WILL BE DRILLING FOR TEST SAMPLES UNDER AND NEAR THE HIGHWAY….TRAFFIC WILL DETOUR ONTO CITY STREETS, AND PARKING WILL BE RESTRICTED ON HIGHWAY 75 NEAR THE WORK SITE…

 THE NORTHWEST DISTRICT OF THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WILL HAVE A NEW PUBLIC AFFAIRS COORDINATOR WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF TJ MELCHER BEGINNING THIS MONDAY….MELCHER IS CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS COORDINATOR FOR MNDOT’S DISTRICT 8 IN WILLMAR….MELCHER, A GRADUATE OF BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY,  REPLACES KAREN BEDEAU WHO IS RETIRING FROM STATE SERVICE THIS FRIDAY…..  

MINNESOTA DISTRICT 2A STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAN FABIAN, OF ROSEAU, WILL BE HOSTING A SPECIAL DAY IN ST. PAUL IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS….FABIAN TOLD KQ92 THAT HE WILL HOST   A “NORTHWEST MINNESOTA BUSINESS DAY”  AT  THE STATE CAPITAL ON WEDNESDAY MARCH 13….FABIAN SAYS WITH THE PROPOSED TAX INCREASES AS PART OF GOVERNOR DAYTON’S AND THE  D-F-L PARTY’S BUDGET PANS, HE IS HOPING AS MANY BUSINESS OWNERS CAN MAKE IT TO THE STATE CAPITAL THAT DAY, TO EXPRESS CONCERNS TO ELECTED OFFICIALS OVER PROPOSED TAX INCREASES….FABIAN SAYS THE INVITE GOES OUT TO ALL BUSINESSES – OF ALL SIZES…NORTHWEST MINNESOTA BUSINESS DAY AT THE CAPITAL IS WEDNESDAY MARCH 13^TH….FABIAN SAYS ANYONE WITH QUESTIONS CAN CONTACT HIM…..

TWO SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AFTER A YEAR-LONG INVESTIGATION BY THE SOUTHEAST MANITOBA RCMP “D” DIVISION CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SECTION…THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED ALLEGATIONS OF ILLEGAL POSSESSION AND SUBSEQUENT SALE OF FIREARMS FROM THE UNITED STATES INTO NORTHWEST ONTARIO AND MANITOBA… BOTH SUSPECTS ARE NOW FACING NUMEROUS FIREARMS-RELATED CHARGES INCLUDING CHARGES RELATING TO THE SALE AND POSSESSION OF TWO ASSAULT RIFLES, A HANDGUN, PROHIBITED MAGAZINES AND AMMUNITION… THE OFFENSES  INVOLVING THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS SPAN BETWEEN APRIL AND DECEMBER, 2012…22 YEAR OLD THOMAS PETER ATKINSON,  WAS ARRESTED BY THE RCMP IN FORT FRANCES, ONTARIO WHILE 29 YEAR OLD SHAWN JAMES HARTNELL,  WAS ARRESTED BY THE AMERICAN AUTHORITIES IN NORTH DAKOTA…BOTH THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE CANADIANS AND RESIDENTS OF FORT FRANCES, ONTARIO…. ATKINSON WAS TRANSPORTED TO WINNIPEG AND HIS NEXT COURT APPEARANCE IS  ON MARCH 5^TH….HE FACES 27 FIREARMS CHARGES …HARTNELL IS IN CUSTODY AND FACING CHARGES IN NORTH DAKOTA… RCMP  OBTAINED A WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST… HARTNELL FACES THE SAME 27 CHARGES AS ATKINSON. ..HOWEVER, HE FACES AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT CHARGES RELATING TO THE UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A HANDGUN, PROHIBITED MAGAZINE AND AMMUNITION… IN TOTAL, HE FACES 35 FIREARMS-RELATED CHARGES FOR CRIMINAL OFFENCES IN MANITOBA… 

THE ROSEAU COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET IN SESSION AT 9AM  IN THE ROSEAU COUNTY COURTHOUSE… THE BOARD IS SCHEDULED TO GET A  NORTHWEST PRIVATE INDUSTRY COUNCIL UPDATE…A  RECENT DECISION WAS MADE THAT RATHER THAN CONTINUE TO CONTRACT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (DEED) TO OPERATE THE

WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT ,  THE COUNCIL WILL HIRE ITS OWN STAFF AND OPERATE THE PROGRAMS INTERNALLY… THE CURRENT CONTRACTS WILL TERMINATE AS OF MARCH 31^ST FOR THE THIEF RIVER FALLS WORKFORCE CENTER AND THE CROOKSTON D-E-E-D OFFICE… THE ROSEAU D-E-E-D OFFICE CONTRACT  TERMINATED LAST WEEK….WITH THE  UPDATE, THE BOARD WILL LEARN  THE CHANGES IN PROGRAM SERVICES AND WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE ROSEAU AREA….ALSO ON THE AGENDA,  KRISTINA KAML (CAMEL), UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA NUTRITION EDUCATOR, WILL MEET WITH THE BOARD TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON COUNTY NUTRITION EDUCATION AND THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE  ROSEAU COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE AGREEMENT, THE LIFECARE COMMUNITY NURSING CONTRACT, AS WELL AS THE ROSEAU RIVER WATERSHED BOARD APPOINTMENT…

THE LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET IN SESSION TUESDAY MORNING AT 9AM AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER IN BAUDETTE….THE BOARD WILL HEAR A PRESENTATION FOR THE NORTHWEST ANGLE AIRPORT, AND GET AN UPDATE ON LAKEWOOD HEALTH CENTER COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS….

A SPECIAL OPEN HOUSE FEATURING THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE NEW COMMUNITY PARK IN WARROAD IS SET FOR NEXT WEEK…THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ATTEND THE EVENT HOSTED BY THE PARK COMMITTEE AT THE WARROAD CITY OFFICE TUESDAY FROM 5-7PM…THE WARROAD COMMUNITY PARK COMMITTEE WAS FORMED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF A SPECIAL COMMUNITY PARK AT THE OLD SITE OF THE WARROAD CARE CENTER ALONG LAKE STREET IN WARROAD…..THE COMMITTEE PUT TOGETHER A SURVEY LAST FALL ASKING THE PUBLIC ON WHAT FEATURES AND ACITIVITIES  THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE PARK…IN ADDITION, COMMITTEE MEMBER MIKE KVARNLOV, SAYS THE COMMITTEE  TRAVELED AROUND MINNESOTA, AND ELSEWHERE, CHECKING OUT SIMILAR PARKS…COMMITTEE MEMBER GLENDA PHILLIPE SAYS THE FEATURES OF NEW PARK INCLUDE A VARIETY FOR ALL AGES AND ALL SEASONS…ALONG WITH WALKING PATHS, A MULTI-PURPOSE PAVILION, OPEN AIR AMPHITHEATER, SMALL CHILDREN PLAYGROUND, PICNIC AREAS, SPLASH PARK AND HORSHOE PITS, THE PARK WILL ALSO FEATURE A SLEDDING AREA IN THE WINTER….CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW PARK IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN THIS SUMMER…

 THE 35^TH ANNUAL WARROAD LIONS SKI-PLANE FLY-IN AND BREAKFAST IS THIS SUNDAY IN WARROAD…THE EVENT FEATURES SKI PLANES FROM AROUND THE AREA AND REGION EXPECTED TO LAND ON THE WARROAD RIVER NEAR THE RAILROAD BRIDGE SUNDAY MORNING…WARROAD LIONS MEMBER DAVE PAULSON SAYS NEARLY 1 THOUSAND SKI-PLANES HAVE TAKEN PART OVER THE YEARS WITH AN AVERAGE OF AROUND 26 PLANES PER YEAR…EACH YEAR THE LIONS PUT ON A SPECIAL FUNDRAISING BREAKFAST TO GO ALONG WITH THE FLY-IN, WITH PROCEEDS GOING TO SPECIAL CAUSES IN THIS AREA….PAULSON SAYS THEY WILL ONCE AGAIN BE TAKING DONATIONS OF OLD EYE GLASSES AND HEARING AIDS AT THE EVENT AS WELL…THE BREAKFAST WILL BE SERVED AT THE WARROAD AMERICAN LEGION SUNDAY MORNING STARTING AT 8AM AND GO TIL 1PM…. 

 AN EXPANSION TO THE ARCTIC CAT MANUFACTURING PLANT IN THIEF RIVER FALLS IS COMING…ARCTIC CAT HAS ENTERED INTO AN ENGINE SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION, EXPANDING ARCTIC CAT’S PURCHASE OF YAMAHA SNOWMOBILE ENGINES STARTING IN THE 2014 MODEL YEAR….ARCTIC CAT’S CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CLAUDE JORDAN SAYS, IN ADDITION TO EXPANDING THE ENGINE SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH YAMAHA, ARCTIC CAT ALSO HAS EXPANDED A CO-BRANDING AGREEMENT TO BUILD SELECT YAMAHA SNOWMOBILES IN ARCTIC CAT’S THIEF RIVER FALLS FACTORY,  ACCORDING TO YAMAHA’S SPECIFICATIONS…THIS AGREEMENT BEGAN IN 2012, WITH ARCTIC CAT BUILDING THE YAMAHA SRX 120 YOUTH MODEL SNOWMOBILE, AND NOW WILL INCLUDE FULL-SIZE PERFORMANCE SNOWMOBILES STARTING WITH MODEL YEAR 2014…

LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY AUTHORITIES HAVE ARRESTED A ROOSEVELT AREA MAN AFTER POLICE SAY THEY SEIZED DRUGS AT A PROPERTY NEAR THE TOWN WEDNESDAY MORNING…AT AROUND 8:30 AM THE LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT,  ALONG WITH THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL APPREHENSION EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT AT A  HOME NORTH OF ROOSEVELT….AUTHORITIES SAY THEY SEIZED MARIJUANA PLANTS, METHAMPHETAMINES, PRESCRIBED DRUGS AND DRUG PARAPHERNALIA…THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT SAYS  CHRISTOPHER ALLEN CONINX WAS ARRESTED AND FORMAL CHARGES ARE PENDING…

MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION OF SOUTHEAST MANITOBA HAVE OVERWHELMINGLY  VOTED TO MERGE WITH ACCESS CREDIT UNION….CREDIT UNION OFFICIALS SAY 149 MEMBERS VOTED AT THE MEETING HELD IN GRUNTHAL THIS WEEK WITH 140 – , OR 95.2 PERCENT,  IN FAVOR OF THE AMALGAMATION…WITH THE POSITIVE VOTE, THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS WILL OFFICIALLY COME TOGETHER ON JULY 1^ST OF THIS YEAR….COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION HAS OVER 100 MILLION DOLLARS IN ASSETS WITH ABOUT 63 HUNDRED MEMBERS, A STAFF OF 30 AND BRANCH LOCATIONS IN GRUNTHAL, VITA AND SPRAGUE…ACCESS CREDIT UNION HAS AROUND 1.6 BILLION DOLLARS IN ASSETS WITH 37 THOUSAND MEMBERS AND A STAFF OF 260 IN 14 BRANCHES ACROSS SOUTHERN MANITOBA….GIVEN THAT THE ASSETS OF COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION REPRESENT LESS THAN 10 PERCENT OF ACCESS CREDIT UNION’S ASSETS, THE MEMBERSHIP OF ACCESS WERE NOT REQUIRED TO VOTE….THE CREDIT UNIONS HAVE AGREED THAT ALL BRANCHES WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR A GUARANTEED PERIOD WITH THE BELIEF THAT ALL THREE COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION LOCATIONS WILL THRIVE WITH THE MERGER…OFFICIALS SAY ALL COMMUNITY CREDIT STAFF WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NEW CREDIT UNION THAT WILL BE KNOWN AS “ACCESS CREDIT UNION LIMITED”….

 THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION BEEF TEAM HOLDS  THE 2013 MINNESOTA BEEF COW/CALF DAYS TODAY IN WARROAD….THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE CURRENT UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON ISSUES IN THE BEEF INDUSTRY, ON-GOING RESEARCH APPLICABLE TO ANY COW/CALF MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, TECHNOLOGIES BEING USED WITHIN THE BEEF INDUSTRY AND TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE FILLED WITH THOUGHTS, EXPERIENCES AND DISCUSSION…THE EVENT WILL BE HELD IN THE PATCH RESTAURANT STARTING WITH REGISTRATION AND MEAL AT 5:30 P.M….

MINING IS A HOT TOPIC AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS WEEK, AND ON THE SAME DAY UNITED STATES STEEL AND UNITED STEELWORKERS ANNOUNCED THE FORMATION OF THE IRON ORE ALLIANCE TO PROMOTE MINING IN MINNESOTA, MINING WAS ALSO DISCUSSED IN THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE POLICY COMMITTEE….COMMITTEE MEMBER, D-F-L REPRESENTATIVE ROGER ERICKSON OF BAUDETTE, SAYS  MINING COMPANIES ARE REQUIRED TO OFFSET DRILLING AREAS BY CREATING WETLANDS…BUT ERICKSON TOLD THE COMMITTEE HE’S CONCERNED THAT THEY MAY BE ALLOWED TO USE FERTILE AGRICULTURE PROPERTY….THE STATE REQUIRES MINING COMPANIES TO ADD ONE SQUARE MILE OF WETLANDS FOR EVERY SQUARE MILE THEY USE FOR DRILLING, AND D-F-L REPRESENTATIVE DAVID DILL, OF CRANE LAKE, WHO IS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, SUGGESTS THAT SHOULD BE DOUBLED BY RETURNING EXHAUSTED MINE LAND TO WETLANDS AS WELL… 

U-S  CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION AGRICULTURE SPECIALISTS RECENTLY DISCOVERED A POTENTIALLY DESTRUCTIVE COMMODITY AT THE INTERNATIONAL FALLS RAIL FACILITY…..AUTHORITIES SAY TWO SEPARATE SHIPMENTS OF WILLOW BASKETS ARRIVING FROM CHINA VIA CANADA WERE TARGETED BY OFFICERS FOR AN INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE EXAMINATION….THE SHIPMENTS DESTINED TO NEW YORK AND INDIANA, WERE OFFLOADED AND THE PRODUCT WAS INSPECTED FOR POTENTIAL WOOD PESTS AND DISEASE…DURING THE INSPECTION OF THE RAIL CONTAINER,  AUTHORITIES SAY 990 CASES CONTAINING WILLOW BASKETS WERE EXAMINED THAT RESULTED IN THE DISCOVERY OF MATERIALS CAPABLE OF PROPAGATION….COMMONLY KNOWN AS WILLOW, IS PROHIBITED FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES BECAUSE OF ITS RISK OF SPREADING WATERMARK DISEASE….AUTHORITIES SAY IT IS ALSO HOST TO SEVERAL WOOD-BORING PESTS SUCH AS THE ASIAN LONGHORN BEETLE ….BORDER OFFICIALS SAY THE POTENTIAL IMPACT TO THE U.S. FORESTS ALONE IS VALUED AT OVER TWO TRILLION DOLLARS…. INTERNATIONAL FALLS PORT DIRECTOR KRISTINE LESSARD, SAID A TOTAL OF 7 THOUSAND 920 BASKETS WERE INTERCEPTED AND SENT FOR DESTRUCTION BECAUSE THEY POSED A SIGNIFICANT PLANT PEST THREAT TO U.S. SPECIES AND FORESTS…. 

THE ROSEAU COUNTY RELAY FOR LIFE  KICK-OFF EVENT IS THURSDAY EVENING AT THE ROSEAU CITY CENTER….IT IS SET TO BEGIN AT 6PM…THERE WILL BE BOOTHS WITH INFORMATION AND HELP FOR EXISTING TEAMS OR ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO START A NEW TEAM IN 2013….THIS YEAR’S ROSEAU COUNTY RELAY FOR LIFE EVENT IS SET FOR AUGUST 9^TH AT THE ROSEAU CITY PARK…. 

THE ROSEAU COUNTY TOWNSHIP OFFICERS ASSOCIATION WILL HOLD IT’S ANNUAL MEETING NEXT WEEK IN ROSEAU…THE MEETING WILL BE HELD TUESDAY FEBRUARY 26^TH STARTING AT 7PM AT THE ROSEAU CITY CENTER….ALL TOWNSHIP OFFICERS IN ROSEAU COUNTY ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND…THERE WILL BE SPEAKERS ON VARIOUS ISSUES AFFECTING TOWNSHIPS… 

THE MINNESOTA DNR  IS OFFERING AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES  TRAINING TO OWNERS OF LAKE SERVICE PROVIDER BUSINESSES IN MINNESOTA SO THEY CAN LEGALLY WORK IN THE STATE’S WATERS….FOR LAKE SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT DON’T ALREADY HAVE PERMITS, THE DNR IS OFFERING A NUMBER OF TRAINING SESSIONS IN THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS…THE SCHEDULE IS ON THE D-N-R’S WEBSITE…BUSINESSES ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED ATTEND THE TRAINING  AND ACQUIRE A PERMIT BEFORE BEING HIRED TO PLACE OR REMOVE WATER-RELATED EQUIPMENT FROM STATE WATERS… THE LAW, PASSED BY THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE IN 2011, AIMS TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES….. APRIL RUST, TRAINING COORDINATOR, SAYS LAKE SERVICE PROVIDERS INCLUDE CANOE OUTFITTERS, DOCK HAULERS, MARINA OWNERS, DOCK/LIFT INSTALLERS, BOAT OR YACHT CLUBS, IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT INSTALLERS AND OTHERS WHO CONDUCT WORK THAT INVOLVES PLACING OR REMOVING WATER-RELATED EQUIPMENT FROM ANY STATE WATERS…. 

POLARIS INDUSTRIES HAS DONATED TWO G-E-M ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO THE MINNESOTA ZOO IN APPLE VALLEY….THE DONATED VEHICLES WILL BE USED TO TRANSPORT GUESTS THROUGHOUT THE COMPLEX AND FOR UTILITY AND GROUND MAINTENANCE…THE DONATION IS PART OF A NEW PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN POLARIS AND THE MINNESOTA ZOO THAT LOOKS TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS BEHAVIOR…THE GEM VEHICLES HAVE AN ALL-ELECTRIC, ZERO EMISSIONS OPERATION THAT WILL PROVIDE A LOW-COST-OF-OWNERSHIP FOR THE MINNESOTA ZOO….THE GEM VEHICLES QUIET OPERATION IS IDEAL FOR THE MINNESOTA ZOO AS THEY WILL NOT DISRUPT THE ANIMALS…

WHILE CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO IMPROVE,THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS STILL CAUTIONING THE PUBLIC TO DRIVE WITH CARE IN NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA DUE TO DIFFICULT  DRIVING CONDITIONS ON SOME HIGHWAYS FROM DRIFTING AND BLOWING SNOW….SNOW REMOVAL CREWS CONTINUE TO CATCH UP AFTER SEVERAL WERE PULLED FROM MOST AREAS MONDAY,  AFTER THE LATEST STORM DUMPED FROM  5-10 INCHES  OF SNOW AROUND THE LAKE OF THE WOODS AREA… U.S. HIGHWAY 2 FROM CROOKSTON TO EAST GRAND FORKS WAS REOPENED THIS MORNING AFTER BEING SHUT DOWN EARLY MONDAY MORNING…MEANWHILE, THE NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND NORTH DAKOTA HIGHWAY PATROL OPENED I-29  FROM GRAND FORKS TO THE CANADIAN BORDER THIS MORNING, AS WELL….