Warroad Chamber of Commerce Acquires Warroad CVB

By Mani Souphom – R & J Broadcasting | September 18, 2025

WARROAD, Minn. – Warroad’s Chamber of Commerce and Warroad’s Convention Visitors’ Bureau, better known as Visit Warroad, met this week to discuss a merger-acquisition. The Chamber board met with Chamber membership to discuss an Asset Purchase Agreement of the CVB for the nominal purchase price of $10.

Both boards of the two entities have discussed and agreed upon a strategic merging of the organizations. We sat down with Warroad Chamber President Steve Hagen to discuss how this came to pass, and what we should expect to see next from the Chamber:

Hagen also informed us of the benefits expected to come from this merger-acquistion, and how this progress moves the city of Warroad forward as a whole:

The Chamber will be updating and changing the organization’s bylaws to reflect the upcoming changes. For this task, a by-laws task force, consisting of Chamber members will be set up immediately to present these changes to the Chamber’s membership. If you are interested in joining this task force, please contact the Warroad Chamber at 218-386-3542 or via email at visitwarroad@gmail.com

Police Search for Missing Bemidji Man

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension issued an endangered missing person alert for 35-year-old Andrew Colen of Bemidji. 

The B-C-A says Colen’s family last saw him in early August, and his girlfriend says she hasn’t heard from him in two weeks. Andrew said he had gone to Duluth and then Minneapolis. Authorities consider him endangered due to long-term use of intoxicants. 

Colen is described as five-feet 11 inches tall, weighing approximately 170 pounds, with blue eyes. He has a Batman outline tattoo on his chest and a skateboard figure tattoo on his right leg. Anyone with information about Colen is urged to contact the Bemidji Police Department.

Minnesota Department of Revenue Warns of Scam Text Messages

The Minnesota Department of Revenue is monitoring reported text messages that claim to be from the Minnesota Department of Revenue asking users to update banking information. If you get one of these messages, do not reply or click any link in it. The Department of Revenue will never send unsolicited texts asking for personal data. 

The content of the scam text messages to be aware of reads as follows:

Your refund request has been processed and approved. Please provide accurate payment information by 9/16/2025. Funds will be deposited into your bank account or mailed to you via paper check within 1 to 2 business days.

Failure to submit the required payment information by 9/16/25 will result in permeant forfeiture of this refund under Minnesota Statue 5747.11. reply “y” then close and reopen this message to activate the link. If the issue persists copy the link and enter it directly into your browser

This is an official scam alert from the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

Sugarbeet Harvest Update

Sugarbeet Pre-Harvest continues to progress across the Red River Valley, but recent temperatures could cause some changes in the pre harvest. Joe Hastings of American Crystal Sugar tells us more. 

As for the beet quality, Hastings says this year’s beet crop is healthy, and sugar content is strong. 

Area producers are still in need of labor for the upcoming sugarbeet harvest. People interested in a temporary job working harvest should go to the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association Website.

Slow Start to Deer Archery Season

The Northern Minnesota DNR Conservation Officer reports for the week highlighted a significantly slow start to the deer archery season. The warmer temperatures are thought to be the cause of the slow season start, as well as some dense fog early in the morning has been affecting it as well. 

Numbers for the early part of bear hunting season are also down this year so far. As of Monday, there have been 1650 bears harvested, down about 1000 total bears from a year ago.

It’s important to note that last year’s numbers were extremely high due to a lack of natural food sources, but this year, so far, natural food sources have not been an issue according to the DNR.