By Mani Souphom – R & J Broadcasting | October 28, 2025

WARROAD, Minn. – The Warroad City Council met Monday, October 27, with council members Kevin Thompson, Michele Vandal, Dean Dorholt, and Joe Olafson in attendance. Warroad Mayor Tom Goldsmith was absent, and Councilman Kevin Thompson presided over the meeting as acting mayor.

The council began the meeting after the pledge of allegiance, approving procedural checks totaling just over $826,000.

Council members also approved Officer Conor Adams for a full-time position with the Warroad Police Department. The move fills shifts left open while another officer recovers from a non-work-related injury expected to last nine to twelve months. Warroad Chief of Police, Wade Steinbring, added that Adams was, “…doing a great job,” with City Administrator Kathy Lovelace agreeing.

In other business, the council approved the hiring of a part-time clerk at the Municipal Liquor Store, following a recent vacancy.

Much of Monday’s meeting centered around updates from Warroad Community Development’s Director, Sarah Carling. We sat down with Carling to discuss an upcoming ribbon cutting ceremony for the organization’s new website:

Carling also spoke to us about Warroad Community Development’s ongoing work with the University of Minnesota:

The University of Minnesota is also working collaboratively with Warroad and other Highway 11 communities, Baudette and Badger, in their Empowering Small Minnesota Communities Program. Carling provided more details on this work as well:

Construction on the Highway 11 bridge project was briefly discussed, with Utilities superintendent Dan Trosen noting things appeared to be on schedule to reopen the bridge by November 7. “Tentatively they’re looking at opening it Friday before deer hunting,” he said. Councilman Kevin Thompson inquired about the durability of the decorative thin brick proposed for the project. City Administrator Kathy Lovelace said it should hold up “as long as it doesn’t get hit.”

The council ended the meeting by forming a committee to review and renew several city property leases, including those for the gravel pit, agricultural land, Nomad, the brewery, and the Tiny Home area. Council member Joe Olafson volunteered to serve, and Kevin nominated Dean Dorholt for his expertise in property values. City Administrator Lovelace will compile the necessary information for the council to consider lease renewals and approvals, noting it has been some time since the city last conducted such a review.

KQ92 & KRWB will continue to follow Warroad City Council meetings and provide updates.

Northwest Minnesota has many different opportunities to partake in recreational activities like hunting, fishing, hiking, and ATV riding thanks to thousands of acres in public lands. Despite this, Tara Jensen of the Wild Rice Watershed Board says they unfortunately do have some issues of trespassing on watersheds, and private lands

Jensen also reminds residents that these lands are not open to public use, without permission.

That was Tara Jensen of the Wild Rice Watershed Board.

By Graham Scher – October 27th

Roseau, Minn – October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and area health agencies are promoting ways that you can help protect yourself from a cancer late diagnosis. KQ92/KRWB talked with Life Care Medical Center’s Imaging Director Brain Anderson who says breast cancer can affect all types of women, but there are factors that can put you more at risk, and that these individuals should be screened for cancer more often.

Anderson also talked about the Center for Disease Control. The CDC recommends breast cancer screening every two years, but Anderson recommends both depending on the situation.

Life Care Medical Center’s Imaging Director Brain Anderson.

On Nov. 4, 2025, the U.S. Border Patrol’s Grand Forks Sector will host a press event covering the topic of border safety awareness in anticipation of winter. The goal is to reduce the likelihood of serious injury and death along the United States/Canadian border.  

The annual event will be held at the Warroad Border Patrol Station. There will be several types of vehicles, vessels, and equipment on display. Agents will be available to demonstrate various technologies that are utilized in the field. 

They will also highlight significant rescues and answer questions regarding the dangerous conditions migrants face while attempting to cross the border illegally and the challenges Border Patrol agents face. Grand Forks Sector Chief Patrol Agent Scott D. Garrett will also be available to answer questions.

Please RSVP no later than Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, by noon. Please visit Canadian Border Patrol’s website at cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection.