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.

By Graham Scher, October 27th

Roseau County, Minn – Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach of District 7 including Roseau County updated on the latest regarding the government shutdown and what’s being done about it.

Fischbach connected with over 11 thousand residents living in the Seventh Congressional District during a telephone town hall she conducted last week. Discussion centered around how our agriculture communities and rural healthcare are being affected.

Fischbach also mentioned how at the end of last week, Senate Democrats voted for the 12th time to keep the government shutdown. She confirmed that SNAP and WIC benefits could run out of their funding soon which would largely affect families who rely on those benefits each month. 

Congresswoman Fischbach of District 7 provided other updates that we will feature later this week.

By Graham Scher, October 27th

Mentor, Minn – Paperwork has been filed for the beginning of a cannabis growth operation in Polk County near one of the region’s most popular lakes. A facility could be built along Polk County road 12 just outside Mentor, Minn half a mile away from Maple Lake.

The proposal is starting a debate among residents concerned about the odor, zoning purposes, and declining property values.

Cindy Tyler, former owner of the Oak Cove Resort along Maple Lake for the past 40 years is concerned with the placement of the facility that close to the lake. Tyler has begun getting signatures for a petition that has amassed over 100 signatures.

Cody Parr and his family have owned the land in Polk County for several years. Parr is proposing the micro-business cannabis growing facility that would bring about 20 jobs to the community. For the project to happen, the county must rezone the land from agricultural to commercial.

By: Graham Scher – October 24th

Warroad, Minn – Highway 11 Construction in Warroad continued this week. Construction on the Highway 11 bridge continued toward paving the new bridge. Pavement was laid and the sidewalk was done as well. MnDOT still has been working on the completion of the south lane of the bridge project with this week also pouring pilasters and putting up the edge rail. 

MnDOT has estimated the opening of the bridge for both traffic lanes. That is expected to be open by Friday November 7th for motorists traveling north and south on the Highway 11 bridge. The November 7th date will depend on weather that could affect the completion of the 2025 portion of the project.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will be conducting an updated statewide public waters inventory over the coming year, and landowners are encouraged to be on the lookout, as your property may be affected. Tara Jensen of the Wild Rice Watershed Board explains.

Jensen also commented on what the DNR said their next step was and how this might affect landowners.

More from the Wild Rice Watershed Board coming up next week.