The 17th Annual Veterans Appreciation Snowmobile Ride is Saturday January 31st in Grand Rapids. Roseau County Veteran Service Officer Marty Howes will be attending the event put on by the Minnesota Snowmobile Education and Advancement Fund and the Minnesota Snowmobilers association.
The snowmobile ride offers veterans and active-duty personnel a free day of riding with provided meals and lodging. Pre-registration is required for the event. Howes explains how the event works and how special it is for the Veterans participating.
You can see more about the snowmobile ride at their website at mseaf.org
More from Marty Howes coming up next week with more of a recap of January for the Roseau County Veterans Service Office.
Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach says more than nine million dollars in federal funding is heading to Northwestern Minnesota, targeting key infrastructure needs across the Seventh Congressional District.
The funding will support eleven projects in multiple counties, with an emphasis on clean water systems, wastewater upgrades, public health protections, and advances in agriculture. Local officials say the investments will help replace aging infrastructure while supporting long-term economic stability in rural communities.
Fischbach said, “From ensuring clean drinking water to modernizing our wastewater systems and investing in the future of our agricultural workforce, these projects are vital to the long-term viability and growth of our rural communities.”
The funding was secured through the federal appropriations process, with Fischbach advocating for the projects to be included in major spending bills covering environmental programs and scientific development.
Her office says the projects were prioritized in both the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill, as well as the Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations package—efforts aimed at returning federal tax dollars to the district and addressing local needs.
By: Graham Scher | R&J Broadcasting Inc. January 29, 2026
Karlstad, Minn – Mattracks and Kick’n Up Kountry have filed a civil lawsuit involving Wagon Wheel Ridge, where Kick’n Up Kountry Music Festival is held. The lawsuit names the Minnesota DNR, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), and the Kittson County Soil and Water Conservation District. Roger Brazier, Sales Manager at Mattracks and Director of Operations for Kick-n Up Kountry said this is 6 years in the making.
While Wagon Wheel Ridge is widely known as a major music festival venue that brings significant economic activity to rural northern Minnesota, the lawsuit focuses on regulatory actions affecting the underlying land, including property access, inspections, drainage work, and the placement of an environmental lien that restricts financing and use of the property.
Brazier also said the goal is to have this resolved by the time Kick’n Up Kountry is to take place this June.
That was Roger Brazier, Sales Manager at Mattracks and Director of Operations for Kick-n Up Kountry.
Beginning Sunday, February 1st, airline passengers 18 and older who do not have a Real ID or other acceptable form of government‑issued identification will be required to pay a 45-dollar fee to verify their identity before passing through security checkpoints and boarding a flight. TSA Regional Spokesperson Jessica Mayle (MAY-lee) had this to say about the new verification policy.
Travelers who show up at an airport without a receipt or an acceptable form of ID may not be allowed through security, and you may miss your flight. Mayle says your only other option would be to make the payment from your cellphone or laptop at the airport.
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith announced that Congress approved 1 million in funding for Lake of the Woods County to get a specialized vessel for aquatic emergency response, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and public safety enforcement.
Klobuchar said “Lake of the Woods County is in one of the most remote and difficult-to-access areas in the contiguous United States, making it harder for first responders to reach people in need of emergency assistance”.
Smith added “I’m glad to have worked with local officials to secure funding for this critical, specialized public safety equipment to help in urgent, high-stakes water rescue missions. This equipment will help in dangerous search and rescue missions and ultimately save lives.”
Klobuchar and Smith have considered other projects that are expected to receive funding over the next several months.
Love is in the air this Valentine’s season in Roseau County!
Roseau District Court Judge Michael Grover is inviting couples to say “I do” in a special Valentine’s Day Wedding Celebration — completely free of charge.
The ceremonies will take place on Friday, February 13th, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at the Roseau County Courthouse. Judge Grover will perform complimentary marriage ceremonies in a courtroom decorated for the occasion, with light refreshments provided for couples and their guests.
Whether you’ve been planning your wedding for months or want to take advantage of this unique opportunity to make it official, all couples are welcome to participate.
For more information or to register, call 218-463-2541.
Mediation claims between Minnesota farmers and their banks are four times higher according to DFL Agriculture Committee Chair Arik Putnam. Mediation claims in many cases are the final step before a farmer declares bankruptcy. Putnam says state lawmakers have to help.
The next legislation session begins three weeks from today. Putnam says he’s been meeting face to face with farmers about their biggest concerns.
Putnam says the tariffs combined with lower prices have put many farmers on the brink of bankruptcy and they’re concerned about falling prices and rising healthcare costs.
Applications are open for nominations for the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council’s (NWMAC) annual “Of the Year Awards”, and they’re currently taking nominations for all types of artists across Northwest Minnesota. NWMAC Director Mara Hanel says there are three different awards that you can nominate someone for.
If you would like to nominate someone for an award, Hanel explains how you can do so.
By Mani Souphom – R & J Broadcasting, Inc. | Tuesday, January 27, 2026
WARROAD, Minn. – The Warroad City Council has unanimously approved the purchase of new body-worn cameras for the Warroad Police Department, replacing an aging system that city officials say is long overdue for an upgrade.
The approval came during the council’s Jan. 12, 2026 meeting, with Mayor Tom Goldsmith, council members, and city staff in attendance.
The department will purchase six Motorola body cameras at a cost of $48,337.20. Police Chief Wade Steinbring said the current system, originally purchased in 2011, has been “limping by” and is more than a decade old. Two vendors were considered, Motorola and Axon, with Motorola selected due to lower cost and compatibility with existing squad-car video systems.
Chief Steinbring noted the Motorola system is also used by the Roseau Police Department, providing continuity for video sharing and evidence review with county attorneys and neighboring agencies.
Mayor Tom Goldsmith explained how this new equipment purchase for the Warroad Police Department would benefit the city and community:
The purchase was reviewed and approved with a payment plan that spreads costs over multiple years. While the equipment was not originally budgeted for 2026, the council voted to move forward this year and begin budgeting payments starting in 2027. The agreement includes no interest and provides for full replacement of the cameras midway through the contract at no additional cost.
Steinbring confirmed the system is web-based and does not require installation fees. The department currently has four full-time officers and one part-time officer, with the cameras intended to cover full staffing needs. Additional units, if needed, would be purchased separately.
In other business, the council received updates on a housing study being led by Warroad Community Development. Warroad Community Development Director Sarah Carling said the study will focus on identifying housing needs for local employers and residents, evaluating city-owned property for potential development, and finding ways to reduce construction costs to encourage new housing.
Council members also unanimously approved authorization to hire up to two part-time liquor store clerks, a move the city said is both proactive and necessary for maintaining staffing levels.
The council approved the purchase of six new computers for various city departments, including the city office, fire department, and utilities. City Administrator Kathy Lovelace said several systems are past their expected lifespan and experiencing performance issues, with some departments lacking functioning equipment altogether.
Additional announcements included attendance at a mandatory Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails grant meeting in St. Cloud and notice that a city audit began Jan. 26.
KQ92 and KRWB will continue to follow Warroad City Council meetings and updates.
Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach of District 7 joined House Ways and Means Committee Republicans in calling on the IRS to strengthen oversight of nonprofit organizations, citing Minnesota’s Feeding Our Future fraud case.
Federal prosecutors have charged dozens of individuals connected to Feeding Our Future with fraud and related offenses, alleging that the organization submitted false claims to federal child nutrition programs during the COVID-19 pandemic and misused hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds. Several defendants have pleaded guilty, and convictions have been secured in federal court.
In a letter to the IRS Commissioner, lawmakers criticized the Biden administration, saying federal agencies failed to properly monitor tax-exempt groups and prevent large-scale fraud. They’re now calling for reforms aimed at protecting taxpayer dollars and improving nonprofit accountability.
