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Community Watch
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Lakes Radio News
HWY 10 Lane Closures
5-24-13
Road construction on Highway 10 will begin on Tuesday May 28. Lane closures and possible delays can be expected on the east side of Detroit Lakes. After temporary crossovers in the median are built, traffic will shift to either eastbound or westbound lanes. A project funded by the Minnesota DNR is installing a box culvert to ensure safe crossing underneath Highway 10 for pedestrians, bicyclists and snowmobilers. The box culvert will connect the future Heartland Trail route with the city of Detroit Lakes. Construction is expected to be complete by late June.
Memorial Weekend Road Safety
5-24-13
You have heard this before and will hear it again, being safe while on the road this holiday weekend, and all summer, is very important.
To encourage and enforce safe driving the Click It or Ticket campaign will run through June 2nd. Minnesota law enforcement agencies are increasing belt patrols. Divers and all passengers, even in the backseat, must be secure by a safety belt. Children in booster or restraint seats must be properly secure as well. Officials are reminding motorists to make safe, smart decisions during the historically deadly and high-traffic memorial weekend. Visit 511mn.org for road construction updates.
Safety Clips include:
-looking twice for motorcyclists
-slowing down during work zones
-Giving yourself extra time to reach destinations
-Being well-rested before driving
Ottertail Planning Commission – RV Resort
5-24-13
The Ottertail County Planning Commission will make recommendations to the County Board on the application of the proposed R-V resort. “Homestead on Ottertail” will cover 76 acres of land located at Highway 78 and County Highway 5 near Ottertail City. Plans for the resort include 185 camping units, a pavilion, activity barn and swimming pool. The proposal is causing hard feelings among lake homeowners. The county board is announcing a final decision on June 4.
Wildflower and Wellness Trails in Perham
5-24-13
Perham city counselors agreed to accept a bid for the completion of the Wildflower Trail and the Wellness Trail. Accepting the low bid on the projects will occur so long as the price range is within ten percent of the engineer’s estimate. The Wildflower Trail should cost around $75,000 and the Wellness Trail should cost around $80,000. The cost for planting flowers along the trails will bid out at later date. A grant by the Minnesota DNR will cover a major portion of the cost if the projects are finishing by June 30. Perham health will also cover part of the costs for the Wellness Trail.
Art in the Park, Perham
5-24-13
The Perham Center for the Arts is searching for additional volunteers and vendors for the second annual Art in the Park event. This cultural event coincides with Perham’s Turtle Fest. You can attend Art in the Park on June 21 and 22 from 9am to 4pm at the St. Stanislaus Church. Organizers say there are already more vendors than last year’s event and the raffle tickets are selling fast. Proceeds from the raffle will contribute the Perham Center for the Arts efforts to renovate the St. Stanislaus Church into a theatre. Local and regional artists specializing in ceramics, photography, oil paintings, fused glass and more will be attending. Art in the Park will be more involved with Turtle Fest as shuttle buses will transport people back and forth.
Man Arrested for Financial Transaction Card Fraud
5-24-13
Rod Berger is under arrest as of May, 21for the felony of Financial Transaction Card Fraud. Rod and Mary Berger used another’s debit card to purchase items from Wal-Mart, Sunmart, to pay off Charter bills and withdraw cash from an ATM. These purchases occurred around the beginning of May. Security footage has been given to authorities proving the two made purchases from Wal-Mart and withdrew money from the ATM. The victim, a Fergus Falls man, allowed the two to use his debit card previously which is how Mary knew the PIN number. However this time the victim did not give consent and the card may have been stolen from the victim’s house.
Burris Case Still Unsolved a Year Later
5-24-13
It’s been one year since Scott Burris went missing. Scott Roger Burris from Otter Tail was 33 years old last May. His white van was found abandoned on private land near Elizabeth. Tracking dogs were used a week later but did not turn up Burris. He was listed as “a missing person under suspicious circumstances.” The sheriff’s office said a small amount of blood was found in the van and was send to the BCA lab for testing.
Three weeks later, some tubers on the Otter Tail River found the body near Orwell Dam. Although the cause of death is known, the sheriff’s office has said they will not release the cause because: “It may compromise the investigation.”
No one has been arrested yet in the case. A search warrant was conducted last July. The warrant remains sealed because the Burris death remains an active case that the sheriff’s office is still working on.
DWI Arrest
5-24-13
21-year-old Robert Lucky Hagberg was arrested last (Thursday) night around 11PM after crashing into a parked vehicle. The accident occurred at the corner of Lincoln and 2nd Ave N. Hagberg is charged with DWI, possession of paraphernalia and small amount of marijuana. Hagberg’s Volkswagen hit the parked Subaru hard enough to push it over the curb and into a tree. No one was in the parked car and neither Hagberg nor his passenger was injured. Damages to both vehicles are significant.
Caspers Airlifted after Crash
5-24-13
One person injured in a crash near Dent Thursday afternoon.
The Otter Tail County Sherriff’s Office along with Dent Fire and Rescue, Perham Ambulance and Perham Fire responded just after noon on Co Hwy 44 and Co Hwy 35.
A 2013 Lexus left the roadway on a curve in the road, came back onto the roadway and overturned many times. 28 year old Thomas Caspers, the Second from Vergas has serious injures. He was airlifted to a Fargo hospital.
Lady Slipper Garden Club plant sale June 1
5/24/2013
The Lady Slipper Garden Club will host their annual plant sale on Saturday, June 1 beginning at 8 a.m. in NP Park on Main Street in Perham. The sale will be held rain or shine.
Ashby OK Donation Drive Friday
5-24-13
Caring Neighbors in Ashby is preparing to help with a load of donations that is going to Oklahoma.
The items requested: bedding, bottled water, light jackets, hooded sweatshirts, personal hygiene items such as deodorant, tooth paste, tooth brushes, soap etc. and monetary donations.
Checks should be written out to Rock Prairie Church and in memo Oklahoma Tornado Disaster Fund. Drop of hours will be on today (Friday) the 24th from 1p.m.-3p.m.
If you cannot make to the Ashby drop-off site, donations for Oklahoma relief can be made to the Red Cross or Salvation Army.
Gov. Dayton Signs Solar Energy Standard
5-24-13
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota's investor-owned utilities will be required to get 1.5 percent of their power from solar energy by 2020 under legislation signed by Gov. Mark Dayton.
The solar energy standard also sets a statewide goal of reaching 10 percent by 2030.
The proposal was championed by the Minnesota Clean Energy and Jobs campaign. The coalition says the law takes Minnesota farther down the road to a clean, renewable energy future by making solar energy cheaper and more accessible for consumers, while creating well-paying, permanent jobs across the state.
However, Otter Tail Power is one of the companies required to have solar engery. They estimate that it will cost them 83 million dollars to build the solar farm which translates into a potential 6.2% rate increase for Otter Tail Power customers.
Now MN Clean Engery and Jobs is calling for raising Minnesota's renewable energy standard to 40 percent by 2030. The state's current standard requires utilities to get 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources including wind, solar and biomass by 2025.
Memorial Day: Monday May 27 2013 Fergus Falls: There is a program at Veteran's Park at 10:00 AM, another program at the VFW immediately following the first one that will be at about 10:30 AM. Vets Home: Fergus Falls – The Memorial Day program starts at 2 p.m. The guest speaker will be Ron Verhaagen, Wilkin County Veterans Service Officer. The program will include music by “The Lee’s,” and Color guard services and the rifle volley will be provided by the Fergus Falls American Legion Post 30 & the Fergus Falls VFW Post 612. 1821 North Park Street, Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Due to the May 27 Memorial Day holiday, the following Fergus Falls city offices will be CLOSED: City Hall, the landfill, the library, the senior center and both liquor stores. Refuse and recycling normally picked up on Monday will be moved to Tuesday. Tuesday pickup will be moved to Wednesday. Please have your containers out and ready for pick-up by 6 am Battle Lake: 11 am Monday Battle Lake School Gym, high school & Community Band, welcome by Legion Commander John Olson, Guest Speaker Cody Mills who participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Luncheon at Senior Center hosted by American Legion Auxiliary Underwood: 10 Am Monday at Underwood School Gym. Speaker Charlie Kampa, OTC Veterans Service Director
Underwood Cemetery Visitations(all morning times) 6:45am Tordenskjold Free Mission, 7:00 am Tordenskjold, 7:15am Aurdal, 7:25 Messiah, 7:35 Rindal, 7:55 Amor, 8:15 Silent Vale, 8:25 Maine Catholic, 8:35 Tingvold, 8:45 Sverdrup, 8:55 Lakeview Sunset Memorial Gardens, 9:00AM Bass Lake Ashby: Ashby School 9:45 am,Speaker Jamie Gobel K-12 Rothsay School Principal, US Army Sergeant , lunch at Legion Hall Dent: SATURDAY, May 25 (NOT MONDAY) 10 am Memorial Day ceremony by Dent American Legion at the community center Perham: 10 am at Prairie Wind Middle School, traditional service with special music
Dad’s 6th Annual Waffle Breakfast: 7 am to noon, Waffles, flavored syrups and beverage $7 in advance, $7.50 at the door, under 5 are free, also at Prairie Wind Middle School Pelican Rapids: 10 am at PR High School, speaker is Veteran, Richard Gabe
Parade: follows service, about 11:30 am, Lunch at Pelican Rapids VFW Club New York Mills: New York Mills VFW and Auxiliary will host a program with special music and the laying of wreaths on Monday May 27 at 10 a.m. at the New York Mills School Auditorium. Wendell: 11 am at Wendell Hall. Ceremony continues with a parade to Memorial Park, potluck dinner WCA School: 10 am Barrett, Lunch served by Prairie Rivers Baseball Association Herman/Norcross: 10:30 am at the school, speaker Joe Hjelmstad Grant Co Veteran’s Service Officer. Luncheon at Legion Building Richville: SUNDAY, May 26 (NOT MONDAY) 1:30 pm at the Richville Cemetery located on Co Rd 14, participation with the Dent American Legion, Luncheon following at the Richville Community Senior Citizens Center
Vergas Loon Turns 50
5/23/2013
Minnesota is noted for its larger-than-life roadside sculptures. This year, the Big Loon in Vergas will turn 50. Standing 20-feet tall and containing a ton of steel, the Big Loon is located on the end of Long Lake within the Vergas city limits. Commemorative T-shirts have been designed and will be on sale at Billy's in Vergas beginning May 25th. The logo reads "It took 50 years to look this good". A community picture will be taken on Saturday, June 29th at 4 p.m. down by the Big Loon.
Naked Man Arrested, Escapes from Patrol Car in Richland Co
5-23-13
LIDGERWOOD, N.D. (AP) - A Lidgerwood man has been arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after walking around naked and then breaking out a patrol car window and escaping after an officer arrested him.
The Richland County Sheriff's Office says the 35-year-old man was arrested for disorderly conduct after police received a call about him walking around Lidgerwood naked around 3 p.m. Wednesday.
When he was being transported to the Richland County Jail, police say he broke out the rear window of a patrol car and escaped. He was apprehended in a field about a 1/2 mile from where he escaped.
The man was taken to the Richland County Jail and is being held on charges of disorderly conduct, escape and resisting arrest.
1 Child Dead, 1 Missing in Minn. Park Landslide
5-23-13
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Officials say one child is dead and another is unaccounted for after a gravel slide in a St. Paul park.
The children were at the park near the Mississippi River as part of a school field trip when the slide happened early Wednesday afternoon.
Two other children were rescued. Authorities say the ground is soft after several days of rain.
Nornes wants Gas Prices Investigated
5-22-13
Representative Bud Nornes wrote a letter to the Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson to look into gas prices in Minnesota: “The only people concerned about it are our constituents. But nobody is doing anything about it that I could tell. We are just kinda starting to accept this as normal business but with this dramatic increase I decided, hey, We’ve got an attorney general that needs to take a look at this from all directions. Why refineries can’t schedule their maintenance so that it doesn’t impact the distribution, why they always seem to do this right at the peak of travel time. So I’m asking her to just investigate the whole cause of why we have these peaks and trying to take the pressure off the retailers and the people that work there cause they are not responsible for it.”
Gas in Fergus Falls has been $4.19. Nornes says he was paying more in the twin cities area.
Escamilla Arrested on a 12 Year old Warrant
5-22-13
A traffic stop lead to the arrest of a Pelican Rapids man on a 12 year old warrant.
A state patrol officer stopped a pickup for speeding last Friday (May 17.)
The man at first gave a name and date of birth that didn’t work, he then changed the date of birth and that didn’t work. He then admitted to the officer his real name.
31-year-old Nelson Nery Escamilla was arrested. Charges include giving a false name and date of birth to the officer and driving after revocation.
Escamilla was to appear in August of 2000 for a pretrial hearing. When he failed to appear, a warrant for his arrest was issued. The charges from 2000 include burglary, trespass, criminal damage to property and underage consuming.
Man Cited for Purse Theft
5-22-13
A theft in progress was reported a laundry mat in Fergus Falls Tuesday evening. A woman had her purse sitting on top of a washing machine. A male and a female came in. The male grabbed the purse and ran out with it. The owner chased him out the door and he dropped it. Police were able to indentify the man and will mail him a misdemeanor citation for theft.
Comic Book Found in Elbow Lake Worth + $100,000
5-22-13
A contractor purchased a house in Elbow Lake intending to remodel it. As David Gonzalez was removing old newspapers that had been used as insulation, he found something else, a 1938 Superman comic book. It is the first time Superman is introduced as a new character.
The house was purchased for a little over ten thousand dollars. The comic book on an online auction site called ComicConnect is going for more than ten times that. The auction runs until June 11th.
Burning Restrictions Lifted in 32 Minn. Counties
5-22-13
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has lifted fire restrictions in all or parts of 32 Minnesota counties as wet weather lowers the fire danger.
The restrictions were lifted Tuesday
The counties are scattered across roughly the northern two-thirds of Minnesota. Restrictions were lifted for Otter Tail County.
Restrictions remain in 10 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.
Nornes Says RTC Extension Granted
5-21-13
Monday at midnight was the last day of the Minnesota legislature session. At times the Extension for the former state hospital was stalled and Rep Bud Nornes had said he didn’t know if it would be passed. He is happy to declare victory for Fergus Falls:
“I guess probably the best victory that I’ve had during the session and that’s the extension for agreement we have with the state of Minnesota that affects the Regional Treatment Center in Fergus Falls. Very happy about that, and so I can go home and work with the city to find a new use for that.”
The extension gives the city a longer timetable to work with developers and also some more flexibility in how they can use the funds.
Two RTC Developers Join Forces
5-21-13
The Fergus Falls City Council as well as the public came to the council meeting expecting to hear a second proposal on reuse for the former state hospital. Instead, developer Terrance Scholz made this announcement: “Historic Properties also came to visit. They made their presentation two weeks ago. Since that point, most all of you have received a letter of understanding that the two groups have now come together and are now together and are now looking to join forces to work together on the development of the facility.”
Since the last council meeting Scholz and Historic Properties CEO Ray Willey have been talking and came to an agreement to work together.
The plan would still be for low income housing and a hotel but Scholz explained that it would be a luxury spa hotel that would focus on wellness and things like weight loss.
Scholz and Willie have also been talking to Michele Anderson with Springboard for the Arts on having artist residences and other plans.
He also spoke about bringing in an international school. He estimated that the remodeled complex would employee more than 300 people.
He gave a timeline of being operational in 2 years after starting renovations.
Scholz also said they are talking to the owner of the former nurses cottage and some other buildings, Jeff Schlossman, and he too is interested in joining their master plan.
The council directed staff to draft a document of support for the project.
Manslaughter and Interference with a Dead Body Charges: Qualley and Simon Charged
5-21-13
Two rural Fergus Falls people are charged with interference with a dead body and manslaughter.
Court documents allege that 31-year-old Melissa Ann Qualley and 33-year-old Travis Charles Simon were in a Fergus Falls residence using prescription drugs when 53-year-old Marsha Schloesser overdosed last November (2012.) Instead of reporting it to authorities, they left, came back and cleaned up the place, stole prescription medication and then faked a 911 call.
Schloesser was found under a table in a more advanced state of death than the story told to officers.
Qualley and Simon are each charged with a gross misdemeanor of interference with a dead body and three felony charges of: manslaughter, burglary and theft.
B. Christ Charged with Criminal Vehicle Operation
5-20-13
An Underwood woman is charged in Otter Tail County District Court with ten counts of criminal vehicular operation.
The Minnesota State Patrol was called January 10 (of this year) to an accident on Hwy 210 west of Underwood. They found that a vehicle driven by 60-year-old Brenda Glee Christ of Underwood had crossed the center line and hit a van head-on. The driver of van and four passengers all were treated for injuries including fractures, bruises, abrasions and a mild concussion.
Court records alleged that Christ was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
Perham Rotary Peace Pole Dedicated Today
5-21-13
The Perham Rotary Club along with the Interact Club dedicated a Peace Pole on the east side of Perham High School this morning, May 21st. The inscription on the pole, "May Peace Prevail on Earth", is inscribed on every Peace Pole in the world. For the Perham Peace Pole, Interact students chose six languages for the inscription representing that of various exchange students, English, German, French, Spanish, Arabic and Japanese. Peace Poles have been dedicated in 180 countries and the Rotary District Governor has encouraged placing Peace Poles in all the communities of this district.
Woman Finds Man in Living Room
5-20-13
A woman taking a shower Friday had a scare. She went out to see why the dogs were barking and found a man standing in her living room. He asked for a former renter of the property and after being told repeatedly that the man no longer lived there and being asked to leave, the man left. The renters asked for extra patrol in the area on the south side of Fergus Falls. Law enforcement has not been able to indentify the man.
Alcohol Possibly a Factor in One Vehicle Crash
5-20-13
According to the sheriff’s office, alcohol was possibly involved in a crash on County Hwy 82 near Dalton.
Around 9:30 am Sunday, the call came in of a one vehicle crash on Co Hwy 82 near the intersection with Co Hwy 12.
A pickup went off the roadway, across an approach, through the ditch and stuck a second approach & culvert.
The pickup vaulted and was airborne, came down nose first and stopped. Both the driver, 28-year-old Timothy Lang of Ashby and his 28-year-old male passenger were taken to the hospital by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries.
Potato Barn Fire
5-20-13
A potato barn owned by RD Offut Farms was reported on fire Saturday.
A witness saw lightening hit the building on St Hwy 29 around 2:30 am. The Wadena, Deer Creek and Bluffton Fire Departments were called out.
This building is used to store equipment and potatoes. The sheriff’s office did not have a report yet of the damages.
Extensive Damage from Dryer Fire
5-20-13
A house in the 100 block of West Channing in Fergus Falls has extensive smoke damage from a dryer fire.
When the homeowner started the dryer shortly after 5 pm Saturday, she saw fire at the fuse box.
The lower level and main level has extensive smoke damage, a wall has fire damage. A cat living in the home was reunited with the owner.
Pelican Rapids to Discuss Building Tuesday
5-20-13
The Pelican Rapids School District will hold a work session Tuesday to discuss what to do about the school building.
Voters in the district rejected a referendum to remodel the current school in March.
The meeting is 5:30 pm Tuesday before the regular school board meeting.
Wahpeton High Risk Sex Offender Meeting
5-20-13
There will be a community information meeting Tuesday on a high risk sex offender moving in to Wahpeton.
28-year-old Aaron Paul Bever will be living on Vantura Drive in Wahpeton. He is considered a high risk sex offender.
The Wahpeton Police Department along with the Richland County Sheriff’s Office will hold the meeting at 6 pm Tuesday in the lower level of the Law Enforcement Center.
House Fire from Candle
5-19-13
Just before 9:00 AM Saturday morning, a house caught on fire in Dent, MN. The house is in foreclosure and the homeowner was cleaning out the home with the help three kids. The owner was in the garage and noticed smoke coming from the house. Inside the kids were using a candle for light source, as the utilities had been cut-off. The fire quickly became out of control and the occupants had to leave the house. Dent, Vergas, and Underwood Fire and Rescue responded to the call. The incident is still under investigation.
Dream Big Tour Update
5-19-13
The cross-country Dream Big Bike Tour got underway last week. Student Life Director for M-State Fergus Falls, David Jensen, is biking across America to raise money for the Dream Big Scholarship.
He left California Tuesday and hopes to be in Georgia by the end of May.
Saturday he entered New Mexico. The low temps in Fergus Falls were in the upper 30’s when he left and Jensen finds that the desert temps were a shock. Some of the route takes him along the interstate, which he says is legal since there is no other route in the area. Some of the back roads have been very rough. You can follow his progress and donate to the fund online at http://dreambigtour.net/
OTP Customers Could See Rate Increase due to Mandate
A new mandate that looks like it will make it into the final bill would require power companies to use solar power. The cost of building the solar power would be passed unto customers. Otter Tail Power Spokeperson Chris Oehler “Our company would be subject to a 1.5 percent solar standard mandate by the year 2020. We estimate that would be a rate impact of 6.2% because we would have to build a solar farm, probably about 28 megawatts and that would cost 83 million dollars.”
Oehler says that it only affects some power companies: “Interestingly it is only the four investor owned utilities that this applies to. All the municipal utility companies and all the electric cooperatives are exempt from the law.”
Customers will also see other costs down the road due to the phase out the Hoot Lake plant.
