Warroad man is having drug charges against him dismissed. Kham Vorachak was originally charged in November 2024 for a second-degree felony charge of selling methamphetamine. An investigator with the Roseau County Sheriff’s Office and Pine to Prairie Drug Task Force used a controlled buy. They then performed a traffic stop on Vorachak and found the money and drugs in the vehicle. Judge Donna Dixon, however, suppressed that evidence and other statements that were made before his Miranda rights had been read. Carrie Ozetta Iceman, who had cooperated to make the controlled buy, does still have charges against her.
Roseau Community Development Coordinator Todd Peterson says there is a tentative May 18 start date for the municipal airport runway construction project, with paving expected to be done by early July, and runway grooving and marking done by early August. Grooving the pavement is necessary to allow larger planes, such as the Polaris planes, to land safely in wet conditions.
In a fitting setting, a warehouse at DigiKey today will be hosting a robotics championship, where more than 200 students and 38 teams will compete. “I just think it is going to be one of the most unique experiences for a lot of these kids. To be able to kind of do robotics in the middle of that environment,” said Robert Fay, a manager at DigiKey. This is a VEX Robotics competition, which uses plastics and lower-cost kits compared to FIRST Robotics. He also offers this program to students at St. Bernard’s Catholic School.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was in Grand Forks this week visiting the Air Force base to talk about security at the northern border. The discussion focused on the use of drones, UAS technology, leadership, operations, testing, and training. Mayor Brandon Bochenski said the visit seemed to highlight “how well we do here in the Grand Forks area… touting successes more than anything else.”
The Badger School has qualified a number of individuals for the FCCLA State Leadership Conference in March. Those are Emily Burkel, Adysen Gregerson, Avearah Hanson, Ava Warne, and Delyla Carpenter. There were 67 students vying for that opportunity, and those who were rated 50 or higher advanced to state. Now, the top two competitors from each category or event will have the opportunity to attend the National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., in July.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites the public to comment on proposed rules related to daily and possession limits on native rough fish. Under the new proposed rules, these fish — including bowfin, buffalo, carpsucker, freshwater drum, goldeye, mooneye, quillback, redhorses, and suckers — would also get a variety of other protections.
The Minnesota DNR website has all the specifics, but if the rules were to be adopted, they would go into effect March 2027.
Going north of the border, the Ross L. Gray School is looking ahead to the 2026–2027 school year with kindergarten enrollment. That can be for a child who will turn 5 before December 31 of this year. You’ll want to have ready proof of residence, the child’s birth certificate, important medical information, and, if necessary, proof of custody. Contact the school office for more. They will hold an informational meeting at an undetermined date in the future.
Roseau School Superintendent Tom Jerome and Activities Director Ken Hayden were in Mahnomen on Wednesday with Roseau School’s AAA Award nominees Anna Ulvin and John Delaney. Ulvin was selected as the sub-section winner on the girls side, while Brody Scalese of Lancaster was selected on the boys side. From Region 8A, both boys and girls representatives came from Fertile-Beltrami High School.
More school notes: this week, the Crookston School Board selected six semi-finalists for their superintendent position.
Jeremy Tammi, superintendent, South Koochiching/Rainy River, MN
Tara Lere, superintendent, Plummer-Worley, ID
Jason Stanoch, principal/career academies director, Bemidji, MN
Todd Selk, superintendent, Fosston, MN
Brad Johnson, superintendent, Renville County West, MN
Tim Godfrey, superintendent, Red Rock Central, MN
They’ll conduct initial interviews next week.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is once again ready for your votes to name a snowplow. One plow from each district, eight in total, will be named. They have narrowed the submissions down to a list of a few dozen. You can vote for your favorite eight through February 13.
Last modified: 02/06/2026
