Local News Thursday, March 19, 2026

THE ROSEAU COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS SHARING INFORMATION FROM OTHER DEPARTMETNS AROUND THE STATE ABOUT A SCAM THAT IS GROWING IN POPULARITY. IT INVOLVES TEXT MESSGES THAT APPEAR TO COME FROM THE STATE’S JUDICIAL BRANCH ABOUT POSSIBLE PARKING OR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS THAT INCLUDES LINKS TO PAY YOUR FINES. TAX SCHEMES ARE ALSO BECOMING MORE PREVELANT AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

IN A DEVELOPMENT THIS MORNING, THE WARROAD SCHOOL WENT INTO A LOCKDOWN AFTER A 911 CALL REPORTED A POTENTIAL THREAT. THE PUBLIC WAS ASKED TO STAY CLEAR OF THE AREA AT THE TIME. WE’LL UPDATE AS INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.

DEMOLITION MATERIAL RATES IN LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY ARE SET TO DOUBLE. AT A MARCH 10^TH MEETING, THE LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AUTHORIZED TO DBOULE THE PER-YARD DEMO RATE FROM $10 TO $20. THAT WILL HELP TO SIGNIFICANTLY CUT THE COST OF HAULING MATERIALS TO WASTE SITES. THE BOARD ALSO AUTHORIZED THE PURCHASE OF FOUR NEW RECYCLING TRAILERS, ONE CARDBOARD RECYCLING TRAILER FOR THE SCHOOL, A 16-FOOT BAT-WING DITCH MOWER, AND A CARDBOARD BAILER FOR THE LANDFILL. THE MAJORITY OF THE COSTS WILL BE COVERED BY A GREATER MINNESOTA RECYCLING GRANT.

THE MINNESOTA SAFE DRINKING WATER FEE, WHICH TYPICALLY SHOWS UP AS A SERVICE CONNECTION FEE ON YOUR UTILITY, INCREASED ON JANUARY 1 OF THIS YEAR, FROM $9.72 TO $15.22 ANNUALLY. EACH UTILITY MAY BILL THAT OUT MONTHLY, QUARTERLY, OR ANNUALLY. IN THE CITY OF BAUDETTE FOR EXAMPLE, RESIDENT CAN LOOK FOR A HIGHER BILL IN THE MONTH OF JULY WHEN THEY WILL CHARGE THAT FULL ANNUAL FEE.

THE ROSEAU SCHOOL HAS A BIG EVENING TONIGHT WITH KINDERGARTEN ROUNDUP AND A SCHOOL READINESS INFROMATION NIGHT. THE EVENT BEGINS AT 5:30 PM.

MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING INTO ALLOWING ‘HAPPY HOUR FOR GRANDPA AND GRANDMA’ WITH A BILL WOULD ALLOW THE SALE, CONSUMPTION AND DISPLAY OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES.

THE BILL WAS BORN OUT OF ONE OF THE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES IN HOFFMAN’S DISTRICT, AMIRA CHOICE IN CHAMPLIN. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ABIGAIL DAHL SAID THAT ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AMIRA CHOICE WANTED TO CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF A MAJOR RENOVATION PROJECT, BUT LEARNED THAT THEY ARE NOT TECHNICALLY ALLOWED TO DO SO.

MANY COMMUNITIES ARE TACKLING THE ISSUE OF WHICH MINNESOTA STATE FLAG TO FLY AT CITY BUILDINGS. EAST GRAND FORKS FOR EXAMPLE JUST PASSED ON A 5-2 VOTE TO CONTINUE FLYING THE NEW STATE FLAG, WHILE OVER IN WILLIAMS, MN… THEY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO FLY THE OLD STATE FLAG.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TODAY ANNOUNCED A $112 MILLION GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE SUICIDE PREVENTION SERVICES TO VETERANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

GRANT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE A DEMONSTRATED CAPACITY TO SERVE VETERANS. THESE FUNDS ARE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE STAFF SERGEANT PARKER GORDON FOX SUICIDE PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM, AND GRANTEES HAVE UNTIL JUNE 12, 2026, TO APPLY.

IN 2025, FOX GRANTS SUPPORTED MORE THAN 17,000 VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS —  A 31% INCREASE FROM 2024. THIS INCLUDES NEARLY 9,000 VETERANS WITH AN ELEVATED RISK FOR SUICIDE, 91.8% OF WHOM REPORTED A DECREASE IN RISK FACTORS AFTER GETTING HELP FROM FOX GRANT RECIPIENTS.

FARMERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA HAVE A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT SOIL HEALTH AND WATER QUALITY. THE SUSTAINABLE FARMING ASSOCIATION, WORKING WITH LAKE OF THE WOODS AND ROSEAU COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, IS ORGANIZING A SPECIAL LEARNING EVENT ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, FROM 8:30 AM TO 5 PM AT THE SEVEN CLANS CASINO IN THIEF RIVER FALLS. THIS EXCITING ONE-DAY EVENT IS DESIGNED FOR NORTHWEST MINNESOTA PRODUCERS. MANY SIMILAR PROGRAMS ARE USUALLY HELD FAR AWAY, MAKING IT HARD FOR LOCAL FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO ATTEND. YOU MUST REGISTER AHEAD OF TIME, AND THERE IS A $35 FEE TO ATTEND. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER VISIT WWW. SFA-MN.ORG

THE MINNESOTA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION (MFBF) WILL CELEBRATE NATIONAL AGRICULTURE DAY WITH A SERIES OF EVENTS AT THE MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL ON TUESDAY, MARCH 24, HIGHLIGHTING THE VITAL ROLE OF AGRICULTURE IN THE STATE. MORE THAN 140 MFBF MEMBERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE WILL GATHER TO SHARE THEIR STORIES WITH LEGISLATORS AND STATE LEADERS. TENTATIVE GUEST SPEAKERS INCLUDE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE LEADERS FROM BOTH THE SENATE AND HOUSE, MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER THOM PETERSEN, AND MFBF PRESIDENT DAN GLESSING.

U.S. SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN) MET WITH A DELEGATION OF CANADIAN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE CANADA-U.S. INTER-PARLIAMENTARY GROUP. SHE SAID, “AS CO-CHAIR OF THE BIPARTISAN UNITED STATES AND CANADA GROUP, I’M COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING THE ECONOMIC, SECURITY, AND CULTURAL TIES BETWEEN OUR COUNTRIES. THIS PRODUCTIVE MEETING FOCUSED ON KEY ISSUES, INCLUDING THE ADMINISTRATION’S TARIFFS THAT ARE THREATENING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CANADA AND HURTING THE ECONOMY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER.

EACH YEAR, THE MINNESOTA 4-H STATE AMBASSADORS SELECT A SERVICE THEME TO ENGAGE ALL MINNESOTA 4-H YOUTH IN LEARNING ABOUT A COMMUNITY ISSUE AND TAKING STEPS TO MAKE A POSITIVE, COLLECTIVE IMPACT.

THE 2025-26 STATEWIDE SERVICE PROJECT THEME IS DISASTER RELIEF AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

THE 4-H STATE AMBASSADORS WILL SHARE SEASONAL TOPICS AND PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE LEARNING AND ACTION.

WE ARE SHARING INFORMATION ON COMMUNITY ALERT SYSTEMS, HOW TO RESPOND IN SCARY SITUATIONS AND HOW TO REPORT AN EMERGENCY.

Last modified: 03/19/2026