Local News Wednesday, March 25, 2026

ROSEAU ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE HAS THEIR ANNUAL MEETING THIS SATURDAY AT THE ROSEAU SCHOOL. THEY’LL GIVE UPDATES ON FINANCIALS, THE CONTINUED ROLLOUT OF NORTHSTREAM FIBER EXPECTED TO REACH WARROAD ESTATES AND SPRINGSTEEL ISLAND THIS YEAR AND IN 2027. IN THEIR VOLTS AND VIEWS NEWLETTER, THEY EXPLAINED A WHOLESALE POWER RATE INCREASE OF 4.1% FROM THEIR SUPPLIER MINKOTA POWER COOPERATIVE. THE CHANGE BECOMES EFFECTIVE IN APRIL, AND FOR THEIR AVERAGE RURAL/RESIDENTIAL MEMBER IT WILL RESULT IN A MONTHLY INCREASE OF ROUGHLY $10.

BOARD OF DIRECTOR CANDIDATES INCLUDE BRIAN GRAFSTROM SEEKING RE-ELECTION IN DISTRICT 4, MIKE WAHL A RE-ELECTION IN DISTRICT 7 AND KERMIT JENSEN A RE-ELECTION IN DISTRICT 3.

THE ROSEAU COUNTY BOARD HAS APPROVED A LENGTHY RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR
A LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY INITIATIVE RELATED TO DRAINAGE LEGISLATION
APPROVED IN 2025 IN ST PAUL.  LAKE OF THE WOODS, AND FOUR OTHER COUNTIES
(INCLUDING ROSEAU) IS SEEKING AN EXEMPTION TO WHAT’S CALLED S.W.C.D.
LEGISLATION.

ROSEAU COUNTY WILL RECEIVED FORTY-FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS FROM THE
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR EASEMENTS ALONG THE STATE’S
HIGHWAY 89 PROJECT.  THE EASEMENTS ARE NEEDED FOR SIDEWALK AND
ROUNDABOUT CONSTRUCTION FOR THAT PROJECT, WHICH IS PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR
IN THE CITY OF ROSEAU. THAT PROJECT WILL TURN THAT SECTION OF HIGHWAY INTO WHAT IS CALLED AN URBAN SECTION, WITH CURB AND GUTTER, SIDEWALKS AND ACCESS POINTS, IMPROVED DRAINAGE, AND IMPROVED LIGHTING.

RUBY’S PANTRY HAS NOTIFIED LOCAL COMMITTEES IN ROSEAU AND BAUDETTE THAT THEY WILL NOT LONGER BE SERVING THOSE COMMUNITIES AS DISTRIBUTION SITES. THE COMPANY STATED THE HIGH COST OF SENDING TRUCK TO THE LOCATIONS, ALONG WITH A RESTRUCTURING OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND THE CLOSURE OF ONE OF THEIR WAREHOUSES.

43- YEAR OLD CHIMMY KEOMANY OF WARROAD IS FACING DRUG POSSESSION CHARGES STEMMING FROM A MARCH 9 TRAFFIC STOP IN ROSEAU. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED FOR A CRACKED WINDSHIELD AND KEOMANY WAS THE BACKSEAST PASSENGER. THE DRIVER HAD AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT AND LED TO A FURTHER SEARCH. KEOMANY WAS FOUND TO BE IN POSSESSION OF .56 GRAMS OF METH.

LOCAL VETERANS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND VETERANS’ COFFEE ON MONDAY, APRIL
6, AT 10 A.M. AT THE WARROAD SENIOR LIVING CENTER.
THE EVENT IS HOSTED BY THE WARROAD AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE WSLC STAFF, AND
PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VETERANS TO GATHER, VISIT, AND ENJOY FELLOWSHIP. AUXILIARY MEMBERS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE WELOMCE TOJOIN.

CONSERVATION OFFICER REPORTS FOR THE WEEK WERE MOSTLY TIED TO DETERIORTING ICE CONDITIONS ON LAKE OF THE WOODS AND THE RED LAKE RIVER, AND ONLY MINOR VIOLATIONS WERE REPORTED. THEY ALSO NOTED THAT A NUMBER OF OFFICERS HELPED WITH AREA FIREARMS SAFETY CLASSES.

THE ROSEAU PUBLIC LIBRARY ALONG WITH THE ROSEAU WOMEN OF TODAY ARE HOSTING YEAR 3 OF HARRY POTTER NIGHT. THIS FREE EVENT IS GEARED TOWARDS TEENS AND ADULTS (YOUNGER CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT/FAMILIES WELCOME). ENJOY AN EVENING OF HARRY POTTER THEMED CRAFTS, HOGWARTS CLASSES (MINUTE TO WIN IT GAMES), TRIVIA AND PIZZA AND BUTTERBEER FOR A MEAL! OVER 20 PRIZES UP FOR GRABS TO BE WON BY THE END OF THE NIGHT. THIS EVENT IS THIS THURSDAY, MARCH 26TH FROM 5:30PM-7:30PM AT THE ROSEAU PUBLIC LIBRARY.

GOVERNOR TIM WALZ TODAY SENT A LETTER TO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP PRESSING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO RETURN TARIFF REVENUE THAT COURTS HAVE RULED UNLAWFUL. AS THE STATE RECOGNIZES AGRICULTURE DAY, THE GOVERNOR WARNED THAT THE DAMAGE TO MINNESOTA’S ECONOMY, PARTICULARLY IN AGRICULTURE, IS DEEPENING AND WILL BE DIFFICULT TO REVERSE.
FINANCIAL STRESS IS RISING ACROSS RURAL MINNESOTA: 866 FARMERS ENTERED DEBT MEDIATION IN EARLY 2026, AND FARM BANKRUPTCIES ACROSS THE MIDWEST ROSE 70% IN 2025. THE TAXPAYER-SUBSIDIZED, $12 BILLION “FARMER BRIDGE ASSISTANCE” HANDOUT TRUMP RECENTLY ANNOUNCED IS A TEMPORARY BRIDGE THAT, BY CURRENT ESTIMATES, COVERS ONLY ABOUT 30% OF LOSSES FOR MANY FARMERS THIS YEAR.

REPRESENTATIVE MICHELLE FISCHBACH (MN-07) HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED AS A SMALL BUSINESS DEDUCTION CHAMPION BY THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS (NFIB), THE NATION’S LEADING SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION.
THE AWARD RECOGNIZES MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN SECURING THE PERMANENT 20% SMALL BUSINESS DEDUCTION. THIS CRITICAL TAX PROVISION PREVENTS A SIGNIFICANT TAX HIKE ON OVER 33 MILLION SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS NATIONWIDE,

Last modified: 03/25/2026