Local News Thursday, March 26, 2026

THE ROSEAU-LAKE OF THE WOODS SPORTSMAN CLUB IS DRAWING ATTENTION TO A BILL THAT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED THAT COULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THOSE WHO LIKE TO GET OUT AND RIDE ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA. BILL SF 1245 WOULD MOVE NORTHERN MINNESOTA MORE TOWARDS A DESIGNATED TRAIL SYSTEM ONLY, AND WOULD LIMIT ACCESS TO MANY EXISTING ROUTES THAT HAVE BEEN USED FOR YEARS ACROSS THE REGION. THE ARE ASKING ENTHUSIASTS TO EMAIL SENATORS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO VOICE YOUR OPPOSITION.

AN EFFORT TO REVITALIZE THE BAUDETTE/LAKE OF THE WOODS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WAS WELL ATTENDED ON MARCH 16, BUT THERE REMAINS A MIXTURE OF OPTIMISM AND CONTINUED SKEPTISCISM. LETTERS SENT TO BUSINESSES RESULTED IN 16 PAYING MEMBERSHIP DUES, BUT SOME RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE VALUE OF MEMBERSHIP BASED ON PAST EXPERIENCES, EMPHASIZING THE NEED FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY, CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION AND CLEARLY DEFINED BENEFITS MOVING FORWARD. MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION CENTERED ON THE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE, ELECTION PROCEDURES, AND RECRUITMENT. THERE WAS ALSO A DONTION OF $500 THAT CAN HELP WITH A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS AND CONVERSATIONS WERE HAD ABOUT 4^TH OF JULY FESTIVITIES.

YOU CAN HAVE YOUR INPUT ON THE MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR 197 DIFFERENT LAKES ACROSS 52 MINNESOTA COUNITES. LOCAL LAKES WHOSE MANAGEMENT PLANS ARE UNDER CONSIDERITON INCLUDES HAYES LAKE IN ROSEAU COUNTY AND THE RED LAKE RIVER RESEVIOIR IN PENNINGTON COUNTY. “WE’RE INVITING ANYONE INTERESTED IN THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF MINNESOTA’S FISHERIES TO CONTACT US DURING THIS CRITICAL PART OF THE DNR’S FISHERIES LAKE MANAGEMENT PLANNING PROCESS,” SAID RYAN MAKI, FISHERIES MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT. “THESE PLANS ESTABLISH FISHERIES MANAGEMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR EACH LAKE AND DEFINE THE WORK FISHERIES BIOLOGISTS DO EACH YEAR. OBSERVATIONS AND INPUT FROM A LAKE’S STAKEHOLDERS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE PLANNING EFFORT.”

GREENBUSH AREA COMMUNITY FUND ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THEIR SPRING GRANT ROUND. FOR CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND PUBLIC PURPOSE PROJECTS THAT ENHANCE OR IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS AND/OR VISITORS OF THE GREENBUSH AREA. THOSE ARE ACCEPTED THROUGH APRIL 15.

THE WARROAD CITY COUNCIL MET IN REGULAR SESSION EARLIER THIS WEEK. THEY HAD A REPORT ON THE 2025 CITY AUDIT. OFFICIALS ARE TAKING POSITIVE NOTES FROM THAT REPORT SAYING THE CITY IS IN A GOOD SPOT. THEY’LL USE THAT REPORT TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF NEED AND AS A WAY OF IDENTIFYING NEW FUNDING SOURCES.

THE CROOKSTON SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL HAVE ANOTHER FAMILIAR FACE TAKING OVER THE SUPERINTENDENT POSITION THIS SUMMER, AS FORMER CROOKSTON HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, COACH, AND ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR TODD SELK HAS AGREED TO SERVE AS THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT NEXT SCHOOL YEAR FOLLOWING AN INTERVIEW ON MONDAY AFTERNOON. IT WILL BECOME OFFICIAL AT A SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ON THURSDAY, MARCH 26. SELK WAS AN ORIGINAL FINALIST, BUT WITHDREW HIS NAME PRIOR TO FINAL INTERVIEWS, BUT AFTER AN OFFER, HAS CHANGED HIS MIND. HE IS CURRENTLY THE SUPERINTENDENT IN FOSSTON. HE STARTED  TEACHING CAREER IN CROOKSTON AS A STUDENT TEACHER IN THE MID-80’S.

NEXT WEEK BRINGS A DEADLINE TO HAVE SHELTERS REMOVED FROM LAKE OF THE WOODS. DNR CONVERSATION OFFICER COBY FONTES SAYS IT’S NOT MUCH FUN TO BE STUCK TRYING TO GET A SHELFTER OFF AFTER ICE HAS DETERIORTED… (AUDIO CLIP). HE ALSO NOTED THAT SHELTERS CAN STILL BE USED, BUT NOT LEFT UNOCCUPIED.

NINE BLACK BEARS WERE RELEASED FROM A MINNESOTA WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER FIND THEIR PERMANENT HOMES MONDAY, MARCH 23.

THE BEARS SPENT ABOUT A YEAR AT WILD AND FREE WILDLIFE REHABILITATION IN GARRISON, MINNESOTA, SAID KATIE WAUGH, WILD AND FREE WILDLIFE PROGRAM COORDINATOR. SEVEN MALES AND TWO FEMALES WERE RELOCATED MONDAY, WITH THE HELP OF THE MINNESOTA DNR.

WHEN THE BEARS CAME TO WILD AND FREE, THEY WEIGHED ANYWHERE FROM 3 POUNDS, 10 OUNCES TO 21 POUNDS. ON MONDAY, THEY WEIGHED ANYWHERE FROM 64 TO 119 POUNDS.

WAUGH SAID WILD AND FREE IS THE ONLY REHABILITATION CENTER IN THE STATE TO TAKE IN BLACK BEARS. MOST OF THE BEARS ARE BROUGHT TO WILD AND FREE AFTER BEING ORPHANED

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.

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.

Last modified: 03/26/2026