Local News Tuesday, June 2, 2026

ROSEAU’S MUNICIPAL AIRPORT WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL AIRCRAFT, STARTING NEXT
WEEK, AS A RUNWAY RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT CONTINUES.  THE AIRPORT WAS
CLOSED TO LARGER AIRPLANES THIS WEEK, SO POLARIS HAS DIVERTED IT’S PLANE
TO THE WARROAD AIRPORT.

ROSEAU CITY SUPERINTENDENT GARY PRZEKWAS TOLD THE ROSEAU COUNCIL THAT
MILL AND OVERLAY PROJECTS ON CENTER STREET AND THE HOSPITAL ROAD WILL
START LATE THIS WEEK.  BOTH ARE ROSEAU COUNTY ROAD PROJECTS.

TWO PEOPLE HAVE FILED TO RUN FOR ROSEAU COUNTY SHERIFF. THE INCUMBENT
SHERIFF, STEVE GUST, HAS A CHALLENGER FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION; HE’S
ADAM KASPROWICZ.
COUNTY ATTORNEY KRISTI KJOS HAS NO OPPONENT AT THIS POINT.
THERE ARE THREE COUNTY COMMISSIONER SEATS ON THE FALL BALLOT. LAURA
PHILLIPE LARSON HAS FILED FOR WHAT IS AN OPEN SEAT IN DISTRICT ONE,
WHERE GLENDA PHILLIPE IS RETIRING. INCUMBENT LEVI NOVACEK HAS FILED FOR
A SECOND TERM IN DISTRICT THREE, AND CURRENT COMMISSIONER DARYL WICKLUND
IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE (SO FAR) IN DISTRICT FIVE.
THE FILING PERIOD FOR THOSE ELECTED COUNTY OFFICES ENDS AT THE END OF
THE DAY TODAY.

FOURTEEN AREA ARTISTS RECENTLY COMPLETED THE NORTHWEST MINNESOTA ART COUNCIL’S TEACHING ARTIST TRAINING AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY RESIDENCIES. NORTHWEST MINNESOTA ARTS COUNCIL IS PROUD TO NOW PROMOTE A ROSTER OF 23 LOCAL ARTISTS TRAINED IN OUR TEACHING ARTIST ROSTER PROGRAM. THE GROUP OF 14 INCLUDE: ALYSSA AUNE OF GATZKE, BEAU BAKKEN OF HALLOCK, SAMANTHA HARRILL OF WARROAD, CAYLIE NICHOLSON OF HALLOCK, GAIL OSE OF THIEF RIVER FALLS, ACACIA WINTERS OF THIEF RIVER FALLS; AND PERFORMING ARTISTS EDEN JOHNSON OF LAKE BRONSON AND MEGAN MALONEY OF THIEF RIVER FALLS.

SCHOOLS CAN APPLY FOR AN ARTIST RESIDENCY GRANT OF $3,000 AS EARLY AS THIS FALL THROUGH OUR ON-LINE GRANT SYSTEM.

A REMINDER THAT LAKE OF THE WOODS SCHOOL HAS A SUMMER MEAL PROGRAM FOR THESE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF SUMMER BREAK. THE MEALS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO ANYONE THAT IS 18 YEARS OF AGE AND YOUNGER. THEY SERVE BREAKFAST FROM 8:30-9:30 AND LUNCH FROM 11:30-12:30.

THE WARROAD OUTDOOR POOL HAS ANNOUNCED THAT AN OPENING DATE FOR THE SEASON IS NEXT MONDAY, JUNE 8. DAILY ADMISSION IS JUST $5, WITH INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY SEASON PASSES ALSO AVAILABLE.

FROM MIDWEST-FLYER.COM, THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION IS SIDING WITH DARRIN SMEDSMO TO HAVE HIS AIRCRAFT RETURNED AFTER WHAT IS CALLED AN UNLAWFUL SEIZURE BY TRIBAL AUTHORITIES.  THE LATEST UPDATE SAYS THE TRIBE IS SET TO RETURN HIS PLANE TOMORROW AND DROP ALL CHARGES. A FIGHT TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE LEGAL AIRSPACE ISSUE WILL CONTINUE. SMEDSMO SAID A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE IS TO RETURN TO THE RED LAKE NATION AND OFFER FLIGHT EXPERIENCES TO NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN.

BACKGROUND OF THE STORY IS THAT IN OCTOBER SMEDSMO WAS FLYING OVER THE RED LAKE NATION RESERVATION WHEN HIS PLAN EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE AND HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A RESERVATION ROAD, AND HIS PLANE WAS SEIZED. THEY HAD RECENTLY OFFERED TO RETURN THE PLANE IF SMEDSMO HAD MADE A $5000 DONATION TO THE NATION’S BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND PAY A $2750 FEE FOR TOWING OF THE PLANE.

TAKE A KID FISHING WEEKEND IS FROM FRIDAY, JUNE 5, TO SUNDAY, JUNE 7, AND THIS YEAR, THE WEEKEND COINCIDES WITH A PAUSE IN FISHING LICENSE SALES AS THE DNR TRANSITIONS DATA TO MINNESOTA’S NEW ELECTRONIC LICENSE SYSTEM. DURING THE PAUSE IN LICENSE SALES, ANGLERS MAY FISH WITHOUT A LICENSE FROM 12 A.M. TUESDAY, JUNE 2, THROUGH 11:59 P.M. MONDAY, JUNE 8.

NEXT WEEKEND ON JUNE 13, IT WILL BE ONE OF THE DNR FEATURED FREE PARK DAYS, WHERE PERMTIS ARE NOT NEEDED TO VISIT A STATE PARK OR RECREATION AREA.

THE USDA ANNOUNCED PAYMENT RATES AND THE ENROLLMENT PERIOD FOR THE ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIALTY CROPS FARMERS (ASCF) PROGRAM. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) WILL ISSUE $1.625 BILLION IN PAYMENTS TO ELIGIBLE SPECIALTY CROP PRODUCERS IN RESPONSE TO ELEVATED INPUT COSTS AND MARKET DISRUPTIONS RESULTING FROM FOREIGN COMPETITORS ENGAGING IN UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES THAT IMPEDED SPECIALTY CROP EXPORTS. PRODUCERS WHO HAVE A LOGIN.GOV ACCOUNT CAN ACCESS AND SUBMIT THEIR PRE-FILLED APPLICATION STARTING JUNE 1, 2026. PRODUCERS WHO DO NOT HAVE A LOGIN.GOV ACCOUNT OR PREFER TO ENROLL IN PERSON AT THEIR LOCAL FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA) OFFICE CAN REQUEST THEIR PREFILLED APPLICATION BEGINNING JUNE 8, 2026. THE ASCF ENROLLMENT PERIOD CLOSES ON AUG. 7, 2026.

Last modified: 06/02/2026