A STATE BUDGET FORECAST IS OUT FOR 2024 THAT SHOWS A $2.4 BILLLION SURPLUS, BUT THEY SAY THAT EARLY SIGNS WOULD POINT TOWARDS A BUDGET DEFECEIT IN 2025. REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BURKEL ISSUED A STATEMENT BLAMING IRRESPONSIBLE BUDGETING BY THE DEMOCRATS. HE SAYS “FAMILY BUDGETS ARE HURTING AND THIS IS FURTHER PROOF THAT THIS TAX AND SPEND MENTALITY HURTS MINNESOTANS MORE THAN IT HELPS.”
PAUL MARTIN WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE MERCER COUNTY DEPUTY IN NORTH DAKOTA THAT WAS KILLED WHILE DEPLOYING TIRE DEFLATION DEVICES WHILE OTHER OFFICERS PURSUED A STOLEN VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BY 42-YEAR OLD IAN CRAMER, SON OF US SENATOR KEVIN CRAMER. HE HAD STOLEN THE VEHICLE FROM HIS MOTHER AS THE TWO WERE ARRIVING AT A HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS BEING TAKEN FOR A MEDICAL EXAMINATION. HE EVENTUALLY CRASHED THAT VEHICLE HEAD ON INTO MARTINS PARKED SQUAD CAR, PUSHING IT BACKWARDS INTO HIM, AND KILLING HIM. CRAMER IS BEING CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER.
A HIBBING MAN IS BEGIN CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD THAT ALLEGEDLY WENT ON FOR YEARS. A VICTIM CAME FORWARD ACCUSING 47-YEAR OLD SHAWN JOSEPH OPACICH OF ABUSING HER FROM THE AGE OF 10 INTO HER TEENAGE YEARS. AUTHORITIES NOTED THAT THE VICTIM HAD BROUGHT ABUSE TO THE ATTENTION OF A SCHOOL COUNSELOR IN 2019, AND THE FBI HAD RECEIVED A TIP THAT SHE HAD MADE THE ACCUSATIONS ABOUT HIM ON SOCIAL MEDIA IN 2022.
A 39-YEAR OLD LITTLE FALLS MAN HAS DIED IN A WORKPLACE ACCIDENT AT A FIREWOOD PROCESSING FACILITY. HECTOR ZELAYA WAS FOUND TRAPPED IN MACHINERY BY CO-WORKERS.
THE NEWEST CLASS OF DNR CONSERVATION OFFICERS ARE READY TO TAKE TO THE FIELD, ALTHOUGH THIS YEARS CLASS OF 15 NEW OFFICERS WILL STILL LEAVE AT LEAST 12 STATIONS IN THE STATE WITHOUT FULL-TIME, DEDICATED COVERAGE.
FIREFIGHTERS HELPED TO RESCUE A FOUR POINT BUCK THAT HAD FALLEN THROUG THIN ICE ON LAKE BEMIDJI. THEY WERE ABLE TO EXTRICATE THE DEER AND IT SEEMED TO RUN OFF WITHOUT ANY INJURY. OFFICIALS SAID THEY DON’T NORMALLY HELP ON THESE SORTS OF CALLS AND LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE, BUT THE SCENE HAD DRAWN A CROWD AND THERE WERE CONCERNED CITIZENS WHO WERE DISCUSSING THEIR OWN ATTEMPTS TO RESUCE THE DEER AND THEY DIDN’T WANT THE SITUATION TO WORSEN.
THE GRAND FORKS HERALD HAS A STORY ON ROSEAU’S RYAN JAENICKE, WHO ALLEGEDLY RAN A BITCOIN FARM AT A RESIDENCE IN ROOSEVELT. THE NORTH STAR POWER ELECCTRIC COOPERATIVE SAYS THAT OPERATION STOLE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF ELECTRICITY. THERE IS A 19 PAGE CIVIL SUIT FILED IN ROSEAU COUNTY COURT. THAT SUIT ALSO NAMES TINA FEHLHABER OF BADGER.
A CANCER BENEFIT FOR HONI GUST WILL BE HELD TOMORROW FROM 3-9 AT SKIPPY FINNS IN BADGER. THEY’LL HAVE A NUMBER OF FUND RAISIERS AND SERVE A MEAL OF PULLED PORK SANDWICHES.
A Funeral Service for Kenneth Brateng will be held at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Skime on December 11, 2023 at 11:00am with a visitation an hour prior. A Visitation will also be held the night before at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau from 5:00-7:00pm with a prayer service starting at 7:00pm. Interment will be held at Bethesda Cemetery.
A PRAYER SERVICE FOR MIKE W. ERICKSON WILL BE HELD NEXT FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, AT 2 PM AT RIVERSIDE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN WANNASKA. MIKE PASSED AWAY ON NOVEMBER 25.
A FUNERAL SERVICE FOR MARJORIE C. HELLQUIST OF ROSEAU WILL BE HELD SATURDAY AT 1 PM AT SPRUCE FREE LUTHERAN CHURCH. VISITATION WILL BE FRIDAY FROM 5-7 PM AT HELGESON FUNERAL HOME IN ROSEAU AND ALSO ONE HOUR PRIOR ON SATURDAY. INTERMENT WILL BE HELD AT MICKINOCK CEMETERY IN WANNASKA. MARJORIE WAS 87.
Last modified: 12/08/2023
