Local News Friday, March 27, 2026

ROSEAU’S HOMETOWN UPDATE NEWS LETTER SHOWED UP IN MAIL BOXES ABOUT A WEEK AGO. ONE TOPIC WAS THE CITY SUBMITTING A RESOLUTION TO THE MINNESOTA HOUSE AND SENATE TAX COMMITTEES REQUESTING THE AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT A HALF-CENT LOCAL SALES TAX, WHICH WOULD AIM TO FUND TWO SEPARATE PROJECTS. THOSE ARE THE ROOF AND ICE PLANT AT MEMORIAL ARENA AND THE PROPOSED ROSEAU WELLNESS CENTER. IF THE BILL PASSES AT THE STATE LEVEL, THEN THE INCREASE WOULD BE PLACED ONTO A NOVEMBER BALLOT EITHER THIS YEAR OR NEXT. IT WOULD BE IN TWO SEPARATE QUESTIONS, WITH EACH NEEDING A SIMPLE MAJORITY TO PASS AND RECEIVE SALES TAX FUNDING.

A MAN WAS SENTENCED YESTERDAY IN THE 2024 STABBING DEATH OF 22-YEAR OLD ETHAN LARSON OF NEWFOLDEN, THAT OCCURRED OUTSIDE OF A BAR IN FARGO AFTER THE TWO HAD GOTTEN INTO AN ARGUMENT. 29-YEAR OLD MICHAEL DEIDRICH OF WEST LAKELAND, MINNESOTA, ENTERED AN ALFORD PLEA, AND JUDGE SENTENCED HIM TO 24.5 YEARS IN PRISON.

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 MINNKOTA 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.

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 4TH OF JULY FESTIVITIES.

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.

IN THE ROSEAU HOMETOWN UPDATE, THEY ALSO MENTIONED ROAD WORK ON CENTER STREET IN ROSEAU FOR THIS SEASON THAT WILL FUN THE ENTIRE LENGTH THROUGH TOWN FROM THE PARK ROAD, THROUGH DOWNDOWN, THROUGH THE INDUSTIRAL PARK AND ENDING AT COUNTY ROAD 120. THAT IS MILL AND OVERLAY PROJECT, SO HOPES ARE THE PROJECT MOVES SWIFTLY.

THERE IS A DUCK’S UNLIMITED BANQUET THIS EVENING, HELD AT GENE’S IN ROSEAU.

THERE IS A BENEFIT MEAL TOMORROW AT THE MIDDLE RIVER AMERICAN LEGION FOR DALE HAMNESS, HELPING RAISE FUNDS AS HE BATTLES CANCER. THEY HAVE BBQ’S WITH SIDES FOR A FREEWILL DONATION FROM 5-7, WITH AN AUCTIONS AND RAFFLES.

THERE’S AN EASTER EGG HUNT, WITH OTHER EASTER RELATED CHILDRENS ACTIVITIES AT THE GREENBUSH COMMUNITY CENTER TOMORROW BEGINNING AT 9:30. THAT EVENT IS SPONSORED BY LIL CHOMPERS CHILDCARE.

Last modified: 03/27/2026