THE WARROAD SCHOOL BOARD WILL MEET TOMORROW IN THEIR REGULAR FEBRUARY MEETING. THEY WILL RECOGNIZE THEIR WARRIORS OF THE MONTH, APPROVE CONTRACTS FOR HEATHE HESS IN FOOD SERVICE AND ANDY MESICH THEIR TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR. THEY’LL LOOK AT A FALL COACHES LIST, APPROVE THE CALENDAR OPTION CHOSEN FOR THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR, AND LOOK AT A DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE GRANT FOR ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSSES AND CHARGING STATION.
THE ROSEAU COUNTY BOARD HAS APPROVED ADVERTISING TO FILL AN ASSISTANT
ENGINEER POSITION IN THE COUNTY’S HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT. RYAN MURRAY, THE
MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS SUPERINTENDENT, IS LEAVING THAT JOB AFTER ELEVEN
YEARS.
THE ROSEAU COUNTY BOARD HAS APPROVED AN UPDATED ROSEAU COUNTY
TRAILBLAZERS SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT WITH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL RESOURCES, WHICH ALLOWS THE CLUB TO SEEK GRANT DOLLARS FOR
TRAILS MAINTENANCE.
FROM REPRESENTAVIVE JOHN BURKEL:
THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL SOON BE UNDERWAY, AND I EXPECT THE SESSION TO BE DOMINATED BY DISCUSSION OF HOW TO END THE MASSIVE FRAUD PROBLEM IN OUR STATE.
FOR EXAMPLE, I WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD THE CHARGE ON WOLF AND ELK DEPREDATION ACCOUNTS, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY DEPLETED. WHILE FUNDING FOR THESE PROGRAMS WAS INCREASED IN LAST YEAR’S BUDGET, IT FAILED TO COVER ALL CLAIMS. MY BILL, WHICH WOULD APPROPRIATE $250,000 TO THE PROGRAMS, WAS APPROVED IN THE HOUSE BUT DID NOT MOVE FORWARD IN THE SENATE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL LOCAL BONDING PLANS I’LL BE PROMOTING, PARTICULARLY A WATER PROJECT FOR KENNEDY AND A WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL FOR STEPHEN. THERE ARE SEVERAL LOCAL TRANSPORTATION-RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT I’LL ALSO BE BRINGING FORWARD.
I ALSO HAVE LEGISLATION THAT PROHIBITS MNDOT FROM REQUIRING LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR COSTS THAT ARE NECESSITATED BY A TRUNK HIGHWAY PROJECT. MNDOT’S COST PARTICIPATION POLICY SETS THE GROUND RULES FOR HOW PROJECT COSTS ARE SHARED BETWEEN THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHEN WORKING TOGETHER ON TRUNK HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. THE INTENT OF THIS BILL IS TO ALLOW FOR SOME LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR CITIES AND COUNTIES AS THEY MAKE BUDGET PLANS.
A ST. HILAIRE MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED IN PENNINGTON COUNTY DISTRICT COURT AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY ENGAGED IN SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 14. CHRISTOPHER ALLAN WOR LEY, 38, HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SEVEN FELONY COUNTS OF FIRST DEGREE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT. HE WAS ARRESTED. THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED FEB. 11, THE ALLEGED EVENTS TAKING PLACE ON DECEMBER 31 AND JANUARY 1. THE GIRL UNDERWENT A PHYSYCIAL EXAMINATION WHICH UNVEILED INJURIES CONSISTENT WITH AN ASSAULT. OTHER PHYSICAL AND FORENSIC EVIDNECE HAS ALSO BEEN DISCOVERED.
THE ROSEAU COMMUNITY RINK FACEBOOK PAGE IS RUNNING A SURVEY, AND YOU CAN FIND THE LINK THERE. WITH THE OLYMPICS UPON US, THEY ARE INQUIRING AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THERE WOULD BE AN INTEREST IN CURLING MAKING A RETURN TO ROSEAU, AND IF SO, WHAT YOU WOULD BE LOOKING FOR IN A CURLING ORGANIZTION, FACILITY, ETC.
THE RAMS SPORTS CENTER WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGH FEBRUARY 26, BUT CLOSE FOR THE WINTER SKATING SEASON ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH.
LEGEND’S SPORTING GOODS HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WILL BE CLOSING THE ROSEAU LOCATION AT THE END OF MARCH, CITING FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY. THE THEIF RIVER FALLS LOCATION IS UNAFFECTED BY THE DECISION.
OVER THE WEEKEND, THE CROOKSTON SCHOOL BOARD HAD VOTED TO OFFER THE SUPERINTENDENT’S JOB TO JASON STANOCH, A PRINCIPAL IN THE BEMIDJI DISTRICT, BUT HE DECLINED THE OFFER. THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL NOW EVALUATE THEIR OTHER OPTIONS.
THE MINNESOTA CROP IM PROVEMENT ASSOCIATION PRESENTED ITS HIGHEST HONOR, THE ACHIEVEMENT IN CROP IMPROVEMENT AWARD, TO SCOTT HABSTRITT OF ROSEAU. THE AWARD, PRESENTED AN NUALLY SINCE 1972, RECOGNIZES EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO THE SEED INDUSTRY AS WELL AS OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN AGRICULTURE. MCIA ALSO RECOGNIZED SHARON BRING OF STRANDQUIST AS A PREMIER SEED GROWER AWARDEE. THE OTHER AWARDEE WAS MILO RAVNDALEN OF ROOSEVELT.
MINNESOTA INDEPENDENT PHARMACIES RELEASED A PHARMACY ACCESS REPORT LAST WEEK, STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING SMALLER, INDEPENDENT PHARMACIES ALIVE AND WELL. THE STUDY SHOWED THAT SIX SUCH PHARMACIES CLOSED LAST YEAR IN MINNESOTA AND THREE MORE HAVE ALREAD CLOSED IN THE FIRST PART OF 2026. IN SOME SMALL TOWNS THAT LOSE A PHARMACY, IT CAN MEAN HAVING TO TRAVEL 20 MILES OR MORE. LAKE OF THE WOOD COUNTY AND MARSHALL COUNTIES ARE WHAT THEY WOULD CALL PHARMACY DESERTS, WHILE KITTSON COUNTY PARTS OF ROSEAU COUNTY ARE AT RISK.
Last modified: 02/16/2026
