THE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT CASE AGAINST A MIDDLE RIVER MAN HAS REACHED A CONCLUSION. 51-YEAR OLD CALVIN JOHN RYBAKOWSKI WILL SERVE FOUR YEARS FOR FELONY THIRD-DEGREE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT FOR ENGAGING IN ACTS WITH A MINOR USING COERCION. HE ORIGINALLY FACED A FIRST-DEGREE CHARGE AFTER BEING REPORTED FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING AN 8-YEAR OLD GIRL. HE HAD BEEN ACCUSED IN ANOTHER CASE IN 2024, BUT IT WAS DISMISSED FOR BEING BEYOND THE STATUTE OF LIMITATION. HE WILL BE ON CONDITIONAL RELEASE FOR 10 YEARS AND WILL HAVE TO REGISTER AS AN OFFENDER.
MAYO CLINIC IS JOINING SEVEN OTHER HEALTH SYSTEMS IN A NEW LAWSUIT AGAINST BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, ACCUSING THEM OF PRICE-FIXING AND ANTI-COMPETITIVE BEHAVIOR RESULTING IN LOWER INSURANCE PAYMENTS TO HOSPITALS. BC/BS HAS THE LARGEST SHARE OF HEALTH INSURANCE IN THE MINNESOTA MARKET.
MINNESOTA’S BEAR HUNTING SEASON OPENS ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1. IN DNR CONSERVATION OFFICER REPORTS FRO THE WEEK, CHECKING BEAR BAITS WAS A FOCAL POINT. A FEW BAITING VIOLATIONS WERE REPORTED. THERE WAS ALSO AN INVESTIGATION INTO A DEAD BEAR FOUND ALONG A HIGHWAY NEAR BAGLEY. SIGNS POINTED TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE BEAR WAS POACHED.
FLAGS ARE ORDERED AT HALF STAFF TODAY BY GOVERNOR TIM WALZ, IN RECOGNITION OF YESTERDAY’S SCHOOL SCHOOTING IN MINNEAPOLIS. THEY WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT SHOOTER AS 23-YAR OLD ROBIN WESTMAN. AS OF NOW THE TALLY FROM THAT SHOOTING WAS TWO CHILDREN DEAD, WITH 17 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE INJURED.
A 59-YEAR OLD WOMAN WAS FOUND DEAD ONBOARD A BOAT THAT CRASHED INTO THE SHORELINE ON LEECH LAKE NEAR WALKER. SHE WAS ONLY OCCUPANT OF THE WATERCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. AN AUTOPSY WILL BE PERFORMED AS IT WAS NOT CLEAR IF THE DEATH WAS CAUSED BY THE CRASH.
WATER SAFETY WAS MADE A PRIORITY THIS SUMMER AS A NEW LAW WENT INTO EFFECT IN MINNESOTA THAT EXPANDED THE AGE RANGE FOR THOSE THAT NEED TO HAVE A BOATERS PERMIT, AND IN COMING YEARS THAT AGE RANGE WILL EXPAND EVEN FURTHER… DNR OFFICERS EXPLAINS HOW TO OBTAIN YOUR BOATERS PERMIT AND HOW LONG YOU WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY.
A THIRD ANNUAL MARK PETERSON MEMORIAL RODEO IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 19 AND 20 IN MIDDLE RIVER. THE TWO NIGHT EVENT IS PUT ON BY WOJO’S RODEO.
MIXED BLOOD THEATER HAS BEEN DOING THEIR HOMEWORK, AND HAS WRITTEN AND PRODUCED A PLAY FOCUSED ON THE WARROAD COMMUNITY. THE PLAY IS TITLED “WARROAD COMMUNITY POTLUCK” WHERE WARROAD COMPETES IN A STATEWIDE POTLUCK COMPETITION. MANY LOCALS WILL TAKE THE STAGE AS PART OF THE CAST. THE PLAY WILL BE PERFORMED AT WARROAD RIVERPLACE ON SEPTEMBER 12-14. IT IS FREE TO ATTEND, BUT IT IS TICKETED AS SPACE IS LIMITED. YOU CAN RESERVE A SEAT AT WARROADRIVERPLACE.ORG OR BY PHONE AT 218-986-0001.
A REMINDER THAT ALL HALF-YEAR TAXES ARE DUE FOR MOBILE HOMES BY SEPTEMBER 2ND IN ROSEAU COUNTY. PAYMENTS CAN BE MADE AT THE ROSEAU COUNTY TREASURERS OFFICE OR NOW ONLINE AT THE ROSEAU COUNTY WEBSITE.
THE GRAND FORKS HERALD LOOKED AT THE MARKETPLACE FOR HEALTH INSURANCE IN MINNESOTA, AND AS ANOTHER YEAR OF ENROLLMENT APPROACHES, IT SOUNDS LIKE MINNESOTA RESIDENTS CAN EXPECT RISING PREMIUMS. THOSE AFFECTED MOST WILL BE THOSE WHO BUY AN INDIVIDUAL HEALTH PLAN, OR THOSE IN THE SMALL GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS. MOST PROVIDERS ARE ASKING FOR A 12%-26% JUMP IN MONTHLY PREMIUMS. THERE ARE SUBSIDIES THAT ARE EXPIRING THIS YEAR, ALTHOUGH THE LEGISLATURE COULD STILL REVIVE THOSE THIS FALL. CONFIRMED RATES WILL BE AVAILABLE IN OCTOBER AND OPEN ENROLLMENT BEGINS NOVEMBER 1.
THE NORTHWEST ANGLE IS HOSTING THE BUOY BASH THIS WEEKEND, WITH EVENTS BOTH ON THE MAINLAND AND ON VARIOUS ISLAND RESORTS. THERE’S FOOD, FAMILY FUN, A FISHING DERBY, MUSIC, ARTS AND CRAFTS, A FARMERS MARKET AND MORE. IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO CROSS TO NORTHWEST ANGLE BY BOAT, KEEP IN MIND THAT LAKE OF THE WOODS TOURISM HAS RECENTLY INSTALLED WAVE BUOYS SO YOU CAN CHECK LAKE CONDITIONS BEFORE LEAVING HOME.
Memorial Service for Lois S. Losse of Roseau, MN will be held on Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 11:00AM at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior at the funeral home.
Lois was 90.
A Memorial Service for Anthony A. Rothenberger will be held on Sunday, August 31, 2025 at 2:00PM at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Anthony passed away at the age of 56.
Last modified: 08/28/2025
