Local News Tuesday, March 3, 2026

THE ROSEAU TIMES REGION THIS PAST WEEKEND HAD A WRITE UP ON SHAYNE ISANE, A FARMER FROM BADGER, WHO HAS TAKEN ON A NEW ROLE —AS A STATEWIDE ADVOCATE FOR THE CORN INDUSTRY AS A MEMBER OF THE MINNESOTA CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION (MCGA) BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS ISANE SERVED ON THE MINNESOTA FARM BUREAU BOARD HE SAID HE ENJOYED THAT EXPERIENCE HE ADDED THAT HE THINKS IT’S IMPORTANT FOR FARMERS TO SPEAK OUT ON BEHALF OF AGRI CULTURE NOTING THAT MANY MINNESOTA RESIDENTS—EVEN IN RURAL AREAS—DON’T KNOW WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY, MARCH 10 IS TOWNSHIP DAY, AND MOST TOWNSHIPS WILL HOLD MEETINGS AND POSSIBLE VOTES ON VARIOUS POSITIONS OR TOPICS. “TOWNSHIP DAY IS ONE OF THE MOST VISIBLE EXAMPLES OF GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY ANY WHERE IN MINNESOTA,” SAID MINNESOTA ASSOCIATION OF TOWNSHIPS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JEFF KRUEGER. “IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO COME TOGETHER, SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVES, AND MAKE DECISIONS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT THEIR COMMUNITY.” MINNESOTA’S TOWNSHIPS: THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 918,256 TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS LIVING IN 1,776 TOWNSHIPS ACROSS MINNESOTA.

SOYBEAN GROWERS ARE CROSSING THEIR FINGERS THAT A THIRD LABEL WILL BE THE CHARM FOR OVER-THE-TOP DICAMBA USE IN THE CROP, BUT LEGAL CHALLENGES CONTINUE TO RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE USE OF THE HERBICIDE.

THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ON FEB. 6 — TWO YEARS TO THE DAY AFTER A U.S. DISTRICT COURT VACATED REGISTRATIONS FOR CERTAIN DICAMBA PRODUCTS — ANNOUNCED THERE WOULD BE NEW LABELS FOR OVER-THE-TOP DICAMBA APPLICATION ON DICAMBA-TOLERANT COTTON AND SOYBEAN CROPS, WITH NEW RESTRICTIONS AND REGULATIONS, ALLOWING FOR USE IN THE 2026 AND 2027 GROWING SEASONS.

THE BIGGEST PROGLEM WITH DICAMBA PRODUCTS HAS BEEN IT’S DRIFT TO OFF-TARGET CROPS, CAUSING DAMAGE TO NEIGHBORING FIELDS.

IN SOME AREA SCHOOL BOARD NOTES, A CHANGE, OR SHOULD WE SAY A CHANGE BACK, IS COMING TO THE WARROAD DISTRCIT FOR NEXT YEAR. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS THEY HAVE HAD ONLY ONE PRICIPAL TO SERVE THE ENTIRE K-12 GRADE LEVELS. THEY HAVE DECIDED TO ADD A SECOND PRINCIPAL TO THE SCHOOL, AND HAVE EXTENDED AN OFFER THAT WAS ACCEPTED TO DR. CATHERINE SCHULTZ.

KASSON-MANTORVILLE TEACHER AARON WILKE ON THURSDAY, FEB. 26, TESTIFIED BEFORE THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE ABOUT THE PROHIBITIVE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE FOR EDUCATORS WHILE SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF A BILL THAT WOULD AIM TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION.

WILKE WAS TESTIFYING BEFORE THE HOUSE STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE REGARDING HOUSE BILL 2904. THE PROPOSAL WOULD CREATE A STATEWIDE HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS INSTEAD OF HAVING EACH DISTRICT MAINTAIN ITS OWN PLAN.

“I HAVE COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE HAD TO STOP INSURING THEIR FAMILIES AS OF JAN. 1,” WILKE SAID. “I HAVE PERSONALLY PUT OFF MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR YEARS TO AVOID THE $7,500 DEDUCTIBLE I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD EVERY SINGLE YEAR. TO THE POINT, NOT ONLY ARE PREMIUMS GOING UP, BUT COVERAGE IS GETTING WORSE.”

A SIMILAR EFFORT WAS MADE MORE THAN A DECADE AGO, WHICH RESULTED IN THE PROGRAM CALLED THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE INSURANCE PROGRAM (PEIP). SCHNEIDAWIND DESCRIBED THAT PROGRAM AS “UNDERWHELMING FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.”

“WE KNOW THAT THE TRAJECTORY OF HEALTH CARE INSURANCE COSTS IS LIKE A RUNAWAY TRAIN AT THIS POINT,” SHE SAID. “AND, IN ALL DUE RESPECT TO OUR SCHOOL BOARDS, THE REALITY IS I DON’T KNOW HOW THEY STOP THAT TRAIN.”

THE GREENBUSH RACEPARK IS ANXIOUSLY LOOKING AHEAD TO ANOTHER SUMMER OF RACING. THEY ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT SEASON TICKETS CAN NOW BE PURCHASED FOR $180. CONTACTING THE GREENBUSH RACEPARK LLC FACEBOOK PAGE, OR ERIC MOREY, IS THE BEST PLACE TO START.

DON’T LET IT CATCH YOU OFF GUARD, BUT FISHING LICENSES EXPIRED AT THE END OF FEBRUARY. SO, STILL WITH SOME ICE FISHING TO DO, YOU WOULD NEED TO PURCHASE YOUR LICESNE FOR 2026.

TURKEY HUNTERS CAN NOW BUY LICENSES FOR THE SPRING 2026 SEASON THROUGH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS CAN HUNT STATEWIDE AFTER BUYING AN ADULT FIREARMS LICENSE FOR ANY SEASON (A-F), OR BUYING AN ARCHERY LICENSE. CROSSBOWS ARE ALLOWED FOR ANY PERSON USING A VALID FIREARMS OR ARCHERY LICENSE.

HUNTERS WITH AN ARCHERY LICENSE MAY HUNT APRIL 15 TO MAY 31.

THE MINNESOTA DNR IS ALSO SEEKING CONSERVATION OFFFICER APPLICANTS FOR THEIR CONSERVATION OFFICER PREP PROGRAM. THIS IS FOR THOSE WHO COULD BE DECIDING THAT A CAREER AS A CONSERVATION OFFICER IS A DIRECTION THEY’D LIKE TO GO, BUT THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THEY’D NEVER TAKEN THE CORRECT EDUCATIONAL PATH. A TWO YEAR DEGREE IS REQUIRED, BUT NO PRIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE. THAT STARTS WITH A VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE, THEN EVENTUALLY 22 WEEKS OF TECHNICAL COLLEGE TRAINING, 16 WEEKS AT CAMP RIPLEY, AND FINALLY FOUR MONTHS OF FIELD TRIANING. APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH.

Last modified: 03/03/2026