Local News Wednesday, May 13, 2026

THE ROSEAU COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT HAS A PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING
TOMORROW  (WEDNESDAY, MAY 13) ON THIS SUMMER’S CENTER STREET AND
HOSPITAL ROAD MILL AND OVERLAY PROJECTS.

ROSEAU COUNTY WILL ADVERTISE TO HIRE A MAINTENANCE OPERATOR FOR THE
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.  THAT POSITION IS OPEN AFTER JASON MONSRUD AND
JOHNNY MIELKE WERE PROMOTED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

GOVERNOR TIM WALZ SIGNED MULTIPLE BILLS INTO LAW YESTERDAY. A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

A BILL THAT MODIFIES FIRST AID KIT REQUIREMENTS, REQUIRES USDOT NUMBERS FOR ALL SCHOOL BUSES, AND AUTHORIZES THE USE OF SCHOOL BUSES ON PUBLIC ROADS FOR TRAINING PURPOSES.

ANOTHER PROHIBITS CERTAIN PRACTICES BY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES; MODIFIES RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITIES AND UNIT OWNERS; ADJUSTS TERMINATION THRESHOLDS; ESTABLISHES A MEET-AND-CONFER PROCESS; UPDATES MEETING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS; AND PROHIBITS CERTAIN GOVERNING BODIES FROM REQUIRING OR INCENTIVIZING THE CREATION OF HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS.

A NEW ARTICLE DETAILING THE TRAGIC DEATH OF 14‑YEAR‑OLD TAYLOR VANDERWEELE UNDERSCORES THE URGENT NEED FOR INCREASED ADOPTION AND FUNDING OF ROLLOVER PROTECTIVE STRUCTURES (ROPS) ON OLDER FARM TRACTORS.

IN 2009 ON A FARM IN SHEYBOYGAN, WI, THE BOY WAS RIDING A 1965 JOHN DEERE MODEL 4020, WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A ROPS, A SAFETY FEATURE THAT DID NOT BECOME STANDARD ON U.S. TRACTORS UNTIL 1985.

RETROFITTING AN OLDER TRACTOR WITH ROPS CAN COST BETWEEN $1,500 AND $2,500, A SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE FOR FARM OPERATIONS THAT OFTEN RELY ON MULTIPLE AGING MACHINES. WHILE PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE NATIONAL ROPS REBATE PROGRAM HAVE HELPED OFFSET THESE COSTS, FUNDING IS LIMITED AND AVAILABILITY VARIES BY STATE.

U.S. SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN), RANKING MEMBER OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY, TODAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING OPENING STATEMENT AT THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE HEARING TITLED

THE FERTILIZER TRANSPARENCY ACT (THUNE-KLOBUCHAR) WILL CREATE A MANDATORY PRICE REPORTING SYSTEM TO OFFER MARKET PARTICIPANTS OF ALL SIZES WITH COMPARABLE LEVELS OF MARKET INFORMATION ON FERTILIZER COMPONENTS. THIS BILL IS ALSO COSPONSORED BY SENATORS GRASSLEY AND BALDWIN.

THE HOMEGROWN FERTILIZER ACT (KLOBUCHAR-MARSHALL) WILL CREATE A GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAM TO EXPAND DOMESTIC FERTILIZER PRODUCTION AND IMPROVE FERTILIZER STORAGE CAPACITY.

A PADDLE BORDER DROWN ON LITTLE EMILY LAKE NORTH OF BRAINERD YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. HE AND TWO FEMALE WERE PADDLE BOARDING WHEN IT CAPSIZED. HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY 911 CALL, BUT BY THE TIME AUTHORITIES ARRIVED, THE TWO FEMALES HAD MADE IT BACK TO SHORE BUT HE HAD NOT. AFTER ROUGHLY THREE HOURS, TEAMS WERE ABLE TO LOCATE HIS BODY IN ROUGHLY 23 FEET OF WATER.

THERE IS A ROSEAU BLOOD DRIVE TODAY AT THE CITY CENTER FROM 11:30-5:15.

ROSEAU’S HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR CONCERT IS TONIGHT AT 7 PM.

BADGER SCHOOL IS HOSTING THEIR BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM TONIGHT AT 7 PM.

THIS WEEKEND, THE ROSEAU RIVER WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA WILL BE OPEN TO TRAFFIC ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. WEATHER COULD ALWAYS CHANGE THOSE PLANS IF CONDITIONS WILL NOT ALLOW FOR TRAFFIC.

Last modified: 05/13/2026