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Dassel utility rates are likely to go up, after study
The Dassel City Council decided to set a work session with several subjects to address, one of them being a rate study conducted about utility rates, reported the Enterprise Dispatch.
An overview of the rate study was made available at the meeting, which showed fewer gallons being used in 2008 than 2007 (from 40 million gallons used to 36 million gallons). However, this must be spread over the same 630 connections in the city.
“You do the math,” Administrator Myles McGrath said. Therefore, the council set a work session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Delano farmer serves up popular roadside produce
Jim Jacobs, a ‘77 Delano graduate, is a fourth generation farmer and owner of Jim’s Produce; a roadside vegetable market three miles west of Loretto on Hennepin County Road 11, according to the Delano Herald Journal.
His roadside stand recently closed, ending a successful 2009 season. Jacobs is still selling firewood and straw, but Halloween was the last day for selling produce until next summer. It was fifteen years ago, when he first opened the roadside market to supplement his farming income.
Watertown moratorium on tattoo parlors enacted
When the only tattoo parlor in Watertown closed in August, the Watertown City Council quickly moved to ban tattoo parlors until it could create a city licensing procedure, the Star Tribune reported.
A desire to be preemptive, along with health concerns, are what spurred officials in Watertown to enact its one-year moratorium.
The city has had only two parlors over the years, and there were issues with the businesses being open late and youths hanging around
Carver Co. sheriff: It’s safer to hit a deer than swerve
Carver County Sheriff Bud Olson released crash statistics related to deer, saying that drivers are more likely to be injured taking evasive action than from striking the deer itself, according to data from the Department of Public Safety.
In 2007, there were 70 car-deer accidents in Carver, with 2008 recording 52, and 2009, 49. Injuries were more serious when someone swerves to evade the deer, Olson said.
Olson offered the following advice from the Department of Public Safety: motorists facing an unavoidable crash with a deer should resist the instinct to swerve out of the way. “It’s safer to hit a deer than to risk hitting another vehicle or roadside object,” Kathy Swanson of the DPS said. “Apply your brakes firmly, hold onto the steering wheel, and bring your vehicle to a controlled stop.”
Motorcyclist killed in crash north of Annandale
A motorcyclist is dead after losing control of his cycle north of Annandale on Highway 24 Nov. 1, according to the State Patrol.
Danny Sipola, 56, of Clearwater was traveling north driving a 2000 Honda Road Start on Highway 24 near 105th Street when he left the road and ended up on the west side of the highway. The road conditions were listed as dry by the State Patrol.
Precious item rescued from house fire near Buffalo
A firefighter saved a priceless belonging when a house was destroyed Oct. 21 west of Buffalo, reported the Wright County Journal Press.
Firefighter Laura Nichols saw a jacket and other memorabilia that was on display in a picture box, and decided to take it out of the burning house. It turned out to be from the deceased brother of owner Wendy Hubert. Her brother had died in a car crash 23 years ago. The home, owned by Dean and Wendy Hubert, was a total loss, but no one was hurt.
Pedestrian killed on I-94 in Wright County
A St. Cloud man was killed attempting to cross I-94 in Wright County Oct. 29.
Joseph Blitvich, 49, of St. Cloud was attempting to walk across I-94 in Wright County, when he was struck by two vehicles and killed Oct. 29, according to the State Patrol.
The first vehicle, a 1999 Kenworth, was being driven by a Canadian citizen, Ken Turton, 59, of Regina, Canada. He stopped and made statements to investigative authorities. A second vehicle, a mini van, also struck the pedestrian, but left the scene without knowing what happened. Driver Robert Miner of St. Paul came forward later.
New liquor store in Glencoe? Not for $660,000
The Glencoe City Council is hesitating to make the former Mark’s Economart building into a new downtown Glencoe Municipal Liquor Store after the $660,000 price tag was unveiled, Nov. 4, reported the McLeod County Chronicle.
The newest proposal involves major remodeling, and demolition of the old and new construction. “At this price, the city can’t do the project,” said Mayor Randy Wilson. But if a redevelopment grant is available, the council should consider it, he said.
Hutch police chief chooses second-in-command
The Hutchinson Police Department has been operating without a second-in-command since the retirement of Lt. Dave Erlandson at the end of June, reported the Hutchinson Leader.
His replacement is scheduled to be in place Nov. 29, when Sgt. Tom Gifferson becomes lieutenant.
Gifferson, who is in his 13th year with the department, nine as a sergeant, was confirmed for the position during an Oct. 21 Hutchinson Police Commission meeting. Chief Dan Hatten’s recommendation that Gifferson be promoted was accepted by the commission.
Peterson sets conference
After two successful local food conferences in 2007 and 2008, Congressman Collin Peterson will sponsor another conference on the topic in February, according to a press release from Peterson’s office.
The conference – “Equipping You to Build Community Based Food Systems,” – will be at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 15 and 16.
Interactive video sessions will be offered Tuesday, Feb. 16 at several campuses. Check the web site, http://collinpeterson.house.gov for locations. Peterson represents District 7, which includes McLeod and Meeker counties.
Train effectively ends car chase in Buffalo
A car chase that reached 70 mph ended when the driver was boxed in by squad cars after being held up by a train in Buffalo Oct. 29, reported the Delano Herald Journal.
Rebecca Marie Knowles, 26, of St. Cloud, was booked into Wright County Jail after allegedly leading authorities from just west of Delano on Highway 12, north on Highway 25 toward Buffalo. Authorities set out stop sticks in two different attempts to catch her. They damaged one front tire, but she continued on until she was stopped by the train.
‘Justice’ march is set for missing Maple Lake man
As the seventh year anniversary approaches of the disappearance of missing college student Joshua Guimond Tuesday, Nov. 10, his family is preparing for a “Justice for Josh,” march.
The march will begin Tuesday at noon near St. John’s University, followed by a march at the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office at 2 p.m.
The family also has few kinds words to say about the university. Josh’s father, Brian Guimond, says the university and abbey have a long history of withholding information from the public and authorities. Guimond disappeared after leaving a small card party as a student at St. John’s University in Collegeville in 2002.
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