Dressed as Buddy the Elf, Westin Chicago Northwest employee Jerry Trujillo boldly stepped over the edge of the Itasca hotel rappelling 168 feet while waving to co-workers and it’s OK because you’re strapped in,” recalled Trujillo who works at the hotel as a banquet captain my legs started shaking like chicken legs.” Trujillo was among the first to experience the new “Altitude Zone” at the Westin Chicago Northwest Launched in partnership with Meet Chicago Northwest and Over The Edge, Altitude Zone allows participants to rappel down the 12-story hotel with panoramic views of nearby lakes neighborhoods and planes landing at O’Hare International Airport Trujillo said he would recommend the experience to others Over The Edge is a leader in urban rappelling Officials say the company has over 20 years of safety expertise and has worked with groups across North America “The entire team at Westin Chicago Northwest is looking forward to seeing our guests descend down the side of our hotel while viewing nearby beautiful lakes and the skylight of downtown Chicago,” said Dwight Hopfauf Officials said the Altitude Zone Chicago Northwest will operate throughout the tourism season The experience takes approximately one hour from training to completion “Urban rappelling gives people a completely different perspective on cities they thought they knew,” said Deanna Furlotte “Going over the edge of Westin Chicago Northwest creates experiences that standard activities in Itasca simply can’t match.” destination marketing organization that promotes Arlington Heights A Cass Lake family is mourning the loss of a 13-year-old girl after a sheriff’s chase ended with a deadly crash an Itasca County Sheriff’s deputy saw a vehicle without headlights 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS heard from a family member who believes the teen very courageous little girl,” Jeannie Wittner my only baby girl.”Wittner played back the moments she discovered her daughter had been killed in a car crash not something I would wish on anybody,” she said She believes the 13-year-old was driving from Grand Rapids to her house in Cass County Wittner explained Angelica was placed with a foster family in Grand Rapids hours before the pursuit and deadly crash.“She told me she wanted to be just home in her bed,” Wittner said.Wittner told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS she “has no idea” how her daughter found a car authorities explained that an Itasca County deputy saw someone driving without headlights traveling westbound on County Road 63 in the area of County Road 271.The deputy tried to stop the vehicle initiating the pursuit.At least five miles later authorities said the chase ended when the vehicle crashed on those county roads killing the teen.The Itasca County Sheriff’s Department’s pursuit policy was last updated in 2024 It says deputies have discretion on when to initiate and terminate a pursuit including the seriousness of the crime that initiated the chase and public safety “I think she was more scared than anything “Didn’t know anybody where she was at didn’t even barely know the town she was in.”Wittner lives on a reservation in Cass Lake.5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reached out to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe hoping to get answers about Angelica’s foster home The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is still investigating The sheriff’s office is not offering additional comments at this time The Itasca County Sheriff’s Office vehicle pursuit policy is below Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KSTP via our online form or call 651-646-5555 A network of correspondents providing impartial news reports and analysis in 33 languages from locations around the world Up-to-the-minute news and analysis from around the world and in Chicago Hosted by WBEZ's Mary Dixon and NPR's Steve Inskeep Newshour is the award-winning flagship program of the BBC World Service the world’s largest news gathering operation 1A convenes a conversation about the most important 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began as an exploration of scientific inquiry Over the years it has evolved to become a platform for long-form journalism and storytelling Radiolab is hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser Jerry Trujillo repels down the Westin Chicago Northwest as part of the new Altitude Zone at the Itasca hotel Dressed as Buddy the Elf, Westin Chicago Northwest employee Jerry Trujillo boldly stepped over the edge of the Itasca hotel Launched in partnership with Meet Chicago Northwest and Over The Edge, Altitude Zone allows participants to rappel down the 12-story hotel with panoramic views of nearby lakes For more on this story, please visit DailyHerald.com Terms of Use • Privacy Notice • Cookie Policy • Terms of Sale Itasca State Park naturalist Connie Cox said the park is alive with birdsong and wildflowers in May and June Some of the highlights for visitors are as follows: “It sounds like the cartoon character Elmer Fudd,” Cox said “That one sits on the top of spruce trees and is a beautiful blue green and yellow with hints of red in its feathers but you can hear him from quite a distance.” “One of my favorites is the winter wren,” Cox said “They love that swampy area down by the Old Timer’s Cabin It is a tiny brown bird with a tail that sticks up straight Its call is like the flute call of the god Pan Any Minnesota resident can fish any lake entirely in a state park without a fishing license Go to the DNR website for more information “It’s a nice way to cover more ground while enjoying the beauty of the park,” Cox said The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation is excited to announce the first-ever 100 Women Who Care Itasca giving circle event from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at Timberlake Lodge in Grand Rapids The concept is simple: one hundred women gather they pool their resources to raise at least $10,000 in a single evening for a local nonprofit organization attendees will have the opportunity to nominate a nonprofit they are passionate about Three organizations will be randomly selected from the nominations and a representative—often the person who nominated them—will present a brief overview of the nonprofit’s mission and impact attendees who contributed will vote for the organization they believe should receive the evening’s collective donation The nonprofit with the most votes will be awarded the full amount raised that night “This event is a powerful example of what happens when individuals come together with a shared purpose,” said Mindy Nuhring Executive Director at the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation we can create an immediate and lasting difference for organizations that support our community.” Women of all backgrounds are invited to participate whether they wish to nominate a nonprofit or simply take part in the giving process The event also provides a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who are committed to making a positive impact in the Itasca area For more information or sponsorship opportunities contact the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation at 218-999-9100 or follow the group on Facebook at 100+ Women Who Care – Itasca Area The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation is dedicated to strengthening the Itasca area by connecting donors with impactful community initiatives Through strategic grantmaking and fundraising efforts the Foundation supports a wide range of nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of local residents Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public file should contact Vicki Kaping at vkaping@wdio.com or (218) 727-6864 Nearly six years after Haymarket Center announced a plan to open an addiction treatment facility in Itasca the nonprofit remains locked in a legal fight with the DuPage County town Itasca trustees unanimously voted in November 2021 to reject Haymarket’s request to convert a former Holiday Inn into a 240-bed facility for patients with substance use and mental health disorders Haymarket filed a federal lawsuit against the village in January 2022 arguing that Itasca officials violated antidiscrimination laws Department of Justice cannot join Haymarket’s lawsuit against Itasca The decision by Judge Steven Seeger “was a very significant win for the village of Itasca,” the village’s lead attorney part of the legal team representing Haymarket contends the judge’s decision “said nothing about the merits of the case.” “We are confident in our case,” Walden said “We are endeavoring to enable Haymarket to save lives in DuPage County.” Haymarket’s lawsuit argued officials violated the Fair Housing Act and other laws that prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities People with substance use disorder are considered people with disabilities under the FHA “We allege that the village’s decision was discriminatory based on the population to be served by Haymarket in Itasca,” Walden said officials refused to treat the proposal as a special use as a “health care facility,” and insisted Haymarket apply under the more onerous and less appropriate “planned development” standard The village board’s vote ultimately came after more than 35 hearings Haymarket President and CEO Dan Lustig said in a statement Friday that “Itasca officials put an oversized emphasis on how its one ambulance could not absorb any potential demand from our patients.” offering to purchase an ambulance and to contract with a private ambulance provider — they refused both,” he said “Haymarket believes the village has a moral obligation to reconsider our zoning application in light of these developments,” Lustig said Mariotti argues Haymarket “has not meaningfully engaged with the village to try to account for and grapple with the serious resources issue the village has.” In addition to the concern about village resources Haymarket’s plan was opposed by many residents who rallied against the project wore “Small Town Proud” shirts and insisted the facility would hurt property values Judge Seeger ruled on March 31 against the Justice Department’s request to intervene as a plaintiff in Haymarket’s case against the village Even if the Justice Department was eligible to participate the judge wrote it would cause delays and that Haymarket was capable of defending its own interests Itasca Mayor Jeff Pruyn reiterated in a statement that officials “will not stop fighting to preserve Itasca’s legal rights.” Haymarket is one of the region’s largest providers of substance use and mental health treatment accepts individuals for treatment regardless of their ability to pay and provides services including career counseling People from DuPage and the collar counties often seek treatment at its facility in Chicago “This effort to expand lifesaving substance use disorder treatment began in August 2019 and we remain hopeful that a resolution is within reach,” Lustig said the two sides continue to depose witnesses and experts and exchange documents UPDATE: Angelica Bryan’s older sister has set up a GoFundMe to help fund Angelica’s memorial “This tragedy has left us all feeling empty and helpless Asking for help is something our family isn’t very good at we just want to be able to give her the memorial she deserves,” she wrote 13-year-old Angelica Bryan has been identified by the Minnesota BCA as the teenager who was killed in an Itasca County Sheriff’s chase that ended in a fatal crash According to the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office a deputy witnessed a vehicle driving without headlights on County Road 63 in western Cohasset Township The deputy attempted to pull over the vehicle the fleeing vehicle crashed in the area of Highway 6 and County Road 11 around 1:30 a.m and died at the scene as a result of the crash Hubbard sister station KSTP heard from a family member who believes the teen was running from her foster home my only baby girl.”Wittner said she believes Angelica was attempting to drive from her foster family in Grand Rapids to her house in Cass County Wittner explained Angelica was placed with the foster family hours before the pursuit and deadly crash.“She told me she wanted to be just home in her bed,” Wittner said.Wittner told Hubbard sister station KSTP she “has no idea” how her daughter found a car.The Itasca County Sheriff’s Department’s pursuit policy was last updated in 2024 didn’t even barely know the town she was in.” The sheriff’s office is not offering additional comments at this time Residents in Itasca County head to the polls on April 8 for a Special Election for County Commissioner District 4 The seat was held by Commissioner Burl Ives Residents made a strong push to reelect Commissioner Ives Pat Medure is a former Itasca County Sheriff and is a current member of the ISD 318 School Board operating Hopkins Electric and Bixby’s Cafe Medure and Hopkins received the top votes in the special primary election There were five candidates vying for the seat GRAND RAPIDS — Local businessman Larry Hopkins won the Itasca County District 4 special election Tuesday He will represent southwestern Grand Rapids and Harris Wildwood and Spang townships on the Itasca County Board The previous District 4 commissioner, Burl Ives, died while running for reelection. His posthumous win triggered the special election In the February primary Hopkins finished second of five candidates He earned fewer votes than former Itasca County Sheriff and Grand Rapids School Board member Pat Medure in five of the seven precincts Hopkins attributed those gains to simply letting more people know there was an election really hammered the fact that there was an election," he said "I got some additional signs that has the vote date on them and all our social media stuff has a vote date on there and so I think that was probably the difference.” He previously told KAXE his top priorities are fiscal responsibility transparency and accountability and balanced growth "having never done this before," he'll start out slow learning the system and getting to know his fellow commissioners "Look forward to serving the people of Itasca County and specifically District 4." GRAND RAPIDS — The former court administrator for two Northland counties is accused of stealing funds from a school band was charged in January with two felony counts of theft Court documents allege several financial discrepancies totaling nearly $10,000 while she was managing a fundraising account for the Nashwauk-Keewatin Band told investigators that she was reimbursing herself for expenses she paid out of pocket She stated she made a “grave mistake” by not keeping track of her spending and “didn’t do anything with malice or ill intent.” Porterfield at the time was serving in a leadership role for the 9th Judicial District overseeing administrative operations and supervising staff in Itasca and Koochiching counties A Minnesota Judicial Branch spokesperson confirmed Porterfield’s employment ended Jan She had worked for the state court system for 21 years The case was referred to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office to investigate and County Attorney Ben Lindstrom was appointed as special prosecutor in place of Itasca County authorities stepped in to assign the case to Chief Judge Michael Fritz of the 7th Judicial District in Becker County which is used for purchasing band supplies and travel expenses for approximately 10 years until she was asked to step down in fall 2023 Others involved in fundraising discovered the suspicious transactions and contacted law enforcement last October Porterfield “almost exclusively” handled the account between 2019 and 2023 Investigators were provided a text message exchange in which she claimed to have mistaken the band’s debit card for her own writing: “I had used the band card inadvertently and taken cash out on two occasions Investigators reviewed bank records showing large ATM withdrawals outside normal business hours — such as $1,800 taken over four consecutive days in February 2022 That could not be explained by other volunteers nor could various cash deposits into the account over time a fundraising event in June 2023 netted $11,515 in donations But bank records showed only $10,265 was deposited into the account — a shortage of $1,250 When investigators later obtained Porterfield’s personal bank records they found a $1,150 cash deposit the same day Checks written to an optometrist and chiropractor totaling $211 and both bearing Porterfield’s signature Investigators noted a pattern of ATM withdrawals occurring after large deposits were made from fundraising events The transactions were followed by “numerous cash deposits for which there did not appear to be a coinciding fundraiser or other source of income,” often in the first couple days of the month and around the third week of the month Porterfield’s personal bank records also showed many matching withdrawals and deposits typically on the same or next day as the corresponding transactions in the band’s account there was found to be a $8,266 shortage between the funds that were withdrawn and returned in that manner Other fundraising leaders sent Porterfield multiple letters requesting clarification in early 2024 She wrote back that March saying she did not have “answers specifically,” but talking about her love for the band and students and indicating she would often pay for meals out of her personal funds She added that the organization was never a “lucrative money maker” and stated that she “recklessly” used the same PIN as her personal account and failed to keep good records please let me know,” she wrote in the letter response When an investigator met with Porterfield at her office in the Itasca County Courthouse in January she claimed it was common to “front money” to the account and said she often paid for expenses herself so students had “equal opportunity.” She confirmed she would withdraw funds from an ATM to reimburse herself estimating she had spent $10,000 in personal funds over the years Asked about the missing $1,250 from the fundraiser Porterfield stated that her kitchen counter is “very unorganized” and surmised that her husband may have found the cash and placed it into their account the defendant was asked if it would be reasonable to state that she took extra liberties when reimbursing herself,” the complaint states “The defendant stated that it would be fair because she did not know the amount.” Porterfield appeared in State District Court on Monday and remains free Her next court appearance was set for May 5 She is represented by Virginia attorney Karl Sundquist who did not respond to a request for comment Thursday The sheriff’s offices in Itasca and Cass counties are the first two Minnesota law enforcement agencies to sign on as force multipliers with U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement under President Donald Trump’s renewed push for immigration enforcement Itasca County Sheriff Joe Dasovich and Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk both agreed to participate in the task force model, one of three models of cooperation in which local authorities can assist in enforcing civil immigration laws ICE trains and deputizes selected officers within participating agencies In interviews with KAXE, Dasovich and Welk both said they believe joining the task force model will increase safety in the communities they serve. Itasca County agreed to participate in the program on Feb. 27, while Cass County agreed on Feb. 28, according to ICE’s list of participating agencies Dasovich pointed to a recent “grandparent scam” in the region where at least three victims handed over about $50,000 to an in-person scammer posing as a bail bondsman under the belief a grandchild needed money for bail “We're limited on how much we can participate without a working agreement 1 priority is to keep our community safe,” Dasovich said by phone March 7 “So I made the choice to become a [task force model] agency because of that we do not have the authority to detain some individuals who have ICE detainers.” adding similar scams have occurred in Cass County He said the sheriff’s office wants to be good partners with all federal law enforcement agencies "I want our officers to be able to be fully compliant and not get caught up in any of the pitfalls,” Welk said in a Monday Both sheriffs acknowledged that despite this recent example encountering undocumented immigrants in their counties through the course of police work is rare Dasovich said he’s personally dealt with just three people wanted by federal immigration authorities in his two-decade career Welk said Cass County has “historically maybe one or two aliens that come in.” The memorandum of agreement for the task force model states local law enforcement personnel can “interrogate any alien or person believed to be an alien as to his right to be or remain in the United States .. and to process for immigration violations those individuals who have been arrested for State or Federal criminal offenses,” among other authorizations for actions on behalf of ICE Agreeing to participate includes a requirement for mandatory training of officers by ICE on the scope of immigration officer authority and discussions of the terms and limitations of the agreement The sheriffs emphasized their agencies would not proactively look for undocumented people limiting their involvement with ICE to people otherwise under investigation for committing crimes This isn’t just to go round up any illegal alien,” Dasovich said “This is to protect our county from a specific criminal element.” “We would not be participating in raids or things like that,” Welk said While local law enforcement has the authority to make arrests they cannot detain someone unless they’ve met certain criteria “That criteria includes those who are deemed a public safety threat, a national security threat, those who have an outstanding warrant for their arrest or those who were deported but reentered the country illegally,” reports the Miami Herald a lack of in-depth training and infrequent enforcement are some of the factors that make the program problematic staff attorney with American Civil Liberties Union-Minnesota Casper has practiced immigration law for nearly three decades and has taught at the University of Minnesota Law School and the St “The training just doesn’t provide local law enforcement participants the level of knowledge and expertise to make reliable judgements about the status of people they’re encountering,” Casper said in a Wednesday phone interview “And that inevitably leads to mistaken and false arrests and it inevitably places law enforcement agents in their communities in the position of making judgements that do turn on race and national origin in ways that create very high risks of error or over time Casper further noted local participation in the program can have a chilling effect on undocumented people or their family members — even if they are U.S citizens — from seeking help when they’re victims of crimes He said these agreements are often decided unilaterally without public input and may lead to substantial financial or moral costs “Not only is it a question of policy for a whole county as to the liability financially and quality of public safety and law enforcement there’s a substantial moral question about whether you want your community law enforcement to be carrying out what is a planned imminent mass deportation campaign that is equally without question going to be at its core a program of mass family separation,” Casper said ICE training for local agencies has not yet taken place Welk said he intends for all deputies in his office to be trained while Dasovich said he’d likely select one person per crew Neither anticipate additional costs to their departments by participating Welk said there are policies in place to prevent that We don’t get to pick and choose what laws we get to enforce.” Dasovich said people who are undocumented might already be less likely to call 911 doesn’t mean they can’t be a victim of a crime as well and we would deal with the situation at hand.” but also those who’ve been committed for mental illness In a Wednesday letter, both the Association of Minnesota Counties and the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association opposed the bills, citing increased liability risks due process violations and discrimination claims ITASCA COUNTY — The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has released the identity of the 13-year-old girl who was killed in a car crash following a pursuit Sunday in Itasca County According to a release from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the girl as Angelica Bryan According to a preliminary investigation by the BCA an Itasca County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to stop a 2003 Honda Odyssey for driving with no headlights The vehicle was traveling west on County Road 63 near the intersection of County Road 271 when the deputy activated their emergency lights in an attempt to pull the vehicle over failed to stop and accelerated away from the deputy the vehicle reached speeds estimated to be over 90 mph The Minnesota State Patrol deployed a stop stick tire deflation device during the pursuit but it failed to make contact with the vehicle’s tires Bryan continued to drive with no headlights on State Highway 6 and drove off the roadway just east of County Road 11 where the van collided with a tree and came to a stop Bryan was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of the injuries she suffered in the crash The BCA’s preliminary investigation revealed that the vehicle driven by Bryan was a stolen vehicle that was taken that night from a residence in Cohasset The BCA agreed to investigate the pursuit and crash at the request of the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office to avoid a conflict of interest No physical contact was made with the vehicle by any officer’s squad involved in this pursuit This pursuit and crash remain under investigation and no further details are available Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInDULUTH (Northern News Now) - Voters in two Northland communities headed to the polls on Tuesday In the Rock Ridge School District Sorcan previously held the seat but was removed from the board for what the district called conduct that affected her performance voters are picking a new District 4 County Commissioner to represent the area south of Grand Rapids Larry Hopkins won the seat over Pat Medure by more than 200 votes Medure and Hopkins were the top two vote-getters in February’s primary A special election was needed after the man who won the November election, incumbent Burl Ives Click here to download the Northern News Now app or our Northern News Now First Alert weather app GRAND RAPIDS — Two candidates earned a clear majority of the vote in the Tuesday primary for the special election of Itasca County District 4 commissioner Former Itasca County sheriff and Grand Rapids School Board member Pat Medure was the top vote-getter with 40.17% of the vote (529 votes), according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State's Office receiving 33.86% of the ballots cast (446 votes) Medure and Hopkins will advance to the general election on April 8 Hopkins told KAXE Wednesday morning the primary went about as he expected "They really would like for the tax levy not to increase talk to department heads and people in charge and see if there's places were we could be a little more efficient without cutting wages and jobs — 'cause that's not my intention." Medure said property values and taxes were also the issues he's heard most about from voters People have brought the word transparency up and I'm all for being transparent in government," he said but we need the community to participate in that meeting." Both candidates thanked the people who turned out to vote for them Hopkins plans to continue to door-knock and advertise in the lead-up to the general election Medure said he'll continue to engage with the community and have dialogue "Special elections are — I don't want to say they're difficult," Medure said "People's mindset is not necessarily where it would be as if it was a November election." Dick Sackett received the third-most votes at 208 (15.79%) Sackett also ran an unsuccessful write-in campaign during the November election Preble narrowly lost a race for District 3 in 2022 to Commissioner John Johnson who actively campaigned for himself in several local Facebook groups leading up to the primary election reacted to the results on his campaign page "I don't understand this area keep running the same old thing over and over and over and see if we change I feel I'm pretty much game over with politics in the dam County people b**ch and cry when taxes are way to high then vote for a guy that has a history of running your dam taxes out of control," Preble wrote in a Facebook post "Its a lost cause I think I'll just move away from this area like every other single person because sh*t isn't going to change o well good luck to the winners and let's go Larry Hopkins." The most recent District 4 Commissioner, Burl Ives, was up for reelection last November but died unexpectedly in September His death was too close to Election Day for his name to be removed from the ballot The campaign for Ives continued after his death with supporters saying a special election triggered by his posthumous victory would give residents a broader field of candidates defeating challenger Brian Oftelie and the handful of write-ins — one of which was Sackett — who emerged after Ives' death Just under 20% of voters registered as of Tuesday morning turned out for the primary "Probably not bad for a primary," Hopkins said of voter turnout Medure also said he was disappointed in the turnout "But that's understandable for not being a November election and cold weather and the time of year that the election's being held," he said Absentee voting for the April election begins Feb Early in-person voters can cast their ballots at the Itasca County Courthouse from 8 a.m Editor's note: This story was updated at 1:15 p.m According to the office of Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon the unofficial election results show that Larry Hopkins and Pat Medure will advance to the Itasca County Commissioner District 4 Special Election on April 8 Medure and Hopkins received the top votes in the special Primary Election on Tuesday February 11 The two will face off in the general election to replace Commissioner Burl Ives Ives held the position but died before the November election The Special Election will be held on April 8th GRAND RAPIDS — The concept is simple: Get at least 100 women who will each give $100 and one local nonprofit receives at least a $10,000 donation The concept isn't new; it has been happening across the country This is the first time it is being tried in Itasca County Lisa Randall and Mary Ives are two members of the steering committee planning the event set for Monday They were recent guests on the KAXE Morning Show and if they are spending all their time fundraising they don't have time to focus on their mission and that's what we want them to do," Ives said "So many times nonprofits receive grants or donations that have some restrictions to them and they're only allowed to spend them on certain things," Randall added "This kind of a donation is not only unrestricted and they can use it where the greatest need is but it can also serve as match dollars to additional grants that they're looking for." and all may nominate a local nonprofit to win the combined donations and a representative from those groups will have up to five minutes to explain who they are and what they would be able to do with the money raised everyone in attendance will cast their votes and one nonprofit will receive the combined donations Ives and Randall are hopeful that more than 100 women will show up the larger the sum for the winning nonprofit similar event in Bemidji raised $17,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of the Bemidji Area The event begins at 6 p.m. with free light appetizers and a cash bar. If you would like to donate but are unable to attend in person, you can contribute through the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation Itasca Waters will continue its online Practical Water Wisdom series at noon on Thursday a Fisheries Research Supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources based in Duluth Boehm leads a team of fishery research scientists dedicated to addressing critical questions about Minnesota's aquatic resources Boehm will share insights from recent research to highlight potential impacts of climate change on state fisheries "Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how warming temperatures changing water conditions and other climate-related factors may influence fish populations and aquatic ecosystems in Minnesota," a release said "Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the future of Minnesota’s fisheries and the science behind conservation efforts." A Q&A will also take place during the event The Practical Water Wisdom series is the brainchild of Itasca Waters a nonprofit organization located in Itasca County whose mission is to team up with organizations and concerned citizens to maintain clean water for continued health Attendees will hear about septic system inspections traditional ecological knowledge in lake management banded mystery snails and water-focused books for children in future webinars The series runs for an hour beginning at noon typically on the first Thursday of each month open to all and include an interactive Q&A session Itasca County will have a special election early next year to fill the County Board seat left vacant by Burl Ives Ives was up for reelection in 2024 for the District 4 seat. He died too close to Election Day for his name to be removed from the ballot District 4 is in southwestern Itasca County and includes southwestern Grand Rapids and Harris The filing period for candidates opened Wednesday Because more than two candidates have filed — and assuming none withdraw — the primary will be Feb KAXE will put together an Election Guide for the race after the filing period closes NASHWAUK — The long-standing challenge of funding ambulance services for eastern Itasca County may finally have a solution The Itasca County Board approved the creation of a subordinate service district to offer emergency medical services at its meeting Tuesday The district covers Nashwauk Ambulance’s licensed service area which follows most of the county’s eastern border north from Bearville Township and south to Goodland The district also includes parts of Taconite and Balsam Township and Marble The service district allows the county to fund EMS through service charges and a new property tax levy within the district beginning next year The city of Nashwauk has owned and operated an ambulance service since the early 2000s But the city has been operating at a loss and has been trying to find another someone to take over the service area for the last few years Nashwauk city administrator-clerk-treasurer told the Board the challenges they’ve faced are no different than other rural ambulance services Medicare’s dismal reimbursement rates and growing deficits,” she said The city still prioritizes having an ambulance service in Nashwauk but now it will just look a little different Cass and Hubbard made a similar move last month to take over the Walker Ambulance’s service area though utilizing a different kind of taxing district The ambulance service will still bill patients and be reimbursed But instead of eating the deficit like Nashwauk has been the county will use the property tax levy to make up the difference Itasca County health and human services director The county is estimating an initial levy of $650,000 which would mean about an extra $100 a year in property taxes for a $250,000 house That estimate takes into account that Nashwauk has been losing about $200,000 a year “So that’s your starting point,” Villeneuve said Nashwauk’s ambulance is also at the end of its usable life so another $250,000 would cover the cost of a new one The rest of the estimate is the cost of staffing new equipment and other expenses that come with EMS “We’d have to get someone to bid to come in and provide those services,” Villeneuve explained every year they would be setting what they need as what you’re going to levy they would become part of our budgeting process.” The levy must be certified by the end of June to establish subordinate service districts to pay for providing services to a portion of the county There is no comprehensive list of districts but a 2024 Minnesota House Research paper says they’ve been used to cover the cost of paving roads providing community sewage treatment systems in new developments and providing ambulance services Only those benefiting from the service can be levied for it rather than spreading it across the entire county Subordinate service districts created by county boards are subject to reverse referendums meaning if 5% of registered voters in the district petition for a referendum and a majority of voters would need to vote yes There are about 5,085 qualified voters in the district according to Itasca County Auditor-Treasurer Austin Rohling A special election is needed to discontinue a district Nashwauk and Balsam -- in the Nashwauk Ambulance service area submitted resolutions of support to the county as did the cities of Nashwauk and Keewatin No one spoke in opposition to the service district at the Board meeting submitted a comment stating Taconite is not for being included in the service district the city’s objections were based on the idea that the county would bill the city for the cost of providing service and that the entire city would charged despite only about 30% of Taconite being within the Nashwauk service area Only the property within the service area and thus the subordinate service district would be levied Nashwauk City Councilors Terry Sullivan and Councilor Sheila Jensen both spoke in support of the move “The citizens and taxpayers of Nashwauk shouldn’t have to pay for the service that is utilized by this vast geographical area,” Jensen said “And I’m just glad that this solution came to our attention so that we could start to pursue this process — The Itasca County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a juvenile female died in a crash early Sunday morning during a police pursuit a deputy saw a vehicle without its headlights on traveling westbound on County Road 63 in the area of County Road 271 around 1:30 a.m The fleeing vehicle crashed in the area of Highway 6 and County Road 11 The juvenile female driver was the only person in the vehicle “We are deeply saddened by this motor vehicle crash that resulted in the loss of life and extend our deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragedy We ask the public to keep those impacted in their thoughts and to respect the privacy of those involved during this incredibly difficult time,” said Sheriff Dasovich Dasovich said the driver was not wearing her seatbelt.  He said alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is leading the investigation.  The Minnesota State Patrol is also completing the crash reconstruction a Digital Content Producer with 25 News KXXV and 15 ABC KRHD a former assistant football and baseball coach at Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School has been charged with child sexual contact and an improper relationship between an educator and a student according to the Hill County Sheriff's Office Authorities allege that Buruata engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old student during the 2023-2024 school year he was employed as a history teacher in Itasca He is currently employed with Fort Worth ISD Buruata was booked on March 12 on a $300,000 bond The Hill County Sheriff's Department stated that the investigation remains ongoing as officials work to determine the full extent of the alleged relationship Further details have not been released as authorities continue their inquiry GRAND RAPIDS — Voters in southwestern Itasca County will select their top candidate for County Commissioner District 4 in a special primary election Tuesday Pat Medure and Larry Hopkins — are running for the seat which represents Grand Rapids Precinct 4 (roughly south of the Mississippi River and west of U.S Wildwood and Spang townships; and Sugar Lake Precinct The most recent District 4 Commissioner, Burl Ives, was up for reelection last November but died in September too close to Election Day for his name to be removed from the ballot defeating challenger Brian Oftelie and the handful of write-ins — one of which was Sackett — that emerged after Ives' death The top two candidates with the most votes on Tuesday will advance to the special election on April 8 Early in-person voting at the Itasca County Courthouse is open until 5 p.m Mail and absentee ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. Tuesday. Voters can track their ballots Voters can vote in-person on Election Day at their usual polling location. Not sure where that is? Use the Secretary of State's Polling Place Finder KAXE created a Special Election Guide with responses from all five candidates They also shared why they were running for office and their priorities and answered questions about short-term rentals Voters can confirm their registration here You can register at your polling place on Election Day You will need some form of proof of residence, such as a valid driver's license or Tribal ID, a photo ID and document with your name and address or another registered voter who can confirm your address. Find more information here are planning cannabis grow operations less than 2 miles apart Both see Minnesota’s emerging cannabis industry as an opportunity it’s a great investment in an industry in which the investors have experience it’s a longtime dream becoming reality in the owners’ local community HWY35 principal investor Jack Mitchell was drawn to Grand Rapids because of the Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation a major player in Missouri’s cannabis industry was working on a small project in South Dakota when Minnesota legalized marijuana a move he said was unexpected to most in the industry he and his partners shifted their focus and began looking for a big warehouse for cannabis cultivation in the state “We determined that there might be a possibility to get support from the IRRR .. and the city of Grand Rapids has been incredibly And wanted to get that project built out,” Mitchell told KAXE in an interview earlier this month “They thought the capital investment and the jobs would be really good for them those were factors we really couldn’t ignore.” chair of Minneapolis-based marketing company Modern Climate HWY35 purchased the 138-acre former Ainsworth lumber mill site that’s been dormant since its closure in 2008 IRRR approved up to $20 million in loans for the project in 2023 and Grand Rapids approved a $2 million tax increment financing agreement — meaning the city will finance the project using the additional tax revenue created by the investment Chief Cultivation Officer Andy Nintzel was talking with his wife The Nintzels have been passionate about cannabis cultivation for about 25 years Andy attended the Cannabis College in Amsterdam to improve his growing skills When Minnesota legalized medical marijuana the Nintzels agreed that if recreational were legalized and the company named after the couples was born They’ve worked with the city of Cohasset to buy a 52-acre build-ready lot in its industrial park for $1 and on a TIF agreement and tax abatement from Itasca County working with Grand Rapids-based Hawk Construction on their facility and choosing local or at least Minnesota-based lending partners which the owners hope to have finalized soon Mandy Nintzel said the licensing rollout has been an emotional roller coaster The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management planned to hold an early lottery for social equity applicants in December 2024 to give them more time to prepare before the full license rollout State law said social equity applicants include those convicted of possession or sale of cannabis before legalization farmers and those from impoverished communities Technology was eligible for the program because of the founders’ cannabis-related convictions and was one of the 648 applicants that made it through the preapproval process Roughly two-thirds of applicants were denied ahead of the planned social equity lottery After a court put the lottery on hold to allow denied applicants a chance to appeal the OCM announced it would delay the lottery altogether “That was really discouraging and frustrating The preapproval process was made for that and for us and we worked so hard,” she said during an interview at KAXE I guess it’s made us even more resilient.” There will still be a separate social equity lottery though it will happen around the same time as the general lottery for capped license types so social equity applicants will not have the advantage of extra time as expected The capped license types include mezzobusiness Technology plan to pursue cultivator licenses HWY35 also plans to pursue a manufacturer license which would allow it to make products with the cannabis Except for dual manufacturer-cultivator licensure no person or business can own or operate any other cannabis or hemp business under state law Only 50 cultivator and 24 manufacturer licenses can be issued until at least 2026 The licenses will be equally split between social equity and all other applicants Those not selected in the social equity lottery will also be entered in the general lottery Social equity licenses can only be sold to other eligible social equity applicants for the first three years Andy Nintzel said the primary goal is to get a cultivator license They would consider falling back on one of the uncapped license types we’ll just come out in a different form,” he said Mitchell said the company would buy one from somebody who did win one They may be more expensive than most people can afford ‘How do you know they’re available [for sale]?’ Well But in the big picture of our capital and what we’re spending and building and everything it’s going to make sense for us to buy one.” Mitchell said he and his partners were very successful in winning licenses when Missouri legalized medical cannabis But his success in the business hasn’t been without its challenges. Mitchell is in the midst of legal battles that he said stem from the pending sale of his Missouri company with investors alleging Mitchell used the business as his “personal piggy bank” and owed money to the state Department of Revenue Mitchell said the investors are trying to depress the value of the company through the lawsuits and attempts to connect him to the illegal activity of a Missouri municipal board is providing space for people who get licenses to lease at the Grand Rapids facility which Mitchell said they plan to do anyway Mitchell said HWY35’s construction is “going along pretty good.” He said the company was aggressive in getting the project permitted and moving construction forward so cultivation can begin when licenses are issued Mitchell estimated somebody — HWY35 or one of its tenants — will be growing in there by August “We don’t really think there will be any shortage of people who want to come to the property There’s not any other opportunity like that that we know of in the state that’s ready to go,” he said and our goal is to create as many cannabis operations as possible for the industry to be significantly represented in Grand Rapids.” Tenants are an important part of the company’s plans The IRRR approved a change in the job creation requirements at its November 2024 meeting to include counting the employees of tenants toward the goal it would need to employ 150 after five years 175 after 10 years and 350 after 15 years to be eligible for the full benefits pointing toward the lack of precedent and his overall concern about the nature of the project There is also a job requirement in the Grand Rapids TIF agreement for 300 full-time jobs within two years that pay at least $20 an hour the city’s director of community development said that benchmark is for the total employment on site “That’s not unique for a typical agreement for TIF,” he said “It’s really more about the jobs created than who they're actually employed by HWY35 is still responsible for seeing that those jobs are created.” its TIF would be pro-rated based on the number of jobs created Technology estimates it’ll have around 70 full-time employees with wages above $20 an hour The company has not yet started construction on its Cohasset facility though it has building plans and is working on scheduling with Hawk based on the anticipated license lottery in May or June “The plan would literally be that if we are awarded a license we can turn around the next day and tell everybody that’s in play He estimated the buildout would take 12-16 months with plans to begin cultivating before the facility is complete about nine months after construction begins their first products could be out the door around the same time the building is completed Mattei said HWY35 was the first viable development project for the former Ainsworth site and given how long the site has been dormant He pointed to the potential for spin-off development with the need for testing facilities and transportation partners and noted the city has issued permits for 75%-80% of the building as opposed to just one development,” he said A park is exactly what Mitchell has in mind copywritten by HWY35 and listing Mitchell’s email as the contact “You won’t believe how picturesque the landscape of Grand Rapids is and this one-stop shop facility is literally nestled in a thriving community,” the site reads “You’ll immediately feel you’re truly part of this exclusive Minnesotan enclave this one-of-a-kind corner of America with its pre-approved zoning and dynamic cannabis community already in full swing but the first and only cannabis facility in Minnesota.” The website appears to reveal a broader definition of tenant than just those sharing the mill The high-ceilinged industrial building is an option and so are 5- to 25-acre lots the amazing labor pool (“Midwestern work ethic meets Midwestern values”) and friendly city government noting Grand Rapids has indicated support for cannabis “[The city] will efficiently process building applications for permits,” it states “They’re excited about their role in creating a new employment base in their community.” HWY35 also plans to build a cannabis cafe and boat launch on the Mississippi River of which tenants would have preferential use Andy Nintzel said HWY35 isn’t necessarily a competitor Technology plans to serve more of a niche market “They got a whole different thing going on over there,” he said we’ve got a lot of people employed outside of the taconite which is pretty cool for Northern Minnesota.” Nintzel expressed some skepticism at the idea of a cannabis park with the industry’s secretive culture and the fact that Minnesota bans most non-compete agreements Even if HWY35’s business plan was the same Nintzel said the way the state’s license structure is designed leaves plenty of room in the market for cultivators but Nintzel said they did want to stick their stake in the ground as the local folks “Not speaking directly about HWY35 by any means — when you’re the local truly just some parents that live in this community trying to launch a very large business — it sort of feels like you’re up against Goliath,” he said But that hasn’t stopped them from dreaming big Technology will donate 2% of its net profits back to the community and the Nintzels imagine being able to go in front of the Grand Rapids School Board and tell them they want to help fund more teachers Andy Nintzel said he’s fired up about the potential impact of $40 million or more added to the economy of a small town like Cohasset especially with the weight of changes coming to the city’s major employer “Our ultimate goal is to create a long-lasting legacy for people to be able to work in this industry in Cohasset,” Nintzel said “ .. It’s a unique opportunity to chase a passion that we’ve had for a long time and at the same exact time The small town of Itasca has prided itself on one of the largest Fourth of July fireworks shows in the region The village has pulled the plug on the 2025 fireworks spectacle at the Hamilton Lakes Business Park with officials highlighting a number of challenges posed by crowds traffic congestion and loss of available land But key to the decision are looming lane closures along a major thoroughfare “We are just as disappointed as everybody else that it can't happen this year making sure that we can hold a safe event and a fun event really comes first,” Village Administrator Carie Anne Ergo said Friday The celebration on the large grassy campus featured live bands Hotels in the area — spectators could stay at the Westin walk over to the grounds and avoid traffic — generally were booked solid the weekend of the event “Everybody understands that the fireworks are important to our residents and so the goal is to try to find a way to bring them back in 2026 in a way that's meaningful for the town,” Ergo said “It might not be the same as it was in the past.” Some residents expressed “concerns about the event and the commotion that was caused the picnicking on people's private property urination on private property,” Trustee Patrick Powers said Conservative estimates pegged last year’s crowds at between 15,000 to 18,000 people with more than 5,200 cars parked Ergo wrote in a six-page board memo outlining the challenges “Hamilton had never parked that many cars previously for any event,” she said in an interview Elk Grove Village and Illinois State Police representatives also raised concerns about crowd and traffic control including drivers abandoning vehicles on roads “Especially dangerous were the many cars that attempted to park on I-390 and watch the event,” Ergo wrote in the memo Ergo also pointed to the loss of land within and around the Hamilton Lakes Business Park since 2017 Developments include more than 50 acres at Devon Avenue and Rohlwing Road the American Academy of Pediatrics facility and the NTT data center campus “There was one time that Hamilton was a big open green space and that's not the case anymore,” she said The 2025 proposed budget prepared by Hamilton Partners with input from the village anticipated a roughly $130,000 increase over last year The village’s contribution to the event would total $274,647 — an increase of almost $83,500 over the previous year Organizers suggested additional message boards having a band play a final 30-45 minute set to encourage some visitors to delay leaving and lowering further the shell size of the fireworks “We put a lot into actually making this year happen We've been working on it for quite some time and there are a lot of things that were considered,” Ergo said NTT and the Itasca Fire Department have major construction projects along Arlington Heights Road that are expected to impact the adjacent roadway There’s utility work that needs to be done in the right-of-way and under the roadway There’s no clear schedule on when it will be completed Because ComEd does not guarantee construction timelines it is impossible to schedule this work around the celebration without lengthening the construction schedule but staff and Hamilton had spent a lot of time on a very solid plan to mitigate those issues,” Ergo said The “potential lane closures on Arlington Heights is just something that we did not think that it would be safe to move forward if there wasn't full circulation around the site.” Officials plan to reevaluate the event by the end of the year and then we're going to take a look again in 2026.” Itasca County will have a special election to fill the County Board seat left vacant by Burl Ives Larry Hopkins and Pat Medure advanced to the general election Early voting at the Itasca County Courthouse began Feb Early voters can cast their ballots in-person from 8 a.m Mail ballots can be mailed back or dropped off at the courthouse until 8 p.m Not sure where to vote on Election Day? Use the Secretary of State Office's Polling Place Finder KAXE and ICTV hosted a candidate forum with Larry Hopkins and Pat Medure, discussing housing, budget, cannabis and more. You can watch the full one-hour forum on ICTV's website ICTV and the Itasca Township Association also recorded a candidate forum with Larry Hopkins, Pat Medure, Robert Preble and Dick Sackett before the primary. You can also watch that forum on ICTV's website Know of more forums, guides or other types of information? Email news@kaxe.org Candidate responses for KAXE's Election Guide have not been edited and are published as submitted our news team added contextual information clearly marked with an "editor's note" and in italics though responses have not been uniformly fact-checked We have made every effort to make note of inaccuracies if they come to our attention Please contact our news team at news@kaxe.org with questions or comments or to report any errors City/Township of residence: Harris township Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office I have been a successful business owner for 34 years On the executive board we were in charge of the building and the finances Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for They are also responsible for making polices and proceedings for county departments and administration This and much more is done while trying to do what is best for the residents of Itasca county I’m running for Itasca County Commissioner because I believe our community deserves strong leadership that prioritizes accountability I’ve seen our challenges grow—rising taxes and a lack of transparency in decision-making It’s time for leadership that listens to the people and ensures that our government works for all residents I’m committed to protecting what makes Itasca County special while building a better future for the generations to come My goal is to bring common-sense leadership to the county ensuring that our resources are managed wisely and that we focus on the issues that truly matter—affordable housing and creating opportunities for our families and businesses I’m running to be a voice for the people of Itasca County and to work toward a future where everyone can thrive Fiscal Responsibility: My top priority is ensuring that our tax dollars are spent wisely I’ll work to identify inefficiencies in the county budget and focus resources on areas that truly benefit our residents Land Management: I want to revisit how the county manages its 300,000+ acres of tax-forfeited land By evaluating opportunities to put more of this land back on the tax rolls and encourage small business growth while protecting vital timberland and recreational areas Transparency and Accountability: It’s time for open I’ll push for more transparency in county decisions and make sure residents have a voice in the process My focus will always be on what’s best for the people of Itasca County Balanced Growth: I’ll support policies that encourage thoughtful growth and maintaining our natural resources for future generations I also want to be sure that we are an community that other larger businesses want to move to and put down roots Itasca County has been working toward a short-term rental ordinance for some time now but faced pushback from multiple sides What elements of an ordinance do you support or oppose I believe an ordinance for short-term rentals is necessary to strike a balance between preserving our community’s character and supporting economic opportunities Short-term rentals bring valuable tourism dollars to our area but they can also create challenges like noise The goal should be to create an ordinance that protects neighborhood integrity while fostering responsible short-term rental growth to benefit our local economy It’s about finding the right balance that works for everyone renters and owners are struggling to afford housing what would you do to address the issues of availability and affordability for your constituents Affordable housing is an issue in our region I would focus on practical solutions to increase housing options while keeping costs down we limit what the county can do to fix the housing crisis It’s like trying to rebuild a house while the fire is still burning—we need to fix our spending before we can invest in real solutions Fiscal responsibility is the first step to freeing up resources for housing we need to make it easier for developers to build here: We should also help maintain the housing we already have by supporting programs that help homeowners and landlords repair and update their properties This doesn’t have to mean handing out money The homeowners and landlords should be pulling the wagon but the county doesn’t need to drag their feet and public services make it easier to build housing and attract development Strategic investment in these areas benefits everyone What effective policies will you support that will prepare your county now next year and in the future to improve resiliency against climate change I do think this is an issue that that we need to keep in mind Our actions at the local level have limited impact on global climate change but we should do what we can so long as it is reasonable and not fiscally prohibitive for businesses /manufacturing We risk neglecting the most pressing issues our community faces Our county’s resources are best focused on immediate and pressing local issues While global climate change is an important topic the impact of small-scale local actions is limited We must prioritize our efforts on policies that directly affect the well-being of Itasca County residents today and in the near future and maintaining critical services will build a strong foundation for our community to handle challenges as they arise High taxation is a concern for many Northern Minnesotans Please share any specific opinions you hold related to taxation and how you plan to ensure tax dollars are used efficiently and effectively High taxes are a burden for Northern Minnesotans and I believe we must focus on fiscal responsibility to ease that load we need to ensure every dollar is spent wisely by cutting waste and prioritizing essential services like public safety so taxpayers know where their money goes and work to reduce the tax burden by finding cost savings and responsibly managing county resources Tax dollars should directly benefit the community and I’ll ensure they’re used efficiently to support the needs of Itasca County and we must ensure every tax dollar is spent wisely while building a stronger tax base to ease the burden on individuals How do you plan to improve transparency and trust in government Restoring trust in government starts with clear communication and accountability Here’s how I plan to improve transparency and trust in Itasca County: City/Township of residence: Harris Township I have been a resident of Itasca County for 46 years I have resided in Harris Township for the past twenty plus years I spent thirty four years as a law enforcement officer in the county and retired after sixteen year career as Itasca County Sheriff I served for 12 years as a member of the ISD 318 School Board I was responsible for fourteen different budgets totaling managed a staff of 68 employees and was responsible for a 107 bed correctional facility and the county's emergency management system I believe this financial and leadership experience with Itasca County has been and will be beneficial as a county commissioner I along with the other board members have been responsible for a budget of $61million We set policy for the district and provide direction for the superintendent I have served and still serve as a member on many local including the Range Association of Municipalities & Schools which provides problem-solving leadership for cities and school districts in Northern Minnesota across the Taconite Relief Area I'm also a member of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission I have served as a trustee on both the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation and the Itasca Community College Foundation boards The county board (commissioner) has many roles and responsibilities including but not limited to policymaking Commissioners are key policymakers for the county they set goals and priorities for the county's future The board is responsible for setting the annual budget for the county and determining the tax levy I see the county board working in collaboration with other elected people from local town boards city councils and state and federal representatives for the good of the county I'm running for the County Board because Itasca County needs practical common-sense leadership that understands the unique challenges we face From expanding our commercial/industrial tax base and balancing the county budget to ensuring our essential services are accessible without putting a strain or taxpayers my focus is on responsible decision-making that supports the needs of our community I have spent years listening to the concerns of our residents and I'm ready to bring that understanding and my strong work ethic to the County Board and a focus on what matters most to the people of Itasca County I'm committed to making sure our county continues to be a great place to live I will look at all issues with an open mind and listen to the concerns of the people My focus is on responsible decision making that supports the needs of our community/county Since I made my announcement to run for county commissioner the concerns that people are sharing with me are taxes People are also concerned about Minnesota Power closing in Cohasset and what that will do tour tax base in the county Concern is property owners taxes will in increase We need to come together (cities/county) and work together to increase our commercial/industrial tax base Economic development is going to be key going forward I have reviewed the draft ordinance as proposed by the county Some things come to mind when reading the draft ordinance the ordinance addresses issues like the health welfare and quality of life to surrounding properties as well as water and environmental quality All of these issues could/would have an affect on us directly or indirectly as residence of the county The ordinance spells out the how and the why the issues need to be addressed Water quality is another issue addressed through water testing and septic system inspections We have a very pristine area in Itasca County and our quality of life is special I believe this draft ordinance will help to maintain this There is one part that is not addressed in the ordinance and that is the taxation of the short term rental properties Short term rental property location are not known to the county as of today So these properties are taxed as a homestead property or non homestead property They compete against hotel/motel properties and resort properties commercial properties are taxed at 2 times the amount of residential properties and resorts are taxed 1 1/2 times the amount of residential properties The question is should short term have less of a tax than hotel/motels and resorts Editor's note: While classification varies based on a property's value resorts are taxed at a comparable rate to residential properties and commercial property is taxed at twice that amount The housing study that was completed and released in September of 2024 spooks for itself First I want to give the county and city some credit they merged the county housing authority and city hosing authority into one organization This consolidation gives us a larger and louder voice to talk about the housing issue as one voice with our cities within the county that are working on potential housing projects Whether that be providing tax abatements or tax increment financing the shortage of housing drives the prices up whether you're trying to purchase a home or looking to rent The county needs to lobby our state/federal leaders for more funding City of Grand Rapids was successful in applying and receiving a grant for the development of a new housing project in southwest Grand Rapids This was funding that was appropriated by (I believe) the legislature The study outlines some recommendations that need to be looked at to help elevate the housing issue enhance the counties existing housing trust fund and leverage statewide tools identify and quantify potential developable land update zoning codes to allow a wider range of housing options and remove development barriers and focus housing development efforts on sites that have access to municipal utilities And the last part is to have the information collected stored and accessible in one spot for review As we all know it's not just a local issue This is a global issue that we all need to be doing are part to mitigate first from an individual and ask myself what can I do to make a difference Somethings that my wife and I have done at home (changed out water fixtures to more efficient fixtures etc) and we bought e-bikes to use locally for transportation instead of driving a vehicle we moved an initiative forward to install solar panels at the Bigfork School that will reduce our energy costs at the school The district was successful in obtaining a grant to cover the costs of the program There will be a course developed about renewable energy that will be taught to students at the school we can advocate and support federal/state policy that supports renewable energy options for individuals and businesses Continued tax breaks for individuals and businesses that support builds renewable energy into their projects Also support federal/and state policy that reduce our carbon emissions I don't know of specific policy/policies that would be effective for us at the county level because my knowledge about climate change is limited I would reach out to other government agencies (counties/cities) to see what policies they have about climate change and are they effective The county board could have a community discussion about climate change take input and develop a position/policy going forward Taxes are one of the main issues that has been shared with me while talking with people Along with property valuations and county spending The county board is responsible for setting an annual balanced budget for the county as a whole and each individual department with in the county And there are some statutory requirements the county has to levy for If there is any increase in the budget from the previous year this could increase the levy or the board could use money out of the county reserves to balance the budget I would challenge the department heads to look at how they are spending their budgeted dollars Can we do things differently or do we continue do as we have done in the past because this is the way we have always done it Some things for consideration and to think about cooperative purchasing with other government agencies can we come up with better ways to provide the service we looked at how we made our purchases of supplies We would shop around with the understanding that we wanted to purchase local if at all possible to keep the money local One other thought for consideration would be to go to a zero base budgeting for each department in the county Each line item within their budget would need to be justified in their budget proposal to the county board there are fourteen different reasons why taxes can go up or down Transparency and trust is a two way street from my set of lenses We need our constituents to participate in our government process I hear and have heard many times from the public "How come you didn't tell us" All levels of government are open to the public (with a few exceptions) for participation but we lack public participation most of the time Communication has to be both ways to build trust and have transparency I have been one over my career to go to the people and have discussions about issues that concern them the county board started Coffee and Conversation with the public They went to all five commissioner districts A great way to get input and have transparency and build trust At times people feel intimidated by coming to county board meetings and I think going to them on their turf breaks that barrier I will make my phone number and email available as well as some time set aside at the court house for the public to communicate with me My cell is 218-244-1122 and email pmedure9016@gmail.com Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office.I have experience working with both the private and the government sector I have lots of experience dealing with the rules and regulatory apparatus of Federal I also have worked as a managing engineer in platinum group metals mining in Montana electrical power generation and substation installations in several locations in the United States and in the Philippines These positions required a close collaboration with government regulators and boards I have managed up to 300 union mine employees and have been heavily involved in labor collective bargaining agreement negotiation I think that I would make a good advocate for people of Itasca County in the effort to fairly administer the business and policies of the County Government Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.I am running for Commissioner of Itasca County District 4 I will be one voice out of 5 that works toward setting administrative and operations policy of Itasca County I will strive to represent interests of the citizen of Itasca County Why are you running for office?The people of Itasca County pay some of the highest taxes and have the lowest median incomes in the state The path that we are on is not sustainable Itasca County ranks 15th highest out of 86 counties in total expenditures We need to make county government a sustainable endeavor both for the citizens that bear the cost and the employees of the county that depend on stable and secure employment It is important to mention that I have been employed by both the public sector and the private sector and understand the challenges we all face Editor's note: Itasca County had the 19th highest levy of the state's 87 counties in 2024, the most recent year for which certified data is available. The county's sales tax rate (7.875%) is roughly 0.5-1% higher than most Northern Minnesota counties but it is lower than Beltrami (8%) and Cook (8.375%) counties and the same as Carlton County Itasca County has the 17th lowest median household income in the state at $63,962 This is comparable to surrounding counties Itasca County was ranked 15th of Minnesota's 87 counties in terms of total expenditures in 2022. The county was ranked 12th in 2024 It is important to get some of the county held properties back onto the tax rolls in an effort to relieve the tax burden of county residents and provide sustainable revenue for the county operating expense It is important to continually monitor the validity and extent of government mandates We need to explore the legal avenues to question unfunded mandates and assure that many of these mandates are not just vendor driven How did the county residents benefit from switching the type of county government from the 'County Board of Commissioners Plan' to the optional 'County Administrator Plan' under Minnesota Statutes Did relieving the county board of administration duties reduce our costs This needs to be reviewed by using the State of Minnesota Auditor Comparison Tools of all 87 counties as to the administration cost of government cost per capita All facets of Itasca County Government should be continually benchmarked against other 86 counties by using the State Auditor Tools I would encourage anybody to take a look at the most recent State Auditor numbers What elements of an ordinance do you support or oppose?I do not believe that controlling rent should be a function of government The pressures of the market must control rent pricing It is counterproductive to the housing supply Property Owners will withdraw their rental property from the market thereby reducing supply and provide pressure to increase rental prices As property owners sell their rental property real estate prices will fall and property values will decrease due to oversupply what would you do to address the issues of availability and affordability for your constituents?The question addresses owners and renters If you are an owner you are not struggling to afford housing the question speaks directly to your previous question of applying rental cost controls to drive the cost of housing up These questions of housing are not appropriate because they are based upon a preconceived hypothesis There are many other factors involved here Doesn't subsidized housing increases pressure on other social programs next year and in the future to improve resiliency against climate change?I know as an engineer that many climate change policies are 'feel good' only and do nothing to control climate change We have made great progress in producing green energy systems but the fact remains that the combined energy output of all green energy production is less then energy requirements to manufacture any green energy equipment A quotation that applies to climate change I would like to be able to affect "Climate Change" however technology has not proven to be successful I hope that someday we will get there but we just are not there yet and how you plan to ensure tax dollars are used efficiently and effectively.First of all every spending program needs to be evaluated for effectiveness and cost I believe that Itasca County has room to greatly reduce costs of operation I think it is imperative that we review the Minnesota State Auditor's site We can easily benchmark our progress using the Minnesota State Auditors Comparison Chart Tables of all 87 counties in the State of Minnesota It is available to all voters and it's certainly available to all elected officials The Minnesota State Auditors Comparison Chart provides many additional resources that will help us benchmark every county expense category The data provided on the State Auditor's website can be used to help public officials make a more informed decision and move forward in running a more efficient County government and it is a valuable tool to benchmark your progress as a County I urge everybody reading this to take a minute and go to the Minnesota State Auditor's website and take a look for yourself at the Comparison tables This information is extremely valuable to all How do you plan to improve transparency and trust in government?Throughout my life I have gathered quotations that guide how I function in life "If it has to be done in the shadows there is a good chance that it should not be done".2 "Can a governmental body like the county go broke?" I was told "not as long as you have a nickel's worth of equity in your property" "I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned" A true warrior fights not because he hates what is in front of him but because he loves what is behind him I understand the potential of rural communities like ours to grow and prosper I’ve seen firsthand how targeted investments and responsible leadership transform regions into thriving economic hubs I’m ready to bring that vision to Itasca Count Itasca County has burdened its residents with skyrocketing taxes and costly projects that we simply cannot afford Our families and businesses are being priced out and transparency in government has taken a back seat We cannot endure another decade of tax-and-spend leadership It’s time to elect leaders who will stand up for the hardworking people of Itasca County not for bureaucracies or special interests I’m running for District 4 Commissioner because I share your concerns I’m committed to fighting for fiscal responsibility As your Itasca County District 4 Commissioner I am committed to putting fiscal responsibility at the forefront of our county’s decision-making I believe every dollar spent should benefit our community ensuring that we provide essential services Fiscal Responsibility Prioritizing efficient and effective use of taxpayer dollars Cutting unnecessary expenses while funding critical needs like public safety and promoting transparency and accountability in every financial decision Economic Growth Attracting new businesses and supporting local entrepreneurs to create jobs and strengthen our economy Investing in sustainable development that balances growth Community-Centered Leadership Listening to the voices of District 4 residents to ensure your priorities guide my decisions Advocating for programs and policies that improve quality of life for all Smart Investments for the Future Maintaining and improving ideas to support economic development Planning for future challenges by building financial reserves and pursuing state and federal funding opportunities I will work tirelessly to make District 4 a place where families thrive we can ensure a brighter future for Itasca County Vote Robert Preble for District 4 Commissioner – Leadership You Can Trust My 5 Key Objectives as Your District 4 Commissioner: Ensure Fiscal Responsibility – Implement effective budget management to protect taxpayer dollars Foster Economic Development – Promote growth through strategic investments and partnerships Promote Government Transparency – Advocate for open communication and accountability Eliminate Wasteful Expenditures – Identify and remove inefficiencies in county spending Support Youth Retention in Itasca County – Create opportunities for young residents to build their futures locally we value freedom—freedom to make the most of your property and contribute to our local economy While some argue for more government oversight I believe in solutions that respect property owners' rights and foster community collaboration without heavy-handed regulations Our neighbors should feel secure in their homes Respect property owners’ rights to responsibly manage short-term rentals Promote voluntary standards for safety and neighborhood harmony Avoid excessive fees or bureaucracy that harm our local people Let’s work together to keep Itasca County a place of opportunity and shared success Government overreach isn’t the answer—community-driven solutions are Every family deserves a safe and affordable place to call home rising costs have made it harder for renters and homeowners alike to make ends meet I will champion policies that increase the supply of affordable housing we can ensure that our neighborhoods remain vibrant I believe in taking action to ensure our community thrives—today While we may not all agree on the causes of certain challenges we can all agree on the need to protect our homes I will aim to Invest in resilient infrastructure to protect against severe weather and keep our roads and bridges safe Support energy efficiency programs that lower utility costs for families and businesses Enhance disaster preparedness plans to keep our community safe and ready for emergencies Strengthen resource management to ensure clean air These are common-sense solutions that work for everyone I have a question for the people of our community when MP&L shuts down and if Blandins were to close or would we face financial collapse due to the failures of our current leadership Our economy is too fragile to rely on outdated strategies that prioritize spending without accountability It’s time to take a different approach one focused on fiscal responsibility and long-term economic growth Over-taxation and the underutilization of taxpayers’ money are holding us back As I drive through the city of Grand Rapids I see the consequences of overspending and neglect Our community is beginning to mirror other Northern Minnesota cities that have struggled under poor financial management Cutting Wasteful Spending – I will push for a comprehensive review of the county’s budget to identify and eliminate inefficiencies ensuring we focus resources on critical infrastructure Attracting New Industries – We must diversify our local economy by incentivizing industries to invest in our area providing stable jobs and reducing reliance on a few large employers Supporting Small Businesses – Strengthening local businesses through community partnerships is key to building a resilient economy Balanced Taxation – While taxes fund important services overburdening residents and businesses is not the answer I will advocate for using our tax dollars strategically to foster growth and reduce long-term dependency on tax increases This is not just a campaign about stopping government duties its about creating a sustainable we can address challenges without placing undue burdens on our community I’m committed to building a government that listens to you we can create a future where your voice shapes our community’s success Open Door and Open Phone Policy I will be accessible to all residents encouraging open communication and providing a direct line for feedback and concerns making it clear how taxpayer dollars are being used I think we should have a better Citizen Advisory Committees and i would like to Establish advisory boards made up of community members to provide oversight and guidance on key policies and initiatives Full time representative that serviced 20 labor agreements I handled Contract administration for each of those agreements sometimes mediation and arbitration The job also included representing members in many capacities including in St Paul I am currently on an Energy Transition Advisory Committee with MN DEED We are helping to determine how to lessen impacts to Coal Communitiies when power plants are idled The areas we are focusing on are as follows: Workforce We submitted a plan to the legislature which can be viewed on the DEED website under ETAC plan All of these experiences have taught me that things can get done with people working together for a common goal Through building relationships we can open the lines of communication and tackle complex issues I am hoping to be elected to manage the administration and the operations of the county I will work hard with the people and the employees of the county I believe that we all have an obligation as community members to look out for each other My family has been active in the community for many years in different capacities I do feel like I could help to create a more positive environment for the employees in our counties governemnt all while keeping the budget in check I would need to educate myself on all sides of this issue to be able to stand opposed or in favor I would need to understand that impacts and the breadth of this issue I suppose I could research and reach out to others that are experts in these areas to see if there are short term and long term solutions available to people of the county I would research what others are doing to prepare for this issue Consult experts and the other board members to come up with ideas and potential solutions that may fit our needs as they relate to Itasca county and its communities Taxes are high for the people of Itasca county There is no doubt that people are feeling that way I for my part need to understand how they can be addressed in the county I know that some of the contributing factors are that we have spent money on infrastructure at the county level and in the school district Apart from that I believe in making sure that we are spending our money in the most efficient manner I am certain there are many costs in the county We need to attract and retain our talented employees blending with that staying true to budget is something I would strive for I believe in fair wages and benefits for employees and also ensuring that we can all afford to live and do business here at home Striking that balance is to me the way I will approach this seat Communication is critical to trust and transparency in any institution I would do the best I can to be honest and up front with the people of Itasca county I would be available to answer questions and try to show how processes work to those who don't understand them I feel like education of process can help to bring light to complex issues and how those issues are addressed I belive that is how things become more transparent Still have questions for the candidates? Contact information for all those who've filed to run for office can be found on Itasca County's website Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInGRAND RAPIDS (Northern News Now) - A special election has been triggered in Itasca County after voters elected a dead man to fill the open commissioner seat Michael “Burl” Ives died back in September at 57 years old He had already been serving as the Itasca County Commissioner for District 4 at the time of his death Ives won his race on Tuesday against Brian Oftelie by more than 2,000 votes county leaders say it would depend on how many candidates file to run the Aitkin-Itasca-Mille Lacs Violent Crimes Enforcement Team (AIM VCET) executed several search warrants in Grand Rapids and La Prairie Two men and a woman were taken into custody and later charged the three individuals made their initial court appearances and are being held at the Itasca County Jail with bail/bond amounts ranging from $80,000 to $ 250,000 of Grand Rapids was charged with 2 counts of Controlled substance in the First Degree Felon in Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition 1 count of Controlled Substance Crime in the Fifth Degree Methamphetamine-Related Crime Involving Children including Controlled Substance Crime in the First Degree Controlled Substance Crime in the Third Degree and Controlled Substance Crime in the Fifth Degree from Sandstone was charged with Controlled Substance Crime in the Third Degree 2 counts Controlled Substance Crime in the Fifth Degree The Aitkin-Itasca-Mille Lacs Violent Crimes Enforcement Team received help from the Grand Rapids Police Department and East Central Minnesota Drug Task Force BRAINERD — Kaitlyn Geschwill went 3-4 with a home run four RBIs and a run in an 8-7 Game One victory and pitched a 3-0 Game Two victory for the Central Lakes College Raiders She struck out five over five innings and allowed four runs Kierra Kohoutek was 1-3 with an RBI and two runs and Emily Rademacher and Josie Witter drove in runs Geschwill struck out nine over seven innings in Game Two (KVRR) — A deadly pursuit in Itasca County Minnesota on Sunday involved a 13-year-old driver Minnesota BCA says a deputy tried to stop 13-year-old Angelica Bryan of Cass Lake for driving with no headlights around 1:30 a.m Bryan eventually left the road and crashed into a tree The van had been stolen that night from a home in Cohasset GRAND RAPIDS — Kaitlyn Geschwill struck out five of the 18 batters she faced and held Itasca to two hits during a 9-0 Game One victory for the Central Lakes College Raiders Sunday Geschwill helped her cause by going 2-4 with a double Natalie Kossan provided most of the offense by going 3-3 with a double Kierra Kohoutek was 2-3 with two runs and an RBI and Meg Hattenberg was 2-4 with a run and an RBI Geschwill went 2-4 with a double and two RBIs in the 7-4 Game Two victory The Raiders pounded six doubles and built an early 4-2 lead opened the seventh with a walk and moved to third on Morgan Kloss’s double Cross scored on Lily Roehl’s sacrifice fly and Kloss scored on Kossan’s double for two insurance runs GRAND RAPIDS — A Northern Minnesota political organizer was charged with criminal vehicular manslaughter in Itasca County Court Tuesday of Grand Rapids allegedly hit Carter Haithcock of Goodland on Highway 169 near Nashwauk on July 3 and then fled the scene according to court filings and a Minnesota State Patrol report The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison Martin is the chair of the 8th Congressional District DFL and vice chair of the Itasca County DFL Law enforcement responded to a report of a person lying in the road just before midnight on July 3 While the reporting party was on the phone with dispatch another vehicle ran over the person in the road Based on the debris field and lack of damage to the vehicle officers believed another vehicle had struck Haithcock previously Haithcock had extensive injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after EMTs arrived The criminal complaint stated he spent the evening at the Nashwauk street dance then decided to walk home after an argument with a former romantic partner Toxicology showed alcohol and THC in his system July 4 to report she "may have been involved in the accident near Nashwauk." She told law enforcement she’d spent the day at East Range parades stopped for dinner in Mountain Iron and then drove home Martin allegedly told law enforcement she thought she had struck an owl or turkey and did not stop The complaint says Martin’s blood test showed negative results for all tested substances and footage from the restaurant in Mountain Iron shows she did not drink Footage also showed no visible damage to her vehicle at the time Another witness called law enforcement on July 8 and said he’d seen an individual wearing dark clothing walking in the road around the time of the accident and that he had nearly hit the individual Martin was on the phone with someone identified as J.F She then called him back and said nothing was wrong with her vehicle and something only hit her windshield Surveillance footage from the Nashwauk Sinclair shows a vehicle with a single headlight briefly stopping near the crash site just before the body was reported Footage shows Martin’s vehicle entering Grand Rapids with one working headlight about 20 minutes later Law enforcement’s inspection of her vehicle noted extensive damage to its front a piece of fabric consistent with the sweatshirt worn by Haithcock caught in the hood and blood on the passenger side windshield wiper and mirror The complaint says crash data from Martin’s vehicle shows her driving below the speed limit and then hitting her brakes just before the crash Martin is scheduled to appear before Judge Heidi M Signs of the Itasca-Heartland Connection Trail are emerging senior project manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks and Trails Division reports that tree clearing was recently completed for a 2.1-mile trail west of a tunnel under U.S paved trail will join an existing bike trail in Itasca State Park near the contact station and visitor center Construction is likely to begin in earnest in early May once the ground dries out slightly Houle Excavating of Little Falls is expected to finish this segment by Aug The 2023 Minnesota Legislature awarded $2.4 million in bonding for the environmental review design and construction of this trail into Itasca State Park The trail will eventually connect Itasca State Park and the Heartland Trail State bonding is necessary for that phase of the project Plans call for it to be built in segments east of the tunnel and south about 11.5 miles on county land to Emmaville a member of the citizen-led committee that spearheaded the multi-phased construction plan said they sent a $6.3-million request through State Sen Paul Utke for the 2025 Minnesota Legislature’s bonding bill "The preliminary plans for Phase ll (trail construction from the east side of the tunnel to Emmaville) is nearing completion and the construction corridor plan has been provided to our resource staff (natural and cultural) for review The Phase ll plan being completed includes a total of 4.4 miles of new trail to the ruffed grouse refuge.” According to DNR engineering specialist Dean Sether in Bemidji the current estimate for the 4.4-mile segment is $2.5 million “While the estimated cost may require us to consider a phased approach (less than the total 4.4 miles) to assure we remain within the available budget we will make the determination as the final plans are being prepared,” Skaar said the most optimistic view is that we would bid Phase ll later this summer for construction to begin late fall 2025 and be completed in 2026; however much depends upon the result of the resource assessments."