North Central Camp Cherith camper killed in boat strike on Lake Six in Otter Tail County

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – A North Central Camp Cherith camper was struck and killed by a boat while tubing on Lake Six in northern Otter Tail County on Thursday evening.

According to an Otter Tail County news release, on June 22 at 4:15 p.m., emergency dispatchers received a report of a boat striking a swimmer on Lake Six in Hobart Township with the individual suffering life-threatening injuries at the time of the call.

13-year-old Benjamin Rennie, of the Andover-Coon Rapids area, and another juvenile were being pulled by a boat in an inner tube when the kids fell out of the tube. Camp employee, 27-year-old Meghan Westra, of Fargo, was piloting the boat and returned to pick up the campers when the boat accidentally struck Rennie.

Staff members attempted life-saving measures while first responders were on-route to the scene at the camp.

Upon arrival, emergency personnel continued life-saving measures, but were unsuccessful.

Both campers were wearing floatation devices at the time of the boat strike and, the sheriff’s office stated, no criminal charges are anticipated in connection to the incident, but the investigation remains ongoing.

In a social media post by Camp Cherith MN following the incident, the executive director for the camp, Kendra Mohn, said: “Please pray for the camper’s family and all those grieving after this incident.”

Sen. Rob Kupec and Rep. Jim Joy hold joint town hall in Detroit Lakes on June 22

Lakes area legislators, Sen. Rob Kupec, DFL-Moorhead, and Rep. Jim Joy, R-Hawley, held a joint town hall attended by dozens on Thursday at La Burista in Detroit Lakes.

The event was hosted by the League of Women Voters and lawmakers recapped many of the legislative accomplishments, or detriments, from the 2023 session, depending on which one was asked the question.

Joy said the state’s surplus money was used to pay for ‘wish list’ items for the DFL instead of being returned to the state taxpayers. He was also upset that an income-cap was placed on individuals paying tax on their social security benefits.

“If you’re the kid that was 10 years old and didn’t play the Xbox and started a lemonade stand at the end of your driveway and, all of a sudden, you became an entrepreneur and made a great big fortune out of your lemonade stands and did real well, you are getting shamed for that because you are not getting your social security tax relief,” said Joy. “You are getting taxed. I think the surplus went out fast and I just think the tax increases, there was a lot of wish list that got filled with the money that should’ve went back to the people.”

Kupec said he agreed with Joy on the social security tax relief issue, but was still happy 76% of Minnesotans will now no longer have to pay state taxes on those benefits.

“Seventy-six percent of Minnesotans now will not pay any tax on their social security,” said Kupec. “I too wanted it to be 100% of that. And I would say people who are in my party, who are much further left of me, they did not want to see that social security tax cut … and I think (Joy) is right, it’s a fairness issue. You pay taxes on that once, you shouldn’t have to pay taxes on it again.”

Kupec said the tax bill passed by the legislature this session featured $3 billion in tax cuts and credits, plus, property tax relief provisions for seniors and increased local government aid spending, which should help small rural cities with their budgets and save their residents some money. Adding, the Detroit Lakes police department should get close to $500,000 in one-time funds from the state’s public safety bill.

By the end of the 90-minute forum, at least a half-dozen different topics were discussed, and the lawmakers offered their closing thoughts.

Joy concluded the forum by saying worried to see what the state budgets are going to look like in 2 years.

“A lot of things happened this session and I can’t put the crystal ball together and I’m worried about the taxes that are going to happen,” said Joy, during the closing statement. “I hope we don’t tax people out of their houses who are on a fixed income. I am worried about that, and 160% on license fees worries me. We didn’t need that, but it went through and that’s what’s going to happen. When you have a $17.5 billion surplus, to spend that and spend the other $22 billion added to our budget now worries me about what it’s going to look like two years from now.”

Kupec used the time to highlight his personal electronics right to repair bill that passed during the session, which gives individuals the right to maintain or fix their own electronics without having to go through the original manufacturer. In fact, he said, the manufacturer needs to send you the repair tools for the device. 

“This is a really good bill that is not only good for economics, but it’s good for you,” said Kupec. “The electronics that you own are yours and you should have the right to take them to whomever you want. This bill requires (the manufacturer) to give you the manuals, the tools, instructions, free of charge for people or businesses so they can get their stuff repaired.”

Some attendees said it was refreshing to have both lawmakers from opposing political parties hold an event together because it offered a much broader viewpoint on each topic area discussed.

Both Kupec and Joy stayed for at least 30 minutes after the event to talk to anyone who wanted to ask follow-up questions about the issues they discussed during the town hall. Both lawmakers also encouraged residents to reach out via email if they have concerns about issues within the district.

Theilen Foundation holds youth football camp in Detroit Lakes

The Thielen Foundation brought its highly-anticipated youth football camp to Detroit Lakes on Saturday, the first time that the camp has been held in Detroit Lakes. When registration for the camp opened March, the 200-camper session sold out in about five minutes. A second camp was opened shortly after that, and that one sold out just as quickly.

Adam Thielen, who signed a free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers in March after ten seasons with his hometown Minnesota Vikings, says it’s incredible to see support from his family, friends, and mentors from his high school days…even though he’s not with the Vikings anymore.

The Thielen Foundation holds youth camps across the state, with the mission to create programs that will equip and empower kids to reach their full potential in life. The Thielen Foundation has made impacts locally, donating new football uniforms and weight equipment to Detroit Lakes High School, but also gives generously to underserved communities across the state:

Since 2018, the Thielen Foundation has put more than $2.5 million back into Minnesota communities.

Three injured in Highway 10 crash on Friday morning

Three people were injured in a two-vehicle crash Friday morning on Highway 10 between Frazee and Perham in Otter Tail County.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, on June 23 at 8:37 a.m., emergency dispatchers received a report of a vehicle crash with possible injuries at the Highway 10 and County Road 60 intersection in Gorman Township.

A 2005 Volkswagen Jetta, driven by 18-year-old Austin Emil Huhta of Menahga, was westbound on County Road 60 when it collided with a southbound 1999 Buick Century, driven by 21-year-old Morgan Elizabeth Taylor of Perham, on Highway 10.

Both drivers and an 18-year-old passenger in the Jetta suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash and were transported to Perham Hospital for treatment.

All three occupants were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash and alcohol is not believed to have played a role in the crash.

Five lakes area lakes to be treated for aquatic invasive species on June 26-27

Five Detroit Lakes area lakes will be chemically treated on Monday, June 26 and Tuesday, June 27, by the Pelican River Watershed District to combat the spread of curly-leaf pondweed and flowering rush, two aquatic invasive species.

The five area lakes are: Big and Little Detroit Lake, Curfman Lake, Lake Sallie, Lake Melissa and Muskrat Lake.

Treatments will involve the herbicides: Endothall and Diquat, and individuals should not drink the lake water or use the lakes to water livestock for up to 14 days following the treatments. Irrigation should cease for five days following the treatments.

Fargo South High School athletic trainer arrested for sexual assault

A male athletic trainer employed at Fargo South High School has been arrested on charges of sexual assault following a report made by a student regarding an inappropriate incident involving the trainer. 

The investigation was initiated by the School Resource Officer, leading to the arrest of Levi Tande, a 36-year-old Health Sciences teacher at Davies High School who had been working for Sanford Health during the summer through their athletic training services program. 

Fargo Public Schools and Sanford Health issued a joint statement expressing their commitment to taking all allegations of staff impropriety seriously and ensuring the safety of their students. 

As a result, Tande has been placed on administrative leave by the school district, and Sanford Health has suspended him without pay pending further investigation.

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