Detroit Lakes City Council approves public-use restrictions for cannabis products

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – The Detroit Lakes City Council unanimously passed restrictions on the public consumption of cannabis products during a special meeting of the council on Monday ahead of the Aug. 1 implementation of the state’s new recreational cannabis law.

Kelcey Klemm, city administrator for Detroit Lakes, explained the city’s new public consumption restrictions were copied right out of the state’s new law under possible implementation by local governing bodies.

“Mayor and Council, this is the second reading of the ordinance that was given first reading during the July city council meeting,” said Klemm. “And it’s basically following through with what’s allowed in statute for local jurisdictions to prohibit consumption of cannabis and cannabis products in public. The statute defines what is considered public and we basically used that same definition in our ordinance. “

No Detroit Lakes residents or council members spoke for, or against, the measure during the meeting.

The council also passed a change to the city’s administrative fines ordinance to allow the penalty for violating the new cannabis public-use restrictions to be punishable as a petty misdemeanor with a $150 fine.

Under the new ordinance, cannabis-product consumption within the Detroit Lakes city limits is confined to private residences, including the yard of that property.

Consumption is also allowed on private property, not generally accessible to the public, as long as that person is allowed to have those products on their property.

Lastly, under the new city ordinance, cannabis consumption will be allowed at establishments or specially permitted events that allow for consumption on-site.

Councilmember Jay Deraney, alderman at-large for Detroit Lakes, was the only member absent and did not cast a vote.

Menahga man  sentenced to 31 months for failing to register as predatory offender

A Menahga man was sentenced to 31 months in prison in Wadena County for failing to register as a predatory offender.

According to the Detroit Lakes Tribune, on April 22, 2022, a Wadena County Sheriff’s Office investigator was conducting a compliance check on registered predatory offenders and was informed by staff at the Ben Hill treatment facility that 64-year-old Michael Dean Lustila, of Menahga, had left the facility two months prior to the investigator’s call.

The officer then contacted a different treatment facility and was told that Lustila had been there in March 2022, but had left to go to third clinic, Catilina Care, located in Sauk Rapids.

Investigators contacted the third treatment facility and were informed that Lustila showed up to the clinic, but immediately left and didn’t fill out any forwarding paperwork.

Lustila was convicted of felony criminal sexual conduct in 1991, which require him to register his address with law enforcement. He also holds a previous conviction for felony assault.

Lustila was eventually apprehended in May 2023 and is currently incarcerated at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Faribault.

Crow Wing County sheriff’s deputy rear-ends vehicle, cruiser starts on fire

A Crow Wing County sheriff’s deputy was injured, along with three other vehicle occupants, as the result of a three-vehicle crash Monday afternoon on Highway 371, just north of the Brainerd.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, on July 24 at 1:57 p.m., a 2018 Buick Regal was stopped in the left lane of southbound Highway 371 with a 2021 Dodge Durango stopped behind them. The Durango was then rearended by a Crow Wing County sheriff’s office cruiser,  a 2021 Ford Explorer driven by 42-year-old Matthew Wayne Jorgens, of Nisswa, which was then pushed into the Regal.

According to the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office, the police cruiser then started on fire and was deemed a “total loss.”

Jorgens, along with two Minneapolis residents and a 78-year-old Brainerd woman, were all transported to Essentia Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

All four vehicle occupants were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash and the incident remains under an active investigation being led by the Minnesota State Patrol.

Preparations for the 88th Northwest Water Carnival in 2024 already underway; new co-admirals chosen

Preparations are already underway for next year’s 88th annual Northwest Water Carnival in 2024 following the announcement of the festival’s new co-admirals by the Detroit Lakes Jaycees on Monday.

Rachel Kohler and Jack LaBarre were selected by the group to lead planning and the organization of next year’s summer festival.

Kohler said she didn’t think she would ever want the co-admiral job after watching the stress level of others steering the annual 10-day, event-filled party with tens of thousands of dollars on the line. 

“I’ve been to many Water Carnivals and then when I became a Jaycee, I actually thought to myself, ‘I don’t think I’d even want that job,’ just because I watched what they kind of do,” said Kohler. “And, holy buckets, they do a lot.”

But, she said, when she was asked, she knew she’d regret it, if she turned down the opportunity.

” I went into this year thinking it was my final year,” she said. “After thinking about it, you’d just regret it if you didn’t do it.”

She also said her and Labarre should work well together since their personalities are complementary and they can fill in each other’s weaknesses. Adding, they both have different tastes in music which should bring a slight pivot to the artists that will be booked next year.

Kohler also said she saw a few things over the last two weeks that she wants to adjust for next year’s Water Carnival.

“A lot of people left out of the Bash on the Beach area to go get food,” said Kohler. “So, maybe bringing in a vendor or two … so you don’t actually have to leave the barricades, but can stay inside the Bash area and get food.”

She also said the Jaycees need a lot more help and volunteers for next year’s Water Carnival because this year’s festival was staffed by about 20 people for the whole 10 days. Kohler encouraged anyone between 19 to 40 years old to seriously consider joining the Jaycees to help bolster their volunteers and attendance at all of the group’s future events.

“On top of just making new friends, that feels more like a family than friends, just that giving back to the community is what really drives me to continue to do it,” said Kohler. “I always want to be that person that is out there giving back more than receiving. So, if that’s something that you are interested in, than this is definitely the group that you want to join.”

For more information about the Jaycees, or to reach out about joining the volunteer service organization, visit the Jaycees Facbook page at: www.facebook.com/dljaycees.

The 88th Northwest Water Carnival will be held from July 12 to July 21, 2024.

Wallin memorial at Scheel’s Arena in Fargo begins at 1 p.m.

Fargo has announced details for the celebration of life event for fallen Fargo police officer Jake Wallin.   

The doors at Scheel’s arena will open at 11 am Wednesday morning with the service beginning at 1pm.   

Law enforcement will provide security at the arena and backpacks, purses and bags, including clear bags, will not be allowed.   

The police-led procession will leave the east side of the police headquarters building and head south on 25th Street to I-94.  using 32nd Avenue, Seter Parkway and 55th Street, it will proceed to the north side of the arena.   

The only entrance for the public will be the main entrance on the south side.  

Lake Park home saved by firefighters, blaze contained to attic

A home in Lake Park was saved by the firefighting efforts of four lakes area fire departments on Tuesday morning.

According to the Lake Park Police Department, on July 25 at 8:41 a.m., a passerby noticed, and reported, smoke coming out of a the attic of a residence on 2nd Street in Lake Park.

Members of the Lake Park, Audubon, Hawley and Wolf Lake Fire Departments responded to the scene and were able to contain the fire to the attic.

The homeowner was out-of-state at the time of the fire, but two house sitters and four dogs were at the residence. Both the house sitters and animals were able to evacuate the house safely and without injury.

In the news release, Lake Park Police Chief Brady Burnside said the home suffered mainly smoke and water damage with minor fire damage in the attic and on the roof.

Law enforcement said, while the cause of the fire remains under investigation through the state fire marshal’s office, it does not seem suspicious in nature.

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