Becker County looks into $150,000 Wannigan Park funding; agrees to become financial host for project grant writing
Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Organizers making a push to turn Wannigan Park in Frazee into a regional destination presented a $150,000 funding request to the Becker County Board on Tuesday.
Plans for the regional park are still in their beginning stages, but, Karen Pifher, owner of Creating Community Consulting, said, according to their studies, for every dollar of investment spent into the park, the region and Frazee, can expect triple that amount returned through economic spending by the park’s visitors.
“Wannigan Park will be one of the only regional parks north of St. Cloud in Greater Minnesota,” said Pifher. “The regional impact, estimated by Minnesota Parks and Trails, is almost $4.50 for every $1.70 invested. So just recognizing that this is a very significant economic development investment for Frazee and for our region. We’re really excited about the increased retail traffic, tourism, sales, jobs, everything that this will bring.”
The total cost of the Wannigan Park development proposal is $10.8 million, but that cost is broken up into three different phases.
Pifher said the group is still focusing on Phase I of the project, which will provide roads, trails and install camping areas at Wannigan Park so visitors will have places to access.
She also said the Wannigan Park location will be right in the middle of three prominent major hiking trails that pass through the state.
“Within the park, the Heartland Trail will come from the south and go to Highway 87,” she said. “The North Country Trail comes from the north and goes down throughout the park and the state water trail, the Otter Tail River, goes through there so they all connect. This will be a huge opportunity for camping and for sightseeing. There will be many oversights, kayak, canoe launches and other opportunities within that park. “
Following the presentation, the Becker County commissioners all seemed receptive to the idea and funding request.
Barry Nelson, chair of the Becker County Board, said the project would be an ideal recipient of the county’s sales tax dollars that must be used for road and trail projects, but they wouldn’t be able to authorize the funds until after an annual public hearing in December.
“Our sales tax revenue has gone up considerably every year,” said Nelson. “So I think that’s a good fit. But, with that, we have to have a public hearing.”
The county commissioners did agree to submit a letter of support and become the financial host for the various grant applications for the project … because this is a road improvement (fund). It’s an annual review of what projects, and these trails are not part of it as of now. We’d have to change that, and say that in a public hearing and then identify those.”
The funding request is expected to be addressed during the Truth in Taxation hearing on Dec. 14.
Smith, Klobuchar join Senate Mental Health caucus to promote health solutions
The new bipartisan U.S. Senate Mental Health Caucus launched on Wednesday as a forum for Senators and their staff to collaborate on and promote mental health solutions.
Democratic U.S. Senators Tina Smith of Minnesota and Alex Padilla of California, along with Republican Senators Joni Ernst of Iowa and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, were driving forces behind the new caucus. Smith says of the first four who signed on, each has experiences with mental health challenges.
Smith is a member of the Senate Health and Education Committee and has openly spoken on the Senate Floor about dealing with depression when she was in college.
Others who readily joined in include U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Fetterman (D-PA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
Fetterman has been very open about his mental health challenges, and Senator Ernst is the first female combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate. She has watched fellow soldiers struggle with PTSD, anxiety and depression when they came home.
In an interview, Sen. Smith said: “I think it’s just a sign of how much people are focusing on the importance of mental health and how committed we are to really helping people who suffer with it. One in five Americans will experience some mental health challenge over the next year, and yet many people still really struggle to get access to the care that they need. And there’s still a stigma out there, which causes people to be sometimes afraid to speak out and get what they need. I think having this caucus will start to break down some of that stigma, and really will allow us to figure out how to take even more action to help people who need it.”
In recent years, Congress has worked on a bipartisan basis to implement crucial mental health services, including establishing the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
The full mission statement of the Senate Mental Health Caucus is available here.
Story by Jennifer Lewerenz / KNSI
Alexandria resident honored with statewide land caretaker award
Alexandria resident Naima Dhore received an inaugural Unsung Caretaker Award from Upstream, a new statewide initiative celebrating Minnesota’s natural places and the people who care for them.
The award program honors 10 people, three organizations and one community across the state for their ongoing dedication to caring for their natural places.
Dhore is a Somali-American farmer operating in Alexandria who specializes in growing foods popular in Somali cuisine, including millet and okra. Her sustainable agriculture practice produces crops without chemical sprays or the need to till the soil.
Dhore said she strives for a zero-waste farm avoiding the use of outside products when possible.
Andy Goldman-Gray, initiative director for Upstream, said: “We’re delighted to award these outstanding individuals and organizations for their contributions to their community and our state. We are stronger stewards of Minnesota when we share this unique value of caring for our natural places. We are grateful to these honorees for inspiring others to care for this place we share and love.”
A news release stated, Upstream was founded on the belief that Minnesotans can rise above their differences to focus on caring for the places they love. The culture campaign is a celebration of Minnesota’s natural places and the people who care for them.
Dhore was recognized at Upstream’s inaugural awards dinner with other winners from across the state on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at The Trailhead at the Loppet Foundation in Minneapolis.
As part of the award, winners will receive $250 to use for their volunteer efforts.
Fergus Falls fire department to hold hiring open house Oct. 23
The Fergus Falls Fire Department is holding a hiring open house next Monday in an effort to draw more applicants into becoming paid, on-call fire fighters.
The event is scheduled for Monday, October 23rd, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Fergus Falls Fire Station.
Some of the mandatory qualifications for a position in the department include:
- Being at least 18 years old and the ability to respond to calls at all hours.
- Applicants are required to live within a 10-minute drive time to ensure quick response.
- Additionally, there’s a unique opportunity for eligible candidates to reside at the fire station.
The duties of Paid On-Call Firefighters involve various aspects of emergency response, including firefighting, emergency medical aid, technical rescue, hazardous materials handling, fire prevention, life safety education, continuous training, and equipment maintenance.
The Fire Department will provide extensive training for successful candidates.
Applications for the position should be submitted to Human Resources by Wednesday, October 25th, at 3 p.m.
The hiring process also includes a written test on Thursday, November 2nd, at 6:30 p.m., followed by interviews on November 13th & 14th.
The final step is the Physical Agility Test, which is scheduled for Saturday, November 18th.
This event will present an opportunity for individuals and their families to explore the requirements and benefits of joining the Fergus Fall Fire Department as a paid on-call firefighters.
Baxter nurse charged for fraudulent opioid prescriptions
A registered nurse in Baxter, Minnesota is accused in federal court of fraudulently obtaining prescription opioid medications from a hospice clinic.
According to prosecutors 33-year-old Cambie Broker, an RN case manager, entered false prescription requests into the clinic’s software program to obtain oxycodone, fentanyl and hydromorphone for illegal sale and personal use.
Broker made her initial court appearance Wednesday before a U.S. magistrate judge.
MN AG Ellison shuts down 23 nonprofits for fraud concerns
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced that his office is shutting down 23 nonprofits in the state that were defrauding the Federal Child Nutrition Program.
Ellison alleged that the groups were created or revived around the start of the pandemic – many giving false addresses, not complying with federal reporting requirements, and not appearing to have legitimate on-site activities.
Ellison said: “Nonprofits are supposed to benefit the public — not defraud it. Most nonprofits work hard and do good work to help the people of Minnesota — but not these sham organizations. I am seeking to permanently shut down these sham nonprofits so they can’t be revived to defraud the public again.”
Over two-thirds of the organizations were located in Hennepin County.
All but three of the non-profits were found to be connected to the “Feeding our Future” scandal, which defrauded the government out of $250 million.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced federal criminal charges in the massive fraud scheme in September of 2022.
The fraud exploited a federally-funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. At least 60 co-conspirators have been charged related to that case, which was said to be the largest COVID-related fraud in the nation.
The complaints were filed in the Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Stearns, and Rice Counties, but the Attorney General will file a motion to consolidate them all in Hennepin County.
All-clear given after possible explosive device found at Fargo intersection Thursday
The Fargo Police Department says there is no threat to the public after investigating a possible explosive device in the area of Broadway and Main Ave. in downtown Fargo on Thursday afternoon.
At about 1 p.m., Fargo Police were advising residents in the area to shelter in place others to avoid the area while they secured the intersection.
Members of the Red River Valley Bomb Squad were dispatched to the scene and determined the pressure cooker found near the intersection was not an explosive device.
The shelter-in-place order was lifted just after 2 p.m.
TO READ MORE LAKES AREA NEWS, AND LISTEN LIVE, DOWNLOAD THE LAKES AREA RADIO APP FREE IN THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE OR APPLE APP STORE.
Latest News
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!