Nearly 30 holiday floats join the 2023 Parade of Lights in Detroit Lakes on Monday

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – In a colorful display of holiday cheer, nearly 30 parade floats adorned with twinkling lights made their way down Washington Avenue in Detroit Lakes for the 2023 Parade of Lights on Monday.

The floats were decorated and entered into the parade by area businesses and organizations, and adults and kids alike braved the cold temperatures to view the festive displays.

Carrie Johnston, president of the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce, a chief sponsor of the event, said anytime you can get this many people downtown on a cold night is a “win” for the community.

“I love to see kids all bundled up,” said Johnston. “It seems like every year this is the coldest day in November, yet it brings so many smiles. Frozen smiles, but it brings a lot of smiles. And, of course, to fill our downtown on a Monday evening, what could be better.”

The evening also saw a s’more roasting station just inside the Washington Square Mall entrance, near La Barista, which allowed attendees to roast mini marshmallows over chafing burners.

Another highlight of the evening was the lighting of the Detroit Lakes Christmas Tree in front of the city’s public library on the corner of Washington Avenue and Frazee Street.

Johnston added the parade also unofficially kicks-off a holiday season in Detroit Lakes with events, bazaars and community activities almost every day during the month of December.

“There are so many things going on, not only in downtown, but all throughout Detroit Lakes and throughout the area,” she said. “Shop local, think local. I don’t think it can get much better than finding Santa Claus around every corner. From free movies to holiday bazaars, there are really just so many things. Check our website, visitdetroitlakes.com, we have a huge calendar of events, lots of things to do between now through the end of the year and let’s just keep things going.”

In Detroit Lakes this weekend, Young Life will be continuing their Christmas Tree sale; a Christmas Market take place at the Barn in Dunvilla; a Holiday Bazaar will be held at Washington Square Mall; and Forest Edge Art Gallery in Vergas will be holding their Christmas Open House.

For more information, check the Detroit Lakes Chamber website at: https://visitdetroitlakes.com/events/calendar/

Man injured during Interstate 94 crash in Otter Tail County Tuesday morning

A man was injured during a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 94 in Otter Tail County on Tuesday morning.

On Nov. 28 at 7:10 a.m., a Mercedes C Sedan, driven by 47-year-old Lloyd Barima Donkor of Lakeville was westbound on Interstate 94 near mile marker 46 in Oscar Township when it entered the median of the roadway, crossed into the eastbound lanes of traffic and came to rest in the southside ditch.

Airbags deployed in the Mercedes during the crash.

Donkor suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the incident and was transported to Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls for treatment.

Donkor was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash and law enforcement believes alcohol did not factor into the incident.

Fergus Falls teams with UMN Extension for inclusivity assessment

A group in Fergus Falls has joined hands with the University of Minnesota Extension to conduct a comprehensive assessment focusing on inclusion. 

The initiative aims to understand the dynamics of inclusivity within multiple social sectors within the community and identify areas for improvement.

The “Fergus Falls Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Assessment” is designed by the University of Minnesota Extension to evaluate both organizational and community-led efforts in embracing diversity.

According a news release, the assessment focuses on seven key social sectors: 

• the school system 
• health care system 
• law enforcement 
• local government 
• non-profit organizations (including social services, service clubs, and local foundations) 
• religious organizations 
• and Business community/chamber

Recognizing that each sector may encounter and adapt to change differently, the assessment aims to gauge how each sector addresses inclusion.

Residents are encouraged to participate in the assessment by completing short surveys for as many of the seven sectors as they wish.

The survey is designed to be user-friendly and time-efficient, and takes only about 5 minutes per survey.

The website site for the assessment is: https://sites.google.com/umn.edu/fergusfallswelcoming/home

To find a link to the survey page, check out our station’s website or find the link on the Lakes Area Radio app.

The deadline to complete the surveys is Sunday, December 10.

Following the completion of the assessment, the University of Minnesota Extension will evaluate the responses and share its findings in January 2024.

For any inquiries about the assessment, individuals are encouraged to contact Scott Chazdon, Extension Evaluation and Research Specialist, at 612-624-0982 or via email at schazdon@umn.edu.

Story by Zakk Daniels / KBRF

Ice In officially called on Detroit Lake Monday night

Winter has finally covered Detroit Lake as “Ice In” was officially called on Monday, Nov. 27.

Dick Hecock, secretary for the Lake Detroiters Association, said this year’s “Ice In” date was only about two days later than the 30-year-average, but added it’s about nine days later than the 113-year overall average, but he thinks record keeping back then may have been a little bit more relaxed.

“If you think back 120 years, there weren’t even roads around the lake” said Hecock. “So, there were a lot of places on the lake that weren’t visible. And my guess is, they went down Washington Avenue, they took a look at Little Detroit and they decided whether it was frozen or not. And they got back in their carriage and trotted back uptown and wrote their stories.”

Hecock has been officially recording the Ice In/Out dates on Detroit Lake for the last 30 years and said he follows the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency guidelines for calling the “Ice In” date, which states 90% of the lake’s surface must be covered. He said there is about a five-acre patch on Big Detroit with open water, but lake has eclipsed the 90% threshold.

In the last 30 years, “Ice In” has fallen between November 11 to December 16.

He also said much of the official record keeping prior to 1993, when Hecock moved to Detroit Lakes, was preserved in large part by former Detroit Lakes Tribune sports editor Ralph Anderson.

“We he did was he gave me 90 years’ worth of data that had been done before,” he said. “And it was unclear where that came from. He didn’t know completely. He had done some of it himself and there were others apparently involved. But nobody seems to have a good handle on who collected the data early. And where it was collected and under what standard that were used.”

This year’s open water season on Detroit Lake lasted 207 days, which is about two weeks shorter than the 30-year average, but, Hecock said, that is partly due to “Ice Out” being later than normal, occurring on May 5 this year.

Woman injured in Douglas County crash on Interstate 94 Sunday evening

A woman was injured during a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 94 in Douglas County on Sunday evening.

On Nov. 26 at 4:46 p.m., a 2011 Ford Fiesta, driven by 20-year-old Cherie Zhou Wen Elsner of Moorhead, was eastbound on I-94 at mile marker 107 in Hudson Township when it left the roadway and rolled over.

Elsner suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the crash and was transported to Alomere Health in Alexandria for treatment.

Elsner was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash and law enforcement believes alcohol did not factor into the incident.

Feminine hygiene products seized at MSP International Airport

Federal officials at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport clamped down on an illegal shipment of feminine hygiene products headed for a suburban Twin Cities home.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the packages included more than 2,500 prefilled syringes and the drug required handlers to wear chemical-resistant gloves to get a grip on the contraband.

The gel was found in pink packaging and appeared ready for resale. If sold individually, the contents would have been worth an estimated $19,000. 

The mixture came from Hong Kong on November 20th and, according to officials, the items violated the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Customs says drugs bought from overseas, unregulated companies online are often produced without protections for users. Adding, nonregulated companies often contain dangerous contaminants or don’t work at all.

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy says only three percent of online drug makers reviewed comply with U.S. practices and standards.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends people talk to their doctor about medical issues. Healthcare providers can prescribe treatment for patients and monitor potential side effects. Doctors will also prescribe or recommend medications made in licensed facilities.

Story by Jake Judd / KNSI

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