Detroit Lakes man killed in Highway 59 crash Friday evening
Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – A Detroit Lakes man was killed during a two-vehicle crash involving a semi-tractor trailer on Friday evening in Becker County.
On Dec. 1 at 4:11 p.m., a 2009 Hyundai Sonata, driven by 36-year-old Timothy Lee Mitchell of Detroit Lakes, was southbound on Highway 59, just south of Tower Road in Detroit Township, when it crossed the centerline and struck a northbound 2024 Frieghtliner M2 semi-tractor trailer in a head-on collision.
Airbags deployed in the Sonata during the crash, but Mitchell was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the semi, 53-year-old Michael Lynn Guhlke of Detroit Lakes, reported no injuries during the incident.
The Minnesota State Patrol have not been able to make a determination whether or not both drivers were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the collision.
Law enforcement believes alcohol did not factor into crash.
Becker County Administrator Pat Oman receives job offer from Ft. Meade, Florida
Becker County Administrator Pat Oman could be leaving the lakes area to become the new city manager in Ft. Meade, Florida after the city’s commission voted on a 3-1 vote to extend Oman an offer on Wednesday.
According to the Lakeland Ledger, Oman was one of two finalists for the position after the city’s former manager left the job in August following an official reprimand by the commission for purchasing a fire truck without their approval and regular criticism on social media by some area residents.
Oman was selected following multiple interviews with Ft. Meade commissioners beginning in October.
During his interviews, the Ledger reported Oman cited one of his accomplishments during his time in Becker County was raising the county’s Standard and Poor’s credit rating from AA to AA+.
Oman requested a salary of $125,000 per year from the city of Ft. Meade, which is about $16,000 less than his current administrator salary in Becker County.
The vote during the Ft. Meade special meeting on Nov. 29 was not without controversy since two incoming commissioners, who had just won election to the city board, had not yet taken their seats on the commission and were not consulted on the decision.
The city’s interim city manager said the hiring decision timeline was driven by a clause in the city’s charter that limited the interim manager’s service to five months, which expires on Jan. 21. She also said she wanted to leave time for contract negotiations to take place with Oman and for him to give necessary notice to the Becker County Board.
In an interview with the Ledger, Oman said Ft. Meade is a “wonderful city … with untapped potential.”
Oman said: “I think having a city manager with the economic development background and doing those successes, I think will be useful.”
Adding: “I’m looking for something in the next 10 to 15 years of my career where I could advance another type of development.”
Oman has served as the Becker County Administrator since December 2021.
Wahpeton man killed in Clay County crash Friday evening
A man from Wahpeton, N.D., was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 75 in Clay County on Friday evening.
On Dec. 1 at 5:17 p.m., a 1994 Chevrolet Blazer, driven by 60-year-old Steven Jay Tetzlaff, of Wahpeton, was southbound on Highway 75 when it struck a northbound 2002 Audi A6, driven by 69-year-old Linda Marie Quam of Fargo, at the 60th Avenue intersection in Moorhead Township.
Airbags deployed in the Blazer during the crash.
Tetzlaff suffered severe injuries during the collision and was transported to Sanford Hospital in Fargo where he was later pronounced dead.
Quam reported no injuries at the scene.
In a preliminary crash report, law enforcement believes Tetzlaff was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the collision.
They added that alcohol is not believed to have been a factor in the incident.
Fargo-based Fox affiliate KVRR to be sold to Coastal Television; deal would need FCC approval
The owners of KVRR-TV, a Fargo-based Fox Television affiliate, have entered into an agreement on the sale of the station.
Red River Broadcast Co., LLC has signed an asset purchase agreement with Coastal Television.
Coastal Television operates ten TV stations in seven states; Alaska, Wyoming, New York, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and Indiana.
Red River Chief Operating Officer Kathy Lau said, quote: “We think Coastal will be a good fit for carrying on the important work and commitment of our stations in our communities.“
The sale would also include Red River’s TV station in Duluth – KQDS-TV.
The purchase is subject to approval by the Federal Communications Commission.
Counterfeit $5 bills passed in Detroit Lakes last week
Counterfeit $5 dollar bills have been reported as being circulated in Detroit Lakes over the past week.
In a social media post on Thursday, the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce warned lakes area businesses the fake currency has “movie prop use only” and “motion picture use” written on the front and back of the counterfeit money.
If a cashier encounters any fake currency, police say they should refuse to accept it, demand real payment and contact law enforcement. Adding, if any business has video surveillance footage of individuals passing the fake cash, they should turn it over to law enforcement so they can make a positive ID of the individual.
The investigation into the counterfeit bills remains ongoing.
North Dakota and Minnesota Republicans divided over Santos expulsion vote
Republican George Santos of New York is now the sixth member of the U.S. House to be expelled by his colleagues.
Two-hundred-ninety votes were needed for his expulsion and the vote total in the U.S. House Friday was 311-to-114.
105 Republicans joined 206 Democrats in voting for Santos’ dismissal.
North Dakota’s Republican Representative Kelly Armstrong and Minnesota Republican Eighth District Congressman Pete Stauber voted to oust Santos, while Minnesota Republican Seventh District Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach, along with other Minnesota Republican representatives, Tom Emmer and Brad Finstad, voted against expulsion.
Minnesota Democratic Representatives Ilhan Omar, Betty McCollum and Angie Craig all voted in-favor of Santos’ expulsion while MN Representative Dean Phillips did not cast a vote, but, in a statement on X, stated he is against corruption and would have voted for Santos’ expulsion as well.
According to a House Ethics Committee report, Santos broke federal law when he allegedly spent campaign funds on cosmetic treatments, clothing and an adult website, among other potential violations of campaign finance law.
COVID cases on the rise in Minnesota; more than 250% increase in northwest Minnesota cases
New wastewater data from the University of Minnesota shows an uptick in COVID-19 cases statewide.
The data runs through Nov. 26, when people were still traveling for the holiday. Statewide, the data show there has been a 51% increase in COVID cases over the last two weeks, and a 21% increase over the last week. During the week of Thanksgiving more than 180 people in Minnesota were hospitalized with COVID-19.
Areas of northern and northwestern Minnesota — including Bemidji, Moorhead, and Thief River Falls — all saw an increase of over 250% in the last two weeks. However, COVID loads in southern Minnesota — including Albert Lea, Rochester, Lanesboro, and Winona — remained steady compared to the weeks prior.
The Centers for Disease Control says that COVID-19 activity remains elevated nationwide, though RSV test positivity exceeds COVID-19 test positivity. Minnesota’s respiratory illness activity level remains minimal compared to the rest of the nation.
Still, the CDC recommends that all people ages 6 months and older stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines and their seasonal flu vaccine. As of Nov. 18, 15.7% of adults have received their updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Ice anglers could be fined $100 this winter for leaving trash on lake ice thanks to new law
Anglers headed out on the ice this winter should be aware of a new state law that aims to keep lakes clean.
The law, which took effect July 1, requires all trash to be placed in a container that’s secured to an ice house or vehicle. That includes beverage containers, cigarette butts and fish remains.
The new law gives conservation officers the ability to educate people first, and take enforcement action when necessary. Violating the law is a petty misdemeanor and could result in a $100 fine.
A MN DNR official said, in the springtime, conservation officers and lakeshore property owners routinely find beer cans, pop bottles, cardboard, and, what they described as the most concerning, human waste.
They added they hope the new law will direct that refuse into the proper bins on shore
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