Ponsford man stabbed in Pine Point, suspect arrested

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – A Ponsford man was stabbed in Pine Point Village in Becker County early Thursday morning and needed to be transported to an area hospital for treatment.

According to the Becker County Sheriff’s Office, on June 29 at 2:27 a.m., emergency dispatchers received a report that a man was stabbed and required medical attention.

Upon arrival, 34-year-old James Kettle, of Ponsford, was found conscious and had suffered a stab wound to his chest. He was transported to Essentia Health St. Mary’s in Detroit Lakes and his condition is currently unknown.

The suspect fled the scene before officers arrived, but was later identified as 25-year-old Marcus Lee Waybenais, of Walker, Minn.

Waybenais was found several hours later and arrested pending charges for first- and second-degree assault.

The news release also stated the stabbing is not related to the Pine Point homicide investigation involving Michael Croud.

Highway 34 road work to begin July 6; expect major delays between Detroit Lakes and Osage

Drivers in the lakes area can expect major delays after the 4th of July holiday as road construction on Highway 34 begins on July 6 between Detroit Lakes and Osage.

According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, construction crews will begin setting up detours along the 21-mile road project next Thursday as they prepare the work zone.

Crews will begin culvert replacement at Highway 34 and County Road 29 on Monday, July 10, and head eastward, which will include intermittent road closures along the route.

The agency is warning motorists they should expect long delays and encounter multiple road crews along the roadway.

Thru-traffic on Highway 34 will be detoured to County Road 47, Highway 87 and County Road 29 during the road work. The agency also stated drivers that do not have a destination inside the work zone must use the posted detour.

New pavement will be laid beginning in August, which will also include a bridge replacement at the Shell River, near Osage.

The $15.7 million road resurfacing project on Highway 34 is expect to be completed by mid-October.

Water rescue teams recover a body from the Red River near Fargo

The body of a man was recovered from the Red River in Fargo, near Dike East Park, on Wednesday evening.

According to Fargo police, on June 28 at 2:15 p.m., emergency dispatchers received multiple reports from witnesses who saw a man jump into the river.

Fargo-Moorhead fire and police units were dispatched to the river near the park and their water rescue teams initiated an immediate search of the river.

Two hours later, at 4:15 p.m., first responders were joined by members of the Valley Water Rescue and continued the search.

At 5:32 p.m., an adult male was pulled from the water and was pronounced dead by EMS personnel at the scene.

The identity of the man is currently unknown.

18-year-old Glyndon woman killed in two-vehicle crash in Clay County

An 18-year-old rural Glyndon woman was killed following a two vehicle crash involving a semi-tractor trailer in rural Clay County on Wednesday afternoon.  

Clay County Sheriff Mark Empting said the collision took place shortly before 4pm, east of Kragnes, at the junction of 70th street and 90th avenue north.  

The car driven by the Glyndon woman was found in the ditch and Sanford ambulance and a Sanford air-medical unit responded to the scene, however the woman was pronounced dead.   

The names of the woman and driver of the semi-truck have not been released.  

The Clay County sheriff’s department and Minnesota state patrol are leading the ongoing investigation into the crash. 

MN lawmakers visit Moorhead women’s health clinic

Minnesota lawmakers visited the Red River Women’s Clinic in Moorhead on Thursday to hear about the abortion provider’s move across the river from north dakota. 

Clinic Director Tammi Kromenaker hosted Senator Tina Smith, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, and others, to talk about what changes staff and patients have seen since the supreme court’s Dobbs decision, which led to a number of states including North Dakota outlawing most abortions and ultimately leading to the clinic’s move. 

A recent report found a 30% increase in abortions for patients from outside of Minnesota since the state took steps in the most recent legislative session to become a legal safe haven for abortion care.  

Kromenaker says the clinic has seen patients from as far away as Texas since the Dobbs decision was handed down.

Applications now open for Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources Clean Water Fund grant program

The Minnesota Board of Soil and Water is seeking applications for their Clean Water Fund Competitive Grant Program.

The program offers municipalities, counties, and authorized conservation and watershed districts the opportunity to apply for $8.7 million in grants and another $8.2 million in loans aimed at enhancing, restoring and preserving natural habitats, especially along waterways. 

The agency’s Clean Water Fund receives its revenue from Minnesota’s Legacy Amendment, which is a statewide sales tax of three-eighths of a percent enacted by the state legislature in 2009 and will continue until 2034.

Applications for the agency’s grant and loan program will be accepted until August 24 with recipients receiving approval and notifications during the winter.

More information about the application process can be found on the Minnesota Board of Soil and Water’s website.

MN DNR to conduct Operation Dry Water July 1-3

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will be conducting Operation Dry Water on Minnesota bodies of water beginning on Saturday, July 1 through Monday, July 3.

The program will increase focus on the dangers of boating while under the influence of drugs and alcohol and include additional water units deployed by the agency over the weekend.

According to the MN DNR, alcohol is a main factor in more than half of all boating fatalities in Minnesota.

They also said Minnesota has some of the strongest boating-while-intoxicated laws in the nation. Anyone convicted of operating a boat, motor vehicle, or recreational vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol lose their privilege to operate any of those vehicles.

Capt. Adam Block, boating law administrator for the MN DNR, said people enjoying the water areas in Minnesota should not be put at risk by someone who decided to drink and boat.

Block also said: “If you’re caught boating under the influence, you’ll get a stay in jail – not a second chance.”

The agency said many boating accidents can turn fatal because someone isn’t wearing a life jacket and urged boaters to stay “dry” on the water ways over the weekend and wait until they are back on shore to drink alcohol.

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