DL Jaycees host Water Carnival blood drive on Thursday
Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – The Northwest Water Carnival continued Thursday with an American Red Cross blood drive at Grace Lutheran Church hosted by the Detroit Lakes Jaycees.
Forty people filled up the signup sheet to donate at the event and the nurses filled every bag with potentially life-saving blood that they had on hand.
Allie, an event supervisor for the American Red Cross, said their donation team is based out of St. Cloud, but they have been conducting blood drives in west-central Minnesota all week with stops in Fergus Falls and Fargo before the Detroit Lakes event on July 20.
“There is always a need for blood,” she said. “Minnesota itself is doing pretty good. A lot of times we end up sending it out of state to people that do need it. So that’s why (people should donate) because there is always a need for it.”
Allie said she can take about 200-300 blood donations every month and the American Red Cross tries to schedule a blood drive for them to work five days a week.
“Along with there just always being a need, but free snacks, and we’re giving away free t-shirts right now, which is always super fun,” she said.
She also said she started working for the American Red Cross because, when she donated blood in her teenage years, she thought everyone seemed to be having a good time and she also wanted to provide a service that could potentially save lives.
“I like the fact that I can help people and know that doing what I do that someone is going to get some good out of it and I want everyone to get that and hopefully help them,” said Allie. “I donated when I was 16 for the first time and I just remember looking around and thinking that it looked like everyone was having fun … and everyone worked together so well. And it’s still like that now, so I’m glad that I did get into it.”
The American Red Cross was founded in 1881 by Clara Barton and has even since been dedicated to serving those in need. The Red Cross is also charged with providing services to members of the military and their families, as well as, providing disaster relief during emergency situations.
For more information on the American Red Cross and to find the nearest blood donation drive near you, visit the nonprofit’s website at: redcross.org.
Elizabeth man killed in motorcycle crash with semi-tractor trailer
An Elizabeth man was killed in a motorcycle crash on Highway 59 involving a semi-tractor trailer on Wednesday evening.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, on July 19 at 5:38 p.m., emergency dispatchers received a report of a motorcycle crash near the intersection of Highway 59 and 280th Street in Otter Tail County, about six miles north or Fergus Falls.
A preliminary crash report states a 1990 International Semi tractor trailer, driven by a 43-year-old Fergus Falls man, was southbound on Highway 59 when it collided with a 65-year-old Elizabeth man who was northbound and riding a 2001 Honda Goldwing motorcycle.
The pavement was dry at the time of the incident and the names of the individuals involved in the crash are expected to be released on Friday.
Minnesota congressional law makers introduce Investing in Rural American Act
Two U.S. Representatives from Minnesota have introduced the Investing in Rural America Act to help small communities attract funding for vital services like hospitals and child care centers.
One of the bill’s authors is Seventh District Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach, who said the bill is necessary because regulatory barriers.
“Rural communities across the country are struggling to retain population, much less attract future generations,” said Fischbach. “One way Congress can support them is by eliminating unnecessary regulatory barriers to capital investment.”
Congressman Brad Finstad, who represents portions of southern Minnesota’s First District, agreed.
He also said: “State-of-the-art facilities like Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center possible because of financing through partnerships with Farm Credit Institutions. The Investing in Rural America Act will strengthen these institutions’ ability to partner with local lenders in providing capital to rural areas and bring increased investment to community facilities, like Lakeview, that serve the entire southern Minnesota region.”
The bill is being introduced as part of the Farm Bill, which is passed every five years, and modifies the Community Facilities Loan and Grant Program to help Farm Credit as it expands its support for rural projects.
DL Firefighters reclaim water fight crown on Wednesday
When the last sprinkles from the hoses finally settled at City Park on Wednesday night, the Detroit Lakes Fire Department reclaimed, what they considered, their rightful place as 2023 Northwest Water Carnival water fight champions.
In a marathon final against a water fighting team from Strehlow Insulation, the Detroit Lakes fire fighters took back the coveted title that was lost to a team from out-of-state during last year’s fights.
Detroit Lakes Fire Chief Mike Hanson said he couldn’t be more proud of the team they put forward this year.
“All five of those guys put in a lot of work,” said Hanson. “They all did good. They all came home soaked, but, all five, they did a great job.”
Even though a heavy rain storm moved through the area about 30 minutes before the event’s start time in City Park, the crowds returned and filled the grounds with cheers and excitement, which is something Hanson loves about Detroit Lakes and the water carnival.
“It’s always great to get the community together,” he said. “Everybody is so positive. It’s such a great time at the Water Carnival. It’s the 87th annual this year, so a really great showing for everybody to be out there. We got lucky, it’s been some great weather. A little shower at the beginning, but I think we all wanted that anyway just for our lawns and all the crops around here to keep everything a little bit wetter. There was still a lot of people there throughout the night and it was an exciting atmosphere.”
Friday’s Northwest Water Carnival events include Kegs and Eggs with KFAN’s Power Trip morning show at the Pavilion until 9 a.m., followed by airboat and helicopter rides at City Beach and the Becker County Fairgrounds beginning at 1 p.m. Kids may also enjoy the large inflatable play area that will be running from 3-8 p.m. before Everclear hits the Bash on the Beach stage with gates opening at 6 p.m. at the Pavilion.
ND law enforcement searching for escaped Jamestown inmate
North Dakota law enforcement are searching for the whereabouts of a 39-year old man who escaped from the James River Minimum Unit in Jamestown on Tuesday.
Authorities say Nathan Allen Lang slipped out of the correctional facility around 9:45 p.m. on July 18.
Lang was serving a sentence for theft of property and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He is described as a white male, five-eleven, 235 pounds.
Lang was last seen wearing a grey long sleeve shirt with a navy blue t-shirt over the top. He was also wearing khaki pants and black shoes.
Lang could possibly be driving a stolen white 2021 Ram 3500 pickup North Dakota license plate 320AAT. The pickup had an attached 32’ goose neck trailer with the plate number: T42454.
Anyone with information is urged to call 911.
Horse racing in Fargo on July 22-23 and July 29-30
North Dakota Horse Park in Fargo will host live horse racing over the next two weekends on July 22-23 and July 29-30.
In a news release, the horse park stated that $1 from every admission on July 22 and 10% of the concessions profits will be donated to the families of Fargo police officers affected by the July 14 shooting.
Also on Saturday, all active and retired military service members, law enforcement, first responders and essential workers will be given free admission as part of Horses and Heroes day at the Horse Park.
Sunday, July 23 will be Family Day with additional game and activity stations at the park.
North Dakota Derby day will be the following Saturday, July 29 with the best horses in the state competing for the derby title. Attendees are also encouraged to wear the finest bowties and derb-iest hats for the occasion.
The final day of racing, Sunday, July 30, is dollar day and will feature a cornhole tournament.
Gates open at 11 a.m. on race days with the first post scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
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