Thousands attend memorial in Fargo for fallen Fargo Police Officer Jake Wallin 

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Thousands packed into Scheel’s arena to pay their final respects to Fargo police officer Jake Wallin, who was killed in the line of duty on July 14. Former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp was the master of ceremonies.

One of the two officers who was wounded, Andy Dotas, spoke to the crowd in a videotaped message from his hospital bed.

Other speakers included N.D. Governor Doug Burgum, Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney, N.D. Attorney General Drew Wrigley, Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibolski and Wallin’s father, Jeff. He spoke of his son’s decision to join the police department saying he knew it was the right fit for him.

Story by Paul Jurgens / KFGO

New endowment fund created for Greater Fergus Falls

Greater Fergus Falls has a newly-created endowment fund to further support its economic development work for the city.

The endowment is a new option to support the organization’s economic development work, in addition to the generous annual support of the city and its businesses and individuals who recognize the importance of growing the local economy and competing with other communities for jobs and growth.

Endowment fund board chair Andrew Yaggie said the public-private partnership with Greater Fergus Falls is now five years old and has been a boost on the local economy.

Yaggie said: “We are tremendously grateful to our many financial supporters who believe in growing Fergus Falls. In addition to annual support, Greater Fergus Falls now offers the option to also contribute to the endowment. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so all support for GFF is tax deductible.”

The endowment fund is intended to be permanent, so the income from the fund can be used as a source of additional funds for economic development work. 

GFF intends to spend no more than 5% of the fund each year towards its mission, allowing the principal to grow.

The new endowment fund has already received a $5,000 grant from the Chief Justice Roger and Agnes Dell Charitable Trust to get started. 

The endowment fund welcomes planned giving. Those interested in supporting the endowment may contact Greater Fergus Falls via email at: info@greaterfergusfalls.com, or by phone at: 218-321-2079, or visit their website at www.greaterfergusfalls.com

New Jersey man sentenced in N.D. for smuggling undocumented immigrants

A New Jersey man has been sentenced to a year-and-a-half in federal prison for trying to smuggle people from Mexico across the U.S.-Canada border into North Dakota.

41-year-old Jose Gonzalez-Resendiz was sentenced Monday, becoming the third man sentenced in the scheme. 

On July 13, Armando De Dios-Carrillo received a two-year sentence, and Victor Manuel Perez-Aguilera was sentenced to 18 months. 

All three men pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens into the U.S.

Prosecutors say the conspiracy involved smuggling a group of people from Mexico across the border from Canada into North Dakota in March, with plans to eventually move them to other U.S. locations. In exchange, the smugglers would be paid thousands of dollars by each person.

Authorities said the plan fell apart when a pickup truck carrying the people got stuck in the snow. The truck was towed and later seen by Border Patrol agents at a hotel in Langdon, North Dakota, where the smugglers and some of the people they brought into the U.S. were staying, according to prosecutors.

Story by Ryan Janke / KFGO

Historic Holmes Theatre in Detroit Lakes releases 2023-24 season schedule; 18 events including three shows from The Fabulous Armadillos

The Historic Holmes Theatre in Detroit Lakes released their 2023-2024 season schedule on Monday, which includes 18 different events and three themed performances by The Fabulous Armadillos.

Elle LaMere, marketing director for the Holmes Theatre, said the whole season is filled with a variety of shows, including some that they’ve never attempted at the Holmes before. But, one she is really looking forward to is ABBA Solutley Fab: A tribute to ABBA, which will be hitting the historic stage on Nov. 11.

“Personally, I’m really looking forward to a few of our shows,” said LaMere. “We have the ABBA tribute coming. ABBA Solutley Fab. I’m really excited for that because I love ABBA’s music and I’m a big fan of ‘Mama Mia!’ as well.”

She said they also plan to show the movie “Mama Mia!” on their new drop-down movie screen in the lead-up to the show, but a date hasn’t been finalized yet.

The Argentinian folk dance group Malevo will be another first time artist for the Historic Holmes Theatre next season when they take the stage on March 7, 2024.

“They specialize in malambo and they were actually on America’s Got Talent, they were a semi-finalist,” Lamere said. “So they are a really exciting, high energy, dance group and we’ve never had anything like this before. And they use percussion and dance styles like flamenco in their performance, so it’s going to be really fun.”

Another unique addition this year, she said, is “Fairy Tales on Ice: The Adventures of Peter Pan and Wendy,” which will include two performances on Feb. 29, 2024 and feature fake ice on Holmes stage that the performers will skate on during the show.

“We are actually having this group come out and they are going to be ice skating on our stage using synthetic ice,” she said. “We’ve never had anything like this before … no one’s ever skated on our stage, so we’re really excited for that.”

LaMere also said the Lakes Area Community Theatre will be back this year with their production of Godspell, which will run Oct. 5-7.

“It’s been a really long time since we’ve opened up auditions to the public,” said LaMere. “It’s really geared toward 18 and up, we’re looking for adults to come out and we’re looking to cast up to 10 roles … it’s being directed by Kathy Larson, who’s very loved around the community and then Nick Larson is going to be the music director. We’re just really excited to be bringing community theatre kind of back to Detroit Lakes. I mean, it’s always been around, but it’s been awhile since we’ve really tried to encourage everyone to get involved.”

The community theatre will be holding open Godspell auditions Aug. 6-8 . Those interested in reserving an audition slot should visit the Godspell: Community Auditions Facebook page.

Zimmerman man sentenced to 30 years for attempted burglary and attempted murder

A Zimmerman man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for trying to steal guns from a pawn shop and attempting to kill bystanders who saw him run from the scene.

20-year-old Manuel Richard Buck was sentenced in Sherburne County District Court on Tuesday. Buck was convicted of attempted theft, attempted burglary and attempted second-degree murder.

According to court records, Buck tried breaking into the Zimmerman Trading Post on July 10th, 2021. The store’s alarms sounded, and he ran through a nearby yard. Two witnesses chased Buck, who turned around and began swinging a machete.

Both witnesses suffered multiple cuts from the attack, but were able to fight off Buck and detain him until law enforcement arrived.

Investigators say Buck planned to rob the store and use the guns to commit a mass shooting.

Officials say the FBI and Sherburne County investigators found a cache of ammunition and bomb-making materials Buck stashed in a Sherburne County park. Investigators also learned Buck researched past mass shootings and discussed how he would carry out his own.

Story by Jake Judd / KNSI

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