New director takes helm of Detroit Lakes Public Library

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Detroit Lakes has a new director for its public library.

Pamela Westby was hired to the position in late-June to fill the vacancy left by outgoing director, Greta Guck, who took over ownership of the Willow Bookstore in Perham.

Westby said her journey to the downtown Carnegie-mainstay in Detroit Lakes started more than 30 years ago in Pelican Rapids, when she, and other members of the community, began a grassroots initiative to bring that city their own library.

“There was a grassroots effort to get a public library going, so I joined a group that was just some of my friends, and some of my community members, to get something going and we started a Friends of the Library group,” said Westby, during a recent Hodgepodge interview. “And then I took a job there as soon as the library was open, and I’ve just been hooked ever since.”

Westby also highlighted the next big projects the library will be tackling in the months ahead.

“We’ve got a roof that leaking and that’s a historic roof, so it’s a specialty roof and there’s a high price tag for that, as well as any historic building” she said. “But it’s worth all that time and effort to maintain those. But then the other one is to go back to our community needs assessment that was done last year … we know that meeting rooms are in high demand and the children’s area is in need of expansion, so those will be things that we’re trying to figure out how make that happen for our folks.”

She also helped put on the library’s annual book sale Tuesday, which netted a few thousand dollars for the library’s upcoming programs.

“We raised between two and three thousand dollars and lots of volunteers to help organize the books and then pack them up again,” said Westby. “We do have some books left over and they are on the tables, so come on over and get some free books.”

Detroit Lakes Public Library is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday thru Thursday. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information on the Detroit Lakes Public Library and their programs, visit the Lake Agassiz Regional Library website.

Registration for DLCCC fall swim lessons and sports open

Registration is now open for fall sports and swim classes through the Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center.

Swimming lessons and classes are available for kids of all ages from newborns with their parents to preschool-aged learn-to-swim lessons to more advanced swim lessons for kids up to 15 years old.

The DLCCC is also taking registrations for fall sports, which include: youth basketball for kids between third to fifth grade; cross-country for kids in fourth to sixth grade; flag football for kids between first and fourth grade; and volleyball for fifth and sixth graders.

The cost of the programs range between $30 to $58.

Multiple juveniles cited for disorderly conduct at Fergus Falls Dollar Tree

The Fergus Falls Police Department responded to what initially appeared to be a report of a potential robbery at the Dollar Tree on Tuesday evening, but the call ended up a case of juvenile mischief.

On August 8th, 5:27 p.m., the Fergus Falls Police Department received a report of four juvenile masked males entering the Fergus Falls Dollar Tree store on Lincoln Avenue.

The juveniles were observed wearing nylon stockings over their heads and faces, which caused alarm among some store patrons.

Upon arrival, officers determined that the incident was not a robbery, but a case of disorderly conduct involving kids.

The Fergus Falls police officers cited all four juveniles for disorderly conduct.

The individuals were then released to the custody of their parents, who were informed by police of the incident.

Portion of Summit Avenue to close next week for road work

A portion of Summit Avenue in Detroit Lakes, between Holmes Street and Front Street will be closed beginning on Tuesday, Aug. 15.

According to a news release, no thru traffic will be allowed through the construction zone and local access traffic will be restricted.

No detour will be posted during the construction period, but directional signs will be installed to guide individuals to area businesses within the construction area.

Beginning on Monday, Aug. 21, the intersection at Summit Avenue and Holmes Street will be closed for street and utility reconstruction with the closure expected to last about two weeks.

Senate Capital Investment Committee stopping at Washington Ballpark for presentation on Aug. 15

The Minnesota Senate Capital Investment Committee will be visiting Washington Ballpark in Detroit Lakes on Tuesday afternoon as the group of lawmakers begin travelling the state to tour sites requesting funds for projects to be included in next year’s bonding proposal.

The traveling lawmakers will hear a presentation from members of the city at the ballpark just after 5 p.m. on Tuesday as to why the ballpark renovations are needed and what the plans are for the updating the historic landmark.

The Washington Ballpark renovation project has been submitted by the city of Detroit Lakes into a $1.4 million bonding request during the last two legislative sessions.

No bonding bill was passed by the legislature in 2022 and the renovation project was removed from the $2.6 billion bonding and cash-infrastructure package passed by the legislature in May.

Detroit Lakes Mayor Matt Brenk said Washington Ballpark is a unique piece of Detroit Lakes because its proximity to the lake, but it is starting to look a bit tired and is in need of some facility improvements.

“We’ll make a presentation on (Aug.) 15th to the Senate Bonding Committee … but just looking at the ballpark, that is such a cool spot,” said Brenk, during a recent Hodgepodge interview. “You can see the lake, the park, but you look at the grandstand and some of the facilities and they are just really tired, so we need to do something. We’re hopeful we can get this bonding and get this project underway next year.”

According to the city of Detroit Lakes, Washington Ballpark was established along Washington Avenue in 1897 with the first grandstand being built in 1908. It was listed in the National Registrar of Historic Places in 2008

Minneapolis man sentenced to 17 years for drug deals made while incarcerated at Grand Forks County Jail

A Minneapolis man who directed a drug conspiracy from the Grand Forks County Jail has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 57-year-old Timothy Eason was sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances and Money Laundering Conspiracy.

Eason was arrested on state drug charges in 2021 and held in Grand Forks County Jail.

From October 2021 to February 2022, Eason used the jail’s communication facilities to arrange shipments of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Arizona to distributors in Fargo, Moorhead and elsewhere.

Eason and co-conspirators arranged payment for the controlled substances through cash apps.

Three co-conspirators were previously sentenced, including 43-year-old Tiffany Johnson of Moorhead, sentenced to four-and-a-half years… 26-year-old Ashtyn Gladue of Rolla (ND), sentenced to three-and-a-half years… and 47-year-old Alfonso Patrick of Arizona, who received an eight-year sentence.

When his term is up, Eason must also serve five years’ supervised release.

Story by Pat Sweeney / KNOX

West Fargo man held on suspicion of murder

A West Fargo man is in the Cass County Jail under suspicion of murder after a woman’s body was found at a home in West Fargo Thursday morning.

 Officers responded to the 1100 block of Eaglewood Ave. W in West Fargo around 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 10 after receiving a report of a medical emergency.

Police said they arrested 31-year-old Spencer Moen in connection with the incident and the case has been referred to the State’s Attorneys Office in Cass County for possible charges.

West Fargo Police Chief Denis Otterness says he considers the death an isolated incident with no further threat to the public and the investigation remains ongoing.

Otter Tail Power Company completes final connections at Hoot Lake Solar

Otter Tail Power Company’s first large-scale investment into solar power is fully operational in Fergus Falls after the Hoot Lake Solar project was connected to the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) energy market on Tuesday.

The connection will allow the regional energy market to distribute power from the facility throughout its network transmission lines that provide electricity to a large portion of the central United States.

Hoot Lake Solar generates 49 megawatts of power through its more than 130,000 solar panels and produces enough energy to power about 9,000 homes.

Construction of the $62 million solar power project began in May 2022 and began generating electricity in early-2023. 

Hoot Lake Solar will also help replace the energy loss following the retirement of the Hoot Lake coal-fired power plant in 2021.

Otter Tail Power President Tim Rogelstad said the solar project wouldn’t have happened without the supportive partnerships with the city of Fergus Falls and Otter Tail County.

Rogelstad said, quote: “While Merricourt Wind Energy Center [North Dakota] and Astoria Station [South Dakota] replaced the generating capacity from the now-retired Hoot Lake Plant, Hoot Lake Solar is an additional cost-effective renewable resource.”

According to Otter Tail County, the 16-month construction process brought approximately 65 workers to the site during peak construction and Otter Tail Power expects Hoot Lake Solar to provide more than $120,000 annually in local tax benefit.

Hoot Lake Solar is now Minnesota’s third-largest operating solar site based on generation capacity. 

The company also has two nearly 40-kilowatt solar projects in Jamestown, North Dakota, and near Ottertail.

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