19-year-old Bemidji man killed in motorcycle crash

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – A 19-year old Bemidji man was killed in a motorcycle crash late Tuesday night.

On Aug. 22 at 11:22 p.m., a 2003 Honda CBR 600 motorcycle, ridden by 19-year-old Tristan Channing Secor, was northbound on Jefferson Avenue when it crashed at the Division Street intersection roundabout in Bemidji.

First responders transported Secor to Sanford Medical Center in Bemidji where he was later pronounced dead.

The pavement was dry at the time of the crash and Secor was wearing his helmet during the incident.

Law enforcement have not been able to make a determination if alcohol factored into the crash.

Da Vinci is officially coming to Becker County on Sept. 17

It’s official. The Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition will be coming to the Becker County Museum from Sept. 17-Jan. 7, 2024.

The exhibit will house more than 60 fully-built, life-size inventions, as well as, more than 20 fine art studies along with dozens of other displays.

Becky Mitchell, executive director for the Becker County Historical Society and Museum, said she was excited for the life-size representation of Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” which is larger than most people think.

“What I never realized was the original “Last Supper” is 30 feet wide by 15 feet tall,” said Mitchell. “With this exhibit, not all facilities can accommodate something this large. So they actually have two versions. They have a smaller version, if you don’t have the ability to house that piece, but we are actually able to house it. So that’s what I’m most excited about. To see that piece, that large, in our facility.”

Guests will have the opportunity to study the “Mona Lisa,” “Portrait of a Young Man,” “Virgin of the Rocks,” and “St. John the Baptist.”

She also said the artwork and display items are recreations and not the original pieces, but the exhibit is really about Da Vinci’s life and the items with interactive learning opportunities.

“The reproductions and the lessons that go with it, this is an examination of his life,” she said. “This is really an opportunity from an educational standpoint to learn more about these pieces, learn more about him … and then, the machines, he never actually built those machines, he just had the vison for them. He had all these thoughts and just sketchbook, after sketchbook, after sketchbook of ideas and thoughts. They’ve taken these sketches and turned them into these life-size models. So this has taken his work, and gone one step further, and actually produced it.”

Da Vinci also extensively explored the world of anatomy and the exhibit also features in-depth explanations of his famous studies on subjects such as the golden ratio and “Vitruvian Man.” The pieces are complemented by enlarged examples of the artist’s sketches and notes made during his controversial research on the human body.

Mitchell said they are going to need a lot of support from volunteers over the next four months to work shifts inside the exhibit hall.

Anyone interested in volunteering, or helping out with the Da Vinci exhibit in anyway, are encouraged to contact the Mitchell or the museum at: 218-847-2938.

Battle Lake home a ‘total loss’ following Tuesday morning fire

A home in rural Battle Lake was deemed a “total loss” following fire early Tuesday morning.

On Aug. 22, at 2:40 a.m., emergency dispatchers received a report of a house fire on the 40000 block of 285th Street in rural Battle Lake.

Members of the Battle Lake and Ottertail Fire Departments responded to the scene, along with members of the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office.

The fire was extinguished, but the house, owned by 33-year-old Jordan Woessner of Battle Lake, was considered to be a “total loss.”

No injuries were reported during the incident.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge closes northern waterfowl hunting area during wild rice harvest

Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge issued an emergency closure of their northern migratory bird hunting grounds, north of Highway 143.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials noted the Area C northern hunting grounds will close to respect and protect the wild rice harvest that will conclude in mid-September.

The southern hunting grounds inside the refuge, Area D, will be open for early teal hunting season, running from Sept. 2-6.

In a news release, the agency stated: “Members of the White Earth Nation have the right to gather wild rice on refuge waters and Area C is within the White Earth Nation Reservation boundaries. The refuge is working in partnership with the White Earth Nation to manage natural resources on refuge lands and waters.”

Both waterfowl hunting areas are expected to be open for regular waterfowl season on Sept. 23.

3 Perham High School students receive national recognition awards for academics

Three Perham High School students received academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs.

Students Brandon Sandberg, Jaxton Bain and Madeleine Lamb received the National Rural and Small Town Award from the recognition board.

To qualify for the award: the students needed to maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher; score in the top 10th percentile on the PSAT-National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test or attain a score of three or higher on two or more AP exams in 9th or 10th grade; and attend school in a rural area or small town.

Mitch Anderson, superintendent for ISD 549, said he was so proud the students were being recognized for their test scores and great work.

Anderson said: “We’re thrilled to celebrate our students and recognize them for the great work they’ve been doing. There’s so much that makes our students unique and receiving this honor reinforces this as an asset for their future.”

Becker County master gardeners to hold Wednesday plant and pest clinics in September

Becker County Extension Services will be featuring four plant, pest and gardening clinics in September led by Becker County master gardeners.

Clinics will be held every Wednesday in September from 9 a.m. to noon and the clinics are free to attend.

Attendees are also encouraged to bring their questions and samples of diseased plants, weeds for identification, insect pest samples, or grass samples to the master gardeners for their advice. 

The master gardeners are volunteers that participate in about 50 hours of training on horticulture topics from the UMN and NDSU, and, in exchange for their training, the donate their time back to their communities for community projects, clinics and educational programs.

The master gardening plant and pest clinics will be held at the Becker County Extension Office located at: 1120 8th Street, in Detroit Lakes.

Jacobson sworn-in as new Otter Tail County Assessor

Heather Jacobson was sworn-in as the new Otter Tail County Assessor on Tuesday.

She was appointed to lead the office by the Otter Tail County Board

Jacobson began her career in a clerical position in the Otter Tail County Assessor’s Office in 2011. 

Shortly after, she moved to an appraiser role and classified properties under the direction of state law. 

Jacobson served as Chief Deputy Assessor for one year before being appointed the Otter Tail County Assessor.

Jacobson graduated from Ashby High School and attended college in Boston, Massachusetts, where she played basketball. She and her husband have four children and one grandchild. 

She is very active as a runner, attends local sporting events and enjoys speading time on area lakes. 

She also serves as a member of the Battle Lake Area Rescue Squad.

In a news release, Jacobson said: “We have a great team in the Assessor’s Office. I hope to utilize everyone’s strengths and have a positive work environment. I am excited about the challenges this position brings in an environment of an ever-changing market.”

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