Ole’s Ride raises more than $29,000 for Hospice of the Red River Valley

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – With more than 300 riders on nearly 200 motorcycles, Ole’s Ride hit the lakes area roadways on Saturday for their annual fundraiser for Hospice of the Red River Valley.

This year’s ride raised more than $29,000 for the end-of-life nonprofit.

The ride is named in honor of Richard “Ole” Barton, a Vergas native, who passed away of stage 4 cancer after participating in the first Ole’s Ride in 2010.

The ride began and ended at Billy’s Corner Bar in Vergas, but the riders spent most of their Saturday traveling to different locations along the 125-mile scenic ride route on lakes area roadways.

Since 2010, more than $237,000 has been raised by the annual Ole’s Ride to benefit programs at Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Perham man charged with felony criminal sexual conduct

A Perham man has been charged in Becker County District Court with three felony counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

On July 7, law enforcement was informed by a parent that their daughter, who was under the age of 16, had sexual intercourse with 34-year-old George Edward Johnson of Perham, while they were parked in his vehicle in Detroit Lakes.

According to court records, the girl told investigators she rode her bicycle to a retail area in Detroit Lakes about three weeks ago, which is also where Johnson works.

She had met him previously and he had offered her marijuana in the past.

Johnson offered to give the girl a ride in his vehicle in order to pick up her friends. While they were driving around waiting for the girl’s friends to respond to messages. Johnson then allegedly parked the vehicle in a secluded area near some railroad tracks where the sexual interaction took place.

Following the incident, Johnson told the girl to not tell anyone because he could get fired from his job.

He was arrested on July 20 and denied having any sexual contact with the girl.

Johnson posted $2,000 bail with conditions that include a no-contact order and predatory offender registration.

His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 18.

Clay County Sheriff’s Office pulls school resource officers from two county school districts over new technique restrictions

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office has now pulled its deputies from schools in the Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton and Ulen-Hitterdal school districts.   

It’s based on the concern of law enforcement and police organizations across the state about the wording in a new state law on the use of force with students who are or may become violent, damaging property or causing a disturbance.   

Clay County Sheriff Mark Empting says it was a mutual decision with the school districts to temporarily suspend the school resource officer program until there’s more clarity from legislators and state agencies.   

Empting says he’s hoping the SRO program-suspension is temporary.  The Moorhead Police Department was the first in the state to pull resource officers from Moorhead area public schools after questions were raised about the law. 

Two charged in Fargo-Moorhead police pursuit on Tuesday morning

Multiple charges are being filed against two individuals following a police chase that started in Fargo and ended in Moorhead early Tuesday morning.

Fargo police were tracking a stolen vehicle that crossed into Moorhead shortly before 1:00 a.m., and, as Moorhead police gave chase, the pursuit was called off due to the vehicle’s speed and public safety.
A short time later officers located the vehicle abandoned and set up a perimeter. With the help of K-9 search teams the suspects were located hiding nearby.
Moorhead police say 33-year old Felix Wallette III is being charged with possession of stolen property and fleeing in a motor vehicle. 

33-year old Krystle Landa was arrested on charges of fleeing and an outstanding warrant.
During a search of the vehicle following the pursuit, suspected narcotics were found. The Moorhead Police Department said the investigation is on-going and additional criminal charges may be filed.

UMN educator gives tips to keep animals cooler during the summer

The last days of summer in Minnesota can bring a lot of heat, leaving people worrying about not only their health but their pets and livestock too. 

University of Minnesota Educator Abby Schuft says animals can withstand heat better than we think, but something that consumers may not understand is how changing the feeding schedules of the animals could help.

“When the animal is digesting their feed,” said Schuft. “And using that feed to their advantage to grow and produce the proteins that we consume, it’s going to create body heat.”

Schuft says producers need to optimize when they can provide the feed and when it’s digested, and opt for feeding their animals earlier in the morning or later at night.  

She also said there are many things people can do to help animals cool off, such as proper ventilation.

“A 2 to 4-and-a-half-mile-an-hour wind produced by a fan can really help those animals self-regulate their body temperature,” she said.

Other essentials for animals constantly in the heat are shade and access to cool and fresh water. 

“Having stock tanks out in pastures where the sun is naturally heating up the water, making sure they’re changed out more frequently,” said Schuft. “Making sure water lines in confinement poultry or swine barns are flushed out so that they have fresh, cool water more readily available to them throughout the day.”

Scuff also encourages proper ventilation, saying just a 2 to 4-and-a-half-mile-an-hour wind from a fan can help animals self-regulate their body temperature.

MN Dept. of Education compiling heartfelt note to influential teachers during State Fair

The Minnesota State Fair Education Building is compiling heartfelt messages of appreciation from former students to Minnesota teachers from across the state during this year’s Minnesota Get Together.

Kevin Burns with the Minnesota Department of Education says postcards are provided on-site.

“People can write a note of appreciation, let us know the name of the school and the educator or staff member, and MDE will deliver those cards to schools following the State Fair,” said Burns. “We think this is a great way to start off the new school year, with appreciation and optimism and excitement.”

Burns says people can stop by any day of the State Fair at the Education Building on Cosgrove Street, just around the corner from the main entrance on Snelling Avenue.

He also said the appreciation is just a small way former students can show how much those teachers have impacted their lives.

“Teachers and counselors and coaches, custodians, office staff and all the others who are part of a student’s day really have a tremendous impact on the lives of young people,” he said. “So this year MDE is giving people an opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to those who made a difference in their education.”

Burns says just give the person’s name and school and they’ll deliver the postcard following the State Fair.  He added it really seems like a great way to start the new school year for these inspirational educators.

Otter Tail County to hold open house at Lake Region Electric Co-op on Sept. 18

Otter Tail County Commissioners are inviting county residents to an upcoming open house at Lake Region Electric Cooperative on Monday, September 18 to discuss projects and concerns in the Pelican Rapids area. 

Otter Tail County Commissioner Wayne Johnson, District 2, said these open houses are a great way to engage community members directly and receive feedback about what their concerns are in the area.

In a news release, Johnson said: “This is a good time to engage directly with your county commissioners and participate in conversations to address your questions and comments. We look forward to seeing you at the open house.”

There will be brief presentations by Otter Tail County department staff, which will include introductions of the new county highway engineer, Krysten Foster, and new county assessor, Heather Jacobson. 

Staff from the solid waste department and community and economic development team will provide information on various local opportunities near Pelican Rapids related to housing, child care and workforce development.

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