Fargo woman sentenced for fifth-degree drugs charge stemming from incident at Detroit Lakes Menards

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – A Fargo woman was sentenced to 21 months in prison for felony fifth-degree drug possession stemming from an incident at the Menards in Detroit Lakes in November 2020.

According to court records, 38-year-old Amy Izsola Murray of Fargo was accused of writing a bad check for more than $500 at the store from an account linked to “Ashley Lafriniere.”

The store manager told law enforcement the check came back as “unable to locate account.”

Murray was identified and arrested. She was also found to be in possession of more than seven grams of methamphetamine at the time of her arrest.

Two felony check forgery charges were dropped in a plea agreement with prosecutors and Murray was sentenced to 21 months in prison for the drug charge with credit for 717 days already served.

Hawley woman sentenced for shoplifting at Detroit Lakes Walmart

A Hawley woman was sentenced to two years of probation for gross misdemeanor theft stemming from multiple instances of shoplifting at the Walmart in Detroit Lakes between February to March 2023.

On March 13, officers received a report of shoplifting at the Walmart.

An investigation identified 36-year-old Eden Louise Anderson of Hawley through video surveillance.

Video appeared to show Anderson using the self-checkout kiosk on five separate occasions over two months where she would scan cheaper items, but not scan the more expensive items. She then bagged both the scanned and unscanned items and left the store.

The total value of the stolen items was more than $1,100.

Anderson was sentenced to 120 days in jail, stayed for two years, and placed on unsupervised probation. She will also be required to pay more than $1,600 in fines, fees and restitution.

Fire damages multiple apartment garage units Tuesday morning in Fargo

Fire damaged several garages early Tuesday morning in Fargo at an apartment complex on the 900 block of 42nd Street South.

Heavy smoke was coming from the garages but fire crews were able to knock the blaze down quickly. 

At least three garage units were damaged during the fire and first responders were on scene for about 3 hours.

Fargo police say there has been a series of late-night garage arson fires along 42nd Street since late June, however, they have not yet indicated if the latest fire is believed to have been arson.

Story by Don Haney / KFGO

Alexandria man arrested in stolen vehicle following lengthy pursuit

An Alexandria man attempted to evade area law enforcement over Halloween weekend, but was apprehended following a high speed chase in Todd County.

Authorities said 30-year-old Mitchell Edward Bane of Alexandria was arrested and taken into custody following a lengthy pursuit that stretched into Todd County. 

Bane was reportedly driving a vehicle that was stolen from the Perham area and, as soon as deputies realized the vehicle was stolen, they initiated a pursuit.

Officials say the pursuit went into Todd County. Stop sticks were deployed, but they were not successful. 

A precision immobilization technique was attempted by one of the pursuing squad cars and was reportedly successful in stopping the chase.

No injuries reported in the incident, but multiple squad cars sustained minor damage.

Bane has been charged with multiple felonies including: theft, fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, careless driving and driving after revocation. 

Other possible charges involving Bane are still being investigated.

He is currently being held at the Otter Tail County Jail.

Story by Mark Anthony / KXRA

Air Force wants buffer between windmills and missile silos

The US Air Force is asking Congress to restrict further construction of the towering wind turbines that have edged closer to its nuclear missile sites in North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado.

The underground silos share space on vast private farmlands with the turbines, which have grown in size and number as the country’s energy needs have increased.

However, the Air Force states, the turbines make it dangerous for military helicopter crews, which need to fly in low and fast when a site alarm triggers.

The Air Force wants Congress to pass legislation to create a buffer zone of two nautical miles around each site.

The legislation has the support of wind energy advocates. Existing towers would be unaffected.

Perham and Wadena-Deer Creek High Schools to host public Veterans Day programs this week

Perham and Wadena Deer-Creek High Schools are both holding Veterans Day programs this week that are open to the public and lakes area veterans.

On Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 9:30 a.m., Wadena-Deer Creek Middle and High School will be holding their Veterans Day program, which will feature a free breakfast for area veterans and their families hosted by the Wadena-Deer Creek student council beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the student commons.

On Friday, Nov. 10 at 9 a.m., Perham High School will be hosting their Veterans Day program.

The Perham event will include speeches from multiple current and former service members and also include a breakfast for veterans beginning at 8 a.m.

Formerly known as Armistice Day, which commemorates the end of fighting during World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Veterans Day was first celebrated in Birmingham, Alabama on Nov. 11, 1947 when one Alabama WWII veteran organized a “National Veterans Day” with a parade and other festivities to honor all veterans.

Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day by congress in 1954.

In November 1982, the Alabama veteran who organized the first Veterans Day celebration, Raymond Weeks, was awarded the Presidential Citizens medal from President Ronald Reagan.

Detroit Lakes Community Foundation accepting scholarship applications through end of 2023 for local medical students

The Detroit Lakes Community Foundation announced they will be accepting applications for their Long Trust Medical Scholarships program through the end of the year.

The scholarships are open to students currently enrolled in an accredited educational program and have declared a medical, or paramedical, major.

Those student must have also completed their first quarter, or semester, or study and be able to provide a school transcript.

Eligible fields of study include:

• Medicine
• Nursing
• Medical technology
• X-ray technician
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Pharmacy technician

Applicants must also be a permanent resident, or a former resident of Becker or Norman Counties with a minimum of six years of residency. Applicants may also qualify if they have parents who are current residents’ of Becker and Norman Counties.

According to a news release, scholarship amounts depend upon eligibility, need, level of education, educational performance, practical health care experience and the total number of applicants.

The scholarships are named after Frank and Hildred Long, who may be remembered as the couple that owned Shelley Island on Cotton Lake. The island was eventually preserved wildlife sanctuary.

The scholarship program is geared at supporting and encouraging students to pursue careers in the medical field and return to small towns and rural areas.

Scholarship applications can be found on our station’s website, the West Central Initiative website and through the city of Detroit Lakes Community Development Committee.

Bobcat expanding to Mexico; steelworkers union fears job losses

Bobcat is expanding to Mexico.   

The West Fargo-based skid-steer and compact loader manufacturer is building a new production plant in Monterrey, Mexico.   

Doosan-Bobcat North America President Mike Ballweber says the plant will create 600 to 800 jobs in Mexico and not affect employee numbers in North Dakota. 

“This is really a growth story for Bobcat,” said Ballweber. “This facility is going to give us about 20% more capacity than we have today. If we look out into our long rang plan, that’s exactly what we have anticipated from a demand standpoint. So, with that, we’re going to be building a lot more R-series out of Gwinner, we also build other product there, like our Toolcat and those are also at very high demand levels. This is just going to allow us to build more.”

Ballweber says the cost of the project is estimated at $300 million and the plant should begin production in 2026.   

Bobcat has manufacturing plants in Gwinner and Bismarck, North Dakota and in Rogers, Minnesota, northwest of the twin cities.   

In late September, the president of Local 560 of the United Steelworkers Union said their union feared the Mexico plant would mean the loss of between 300 and 500 jobs, mostly in Gwinner.

ND Gov. Doug Burgum fails to qualify for third Republican debate

After qualifying for the first two Republican presidential debates, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum  did not make the cut for the third one, scheduled for Wednesday in Miami.

In a social media post, Burgum said the setback “isn’t going to stop us.”

He said voters pick presidents, not pundits, polls and party officials.

The candidates who qualified are Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Tim Scott.

They satisfied the Republican National Committee’s criteria, which included raising 70,000 unique donors, meeting a polling threshold and pledging to support the eventual party nominee.

Story by Pat Sweeney / KNOX

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