Canadian Pacific Holiday Train draws hundreds to Detroit Lakes stop on Thursday afternoon

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – That’s the sound of the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train pulling into Detroit Lakes just off Soo Avenue on Thursday afternoon.

Hundreds of spectators crowded around the discontinued concrete platform to catch a glimpse of the steam-powered holiday light show. 

And just as a few attention spans of some of the younger kids began to wonder, a stage opened from one of the train cars and artists MacKenzie Porter and Dallas Smith sang a medley of originals and Christmas songs.

This year is the 25th anniversary of the Candian Pacific Holiday Train, which makes a donation to a local food shelf during every stop. During their stop in Detroit Lakes, a member of the Candian Pacific Railway team presented Steve Schumacher, vice chair of the Becker County Food Pantry, and Detroit Lakes Mayor Matt Brenk with an oversized check of $4,500.

Attendees were also encouraged to make their own donations to the Becker County Food Pantry, which had their donation truck on-site.

After the train departed Detroit Lakes, Schumacher said he felt overwhelmed with the amount of support that the residents of Detroit Lakes and Greater Becker County has shown to the food pantry.

“The mayor, this was his fifteenth or twentieth time, he said it’s the biggest crowd he’s ever seen,” said Schumacher. “We really appreciate all the support we’ve had in the community. We appreciate all the support getting us into our new building and just the continuing support, keeping us going in our new building.”

He also said the food pantry is always accepting donations and the best days to drop off are Tuesday and Thursday during the morning.

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train’s 175-mile trip on Dec. 14 included several stops through west-central Minnesota; a day that began in Alexandria and ended in Thief River Falls.

ND judge denies delaying redistricting ruling affecting 2 Native American tribes

A North Dakota federal judge on Tuesday rejected a request to delay his decision supporting two Native American tribes that sought changes to North Dakota’s legislative boundaries to give the tribes more influence in the Legislature.

U.S. District Chief Judge Peter Welte denied Republican Secretary of State Michael Howe’s motion to stay his ruling, pending an expected appeal to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Last month, Welte ruled that the map violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in that it “prevents Native American voters from having an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.” 

He gave Howe and the Republican-controlled Legislature until Dec. 22 “to adopt a plan to remedy the violation.”

Days after the Nov. 17 ruling, Howe announced his plans to appeal, citing a recent 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that private individuals and groups such as the NAACP can’t sue under a major section of the landmark civil rights law.

The Legislature’s redistricting panel is meeting for the first time in over two years on Wednesday to begin addressing Welte’s November ruling.

The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and the Spirit Lake Tribe had alleged the 2021 redistricting map, quote, “simultaneously packs Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians members into one house district, and cracks Spirit Lake Tribe members out of any majority Native house district.”

The two tribes sought a joint district and unsuccessfully proposed to the Legislature a single legislative district encompassing the two reservations, which are roughly 60 miles apart.

North Dakota has 47 legislative districts, each with one senator and two representatives. Republicans control the House of Representatives 82-12 and the Senate 43-4. At least two lawmakers, both House Democrats, are members of tribes.

The Legislature created four sub districts in the state House, including one each for the Fort Berthold and Turtle Mountain Indian reservations.

Lawmakers who were involved in the 2021 redistricting process have previously cited 2020 census numbers meeting population requirements of the Voting Rights Act for creating those sub districts.

2 injured in two-vehicle crash in Clay County Wednesday evening

Two people were injured in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 34 in Clay County Wednesday evening.

On Dec. 13 at 4:28 p.m., a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse, driven by 65-year-old Mark Wayne Howes of Pelican Rapids, was eastbound on Highway 34 when it collided with a southbound 2020 Ford F-150 pickup at the 230th Street intersection in Humboldt Township.

The F-150 was driven by 25-year-old Bruno Nevarez of St. Paul.

Airbags deployed in both vehicles during the incident.

Both Howes and Nevarez suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the crash, but only Howes required a medical transport. He was transported to Sanford Medical Center in Fargo for treatment.

Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the collision and law enforcement believes alcohol did not factor into the incident.

Detroit Lakes Boy Scout Troop 674 hosting recruitment open house Friday night at Becker County Museum

Detroit Lakes Boy Scout Troop 674 will be holding a new recruit open house at the Becker County Museum on Friday night.

Lance Akers, scoutmaster for Troop 674, said they have a dedicated troop of nearly 20 kids who participate in everything from hiking and outdoor skills to trips to the Boundary Waters together. Adding, just this year, four scouts have achieved their eagle scout rank, the highest rank in the Boys Scouts of America.

“Just this year alone, we have had four eagle scouts receive their award,” said Akers. “We currently have another seven getting through the final stages of their process and getting their eagle. So, we’re having a good year.”

He also said this group of scouts really dedicates themselves to scouting, which can involve educational guest speakers, as well as service opportunities in the community.

“By the time we are all said and done, we will have had about 60% of our scouts attaining their eagle just within the last year,” he said. “It’s amazing how these kids have really dug in. We have a very successful program. We are very active with our camping and our hiking … we do a lot of conservation work. If you’ve ever been down to South Shore Park, a lot of our scout’s work went into that with native plantings, tree plantings, and a whole lot of other stuff.”

Akers said the recruitment open house on Friday night is a way to inspire more kids to join scouting and keep the Detroit Lakes scouting program strong.

“Our recruitment night starts at 6:30 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m. at the Becker County Museum,” said Akers. “We’re going to have a bunch or our gear and equipment out there and people can walk in, take a look, talk to some of our scouts to see what we do and what it is all about.”

The Boy Scouts of America is made up of more than 1 million scouts ages 5-21 nationwide. Additionally, there are more than 628,000 volunteers who operate the local troop councils across the United States and its territories. 

Fargo man still searching for lost service dog; offering $10,000 reward for safe return

A Fargo man is still searching for his lost service dog after it escaped his backyard on Dec. 3.

Owner Jason Larkin is offering a $10,000 reward for his service dog Ruby’s safe return.

Ruby is a 65-pound, 3-year-old Golden Doodle. Ruby was able to escape from a fenced area which was out of Larkins backyard camera view and has not been seen since. She was last seen the morning of Dec. 3 near the Osgood area of Fargo.

There have been reports of dogs that look similar to Ruby, but all of the tips have led to dead ends. 

She is believed to be somewhere in the Fargo, West Fargo, Osgood, Wilds, and Horace area.

Larkin said the help from the entire community has been amazing and encourages everybody to keep the conversation going.

Larkin said: “Let’s continue the hope, the prayers, and positive thoughts. I know she’s out there, and I think the more we talk about it the more the word gets out there.” 

If you see or hear anything regarding Ruby, the 3-year-old golden doodle, contact local authorities right away.

Story by Ryan Janke / KFGO

MN DNR warns of wildfire risk due to lack of snowfall

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources encourages Minnesotans to use caution and stay aware of wildfire risk. Lack of snow and unusually warm, dry conditions over the next week will likely increase fire danger in much of Minnesota. Dry, brown grasses and vegetation mean wildfires can start easily and spread quickly; this elevated risk is likely to persist until we have continuous snow cover.

Karen Harrison, DNR wildfire prevention specialist. says don’t be fooled because it’s December. Even with scattered snow showers, burning vegetative debris is risky right now, especially with temperature increases and windy conditions predicted over the next week.

She says people are being asked to delay planned burning until conditions improve.

Due to drought conditions over the past few years, any fires now have the potential to burn deep into the unusually dry organic soil layer. Deep-burning fires hold heat for days, sometimes months, and could lead to wildfires in the days or weeks ahead.

It is best to wait to burn brush or vegetative debris until there is at least 3 inches of snow cover on the ground. Alternatively, Minnesotans are asked to consider composting, chipping, or transporting materials to a brush collection site as alternatives to burning.

Story by Don Haney / KFGO

Fallen Mercer County sheriff’s deputy honored at remembrance service in Beulah

An 18-year-veteran of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department in North Dakota was remembered on Wednesday afternoon as a devoted family man and a respected officer.

A funeral service for 53-year-old Deputy Paul Martin was held at Beulah High School, one week after he died in a police pursuit involving a man having a mental health crisis.

North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley said Martin’s sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Wrigley said: “Today, North Dakota lays to rest a hero. Mercer County Deputy Sheriff Paul Martin, rest in the eternal peace for which you paid the ultimate price. End of call, Paul. Rest. We have it from here.”

Martin previously served with the North Dakota’s Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, and Hazen and Beulah Police Departments after starting his career in the U.S. Army as a military police K-9 officer.

Philip Nelson, chaplain of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, called Martin “a man of camaraderie.”

Nelson added: “If you were a veteran, law enforcement or first responder, you knew, because that bond is forged in that furnace of adversity… I guarantee you, you knew that he was your brother through and through, and if the call would come, he would answer.”

The Grand Forks Police Department sent two cars to the funeral. The delegation included members of the GFPD Honor Guard, and other officers.

The suspect in Martin’s death, 42-year-old Ian Cramer, is currently in custody. Cramer is the son of U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota.

Story by Pat Sweeney / KNOX

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