Audubon woman sentenced to 15 months for felony drug possession
Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – An Audubon woman was sentenced to 15 months in prison for felony drug possession.
According to court records, the Becker County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a domestic disturbance call at an apartment building.
Upon arrival, deputies encountered 30-year-old Lacey Rose Rousu-Hanks of Audubon and a man with whom she was renting an apartment.
The man was bleeding from his left hand and officers also noticed drug paraphernalia on a nearby table and torn plastic bag, which contained a white powder. The powder weighed almost two grams and tested positive for methamphetamine.
Both Rousu-Hanks and the man were both arrested at the scene.
In a plea agreement with prosecutors, a separate case in which Rousu-Hanks slashed her boyfriend in the face with a knife and included second and third degree assault charges were dropped.
In November, Becker County District Court Judge Gretchen Thilmony sentenced Rousu-Hanks to 15 months in prison, stayed for five years while she completes supervised probation, random alcohol and drug screening and a domestic abuse assessment, including following aftercare recommendations.
M State and Perham-Dent school district implement CDL training program for high school seniors
M State and the Perham-Dent School District announced they are launching a first-in-the-region CDL Training program that aims to graduate seniors with a Class A Commercial Driver’s License already in hand.
In a Dec. 20 news release, M State said 10 Perham seniors are already enrolled in the course and a group of juniors have said they intend to enroll next year.
The Road To CDL training program is available through the high school work-based learning program and is open to students age 17 and older. Students must also be at least 18 to take the commercial driver’s learners permit tests.
G.L. Tucker, executive director of M State’s Workforce Development Division, said: “CDL licensure has been a hot topic for a while, as every zip code in America is short on CDL drivers, M State has been talking to high schools since last spring. Perham is the first to implement it, but other area schools have also expressed interest. We’re one of the largest CDL training providers in the region … we’re well positioned to partner on a program like this.”
Student will begin the course with a CDL Theory class and a daily one-hour elective with online lessons and quizzes. Those who pass the theory portion will be allowed to take the state-required commercial learner’s permit test. For those who pass, 20 hours of behind-the-wheel training are also required before students are able to take their final road tests.
Darren Glynn, work-based learning coordinator for Perham High School, said he told the students “There is zero chance [they] will not have jobs when they graduate.”
Cramer faces additional theft and reckless endangerment charges after pursuit and crash that killed a ND sheriff’s deputy
U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer’s 42-year-old son is facing additional charges in connection with the pursuit and crash that killed a North Dakota sheriff’s deputy earlier this month.
Ian Cramer, who is currently in custody, is now also accused of theft, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment for allegedly taking a family vehicle and driving through a closed garage door of a Bismarck hospital’s ambulance bay in new charges filed Tuesday.
He was previously charged in Mercer County with homicide, reckless endangerment, preventing arrest and drug possession, in connection with the Dec. 6 pursuit and crash. A state district court judge set bail at $500,000 on those charges, and Cramer is set for a Feb. 7 preliminary hearing.
Free school meals program in Minnesota faces higher than expected costs
Minnesota’s program to provide free school meals to all students regardless of income is costing more than expected.
Advocates said the free meals would ease stresses on parents while lifting the stigma on kids who get them. Minnesota is the fourth state in the nation to offer universal free school meals.
Republican lawmakers objected to the program saying it was a poor use of taxpayer dollars to subsidize meals for students whose parents could afford them.
Now, with costs rising faster than expected — $81 million more over the next two years and $95 million in the two years after that.
Governor Tim Walz says budgeting for new programs is always tricky, but he called the free meals “an investment I will defend all day.”
Missing Eden Valley woman found safe after nearly 5 months
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Department says a missing Eden Valley woman has been found.
A press release says Kaitlyn Hohman was located by Stearns County Investigators in Minneapolis on Wednesday, December 20th. Officials gave no update on her condition except that she was found safe.
Hohman hadn’t been heard from since July 27th.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office thanked members of the public who provided information during this investigation.
Story by Jennifer Lewerenz / KNSI
Minnesota gains 9,500 jobs in November; unemployment rate falls to 3.1%
Minnesota gained 9,500 jobs from October to November, the fifth straight month of growth, and the largest increase since January.
According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the unemployment rate went down one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.1% in November, compared to 3.7% nationally. Over the month, eight of 11 super-sectors gained jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis.
Top sectors were the trade, transportation and utilities industry, which added 3,300 jobs over the past month, and education and health services, which added 2,700.
DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek said: “Minnesota continues to see sustained and notable job growth and we’re consistently adding jobs at a faster rate than the national average, which is phenomenal news for workers. We are confident that current and soon-to-be-launched efforts by DEED and our workforce development partners to connect people with employment and to help connect employers with often overlooked labor pools will bring more people into the labor force in 2024.”
Over the past year, Minnesota has gained 47,829 jobs, up 1.6% in annualized job growth. Nationally, U.S. employment grew 1.8% over the past year.
Lake Region Builders Association announce 2023 annual award recipients
The Lake Region Builders Association have announced their 2023 Annual Awards.
In a Thursday news release, Al Clark Construction was named the 2023 Builder of the Year.
JBS Builders LLC was named Remodeler of the Year. Metry Septic and Excavating received the 2023 Associate of the Year.
Other awards included:
BEAM Award winner MLC Custom Homes.
Rising Star Award winner Lakes Area Plumbing and Heating
And, the Citizenship Award, which showcases an organization’s dedication to philanthropy and kindness, was awarded to Green’s Plumbing / Modern Heating.
The Lake Region Builders Association serves the building industry of Becker, Otter Tail, Mahnomen, Wilkin and Norman Counties and awarded the recipients at their annual meeting in early December.
2024 Women in Ag Conference announced; will be held Feb. 6 in St. Cloud
The University of Minnesota Women in Ag Network announced the 2024 Women in Ag Conference, which will be held on Feb. 6 at the Holiday Inn in St. Cloud.
In partnership with the Minnesota Farm Service Agency, this year’s conference will be themed, Planting Possibilities: Shaping the Future of Farming, and provide discussions and presentations on “planning,” which, the UMN Extension says, is a pivotal cornerstone of any farm business.
The conference will also include material for farm beginners all the way to industry veterans.
Susanne Hinrichs, UMN Extension agricultural business management educator, said: “Planning is essential for farmers to maximize efficiencies and realize dreams. This conference will offer topics for anyone who currently produces or wants to raise crops or livestock producing food, fiber, and fuel in Minnesota and nearby states. Sessions will cover topics to help identify opportunities, ways to reduce waste, increase productivity, and optimize resources.”
For more information on 2024 Women in Ag Conference, visit the UMN Extension conference website.
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