Nisbit set to plea
Jason Nisbit is scheduled for a plea hearing and a sentencing hearing January 12th. Rice County attorney John Fossum commented, “I have made the decision not to talk about what the plea would be to or what the expected sentence would be, in part, because I’m always cautious about such things because I never believe he’s going to take the plea until he does”.
Nisbit is the man a Grand Jury indicted on First Degree Murder charges in the death of a young mother from Ohio in August of 2015. The Court set the plea and sentencing on the same day so that the family of Chelsea Martinez doesn’t have to make multiple trips. Normally the process could take weeks. Speaking of the plea, Fossum added,”if he doesn’t do it, then we’ll be going to trial”. Nisbit admitted to killing the 26 year old Martinez and led police to her body.
Owatonna woman charged with 1st degree sale of meth
An Owatonna woman faces up to 30 years in prison. The Cannon River Drug & Violent Offender Task Force set up multiple drug buys with 29 year old Deshaundra Booker after receiving information from a Confidential Source. From October 17th to November 29th, an undercover agent made 5 buys in the City of Faribault, of methamphetamine totaling nearly 25 grams. Booker was charged with 1st degree sale of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $125,000 without conditions. She remains in the Rice County Jail with an initial court appearance scheduled for December 15th.
NAFRS gears up for Facility presentation
The NAFRS joint powers board met yesterday. They approved a title transfer for the Heavy Rescue Truck from the City of Northfield to NAFRS. They’ll sell the older truck and use the proceeds toward the purchase of a new one. They also heard a practice run presentation from Chair Glen Castore on the Fire facility which he intends to present to the Northfield and Dundas City Councils and Township Supervisors next week. He was offered some suggestions including adding architectural renderings of the plans. While there’s no dispute that the Firefighters need a better facility, convincing Councils of adding on and rehabbing the existing building may not be as easy. Dundas Mayor Glenn Switzer told the Board they don’t have enough votes right now in Dundas to approve it. If one of the 3 entities isn’t on board, the project can’t happen according to the rules of the Joint Powers agreement. Chair Castore will be in Monday morning at 7:20, Mayor Switzer will be in Tuesday morning at 7:20. The presentation is open to the public will be held next Thursday (Dec. 8) at Community Resource Bank. The estimated cost of rehabbing the current facility and adding on is $3.5 million. Northfield would be bond for the facility, which is in the queue for 2018. Click on the link for the preliminary presentation: december-1-facility-presentation-draft
NH&C to honor Ken Bank
Northfield Hospital and Clinics former President, Ken Bank, passed away unexpectedly in early February of 2015. Current President and CEO Steve Underdahl shared that the Hospital will be honoring Bank with the Ken Bank Wall of Honor. He said, “Ken was really focused on two things; these long-term employees who come to work for us for their entire career and then people that really do these extraordinary things”. Bank worked for NH&C for 22 years. Underdahl said the Wall will honor every employee with 22 years and more of service and also for those who have done gone above and beyond their job description. The Wall, which is being developed as a piece of art itself, will be unveiled December 13th. The public is invited to attend between 4 and 6pm. It will be near the Hospital Gift Shop.
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