According to the criminal complaint, the 16 year old Northfield teenager who went missing December 30th, hugged a River Falls police officer who came to the door to check on her, saying “Help Me. Help Me”. Northfield Sgt. PT Haider sent out a missing person alert on the girl December 30th. They got a ping off her phone at the River Falls, Wisconsin residence of 36 year old Shaun Michael Helmueller. After the girl ran to the officers, Helmueller was handcuffed
immediately. Others in the apartment seemed unaware of the circumstances, they were handcuffed until they could be identified. According to the complaint, Helmueller said he and the girl started talking on a website called AdultFriendFinder sometime before Christmas. She told him she was 22 and that she was a dance teacher who’d been fired. He snuck her out of her parents home at 3 o’clock on the morning of Dec. 30th. Helmueller states that he asked her why she had to sneak out, she told him she was 18. He said he drove her to his place. They engaged in sexual activity later that morning. The girl, reported to have “special needs”, was taken to the hospital due to dizziness. Helmueller is charged with 3 Class A misdemeanor counts of sexual intercourse with a child. Each comes with a maximum 9 month jail term and/or $10,000 fine. His next court appearance is Friday.
NAFRS Administrative Audit made public
The NAFRS Joint Powers Board hired a consultant, Tim McGrath of McGrath Consulting, to do an Administrative Audit. The extensive report covers everything from Board meeting process to strategic planning to the Fire Chief’s role and more. Chair Glen Castore said the study does not recommend they hire an Administrator but rather hire a full-time Fire Chief. He commented that he didn’t think a JPA was empowered to do that. NAFRS Chief Gerry Franek is a paid on call volunteer and receives a $12,000 a year stipend for administrative duties. McGrath’s recommendation is to get rid of that position and hire a full time chief. Castore says that’s a $100,000 a year expenditure. Aside from the facility, the major issue is whether to become a Taxing Authority. McGrath’s presentation is this evening from 6:30 to 8 o’clock at the Northfield Police Station and is open to the public. I have a copy of the completed study online at kymn.net. McGrathFinal Report NAFRS 12-26
Slip sliding into the ditch – Nfld Snow Emergency
The City of Northfield declared a snow emergency this morning through tomorrow until the streets are plowed curb to curb. The City has been putting down product and plowing since around 8 this morning. Still, there have been reports of vehicles sliding into the ditch along Hwy 3 and other areas. Use caution on raised road surfaces, rural roads and at intersections.
