A Rice County Jury convicted 60 year old Kevin Herman Larson of “Failure to Register as a Predatory Offender”. Attorney John Fossum said Larson was convicted of Criminal Sexual Conduct in 1993 and has steadfastly refused to register since being released from prison. The jury heard the case in two parts, deciding on Wednesday that he was guilty of the crime of refusing to register, and on Thursday that he had not proved his claim that he was Not Guilty by Reason of Mental Illness. Larson was previously convicted of failure to register in cases brought in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, and
2014. The case was tried by Assistant Rice County Attorney Craig Green. Fossum added that “the jury appropriately convicted Mr. Larson of this serious offense and agreed that his refusal to accept his duty to register does not qualify as a mental illness. Obstinately refusing to believe he has a legal duty to register does not excuse him from criminal liability.” Larson has been in the Rice County jail since 2015 and will remain there as he awaits sentencing. He could get up to 5 years in prison.
Levies and referendums, oh my
“We’re good stewards and we’re also good long-range thinkers and by being a long-range thinker, I’m not just thinking about the next 2 or 3 years but the next 5 to 7 years”, said Northfield Schools Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann commenting while discussing a possible referendum that includes plans for a new Greenvale Elementary school with upgrades to the current facility and a new Northfield High School. Bonding would be $106 million if the Board chose to do everything on their wish list. The Board could ask the public for one of those 2 projects, they could ask for both, they could ask for them in multiple bond questions, or they could do nothing at this time. With new buildings they’ll need programming. That’s what an Operating levy is for. The current operating levy runs through 2022, however, as they plan, Hillmann said they would also partner the bonding with an operating levy. He commented that it would not extend the current one. Hillmann said, “let’s just say that in 2017 there was that, hypothetically, there was that kind of election, what would happen is the current operating levy would be sunsetted and replaced with the new one and the maximum you can do an operating levy is 10 years. So it would basically be replaced with a different 10 year levy”. The Board held a lengthy work session and this discussion will continue.
Dundas financials in good shape
Dundas Mayor Glenn Switzer commented on the City’s finances saying they have over $4 million in the bank which you need to have and their debt is $5 million. He said it sounds like a lot, “but it’s not”. In the last 10 years they went from just over $10 mil to $5 adding that in that time they’ve added a new building, a new police station, a maintenance facility as well as adding some roads and sewer work. The whole time they’ve also lowered their taxes!
Hearts Gala has record year
The Hearts Gala, a fundraiser for Ruth’s House raised over $87,000! Executive Director Ruth Hickey said it was a record year all around and thanked everyone who came to support the facility. She said your support and donation means that they can continue to provide safe shelter to women and children in need.
