A lightning strike yesterday afternoon puts a family out of their house. Northfield Fire Chief Gerry Franek reports they were called to 1516 Lindberg Ct. just before 1 o’clock after a woman reported hearing, what sounded like a bomb, and saw smoke and fire coming up the stairs from her basement. When firefighters smoke was coming out of all sides of the home. Lightning struck the mechanical room and destroyed the electrical, the furnace and they’ll need to replace a floor joist and flooring. Franek commented on the lightning saying they “assume it hit the chimney liner, which is a stainless steel”. It then traveled through the house and into the utility room. He said fortunately it didn’t ignite in the other floors. No one was hurt but the family is out of the home until repairs are done. And then around 9:30 this morning, another home
was struck by lightning. I have pictures and video on 95 The One KYMN facebook page. This one was on North Avenue just off Cedar Avenue. No one was home at the time. The lightning appeared to have gone straight through the roof. Firefighters were unavailable for comment. Northfield Police and Rice County Sheriff’s deputies also responded to the scene. North Avenue was closed at Cedar for a couple of hours. Franek commented earlier on lightning saying, “I’ve seen it go around soffits of a house and start all 4 corners of the house on fire, I’ve seen it get into the wiring of the house, blow electrical switch plates off the wall, where wires turned at a 90 degree angle, I’ve seen it right where the wire turns and blow chunks of plaster off the wall”. He equated it with a race car, the energy is moving so hard and so fast that it can’t make the corner! I have video on our facebook page. [envira-gallery id=”62641″]
Alcohol or no – it was a successful Girls Nite Out
Alcohol or no, Girls Nite Out in downtown Northfield was a hit! Retailers reported less traffic but higher sales. But this year was different, for years, many of the businesses have handed out adult beverage samplings to those 21 and older. But a memo from Police Chief Monte Nelson came out May 4th, he said, “we have confirmed and rechecked both with our City Attorney and with the State Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division to make sure the legality of all this and it is not legal to serve alcohol or allow it to be consumed or allow it to be consumed in a business that’s not licensed to serve alcohol”. Nelson added, “our goal is not enforcement, our goal is compliance. And the only way we can get compliance is through education. If people have questions, make sure they call either myself or Deb Little at the Clerk’s office”. Store owners I spoke with contacted their attorneys and insurance companies who said it was perfectly legal, with one saying the statute could be interpreted in several different ways. Still, they did not serve liquor. This will affect many other organizations who serve wine and beer at social events including the Arts Guild, the Historical Society and more. The statute is MN Stat 340A.401 Educationletterserviceofalcohol2017
Wallets open for Vets and dogs
The Believet fundraiser last Friday saw more people through the door and more dollars in the fund jar. Board member-at-Large and Event Chair, Tracy Fossum, reports over $11,000 was raised and about 225 attendance to support Believet, a non-profit that trains service dogs for Veterans. Jeff Johnson interviewed her last week, learn more about the organization at kymn.net.
Vote!
Downtown Northfield is in the quarterfinals in the contest to win “America’s Main Street” and a grand prize of $25,000. The public can vote daily at mainstreetcontest.com through May 28th when the Top 10 will be selected.
