Northfield Police are investigating a shooting. Just after midnight yesterday they were called to Northfield Hospital on report of a gunshot wound. At about the same time, officers responded to the 400 block of Hwy 3 south for a reported suspicious incident. Employees at a business there reported a man had been in the parking lot for several minutes and when he left there was fresh blood and a shell casing in the parking lot. At the hospital Northfield and Farmington Police interviewed the man, he didn’t offer much.
Police don’t believe the shooting took place in the parking lot. They towed his vehicle for further investigation. Police Chief Monte Nelson said the man was stable and released from the hospital. Investigators are on the case. No further details were released.
Road wars create friction in Waterford
Danbury Avenue in Waterford Township has become Danbury Highway according to local residents and the Waterford Township Supervisors. And it’s caused a kerfuffle since the Supervisors put up a snow fence to close it off. When Hwy 3 closed at Co. Rd. 86 in 
Castle Rock in July, Danbury Avenue, a gravel road, and NOT the designated detour, started taking on way more traffic, according to Supervisor Larry Odegard. Previously, there were between 20 and 40 cars per day. Supervisors set up a counter as complaints mounted and, in one day, over a thousand cars went through. That amount of traffic has degraded the road and, according to Mark Henry, a local road grader, it will cost the township about $25,000 to fix it. Residents in the surrounding area chimed in loudly on Facebook with some very angry responses to the closure. It got so ugly in real life, that a 70 year old man got into an altercation when he used a hand signal, palm down, to slow a speeding driver. The driver got out of his vehicle and pushed the man down, he’s now in a neck brace. Odegard said the fence is down and Sheriff’s deputies are patrolling now. There are several signs indicating no thru traffic, no outlet and road closed. Township Supervisors held a meeting Tuesday night and several of those angered by the closure were there. Odegard said that once it was explained how much it’s going to cost and that those dollars will be taken out of the taxpayers pockets, they were much more understanding. Dakota County has offered to pay the $5,000 cost of putting down chloride. The work at the intersection of Hwy 3 and Co Rd 86 was not expected to be complete until October, but now they’re indicating as early as mid September. Actual repair of the 2 mile stretch of Danbury won’t take place until next Spring.
Greg Langer honored with Heywood Award – 1st button fetches over $2,000
As part of DJJD, Greg Langer was honored last night at the Heywood Banquet as the 35th recipient of the Distinguished Award. A quiet man, not too interested in the spotlight, he gave a gracious speech that might have been the shortest! Greg has a long history of community service including over 30 years of setting up the Rodeo during Defeat Days. He’s a Greenvale Township supervisor, and is currently the Chair. As tradition, the first 5 DJJD buttons were auctioned off at the banquet. The first button fetched $2025 from the Hvistendahl family, Marion, David and Susan. Much more on Greg HERE.
JOYRIDE – Good times delivered
There will be two transportation options during the Defeat of Jesse James Days this year. First Choice Shuttle will provide four shuttles serving Northfield during the week. ith a $6.00 per ride in Northfield. It will cost Out-of-town riders $6.00 plus $2.00 per mile. The shuttles will run 7:00 a.m. to bar close (1:00 am) on Friday and Saturday and 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. today and Sunday. New this year, the Rice County Safe Roads Coalition is running a pilot project called JOYRIDE – Good times delivered. JOYRIDE will get you home on Saturday night, September 9th from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. in the City of Northfield ONLY. A Hiawatha Transit bus will pick up riders at the Entertainment Center on 5th and Water Streets and drop you at home. This is a FREE ride! Tickets are available at the Entertainment Center and local bars and restaurants.
