A fire call went out this morning in the road construction project on Co. Rd. 1. Firefighter Sean Simonson said an off road truck was delivering materials when it sunk in the moist ditch and severed a 1 inch gas line to a house. Xcel was on the scene and repairing it by around 10 this morning. No injuries were reported.
Turn on a Blue light this week for law enforcement
They put their lives on the line every time they go to work. Our law enforcement officers risk their lives each day whether it be from picking up debris in the road to a violent offender. This is Police Week. Northfield Chief Monte Nelson said it’s part of National Police Day tomorrow where a number of events will take place in Washington DC, including a ceremony at the Law Enforcement Memorial. This year they added 360 names. Locally, Chief Nelson comments, “if you see one of our Officers say hi, shake their hand this week. If you want to show some support at night, you’re urged to turn a blue light on”. Nelson said his department is grateful for the amount of support they receive locally. He said throughout the year it’s amazing how often they have people that will pick up a meal for them and they don’t find out who it is, or they’ll drop off cookies. Because we don’t generally have major crimes, violence can happen towards police officers when they arrive at a
domestic or someone is on drugs or some other mental health issue. Nationally, they’re seeing more officers ambushed, “where people make false calls to lure them to a location or, just recently, two officers were shot at a restaurant”. Sadly, the level of hate has risen and part of that is social media which tends to impact the opinions of younger people. Nelson said, “we try and make sure that people form their opinions based on us personally, how we treat them, treating people the very best way they can given the situation is the best rule of thumb. It’s community policing at its core”. Just a couple of weeks ago was the 22nd anniversary of the death of Rice County Deputy John Liebenstein. Nelson commented, “I don’t why I’m getting emotional but maybe because my daughter spent time with his daughter this weekend and I think about his wife, Jean, his kids, Joel, Jessica and Jordan, they don’t have their dad and the only reason is, he went to work that day”. Police officers are making visits throughout the week at various businesses, the colleges and also tomorrow during Career Day at the Middle School.
Dundas council will consider sales tax
Adding a ½ cent sales tax question to the ballot for Dundas citizens will go before Dundas Council tonight for approval, or not. The sales tax dollars would assist in the capital cost of constructing a two-sheet Community Recreation Center. They’ll also be accepting bids and awarding contracts for various road projects. Administrator John McCarthy will be in studio tomorrow morning at 8:45 with a recap.
Stormwater Poster winners announced
Cannon River Watershed Partnership and the City of Northfield announced the winners of their annual Stormwater Poster Contest. Students from all the elementary schools submit original posters supporting the theme “Be the Solution to Stormwater Pollution.” The top three poster-creators from each group have their work displayed in City Hall for a year, will be presented with an award at tomorrow’s City Council meeting. The top three winners, in order, in the 4th and 5th grades group; Cecilia Riehle-Merrill First Place (Sibley), Corrie Demas Second Place, (Prairie Creek), Olivia Bolton Third Place, (Prairie Creek) and in 2nd and 3rd grades group; Annie Demas First Place (Prairie Creek), Elizabeth Driscoll Second Place (Greenvale Park) and Edda Olson Third Place (Greenvale Park). First place winners will receive a year of free frozen custard from Culvers in Northfield. Second and third place winners will receive free rounds of bowling at Jesse James Lanes. Cole Johnson from the City of Northfield and Bridget Novak from the Northfield Arts Guild were the judges. For a look at the posters go to crwp.net.
