A Dundas man is in jail for forgery. 29 year old Kevin Michael Reineke is accused of cashing fraudulent checks at the Fast Cash in Northfield on 2 separate occasions and attempting a third time. The checks totalled over $3,000 and were written out from various businesses. One was a payroll check for someone else, two more were reportedly stolen from mailboxes. After an investigation, Officers were issued a warrant and searched his home on Wednesday. In his bedroom they found a ¼ gram of heroin. Reineke admitted that he received the checks from someone
unnamed in the complaint and knew that they were not his and that cashing them was illegal. Reineke has a lengthy criminal history, most of which is drug related. His first court appearance is October 11th. The most serious charge carries up to 10 years in prison. As for the mailbox thefts, that is an ongoing investigation.
NPD gets new wheels
The Northfield Council unanimously approved the request of a 2018 Polaris Ranger-Special Patrol Vehicle for the Police Department. It’s a specially equipped UTV that can be used for special events, response to unusual incidents, and patrol of areas not easily accessible to normal squad cars, such as trails, including the new E. Cannon. With more and more events, this type of vehicle allows for more mobility and faster response. Northfield Police Chief Monte Nelson said it can also be used for parking enforcement, community outreach and PR at events and towing their speed 
trailers. They can purchase this year’s demo model with all the necessary police equipment for $23,000. A new 2018 model with all the same equipment would cost nearly $37,000. Chief Nelson says they expect to have it by next week for Defeat Days. The demo has only 600 miles on it.
NDDC takes on parking issue and celebrates Art
Parking in downtown Northfield is an issue divided. The Northfield Downtown Development Corporation, NDDC, has formed a parking committee to do, yet another, 
parking study as they look to add retailers. Board member, Brett Reese said they’re looking at ways to bring additional parking downtown. Scott Neal, a former Northfield City Administrator now in Edina, told them that he leads with parking. You must have parking for retailers and customers. The city lost more parking spaces along Division Street with the reconstruction from 6th to 8th streets. The NDDC will use Carleton students to study parking patterns in the street and parking lots. NDDC Executive Director, Jenni Roney, commented on the increased collaboration with the Chamber, the CVB and the NEC, since moving into a shared space at Bridge Square. Part of that has been in line with the Council’s strategic plan of making Northfield an Arts and Culture destination. They started the First Friday Arts in June with collaboration from businesses to bring numerous arts downtown (including KYMN in August for our 50th celebration). Roney said they’ll suspend First Friday for September, due to activities with Defeat of Jesse James Days and the Riverfront Fine Arts Festival. They’ll be back in October. In the meantime, go to Bridge Square and get your picture taken with Only in MN monument. It’s traveling all over the state but will be here through September 17th.
