By Teri Knight, News Director
A Morristown man is in jail after Faribault police are called to the American Legion on a pair of intoxicated men in a vehicle in the parking lot. The driver, 21 year old Austin James Valenzuela was arrested after a search of the vehicle revealed ¾ of a pound of marijuana, 3 baggies of marijuana wax, all weighing about 29 grams a piece, 9 cartridges of THC oil and $670 cash in Valenzuela’s wallet. He’s been charged with 3 counts of felony 5th degree drug possession. Valenzuela is currently on probation in two Rice County cases. He was convicted twice in 2017 of selling marijuana. One of those convictions included while possessing a firearm and Carrying a Pistol without a permit. Bail has been set at $50,000 with conditions. His initial court appearance is Dec. 31st.
Two major road projects set for 2020 in Rice County
The Rice County Board of Commissioners gave its stamp of approval to a 10-year Transportation Improvement plan which includes $14.5 million into the county’s road system next year alone. The Faribault Daily reports that County Engineer Dennis Luebbe said the two largest and most expensive projects in 2020 are on two roads next to I-35 near Dundas. A $4.6 million project is to reconstruct a 2.8 mile portion of Highway 46 on the west side of I-35 between County Road 1 and the Flying J gas station at Hwy. 19. Around $3.4 million will come from state aid.On the east side of I-35, they’ll grade and drain a 2.3 mile stretch of County Road 76 from County Road 1 to County Road 8 at a cost of $3.6 million. That work will lay the foundation for the gravel road to be paved in 2021, which is estimated at $1.4 million. About half of the cost of repaving and grading the route will be funded by state aid, while the remainder will come from the dedicated sales tax. The project also includes a new $600,000 bridge over Wolf Creek, fully funded by state aid funds.
Mac Gisme named 2020 Living Treasure
The Northfield Arts and Culture Commission, in partnership with FiftyNorth, announced the selection of Mac Gimse as the 2020 recipient of the City’s Living Treasure Award. Gimse is professor emeritus of art at St. Olaf College where he taught from 1970-2001. His work includes the sculpture “Between Earth and Sky” in downtown Dundas, and internationally, with his piece “Triumphant Crucifix” that was presented to the Vatican in 1987. He has also taught classes at Prairie Creek Community School and the former Longfellow Elementary School. Still a practicing artist, he has an upcoming exhibition at Edina Community Lutheran Church beginning January 26, 2020. In the words of his nominators, “A pillar of the liberal arts, Mac is not only an outstanding visual artist (sculptor) but also a poet, philosopher, art historian, and compassionate man of faith and grace. The Living Treasure Award honors a Northfield area resident who makes an outstanding and lasting contribution to the city’s identity and quality of life through and on behalf of the arts and culture. The full press release is HERE under our Community News page. More on Mac Gimse.
