By Rich Larson, News Director
Rice County authorities are asking for help in finding the person or persons who may have left an explosive device on the side of a Northfield Township road yesterday. 
According to Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn, a passer-by noticed the device in the ditch on the side of Hall Avenue in between Sumac Lane and Huron Court, and contacted the authorities.
The Sheriff’s Department and Northfield Police responded, located the device and concluded that it was consistent to a pipe bomb. The area was secured, and the St. Paul bomb squad was called in. Squad personnel confirmed that the device did indeed contain explosive material, and the device was then rendered safe.
Anyone with information about this incident or the device, or anyone who may have seen anything in the area recently is asked to contact the Rice County Sheriff’s Office Investigation Unit at 507-334-4391 or the Northfield Police Department at 507-645- 4475
Minnesota Department of Corrections says Rice County must build a new jail
Rice County has been informed by the Minnesota Department of Corrections that the Rice County Jail is inadequate, and the county will need to make substantial improvements or build a new jail. Should the county fail to do so, the DOC will reclassify the jail as a 90-day lockup facility only.
County Commissioner Galen Malecha explained why the DOC no longer sees the county jail as a proper facility:
“Some of the things they cited us for was, we don’t have enough programming space for the inmates and we don’t have enough recreation space for the inmates. And that will all be part of the study and how we fit that in.
The County has options on what to do. Malecha said they have been buying real estate around the jail for some time so that an addition to the current facility could be built. The have also acquired the Faribault armory and are currently using that as the “jail annex,” and that facility could be expanded and remodeled as well. Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn said either of those options are workable, as is a third green space option. The current jail was built in 1975, and Sheriff Dunn said it is important that the Rice County facilities be modernized:
“Programming is going to be another thing. We’ll have way more programming space. And that’s one thing that has really changed. It used to be, years ago you would go to jail and you’d play cards or sit around and watch TV. Now things have changed so much. We’re doing education programming, we’re doing anger management, we’re doing parenting classes. And you still have your AA and NA and things like that. And we want to get the programming back so that people can get their diplomas.”
Commissioner Malecha said that he thinks the county should be exploring other options as well:
“The other thing that we have to look into is, through the Covid-19 pandemic, we haven’t housed a lot of inmates. Judges have released them on their own recognizance or on bail, but with monitoring via ankle bracelets under home confinement. So, to me, It kind of proves ‘Do we need these big jails?’ If this is working out fine. There are other programs out there.”
The county has commissioned a report that is due in December or January for recommendations on how to proceed.
Rice SWCD looking to fill a seat
The Rice Soil & Water Conservation District is looking to fill an open seat. Jim Purfeerst, who had been the Supervisor on the board from 
District 3, won a seat on the Rice County Board of Commissioners on November 3 and is therefore stepping away from the Rice SWCD.
The board would like to appoint someone to the District 3 seat at the earliest opportunity. Qualified candidates must live in District 3, which includes the townships of Cannon City, Wheeling, Walcott and Richland. The appointment will expire at the end of 2022.
Those interested should contact the Rice SWCD offices at 507-332-5408 before December 18.
Northfield Police Department ringing the bell for the Salvation Army
And the Northfield Police Department will be at Family Fare in Northfield this afternoon ringing the bell for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign.
Chief Mark Elliott said that he and other members of the department will be in the Family Fare parking lot from 2-6pm, visiting with shopper and raising money for the campaign which the Salvation Army’s largest fund-raising effort of the year.
Elliott said that Covid-19 protocols will be in place. Officers will be wearing face masks and keeping a safe physical distance from both people and the kettle. Those wishing to donate electronically will be able to do so using a smartphone. The Salvation Army is also accepting donations online.
This year, The Rice County Salvation Army hopes to raise $50,000 from the Red Kettle program.
