By Rich Larson, News Director
With the holiday season now upon us, law enforcement across the country is ramping up the enforcement of impaired and distracted driving laws.
Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott said that the Northfield PD, the Rice County Sheriff’s Department and the State Highway Patrol will all be out in force to see that people are, as he put it, making good decisions.
“It’s all part of one wave really across the country,” he said, “with local and state officers working through the Towards Zero Deaths program.
Elliott said that in Northfield the DWI numbers have held steady this year versus last. However, most of the other calls and crimes the police deal with have decreased slightly this year, due to the Covid-19 restrictions and the state shutdowns. Elliott said even numbers with 2019 are problematic.
“That’s disturbing. We would have expected those to go down as well, and they haven’t. On top of that in Rice County we’ve had eight traffic fatalities to date. That’s a lot. It’s up from last year. A number of those, six of them, were unbelted. We think that people are making some choices about risky behavior and we really want to advise people not to do that. Think of safety, buckle up, keep your speed down, and drive sober.”
Elliott said the enhanced enforcement program will continue through New Year’s Eve.
Chief Elliott’s entire conversation with Jeff can be heard HERE.
Mayor Pownell discusses her goals for the next year
After her decisive victory in the November election, Mayor Rhonda Pownell will become the first two term mayor in Northfield in more than 30 years when she is re-inaugurated in January.
Pownell said she was obviously very happy to gain re-election and that she is looking forward to her second term for several reasons, one of them being the new City Council.
“I am really excited for the next four years, partly because we have two new voices coming on the council. I think that adds an extra dynamic that I’m really looking forward to, because you get a new set of eyes looking at what you’ve done over the previous four years, and especially when it comes to the strategic plan.”
Speaking on strategic planning, the mayor said that one of her top priorities next year will be revising the city’s Comprehensive Plan, which is something that is built into the city’s 2021 budget.
“It’s the major visioning document that guides how we grow,” she said. Most cities revise their plan every ten years. The last time the Northfield plan was reviewed was in 2008.She said she is looking forward to receiving input on the plan from a more diverse cross section of the population than the city has had in the past. “We need to get to every neighborhood,” she said, “so we can move forward in a strategic, data driven way.”
Pownell also noted that the experience she gained in her first term will serve her well in her second.
“There is so much about local government that is cyclical. Once you get used to that, and you’ve been through one budget or one street infrastructure project, I think you start to see the opportunities and connect all of the different plans that you’ve put in place.”
She said her experience gives her a greater depth of how to see things, and the wisdom of knowing when to put her voice forward and when not to.
Mostly, Mayor Pownell said, she is just happy to have the opportunity to serve.
Mayor Pownell’s full conversation with Jeff can be heard HERE.
Rice County Courthouse is closed indefinitely
And Rice County has announced that the county courthouse will be closed until further notice.
Due to the recent increase in new Covid-19 cases, State Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Gildea issued on order earlier this week suspending all in-person court hearings indefinitely. Therefore, the courthouse will be closed until the order is lifted.
Those looking to file paperwork with the county for any type of court case are asked to call Rice County Court Administration at 507-497-7134 between 8am and 4:30pm or send an email to ricecourts@courts.state.mn.us.
Questions regarding case status can be answered by the Rice County Attorney’s Office at 507-332-6103.
Have Yourself a Festive Christmas debuts Sunday
And another, more festive sign that the holiday season is upon us, the first edition of Have Yourself A Festive Christmas, hosted by Logan Wells, will air on KYMN this Sunday, beginning at noon. Logan has altered the format of the show this year to include two hours of Christmas music from traditional hits, to jazz, and even classical.
