By Rich Larson, News Director
An Owatonna man was taken into custody by Rice County authorities yesterday after a two-car collision on County Road 46 that sent both drivers to 
the hospital.
The Rice County Sheriff’s office said an Audi A6 driven by Miguel Angel Carreon Balderas of Owatonna crossed the centerline and collided with a Dodge Ram pickup truck towing a 5th wheel trailer driven by Felipe Israel Ramirez Sol of Brooklyn Center, shortly after 6am yesterday morning.
Sol was treated at the scene and then airlifted to a metro area trauma center where he was listed in serious but stable condition. Balderas was treated and released by the Northfield hospital, and then transferred to the Rice County Jail pending charges of Criminal Vehicular Operation, 5th Degree Drug Possession and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
The crash remains under investigation by the Rice County Sheriff’s Office.
Delong reflects on 15 years of City Council service
City Councilor David Delong is wrapping up a 15-year career on the Northfield City Council this month. First elected in 1993, he has served two separate two-term stints on the council, the first ending in 2000, and the second running from 2012 until the end of this year.
“It goes quick,” he said. “It doesn’t seem like it’s been eight years.”
Delong acknowledged that he has served a specific role on the council during the last eight years. “People like to stereotype me as the guy who always says no,” he said. “But someone has to show some empathy for the people who are struggling right now.”
“Here we are, just raising taxes. We gave ourselves a raise, we raised utility rates, we’re instituting a franchise fee, we raised the property tax levy, and a lot of people aren’t getting a raise. As a matter of fact, they’re getting unemployment. And some people don’t even get that. And it’s like, ‘Let’s take it easy for a while.’ We can build back up later, but let’s take a pause on some of this stuff.”
Delong said that things are more difficult now for cities than they were when he first joined the Council in 1993, saying there are more expectations on a city than there used to be. Still, he said, someone needs to ask the “little” questions.
“We used to have Gloria Krusemeyer; she was a watch dog. And Bob Jacobson. And then you had your Victor Sumas in the next one. There is always someone who fills those positions of being the little voice [that says] ‘Well, did you think about this?’ because if you get seven people in a room, they can talk themselves into being able to take over the world.”
Delong said he will miss certain aspects of being a councilor. He will miss the interaction with the public. And he has taken pride in serving at the local level.
And while there have been disagreements with mayors, administrators and other councilors over the years, overall, he believes in city government. Especially the Northfield City Government.
“Being a little Scandinavian, I have trouble bragging on accomplishments. We just do a pretty darn good job, and this is a pretty darn good city to live in.”
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Councilor Delong can be heard HERE.
Chamber carries on without Winter Walk
Today is the second Thursday in December, which in any normal year would mean that tonight would be Northfield’s annual Winter Walk. But, of 
course, 2020 is far from any normal year.
Winter Walk is the Chamber-of-Commerce-sponsored event that encourages all Northfielders, and people from anywhere else for that matter, to support the local downtown shops and restaurants during the holiday season.
However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the current restrictions related to the virus and the crowds normally associated with Winter Walk, the decision was made to cancel the event this year.
Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Peterson said yesterday that canceling the event was an agonizing decision. She said that the Chamber began talking about the prospects in early November, long before the recent spike in Covid-19 cases began. Even then, it was a close decision, she said. Of the businesses surveyed, only 54% came back in favor of holding the event this year. Then the restrictions came, and the conversation became a moot point.
Peterson said that she and the Chamber employees are still working tirelessly to pledges to shop local. The current restrictions have made things difficult for several local businesses, particularly bars and restaurants. And she was very critical of the state and federal government for their lack of help during this newly renewed crisis.
“I am frustrated, sad and scared for the downtown businesses. When we had the shut down in the spring, there was help and the government was rallying to the cause. But now there’s just nothing. It is not right to tell a business that they have to close their doors but not offer any support.”
Peterson said she and the Chamber employees will do their best to make the day festive. They will add some extra decorations and luminaria to Bridge Square and make the most of a disappointing day. She even said she was hoping Santa Claus might make an appearance.
She also wanted to remind everyone that tickets are still available for the Chamber of Commerce Raffle, the grand prize of which is a brand new 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. Tickets for the raffle are $100 and can be purchased by contacting the Chamber at (507) 645-5604.
