By Rich Larson
As we head into the long holiday weekend, Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn is asking everyone to enjoy themselves to the fullest, but do not sacrifice
public safety in the name of a good time.
Sheriff Dunn said he has concerns in three different areas, and the first is on the roads.
Through the first half of the year, the State patrol said preliminary reports show that 198 people have died on Minnesota roads in 2021. Of those, 75 were speed related, which equates to 38%. Through the same period last year, Minnesota had suffered 49 speed related deaths. In 2019, the number was 29.
Sheriff Dunn said the escalating trend is a carryover from the Covid-19 shut down, when traffic levels were down but speeds began to steadily rise. He said the blatant disregard for public safety by so many drivers is requiring his department to increase their operations.
“One hundred miles an hour on the interstate. On the County Roads, our deputies are stopping cars doing 85-90 miles an hour. So, I’ve in impressed upon them, we need to be out there, we need to be visible. We’re not looking to write a lot of tickets, but if you’re going thirty miles an hour over the speed limit, I can guarantee you’re going to get a ticket.”
On the water, the Sheriff said all the county water patrol units will be out this weekend. Sheriff Dunn said the lakes and rivers have been especially busy this summer, with more people having discovered boating and fishing during the pandemic, and he expects this weekend to be no different. He reminded people that personal flotation devices are required for a reason, regardless of what type of watercraft someone is using. It makes no difference if a person is on a speedboat, a pontoon boat, a canoe or a kayak, or even floating down a river in an innertube, personal flotation devices are necessary and required by law.
Finally, he asked that people please refrain from using illegal fireworks, as they can cause severe injuries and burns. Moreover, he said, with the lack of rain the county has experienced this summer, there are still many areas of dry grass and foliage that are susceptible to fires that can be caused by illegal fireworks.
The Sheriff thanked Rice County residents for the commitment to public safety.
“We want to work with you,” he said, “to make sure that everybody in Rice County has a great quality of life.”
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn can be heard here
NH+C announces downtown Express Care Clinic will re-open on Monday
Northfield Hospital & Clinics announced this week that it will re-open its downtown Express Care Clinic on Monday.
In a statement, NH&C said Express Care is a walk-in clinic that does not require an appointment, offering high-quality, immediate care from experienced providers. The statement said the clinic is able to care for a variety of ailments including cuts that require stitches, burns, sore or strep throat, the flu, UTI’s, and much more.
The Express Care Clinic does not offer drop-in COVID testing or COVID vaccinations. Both are available, however, at the Northfield Clinic next to Northfield Hospital.
The Express Care Clinic is located in the Sterling Pharmacy building at 706 Division Street. It will be open weekdays from noon until 8pm, and weekends from 8am-4pm. Covid-19 health protocols are in effect at the Express Clinic as they are at all NH&C facilities.
For more information call 507-646-6700, or visit northfieldhospital.org/express-care.
DJJD committee selects Ray Ozmun as Joseph Lee Heywood Distinguished Service Award recipient
And the Defeat of Jesse James Days organizing committee announced on Wednesday that Ray Ozmun is the recipient of the 2021 Joseph Lee Heywood Distinguished Service Award.
Ozmun is a veteran of the Korean War who has a long history of serving the community in the Northfield area where he has lived for most of his life. He has served with the American Legion Honor Guard, worked with Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, and been a part of the Northfield Veterans memorial Park Committee. Since 1979, Ray has been the district and State Chairman for the Sons of the American Legion. And he served for 38 years on the Rural Fire Board for Waterford Township.
The Joseph Lee Heywood Distinguished Service Award is given to a Northfield citizen who exemplifies a dedication to public service. Each year, the community honors Joseph Lee Heywood who was killed during the notorious James/Younger Gang bank raid. Heywood was the bank teller that refused to open the vault for the bandits.
The Joseph Lee Heywood Distinguished Service Award Banquet is set this year for Wednesday, September 8 at 6:30pm at the Northfield Ballroom. The event includes a buffet dinner along with the award ceremony. Tickets are $25. Reservations are required. For more information, visit djjd.org/banquet
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. He can be reached at rich@kymnradio.net
