by Rich Larson
Three new Defeat of Jesse James Days Ambassadors and two new Junior Ambassadors were selected on Sunday night during a 
coronation ceremony that concluded the Defeat of Jesse James Days celebration for 2021.
Hailey Malecha, Ella Pribyl and Amaya Monroe are the new ambassadors, while Maddie Malecha and Eloise Jones were selected as junior ambassadors. Additionally, Hailey Malecha was presented with the Golden Heart Award which is given by all of the ambassador candidates who vote on the person they feel best exemplifies the characteristics required of a DJJD Ambassador.
The Ambassadors were selected by a three-person panel based on communications skills, poise, and personality. The judges also selected the five candidates they thought would work best together as a team.
The quintet steps in for outgoing ambassadors Kaia Schomburg, Audrey Pagel, Lilly King and Jr Ambassadors Lilah Paukert and Logyn Otte, who have spent more than two years representing the Defeat of Jesse James Days and Northfield due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Schomburg, Pagel and King were presented with scholarships by DJJD General Chair Galen Malecha, while Paukert and Otte received gift cards in appreciation of their service. Additionally, Schomburg was invited to represent Northfield next year in the Minneapolis Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes program.
The new ambassadors will represent Northfield in more than 90 events and volunteer opportunities over the next year.
Fugalli takes case to State Supreme Court
Last week the Minnesota Supreme Court heard an appeal from the lawyer representing Anthony Fugalli regarding his conviction for a First-Degree Drug Sale.
In September of 2018, Fugalli, who lived in Faribault, pled guilty to selling heroin to Jason Ervin Madow, also of Faribault, in June of that year. Madow died after using the drugs he purchased, and was found to have heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine in his blood. According to court documents, Fugalli confessed that he had cut the heroin he sold with fentanyl and knew of the danger that fentanyl posed. Fugalli was eventually sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for the sale. However, prior to his sentencing, he asked the district court to allow him to change his guilty plea, which the court denied. Fugalli appealed his case to the District Court of Appeals. After that appeal was denied, Fugalli took his case to the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Rice County Attorney John Fossum argued the case on behalf of his office. He said it was the first time he had argued in front of the Supreme Court, and that the process was relatively simple. Fugalli’s lawyer was given thirty-five minutes, 25 of which were used to state his case, and the final ten for rebuttal after Fossum spoke. Fossum said he did not use the full allotment of the time he was given, because he felt he simply didn’t need it.
“I didn’t take all of it because I didn’t see that there was a whole lot I could say about it, other than ‘we think this case is pretty well settled, and these are the factors for the court to look at.’ So, I got my argument in and sat down.”
Fossum said there is no timetable for the Court to hand down a decision, but typically a ruling can be expected in about ninety days. Anthony Fugalli has been charged with 3rd Degree Murder for the death of Jason Madow and is currently awaiting that trial.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Rice County Attorney John Fossum can be heard here
Rice County Habitat for Humanity returns to Northfield
Rice County Habitat for Humanity is building five new housing units in Northfield right now, the first time they have built in 
Northfield since 2016.
Dayna Norvold, the Rice County Habitat Executive Director, said the biggest reason they have not been able to build in Northfield in five years is because of the cost of land. However, in 2019 they were able to acquire a lot for a quadplex in the southeast corner of town, and last year, the organization bought a lot for a single-family home on Archibald Street, so, she said, five Northfield families will benefit from the work done by Habitat for Humanity this year.
Getting started, however has not been easy. The quad was originally scheduled to be built last year, but that had to be canceled because of the pandemic. And, because of the increase in the price of building materials this year, the cost of building the four-family home increased by 30% from 2020 to 2021. Norvold said they are very grateful for help from Kleese Construction, Welch Plumbing, Better Air of Dundas, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers who have all donated time and help, along with the diligent work of the Habitat Construction Coordinator Greg Powell.
Of course, another key component to the work they do is through people who are not necessarily affiliated with construction companies volunteering as well. In fact, the single-family home they are working on is an all-volunteer build. Community Engagement Coordinator Jodi Beach said volunteers need not have any construction skills, as there are skilled leaders on site ready to help and instruct. And she said, one need not even participate in the build to be an effective volunteer.
“If you like to cook or to bake then you can sign up to help with the lunch and bring it onto the site. And we’re also looking for volunteers that would like to be a site host. They host the day, they welcome the volunteers, they make sure everyone is having a god day, keeping hydrated, helping with the lunch, and maybe taking a few pictures of everybody having a good time.”
Those interested in volunteering or donating can visit habitatricecounty.org for more information.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Dayna Norvold and Jodi Beach can be heard here
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
