The search continues for six-year-old Elle Ragin. A Statement issued last night by the Northfield Police Department said they have followed up on many leads and continue to follow many more.
On Saturday morning, Northfield police were called to a residence in the 600 block of Maple Brook Court, the home Elle shared with her mother, 39-year-old Lisa Wade. Upon entry, they discovered Wade’s body, the victim of an apparent suicide. Police have reason to believe that Wade may have been involved in Elle’s disappearance before taking her own life.
During a press conference on Sunday that included several Twin Cities media outlets, Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott said Wade’s body was discovered after a welfare check was requested by an extended family member. Neither Wade nor her daughter, he said, had been heard from in over two weeks.
According to Elliott, the area around Elle’s home has been searched using dogs, drones, search and rescue teams, and helicopters. Officers canvassed the neighborhood on Saturday as well, going door-to-door asking if neighbors had any information. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are both assisting with the investigation.
Elliott indicated during the press conference that an Amber Alert had not issued because at this time there is neither a suspect nor is there a vehicle identified in the search. He added, while they are asking the public for help in supplying any new information, there is no need for volunteers for physical searches at this time.
Anyone who has seen Elle Ragin or her mother, Lisa Wade, in the past two weeks or might have any knowledge about Elle’s whereabouts should call the Northfield Police Department at 507-645-4477 and share that information.
The statement last night thanked the public for the tips and hopeful comments that Elle will be found. unharmed.
School board confirms new NHS principal hire
Last week during their special meeting, the Northfield School Board officially confirmed Shane Baier as the new principal of Northfield High
School. Baier succeeds Dr. Joel Leer, who has accepted a position as an assistant professor of educational leadership at Minnesota State University, Mankato, after 16 years as the HS principal.
Northfield Superintendent of Public Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann was very pleased with Baier’s selection. He praised Baier’s commitment to relationships, equity, and academic excellence for every student, and said that he believes Baier “has the right skill set to grow Northfield High School’s standing as one of the best in Minnesota.”
Principal Baier has served in the same position at Mankato East High School, Spearfish, South Dakota Middle School, Mountain Home, Idaho Junior High School, and was most recently principal at Washington Elementary School in Mankato. He has an undergraduate and master’s degrees from South Dakota State University and an education specialist degree from Minnesota State Mankato.
There was a large group of candidates for the position. Hillmann said the hiring process involved more than 40 members of the district staff, students, parents and community members. Each candidate met with one team made up of parents and community members, another team of high school staff members, and a third team of high school students. The process concluded that Baier was an exceptional choice for the position.
Hillmann said several of the candidates were happy with their current positions but were interested in the Northfield High School principal job, because of the Northfield community. Positions like Northfield High School Principal do not open very often, he said. It speaks volumes about the district and the Northfield community that so many candidates – who were already very happy in their current positions – applied for this job, simply because it is a highly regarded position.
The district has clearly found an excellent person for the job. Hillman said he is receiving congratulations every day on the hire.
“We are so excited to have such a highly regarded school leader joining our team. Every day I get a contact from someone else throughout the state who congratulates the district on such an excellent hire. His reputation is stellar, and we are so excited to have him as a part of our district.”
With his confirmation, Baier officially began his duties on Friday.
Vintage Band Festival returns with multi-day event
And the end of this month will see the return of an event that, over the last 15 years has become a Northfield favorite, the multi-day Vintage
Band Festival.
More than 30 different band ensembles and nearly 500 musicians will appear in outdoor and indoor venues throughout Northfield over the course of four days at the end of the month.
A statement issued by the Vintage Band Festival said the performances will represent a wide variety of historic, popular, and ethnically diverse music, including 19th century compositions played on original or authentic reproductions of period instruments. Other genres that will be heard throughout the weekend will be British-style brass band music, traditional New Orleans jazz, popular and patriotic band tunes of the United States, German dance music, Mexican and Caribbean rhythms, folk music from as far off as Finland and as close to home as Michigan and Minnesota, along with much more.
There will be two stages in city parks, the Bridge Square Legacy Stage and the Central Park Wenger Stage. Other venues hosting musical performances will include Northfield-area churches, the public library, Fifty North, the VFW and downtown pubs. A highlight of the weekend will be the traditional “Battle of the Bands” on the downtown Northfield Riverwalk between the 2nd and 4th Street bridges at noon on Saturday, July 30th.
The music will begin on Thursday, July 28th and wrap up on the afternoon of Sunday, the 31st.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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