The Greenvale Avenue railroad crossing will be closed beginning this morning and will remain closed through 
October 28th due to work related to the 2022 NW Area Mill and Overlay Project.
Railroad crews will install new extended crossing materials to allow pedestrian crossings to be connected across the railroad tracks. In addition, new sidewalks will be installed approaching the railroad crossing.
Detours will be posted directing traffic to Highway 3, Fremouw Avenue, Dresden Avenue, and Spring Street.
The City of Northfield urges motorists to always drive with caution, slow down in work zones, and never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones.
Fossum says grant money will create opportunities
Rice County Attorney John Fossum said the federal grant awarded to county social services by the US 
Department of Justice last month will create opportunities for his office, law enforcement and some drug offenders to avoid some of the harsh realities of the criminal justice system and give those offnders a true second chance at a better life.
The money, $1 million over three years, will allow for the creation of two separate programs, the Police-Assisted Recovery and Deflection Program and the Pre-Charge Adult Diversion Program. These programs have provisions for law-enforcement to help offenders by referring them to the County Attorney’s office as a candidate for pre-trial diversion, and enter an addiction treatment program instead of being charged with a crime
“It’s an opportunity for some offenders,” Fossum said, “to voluntarily enter a treatment program. If they complete that program, they will not be charged with a criminal offense, they will not have a criminal rcord, and it’s a chance for them to get out of that lifestyle.”
Fossum stressed that this is a voluntary program. “We can’t make someone go to treatment if they don’t want to,” he said. And the participants in the program will be supervised. Should they violate the parameters of the program, Fossum’s office will then decide if it is appropriate to charge them with a crime.
The grant is the result of a joint venture between Rice County Community Services Department, area non-profit organizations and local law enforcement agencies. Fossum said Faribault Chief of Police John Sherwin and Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott approached him, along with Rice County Sheriff Jesse Thomas, and asked if he would support the program. Fossum said, not only did he readily agree, but he also thinks it is an excellent idea.
“Again, I think this is a tremendous program and it is a big sea change. It was, as I said, supported by law enforcement and brought to us by law enforcement. I really congratulate the leadership of Chief Elliott in Northfield and Chief Sherwin in Faribault for bringing this forward because it it really is a great idea.”
The grant was highly competitive, with only 25 awarded across the country. Fossum praised Ashley Anderson of Healthy Community Initiative for bringing all the necessary information together and writing a grant that made the county such an attractive recipient.
The programs are expected to be in place by next March.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Rice County Attorney John Fossum can be heard here
Imminent Brewing to help raise money for Mobile Home Fund
By Cait Kelley
This Wednesday Imminent Brewing is hosting the fundraiser Casks for Casas to raise money for the Community 
Action Center’s Rice County Mobile Home Rehabilitation Fund.
The fund was created by the CAC together with Healthy Community Initiative, and the Northfield Racial and Ethnic Equity Coalition (NREEC) for mobile home repairs, rehabilitation costs, and lot rent assistance across Rice County. The funds are meant to prevent eviction.
Casks for Casas was organized by Angelica Linder, the Northfield Public Library Outreach Coordinator, and Mar Valdecantos with Rice County Neighbors United.
Though this CAC fund will support manufactured home park residents across Rice County, it was founded as part of the swell of community support for Viking Terrace residents after the park’s new corporate owner, Lakeshore Management, raised lot rent by 15% and tried to impose strict anf illegal rules on residents this past spring.
Valdecantos said Viking Terrace has been neglected in Northfield and needs all the support they can get at this difficult time.
Laura Meyers, co-owner of Imminent Brewing, said she had wanted to host an event to support Viking Terrace after hearing resident testimony about the situation with Lakeshore at a Northfield City Council meeting.
Meyers stressed that even if people can’t make the event, they can still donate to the fund and Allina Health is currently matching donations up to $10,000.
“I do hope that we can help raise some money for this. That’s ultimately the goal. So even if folks can’t attend the event, I highly encourage people to go to the fund and donate whatever you can. If folks can come it’s going to be a good time! It’s a nice way to come together in community and just support each other. There’s going to be amazing music and food and great hosts so it should be a really beautiful evening.”
Casks for Casas will feature performances from Sonido Lily’s, Guillermo Calderón, and Northfield Aztec Dancers. Food will be provided by Delicious Pupusas and Amor a Primera Mordida (Love at First Bite) and raffle prizes will be provided by Mercado Local.
Natalia Torres and KYMN’s Rich Larson will MC the event.
There is a suggested $5 donation to attend and raffle tickets, direct donations, and part of the proceeds from food and beer sales will also go toward the fund.
Casks for Casas will be at 6:00 p.m. this Wednesday at Imminent Brewing in Northfield. For information on how to donate, visit the Community Action Center website.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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