The Cannon River Drug & Violent Offender Task Force announced on Friday that 4 Faribault residents, and another two people from Iowa had been taken into custody for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
According to a statement issued by the task force over the weekend, Ryan Ihde, age 42 of Faribault, Garrett Sepin, 25 of Faribault, Blendyer Olais and Amber Adams of Faribault, whose ages were not identified in the statement, along with Krista Huston and Jeffrey Morrison of Iowa, were arrested at the heritage Bluff apartment complex on Thursday after a weeks-long investigation into Ihde and suspected narcotics trafficking activity.
After executing a search warrant, members of the task force found several bags of methamphetamine in different areas of an apartment, where Olais, Adams, Ihde, Huston and Morrison appeared to be repackaging the drugs for sale. The total amount of crystal meth seized was approximately 320 grams. Another 225 grams of liquid found tested positive for methamphetamine as well. Sepin arrived at the apartment during the search and was found to have 80 more grams of methamphetamine on his person. Overall, the statement said, agents seized more than a pound of methamphetamine.
All of the suspects have been charged with 1st Degree Controlled Substances crimes by the Rice County Attorney’s office.
The statement said agents of the task force were assisted by the Rice County Sheriff’s Office and the Faribault Police Department.
Police issue guidelines for road encounters with farm equipment
October has arrived, which for farmers and those who live in more rural areas, means it is time for the harvest. Many people will encounter farm equipment and machinery on the roads, and the City of Northfield and the Northfield Police Department are encouraging both motorists and farm equipment operators to exercise caution on the roads.
A statement issued by the city communications office asked that motorists follow some fundamental, common-sense procedures. Drivers of automobiles should slow down and use caution when approaching farm equipment, and they should not assume that equipment operators are able to see their vehicle. Drivers should also use patience and wait for a safe place to pass and should always have their headlights on. They should also watch for debris dropped by farm equipment.
Farm equipment operators, meanwhile, are being asked to use lights and flashers to make their equipment more visible. Slow-moving vehicle emblems should be attached to equipment traveling less than 30 mph. Operators are asked to avoid encouraging or signaling motorists to pass, and instead should pull over when safe to allow traffic to move around them. The statement asked operators to consider using a follow vehicle when moving equipment, especially at night, and to pick up any debris left on the highway by the equipment.
Overall, the statement said, it is important to remember to watch for slow-moving farm equipment, use patience, be kind to other drivers and equipment operators, and share the road with everyone.
Aging in place home tour will include examples of Age Friendly Northfield housing seminar topics
Age Friendly Northfield is working with Johnson Reiland builders to sponsor a home tour that is focused on options for people who want to stay in their homes as they get older.
The Tour d’Age will feature examples of homes that offer the features presented during Age Friendly Northfield seminars earlier this year, all of which were built with the concept of Universal Design, or being sensitive to the needs of all people, in mind.
The first home, owned by Bob Thacker and Karen Cherewatuk, who worked with an architect in designing the house to incorporate good principles for aging in place. Nan Just with Age Friendly Northfield said they built a home with zero clearance entryways, large entry bathrooms that can accommodate a person in a wheelchair, and even stacked closets that could one day be retrofitted for an elevator.
Another home on the tour, owned by Vicki and Lee Dilley, will offer an example of an Accessory Dwelling Unit. Just said that the ADU conforms to Northfield ordinances and is a ground floor, attached unit, but in other places they can be an apartment above a garage or a detached tiny home on a larger property.
The third home will be a new single-family unit built by Johnson Reiland Builders in the new Bluff View development in the Southeast corner of Northfield. Reiland said his organization has built two homes like this in the area, and they are good for both older adults and for families with young children. Neither were constructed to conform to the standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act, however, he said, the idea of Universal Design mirrors much of those standards, and he believes they make for a better home.
“We’ve given thought to flow and just being able to maneuver in the house. They’re beautiful homes, they’re desirable homes, and I think it’s just a better way to build. It’s not so much that they’re specifically for a client, but then again none of these homes are going to have an industrial, or hospital like feel to them.”
In fact, said Just, Universal Design is now being worked into many public buildings as well.
“The universal design features are great for families with young children as well as older adults, and so it really does cover the whole age span. And fortunately, people are starting to pick up on that, and they’re also looking at incorporating universal design features into how we develop our other places that we gather.”
The home tour is set for Wednesday, October 18th. Each home will be open from 2-3:30 pm, after which, Just said, all participants are invited to meet at Imminent Brewing for a discussion about the practical application of the ideas.
For more information on the Tour d’Age, visit agefriendlynorthfield.com.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
