Passenger rail line, with a stop in Cambridge, may be up and running by 2012
A decade ago it was obvious that a passenger rail line between the Twin Cities and Duluth would never work. There was nothing on the south end for it to connect to. There was little on the north end for people to want to travel that way for. Congestion on Interstate 35 was unheard of. No one had a lap top, and what were cell phones?
A lot has changed, noted Ken Buehler of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum.
Today, the Hiawatha Light Rail line runs between downtown Minneapolis and the airport. The Northstar Commuter Line will be operating this year between Big Lake and Minneapolis. Both will converge at the new Twin stadium. And riders can connect to the larger world by hopping aboard an Amtrak train bound for either the west or east coast.
People have spread out of the Twin Cities area and moved into the suburbs with some commuting as much as one and one-half hours a day. Others have built expansive vacation homes along the North Shore. Today there is a casino smack in the middle of the Twin Cities to Duluth journey that operates as though it were a city of one million people. And after paying $4 a gallon for gasoline last summer, folks are looking for ways to avoid pouring their entire paychecks into their gas tanks.
AN EXCITING INITIATIVE
Congressman James Oberstar (Minnesota District 8), chair of the House Transportation Committee, has been watching the conditions change. Under his leadership in the house, a national transportation policy is being developed, one that includes rail in addition to highways. Various rail projects across the nation have been prioritized. Number two on the list is the Minneapolis to Duluth line.
“That is an exciting initiative,” said Oberstar.
“We need to give consumers as many options and alternatives as possible,” he added. “If we can take just 10 percent of the trips that are currently being made by automobile, and convert them to some other mode of transportation, we will save the equivalent of all the oil that we import from Saudi Arabia each year – 550 million barrels.
“I will do all I can to support this visionary project.”
SERVICE TO START IN 2012
The Passenger Rail Alliance, a group with members from affected counties and cities, has completed the necessary feasibility study for the project. Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad done modeling to show how freight trains and passenger trains could operate concurrently. The alliance is now starting its negotiations with BNSF. An environmental impact statement will be completed in a year, and will then be followed by an engineering study.
Most of the necessary funding for the rail line is expected to come through the Federal Rail Administration, which provides up to 80 percent for projects. Oberstar’s Amtrak bill, which passed in October with overwhelming bipartisan support, authorized $14 billion in funding for the national passenger railroad over the next five years. The alliance continues to seek funding to pay for needed groundwork, as well as the actual construction.
The intent is to start service in 2012.
As with most projects, the price tag for the Northern Lights Express (NLX) line has increased and is now at between $45 to $55 million. The reason for most of the increase is that to begin with, passenger rail representatives believed they could use the existing Burlington Northern Sante Fe rail line. While NLX trains will travel part of the time on the tracks that already exist, in many places dual and even triple tracks will need to be added, possibly all the way from Minneapolis to Sandstone. Another major cost is installing quad gates at each crossing along the 150-mile line; these are the type of gates drivers can’t snake through. “This will be a very safe operation,” Buehler promised.
Stops on the passenger rail line will be limited to six locations: the Twin stadium in Minneapolis, Foley Boulevard in Coon Rapids, Cambridge, Hinckley, Superior and Duluth. A maintenance facility will be built in Sandstone. Eight trains a day will travel at 110 miles per hour and carry an estimated 1 million people. Within 18 months, planners predict the line will become profitable.
Each city with a stop is responsible for providing its own depot. In Cambridge, a task force is investigating where the best place for a depot is. Among the options are locating it at the mall, which sits along the tracks.
Passengers on the train will travel between Duluth and Minneapolis faster than if they were driving. The cost will be comparable, noted Buehler. According to the AARP, it costs 55¢ to operate a car, which totals $80 between Duluth and Minneapolis. The cost for a one-way train ticket will be about $36. For those traveling from Cambridge to Minneapolis it will cost about $9 one way. Those who travel more frequently, such as every day or once a week, will be able to buy tickets at a discount; this may save them up to half.
While trains will reach a peak of 110 miles per hour, they will not be going that fast through towns. Stops at depots will be quick, and the train will pass through a crossing in seconds causing little disruption to traffic, said Buehler. These trains are also much smaller and lighter than the freight trains Cambridge residents are used to.
Each NLX train set will have five to six cars. There will be a quiet car, where no cellular phones, computers or MP3 players are allowed. At the lunch car, riders can purchase snacks. In another car, there will be a bar for those looking to relax. In the business car, a mini-Kinkos will be set up so that telecommuters can print their work, have copies made during the trip and have reports collated and bound.
“This is going to revolutionize where people live and how they do work,” predicted Buehler. Instead of windshield time, travel time will be billable hours. Relays will be set up allowing passengers access to wireless internet (for a fee) and ensuring they never drop a cell call.
TRAIN TO SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Supporters of the project note that rail projects are about more than transporting people from place to place.
“It’s more than transportation,” said Buehler. “It’s economic development.” The Hiawatha corridor has seen $2.5 billion in privately funded development. When a similar train was installed in Texas with a stop in the North Dallas area, a blighted area was completed turned around. “Now North Dallas is one of the trendiest metropolises – all because of a train stop nobody wanted,” noted Buehler. The Amtrak Downeaster, running between Boston and Portland, is Amtrak’s fastest growing route in the country right now.
“Wherever we have seen high speed rail initiatives, economic development has accompanied it,”Oberstar noted. “You will see businesses that previously did not want to locate outside the metro area choosing to do so because there will be easy access for their personnel to the metro area.”
Monday, May 11, 2009
Isanti does its part to solve world energy crisis
Renewable fuel plant to open this spring in the city’s industrial park
Isanti will soon be home to a renewable fuel plant.
EverCat Fuels, LLC. will open this spring in the city’s industrial park. It will transform what was waste into fuel.
“It truly is a tremendous project,” Isanti Mayor George Wimmer observed.
NO LONGER FOOD VERSUS FUEL
This new procedure eliminates the food or fuel debate. “The Mcgyan process can use many alternatives to produce diesel such as waste oils and algae. This gives us a secure fuel source without raising the cost of food,” Wimmer observed.
Unlike other biodiesel systems that require expensive ingredients, the Mcgyan Process® can used items, such as algae, that are farmed on low-quality land. These raw materials that are needed can be locally produced, Wimmer remarked. He is particularly excited about the potential for the use of algae, which can easily be produced in the swamplands of Isanti County. The use of algae is about two to four years out; it is currently be studied at the Ever Cat research and development facility, noted Dave Wendorf of Ever Cat.
Developed by three inventors, the Mcgyan Process combines alcohol and oil or tallow and converts it into biodiesel.
Thus far, the process has been tested using a variety of ingredients, both liquids and solids, including refined lard, walnut oil, refined algae oil, olive oil, corn oil, peanut oil, coconut oil, acidulated soapstock, and yellow grease as feedstock and methanol, ethanol and propanol as the needed alcohols.
The plant is energy-efficient. The reactor is heated to about 300ยบ Celsius, but because it is so small the outgoing hot products can be used to heat the incoming cold reactants. Excess alcohol is separated out and added to the mix again. Any feedstock (i.e. oil) that is not used is sent back through the reactor.
The entire process is also environmentally-friendly. There are no strong acids or bases used, and thus there is no waste produced that needs to be disposed of elsewhere. The process does not add any carbon into the atmosphere. Additionally, no water is used. “Our city infrastructure will not be impacted from the biodiesel plant,” Wimmer said.
It takes other biodiesel plants hours to produce what EverCat can do in seconds.
BIODIESEL WILL LESSEN DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL
The 10,000-square-foot plant in Isanti will produce about 3 million gallons of biodiesel this year to begin with. The plant can easily be modified to produce 10 million gallons by adding another reactor, and long-term plans are to ramp that up to 30 million gallons once rail access is established.
Biodiesel is in demand right now, thanks to a state law requiring that two percent of the fuel in the state be biodiesel. That requirement increases to five percent by the end of this month, and must be 20 percent by 2015.
“It’s going to lessen our dependence on foreign oil sources,” Wendorf said.
He anticipates that the fuel being produced at EverCat will be sold to “blenders,” companies that blend biodiesel with diesel fuel and sell it to users like Metro Transit.
The cost of the biodiesel that will be produced will be less than ethanol or other forms. This is because the Mcgyan Process is so efficient and because it uses the materials others consider waste, explained Wendorf.
PLANT TO ADD 16 JOBS
Sixteen new jobs will be added at the Isanti facility. “The jobs produced are ones that you can raise a family on and afford to buy one of our many homes for sale in the city,” noted Mayor Wimmer. “This is a benefit any year, but especially in one where Isanti County has seen a near doubling in the unemployment rate.”
Jobs will pay between $15 to $20 an hour. They will not require more than a high school diploma and on-the-job training.
PUTTING ISANTI ON THE MAP
The EverCat facility in Isanti will not only be a production plant, but also a demonstration plant. To date Ever Cat has been contacted by 40 countries that are interested in the Mcgyan Process. Part of this is because mini-reactors can be set up anywhere, lessening the distance fuel travels between where it is produced and where it is consumed, noted Wimmer.
“We anticipate thousands of visitors coming to Isanti to learn the technology and be trained in plant operations as the Mcgyan Process is duplicated throughout the world,” Wimmer noted.
“This project puts Isanti on the high technology/green technology map.”
EverCat representatives are also working with the community college in Cambridge to train students on the new technology.
Recognizing the value of this effort, the Economic Development Association of Minnesota recently presented Isanti with its Business Recruitment Award.
SPIN-OFF BUSINESS ENCOURAGED
The city hopes to build off of the entrepreneurial spirit of EverCat by encouraging spin-off businesses to locate nearby.
Not only will they then provide more jobs and increase the tax base, but “this will add more revenue potential to our existing businesses as they serve the flow of visitors and newly created companies,” Wimmer noted.
He added, “The expansion of EverCat also helps the city of Isanti in the development of a rail industrial park which will lead to further economic development. This helps to reduce the roughly 80% of our working population’s need to commute to the Twin Cities for work.”
Learn more at evercatfuels.com
Isanti will soon be home to a renewable fuel plant.
EverCat Fuels, LLC. will open this spring in the city’s industrial park. It will transform what was waste into fuel.
“It truly is a tremendous project,” Isanti Mayor George Wimmer observed.
NO LONGER FOOD VERSUS FUEL
This new procedure eliminates the food or fuel debate. “The Mcgyan process can use many alternatives to produce diesel such as waste oils and algae. This gives us a secure fuel source without raising the cost of food,” Wimmer observed.
Unlike other biodiesel systems that require expensive ingredients, the Mcgyan Process® can used items, such as algae, that are farmed on low-quality land. These raw materials that are needed can be locally produced, Wimmer remarked. He is particularly excited about the potential for the use of algae, which can easily be produced in the swamplands of Isanti County. The use of algae is about two to four years out; it is currently be studied at the Ever Cat research and development facility, noted Dave Wendorf of Ever Cat.
Developed by three inventors, the Mcgyan Process combines alcohol and oil or tallow and converts it into biodiesel.
Thus far, the process has been tested using a variety of ingredients, both liquids and solids, including refined lard, walnut oil, refined algae oil, olive oil, corn oil, peanut oil, coconut oil, acidulated soapstock, and yellow grease as feedstock and methanol, ethanol and propanol as the needed alcohols.
The plant is energy-efficient. The reactor is heated to about 300ยบ Celsius, but because it is so small the outgoing hot products can be used to heat the incoming cold reactants. Excess alcohol is separated out and added to the mix again. Any feedstock (i.e. oil) that is not used is sent back through the reactor.
The entire process is also environmentally-friendly. There are no strong acids or bases used, and thus there is no waste produced that needs to be disposed of elsewhere. The process does not add any carbon into the atmosphere. Additionally, no water is used. “Our city infrastructure will not be impacted from the biodiesel plant,” Wimmer said.
It takes other biodiesel plants hours to produce what EverCat can do in seconds.
BIODIESEL WILL LESSEN DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL
The 10,000-square-foot plant in Isanti will produce about 3 million gallons of biodiesel this year to begin with. The plant can easily be modified to produce 10 million gallons by adding another reactor, and long-term plans are to ramp that up to 30 million gallons once rail access is established.
Biodiesel is in demand right now, thanks to a state law requiring that two percent of the fuel in the state be biodiesel. That requirement increases to five percent by the end of this month, and must be 20 percent by 2015.
“It’s going to lessen our dependence on foreign oil sources,” Wendorf said.
He anticipates that the fuel being produced at EverCat will be sold to “blenders,” companies that blend biodiesel with diesel fuel and sell it to users like Metro Transit.
The cost of the biodiesel that will be produced will be less than ethanol or other forms. This is because the Mcgyan Process is so efficient and because it uses the materials others consider waste, explained Wendorf.
PLANT TO ADD 16 JOBS
Sixteen new jobs will be added at the Isanti facility. “The jobs produced are ones that you can raise a family on and afford to buy one of our many homes for sale in the city,” noted Mayor Wimmer. “This is a benefit any year, but especially in one where Isanti County has seen a near doubling in the unemployment rate.”
Jobs will pay between $15 to $20 an hour. They will not require more than a high school diploma and on-the-job training.
PUTTING ISANTI ON THE MAP
The EverCat facility in Isanti will not only be a production plant, but also a demonstration plant. To date Ever Cat has been contacted by 40 countries that are interested in the Mcgyan Process. Part of this is because mini-reactors can be set up anywhere, lessening the distance fuel travels between where it is produced and where it is consumed, noted Wimmer.
“We anticipate thousands of visitors coming to Isanti to learn the technology and be trained in plant operations as the Mcgyan Process is duplicated throughout the world,” Wimmer noted.
“This project puts Isanti on the high technology/green technology map.”
EverCat representatives are also working with the community college in Cambridge to train students on the new technology.
Recognizing the value of this effort, the Economic Development Association of Minnesota recently presented Isanti with its Business Recruitment Award.
SPIN-OFF BUSINESS ENCOURAGED
The city hopes to build off of the entrepreneurial spirit of EverCat by encouraging spin-off businesses to locate nearby.
Not only will they then provide more jobs and increase the tax base, but “this will add more revenue potential to our existing businesses as they serve the flow of visitors and newly created companies,” Wimmer noted.
He added, “The expansion of EverCat also helps the city of Isanti in the development of a rail industrial park which will lead to further economic development. This helps to reduce the roughly 80% of our working population’s need to commute to the Twin Cities for work.”
Learn more at evercatfuels.com
Lowe’s first to locate in Spirit River Crossings
New retail area will add shopping opportunities for region
This fall, the well-known store with a blue roof will open in Cambridge.
Site work on the new Lowe’s started last fall just west of the Isanti County Fairgrounds. The store will sit on property that was formerly the Cambridge athletic complex. Next year, a Kohl’s will be added alongside Lowe’s.
“The new stores will offer more shopping opportunities and create a market for attracting more residents to the county,” said Cambridge Development Director Dave Carlberg.
He believes that the expansion of the Cambridge retail community benefits the region as a whole. “It’s going to bring more people in the area, not just to shop at these stores, but at existing stores, as well,” Carlberg said.
Once both Kohl’s and Lowe’s have opened, Carlberg expects the developers of Spirit River Crossings, Opus Northwest, to announce additional smaller stores and restaurants. Opening on the south side of Highway 95 this year will be Sonic Restaurant. The company has already submitted building plans and paid for a permit. The new restaurant will be located at the corner of Opportunity Boulevard and Second Avenue behind where Eastgate Mall used to be.
“I think 2009 might be a little quieter as far as smaller retailers developing in that area,” noted Carlberg. But he predicts that 2010 will be a big year for the city.
ABOUT THE CAMBRIDGE LOWE’S
The Cambridge Lowe’s store will be the 13th in the state. Other locations include: Hibbing, Mankato, Rochester, Blaine, Coon Rapids, Maple Grove, Oak Park Heights, Rogers, Plymouth, Owatonna, Shakopee, and West St. Paul. Each week, about 14 million shoppers walk through the doors of 1,650 stores in the United States and Canada. This year, Lowe’s will expand to Mexico while adding 60 to 75 stores.
Lowe’s began small. It started in North Carolina when H. Carl Buchan, part owner of the North Wilkesboro Hardware Company, envisioned creating a chain of hardware stores. At the time, Lowe’s was a typical, small town hardware store selling everything from overalls and snuff to wash tubs, work boots and even horse collars. Buchan began concentrating on hardware, appliances and hard-to-find building materials in the post-World War II building boom. Sales grew as Lowe’s established a reputation for low prices. Stores were added in neighboring towns throughout western North Carolina.
The company went public in 1961. In 1982, Lowe’s had its first billion-dollar sales year, earning a record profit of $25 million. Its customer base began changing from professional builders to do-it-yourself homeowners. By 1994, the modern Lowe’s was established and the only stores being built were large. In metro markets, Lowe’s builds stores that are 117,000 square feet. The Cambridge store will be the same size as those built in small to mid-sized markets at 94,000 square feet.
The Cambridge store will employ about ?? people. Approximately ?? percent of the jobs will be full-time.
Lowe’s stores stock 40,000 products and have hundreds of thousands more available by special order. On the shelves find Kichler lighting, Hitachi tools, John Deere lawn tractors, Samsung and Whirlpool appliances and Valspar paint. The Cambridge store will feature an adjacent garden center. A store of this size represents an average investment in the community of approximately $12 million.
This fall, the well-known store with a blue roof will open in Cambridge.
Site work on the new Lowe’s started last fall just west of the Isanti County Fairgrounds. The store will sit on property that was formerly the Cambridge athletic complex. Next year, a Kohl’s will be added alongside Lowe’s.
“The new stores will offer more shopping opportunities and create a market for attracting more residents to the county,” said Cambridge Development Director Dave Carlberg.
He believes that the expansion of the Cambridge retail community benefits the region as a whole. “It’s going to bring more people in the area, not just to shop at these stores, but at existing stores, as well,” Carlberg said.
Once both Kohl’s and Lowe’s have opened, Carlberg expects the developers of Spirit River Crossings, Opus Northwest, to announce additional smaller stores and restaurants. Opening on the south side of Highway 95 this year will be Sonic Restaurant. The company has already submitted building plans and paid for a permit. The new restaurant will be located at the corner of Opportunity Boulevard and Second Avenue behind where Eastgate Mall used to be.
“I think 2009 might be a little quieter as far as smaller retailers developing in that area,” noted Carlberg. But he predicts that 2010 will be a big year for the city.
ABOUT THE CAMBRIDGE LOWE’S
The Cambridge Lowe’s store will be the 13th in the state. Other locations include: Hibbing, Mankato, Rochester, Blaine, Coon Rapids, Maple Grove, Oak Park Heights, Rogers, Plymouth, Owatonna, Shakopee, and West St. Paul. Each week, about 14 million shoppers walk through the doors of 1,650 stores in the United States and Canada. This year, Lowe’s will expand to Mexico while adding 60 to 75 stores.
Lowe’s began small. It started in North Carolina when H. Carl Buchan, part owner of the North Wilkesboro Hardware Company, envisioned creating a chain of hardware stores. At the time, Lowe’s was a typical, small town hardware store selling everything from overalls and snuff to wash tubs, work boots and even horse collars. Buchan began concentrating on hardware, appliances and hard-to-find building materials in the post-World War II building boom. Sales grew as Lowe’s established a reputation for low prices. Stores were added in neighboring towns throughout western North Carolina.
The company went public in 1961. In 1982, Lowe’s had its first billion-dollar sales year, earning a record profit of $25 million. Its customer base began changing from professional builders to do-it-yourself homeowners. By 1994, the modern Lowe’s was established and the only stores being built were large. In metro markets, Lowe’s builds stores that are 117,000 square feet. The Cambridge store will be the same size as those built in small to mid-sized markets at 94,000 square feet.
The Cambridge store will employ about ?? people. Approximately ?? percent of the jobs will be full-time.
Lowe’s stores stock 40,000 products and have hundreds of thousands more available by special order. On the shelves find Kichler lighting, Hitachi tools, John Deere lawn tractors, Samsung and Whirlpool appliances and Valspar paint. The Cambridge store will feature an adjacent garden center. A store of this size represents an average investment in the community of approximately $12 million.
Expect great things in Cambridge
Kohl’s to open in 2010
Although Kohl’s won’t be opening this year as planned, the department store is still coming to Cambridge.
The current plan is to begin construction this fall. The store will then open in the spring of 2010. It will be located next to Lowe’s in Spirit River Crossings.
Cambridge Community Development Director Dave Carlberg has been closely monitoring the progress of both Kohl’s and Lowe’s, which will also be constructed in Spirit River Crossings.
Some have asked him if Kohl’s will be backing out due to the current economic situation. “To me it’s a question of timing,” said Carlberg. “There’s too much of an investment here for them not to come, but timing is what we’re always monitoring.”
The site work for the new store has already been done, and the parking lot is in. In addition, Lowe’s realligned Second Avenue Northeast last fall.
Carlberg noted that he gets frequent calls from people wondering when Kohl’s will be opening. “I’m amazed at how many people are waiting for that retailer to come to town,” he remarked.
ABOUT KOHL’S
Kohl’s has grown from one store in Wisconsin to 1,004 in 48 states since opening in 1962. The company plans to open 50 new stores in 2009 and remodel 60 locations.
Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., a suburb of Milwaukee, Kohl’s strives to be family-focused and value-oriented. Find national brands like KitchenAid®, Dockers® and Dyson™, as well as Chaps, daisy fuentes®, apt. 9®, Croft & Barrow®, Sonoma LIFE+style™, Candie’s® and Tony Hawk®. Kohl’s also has exclusive agreements with the Food Network™ and fashion designer Vera Wang.
Last year, Kohl’s added several more lines: Jumping Beans®, a new children’s private brand; Gold Toe, a national hosiery brand; the Bobby Flay™ line, an expansion of its Food Network™ relationship; the Abbey Dawn line, a juniors' lifestyle brand that blends authentic rock with a feminine edge, inspired by rock sensation Avril Lavigne; and FILA SPORT®, an elite sportswear brand that includes a full line of active apparel for women, men and children as well as accessories including sport bags and footwear.
Although Kohl’s won’t be opening this year as planned, the department store is still coming to Cambridge.
The current plan is to begin construction this fall. The store will then open in the spring of 2010. It will be located next to Lowe’s in Spirit River Crossings.
Cambridge Community Development Director Dave Carlberg has been closely monitoring the progress of both Kohl’s and Lowe’s, which will also be constructed in Spirit River Crossings.
Some have asked him if Kohl’s will be backing out due to the current economic situation. “To me it’s a question of timing,” said Carlberg. “There’s too much of an investment here for them not to come, but timing is what we’re always monitoring.”
The site work for the new store has already been done, and the parking lot is in. In addition, Lowe’s realligned Second Avenue Northeast last fall.
Carlberg noted that he gets frequent calls from people wondering when Kohl’s will be opening. “I’m amazed at how many people are waiting for that retailer to come to town,” he remarked.
ABOUT KOHL’S
Kohl’s has grown from one store in Wisconsin to 1,004 in 48 states since opening in 1962. The company plans to open 50 new stores in 2009 and remodel 60 locations.
Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., a suburb of Milwaukee, Kohl’s strives to be family-focused and value-oriented. Find national brands like KitchenAid®, Dockers® and Dyson™, as well as Chaps, daisy fuentes®, apt. 9®, Croft & Barrow®, Sonoma LIFE+style™, Candie’s® and Tony Hawk®. Kohl’s also has exclusive agreements with the Food Network™ and fashion designer Vera Wang.
Last year, Kohl’s added several more lines: Jumping Beans®, a new children’s private brand; Gold Toe, a national hosiery brand; the Bobby Flay™ line, an expansion of its Food Network™ relationship; the Abbey Dawn line, a juniors' lifestyle brand that blends authentic rock with a feminine edge, inspired by rock sensation Avril Lavigne; and FILA SPORT®, an elite sportswear brand that includes a full line of active apparel for women, men and children as well as accessories including sport bags and footwear.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Isanti County’s injured deputy anxious to return to work
Fund at Cambridge State Bank set up for Chad Meyer
ISANTI COUNTY – It’s been 10 weeks since he was struck by a car while on duty, but Isanti County Sheriff’s Deputy Chad Meyer can’t wait to get back to work.
The only problem is, he’s not sure when that will be.
Meyer’s broken left leg is still healing. Doctors aren’t yet sure what the extent of damage is to his dislocated left shoulder. He went in recently for an MRI to evaluate the nerve damage and will get the results in another week.
LIFE CHANGES IN A SECOND
Saturday night, Dec. 13, 2008 was just another night on the job for the rookie cop. He was one of several assisting at a crash scene at Highway 95 and County Road 48 midway between Cambridge and North Branch.
The scene was nearly cleaned up, and Meyer asked the State Patrol officer in charge if there was anything else he needed. While the State Patrol vehicle was parked along Highway 95 alerting westbound traffic to slow down, the patrolman asked Meyer to remain on County Road 48.
There is a corner on the county road that hides the Highway 95 intersection, noted Meyer, and his car was there to make sure another crash didn’t happen.
He recalls walking back to his squad car and removing his traffic vest. That’s where his memories end.
Others have told him he was struck by a car on Highway 95. He’s not sure how he got back up to the highway. He has also been told that his body flew quite a ways after being struck, but he’s still waiting for the incident report from the state patrol to learn just how far it was.
The next memory Meyer has is of getting to the hospital, and then it’s blank until he woke up in the intensive care unit.
In a way, he’s glad he doesn’t remember being hit. Still, knowing he was, when he sees crashes on television it gives him “the willies.”
Despite that he’s determined to return to work. After all, he’s wanted to be a law enforcement officer since he was a kid. He was on the job just seven months before he was injured. “I love my job,” said Meyer.
The past 10 weeks on the couch have left him with plenty of time to think. He’s already decided to handle traffic stops differently. “I’ll perform traffic stops in certain ways that allow me to be safe, as well as the driver of the vehicle,” noted Meyer.
That includes how he approaches the vehicle, as well as where they park.
What happened is an eye-opener for everyone on his department, noted Meyer. “We just have to learn from it. We can’t change what happened.
“We move on and make sure we’re all safe out there. We make sure we all go home at the end of the day.”
He hopes others will learn from what happened to him.
“I just hope that everybody slows down and watches out for my co-workers out there,” he said.
“Slow down and concentrate on driving. It takes one second, and your life can change.”
SHOULDER, ARM, HEAD INJURED
Meyer’s injuries were severe, albeit not life threatening.
He had several deep cuts on his head and arm. Something impaled his left hand and cut the tendon completely. He received stitches on both sides. Twelve staples were put in his head.
His left leg was fractured in two places, the fibia and the tibia. To aid in the healing, doctors inserted a permanent rod with a screw at both the top and bottom. This rod allowed him to have only a soft cast (essentially a splint with wrapping) rather than the traditional hard cast. He’ll always need a doctor’s note in order to fly because of the metal in his leg.
Since Feb. 9 he has been able to remove the soft cast in order to do range-of-motion exercises such as rolling his ankle around. To mimic walking, Meyer uses a large rubber band while performing a variety of exercises. It doesn’t help him regain muscle as he still can’t put any pressure on the leg, but it does keep the leg looser. He should be able to use the leg more quickly than if it had been in a hard cast, Meyer pointed out.
Doctors are starting to see bone growth in the leg now, as well.
His shoulder is a trickier matter.
While many dislocations aren’t serious, in about 15 percent of the cases there is nerve damage. Right now, Meyer can’t feel anything in a section of his tricep area. “I know it’s there, but I can’t feel the spot,” Meyer noted. The entire back side of his shoulder also remains very tight, and is still painful. He isn’t able to put his arm over the top of his head, or put it around to his back. He can do push-ups, but to hold a gallon of milk out in front of him is impossible.
During his recovery, Meyer has been staying with his parents in Wisconsin. However, at the end of February he had recovered enough to move back into his Isanti apartment.
At this point, because he’s right handed, he could still hold a gun, but he wouldn’t be able to use his left hand to cuff a suspect.
A fund has been set up to raise money for Meyer. It will be used to pay for the various trips to North Memorial Medical Center (which he has been making from his parents’ home in Wausau, Wis. three and one-half hours away), as well as to purchase equipment to replace what was damaged when he was hit by the car.
Mail checks to Cambridge State Bank, c/o Chad Meyer, 127 South Main Street, PO Box 472, Cambridge, MN 55008.
GIVING BACK
Serving as a law enforcement officer is Meyer’s way of giving back.
“We’re not out there to write people a ticket for everything they do,” said Meyer. “We’re out there to keep people safe.”
He wants to be able to prevent what happened to him from happening to others.
“I don’t like to see people hurt,” noted Meyer. “It has a permanent effect on your life. I’ve seen it firsthand.”
He added, “If I can be of service and help people … that’s my goal every day I go to work.”
He recalls one incident last year that he responded to. A teenage girl had landed her car in a stand of trees on County Road 1. He was there as they worked on helping her breathe and when they took her away in an ambulance; he saw her injuries and her pain. He then had the tough task of notifying her parents.
One week later, he saw the girl again, as well as her parents. Meyer noted, “I could just see in their faces how grateful they were that we did what we could to save their child’s life.”
It’s stories such as that one that keep Meyer dedicated to his job.
Local author pens children’s tale
‘Miki: the most unusual German frog’ was inspired by his grandchildren
After writing two books about the horrors of growing up in Germany during and after World War II, local author Walt Horcher has turned his attention to children’s tales.
His latest book is “Miki: the most unusual German frog.”
It is the first in what he anticipates to be a three-book series.
Horcher was inspired to write this children’s book by his eight grandchildren, who range in age from six to 21. “When I started, I realized how fun it is,” said Horcher, 70. “I made up the story as I went. It came to me like a dream.”
It’s the type of book he wishes he would have had to read when he was a child.
“Miki: the most unusual German frog” is 150 pages long. Miki is German because “I’m a Kraut,” explained Horcher.
Miki embarks on many adventures, all the while searching for a place for his family to live in peace. He befriends a heron – despite the fact that herons typically prey on frogs.
The underlying themes of the book are faith and trust, according to the author.
OVER 300 SOLD SINCE JANUARY
Horcher began the book one year ago; it took six months to write, and longer to get it printed. Once it was formatted one way, Horcher learned it needed to be redone. He’s grateful for assistance from a friend, Bill Leigh.
The first copies were in his hand the second week of January 2009. In the last two months, Horcher has sold over 300 books.
Many people have attended a book signing and bought half a dozen or more, one for each of their grandchildren, noted Horcher.
“It feels like an accomplishment,” noted Horcher. “It makes me happy that I plowed my way through it. If you don’t give up, you usually come up with something that is enjoyable.”
He’s especially thrilled that his own grandchildren love the tale.
GET YOUR OWN COPY
“Miki: the most unusual German frog” is available at Bear Books in Isanti and Scout and Morgan Bookstore in Cambridge, as well as at Walgreens and the Cambridge Medical Center gift shop. Horcher and his distributor are also working to place it in larger chains, such as Barnes and Noble and Border Books. The price is $11.95.
Horcher’s earlier books, “Born into Hell” and “Guns for Sales,” are also still available. They are currently being sold all over the world, including South Africa, Brazil, Australia and Germany.
After writing two books about the horrors of growing up in Germany during and after World War II, local author Walt Horcher has turned his attention to children’s tales.
His latest book is “Miki: the most unusual German frog.”
It is the first in what he anticipates to be a three-book series.
Horcher was inspired to write this children’s book by his eight grandchildren, who range in age from six to 21. “When I started, I realized how fun it is,” said Horcher, 70. “I made up the story as I went. It came to me like a dream.”
It’s the type of book he wishes he would have had to read when he was a child.
“Miki: the most unusual German frog” is 150 pages long. Miki is German because “I’m a Kraut,” explained Horcher.
Miki embarks on many adventures, all the while searching for a place for his family to live in peace. He befriends a heron – despite the fact that herons typically prey on frogs.
The underlying themes of the book are faith and trust, according to the author.
OVER 300 SOLD SINCE JANUARY
Horcher began the book one year ago; it took six months to write, and longer to get it printed. Once it was formatted one way, Horcher learned it needed to be redone. He’s grateful for assistance from a friend, Bill Leigh.
The first copies were in his hand the second week of January 2009. In the last two months, Horcher has sold over 300 books.
Many people have attended a book signing and bought half a dozen or more, one for each of their grandchildren, noted Horcher.
“It feels like an accomplishment,” noted Horcher. “It makes me happy that I plowed my way through it. If you don’t give up, you usually come up with something that is enjoyable.”
He’s especially thrilled that his own grandchildren love the tale.
GET YOUR OWN COPY
“Miki: the most unusual German frog” is available at Bear Books in Isanti and Scout and Morgan Bookstore in Cambridge, as well as at Walgreens and the Cambridge Medical Center gift shop. Horcher and his distributor are also working to place it in larger chains, such as Barnes and Noble and Border Books. The price is $11.95.
Horcher’s earlier books, “Born into Hell” and “Guns for Sales,” are also still available. They are currently being sold all over the world, including South Africa, Brazil, Australia and Germany.
Governor urges legislature to tighten its belt
Pawlenty visits Cambridge to discuss budget priorities.
CAMBRIDGE – “You can’t continue to spend beyond your ability to reasonably pay for it,” stressed Governor Tim Pawlenty during a visit to Cambridge on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009.
He was in the area to announce transportation stimulus projects for rural Minnesota, while also discussing his budget proposals.
Pawlenty spoke to about 100 people gathered for lunch at the Isanti County Historical Society. The event was sponsored by the Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce.
The governor explained that the state creates budgets in two-year cycles. In the last one, the state spent $34 billion. This current cycle calls for a $37 billion budget. According to the latest forecast, the state will be earning $5 billion fewer in revenue than at first expected.
Pawlenty noted that it’s not really a $5 billion deficit yet. Rather, the amount the state expects to spend is being affected.
Thus he is pushing the legislature to approve cutting the overall state budget by two percent.
“The government should live within its means just like families and small businesses,” said Pawlenty.
He is urging the state to tighten its belt.
Legislators have questioned how they can cut state spending. Citizens have asked him why he didn’t shoot for a higher reduction.
State needs to be job-friendly
To identify areas for reductions, Pawlenty first ranked services according to a value system. In this way, he hopes to fundamentally change how the state’s budget is compiled.
At the top is to protect and defend, he said. Agencies like the National Guard, military, veterans, and public safety won’t see any cuts.
He is also pushing for Minnesota to change how it treats businesses. “We need to be a more job-friendly state,” said Pawlenty, “not to give businesses a break, but because citizens need access to jobs.”
He added, “You can’t be pro-job and anti-business. It’s like being pro-egg and anti-chicken.”
Pawlenty noted that if Minnesota were a sovereign nation, it would rank third highest in the world in terms of high business taxes. Minnesota charges businesses 9.87 percent. He proposes cutting that in half to 4.8% over the next six years.
He would also offer up-front tax sales tax exemptions for the purchase of new capital equipment, and allow businesses to write off the expense completely the first year rather than depreciate it over several. He would also like the state to begin offering a capital gains exemption.
And he plans to retain the JobZ program.
Supporting “clean and green” jobs is also a priority for Pawlenty who believes that is a growing field.
“We can’t have an economy where everyone is working on government buildings,” noted Pawlenty.
Schools need to revamp outdated sytem
Another top priority is education. He is proposing that schools actually get more funding.
But to receive it, they will have to revamp a system Pawlenty said was designed for the 1950s. “How many of you in this room get paid for seniority?” he asked.
Instead, Pawlenty advocates a pay scale that rewards merit and achievement, which is easily measured by various tests given to students.
He questioned why the state’s funding formulas are tied to the number of buses in a district and the number of students, rather than results.
“This is very controversial,” he admitted.
Health care system needs to be fixed
Pawlenty is also focused on fixing the health care system. He noted it is driving much of the financial pressure families and businesses are currently facing.
Again, Pawlenty believes the entire system needs to be fixed. First, he is pushing for one common billing code system for all health care and insurance providers. Second, he wants the fees being charged to be something patients can easily find out. He noted that there is nothing else citizens buy that they aren’t given the price ahead of time.
By changing how it provides health insurance, he noted the state of Minnesota has seen huge savings in the past few years. Staff are encouraged to go to low-cost, high-quality providers rather than high-cost, low-quality providers.
Health and Human Service costs need to be controlled
Pawlenty also advocated for containing the rapidly increasing health and human service costs.
“The health and human service budget is out of control,” said Pawlenty.
He noted that the programs are important, but the state can’t continue to see 20 to 26 percent increases in one area. It’s affecting how much money Minnesota has to spend on other things. Thus, he advocates holding the increase to 10 percent instead. This will involve shrinking eligibility for some programs.
‘We will get through this’
Overall, Pawlenty remains confident that the state will pull through its current budget issues. “We’ll find a way through it, but we need everybody to pull together,” he said.
“We will get through this,” promised Pawlenty.
Questions
An audience member questioned whether the state would be accepting the economic stimulus money being offered by the federal government.
Pawlenty assured the audience that the state will. He noted that currently Minnesota is ranked fifth in the nation in terms of how much money it gets. “For every $1 we send to Washington, we get 72¢,” he noted.
“We’re not going to be bashful about taking money because we’re paying the bill,” he added.
CAMBRIDGE – “You can’t continue to spend beyond your ability to reasonably pay for it,” stressed Governor Tim Pawlenty during a visit to Cambridge on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009.
He was in the area to announce transportation stimulus projects for rural Minnesota, while also discussing his budget proposals.
Pawlenty spoke to about 100 people gathered for lunch at the Isanti County Historical Society. The event was sponsored by the Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce.
The governor explained that the state creates budgets in two-year cycles. In the last one, the state spent $34 billion. This current cycle calls for a $37 billion budget. According to the latest forecast, the state will be earning $5 billion fewer in revenue than at first expected.
Pawlenty noted that it’s not really a $5 billion deficit yet. Rather, the amount the state expects to spend is being affected.
Thus he is pushing the legislature to approve cutting the overall state budget by two percent.
“The government should live within its means just like families and small businesses,” said Pawlenty.
He is urging the state to tighten its belt.
Legislators have questioned how they can cut state spending. Citizens have asked him why he didn’t shoot for a higher reduction.
State needs to be job-friendly
To identify areas for reductions, Pawlenty first ranked services according to a value system. In this way, he hopes to fundamentally change how the state’s budget is compiled.
At the top is to protect and defend, he said. Agencies like the National Guard, military, veterans, and public safety won’t see any cuts.
He is also pushing for Minnesota to change how it treats businesses. “We need to be a more job-friendly state,” said Pawlenty, “not to give businesses a break, but because citizens need access to jobs.”
He added, “You can’t be pro-job and anti-business. It’s like being pro-egg and anti-chicken.”
Pawlenty noted that if Minnesota were a sovereign nation, it would rank third highest in the world in terms of high business taxes. Minnesota charges businesses 9.87 percent. He proposes cutting that in half to 4.8% over the next six years.
He would also offer up-front tax sales tax exemptions for the purchase of new capital equipment, and allow businesses to write off the expense completely the first year rather than depreciate it over several. He would also like the state to begin offering a capital gains exemption.
And he plans to retain the JobZ program.
Supporting “clean and green” jobs is also a priority for Pawlenty who believes that is a growing field.
“We can’t have an economy where everyone is working on government buildings,” noted Pawlenty.
Schools need to revamp outdated sytem
Another top priority is education. He is proposing that schools actually get more funding.
But to receive it, they will have to revamp a system Pawlenty said was designed for the 1950s. “How many of you in this room get paid for seniority?” he asked.
Instead, Pawlenty advocates a pay scale that rewards merit and achievement, which is easily measured by various tests given to students.
He questioned why the state’s funding formulas are tied to the number of buses in a district and the number of students, rather than results.
“This is very controversial,” he admitted.
Health care system needs to be fixed
Pawlenty is also focused on fixing the health care system. He noted it is driving much of the financial pressure families and businesses are currently facing.
Again, Pawlenty believes the entire system needs to be fixed. First, he is pushing for one common billing code system for all health care and insurance providers. Second, he wants the fees being charged to be something patients can easily find out. He noted that there is nothing else citizens buy that they aren’t given the price ahead of time.
By changing how it provides health insurance, he noted the state of Minnesota has seen huge savings in the past few years. Staff are encouraged to go to low-cost, high-quality providers rather than high-cost, low-quality providers.
Health and Human Service costs need to be controlled
Pawlenty also advocated for containing the rapidly increasing health and human service costs.
“The health and human service budget is out of control,” said Pawlenty.
He noted that the programs are important, but the state can’t continue to see 20 to 26 percent increases in one area. It’s affecting how much money Minnesota has to spend on other things. Thus, he advocates holding the increase to 10 percent instead. This will involve shrinking eligibility for some programs.
‘We will get through this’
Overall, Pawlenty remains confident that the state will pull through its current budget issues. “We’ll find a way through it, but we need everybody to pull together,” he said.
“We will get through this,” promised Pawlenty.
Questions
An audience member questioned whether the state would be accepting the economic stimulus money being offered by the federal government.
Pawlenty assured the audience that the state will. He noted that currently Minnesota is ranked fifth in the nation in terms of how much money it gets. “For every $1 we send to Washington, we get 72¢,” he noted.
“We’re not going to be bashful about taking money because we’re paying the bill,” he added.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
TO A POINT: Leaving with 10 years of great memories
I've done a lot of cool things over the past 10 years here at the Star. As I leave to pursue other ventures, I'll take away the memories to treasure.
I'll never forget climbing to the top of the new aerial ladder truck in Rush City. What a view. And yeah, being up that high came with quite a rush.
Then there was the time I volunteered to check out the new non-lethal weapons obtained by the Isanti County Sheriff's Department. Former Commissioner Gene Wicht held one arm and Sheriff Mike Ammend the other as I was tased. I would have been on the ground in seconds without their support. It was an effective weapon. And they were right; it hurt.
Being a member of the Super Stars, the Star's Outhouse Race team, is one of my all-time highlights. Gosh, we had fun. I was on the team for three years – three glorious years. We never managed to beat the Isanti Redbirds (not surprisingly, they can run like the wind), but we did take home Best Outhouse and Best Costume every time we entered. Remember Charlie's Angels, the Dukes of Hazard and the Pirates of the Caribbean?
When the old Cambridge State Hospital buildings were torn down, I traipsed through them one last time. I was there when the time capsule was recovered from behind a stone in the front wall of the Boswell building. I trembled with excitement as Roger Wm. Anderson pried it open. I was among the first person since 1956 to touch the contents inside.
I've had the opportunity to meet countless politician and candidates with big dreams, folks like Governor Tim Pawlenty, Norm Coleman, and Representative James Oberstar.
I've loved the "perks" that came with this job: free tickets to local plays and concerts, VIP access at the rodeo, and behind-the-scenes access during events.
I've been there when ground has broken for numerous businesses, roads and neighborhoods. I've watched buildings burn down. I got there minutes after the old Gillespie Auto building had fallen down on Main Street in Cambridge. Dust was still thick in the street, and we were all amazed that a building that had stood for so long, nearly 100 years, had fallen in minutes, had fallen on Main Street.
I've enjoyed seeing the history of my hometown community firsthand. I've been proud to record it in word and picture. I've loved being "in the know" about everything.
And even more than that, I've enjoyed interviewing each and every person I've met over the last 10 years. I can't begin to list off all the names, but you know who you are. I've appreciated each and every one of you. I've tried my best to accurately tell your own stories. Some have made me laugh, others outraged me. Still others brought tears to my eyes and I found it hard to take notes. It is the people of a community that make up a community newspaper. Thank you for being my "sources", thank you for your tips, thank you for urging me to take action, and thank you for supporting your community newspaper.
Some say newspapers are going under. I don't believe that for a second. Although I'm leaving the Star, I intend to keep dipping my toes into journalism. You'll still find my byline in the Star's newest venture, Lifestyles magazine. I'll be writing for other entities, as well. I intend to continue teaching the next generation of writers at Anoka-Ramsey Community College – Cambridge Campus, where I've been an adjunct instructor the past three and one-half years. Who knows? I might finally get to that novel I've been meaning to write.
My biggest job will be raising my baby – who is due any day now. It's a task I'm really looking forward to.
And so, I bid you all farewell. I'll see you around.
I'll never forget climbing to the top of the new aerial ladder truck in Rush City. What a view. And yeah, being up that high came with quite a rush.
Then there was the time I volunteered to check out the new non-lethal weapons obtained by the Isanti County Sheriff's Department. Former Commissioner Gene Wicht held one arm and Sheriff Mike Ammend the other as I was tased. I would have been on the ground in seconds without their support. It was an effective weapon. And they were right; it hurt.
Being a member of the Super Stars, the Star's Outhouse Race team, is one of my all-time highlights. Gosh, we had fun. I was on the team for three years – three glorious years. We never managed to beat the Isanti Redbirds (not surprisingly, they can run like the wind), but we did take home Best Outhouse and Best Costume every time we entered. Remember Charlie's Angels, the Dukes of Hazard and the Pirates of the Caribbean?
When the old Cambridge State Hospital buildings were torn down, I traipsed through them one last time. I was there when the time capsule was recovered from behind a stone in the front wall of the Boswell building. I trembled with excitement as Roger Wm. Anderson pried it open. I was among the first person since 1956 to touch the contents inside.
I've had the opportunity to meet countless politician and candidates with big dreams, folks like Governor Tim Pawlenty, Norm Coleman, and Representative James Oberstar.
I've loved the "perks" that came with this job: free tickets to local plays and concerts, VIP access at the rodeo, and behind-the-scenes access during events.
I've been there when ground has broken for numerous businesses, roads and neighborhoods. I've watched buildings burn down. I got there minutes after the old Gillespie Auto building had fallen down on Main Street in Cambridge. Dust was still thick in the street, and we were all amazed that a building that had stood for so long, nearly 100 years, had fallen in minutes, had fallen on Main Street.
I've enjoyed seeing the history of my hometown community firsthand. I've been proud to record it in word and picture. I've loved being "in the know" about everything.
And even more than that, I've enjoyed interviewing each and every person I've met over the last 10 years. I can't begin to list off all the names, but you know who you are. I've appreciated each and every one of you. I've tried my best to accurately tell your own stories. Some have made me laugh, others outraged me. Still others brought tears to my eyes and I found it hard to take notes. It is the people of a community that make up a community newspaper. Thank you for being my "sources", thank you for your tips, thank you for urging me to take action, and thank you for supporting your community newspaper.
Some say newspapers are going under. I don't believe that for a second. Although I'm leaving the Star, I intend to keep dipping my toes into journalism. You'll still find my byline in the Star's newest venture, Lifestyles magazine. I'll be writing for other entities, as well. I intend to continue teaching the next generation of writers at Anoka-Ramsey Community College – Cambridge Campus, where I've been an adjunct instructor the past three and one-half years. Who knows? I might finally get to that novel I've been meaning to write.
My biggest job will be raising my baby – who is due any day now. It's a task I'm really looking forward to.
And so, I bid you all farewell. I'll see you around.
Dewey’s condition upgraded
Family considers it a miracle
Christopher Dewey, the Mahnomen County deputy who grew up in Isanti County, is doing better than his doctors expected he would after being shot in the abdomen and head on Feb. 18 while on duty.
His condition has been upgraded from critical to satisfactory.
Dewey remains hospitalized at MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, N.D. He was expected to be released late this week or the beginning of next week. From the hospital he will be taken to a rehabilitation facility.
MeritCare surgeon Robert Sticca labeled his progress “remarkable.”
His family feels it is nothing short of a miracle.
“He’s out of danger at the present time,” said Sticca.
Status
On Sunday, he was transferred out of MeritCare Hospital’s critical care unit into a private room in the surgical unit. He began physical therapy.
According to MeritCare critical care specialist Dr. Frank Sepe, Dewey is now moving his left side (he has been moving his right side all along), and is consistently following commands. He is able to stand with assistance, but is not yet walking.
He has limited use of his left arm, but has good function of both legs.
He is able to talk, and, as of noon on Saturday, he has been able to eat soft foods.
Dewey was taken off the ventilator on Friday, and has been breathing on his own.
Sticca said, “Chris is now out of immediate danger and has done great so far, but he will undergo more surgery, and there’s still a long road ahead for him and his family because of the injury to his brain.”
“We’ve had some good, encouraging early signs,” said Dewey’s father-in-law, Ross Boulden of Princeton, speaking on behalf of the family during a news conference on Feb. 19.
He added, “We have such a strong faith; we know we will get through this.”
Injuries
Dewey was shot on the right side of his head. Inside the skull, the bullet split into several fragments; one continued out through the right frontal lobe. During a four-hour-long surgery on Wednesday, MeritCare Dr. Justesen cleaned up the brain fragments that had shattered, some of the damaged brain under the bone, and the contaminated wound.
He expects Dewey to need at least one more brain surgery. The skull defects will need to be repaired, as will the lining of the brain.
Dewey will also need to undergo several months of rehabilitation.
Sticca expects Dewey to suffer from various neurological deficits due to the injury, but hopes that with intensive physical therapy and rehabilitation that he can regain most, if not all, of his functions.
He’s in good spirits
According to his wife, Emily (nee Boulden), Dewey has been in good spirits. The two are high school sweethearts who wed three years ago.
On Saturday, he was joking with his partners from the sheriff’s office about how he “should have ducked” and “it isn’t like the movies.”
Two members of the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Captain Carlos Perez, and his wife, Deputy Kelly Perez, have donated a home they own for Dewey’s family to use while he is in the hospital.
“Our goal is that they have nothing to worry about except taking care of Chris and Emily,” said Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney.
A fund has been set up to benefit the Christopher Dewey family. Donations may be sent to: Deputy Chris Dewey Fund, PO Box 378, 103 N. Main St., Mahnomen, MN 56557. Or, call (218) 935-5251.
The family would like people to know that they are continuing to update Dewey’s Web page on caringbridge.org; Web site name: chrisdewey.
Additional updates will be posted online at www.isanti-chisagocountystar.com.
Doctors pleased with Dewey’s status
Christopher Dewey, the Mahnomen County deputy with who grew up in Isanti County, is doing better than his doctors expected he would after being shot in the abdomen and head on Feb. 18 while on duty.
Dr. Robert Sticca, the general surgeon at MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, N.D. who performed the abdomen surgery, noted on Thursday that Dewey is in critical but very stable condition.
“He has begun to show some signs of being aware of his surroundings,” Sticca stated during a press conference Thursday. “He’s recognized his family. He’s squeezed their hands. He’s actually doing quite well.”
Sticca added, “We’re all cautiously optimistic at this point.”
Neurosurgeon Dr. Chad Justesen would not speculate on the extent of Dewey’s brain injuries. He is currently in a medically-induced comma so that doctors can monitor brain swelling.
Justesen expects to begin lessening the sedation on Friday, but cautioned that it will be awhile before Dewey is completely awake. It will be several days after that before doctors will know how the bullet damaged the brain.
Dewey was shot on the right side of his head. Inside the skull, the bullet split into several fragments; one continued out through the right frontal lobe. During a four-hour-long surgery on Wednesday, Dr. Justesen cleaned up the brain fragments that had shattered, some of the damaged brain under the bone, and the contaminated wound.
He expects Dewey to need at least one more brain surgery. The skull defects will need to be repaired, as will the lining of the brain. Depending on how much the injury swells, another surgery may be required, although Dr. Justesen thinks that is unlikely.
Dewey will also need to undergo several months of rehabilitation.
While Dewey has not yet opened his eyes and looked around, when asked to make a thumbsup sign, he has done so. He has also squeezed hands upon request.
“He’s doing very well considering his injuries,” noted Justesen.
Family is cautious, but optimistic
“We’ve had some good, encouraging early signs,” said Dewey’s father-in-law, Ross Boulden of Princeton, speaking on behalf of the family.
“But we’re still cautious.”
He added, “We have such a strong faith, we know we will get through this.”
Boulden’s daughter, Emily, has been married to Dewey for three years. The two were high-school sweethearts who met eight years ago while attending Cambridge-Isanti High School.
Boulden expressed the family’s “heartfelt” thanks to law enforcement, MeritCare and the Red Cross.
“We thank all the family and friends for keeping us in their prayers,” he said.
The Red Cross has been assisting the family in bringing Dewey’s two brothers who serve in the Armed Forces home. One is currently stationed overseas.
Speaking on behalf of his daughter, Emily, Boulden said, “Christopher is the most wonderful man. … He is an avid family person.” He noted that he has a passion for the outdoors and enjoys fishing and hunting.
Emily agreed with another person’s description of her husband as a “big teddy bear.”
As a testament to his personality, Boulden noted that a man Chris had arrested contacted the family Wednesday to send his best. “Chris has touched many hearts,” noted Boulden.
He noted that his son-in-law also dreamt of being a law enforcement officer.
Boulden asked that people continue to keep Dewey in their prayers.
Law enforcement has rallied around family
The law enforcement community has rallied around Dewey and his family.
According to Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney, when an officer is injured, “it cuts through law enforcement like a hot torch.”
Those in the field consider each other family, and when one goes down the rest are there to lend a hand.
He noted that in such cases the family of the officer is instantly traumatized.
“We’re doing everything we can to care for them,” Laney said.
They have arranged for housing for Dewey’s family members, both immediate and for the next few months. A vehicle has also been lined up.
“Our goal is that they have nothing to worry about except taking care of Chris and Emily,” said Laney.
Fund set up, updates available at Caring Bridge site
A fund has been set up to benefit the Christopher Dewey family.
Donations may be sent to:
Deputy Chris Dewey Fund, PO Box 378, 103 N. Main St., Mahnomen, MN 56557. Or, call (218) 935-5251.
The family has also set up a CaringBridge site to provide updates on Dewey’s condition. The site can be viewed by visiting caringbridge.org, site name chrisdewey.
Dr. Robert Sticca, the general surgeon at MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, N.D. who performed the abdomen surgery, noted on Thursday that Dewey is in critical but very stable condition.
“He has begun to show some signs of being aware of his surroundings,” Sticca stated during a press conference Thursday. “He’s recognized his family. He’s squeezed their hands. He’s actually doing quite well.”
Sticca added, “We’re all cautiously optimistic at this point.”
Neurosurgeon Dr. Chad Justesen would not speculate on the extent of Dewey’s brain injuries. He is currently in a medically-induced comma so that doctors can monitor brain swelling.
Justesen expects to begin lessening the sedation on Friday, but cautioned that it will be awhile before Dewey is completely awake. It will be several days after that before doctors will know how the bullet damaged the brain.
Dewey was shot on the right side of his head. Inside the skull, the bullet split into several fragments; one continued out through the right frontal lobe. During a four-hour-long surgery on Wednesday, Dr. Justesen cleaned up the brain fragments that had shattered, some of the damaged brain under the bone, and the contaminated wound.
He expects Dewey to need at least one more brain surgery. The skull defects will need to be repaired, as will the lining of the brain. Depending on how much the injury swells, another surgery may be required, although Dr. Justesen thinks that is unlikely.
Dewey will also need to undergo several months of rehabilitation.
While Dewey has not yet opened his eyes and looked around, when asked to make a thumbsup sign, he has done so. He has also squeezed hands upon request.
“He’s doing very well considering his injuries,” noted Justesen.
Family is cautious, but optimistic
“We’ve had some good, encouraging early signs,” said Dewey’s father-in-law, Ross Boulden of Princeton, speaking on behalf of the family.
“But we’re still cautious.”
He added, “We have such a strong faith, we know we will get through this.”
Boulden’s daughter, Emily, has been married to Dewey for three years. The two were high-school sweethearts who met eight years ago while attending Cambridge-Isanti High School.
Boulden expressed the family’s “heartfelt” thanks to law enforcement, MeritCare and the Red Cross.
“We thank all the family and friends for keeping us in their prayers,” he said.
The Red Cross has been assisting the family in bringing Dewey’s two brothers who serve in the Armed Forces home. One is currently stationed overseas.
Speaking on behalf of his daughter, Emily, Boulden said, “Christopher is the most wonderful man. … He is an avid family person.” He noted that he has a passion for the outdoors and enjoys fishing and hunting.
Emily agreed with another person’s description of her husband as a “big teddy bear.”
As a testament to his personality, Boulden noted that a man Chris had arrested contacted the family Wednesday to send his best. “Chris has touched many hearts,” noted Boulden.
He noted that his son-in-law also dreamt of being a law enforcement officer.
Boulden asked that people continue to keep Dewey in their prayers.
Law enforcement has rallied around family
The law enforcement community has rallied around Dewey and his family.
According to Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney, when an officer is injured, “it cuts through law enforcement like a hot torch.”
Those in the field consider each other family, and when one goes down the rest are there to lend a hand.
He noted that in such cases the family of the officer is instantly traumatized.
“We’re doing everything we can to care for them,” Laney said.
They have arranged for housing for Dewey’s family members, both immediate and for the next few months. A vehicle has also been lined up.
“Our goal is that they have nothing to worry about except taking care of Chris and Emily,” said Laney.
Fund set up, updates available at Caring Bridge site
A fund has been set up to benefit the Christopher Dewey family.
Donations may be sent to:
Deputy Chris Dewey Fund, PO Box 378, 103 N. Main St., Mahnomen, MN 56557. Or, call (218) 935-5251.
The family has also set up a CaringBridge site to provide updates on Dewey’s condition. The site can be viewed by visiting caringbridge.org, site name chrisdewey.
Officer with ties to Isanti shot in Mahnomen County
A Mahnomen County sheriff’s deputy who grew up in Isanti was shot Wednesday morning.
Christopher Dewey, 26, is listed in critical but stable condition following surgery Wednesday at MeritCare hospital in Fargo.
He was shot in the head and abdomen by a high-powered rifle.
THE INCIDENT
According to the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Department, Dewey responded to the call of a possible drunk driver leaving the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen at about 4 a.m. on Feb. 18. The vehicle fled the scene. Dewey discovered it parked near the county courthouse. Footprints led to a nearby residence.
When Dewey’s partner attempted to make contact with Dewey and was unable to, the officer went to the scene shortly after 7 a.m. and found Dewey lying shot in the driveway.
Dewey was stabilized at Mahnomen Health Center and transferred to MeritCare Hospital, Fargo, via LifeFlight. He arrived at 8:25 a.m.
Members of over 12 different law enforcement agencies surrounded a nearby home all day, attempting to take the suspects into custody. Two were arrested and were expected to be charged on Thursday.
TWO SURGERIES
Two surgeries have been performed on Dewey since his arrival at MeritCare.
Dr. Robert Sticca, a general surgeon, performed the abdomen surgery. There was an entrance and exit wound with laceration to the liver, which was repaired.
The victim also suffered one gun shot wound to the head resulting in a severe brain injury. Dr. Chad Justesen, a neurosurgeon, completed surgery at 1:20 p.m., approximately four hours later. Dewey is listed in critical condition. It is too soon to know what his prognosis is, according to hospital representatives.
The hospital was locked down on Wednesday. Additional supplies, such as blood, MeritCare staff and security were sent to Mahnomen in preparation for the possibility of more victims. Chaplains were also sent to assist.
FOOTBALL PLAYER
On his myspace page, Dewey lists Isanti as his hometown.
Dewey graduated from Cambridge-Isanti High School in 2001. He was on the football team.
He next went on to earn an associate’s degree in law enforcement from Hibbing Community College in 2003.
Dewey married one and one-half years ago; he has no children. He has been working for the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Department for the past four years.
Non-profits can use community center for free
City chooses LeFebvre Catering for all events at the facility
CAMBRIDGE – Local non-profits can hold their meetings at the new Cambridge community center at no charge.
Among those organizations that can use the facility for free are those that give back to the community. These include the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies, Girl Scouts, Cambridge Ambassadors, Isanti County Historical Society, Jaycees, Lions, Masons, Rotary and 4-H.
If these groups use the kitchen or the assembly hall, they will be charged the $20 an hour supervision fee by the National Guard, noted Cambridge City Administrator Lynda Woulfe. during the Cambridge City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Isanti County may also use the community center at no charge.
Other groups will be charged half the cost. These include any non-profit that can provide a 501c exemption letter, athletic associations that serve Cambridge residents, and local schools (District 911, Cambridge Christian School, Christ the King parochial, and the home school cooperative).
Council member Bob Shogren suggested that the list be modified.
Those eligible for free rent will be reviewed by the Community Center Task Force and any recommendations brought back to the city council.
FULL-DAY RENTAL FEES REDUCED
Council members had set rental fees in January. However, after hearing that the fee charged for a full-day event was too high, the amount was lowered on Tuesday night.
Hourly rates will be as follows:
• Assembly hall, Monday to Friday: $40
• Assembly hall, Saturday and Sunday: $60
• Assembly hall and kitchen, Monday to Friday, $75 with a maximum of $500
• Assembly hall and kitchen, Saturday and Sunday: $95 with a maximum of $500 per single day event (plus a $20 an hour supervision fee)
• Classrooms, Monday to Friday: $20
• Classrooms, Saturday and Sunday: $40
CATERING SERVICES
LeFebvre Catering, together with the Cambridge American Legion (liquor provider), will serve as the caterer at the community center.
Two caterers submitted proposals for the city to consider: LeFebvre Catering and Spectacular Catering. The fees for the two were nearly similar, noted Woulfe.
Both employ a number of local people as part-time employees to help serve at events.
Prior to the regular council meeting on Feb. 17, both caterers provided a sample meal for council members and guests.
After reviewing the proposals, the city council appointed LeFebvre Catering.
“I think they both did a fabulous job,” noted council member Lisa Iverson.
USE POLICY
A policy governing the use of the community center was also approved on Tuesday night.
It was written by the community center task force and then forwarded to the city council.
Those who would like to rent the facility should contact Cambridge City Hall at 763-689-3211.
A non-refundable deposit of 50 percent is required for any reservation of the assembly hall.
Any alcohol for events must be provided through the city’s approved caterer.
Weapons are not allowed on the premises, unless it is for a special event that is pre-approved by the city (such as a gun show).
Camping is not allowed.
Council member Dave Schornstein questioned the restrictions placed on grilling. Woulfe clarified that commercial grills being used by caterers or a local non-profit doing a benefit (such as the Rotary) would be allowed, following approval by the city’s fire chief and city administrator.
CAMBRIDGE – Local non-profits can hold their meetings at the new Cambridge community center at no charge.
Among those organizations that can use the facility for free are those that give back to the community. These include the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies, Girl Scouts, Cambridge Ambassadors, Isanti County Historical Society, Jaycees, Lions, Masons, Rotary and 4-H.
If these groups use the kitchen or the assembly hall, they will be charged the $20 an hour supervision fee by the National Guard, noted Cambridge City Administrator Lynda Woulfe. during the Cambridge City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Isanti County may also use the community center at no charge.
Other groups will be charged half the cost. These include any non-profit that can provide a 501c exemption letter, athletic associations that serve Cambridge residents, and local schools (District 911, Cambridge Christian School, Christ the King parochial, and the home school cooperative).
Council member Bob Shogren suggested that the list be modified.
Those eligible for free rent will be reviewed by the Community Center Task Force and any recommendations brought back to the city council.
FULL-DAY RENTAL FEES REDUCED
Council members had set rental fees in January. However, after hearing that the fee charged for a full-day event was too high, the amount was lowered on Tuesday night.
Hourly rates will be as follows:
• Assembly hall, Monday to Friday: $40
• Assembly hall, Saturday and Sunday: $60
• Assembly hall and kitchen, Monday to Friday, $75 with a maximum of $500
• Assembly hall and kitchen, Saturday and Sunday: $95 with a maximum of $500 per single day event (plus a $20 an hour supervision fee)
• Classrooms, Monday to Friday: $20
• Classrooms, Saturday and Sunday: $40
CATERING SERVICES
LeFebvre Catering, together with the Cambridge American Legion (liquor provider), will serve as the caterer at the community center.
Two caterers submitted proposals for the city to consider: LeFebvre Catering and Spectacular Catering. The fees for the two were nearly similar, noted Woulfe.
Both employ a number of local people as part-time employees to help serve at events.
Prior to the regular council meeting on Feb. 17, both caterers provided a sample meal for council members and guests.
After reviewing the proposals, the city council appointed LeFebvre Catering.
“I think they both did a fabulous job,” noted council member Lisa Iverson.
USE POLICY
A policy governing the use of the community center was also approved on Tuesday night.
It was written by the community center task force and then forwarded to the city council.
Those who would like to rent the facility should contact Cambridge City Hall at 763-689-3211.
A non-refundable deposit of 50 percent is required for any reservation of the assembly hall.
Any alcohol for events must be provided through the city’s approved caterer.
Weapons are not allowed on the premises, unless it is for a special event that is pre-approved by the city (such as a gun show).
Camping is not allowed.
Council member Dave Schornstein questioned the restrictions placed on grilling. Woulfe clarified that commercial grills being used by caterers or a local non-profit doing a benefit (such as the Rotary) would be allowed, following approval by the city’s fire chief and city administrator.
Harris hires new city clerk
HARRIS – Dawn Luke is Harris’ new city clerk.
Luke currently resides 35-miles away in Grantsburg, Wis.
She is presently working as the township clerk for Anderson and Wood River in Wisconsin.
She earned her certificate from the Municipal Clerks Institute last summer, and is looking for an opportunity to use what she’s learned.
During an interview on Feb. 9, Luke described herself as an outgoing person. “I’m a leader,” she added. “I’d rather follow than lead.”
Luke is familiar with Microsoft Office, as well as Quickbooks.
Her past experience includes working as a computer technician for the Grantsburg school system; two stints at local banks; and handling accounts for Arrow Building Center.
She also owned and operated a ranch through the mid-1990s.
In all, 150 applications were received for the Harris clerk position. Seven people were interviewed during the first round of interviews. The final three candidates, Luke, Erica Wilson and Arleen Heins, were interviewed a second time during the council meeting on Feb. 9.
The hiring decision was made on Feb. 12, which was a continuation of the Feb. 9 city council meeting.
Luke will earn $18 an hour, and will put in between 24 and 28 hours a week.
The offer is contingent upon her successfully passing a background check.
Harris appoints new fire chief
Change in leadership prompts six firefighters to resign
HARRIS – There’s a new fire chief in Harris, but not everyone agrees about it.
In anticipation of the appointment of Trevor Williams, six firefighters resigned on Monday night, Feb. 6.
Among them are Will Lacina, Wes Lacina, Tim Cropper, Doug Chaffee, John Pelant and Chris Stoeckel.
Chaffee warned the city council to expect more resignations. “You’re losing some of the most experienced firefighters and first responders,” he added.
COUNCIL DISAGREES WITH DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
In January, the fire department voted to re-elect Will Lacina as fire chief on a 23 to seven vote.
Later that month at the city council meeting, council member Kathy Olson made a motion to appoint Trevor Williams instead. After John Pelant made a motion to appoint Lacina, the city council agreed to look at the issue again in February.
According to city treasurer Marlys Belfany, she spoke to both Williams and Lacina via phone and informed them the city council would be interviewing both during the February meeting. However, council member John Pelant objected that an official letter was not sent out to both the candidates.
“I think the council screwed up on this one,” said Pelant.
Lacina did not attend Monday night’s meeting.
Pelant stressed that the council should go with the fire department’s recommendation for chief. “People in the fire department should know who the chief should be,” he said. They base it on experience and knowledge, he noted.
INTERVIEW
During the interview conducted on Feb. 6, Williams was asked about his leadership skills, knowledge of fire department procedures and structure, and training.
Williams said that he graduated from high school in 1988. In 1989, he began working as a first responder. He was a member of two fire departments for a total of 10 and one-half years before joining the Harris department in 2006.
Citizen comment
Speaking during the citizens’ comment period, Doris Gilquist pushed the council to continue with the existing leadership. Later, she added Will Lacina hadn’t shown up at the council meeting because he felt that the council didn’t respect him or need him.
“Trevor’s a good firefighter,” said Tim Cropper. “He’s a follower, not a leader.”
Mayor Diane Miller stated that she respects Lacina’s right to resign. As it appeared the city had only one applicant for chief, she looked for direction from the council.
“We have to move forward,” said council member Judy Hammerstrom.
Olson made the motion to appoint Williams as chief. The vote was three in favor with two abstentions (Pelant and Larson).
Williams will be on a six-month probation.
Going beyond the yellow ribbon
Isanti County seeks to help veterans and their families demobilize by looking them in the eye.
ISANTI COUNTY – The United States spends six months transforming citizens into soldiers. After their tour of duty, the United States spends a couple days talking to them about how to return to normal life.
It’s not enough, according to Bob Boone of Cambridge who retired after serving in the National Guard for 38 years.
Thus he helped create the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon campaign. He sees the need for even more support than that, however. Now that he’s retired from the Guard, Boone is working with the Isanti County Veterans’ Service office to provide help to not only soldiers, but also their families.
The goal is to be there from the alert order through demobilization and beyond.
The folks going off to Iran and Afghanistan don’t have the support soldiers in past conflicts did, noted Boone. Rather, than live together on a base, the Guard soldiers being deployed are spread out across the state. When the soldiers leave, their families deal with their absence on their own.
The goal of the Isanti County Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program is to change that.
Organizers Boone, Isanti County Veterans Service Officer Jim Rostberg and Isanti County Commissioner Susan Morris presented their plan to the Isanti County Board on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
From soldier to leaders – if honored
World War II veterans came back to a country that honored them and praised them, noted Morris. They rose to become the leaders in society. In contrast, those who served in Vietnam are still suffering.
The way society deals with returning soldiers has a huge impact on their later lives, noted Morris.
“I want our service men and women to know how much they are appreciated,” she said.
LOOK 'EM IN THE EYE
For the past two years, Morris, Rostberg and Boone have been soliciting grants to pay for the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program. They have received $10,317.10 to fund their efforts.
The program will provide information, services, referrals, and proactive outreach.
And perhaps most importantly, Jim Rostberg and staff will be sure to look each and every veteran in the eye shortly after he/she returns.
The veterans service office will focus on making sure each service member and their family is able to successfully deal with the effects of combat operational stress. “Everyone deals with operational stress differently,” said Boone. “Most deal with it quite nicely. Some have a very difficult time.”
Boone, Rostberg and Morris intend to set up a local Veterans Linkage Line, as well as a web site (isanticountyveterans.org). A directory of available assistance will also be created. Boone anticipates that this will take about six months to get up and running.
Additionally, a task force will be created. A variety of local residents will be asked to serve on it.
A veteran himself who served in Desert Storm, Commissioner Alan Duff applauded what was being done. “The transition to normal family life is a major challenge. We need to help these families out. It’s a neglected area in my opinion.”
Commissioner George Larson complimented the threesome on a job well done. “It’s something that is very needed.”
ISANTI COUNTY – The United States spends six months transforming citizens into soldiers. After their tour of duty, the United States spends a couple days talking to them about how to return to normal life.
It’s not enough, according to Bob Boone of Cambridge who retired after serving in the National Guard for 38 years.
Thus he helped create the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon campaign. He sees the need for even more support than that, however. Now that he’s retired from the Guard, Boone is working with the Isanti County Veterans’ Service office to provide help to not only soldiers, but also their families.
The goal is to be there from the alert order through demobilization and beyond.
The folks going off to Iran and Afghanistan don’t have the support soldiers in past conflicts did, noted Boone. Rather, than live together on a base, the Guard soldiers being deployed are spread out across the state. When the soldiers leave, their families deal with their absence on their own.
The goal of the Isanti County Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program is to change that.
Organizers Boone, Isanti County Veterans Service Officer Jim Rostberg and Isanti County Commissioner Susan Morris presented their plan to the Isanti County Board on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
From soldier to leaders – if honored
World War II veterans came back to a country that honored them and praised them, noted Morris. They rose to become the leaders in society. In contrast, those who served in Vietnam are still suffering.
The way society deals with returning soldiers has a huge impact on their later lives, noted Morris.
“I want our service men and women to know how much they are appreciated,” she said.
LOOK 'EM IN THE EYE
For the past two years, Morris, Rostberg and Boone have been soliciting grants to pay for the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program. They have received $10,317.10 to fund their efforts.
The program will provide information, services, referrals, and proactive outreach.
And perhaps most importantly, Jim Rostberg and staff will be sure to look each and every veteran in the eye shortly after he/she returns.
The veterans service office will focus on making sure each service member and their family is able to successfully deal with the effects of combat operational stress. “Everyone deals with operational stress differently,” said Boone. “Most deal with it quite nicely. Some have a very difficult time.”
Boone, Rostberg and Morris intend to set up a local Veterans Linkage Line, as well as a web site (isanticountyveterans.org). A directory of available assistance will also be created. Boone anticipates that this will take about six months to get up and running.
Additionally, a task force will be created. A variety of local residents will be asked to serve on it.
A veteran himself who served in Desert Storm, Commissioner Alan Duff applauded what was being done. “The transition to normal family life is a major challenge. We need to help these families out. It’s a neglected area in my opinion.”
Commissioner George Larson complimented the threesome on a job well done. “It’s something that is very needed.”
Saturday, February 14, 2009
TO A POINT: Fire department needs to make policy changes
imagine driving towards your house and finding your vehicle in the midst of smoke. You see flames and your heart jumps into your throat. "Is my house on fire?" you ask yourself.
Lucky for me, mine wasn't. Instead it was the house across the street that was ablaze, one that had stood vacant for a few years, had been prepped for a fire and was being burned as a training exercise for the Cambridge Fire Department.
I can only hope that a fire across the street is the closest I ever get to my own home burning down. I don't consider myself a worrywart, but I couldn't stop the knots from forming in my stomach as I stood at my bedroom window and watched the sparks fly that night. The wind carried most of them south, but there were still several that came too close for comfort. I hoped the wind didn't change. I prayed it didn't get stronger. In the morning, I awoke to a yard full of black ashes.
There are a lot of things in the way when you burn a house in an older part of town. Obviously, there are the neighboring houses. There are power lines that drape close to those buildings. There are trees and bushes and fences.
As I stood there – half fascinated by the flames and half frightened for my home – I watched the local firemen hop into their trucks and drive away. I was stunned. Was there no one but me and the other neighbors watching this fire?
Yes, the walls had all fallen in by then - I hadn't gotten home that night until after 9 p.m. But the flames still rose four feet up out of the basement. I was startled by loud popping noises. Sparks flew out of the pine trees standing just a few feet from the ruins, and the wind carried them to a line of pine trees about 50 feet away. A power pole (which, of course, connected to the line and pole in my front yard) sat about five feet from the fire and was blackened by the blaze. I knew the heat coming out of the fire was still significant. And no one was there to babysit it?
Of course, I called the fire hall to find out what was going on. Now, I'm not a firefighter, and I haven't received the training they do, but I like to think I have some common sense. So I asked why they had left the blaze unattended. I was told it was because it no longer posed a threat as it had been "knocked down."
I can't leave a small campfire burning in my own backyard without the possibility of getting a ticket, and here was a much bigger fire left completely unattended. I just can't wrap my head around that being okay.
About 10 minutes later, a truck returned to the scene. I was able to fall asleep then, knowing there were trained eyes keeping track of that fire.
I've since brought my concerns to the mayor and fire chief. I hope the fire department considers making it a policy to not leave a fire until all flames are extinguished.
I also hope that they begin sending out letters to nearby property owners a week or so before a planned training exercise. Currently they knock on the doors of neighbors before starting the blaze, but then those (like myself) who weren't home at the time get missed.
Practice burns are obviously important as they provide needed, hands-on experience in a controlled environment. But when it comes to a fire, I don't think you should ever think you have it completely under control.
Lucky for me, mine wasn't. Instead it was the house across the street that was ablaze, one that had stood vacant for a few years, had been prepped for a fire and was being burned as a training exercise for the Cambridge Fire Department.
I can only hope that a fire across the street is the closest I ever get to my own home burning down. I don't consider myself a worrywart, but I couldn't stop the knots from forming in my stomach as I stood at my bedroom window and watched the sparks fly that night. The wind carried most of them south, but there were still several that came too close for comfort. I hoped the wind didn't change. I prayed it didn't get stronger. In the morning, I awoke to a yard full of black ashes.
There are a lot of things in the way when you burn a house in an older part of town. Obviously, there are the neighboring houses. There are power lines that drape close to those buildings. There are trees and bushes and fences.
As I stood there – half fascinated by the flames and half frightened for my home – I watched the local firemen hop into their trucks and drive away. I was stunned. Was there no one but me and the other neighbors watching this fire?
Yes, the walls had all fallen in by then - I hadn't gotten home that night until after 9 p.m. But the flames still rose four feet up out of the basement. I was startled by loud popping noises. Sparks flew out of the pine trees standing just a few feet from the ruins, and the wind carried them to a line of pine trees about 50 feet away. A power pole (which, of course, connected to the line and pole in my front yard) sat about five feet from the fire and was blackened by the blaze. I knew the heat coming out of the fire was still significant. And no one was there to babysit it?
Of course, I called the fire hall to find out what was going on. Now, I'm not a firefighter, and I haven't received the training they do, but I like to think I have some common sense. So I asked why they had left the blaze unattended. I was told it was because it no longer posed a threat as it had been "knocked down."
I can't leave a small campfire burning in my own backyard without the possibility of getting a ticket, and here was a much bigger fire left completely unattended. I just can't wrap my head around that being okay.
About 10 minutes later, a truck returned to the scene. I was able to fall asleep then, knowing there were trained eyes keeping track of that fire.
I've since brought my concerns to the mayor and fire chief. I hope the fire department considers making it a policy to not leave a fire until all flames are extinguished.
I also hope that they begin sending out letters to nearby property owners a week or so before a planned training exercise. Currently they knock on the doors of neighbors before starting the blaze, but then those (like myself) who weren't home at the time get missed.
Practice burns are obviously important as they provide needed, hands-on experience in a controlled environment. But when it comes to a fire, I don't think you should ever think you have it completely under control.
Man sentenced for threatening woman, children
RUSH CITY – A Rush City man was charged after threatening a woman and her four young children on Jan. 29.
According to the Chisago County Sheriff’s Department, Brian Eric Schneider, 33, allegedly assaulted the woman in her home. He kicked and punched the victim in the face, legs and rib cage. Later, while they were in the kitchen, Schneider threatened to stab her.
Schneider also threatened the woman’s children, all whom are younger than eight years old.
He is being charged with felony terroristic threats.
On Jan. 30, Judge John McBride set his bail at $40,000. Schneider was also ordered to have no contact with the victim.
He will next appear in court on Feb. 11 at 1 p.m.
According to the Chisago County Sheriff’s Department, Brian Eric Schneider, 33, allegedly assaulted the woman in her home. He kicked and punched the victim in the face, legs and rib cage. Later, while they were in the kitchen, Schneider threatened to stab her.
Schneider also threatened the woman’s children, all whom are younger than eight years old.
He is being charged with felony terroristic threats.
On Jan. 30, Judge John McBride set his bail at $40,000. Schneider was also ordered to have no contact with the victim.
He will next appear in court on Feb. 11 at 1 p.m.
Missing girl returns home
Christin Swenson has been missing one month.
NORTH BRANCH TOWNSHIP – The 17-year-old North Branch Township girl who has been missing since Dec. 16 has returned home.
She came back five weeks after she left.
According to Isanti County Investigator Lisa Lovering, Swenson returned to Isanti County on Jan. 22. She is currently in protective custody.
The whereabouts of the man she was believed to be with, Wade Swenson, are unknown.
Officials are still investigating the incident.
The family has requested time to be alone with their daughter.
Christin is the youngest of three children; her parents are Mary and Larry Swenson.
She is a senior at North Branch High School.
According to the Isanti County Sheriff’s department, Swenson contacted her family at 8 p.m. on Dec. 22, and said she was on her way home from Red Wing where she worked on the weekends. She never arrived.
Swenson had been renting a room in Red Wing from a girl friend on the weekends to work at an Econofoods there. When she wasn’t working at the grocery store, she was helping her cousin Wade Swenson with his three children, who range from age five to 15, according to her mother.
Human Rights Award recipient helps disabled clients become independent
Industries, Inc. praised for advancing human rightsCAMBRIDGE – For their passion and commitment to advancing human rights in Isanti County, the staff and clients of Industries, Inc. earned the 2009 Human Rights Award.
The award was presented by the Isanti County Human Rights Commission on Martin Lutheran King, Jr. Day, Jan. 19.
Industries, Inc. is the 12th recipient of the award. “All the recipients have laid the groundwork for us to build a community we can be proud of,” praised Isanti County Human Rights Commission Chair Steve Mulligan.
Past award recipient John Schlagel said he can’t think of a more deserving organization than Industries. He pointed out, “They work with literally any person that comes to them with any type of disability. They find a spot to make them part of their community and their family.”
“It’s such a great honor,” stated Industries Co-Executive Director Denise Johnson. “We are so proud to have been given this award.”
“It’s just treasured here,” noted Industries Marketing Director Marilee Larson. “We can barely keep the smiles off our faces.”
ABOUT INDUSTRIES, INC.
Industries, Inc. began in 1966 with a group of people who had a vision for people with disabilities.
This group opened Brighter Day Achievement Center in Mora the next year. It grew into a corporation known as Industries, Inc. by the 1970s. The organization expanded to Cambridge’s industrial park in the 1990s.
“Our entire mission is about helping clients grow in their independence,” noted Industries Co-Director Kris McNally. “We find ways for them to be independent in different areas of their life.”
“Once upon a time our clients were locked up in institutions where people thought they weren’t capable of anything,” pointed out Johnson.
Staff at Industries are perpetually battling misconceptions about what they do.
“The perception of Industries is we have people in wheelchairs who can’t do anything,” observed McNally. “They don’t understand the spectrum of people with disabilities. Half the time you don’t even know [the worker is disabled] because they are so high functioning.”
Industries focuses on helping clients achieve their highest potential. “They come to work and have a job. We pay them based on the amount of work they do,” McNally pointed out. “If they work at a higher level, they earn more.”
This provides an incentive for the clients to learn more so that they are paid more.
She praised Industries, Inc. staff members who work with clients to achieve amazing results.
WORKING TO INCREASE INDEPENDENCE
Services provided by Industries are multi-faceted.
“We have a wide array of services,” noted Johnson. “No matter what their level is or their disability, we have a service for them.”
Jobs are provided at the plants for clients. Right now, Industries provides assembly work for more than 20 local and national companies, including Cambridge Metals & Plastics, Lake Country Products, and Medtronics.
Industries, Inc. workers also go out into the community. They provide cleaning, lawn care and janitorial services. They can be full or part-time workers handling positions employers can’t keep filled. Some are directly supervised by Industries, others by the respective business.
Placements are determined based on the client’s interests and skill levels.
Many clients begin by working at Industries’ plants or on work crews. These work crews might clean Barber’s on Main or shred paper at the Isanti County Government Center. As skills increase, the client might get placed with an outside company as a dishwasher or a cook, for example.
“A lot of what we do is helping people find their niche,” said Larson.
For jobs outside the Industries office, Industries provides the training necessary at no cost, as well as follow-up and consultation. Local businesses that have hired Industries’ workers include the city of Cambridge, Grand Casino, Allina Eye Clinic, Adventure Publications, Edward Jones, New Hope Community Church and Cortec.
Industries also focuses on developing life skills for its clients with disabilities, which includes those with severe persistent mental illness (SPMI).
In all, Industries has over 200 clients working in the Mora and Cambridge communities. Eighty clients are in the work habilitation programs learning life skills. And there is a varying number of folks with SPMI being helped at Industries, Inc.
Overseeing this work is a 10-member board and about 50 staff members.
“Our clients love the community integration,” said Johnson. “They just like being a part of life and doing the work they do here to increase their independence.”
Human Rights Award Recipients
1997 Shirley Holyfield
1998 Evelyn Puffer
1999 Braham Area School Student Council
2000 Jim Donahue
2001 Louis & Barbara Leisure
2002 Richard Coland
2003 Larry Ostrom
2004 Larry Southerland
2005 Son Duong
2006 Dehl Lindstrom
2007 John & Bonnie Schlagel
2009 Industries, Inc.
Community center bill grows by $45,000
Military is charging the city for use
CAMBRIDGE – Cambridge’s new community center is going to cost the city an additional $45,000 a year.
Council members hope to recoup most of that through rental fees.
“There’s a lot of demand,” noted Cambridge City Administrator Lynda Woulfe during the Jan. 20 council meeting.
The additional $45,000 is a fee that is being charged by the military, which constructed and owns the facility.
The city is also responsible for hiring a custodian who will oversee afternoon and evening events at the center Monday to Friday. National Guard personnel will oversee events on the weekends for an additional fee ($20 an hour).
Council members are disappointed that they were paying an additional fee to the military. To entice the military to Cambridge, the city donated the land the facility is built upon (which was donated to the city by the Kelly family), and paid for utility connections at the site. Cambridge also contributed $750,000 to upgrade the building.
“I know that amount is not what the city hoped for in light of the amenities it provided to the community center,” noted Woulfe. However, she is pleased the city was able to negotiate the military down from the $65,000 fee first proposed.
Under the terms of this agreement, the city controls rental fees and the Armed Forces Readiness Center calendar.
Now that the use agreement has been approved between the military and the city, the city can begin taking reservations for events at the community center. Call 763-689-3211.
COMMUNITY CENTER FEES
Cambridge evaluated the rates being charged by the school district when it determined the fees it will be charging at the community center.
Hourly rates will be as follows:
• Assembly hall, Monday to Friday: $40
• Assembly hall, Saturday and Sunday: $60
• Assembly hall and kitchen, Monday to Friday, $75 with a maximum of $900
• Assembly hall and kitchen, Saturday and Sunday: $95 with a maximum of $1,200 per single day event
• Classrooms, Monday to Friday: $20
• Classrooms, Saturday and Sunday: $40
At this time, the city has not set up a fee schedule for fitness center use.
Woulfe questioned whether council members want to waive fees for non-profit groups.
Caulk supported reduced rates for groups like the Boy Scouts.
Shogren supported allowing non-profits free use, provided they are not charging for services.
Rates for non-profits will be discussed again at a later date, after the city’s community center task force has reviewed the issue.
CATERING SERVICES
Only one caterer will be allowed to operate out of the community center kitchen.
The city will solicit requests for proposals (RFPs) and select one caterer from those.
This is being done at the request of the military, noted Woulfe, who prefer that one company be allowed to use the equipment they have provided. Guard representatives also pointed out that they are required to adhere to strict guidelines and random cleanliness checks. The Guard is also worried about how many people will have keys to the community center.
Another pro for using only one caterer is that this company will be responsible for taking an inventory of kitchen supplies (cups, plates, silverware, etc.) to make sure nothing is missing, said Woulfe.
The community center task force unanimously supported the decision to work with only one caterer.
Council member Dave Schornstein noted his concern about creating a monopoly. “Someone could charge anything they want,” he said.
Woulfe pointed out that any caterer who wishes to submit an RFP must provide menus, sample pricing and references. This is being done so the city can evaluate whether they are charging reasonable rates.
RFPs are due via mail at city hall by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10.
Drug bust nabs three
CAMBRIDGE – Three people were arrested during a drug bust in Cambridge on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
After executing a search warrant at 1335 Carriage Hills Drive, authorities found a small amount of methamphetamine, 39 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia for methamphetamine and marijuana sale and use, and $117 in cash.
Arrested were Joshua Anderson, age 22, Christine Bellin, age 20, and Allie Burns, age 22. Charges are expected against two other individuals who were not at the residence when the warrant was served.
Anderson is being charged with fifth degree controlled substance possession (methamphetamine), possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bellin faces charges for fifth degree controlled substance possession (methamphetamine), possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Burns is being charged for violating parole, and possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Assisting with the bust were the Cambridge Police Department, Isanti County Sheriff’s Department and the North Branch Police Department.
After executing a search warrant at 1335 Carriage Hills Drive, authorities found a small amount of methamphetamine, 39 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia for methamphetamine and marijuana sale and use, and $117 in cash.
Arrested were Joshua Anderson, age 22, Christine Bellin, age 20, and Allie Burns, age 22. Charges are expected against two other individuals who were not at the residence when the warrant was served.
Anderson is being charged with fifth degree controlled substance possession (methamphetamine), possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bellin faces charges for fifth degree controlled substance possession (methamphetamine), possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Burns is being charged for violating parole, and possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Assisting with the bust were the Cambridge Police Department, Isanti County Sheriff’s Department and the North Branch Police Department.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
What’s it like to be Santa Claus?
Former Cambridge Council member shares his experiences.
CAMBRIDGE – What’s it like to be Santa Claus?
Ask Joe Morin of Cambridge. He worked as Santa Claus for 49 days in Harrisburg, Pa. during the 2008 Christmas season.
Every day at the Bass Pro Shop his beard would get yanked. Yeah, it’s real, he’d tell the kids. Others needed even more convincing and checked out the belly (no padding) and his hair (also attached).
One day he saw 274 kids in a four-hour shift. That’s 55 kids an hour.
He had every age group and gender. “We had girls in their ‘packs,’ dating couples, and war veterans,” said Morin. “We had generation pictures, family shots, and a dog. We had people that dislike Santa, and people who love Santa. We had the disabled, and a religious sect.” One day, he even visited with two newlyweds.
In all, Morin posed for 10,345 photos with over 16,000 people during his 49-day run as Santa. The youngest baby was three days old, and the oldest person was 97.
He also welcomed over 100 dogs. There were other animals, too, but Morin drew the line at snakes. One day, he almost posed with a horse, but because it was pouring rain outside they had to forego the plan in consideration of his suit.
He even posed with two stuffed animals, one of which was a project for a local elementary school.
WHY DID HE DO IT?
“It’s the kids. I do it for the kids,” explained Morin.
“You never know what’s going to come out of their mouths.”
Morin put on his first Santa costume in 1986 at his own floral store in Coon Rapids. Earlier this year, a friend (who has played Santa around the nation) encouraged him to check out the opportunities out there. He looked into Santa for Hire, and was put in touch with the Bass Pro Shop in Harrisburg, Pa.
Santa’s Wonderland at the sporting goods store spread out over 5,300 square feet. Over 25 elves assisted Santa. In addition to Santa’s workshop there were various activities for the kids. Everything was free – including photos with Santa. That policy was in sharp contrast with the mall Bass Pro Shop was attached to which charged $8 for a visit and $10 per photo.
LONG REWARDING DAYS
Morin didn’t have a day off the entire time he was in Pennsylvania. During the weekdays, Morin worked four-hour shifts from 4 to 9 p.m. On Saturdays, he was there for 11-hour shifts from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Sundays, he worked from noon to 5 p.m. The last week and one-half before Christmas every day was an 11-hour day.
Sitting that long in Santa’s log chair was difficult at times, especially considering Morin’s own disabilities. There are many days when he doesn’t feel good to begin with. But somehow when he put on the Santa suit and began talking with kids, his own pain disappeared.
People came from afar to see Morin. One day, he posed with a person who had driven 150 miles. He pulled in people from a five-hour radius of Harrisburg.
He also got more than five minutes of fame. His first day in Pennsylvania was spent at the local Fox television station filming a Christmas special. The three-hour show included many shots of Santa Joe with kids. Later, he participated in several commercials, and also appeared with a weatherman during a television broadcast.
MOST POPULAR TOYS
Morin became well acquainted with the most popular toys for 2008. They were Wii games, Star Wars Legos, Nintendo DS, Barbies and Bratz dolls.
Once on Santa’s lap, 80 percent of the kids grew too shy to share their lists. Morin had a couple standard questions to inspire them. He’d ask the boys, “Would you like a dress and a Barbie?” To the girls, he’d asked, “Would you like a truck and a Superman outfit?” The questions never failed to get the children rolling.
Some came with a list 10 pages long. Others wanted little but a stint on Santa’s lap and a hug.
There were the kids that ran down the red carpet and jumped into Santa’s arms. On the other end of the spectrum were the kids that screamed and kicked the entire time.
“It’s amazing the number of kids that will tell Santa anything,” Morin observed.
THE BEST CHRISTMAS A CHILD COULD HAVE
There were some visits that brought tears to Santa’s own eyes, such as the teen-age boy whose father died the day before. He asked Santa to pray with him.
One little girl was afflicted by old-age syndrome. Doctors don’t expect the seven-year-old to make it to next Christmas.
Perhaps the most touching for Morin was the nine-year-old blind girl. She had been adopted by an American couple along with her two siblings. Knowing that the blind see through their fingers, Morin asked if she wanted to touch Santa. He led her hands to his beard - an amazing thing for a child from a country where men don’t typically grow beards. She touched his hair, and his hat – all the way to the tassle on the end. When she reached the tassle she laughed and laughed.
There is usually a lot of commotion in Santa’s workshop, but when the little girl was done, Morin looked up and found that the place had gone quiet. Everyone nearby was crying – including her family members and the elves.
Her mother told Morin, “This is the best Christmas she could ever have.”
While many of the local Santas didn’t accept visits from handicapped kids, Morin made no exceptions. All kids were welcome.
One such child left a present with Santa, instructing Morin not to open it until he was gone. “He must have used up a whole roll of scotch tape wrapping it,” Morin noted. Inside was a folder the boy, Joe, had decorated himself.
One day, Santa looked up to find Mrs. Claus standing in front of him. The 97-year-old woman came wearing a costume dating from 1927. She had worked as a Mrs. Claus for years before hanging up her suit when her husband died.
Morin captured those stories and more on his blog, santajoe2008.blogspot.com.
Santa himself made it home just in time to spend Christmas day with his own family, wife Cheryl, son Daniel, and daughter Jill and husband.
Local cities deal with LGA cuts
Local cities were hit with state funding cuts at the end of 2008 that affected their bottom lines.
The cuts came too late for many cities to adjust their budgets.
“This could not have come at a worse time, as cities are closing the financial books on 2008 and were counting on full December local government aid (LGA) and market value homestead credit (MVHC) payments – amounts that were committed to by the state in July of 2007 – to meet year-end financial obligations,” said League of Minnesota Cities Executive Director Jim Miller.
In general, cities lost roughly 4 percent of their total revenue.
More cuts are anticipated as the state of Minnesota attempts to solve its budget deficit.
Local cities are responding by planning ahead and identifying areas to cut now.
BRAHAM
Braham lost $36,293 in December. ‘Like all other cities and counties, this money was already spent, and the unallotment will result in a shortfall of revenues in the 2008 budget,” said City Administrator Sally Hoy.
To compensate for the 2008 loss and an anticipated LGA loss of about $50,000 in 2009, the city council approved decreasing its 2009 budget in several areas. The city did not receive $30,000 in taxes due to delinquencies.
Employees will not be laid off, but their salaries (and that of the building official) will be reduced by five percent. To compensate for that, employees will only be required to work 95 percent of their regular work hours. City hall hours will go back to 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to reduce utility costs.
The city will not fund flowers, buy a new squad car, or pick up stray cats. It will not mail out its city newsletter, but merely post it online, nor will it send out reminders to those who forget to read their water meters. It cut funding to parks by $11,800.
CAMBRIDGE
The December blow of losing $207,383 in state money was softened by an increase of $111,988 the city received in 2008 tax revenue over what is expected. The city council had also revised its budget several times in 2008 to account for the slowing economy.
The amount earned through licenses and permits was also up by $10,000 as were other charges for services, according to Finance Director Caroline Moe.
Additionally, the city did not spend as much as it had anticipated on health insurance following a partnership with the city’s unions. That amounted to a savings of $88,178.
In all, the city was actually able to put an additional $9,539 in its contingency fund to apply for next year.
“What we remain most concerned about is whether or not the city will see any of the $801,772 in LGA certified to the city by the Department of Revenue in July 2008 while we were preparing our 2009 budget,” noted Cambridge City Administrator Lynda Woulfe. “If these funds are cut again on top of the $207,383 from 2008, it will hurt substantially.”
Woulfe and Moe are working on a plan that will pare down the 2009 budget. “This won’t be presented until we get a better sense of how the Legislature will deal with the $5.2 billion dollar deficit,” said Woulfe.
ISANTI
Isanti fixed its 2008 budget deficit of $112,316 by applying unspent 2008 dollars.
The city council then approved cutting $112,316 from its 2009 budget in anticipation of additional revenue reductions.
The city enacted a freeze on public works hiring, eliminated the warming house staff, and took out all charitable giving. The council decided not to erect granite signs for the Economic Development Authority and eliminated a transfer from the EDA fund to the revolving loan fund. Council members also imposed a “no new non-budgeted spending” rule. Additionally, $100,000 was transferred from the liquor store fund to the general fund.
“The days when Isanti or any city can count on the state to keep its financial house in order are over,” said Mayor George Wimmer. “We must do what every small- and medium-sized business must do: live within our means.” He added, “Relaying on LGA for daily operations must become a thing of the past.”
LGA accounts for 17 percent of the city’s budget.
The mayor also proposed seven other options that range from eliminating a position in public works or the police department to transferring money into the general fund from other funds.
“We will not know until late spring or early summer what to expect from the state, but we will have all our plans in place for different funding levels,” said Wimmer.
HARRIS
With an influx of new faces leading Harris, a clear plan for how to deal with the 2008 decrease in LGA and an anticipated cut in 2009 has not yet been laid out.
Council members are considering filling the city clerk position at 24 to 28 hours a week, instead of the 32 to 40 hours a week initially planned.
In order to save on utility costs, they may also close city hall one day a week, noted Harris Treasurer Marlys Belfany.
A budget workshop has been set for Jan. 26 to discuss the issue.
NORTH BRANCH
Because of the 2008 reduction in LGA, North Branch entered 2009 with $162,324 less than it had planned.
The announcement that LGA was being reduced simply came too late in the year, according to Finance Director Richard Hill.
“It reduces our cash position going into 2009, and it adds to the cash crunch that will be felt in 2009,” Hill said.
The city is just beginning to discuss areas it can cut, and is trying to identify over $400,000 worth. The city was promised $429,000 in LGA for 2009. Hill noted that it’s very difficult to get halfway through the year and then find out their LGA has been reduced. That leaves no recovery time.
The city is cutting out projects and eliminating some supplies. It will also take a hard look at consulting fees and employee costs.
“It’s going to have a substantial impact on operations,” Hill said, adding that you can’t eliminate $400,000 in a budget without it having a big effect.
RUSH CITY
Rush City lost $39,000 from its 2008 budget. It reacted in December by adjusting its budget through a variety of fund transfers.
It was too late in the year to avoid any purchases, noted City Administrator Amy Mell.
As it looks ahead to 2009, the city council is trying to be proactive. The budget committee has already met and will continue meeting to identify possible areas to cut. If the predictions are true that city LGA is cut by half, Rush City will lose one-quarter of its general fund. General fund covers streets, the fire department, police protection, administration, the airport and the city council.
“Personnel is a big part of our budget, so we’re looking at that very closely,” said Mell. Committee members have tossed around the idea of a wage freeze, as well as cuts in staff.
They have also talked about trimming down travel expenses and eliminating training expenses. The city did not plan to make many equipment purchases in 2009, which means it can’t merely cut out those, and it has no control over utility costs.
Mell said she is watching the Legislature very closely. “The problem is we just don’t know,” she said.
The cuts came too late for many cities to adjust their budgets.
“This could not have come at a worse time, as cities are closing the financial books on 2008 and were counting on full December local government aid (LGA) and market value homestead credit (MVHC) payments – amounts that were committed to by the state in July of 2007 – to meet year-end financial obligations,” said League of Minnesota Cities Executive Director Jim Miller.
In general, cities lost roughly 4 percent of their total revenue.
More cuts are anticipated as the state of Minnesota attempts to solve its budget deficit.
Local cities are responding by planning ahead and identifying areas to cut now.
BRAHAM
Braham lost $36,293 in December. ‘Like all other cities and counties, this money was already spent, and the unallotment will result in a shortfall of revenues in the 2008 budget,” said City Administrator Sally Hoy.
To compensate for the 2008 loss and an anticipated LGA loss of about $50,000 in 2009, the city council approved decreasing its 2009 budget in several areas. The city did not receive $30,000 in taxes due to delinquencies.
Employees will not be laid off, but their salaries (and that of the building official) will be reduced by five percent. To compensate for that, employees will only be required to work 95 percent of their regular work hours. City hall hours will go back to 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to reduce utility costs.
The city will not fund flowers, buy a new squad car, or pick up stray cats. It will not mail out its city newsletter, but merely post it online, nor will it send out reminders to those who forget to read their water meters. It cut funding to parks by $11,800.
CAMBRIDGE
The December blow of losing $207,383 in state money was softened by an increase of $111,988 the city received in 2008 tax revenue over what is expected. The city council had also revised its budget several times in 2008 to account for the slowing economy.
The amount earned through licenses and permits was also up by $10,000 as were other charges for services, according to Finance Director Caroline Moe.
Additionally, the city did not spend as much as it had anticipated on health insurance following a partnership with the city’s unions. That amounted to a savings of $88,178.
In all, the city was actually able to put an additional $9,539 in its contingency fund to apply for next year.
“What we remain most concerned about is whether or not the city will see any of the $801,772 in LGA certified to the city by the Department of Revenue in July 2008 while we were preparing our 2009 budget,” noted Cambridge City Administrator Lynda Woulfe. “If these funds are cut again on top of the $207,383 from 2008, it will hurt substantially.”
Woulfe and Moe are working on a plan that will pare down the 2009 budget. “This won’t be presented until we get a better sense of how the Legislature will deal with the $5.2 billion dollar deficit,” said Woulfe.
ISANTI
Isanti fixed its 2008 budget deficit of $112,316 by applying unspent 2008 dollars.
The city council then approved cutting $112,316 from its 2009 budget in anticipation of additional revenue reductions.
The city enacted a freeze on public works hiring, eliminated the warming house staff, and took out all charitable giving. The council decided not to erect granite signs for the Economic Development Authority and eliminated a transfer from the EDA fund to the revolving loan fund. Council members also imposed a “no new non-budgeted spending” rule. Additionally, $100,000 was transferred from the liquor store fund to the general fund.
“The days when Isanti or any city can count on the state to keep its financial house in order are over,” said Mayor George Wimmer. “We must do what every small- and medium-sized business must do: live within our means.” He added, “Relaying on LGA for daily operations must become a thing of the past.”
LGA accounts for 17 percent of the city’s budget.
The mayor also proposed seven other options that range from eliminating a position in public works or the police department to transferring money into the general fund from other funds.
“We will not know until late spring or early summer what to expect from the state, but we will have all our plans in place for different funding levels,” said Wimmer.
HARRIS
With an influx of new faces leading Harris, a clear plan for how to deal with the 2008 decrease in LGA and an anticipated cut in 2009 has not yet been laid out.
Council members are considering filling the city clerk position at 24 to 28 hours a week, instead of the 32 to 40 hours a week initially planned.
In order to save on utility costs, they may also close city hall one day a week, noted Harris Treasurer Marlys Belfany.
A budget workshop has been set for Jan. 26 to discuss the issue.
NORTH BRANCH
Because of the 2008 reduction in LGA, North Branch entered 2009 with $162,324 less than it had planned.
The announcement that LGA was being reduced simply came too late in the year, according to Finance Director Richard Hill.
“It reduces our cash position going into 2009, and it adds to the cash crunch that will be felt in 2009,” Hill said.
The city is just beginning to discuss areas it can cut, and is trying to identify over $400,000 worth. The city was promised $429,000 in LGA for 2009. Hill noted that it’s very difficult to get halfway through the year and then find out their LGA has been reduced. That leaves no recovery time.
The city is cutting out projects and eliminating some supplies. It will also take a hard look at consulting fees and employee costs.
“It’s going to have a substantial impact on operations,” Hill said, adding that you can’t eliminate $400,000 in a budget without it having a big effect.
RUSH CITY
Rush City lost $39,000 from its 2008 budget. It reacted in December by adjusting its budget through a variety of fund transfers.
It was too late in the year to avoid any purchases, noted City Administrator Amy Mell.
As it looks ahead to 2009, the city council is trying to be proactive. The budget committee has already met and will continue meeting to identify possible areas to cut. If the predictions are true that city LGA is cut by half, Rush City will lose one-quarter of its general fund. General fund covers streets, the fire department, police protection, administration, the airport and the city council.
“Personnel is a big part of our budget, so we’re looking at that very closely,” said Mell. Committee members have tossed around the idea of a wage freeze, as well as cuts in staff.
They have also talked about trimming down travel expenses and eliminating training expenses. The city did not plan to make many equipment purchases in 2009, which means it can’t merely cut out those, and it has no control over utility costs.
Mell said she is watching the Legislature very closely. “The problem is we just don’t know,” she said.
Jerry Tvedt retires
ISANTI COUNTY – Isanti County bid farewell to coordinator Jerry Tvedt on Jan. 9.
He led the county for 18 years.
Tvedt’s leadership was characterized by an open-door policy. He was available to all – whether citizens or employees.
“I strongly believe that’s important. If a citizen has issues, they can come in here and feel comfortable talking about it,” Tvedt observed a few days before retiring.
Tom Pagel, who served as commissioner for 22 years, praised Tvedt’s accessibility to the public and county staff members.
“The public never had trouble getting in to talk to him,” observed Pagel. And he never heard from any employee that they couldn’t get right in to talk to Tvedt about an issue.
There were many people Tvedt got used to seeing over the years. If the visit regarded a complaint about an employee, Tvedt dealt with it. His focus was on the employee doing his/her job and treating the citizen right.
With any issue, Tvedt’s first response was to work through it. He didn’t make a big issue out of things, but instead tried to minimize strife. He was firm, but fair.
This was the same way he approached the board of commissioners.
“I think he’s always given both sides of every issue in a non-biased way,” noted Pagel.
‘I’ve loved it here’
Overall, Tvedt has been pleased with the quality of employees he’s overseen. “They’ve been very good to work with.” He also doesn’t accept the common attitude that “kids these days aren’t good employees” because he’s seen many who are wonderful.
He’s also been pleased with the commissioners he’s worked with.
“If you work with a good board, and you have good employees it’s very gratifying,” Tvedt observed.
“Frankly, I’ve loved it here.”
During his last board meeting on Jan. 6, Tvedt choked up as he said, “This has been the best job. It’s hard for me to leave.”
‘I love a challenge’
Raised on a farm, Tvedt’s first job was milking cows by hand. “I think it gave me a good work ethic,” he noted.
He remembers when they switched to milking machines. “We got kicked a lot until we got them trained.”
Tvedt has received a paycheck from six employers in his life. He started out as a bus boy at Bridgeman’s while attending the Minneapolis Business College. The ice cream shop at 38th and Central is now a Chinese restaurant.
Then he spent a year throwing cases of pop at the Coca Cola plant. He next tried his hand as a clerical staff member in the sales department at Peavey Company, a flour milling company.
Then he got a job closer to his roots. He kept the books at Gillespie Auto Company on Main Street in Cambridge for eight years.
Tvedt’s next career move was into the public sector. He head there was a job opening in the Kanabec County Auditor’s office and decided to apply. He was hired as the Kanabec County Auditor.
Working as a public servant wasn’t a life Tvedt daydreamed about as a child. But once he began working in the auditor’s office he discovered how much he enjoyed county government.
As an auditor, he dealt with the tax system, was responsible for the county’s books, handled payroll, organized elections, and made sure various policies were being followed.
In 1995, Tvedt applied for the open Isanti County Coordinator position and was hired.
Current commissioner George Larson was chair of the board at the time. “I have never regretted the decision to hire Jerry,” said Larson. “He’s done a good job.”
“I love a challenge, and this has been a challenge,” Tvedt said.
Times, they are a changin’
In the past 18 years, Tvedt has helped lead the county through many changes. Most of them have been sparked by growth.
The county’s population growth has put pressure on all its departments, from zoning to the treasurer. “We have to provide staff to deal with the growth,” Tvedt noted. That includes ensuring there is enough space for business to take place. During Tvedt’s watch, the county expanded its jail and added another building to house family services. The county is just beginning a year and one-half-long project to enlarge offices at the government center to take advantage of the space family services vacated.
Moving into the Oakview facility saved the county money, Tvedt pointed out. The cost of adding a third floor to the government center building would have been double the amount. “I think we did the right thing,” he said.
“When we do things, we do things right, but we haven’t gone overboard and provided a Taj Mahal.”
His own office has added staff to deal with the rising population and its needs. When he started in 1995, Tvedt handled everything. On his advice, the board of commissioners promoted Barb Baar to handle personnel issues. This gave Tvedt more time to deal with citizen requests and employee issues.
At the same time, Tvedt worked to make operations more efficient.
“He’s streamlined our personnel policies,” praised Pagel.
He’s not going away
Tvedt knows he’ll miss the job and the people he came in contact with.
“Anytime you go through change it’s difficult,” Tvedt noted, “but it will be good.”
His wife Joyce is retiring at the same time, and the two plan to focus on their nine grandkids.
“Just because I’m retiring doesn’t mean I’m going away,” he said.
Tvedt plans to continue meeting with a group of eight past and present Isanti County staff members for Thursday burgers at the Cambridge Bar and Grill. And he’s sure he’ll come down for lunch with commissioners after their meetings on Tuesdays.
He’s also going to continue pushing the Minnesota State Legislature to live up to promises it has made to counties. In particular, Tvedt will continue to lobby for the full 50 percent reimbursement for probation officer salaries that the state is supposed to provide. This year the figure is at 36 percent.
Humbled to have had position
Tvedt is humbled that he was given the opportunity to work for Isanti County’s citizens.
“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve the people,” said Tvedt. “I’ve tried to do the best I can.”
He is confident that he’s leaving the county in good hands. “I strongly believe Kevin Van Hooser will continue to serve the people with respect. He’ll do a good job.”
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