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.

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.

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.”

Drugs seized at Cambridge residence, couple arrested

CAMBRIDGE – A Cambridge couple was arrested Monday, Jan. 12 after police discovered drug paraphernalia and 3.5 grams of methamphetamine in their home at 432 Third Avenue Southwest.
Shannon and Richard Lind’s two children were taken into care by Isanti County Family Services.
According to Cambridge Police Chief Dave Pajnic, the search at the Lind’s home was the result of a joint investigation by the police department and the Isanti County Sheriff’s Department.
In addition to the meth and drug paraphernalia, officers seized two firearms and $500 in cash.
S. Lind, 28, was home when during the search, along with a child just under two years old. She was arrested and charged with fifth degree controlled substance possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, and methamphetamine-related crimes involving children.
Her 39-year-old husband was arrested at his place of employment in Coon Rapids. He was charged with fifth degree controlled substance possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, and methamphetamine-related crimes involving children.
Both were taken to the Isanti County Jail.
A nine-year-old child was at school when officers searched the home.

Reward offered for information on hit and run

CAMBRIDGE – Heidi Westman doesn’t understand how someone could hit a parked car and then leave without trying to find the owner.
Her 2006 Pontiac G6 was struck on Wednesday, Jan. 7 while it was parked on Second Avenue Southeast by Sidelines Sports Bar and Grill in Cambridge. It was located right next to the alley.
The entire rear end of the vehicle was damaged, including the taillight, bumper and trunk. The damage amounts to between $3,000 to $4,000.
The vehicle was struck between 8:10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. while Westman was at work.
She suspects that a large truck or a semi-tractor trailer making a delivery struck her vehicle based on the height of the damage.
Westman is offering a reward to anyone with information on the culprit. Call her at 763-552-5200.
“How can people be so inconsiderate?” she questioned. “I’d really like to find the person who did it.”

TO A POINT: State: that's no way to run a business

I can't read the state news stories anymore. If it's not a story about our bungled election system (seriously, how could it swing so far?!), it's a story about how messed up our state finances are.
I want to see some fixes, and I want to see them now. Are you with me?
I'm the first person to say we need to cut government spending. The government takes one-third of our paychecks – that's excessive if you ask me, and grounds for another tea party in Boston's bay. But when the state starts taking away money it promised a year ago from local counties and cities, I can't condone that. It's bad budgeting.
What do we expect local government bodies to do when suddenly, at the end of the year, they discover that the money they planned on last year (because the state told them it was coming) now isn't? They're out hundreds of thousands of dollars. Braham lost $36,293, Cambridge $207,383, Harris $19,519, Isanti $112,316, North Branch $162,324, and Rush City $39,296. Local counties were also touched. Isanti County lost $278,157 and Chisago County $539,395.
There's no way to raise the levy now to cover the shortfall. Instead, these local cities and counties are now in the red. Their budgets look bad, and they'll have to raise taxes to cover not just one shortfall, but most likely two. The 2009 levy is already set, as well, and the state is predicting it will cut what counties and cities expected to get this year too, perhaps by as much as half. At least they have more than a few weeks to prepare for this next decrease. They can adjust their budgets down now. Perhaps that's what the governor is aiming for.…
I hope he's taking aim at those state figures, as well.
I feel pretty confident that the majority of spending my local government bodies do is not wasteful. I don't have that same confidence about the state. I see waste all over the place, in fact. On top of that, I don't see them taking care of what I consider to be essential services, such as making sure our roads and bridges are up to par and installing high-speed transit.
People, we can't expect to get everything. There is a limited amount of money (despite how the treasury is acting as it just keeps printing more and more soon-to-be-worthless cash). Let's start making things pay for themselves. If it brings in a profit, then it can afford a new laboratory. If we want art and music in our lives, let's support it by buying tickets to events. If we really want a new pool, users need to be prepared to pay for the cost of maintaining it.
It's the same principle I apply in my own life. If I want something bad enough, I start putting away my pennies to save up for it.
It's time our state and federal government remember that lesson. It's time they remember they're not spending money that comes from somewhere out there. They're spending our money.