REGIONAL BRIEFS: Boat capsizes, 2 men drown

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Minnesota

Boat capsizes, 2 men drown (DNT)

BENA, Minn. -- Two men drowned Saturday evening on Lake Winnibigoshish near Bena when their boat capsized in high winds, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. The men, whose names were not released Monday, were from Minneapolis and Princeton, Minn.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a capsized boat at 6:38 p.m. Saturday, according to the report. Responding officers located the boat and several items floating in the water near the boat. A search of the area by boat and a Minnesota State Patrol helicopter continued until dark without success.

Wind gusts were as high as 40 mph, according to the sheriff’s office.

The search continued Sunday. One victim, a 43-year-old male from Minneapolis, was found about 9:35 a.m. The second, a 53-year-old male from Princeton, was found about 5 p.m.

Both victims were taken to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsies.

The search was conducted by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Lakes Area Dive Team, Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Leech Lake Tribal Police and Leech Lake conservation officers.

Man gets 8 years for drunken driving death (BP)

BEMIDJI, Minn. – The drunken driver in a fatal crash last Halloween was sentenced Monday to more than eight years in prison.

Anthony Dwayne Calloway, 46, of Bemidji received consecutive prison sentences of 88 months felony criminal vehicular operation and 366 days for criminal vehicular operation.

The longer sentence, handed down by Beltrami County District Judge Paul Benshoof, was for the death of Dawn Marie Boyd, a passenger in Calloway’s vehicle at the time of the crash.

The other sentence by Benshoof is connected to injuries suffered by Heidi Lee, who was driving a car hit by Calloway in Bemidji shortly before 1 p.m. Oct. 31.

Lee, who was eight months pregnant at the time but has since given birth to a healthy boy, spent two nights in a Fargo, N.D., hospital before continuing her recovery at home.

Calloway, driving a 1987 Dodge Caravan, swerved into the wrong lane and struck Lee’s Honda Odyssey head-on. Court records show Calloway was determined to have a blood-alcohol content of .16, twice the legal limit.

Arson suspected in food bank fire (WCT)

OLIVIA, Minn. — Arson is suspected in a fire that destroyed the contents of the Renville County Food Shelf in a downtown Olivia building on Sunday night.

The fire also caused extensive smoke and heat damage to the Hair Connection, Red Cross office and an apartment unit. No one was injured, and the resident of the second floor apartment was able to escape the building unharmed, according to the Olivia Police Department.

A passerby discovered the fire shortly before 8:35 p.m. The use of a thermal imaging camera greatly aided the fire fighters in attacking the blaze and confining it to the Food Shelf area of the building, according to Olivia Fire Chief Tim Seehusen.

Renville County Food Shelf director Mary Schroepfer. She was hopeful that the Food Shelf would be up and running soon in a new location.

Warrant issued for mom accused in hot-car case (BP)

BEMIDJI, Minn. – A warrant has been issued for a woman accused of child endangerment.

Beltrami County District Judge Paul Benshoof issued a warrant Monday for 21-year-old Bianca Jean Hazelrigg, formerly of Bagley, who faces a gross misdemeanor charge for endangerment of a child by putting them in a position that could cause them harm or death.

Court papers state Hazelrigg left four children unattended June 9 inside her car in 88-degree temperatures for 29 minutes as she shopped inside the Bemidji Target for swimsuits.

A hearing had been scheduled for Monday, but Hazelrigg failed to appear, according to online court records.

A Facebook post by Hazelrigg stated she was in St. Cloud, where she lives, on Sunday, and invited friends to call her.

A call to her phone went straight to voice mail Monday evening.

In June, Hazelrigg posted bail with the conditions that that she not leave Minnesota without written court approval, keep the court and her attorney informed of her current address, remain law-abiding and make all future court appearances.

State hospital tour set in Fergus Falls (FF)

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. – The Otter Tail County Historical Society will host the season’s final Stories from the state Hospital tour at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 21.

Stories from the State Hospital takes people around the outside of the facility while providing a behind the scenes look at some of the legendary stories and events that took place over the hospital's 117 year history.

The cost is $5. Attendees should park in the Government Services parking lot.

Some of the content is not suitable for younger audiences.

For more information, call (218) 736-6038 or visit www.otchs.org.

North Dakota

Construction site fire investigated as arson (FF)

FARGO – Police here are investigating as arson a fire that heavily damaged a partially built apartment building on Friday, Lt. Joel Vettel said Monday.

Fire investigators ruled out all accidental forms of ignition, but they couldn’t determine how the fire was set because of the extent of damage to the structure at 1900 Dakota Drive N., Fargo Fire Marshal Norm Scott said.

“It was started on purpose, but by who, I don’t know,” he said.

The fire was set in the middle of the two-story structure, toward the south end, Scott said. It was reported at about 4:20 a.m.

Fargo police are reviewing surveillance video from the area for possible leads, Vettel said.

“We’ve talked to a number of people in the area in reference to the case,” he said, declining to elaborate.

Police also are looking into whether a car fire about 4 a.m. Saturday at 1440 Dakota Drive may be related to the structure fire, Vettel said.

Scott said fire investigators couldn’t determine the cause of the car fire or whether it was accidental or intentional. The blaze destroyed the car and damaged a second vehicle.

Residents smell smoke, but where’s the fire? (DP)

DICKINSON, N.D. -- Warm temperatures in southwest North Dakota and the “peculiar conditions” had residents wondering what was on fire Monday.

A smoke smell filled the air and Stark County was “flooded with calls” from concerned citizens, Stark County Emergency Manager Bill Fahlsing said.

“It’s not unreasonable that on windy days they can carry over from Montana,” he said of the smell.

The National Weather Service’s Bismarck office also got its fair share of calls, mostly from Dickinson.

Meteorologist Bill Abeling said satellite images show the smoke blew in from Idaho and southwest Montana wildfires.

The warm temperature of more than 90 F Monday afternoon and windy conditions pushed the smoke over southwest North Dakota, he said.

Though the smell was from afar, much of western North Dakota was under red flag warnings Monday, which means strong wind and low humidity creates conditions favorable for rapid-spreading fires, according to the NWS.

Lake churn gives drinking water a bad taste (DP)

DICKINSON, N.D. - A foul odor and taste in the local water supply had Dickinson residents voicing their concern to City Hall on Monday.

An official at the Southwest Water Authority, however, said the city’s water is safe for consumption and that the issue is temporary.

“This is an issue we typically deal with twice a year in the spring and again in the fall,” said SWA administrative assistant Pam Courton. “Lake Sakakawea actually turns over when the temperatures change, stirring up algae and vegetation within the lake.”

Lake Sakakawea, supplies water to the Southwest Pipeline, which is operated by the SWA. The water from the lake is treated and stored before it makes its way to Dickinson residents.

“We understand why residents are concerned,” Courton said. “But the water people are drinking and bathing in is completely safe.”

Dickinson City Administrator Shawn Kessel said the city had received a number of complaints from residents about the odor.

Man sentenced for trapping bald eagle (FF)

FARGO – A Barnesville, Minn., man has been sentenced in U.S. District Court to a year of probation for trapping a bald eagle.

Aaron J. Reiling, 24, was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and to make a community service payment in the amount of $4,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to benefit eagles in North Dakota.

A $25 special assessment was also ordered.

Reiling will lose hunting and trapping privileges during the period of probation.

According to information provided by the U.S. attorney’s office, a North Dakota game warden last December responded to a report that an eagle was caught in “something” east of Hillsboro, N.D..

The warden found an adult bald eagle that had a leg caught in a coil spring trap which was staked to the ground. A deer carcass had been placed within one foot of the trap, a violation of federal law.

Reiling admitted he was trapping without a valid nonresident trapping license. He also trespassed on land he did not have permission to enter, set the trap that caught the bald eagle and placed the dead deer carcass next to the trap.

The eagle was transported to the Dakota Zoo in Bismarck for care and treatment of its injuries, but it was later euthanized.

NDDOT to host public meeting Sept. 25 (FF)

GWINNER, N.D. – The North Dakota Department of Transportation will host an open house to discuss improvements to North Dakota Highway 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 25 in the EMS Building, 4 1st St. S.E., Gwinner.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss proposed improvements to N.D. 13 from the south junction of N.D. Highway 1, extending east to the west junction of N.D. Highway 32.

The project consists of a mill and hot bituminous pavement overlay, subcut, pipe replacements, widening, and riprap for the rural section.

A mill and hot bituminous pavement overlay, ADA ramps, and sidewalk replacement will be constructed through the urban section at Gwinner.

The meeting will provide an opportunity for the members of the public to ask questions. NDDOT representatives will be present to answer questions.

FARRMS named finalist for $50,000 donation (FF)

MEDINA, N.D. – FARRMS, a foundation for sustainability located in Medina, has been selected as a finalist in the Tom’s of Maine “50 States for Good” program and now has a chance to win up to $50,000 in support of a community project that will provide five communities with funds and volunteers to build school gardens.

The public vote will determine six winning organizations. The organization with the most votes will receive $50,000, while the five additional programs will each receive $20,000.

To vote, visit www.Facebook.com/TomsofMaine before Oct. 9.

Fatal accidents claim lives of Climax, Casselton men

Victims of fatal crashes identified (GFH)

Victims of separate fatal vehicle accidents Saturday night have been identified.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol reports that Alexander Knutson, 26, of Climax, Minn., died in a one-vehicle accident at 11:40 p.m. Saturday.

Police said he was driving a 2005 GMC pickup westbound on Traill County 21 about 9 miles east of Buxton, N.D., when the vehicle left the road and entered the north ditch, where it rolled.

Knutson, who was ejected from the vehicle, was found by another passing motorist. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Less than an hour earlier, a 40-year-old man from Casselton, N.D., is was killed in a one-vehicle accident on Interstate 94, two miles west of West Fargo.

The Highway Patrol identified the victim as Jeremy Rader, 40, of Casselton, N.D.

According to the police report, Rader was driving a KIA Sedona westbound on I-94 when the vehicle entered the median, hit a drainage ditch/coulee, and went airborne, striking a concrete embankment.

Witnesses and first responders removed the driver from the vehicle to perform first aid. However, he died at the scene, police said. After the victim was removed from the vehicle, the KIA caught fire and burned.

South Dakota

Parents file suit over day care death (DR)

MITCHELL, S.D. — The parents of a 3-month-old infant who died after allegedly being attacked by another child at an in-home day care in rural Mitchell are suing the day care’s owner.

Amy Ruml and Donald Howard, the parents of the late Brooklyn Howard, filed a lawsuit Aug. 31 against Lacey Marie Tebay. Brooklyn died June 19 while she was at a day care Tebay operated at her home.

Ruml and Howard claim Tebay failed to properly care for Brooklyn, left her alone in a room with as many as seven other children and then ignored her cries when one of those other children, a 5-year-old, allegedly attacked her.

Ruml and Howard are requesting a jury trial to determine what damages they may be owed by Tebay as a result of the incident, and have also asked to be reimbursed for the cost of the lawsuit.

Tags: news, accidents, crime, minnesota