REGIONAL BRIEFS: 7 charged in methadone investigation

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From the Forum Communications News Bureau

Minnesota

7 charged in methadone investigation

CLOQUET, Minn. -- Seven people were charged Wednesday with selling drugs — mostly methadone — after a four-month-long investigation culminated in their arrest Monday.

It would have been eight arrests, according to the Cloquet Police Department, except that one woman died of an accidental drug overdose before the investigation was complete.

According to one criminal complaint, the undercover investigation began in August after Cloquet detectives learned that an individual, identified as Susan Topping, was “routinely selling her methadone pills in the community.”

Over the next 90 days, the undercover informant made 14 different purchases from Topping, which added up to a total of 213 methadone pills.

Susan Fredonia Topping, 52, of Cloquet was charged with felony first-degree sale of a controlled substance.

(DNT)

Mining approved on U of M land

ROSEMOUNT, Minn. -- Years of work culminated Tuesday night in the Rosemount City Council’s approval of a series of actions to allow Dakota Aggregates to mine nearly 900 acres of property owned by the University of Minnesota in southeast Rosemount.

Among the actions was approval of a large-scale mining permit for the company. The company plans to begin mining what is known as the UMore Park property in 2013.

Plans call for Dakota Aggregates to mine the land, over the next 40 years. The company is a partnership between Cemstone Products and Ames Construction. In total the company will mine 1,700 acres of the UMore Park property.

(RTP)

Perham dairy pays pollution fine

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. – Bongards’ Creameries has paid a fine of $79,069 to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and taken corrective actions following an investigation into a complaint related to spray-irrigation of facility wastewater in 2011.

In March 2011, an inspection by MPCA staff upheld a complaint the facility was spray-irrigating wastewater at sites covered with snow in violation of its permit. The inspection also found levels of wastewater within the facility’s wastewater lagoons that were excessive – near the top of the lagoon dikes.

During subsequent visits to the facility and meetings with facility staff, the MPCA learned wastewater from three different sources had been discharged with cooling water from the facility to Perham’s storm sewer system. The facility’s permit allows cooling water to be discharged to the storm sewer, but not the other three types.

In addition to paying the fine, the company has completed several corrective actions to prevent excessive buildup of wastewater in its treatment ponds and ensure that all sources of wastewater from the facility are treated according to permit requirements.

(FF)

Woman gets White House invite

WORTHINGTON, Minn. — For three weeks during the height of the campaign season, Democratic political activist Deb Hogenson of Brewster took time off work to knock on doors and encourage people to get out and vote. She spends countless hours volunteering to promote democratic candidates and has a passion not just for politics, but for history.

So when an invitation arrived in her mailbox in mid-November to attend a Christmas party at the White House, Hogenson was thrilled to have an opportunity to visit such an historic site and again be in the same room as President Barack Obama.

Nominated by a fellow volunteer in the Obama Minnesota campaign, Hogenson and a guest — her husband, Douglas Bauman, accompanied her — were invited to a reception in the East Wing of the White House on Dec. 12. For three hours, they could roam the halls and rooms of the East Wing, share in conversation with other invited guests and catch a glimpse of the president and first lady Michelle Obama as they descended the staircase and entered the Grand Foyer.

“We dramatically increased voter turnout in Worthington, and it was that work that was being recognized,” Hogenson said of her invitation to the White House. “We worked hard at increasing civic involvement with the hope it would lead to Democrat votes.”

(DG)

North Dakota

Tips lead to arrest in bank robbery

FARGO – With the help of more than 40 tips from the public, police arrested a suspect Wednesday in the Monday robbery of a south Fargo bank.

Timothy Patrick McKenna, 54, a Fargo man with no permanent address, was arrested by police at 2 p.m., Chief Keith Ternes said in a press conference.

McKenna is awaiting charges for robbery, after he allegedly entered Gate City Bank at 1501 S. University Drive on Monday, indicated he had a gun and demanded cash.

Following the arrest, Ternes credited Fargo investigators, the local FBI office, quality video footage provided by the bank and an outpouring of tips with the quick arrest.

(FF)

Autism task force to meet Jan. 3

BISMARCK – The Autism Spectrum Disorder Task Force will meet from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 3 by the use of video conference sites.

Fargo-area residents interested in participating can meet in the Red River Room of the Southeast Human Service Center, 2624 9th Ave. S.

Agenda items include discussion on the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction’s survey to special education units, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders changes as it relates to autism and the upcoming legislative session.

For more information, call (800) 755-2719 or visit tinyurl.com/b5q45wg.

(FF)

Public invited to ND Inaugural Celebration

BISMARCK – All North Dakotans are invited to attend the Governor’s Inaugural Celebration from 6 p.m. to midnight Jan. 11 at the Civic Center, 315 S. 5th St. The theme is “Creating our Future, Together” and will highlight the many ways that North Dakotans have and will work together to enhance the state’s economy, education system and quality of life.

The event is free and open to the public. Formal attire is optional.

(FF)

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