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| Back to: Home > Local News & Info > KRWC News Archives 2004 |
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| KRWC News 6/21/04 - 6/27/04 |
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Annexation Agreement OK'd by Monticello Council and Township Board
After months of negotiations and mediation, the City of Monticello and Monticello Township have reached an orderly annexation agreement. The City Council and the Monticello Township Board met separately Monday evening, with both voting unanimously to endorse the new agreement. After the city and township sign-off on the resolution, the state municipal boundary readjustment office will review the agreement. The office may offer comments, but cannot alter the terms. After state approval, the OAA will go into effect for a term of 15 years. Some of the main points of the agreement include designation of the boundaries for future annexations, setting triggering events for an annexation within the OAA, including a property-owner petition, land becoming completely surrounded by the city, or a failing septic system on a property. The agreement also calls for a Joint Planning Board to be assembled, made up of five members, two appointed by the township, two by the city, and one by the Wright County Board. Other terms of the agreement allow for a merger of the city and the township if both parties agree and/or 75 percent of the township as it currently exists is annexed into the city. Other requirements of the agreement include monetary reimbursement by the city to the township for areas annexed, and details a timetable under which the city would provide sewer and water service to newly-annexed areas. |
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Audrey Seiler to be Sentenced in Wisconsin Court Next Week
A college student from Rockford who staged her disappearance in Madison, Wisconsin earlier this year will be sentenced in a Dane County Court next week. A tentative plea agreement has reportedly been reached between prosecutors and attorneys for 20-year-old Audrey Seiler. Defense attorney Randy Hopper says Seiler will appear in court for sentencing related to two misdemeanor charges of obstructing police. The fake abduction case received national attention for several days in March when Seiler disappeared from her apartment prompting an intensive search by police and volunteers. When she was found, the UW-Madison sophomore said she had been kidnapped at knifepoint by a man who held her in a swampy area. She later confessed that the entire incident was fabricated. |
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Groups Join Forces to Fight Leading Health Risks
Three major health care groups are joining forces to fight disease. The American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, and the American Heart Association have joined together in a three-year public education campaign which will feature ads in English and Spanish on TV, radio, and in newspapers and magazines to promote disease prevention and screening. The groups are encouraging everyone to quit smoking, eat right, get active, and see their doctor. Officials with the three health organizations say that 1.5 million Americans die each year from cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and strokes. |
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Howard Lake Good Neighbor Days, Big Lake Spud Fest Continues
City celebrations continue today in two area communities. In Howard Lake, the 26th annual celebration of "Good Neighbor Days" moves ahead with plenty of activities. Sports tournaments will be held throughout the day, but most of the fun comes up tonight, with $1 root beer floats served from 4 to 8 PM, the burger and fries stand and the beer garden opening at 6 PM, KRWC's Road Show from 6 to 8 PM, the Howard Lake Orphans baseball tournament getting underway at 6:30 at Memorial Park, the Kiddie Parade at 7 PM, and from 8 to midnight, music under the tent from the band, "Detour." Meanwhile in Big Lake, its day two of the annual "Spud Fest." Event include the carnival from noon to midnight, bingo, a pork dinner, softball tournament, live music from "Brat Pack Radio" from 8 to midnight, and fireworks at dusk. The Spud Fest and Good Neighbor Days continue through Sunday. |
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I-94 Traffic Detours Near Clearwater Planned for Next Week
Drivers in our area should plan for some detours on a portion of I-94 near Clearwater next week. The St. Cloud office of Mn/DOT says work is scheduled for next week to remove the old Stearns County Highway 75 bridge to prepare for construction of a new interchange at that location. Weather permitting, the work will begin Monday night, when eastbound I-94 will be closed between the hours of 10 PM and 5 AM. Tuesday and Wednesday nights, the westbound lanes of I-94 will be closed as demolition work on the bridge continues. Traffic will be detoured via Stearns County Highway 75 between Minnesota Highway 24 in Clearwater and Stearns County Highway 75 in St. Augusta. Crews are expected to complete the bridge removal by early Thursday. Weather permitting, construction on the new interchange project is expected to be completed by the end of the 2004 construction season. |
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Minnesota Truckers to Help in AMBER Alert Program
The Minnesota Trucking Association has agreed to become part of the AMBER Alert system in the state. the AMBER plan is the state emergency system that disseminates information about a missing child in an abduction or suspected abduction case. Under a new agreement, trucking dispatch centers will receive information when an AMBER Alert is issued, and will pass the message along to drivers on the road. Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner Michael Campion says with the new component in place, truckers will be able to instantly join in a search for a child. Minnesota is just the fourth state in the nation to include the trucking industry in the AMBER plan. |
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Monticello Man Seriously Injured in Crash of Two Motorcycles
A Monticello man remains hospitalized in St. Cloud today after suffering serious injuries when two motorcycles collided in Sherburne County Monday night. Authorities say the crash happened around 9 PM in the 7000 block of County Road 62 in Haven Township. Officials say a motorcycle being driven by 31-year-old Nicholas Campbell of St. Joseph was apparently traveling eastbound and was trying to make a u-turn when he was struck broadside by another motorcycle driven by 21-year-old Gregory Kolles of Monticello. Kolles was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital, while Campbell was taken to St. Cloud Hospital by a private party for examination. The Sherburne County Sheriff's Department is continuing its investigation. |
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Monticello Nuclear Power Plant Off-Line for Repairs
Officials with NMC, the company which manages the Monticello Nuclear Power Plant in Monticello say the facility is off-line for repairs. The plant was reportedly taken off-line early Friday morning to replace a reactor recirculation pump mechanical seal. NMC officials say that other maintenance work will be done while the plant is off-line. The facility is expected to return to service as soon as the repairs are complete, though the company has given no timeline regarding when the plant will be back in operation. |
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Regional Churches Push For Traditional Marriage Amendment
17 churches from Wright, Carver and McLeod counties recently collected over 1000 signatures on a petition presented to lawmakers from Minnesota. The petition urges passage of an amendment to the U.S. constitution protecting traditional marriage. The petition outlines the churches' feelings that traditional marriage between a man and a woman is the foundation of the family and society. A federal constitutional amendment would supercede any individual state interpretation of legal marriage, though supporters of traditional marriage would also like to see the Minnesota legislature discuss a statewide referendum question which could amend the state constitution. The possibility did come up in regular session earlier this year, but no action was taken. In order for a Minnesota vote to be taken, it would have to be passed by the House and Senate in a special session. Local lawmakers in addition to U.S. House and Senate members from Minnesota have reportedly been presented with copies of the petition. |
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Robbery, Assault of Pizza Delivery Person Reported in Annandale
A young woman from Annandale was robbed and assaulted earlier this week while she was attempting to make a pizza delivery. Wright County Sheriff Gary Miller says 19-year-old Jolene Shepherd was making pizza deliveries for Jimmy 's Pizza around 9:20 Monday evening when a call for a delivery came from a new home construction site in Southside Township near Lake Sylvia. When Shepherd arrived with the delivery, she was restrained by two males, and bound with duct tape, while the suspects stole a money bag with a small amount of cash, and fled the scene in the woman's vehicle. The vehicle was recovered soon after the incident a short distance away from the scene. One of the suspects is reported as being a white male about 5 feet 10 inches tall with a heavier build. The man was reportedly wearing a white t-shirt and shiny blue basketball shorts. There is no description of the second suspect at this time. Anyone with information on the incident or the identity of the suspects should contact the Wright County Sheriff's Department immediately. |
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Several Car Thefts Reported Recently in Buffalo
The Buffalo Police Department says that a rash of vehicle thefts have been reported recently in the city. Police say the thefts have come from a variety of areas and under a wide range of circumstances from both homes and businesses. Authorities remind residents and business owners to remove keys, and lock all vehicles at night or whenever they are left unsupervised. |
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Spectacular Weather Leads to Record Crowds at 50th Buffalo Rodeo
Made-to-order weather plus the excitement of the activities surrounding the 50th annual Buffalo Rodeo helped to bring record attendance to the three performances through the weekend. Officials say the competition was exciting, and crowds were enthusiastic through the three-day event which celebrated its golden anniversary with numerous activities and events. Rodeo committee members say they continue to monitor the condition of an employee of Bob Barnes, longtime livestock contractor for the rodeo. Officials say Dave Moore of Ames, Iowa was injured at Saturday's rodeo performance. Moore was acting as a "pickup" man for the saddlebronc riding event. A "pickup" man is a rider on horseback who comes by to pick up riders after they've been thrown from the bucking horse. Moore's horse reportedly lost its footing, fell, and rolled over onto the man. Moore was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, where he is reported to be in serious condition. Moore has been employed with the Barnes company for over 30 years. |
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Wright County Man Sentenced in Fatal Drunk Driving Crash
A Wright County man was sentenced Tuesday to a year in the Hennepin County Workhouse and 10 years probation for his role in a fatal traffic crash late last year. 22-year-old Jason Reese of Albertville had a blood alcohol level of 0.13 December 30th when his car went out of control on northbound Interstate 494 near the Rockford Road exit in Plymouth, jumping the median and striking several oncoming vehicles, including a pickup driven by off-duty Scott County Sheriff's Deputy Jon Niemann of Prior Lake. Niemann died at the scene of the crash. Hennepin County District Court Judge Diana Eagon departed downward from the state's sentencing guidelines saying that nothing she could do could bring back a wonderful man, nor punish the defendant more than he is punishing himself. Reese will be required to take part in classes through Minnesotans for Safe Driving, or Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other groups once a month and describe the consequences of drinking and driving. |
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Wright County's Outstanding Seniors for 2004 Named
Wright County's Outstanding Senior Citizens for 2004 have been named. After a bit of a slow start in receiving nominations for the yearly honor, the final few weeks before the deadline produced a flurry of great nominees. This year's honored seniors are Cliff Hudek of Maple Lake, and Fran Fair of Monticello, with runners-up Russell Nelson of Monticello Township, and Evelyn Holland of Buffalo. Cliff Hudek is a charter and lifetime member of the Maple Lake VFW, and is a past Commander of the Post. He also is active in Maple Lake's Senior Connections group, the Maple Lake Community Theater, Silver Creek Sportsman's Club, and Wright County Car Club. Frances "Fran" Fair is a former Monticello City Council member, and a charter member of the Monticello Parks Commission. She currently volunteers at the Monticello-Big Lake Hospital, St. Henry's Catholic Church, St. Benedict's Senior Community Auxiliary, River City Readers story theater group, and the Monticello Community Partners. Evelyn "Evie" Holland served as the school nurse for District 877. Upon retirement, she continued volunteering with the Buffalo Lioness, Wright County Human Services and Head Start, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, and MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Russell Nelson is 88 years young, and still giving back to the community. Nelson was recently re-elected for another term on the Silver Creek Township Board of Directors. He has also served on the Creamery Board and State American Dairy Association Board. The Wright County Outstanding Seniors program recognizes the accomplishments and value of active seniors throughout the area, and salutes their knowledge, experience and skills. This year's Outstanding Seniors and Runners-Up will be honored Friday, June 30th at the Wright County Fair, and Cliff Hudek and Fran Fair will also be honored at the Minnesota State Fair, where they will be eligible for consideration as the Minnesota Outstanding Seniors of the year. |
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