Bethany Wesley
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A Bemidji woman has been charged with felony fleeing police in a motor vehicle, misdemeanor obstructing the legal process and misdemeanor reckless driving. Shannon Karleen Nelson, 35, of Bemidji, was charged this week in Otter Tail County District Court, according to the county attorney's office. Nelson led several law enforcement agencies on a high-speed chase that began shortly after 8:30 p.m. in Menahga in Wadena County, according the Wadena County Attorney Kyra L. Ladd.
While the Legislature will convene today for a special legislative session, the Bemidji City Council is disappointed that it won't address the previously vetoed budget bill. The vetoed bill included an additional $428,000 in Local Government Aid for Bemidji. The City Council has bemoaned the loss of those funds since, saying that it will drive up the local tax levy for residents. Had the city secured that funding, councilors likely would have supported no levy increase for 2008.
For people with vision problems, Aladdin may be able to grant them their wish - reading the newspaper. An Aladdin machine, produced by Telesensory, assists those with low vision by magnifying the print in a newspaper, magazine or book as it displays the words in much-larger type on a screen similar to a computer monitor. An Aladdin machine was recently installed at the Kitchigami Regional Library in Bemidji. "The enlarging device is just a wondering tool," said Branch Manager Paul Ericsson. The Aladdin is now set up near the back of the library near its display of periodicals such as magaz
Andrew Krumrey, 18, of Bemidji, was charged on Thursday with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a victim under 13 years of age, a serious felony. He is accused of sexually assaulting two boys at a day-care center in Bemidji. According to the criminal complaint, the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office received a report on Sept. 4 from a man who said Krumrey sexually assaulted his boys at a Bemidji day care. During an interview with an investigator on Wednesday, one of the boys said Krumrey would occasionally be at the day-care center, the complaint said.
Prior to their deaths, Paul and Doris Warren both were suffering from medical problems, their family said on Thursday. The Warrens, both 86, were found dead in their rural Mahnomen County home on Monday. The Mahnomen County Sheriff's Office in a press release stated that their deaths were a murder-suicide. According to a statement released by their family on Thursday, Paul's actions were that of euthanasia. Doris had fallen and gotten a concussion which led to her needing brain surgery in 2005 and she then suffered from subsequent memory problems, the statement said.
The Bemidji Regional Airport remains closed as crews continue reconstruction of the main runway. The nine-day closure began on Wednesday. The airport will reopen for normal operation at 5 a.m. Sept. 14. The Bemidji Regional Airport has two runways. The primary runway, also referred to as 13/31, runs northwest to southeast. The secondary runway, known as the crosswind or 7/25, runs southwest to the northeast. The two runways intersect north of the airport terminal. The crosswind runway was reconstructed last year.
Mothers of young children who are looking for support and friendship may now turn to a local group. Mothers of Preschoolers, known as MOPS, is a nondenominational support group for mothers of children from birth to kindergarten-age. MOPS meets monthly at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month from September to May. Its first meeting of 2007-08 will be from about 6-8 p.m. on Sept. 13 at First Lutheran Church in Bemidji. MOPS meetings each month are planned to feature a speaker, discussion time and a craft project, according to coordinator Melissa Heglund. The theme for the Sept.
Mi casa es su casa. The Bemidji City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a proposal offering to house the Greater Bemidji Area Joint Planning Board offices in Bemidji City Hall at a rental rate of $12 per square foot with 3 percent annual increases during the lease term, which is proposed to be at least five years. Under the proposal, the city would pay for the JPB's heat, air-conditioning, electric, water and sewer, and also provide Internet service. The JPB would be able to use the city's phone system.
Is Bemidji becoming another Grand Rapids? Mayor Richard Lehmann, voicing opposition to a new signal light near the not-yet-existent Menards store, on Tuesday that Bemidji has developed too many traffic lights. "We're turning into Grand Rapids," he said. Menards will cover approximately 240,000 square feet and will be located on the former Spaulding Motors site on Paul Bunyan Drive Northwest, also known as State Highway 197. A traffic light will be constructed at the intersection of the Menards entrance and Highway 197. Lehmann said none of the city's traffic lights is correctly coordinate
Among notable action taken at the Bemidji City Council meeting Tuesday: BYAC update Jackie Hess, the vice president of the Bemidji Youth Advisory Commission, offered a summary of the 2006-07 year and presented the commission's goals for 2007-08, which include getting a skate park built in Bemidji. ACTION: No action necessary. Public expense policy The council considered adopting a chart that would outline whether an expense, such as a donation or fee waiver, would be legitimate. ACTION: On a 6-1 vote, the council voted down a motion that would have adopted the chart with amendments.