Cottonwood County Sheriff’s Office reported 30 calls in the week of March 2nd to March 8th. Deputies conducted 10 Civil Processes, assisted the ambulance 3 times for Medical, served 1 warrant, and conducted 5 Traffic Stops. A full listing of all calls in the Cottonwood County Sheriff’s Office Weekly Citizens Report is available by clicking the link below.
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News Director Steve Jurrens of KXLG Radio in Watertown, South Dakota reported on Monday that 40-year-old Francisco Javier Mendez of Mountain Lake was sentenced to 14 years in Federal Prison for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. U.S. District Judge Roberto A Lange imposed the sentence on Mendez back on February 24, 2025. Jurrens went onto say in his report, in addition to the prison term, Mendez was sentenced to 5 years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Victims Fund. A federal grand jury initially indicted Mendez in June 2024 on charges of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. He subsequently pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge on November 22, 2024.
The case stems from a June 18, 2023, traffic stop in Thayer County, Nebraska. During the stop, law enforcement officers discovered Mendez, a passenger in the vehicle, was concealing approximately 1,359 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Mendez admitted to law enforcement that he and the driver were traveling back to South Dakota after purchasing the methamphetamine in Wichita, Kansas. Mendez confessed they intended to distribute the drugs on reservations within South Dakota. He further revealed that he and the driver had made a similar trip just weeks prior, during which they acquired an additional three pounds of methamphetamine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce served as the prosecutor in this case.
Mendez was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service following his sentencing.
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Today’s Meetings include:
The Windom Planning Commission at 7pm. The agenda calls for three Public Hearings to begin the meeting. Two on Zoning Applications for Conditional Use Permit for a Short-term Rental Property on Douglas Street and an Addition of Fill Applicant: City of Windom-Island Park- Proposed Permanent Berm. The 3rd Hearing is for the proposed New City Code Section 120.01-120.20- Cannabis and Hemp Businesses.
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New security requirements are changing for domestic flights, visiting certain Federal Facilities and entering nuclear power plants. According to the Department of Security on May 7, 2025, U.S. travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities. A REAL ID is a driver’s license or Identification Card marked with a star in the upper right-hand corner of said ID. Anyone 18 years and older that plans to fly domestically or visit certain Federal Facilities will need a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification such as a Passport, Global Entry Card, or US Military ID Card to pass through airport security. According to Department of Security, Secure driver’s licenses and identification documents are a vital component of our national security framework. DHS/TSA are committed to enforcing the REAL ID Act. According to Cottonwood County Recorder, Susan Horkey if you don’t see the star you can upgrade your license or ID by contacting the Cottonwood County Recorder’s Office at 507-831-1458 or you can visit drive.mn.gov for more information.
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