Mountain Lake Police Department reported they had 10 calls from October 2nd to the 8th. An officer responded to a residence with a carbon monoxide alarm going off, the family was out of the house and the fire department was called. Officers arrested a 52-year-old female from Washington for Domestic Assault and False Imprisonment. An officer made a traffic stop to check the welfare of the passengers everyone checked out okay. There was a dog at large call and Mt Lake Police assisted other agencies with a driving complaint an officer made a vehicle stop and everything was okay. Officers issued two separate Ordinance violation warnings and responded to a possible fire that turned out to be a legal burn of leaves.
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Jackson County Sheriff’s Office reported on the 10th deputies responded to an alarm at a business in Heron Lake, handled a disturbance between an employer and employee that had been terminated and assisted the Heron Lake Ambulance with a medical call. Dispatch transferred a 911 report of a vehicle that rearended a grain cart on US 71 south of Jackson.
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I am going to take a minute and give a heads up!
It is Harvest Season. Please be on alert and take into consideration that there are a lot of farm vehicles out and about BE patient and aware, just because you see them, doesn’t mean that they see you. PUT YOUR PHONES DOWN and pay attention. I cannot believe how many people are STILL driving with a phone in hand! NO LIE… we were driving down the road and a kid in a pickup truck started drifting over the centerline and into my lane… We had to swerve into the other lane to avoid a head on collision. It didn’t even phase him when he looked up and saw that he was in the oncoming lane. He just swerved back into his lane and went back to his phone. With Harvest Season in full swing distracted driving is going to be even more deadly. Parents PLEASE talk to your kids about NO PHONES ON WHILE DRIVING. To all you adults that think you HAVE to take that message or text and reply… IT CAN WAIT!!!! PUT DOWN THE PHONES people…. It just takes a split second to have a life altering moment.
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Windom Area Health held a Recognition Night on the 5th. The night was dedicated to celebrating their employees’ milestones, board and committee members, volunteers, and community partners. One employee, Jody Saffert, received a standing ovation in honor of celebrating 45 years of dedicated service to Windom Area Health. Saffert was riddled during the entertainment by comedian C. Willis Myles for all that she had seen coming and going in her long reign at Windom Area Health. Myles congratulated her by saying there is no way now, that you have to worry about being let go… YOU ARE the Hospital. Congratulations to Jody Saffert for your dedicated service you are appreciated and amazing.
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The Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell Ringing Campaign is gearing up to have a successful year. Believe it or not, but Kettles will be out in your communities in four short weeks! Salvation Army Southwest MN Field Representative Kim Schwich is excited to announce that people can now go online to sign up for bell ringing times. By going to www.registertoring.com you can choose to ring as an individual, group/organization or even do a virtual bell ringing campaign. It is easy, all you do is go to the website, click which category you want. Select your city of choice and it will show you locations available to ring. Then you select your perfect dates you wish to ring!!! It is that easy! If you are needing more information or help there are phone numbers listed for Cottonwood, Jackson, Nobles, Rock, Redwood and Murray Counties listed on KDOM’s website today, under Local Headline News.
Cottonwood County 507 -841-3455
Jackson County 507 847-2632
Nobles County 507 326-6571
Rock County 507-326 6571
Redwood County 507 637 2187
Murray County 507 836 8705
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Coming up on Friday the 13th as a part of the 2023 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener, the public is invited to attend a celebration of new public hunting land in Steele County at 4:30pm.
MN DNR Release:
The public is invited to attend a celebration of new public hunting land in Steele County at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 13, as part of the 2023 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener. The ceremony celebrates approximately 40 acres added to Somerset Wildlife Management Area, located southwest of Owatonna.
The ceremony will include comments from local dignitaries, conservationists, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Sarah Strommen, Explore Minnesota Director Lauren Bennett McGinty and other local leaders.
“As many fellow hunters will agree, it’s hard to beat fall on the prairies of southern Minnesota and I’m excited about the outdoor opportunities this addition to the Somerset Wildlife Management Area will provide throughout the year,” said DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen. “I’m grateful to the people and partners who help conserve and steward these lands for the benefit of Minnesotans and visitors alike.”
Bisected by the Straight River, Somerset WMA was an early part of Minnesota’s suite of public lands, dating back to the “Save the Wetlands” Program of the 1950s in Minnesota. It was created in 1957 and dubbed “WMA #157.” It was later named for a nearby township. Somerset WMA has grown to more than 400 acres thanks to work from local groups. Acquisition and habitat work has continued over the years because of groups like Minnesota Pheasants, Inc., the Izaak Walton League, Pheasants Forever, Wild Turkey Federation and Ducks Unlimited.
“We’re fortunate to have so many groups come together to benefit conservation lands,” said Glenda Smith, the director of conventions and tourism for Visit Owatonna. “We appreciate the recreational opportunities provided by special places like Somerset WMA”
Somerset WMA is known for its diverse habitat and resulting diversity of species. Somerset WMA protects a natural floodplain, oxbow wetlands and lowland hardwoods near the confluence of Turtle Creek and the Straight River. Further upland, it has oaks, grasslands and brushland that provide habitat for deer, small game, pheasants and turkeys among other species.
“The benefit of this land goes beyond wildlife habitat and recreational hunting and fishing,” Owatonna Area Wildlife Manager Jeanine Vorland said. “Somerset WMA provides natural floodplain along the Straight River and Turtle Creek and helps maintain water quality in Steele County. We’re very fortunate for the conservation-minded leaders who established the ‘Save the Wetlands’ program and subsequent programs like the Reinvest In Minnesota and Outdoor Heritage Funds to protect sensitive areas like Somerset WMA.”
The parcel is located southwest of Owatonna in Steele County. The wildlife management area has limited parking, so members of the public are strongly encouraged to use bussing that is provided at the Steele County Fairgrounds. Bus routes will begin at 3:45 that day.
The celebration is part of the 2023 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener. Gov. Walz leads the weekend festivities, which feature many hunting, recreational and travel opportunities Owatonna has to offer visitors.
As the Steele County seat, Owatonna is situated at the junction of Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 14 and has a population of 26,402. Steele County has strong ties to agriculture and has a skilled and diverse workforce thanks to a high concentration of manufacturing jobs. Steele County also outpaces the nation in the percentage of finance and insurance jobs.
Explore Minnesota and the Minnesota DNR are assisting Visit Owatonna in planning the event.
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