Sheriff: SCAM involving phony emergency messages

      

Beltrami County Sheriff Phil Hodapp advises residents need to be aware of the latest scam making the rounds of communities.  According to information received from a daily debriefing sponsored by Homeland Security, senior citizens in central Minnesota have been targeted in a burglarizing scam.  Police report that victims receive a phone call to respond immediately to the local hospital emergency room where someone has allegedly been taken for serious injuries. Authorities believe that the callers are trying to lure the citizens from their homes in order to burglarize them after they have left.  Our citizens are advised to call the hospital, if they receive such a call, prior to rushing to the scene in order to assure such phone calls are real and to notify local law enforcement of any such incidents.    Information gathered from caller ID, if available, would be especially helpful to officers in tracing such calls.  Call 218-333-9111 or toll free, 1-888-449-9111 if you receive such a call. 

Sheriff Phil Hodapp  

Road Construction on Main Park Drive/Wilderness Drive in Itasca State Park.

As traffic has increased, so has the need for improved roads in Itasca State Park. Starting the week of August 9, 2010, road construction will begin on Main Park Drive within Itasca State Park. Phase I will include Main Park Drive along the east side of Lake Itasca from the North Entrance and going south to the Clearwater/Hubbard County Line (near the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center). Phase II, which includes work along Wilderness Drive, will occur after the Main Park Drive section is completed and will be weather dependent.

Public access to certain sections of the park will be carefully controlled along the construction routes. Some areas will be closed to access and portions of the road will be closed as construction work is underway. Visitors will be rerouted through and around the park as the different phases of the project get underway.  Please observe road closure signs and detour routes during the construction. Please be patient with the minor delays as the culverts are replaced and the road is resurfaced.

Although the construction will be inconvenient during the various stages of construction, we hope the improved condition of the road will make future visits more enjoyable while maintaining the scenic nature of this road.

Additional updates will be posted as the project progresses. Visitors in the park can stop at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center or Douglas Lodge for updated postings.


Connie Cox, Lead Park Naturalist
Itasca State Park
36750 Main Park Drive
Park Rapids, MN 56470
Constance.Cox@state.mn.us
218-699-7259