Culvert Meeting for Three Culverts Rd NE (Co Rd 307)- Public Meeting NOTICE

A meeting will be held by the Beltrami County Highway Department to discuss a proposed culvert replacement project on County Road 307 (Three Culverts Road).  The proposed project is planned for 2012 and will replace the culverts located at the Turtle River crossing.  The meeting will include representatives from the County, design engineers from Karvakko Engineering, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and any local individuals with interest.  The meeting is being held to listen to concerns and gather input prior to starting the design work.

The meeting will be held at the Beltrami County Highway Department, 2491 Adams Ave, Bemidji MN.  The meeting date is January 5th, 2012 at 7 pm.

FROM THE BELTRAMI COUNTY HWY DEPT
Bruce Hasbargen, County Engineer

Please contact us at 333-8173 if you have any questions.

Missing Teenager Located

UPDATE-  Jessica Thompson, the missing juvenile from Bemidji,  voluntarily appeared at the Law Enforcement Center in Bemidji tonight at 8:34 PM along with her boyfriend, Jarvis Lussier and his father, Jason Lussier from Red Lake.    The investigation continues into the events surrounding the incident from Wednesday night.  Please cancel the news release we sent out earlier.

 

Thank you to all of our citizens as well as the media for doing a great job of getting the word out and keeping us informed of any information pertinent to the case.  

 

Mrs. Beryl Wernberg

  911 Supervisor/Emergency Management Director

  Beltrami County Sheriff's Office

  613 Minnesota Ave NW

  Bemidji MN  56601

  218-333-8320 (Office)  218-755-9322 (Fax)

  www.co.beltrami.mn.us

 

Assistance Requested In Locating Missing Young Woman

Jessica Jolie Thompson, 16, was taken from a residence in the City of Bemidji by her boyfriend, Jarvis Lussier, 15, at 4:55 PM on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 (she indicated to friends she did not want to leave with Lussier).  She was last seen being led by the arm headed south on foot with Lussier in Westwood Mobile Home Park located in northwest Bemidji.  Thompson and Lussier have been dating for approximately a year. No history of domestics exist although the mother says Lussier has been "mean" to Thompson on occasion.  She has not been in contact with her mother since this incident.  Her mother filed a missing person report on her today at 10:15 AM. Possible destination is the Red Lake Reservation, somewhere in Bemidji or the Lac De Flambeau Reservation in Wisconsin.  The Bemidji Police Department continues to investigate this case with possible assault charges pending.  

We are asking for assistance from the public in locating Thompson.   Please notify the Beltrami County Law Enforcement Center at 218-333-9111 if you have information on or contact with Jessica Thompson. 

THREE ARRESTED IN DRIVE-BY SHOOTING INVESTIGATION

At 4:09 AM, on December 10, 2011, Beltrami County Sheriff's Office responded to a shots fired call in the 3100 block of Mill St NE in Bemidji Township.  Two bullets were fired into a residence from a high-powered rifle. 

The investigation revealed the shots had come from a vehicle on the roadway which was seen leaving the area by a witness.  Investigators recovered two slugs from the residence, one which had struck a mattress in a bedroom within the home.   Fortunately none of the occupants in the residence were struck by the gunfire.

Beltrami County Deputies and Investigators following up on the investigation quickly identified a suspect who is believed to have fired the shots into the home.  Deputies determined the victims in the case were witnesses in a Bemidji Police investigation in which Edward Michael Halvorson had crashed his vehicle in June of 2011 at the Green Mill Parking lot and was subsequently arrested for drunk driving.  That case was set for trial in the next few weeks and Edward Halvorson had recently learned the victims were to testify in his trial. The suspect and his parents were taken into custody late in the day on December 12, 2011. 

·         Edward Michael Halvorson, 37, Bemidji, is being held on charges of Felony drive-by shooting, Witness Tampering, and transferring a weapon to a person ineligible to possess a firearm. 

·         Darwyn Michael Halvorson, 71, Edward's father, was arrested for Aiding an Offender (Accomplice after the fact), Felon in possession of a Firearm and investigation of Possession of stolen Property.

·         Gretchen Catherine Swenson 63, Edward's mother, was arrested for Aiding and Offender (Accomplice after the fact)

The three suspects are currently in custody at the Beltrami County Jail.  The investigation is still underway and reports are being forwarded to the County Attorney's Office for charging consideration.

Sheriff Phil Hodapp

 

 

 

TWO RESCUED FROM ICE

        On Friday, December 2, 2011, at 10:06 AM, the Beltrami County Sheriff's 911 Center received a 911 call from a subject who was stranded, along with his fishing partner, on a piece of ice that had broken free and was floating approximately 3/10 of a mile off the south shore of Upper Red Lake north of Carsella's Landing (Sandberg Rd NE- 47 miles north of Bemidji in Shotley Township).  The pair had been fishing on 6 inches of ice however a southern wind had developed changing the ice structure. 

        Responding to the scene, or assisting with logistical support, were the Kelliher Fire Department, Kelliher First Responders, Red Lake Fire Department, Ponemah Fire Department, Bemidji Fire Department, Blackduck Ambulance, Blackduck Fire Department, U.S. Border Patrol, Department of Natural Resources conservation officer and Beltrami County Sheriff's deputies.  Air support, which was deploying from Winnipeg,  was cancelled due to success in rescue efforts.

        Wind gusts up to 20 mph hampered efforts to deploy boats.  In addition the wave action continued to erode the ice floe.  

        At 11:25 AM the Bemidji Fire hovercraft was able to reach the fishermen who were safely rescued and brought to shore.  The fisherman were identified as Scott Wherley and Josh Arhart from rural Beltrami County. No one was injured in the rescue effort.

         The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office wishes to recognize the efforts, on an especially cold and windy day,  made by every responding agency to assist in any way possible. Thank you.

Snowplowing Across County Roads in Beltrami County

Snowplowing Across County Roads

County residents are reminded that it is unlawful under Minnesota Statutes 160.2715, subdivision 5 to plow snow from driveways onto or across County Roads or into the public right-of-way.  Piles of snow left on or near the road can freeze into a solid mass or cause drifting, creating a hazardous situation for vehicles and may also impede the County's snow and ice removal process.  Accidents and damages caused by snow piles placed in the roadway may result in liability to the property owner. 

The Beltrami County Highway Department is asking residents to be mindful of the law and not create unnecessary hazards in our county roadways.

Please contact us at 333-8173 if you have any questions.  Thank you for your cooperation.  Bruce Hasbargen, County Engineer

New Bemidji Chief of Police Sworn In

Captain Mike Mastin will be sworn in to his new position and promotion as Chief of Police of the Bemidji Police Department today (Thursday) at 1:30 PM at the City of Bemidji City Hall (317 4th Street Northwest  Bemidji, MN )- please come and join us to celebrate this milestone in his career. Thank you. 

 

Mrs. Beryl Wernberg

911 Communications Supervisor/

                        Emergency Management Director

Beltrami County Sheriffs Office

613 Minnesota Ave NW

Bemidji, MN 56601

218-333-8320 or fax 218-755-9322

Pager:  218-759-7560

beryl.wernberg@co.beltrami.mn.us

"There is no path- follow your heart"