Free Well Water Testing May 31st

The Beltrami County Environmental Services Department and Soil & Water
Conservation District (SWCD), in partnership with the Minnesota
Department of Agriculture (MDA), will offer a free nitrate
water-testing clinic at the Frohn Town Hall this Thursday May 31 from
3:00 PM - 8:00 PM. The Frohn town hall is located at 8769 Roosevelt RD
SE (about 4 miles east of Bemidji).

Nitrates are the most common contaminants in Minnesota's groundwater,
and in some areas of the state a significant number of wells have high
nitrate levels. With that in mind, experts recommend that private
well owners who get their drinking water from wells should test their
water regularly.

To participate in the testing, homeowners are asked to bring at least
one-half cup of water in preferably a clean plastic or clean glass
container. To get a good sample, allow the tap to run 5 to 10 minutes
before filling the container. Homeowners with distillation units,
reverse osmosis or other nitrate removal systems should take two water
samples - one before and one after the treatment process. This will
determine if the system is working. Homeowners with just a water
softener need to take one sample, either before or after the water
passes through the water softener.

Samples should be taken no more than 24 hours before the testing and
must be kept refrigerated prior to testing. To ensure accurate
results, homeowners should mark the container with their name, phone
number and a well identification number if more than one well is
sampled. Homeowners who wish to remain anonymous should choose an
easily recognized "code number" to identify their sample. It is not
necessary to provide information about the well or well location.

Samples will be analyzed on the spot - the process usually takes less
than five minutes - and results will be given directly to the
homeowner. If the nitrate level in a sample is elevated, clinic staff
can refer the homeowner to certified labs that will retest the water.
For questions about the clinic or how to take a water sample contact
Brent Rud at the Beltrami County Environmental Services Department at
333-4159.

Burning Cross Bias Crime Beltrami County

On May 25, 2012 at approximately 12:40 AM, Beltrami County Sheriff's
Office was notified of a citizen's call regarding a burning cross in
the reporting party's yard in Northern Township.  Officers responded
to the scene and interviewed the victim who was home alone at the time
and spotted a single individual fleeing on foot from the area of the
burning cross.  The citizen had doused the flames prior to deputy's
arrival.  Deputies discovered a racist message and other racist
artifacts on the cross and began investigating the scene for further
clues.

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office is investigating the case as a
Bias Crime.  Sheriff Phil Hodapp asks anyone who may have information
regarding this crime is asked to call the Beltrami County Sheriff's
Office at 218-333-9111 or toll free 1-888-449-9111.

LIGHTNING STRIKE CAUSES SIREN MALFUNCTION

MAY 19, 2012

Thunderstorms moving through the Bemidji area at approximately 1:15AM
on May 19th, 2012 resulted in a lightning strike very close to an
outdoor warning siren located on Mill St NE which caused a malfunction
of the outdoor warning siren network in the City of Bemidji.  Beltrami
County Communications Officers were notified by residents in that area
the sirens sounded immediately following a lightning strike near Mill
St NE.  Communications Officers immediately turned off the sirens, but
the sirens did sound for a couple of minutes before the cancellation
message was received.  Dozens of calls were received to the Beltrami
County 911 Dispatch Center inquiring on the sirens.  At the time of
the malfunction there was widespread cloud to ground lightning and
areas of downpours.  No severe weather warnings were in effect.

As a reminder, under normal circumstances the outdoor warning sirens
are intended to provide warning to people outdoors in emergency events
to find a source of additional information and seek shelter if
appropriate.  These warnings include severe thunderstorm warnings with
damaging winds, tornado warnings, or other emergency situations.  In
weather emergencies, good sources for additional information include
commercial radio and television, the internet, and NOAA All Hazards
Radio.

Sirens are routinely tested during Severe Weather Awareness Week, as
well as the first Wednesday of the month at 1:00pm during the summer
months.








~Christopher Muller
Assistant Emergency Management Director /
911 Communications Team Leader /
Law Enforcement Center TAC

Beltrami County Sheriff's Office
613 Minnesota Ave NW
Bemidji, MN 56601
ph.218-333-8386
chris.muller@co.beltrami.mn.us

Say goodbye to burning permits for today

From the DNR Forestry folks:

DNR has shut down all burning permits in South Beltrami, North Cass,
Clearwater, Mahnomen, Polk, and Red Lake counties for today (Thursday
May 17, 2012) due to high winds. Variances will be allowed in Hubbard
County.

Say goodbye to the burning permits for today-  too much wind.

MNDOT construction and road update - Hwy 197/Hwy 71 S -note starts Tuesday May 15

Permanent pavement markings on Highway 197/71 begins Tuesday, May 15

BEMIDJI, Minn. – Motorists in the Bemidji area will encounter some
minor delays as crews install the final ground-in pavement markings on
Highway 197 and Highway 71 from Carr Lake Road south to County Road 2.

The work begins Tuesday, May 15, and is expected to be completed May 22.

The permanent pavement markings were delayed because of last year's
state government shutdown.

Motorists are advised to be alert for slow moving equipment and
possible lane closures.


Mrs. Beryl Wernberg
911 Supervisor/Emergency Management Director
Beltrami County Sheriff's Office
Bemidji MN  56601

Man indicted for the armed robbery of a Bemidji convenience store

MINNEAPOLIS—A federal indictment unsealed late yesterday charges a 21-year-old man

with the December 30, 2011, armed robbery of Newby's Market in Bemidji. The indictment,

which was filed on April 3, 2012, charges Jason Lee King, no known address, with one count of

interference with commerce by robbery, pursuant to the Hobbs Act; one count of using,

carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; one count of

being a felon in possession of a firearm; and one count of possession of an unregistered sawedoff

shotgun. The indictment was unsealed following King's initial appearance in federal court.

The indictment alleges that on December 30, 2011, King stole approximately $1,476 from

the store while threatening a store clerk with a 12-gauge, sawed-off shotgun, which had a barrel

of less than 18 inches. According to a law enforcement affidavit filed in the case, the market

was robbed just before 9:00 p.m. by two masked men armed with a shotgun and a knife. After

the robbery, the men fled in a blue pickup. In responding to the robbery, officers spotted the

truck. The two men were abandoning it and fleeing into the woods. King and a juvenile male

were ultimately found and taken into custody. Officers recovered the loaded shotgun in the

wooded area, along the route the men had taken. Inside the pickup truck, police found $1,420 in

cash, a black ski mask, several Newby's Market receipts, and a check made out to Newby's

Market.

Because he is a felon, King is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or

ammunition at any time. His prior convictions—all in 2009 in Beltrami County—included

kidnapping to facilitate flight and two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous

weapon.

The Hobbs Act, passed by Congress in 1946, allows federal prosecutors to prosecute

violent, habitual criminals who commit armed robbery in places of business involved in

interstate commerce. Federal prosecution of these cases is sometimes beneficial since the

penalties are often tougher than under state law. Furthermore, because the federal system has

no parole, those who receive federal sentences serve virtually their entire sentence behind bars.

If convicted in the current federal case, King faces a potential maximum penalty of life in

prison for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, 20 years for the interference with

commerce by robbery, ten years for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and ten years for

possession of an unregistered shotgun counts. All sentences will be determined by a federal

district court judge.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office and the

United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Paulsen.

###

An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have

been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is

proven guilty at trial.