Incident at Blackduck High School results in arrest

On Wednesday, September 28, 2011, Blackduck Police and the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office responded to a call for assistance from the Blackduck High School regarding a threat made by a juvenile student.  The juvenile made statements to witnesses suggesting they shouldn't come to school because the juvenile planned to attack people at the school.  As soon as school authorities became aware of the threat they contacted law enforcement which triggered an investigation by police and school officials.  This investigation resulted in the immediate arrest of a juvenile student who had initiated the threats.

The Blackduck Police Department, Beltrami County Sheriff's Deputies and school officials believe the arrest resolved any potential threat or danger to any of the students in the school district from this threat.

Sheriff Phil Hodapp

Submitted by:
Mrs. Beryl Wernberg
911 Supervisor/Emergency Management Director
Beltrami County Sheriff's Office
Bemidji MN  56601
218-333-8320 (office)   218-755-9322 (fax)
beryl.wernberg@co.beltrami.mn.us<mailto:beryl.wernberg@co.beltrami.mn.us>
Pager 218-759-7560 or 218-333-9111

Road notices - State/City of Bemidji

City of Bemidji:

Starting on Monday, September 26, 2011 at 7 AM  through Friday, September 30, 2011 Birchmont Drive NE will be closed for underground utility work. Access to Diamond Point Park will be from the north or just to the south of 19th Street. Contact City Hall if any questions.

The Roosevelt Rd SE project will continue to be closed until completion (from Lake Ave SE to Hwy 197).  Weather is definitely a determining factor.

State of Minnesota:

If you are traveling south on Interstate 94-

Beginning at 8 a.m., on Sunday, September 25, motorists will encounter delays on westbound Interstate 94 just west of Highway 24 in Clearwater when Xcel Energy crews string wires across the Interstate as part of the CAPX2020 program.     State Patrol troopers will be on both eastbound and westbound lanes of I-94 to provide a rolling roadblock to assist travelers through the work zone.  Motorists should expect to slow down and take direction from troopers working in the area. Work is expected to take approximately four hours to complete, weather permitting.    

 
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

Burning Ban in Bemidji Area - Update

From the DNR Forestry division-

FYI -  Until further notice,  ALL burning has been shut down for Bemidji Area.    Heads up for windy conditions.

Just an update- and to clarify on the burning ban- campfires in specific campfire rings are still allowed but no other burning in all of Beltrami County. With the dry conditions and windy weather we encourage our citizens to refrain from any type of burning.

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

Gas leak causes evacuation of 2 block area in Bemidji

At 7:16 AM on Tuesday, September 6, 2011, a 6" natural gas pipe was struck during construction causing a 1" feed line to break loose, and subsequent leak,  at the intersection of 12th St NW and Park Ave NW.   In order to assure safety for all citizens and homeowners a 2 block area has been evacuated on Park Ave NW between 11th St NW and 14th St NW (there is no 1300 block on Park Ave) .  Officers from the Bemidji Police Department evacuated homes in that area.  Minnesota Energy is on scene and advises the repair should be complete in 1 1/2 to 2 hours.  Motorists should carefully observe barricades in place and stay away from the area until further notice.

 

Residents gave their contact information to the officers as they evacuated and will be contacted by us when it is safe to return. If you are a resident who had already left your home this morning be advised that questions regarding the status of your natural gas will be addressed by calling MN Energy at 1-800-889-9508.

 

On scene to assist was the City of Bemidji Public Works, Bemidji Police Department, Minnesota Energy, Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, Bemidji Ambulance, Bemidji Fire and Citizens Patrol.

 

Any new information and/or notice of repairs completed will be sent as soon as the situation is resolved.

Wrong Way Driver Causes Serious Accident Beltrami County

A wrong-way driver in a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV caused a head-on crash on Highway 2, just East of the Eckles Rd. intersection at approximately 8:40 PM.  Beltrami County Sheriff's Office began receiving 911 calls from citizens reporting the Tahoe driving southbound in the northbound lanes approximately 4 miles north of Bemidji.  The dispatch center received at least 15 calls reporting the driver as he progressed from 89 onto Highway 2, going east in the westbound lanes. 

The driver ran numerous vehicles off the road before striking a westbound vehicle and then crashing head-on into a second westbound vehicle.  A Beltrami County Deputy responding to the complaints also struck the vehicles which were blocking the westbound lanes of highway 2.  The driver and passenger in the second vehicle struck by the suspect were severely injured and transported to Sanford Health ER.  The passenger was Life Flighted to Fargo.  The Beltrami County Deputy was treated at the ER and released.

The suspect in this case was arrested and is being held at the Beltrami County Jail on Criminal Vehicular Operation Charges.  Names are being withheld pending notification of family members.

The investigation is being conducted by the Minnesota State Patrol with assistance from Beltrami County Sheriff's Office.  Questions should be directed to the State Patrol at 1-218-681-0942.

Submitted by:

 

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

 

 

 

Beltrami County Fugitive Arrested

On Thursday morning, August 18, 2011, Lucas Wayne French, 29, was arrested by South Dakota DCI Special Agents and Brookings, SD, Police Officers on an Escape Charge from Beltrami County.  French was being held at the Beltrami County jail on assault charges and maltreatment of a child, stemming from an incident involving sword fighting on July 12, 2011 in rural Beltrami County. 

 

French had been given "Huber" (work release) privileges by the court and was working at a local business when he left on a break and didn't return to work.  It was discovered that French had also taken money from his employer before disappearing.   French's companion Carmen Faye Monroe, 31, of Bemidji, was arrested in South Dakota on Charges of Aiding and Abetting the escape.  French and Monroe left Bemidji with two children who they did not have legal custody of and these children were recovered unharmed by the police.

 

French was located by Beltrami County Sheriff's Investigators with assistance from several law enforcement agencies including the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Brookings, SD Police and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.

 

Sheriff Phil Hodapp

Beltrami County Sheriff's Office

 

Submitted by:

 

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

 

 

 

 

Change to signal lights at junction of Hwy 71 and Hwy 2 south of Bemidji starting today- and change to the roadway

            The construction continues from the junction of Hwy 2 and Hwy 71 south of Bemidji to the county line of Hubbard and Beltrami. 

Today, August 3, 2011, Wednesday there will be temporary stop signs set up in lieu of stoplights.   These will be in place while construction crews switch the driving lane from the old Hwy 71 to the new lane on Hwy 71.  As soon as the switch is accomplished temporary stoplights will be in place until such time as both lanes are up and running.

Use caution and drive slowly through this area.

 

 

 

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