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.

 

 

 

Sites with Northern Minnesota Emergency Weather Updates

In the spirit of Severe Weather Awareness week, here is a list from the Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office of sites that have electronic alerting services in Minnesota.

 

Be advised that  Beltrami County Emergency Management is in the process of reviewing the various vendors that offer Reverse 911 services which will allow us to use the nationwide IPAWS service (Integrated Public Alert and Warning Systems).  With this planned purchase of such a system we will be able to offer the ability for our citizens to receive phone, cell phone, internet and other electronic device updates or warnings of not only weather events but hazardous material incidents, suspects in an area or other safety related information.  Stay tuned for more on that purchase and mobilization coming soon.

 

The National Weather Service and many local media outlets offer electronic alerting services that provide email, RSS feeds or text messages to cell phones, computers or other devices, either directly or via services such as Facebook, Twitter or others. These messages are available by voluntary subscription and can provide local information on weather, including watches and warnings. The list below includes a sampling of various electronic alerting services in Minnesota:

• National Weather Service
• Weather.com
• Accuweather.com
• Emergency Email & Wireless Network:
• Channel 4000
• WCCO
• KARE11
• KSTP
• KMSP
• KAAL –TV
• KBJR6/Range 11
• WDAY – Fargo/Moorhead
• KELO – SW Minnesota

 

 

 

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

Pager 218-759-7560 or 218-333-9111

 

Beltrami County Participating in Minnesota Severe Weather Awareness Week April 16, 2012

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Management would like to remind our citizens this week is Minnesota Severe Weather Awareness Week.  Each day of the week has a specific hazard topic to allow our citizens to familiarize themselves of the potential impacts the severe and summer weather seasons pose in the northland.  Beltrami County will also be participating in two tornado drills on Thursday, April 19th, 2012.  Severe Weather Awareness Week is promoted by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

 

Monday, April 16th's hazard topic is Thunderstorms, Hail, Straight-line Winds, and Lightning.  Each spring and summer as warmer weather ushers into the state the threat of thunderstorms and associated weather impacts increase.  Thunderstorms are the result of several atmospheric conditions clashing together and develop as warm humid air rises and cooler air and precipitation falls towards the surface of the earth.  In certain cases these storms can become very violent and produce a variety of weather phenomenons including hail, lightning, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and torrential rains.  Hail causes over 1.5 billion dollars in damage annually in the United States.  Lightning strikes can kill instantly as well as spark structural fires or wildfires in dry conditions.  Thunderstorms can also spawn extreme wind events and even tornadoes.

 

Tuesday, April 17th's hazard is Severe Weather Warnings and the Emergency Alert System.  Anyone that has monitored a weather radio or commercial radio has heard the Emergency Alert System interrupt transmissions during severe weather.  Normally proceeded by a screeching beep followed by a tone, the EAS is designed to cut into broadcasts in a timely manner to relay important emergency information, including severe weather announcements.  There are a number of emergency weather messages that are broadcast over the EAS, including Severe Thunderstorm Watches and Warnings as well as Tornado Watches and Warnings.  Remember the difference between Watches and Warnings… Watches mean conditions are favorable for the development of the specified hazard, and warnings mean it is occurring or immanent.

 

Wednesday, April 18th's hazard is Floods and Flash Flooding.  Floods are the result of excess precipitation causing waterways to rise over their normal levels.  Obstructions in river flow can also cause rising waters and floods.  Flash floods are particularly dangerous because of their rapid development.  Normally the result of torrential or prolonged heavy rainfall, flash floods can develop with very little warning.  Never drive through flooded roadways.  As little as six inches of flowing water can sweep you off your feet, and as little as a foot of flowing water can float your vehicle.  Many people are killed each year by driving through flooded roadways; remember the saying, "TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN!"

 

Thursday, April 19th's hazard is Tornadoes as well as Tornado Drill Day.  Outdoor warning sirens will be sounded in Beltrami County twice on this day.  The first simulated tornado warning will take place at 1:45pm.  A second simulated tornado warning will take place at 6:55pm.  The second drill is intended to allow second shift workers as well as families at home to practice their tornado procedures.  If there is a threat for severe weather during the tornado drills, the outdoor warning sirens will NOT be sounded to avoid confusion of possible legitimate warnings.  If you hear sirens during severe weather, remember it does not necessarily mean a tornado is bearing down on you; sirens are also sounded for intense thunderstorm winds in excess of 70mph as they can cause damage comparable to tornadoes.  The 911 emergency line is intended to report threats to life or property, do not use 911 to receive weather information.  The timeliest weather information can be received through a NOAA All Hazards Radio or local commercial radio stations broadcasting EAS information.

 

Friday, April 20th's hazard is Heat Waves.  Heat waves are prolonged periods of extreme temperatures and/or a combination of high heat indices caused by high humidity.  Nearly 40 Minnesotans have been killed in the last 12 years caused by high heat related ailments.  Familiarize yourself with recognizing heat related injuries and how to treat them.  In the event of a heat wave, hydrate regularly with non-alcoholic beverages (water works good) and avoid vigorous activity outdoors.  Try to arrange your schedule to be outdoors in the early morning or late evening.  Last year, Minnesota set numerous records for high heat and humidity.  Moorhead broke the highest heat index of all time in Minnesota at 134 degrees Fahrenheit last year. 

 

Beltrami County has experienced 29 confirmed tornado events since 1950 and many more straight-line winds events.  More recently, during the early morning hours of August 19th, 2011 southern Beltrami County experienced a widespread straight-line wind event with damaging winds cutting a damage path across Bemidji.  Especially hard hit was the Nymore Neighborhood where hundreds of trees, utility lines, and utility poles were knocked down and damaged.  Isolated structural damage was also documented.  This storm also produced ping-pong ball sized hail and flooding rainfall.

 

Take the time this week to review your response to severe weather.  Make a plan and practice that plan. For more information contact:

 

-Christopher Muller
Assistant Director of Emergency Management
Beltrami County Sheriff's Office
613 Minnesota Ave NW
Bemidji, MN 56601
ph.218.333.8386
chris.muller@co.beltrami.mn.us

 

 

 

ARRESTS MADE IN RASH OF BELTRAMI COUNTY BURGLARIES

On Thursday, April 12, 2012, members of the Leech Lake Tribal Police, Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, Bemidji Police Department, The Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension arrested Richard Allen Fowler 49, and Kristy Jo Coyle 23, both of Bemidji.  In the last week and a half, investigators also arrested Joel Clarence Velisek, age 46; John David Iverson, age 32 and John Joseph Waslaski, age 38, all of Bemidji.  These five suspects have been arrested in connection with the recent plague of thefts, including vehicle type,  and burglaries in Beltrami County and the City of Bemidji.

Stolen Property including firearms, power tools, copper pipes, tools, and a stolen pick-up truck were recovered during the arrests and subsequent searches.  Radios, recorders and police equipment recently taken from a Leech Lake Tribal Police Car and the Upper Mississippi Mental Health transport vehicle were also recovered.  Reports on these investigations have been forwarded to the Beltrami County Attorney's Office for review of potential charges.

Much of the property taken in many of these incidents is not identifiable to a particular victim because of a lack of serial numbers or the victims did not have the serial numbers or good descriptions recorded. 

Folks are reminded to record serial numbers and take photos or video of your valuables to enable the identification of your property should it be stolen by burglars and subsequently recovered.  Successful resolution of these investigations is often hampered due to inability to accurately identify stolen property when found in the possession of thieves.

Investigators are continuing to follow-up on these investigations and are still looking for more of the stolen property.  Much of the property had already been sold by the suspects.  People who recently purchased items from these individuals are asked to contact the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office at 333-9111.                              

Sheriff Phil Hodapp

Beltrami County Sheriff's Office