Thursday, November 28, 2013

Volume 98; Number 23

A community newspaper serving Browerville, MN and surrounding areas. USPS 067-560

75

Mikkelson/Busch submit resignations

By Rin Porter At the Nov. 19 county board meeting, Todd County Sheriff Pete Mikkelson and County Auditor-Treasurer Karen Busch submitted their resignations from county service, effective Dec. 30, 2013. The resignations were in response to commissioners ending of the countys retiree health insurance benefit, effective Dec. 31, 2013. Mikkelson and Busch are the second and third major fund managers to turn in their resignations. Health and Human Services (HHS) Director Cheryl Schneider was the first major fund manager to resign, effective at the end of this year, on Oct. 15. The resignations of three of the countys five fund managers are significant, because these employees have been responsible for supervising the lions share of the countys budget for many years. Not only do they create their fund budgets, but they also manage the money throughout the year, along with about 2/3 of the countys employees. The two remaining fund managers County Engineer Loren Fellbaum and Solid Waste Director Mike Hanan are not eligible for the retiree health insurance benefit, and are not expected to leave their positions any time soon. Karen Busch is one of the countys longest-serving employees. She began her time with the county in September 1973 in the auditor-treasurers office, where she rose through the career path to deputy auditor and then chief deputy auditor. She was appointed AuditorTreasurer by the county board when the previous office holder resigned before the end of her term in 2002. Busch then ran in the 2002 election and won. She was reelected in 2006 and 2010. Her current term would have expired on Dec. 31, 2014. In a personal interview, Busch said of her decision to resign, I have to do whats good for me. It did have a lot to do with the health insurance premiums. Thats a lot of money. Busch has no immediate plans for what she will do after she completes work for the county, but, she said, her niece is expecting a baby and Busch would like to do some babysitting for that little one. Pete Mikkelson served as County Sheriff for seven years, and has been employed by the Sheriff s Department since 1987. He was a deputy serving in many capacities during 20 years of service before being elected Sheriff in 2006. In a personal interview, Mikkelson said, Ive enjoyed my seven years as Sheriff. Weve accomplished a lot and successfully handled some major incidents. Ive made a lot of friends here and statewide. Im going to miss the people. Ive enjoyed serving the citizens. Its been an excellent profession, and Ill miss it a lot. Mikkelson said he had no immediate plans for what he will do after he completes his work on Dec. 30, 2013. Board Chair Randy Neumann said that he will discuss with Human Resource Director Karla Nalezny how to proceed with forming search committees to seek candidates for the three management positions. The two elected positions (Sheriff and Auditor-Treasurer) will be filled for the remainder of the terms, until Dec. 31, 2014. The two positions will be up for election in November 2014. Continued on page 12.

Task Force investigation results in three arrests

On November 21, agents of the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force (CMVOTF) along with members of the Todd County Sheriff s Office arrested three individuals in central Todd County for sales of prescription medicine. These arrests were the result of a four month investigation conducted by CMVOTF. CMVOTF was assisted in this investigation by the Long Prairie Police Dept. and Todd County Sheriffs Office. All three individuals were arrested without incident. Joshua R. Hayes, Browerville, was arrested on a warrant issued by the Todd County Attorneys Office for one count of first degree sales of a controlled substance and four counts of second degree sales of a controlled substance. The criminal complaint alleges that on several occasions in June and July of 2013, Hayes sold Vicodin tablets (hydrocodone-acetaminophen.) Hayes is being held at the Todd County Detention Center. Jane A. Mudder, Browerville, was arrested on a warrant issued by the Todd County Attorneys Office for one count of second degree sales of a controlled substance and six county of third degree sales of a controlled substance. The criminal complaint alleges that on several occasions in June and July of 2013, Mudder sold Percocet tablets (oxycodone-acetaminophen) and Fentanyl patches. Mudder is being held at the Todd County Detention Center. Michelle R. Wolf, Eagle Bend, was arrested on a warrant issued by the Todd County Attorneys Office for three counts of third degree sales of a controlled substance and one count of child endangerment. The criminal complaint alleges that on several occasions in August and September of 2013, Wolf sold Adderall tablets (dextroamphetamine-amphetamine. Wolf is being held at the Todd County Detention Center.

Jane A. Mudder, Browerville

Men arrested for violating a variety of hunting laws

a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle were Carl S. Moench, 29; Trevor J. Krinkie, 22; Cory L. Uselmann, 19 and Branden L. Biksen, 18; all of Browerville. Two juveniles involved in the incident were not charged. DNR Conservation Officer Al Peterson of Osage received a call Saturday, Nov. 16, from an off-duty Becker County deputy of possible trespass and shots fired near the Becker/Otter Tail county line. There were several incidents of the suspects eluding the officers while shining and shooting at deer. Once a traffic stop was initiated the driver failed to stop and a pursuit ensued. The vehicle eventually came to a stop and a passenger exited the vehicle and ran across the road into a ditch before being apprehended by Peterson. The deputy stayed with the vehicle and prevented another passenger from his attempt to flee on foot. The suspects were transported to the Otter Tail County Jail. Moench later said three untagged deer were at a resiContinued on page 12.

Michelle R. Wolf, Eagle Bend

Joshua R. Hayes, Browerville

A vehicle pursuit and a foot race related to illegally shining deer landed four men in the Otter Tail County Jail, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural

Resources. Charged in Otter Tail County Court with a variety of charges ranging from felony fleeing a law enforcement officer to shining with a firearm to transporting

Happy Thanksgiving from Blade Publishing: Aaron, Peggy, Stacey, Rin and Venus.
Fri. Nov. 29 Partly Cloudy 29/22 Sat. Nov. 30 Partly Cloudy 32/17 Sun. Dec. 1 Partly Cloudy 33/20

WEEKLY WEATHER REPORT

Tue. Nov. 26 Flurries/Wind 14/6 Wed. Nov. 27 Partly Cloudy 21/9 Thur. Nov. 28 Partly Cloudy 25/13