Latest News From Minnesota Daily News Dot Com

June 4, 2026

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office extends condolences to the family of Chaplain Derek Claypool, saying "we celebrate your life, your kindness, and the legacy you leave behind. Thank you for your service to the Sheriff’s Office and the residents of Beltrami County through some of our shared darkest moments. Peace be with your family during this difficult time."
Claypool passed away last Friday.

Two more candidates filed for Bemidji City Council, Kate Egelhof in Ward 2, and Misty Bray in Ward 4. So far, Ron Johnson has filed for the at-large position, as has Audry Thayer, and Grace Wilder. For Ward 2, Josh Peterson, and Kate Egelhof have filed. In Ward 4, Emelie Rivera, and Misty Bray have filed. The filing deadline was this past Tuesday. All seats are four year terms.

The Leech Lake Gidinawendimin Language & Culture Project is conducting a baseline survey for their project. This survey is for youth. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MSZZCVH. There is also a QR code that can be shared. The QR Code is on the Leech Lake Band Facebook page.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced that the Highway 197 improvement project in Bemidji will enter Stage 1B today, weather permitting. Traffic will shift to newly built temporary lanes, leading to lane closures, reduced speeds, and delays. Stage 1B includes full highway reconstruction and a new roundabout at the Menards intersection. A truck detour will stay in place, with more short-term detours planned later this summer. For detailed staging information and detour maps, please visit www.mndot.gov/d2/projects/hwy197-bemidji.

The northern part of a planned industrial park in Farden Township may be turned into residential lots. The Hubbard County Economic Development & Housing Redevelopment Authority (EDA-HRA) has decided to divide their 80-acre land into smaller lots. Currently, access to this land is provided by County State Aid Highway 9 and 315th Avenue, with a potential new road connecting to U-S Hwy. 2. Some land will still be owned by EDA-HRA to facilitate park access. The county is working with several partners, including BNSF Railway and the Minnesota Department of Transportation, to secure funding for closing two rail crossings and improving another. While BNSF plans for completion in 2032, MnDOT hopes to finish by 2027 following a recent fatality at the site.

The Park Rapids School District is becoming an associate member of the Freshwater Education District (FED). The school board approved this agreement on June 1. Superintendent Lance Bagstad mentioned that the district aims to fully join FED by the 2027-28 school year. Becoming an associate member will help access services provided by FED and allow the district to tap into $40,000 in student support aid, which it currently does not receive. The membership costs $300, and the agreement was approved unanimously, with one member absent.

TowBoatUS Leech Lake has opened in Minnesota for the boating season, offering services like on-water towing, jump starts, and fuel delivery for boaters and anglers. They also provide salvage and recovery services. The port is owned by Doug and Melanie Nelson, who also run TowBoatUS Lake of the Woods. They operate a 26-foot power catamaran and a 21-foot fishing boat. To request on-water assistance, boaters can call the BoatUS toll-free 24/7 Dispatch Center at 800-391-4869, download the free BoatUS App, which connects boaters to the closest local towing captain, call TowBoatUS Leech Lake directly at 218-434-0005 or call on VHF radio Ch.16.

June 3, 2026

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will launch a new electronic licensing system on June 9, starting with hunting and fishing licenses. This new system aims to improve the experience for users by offering flexible purchasing options such as a mobile app, online, or in-person. Users can also choose how to carry their licenses. License sales will pause from now through June 8, but fishing without a license will be allowed during this time. The second phase, which includes recreational vehicle and watercraft registration, will launch later.

The Bemidji City Council approved a trail project along Fifth Street NW that has been planned for over five years. This 8-foot wide paved trail will stretch from Irvine Avenue NW to the Jefferson Avenue NW roundabout and is set to start after the July 4 holiday, aiming for completion by September, depending on the weather. The project is funded by a $468,000 federal grant and a $200,000 state grant, with a total cost of about $1.1 million. The city will also use $382,000 in State Aid Construction funds and $50,000 from Construction Fund Reserves. The planning involved coordination for environmental documents and easements related to crossing a BNSF Railway.

A 30-year-old woman from Walker was injured on Monday in a two-car crash on Highway 371 in Cass County. The Minnesota State Patrol said the crash happened at 4:58 p.m. when a 2013 Chevrolet Suburban and a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee collided while both were heading south. The Jeep's driver, Dezmond Shanice Elai Smith-Leith, was taken to Cass Lake Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The Suburban's driver, Traci Li Campbell, had no injuries. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and North Memorial Health helped at the scene.

The 100 Women-of-the-Heartland Who Care group recently donated over $9,200 to the Akeley-Nevis Food Shelf. The 100 Women-of-the-Heartland Who Care is a local giving circle in the Park Rapids and Nevis area. Members commit to donating $100 at three meetings a year, creating a $10,000+ collective donation for a single, chosen local non-profit or charity during each cycle.

The Leech Lake "Elders Feast" is this Saturday June 6. If you or someone you may know, needs a ride, please call the Transportation office no later than tomorrow morning at 218-508-7155. The Feast will take place at the Northern Lights Event Center. Registration runs from 10am to 2pm, with the Feast to follow.

The Midwest Flyer reports that the Red Lake Nation will return Darrin Smedsmo’s aircraft on today, and drop all charges against him. This decision follows the FAA's threat of civil action against the tribe unless they stop legal proceedings and release the plane. In October 2025, Smedsmo made an emergency landing in the tribe's territory after his Stinson 108 had an engine failure, leading to the seizure of his aircraft, based on a 1978 resolution about airspace control. The tribe now plans to revoke that resolution, admitting their mistake in taking the aircraft. Smedsmo intends to return to the reservation to give rides to Native American children.

Yesterday, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe celebrated Mississippi River Day 2026, recognizing the importance of the Mississippi River to the Anishinaabe people and others who rely on it. The river and surrounding areas have historically provided food, transportation, and cultural connections. This day calls on community members and partners to honor the river's significance, learn about its history, protect its water quality and habitats, and engage in activities that celebrate and preserve it.

Beltrami County had an issue with 911 calls and diminished audio between the caller and dispatch yesterday. It appears to only have been a Verizon issue. The Dispatch Center reminds you that if you ever have issues calling 911, you can call 218-333-9111 option 2.

June 2, 2026

The Beltrami Electric Cooperative Trust Board recently granted $42,412 to 18 local nonprofit and community organizations through its Operation Round Up® program. This program allows members to round up their monthly electric bills to the nearest dollar, and all contributions support local community projects. The grants were awarded to various groups, including Bemidji Area Schools Early Childhood Program, Bemidji Lions Charitable Foundation, Blackduck Area Food Shelf, and United Way of Bemidji Area, among others.

It’s been almost a year since the June 21, 2025 storms hit the area, and the repair work continues. If you’re a member or descendant of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and your home was damaged, you can apply for state funds for necessary repairs not covered by private insurance, FEMA and SBA. If you haven’t submitted a claim to private insurance, FEMA or SBA yet, there’s still time. The Minnesota Housing website contains contact information to get you started: mnhousing.gov/DRLP.

The Beltrami County Board will meet today and will discuss a traffic engineering study on County Road #1 near the Marshall County Line. Other counties along the highway have asked MNDot for the study to potentially raise the speed limit to 60 miles per hour. The Board will also discuss an extra $21,000 to the budget for the IT Department for Cloud backups. The current software has reached end of life, and the new software costs $55,600 a year, as opposed to the $35,000 currently in the budget. Also, Greater Bemidji's Dave Hengel will present an update on Opportunity Zones designations to the Board. The County Board meets at 5pm.

Headwaters Music and Arts invites the public to complete a community survey by Friday, June 12, to help shape its future plans. Supported by the United Way of Bemidji Area, the survey focuses on improving music and arts opportunities and accessibility while addressing community needs. It targets those who do not currently participate in Headwaters programs. Responses will provide insights on local arts awareness, participation barriers, and future programming interests. The survey can be filled out online or via printed copies at their location, with assistance available by calling 218-444-5606.

Beltrami County DFL will hold several events in June. "Pie and Politics" is tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the DFL office, inviting attendees to enjoy pie and discuss local politics. "Coffee and Conversation" will occur on Thursday, June 4, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the DFL office to share political news. The DFL Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, at 6 p.m., with a light meal at 5 p.m. A board game night will follow on Thursday, June 11, at 6 p.m. Lastly, a walleye fish fry and auction is planned for Monday, June 15, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Bemidji Eagles Club, costing $20 per person.

The Beltrami County Historical Society is participating in Blue Star Museums, which offers free admission for active-duty military personnel and their families until Labor Day. This program includes over 2,000 museums across the country and is a partnership among several organizations. Eligible service members include those in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, and others. Free entry is for the service member and up to five family members, including spouses and children. Visitors need to show a Geneva Convention Common Access Card or similar ID. The Historical Society has been serving the community since 1952 and hosts various programs and exhibits. Veterans and retirees can visit at a discounted rate. For more details, contact the museum directly.

June 1, 2026

May 18th, a rainstorm brought half an inch of water to the Northern Minnesota, changing the landscape as the ground became greener. That has led to a short spring window for prescribed burns. Prescribed burns are used to manage habitat across public lands, aiming to burn several thousand acres in the region. Prescribed burning benefits ecosystems by clearing old vegetation, preventing the overgrowth of areas, and maintaining wildlife habitats. The windstorm last June has left a lot of fuel laying dead on public lands around Bemidji. Expect more prescribed burns throughout the summer.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, received the DFL Party's endorsement for U-S Senate at the convention in Rochester, gaining support from over 1,000 delegates. In her acceptance speech, she highlighted the struggles people face with rising costs and linked them to Republican policies in Washington, noting issues like housing and healthcare affordability. Flanagan was expected to win the endorsement, especially after her main opponent, Rep. Angie Craig, chose to withdraw from the process. Craig plans to challenge Flanagan in the August primary. Craig, seen as a moderate Democrat, has faced criticism for her past votes and her decision to skip the convention. Meanwhile, Adam Schwarze received the Republican Party's endorsement, with Michele Tafoya also planning to run in the primary.

The Minnesota Lions Hearing Foundation will hold its annual D-Feet Hearing Loss Walk on Saturday, June 6, starting at Diamond Point Park. Participants will walk two miles to the Paul and Babe statues and back, with lunch, children's games, and live music by the Empty Cooler Band offered. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., and the walk begins at 9:45 a.m. The cost is $25, but children 12 and under can walk for free. Pre-register online through Facebook. Proceeds will aid hearing loss research and provide hearing aids to those in need.

The National Weather Service has issued several red flag warnings recently, advising people to avoid burning in certain areas due to wildfire risks in Minnesota. This high-risk period mainly occurs in spring, with about 75% of wildfires happening in May and June. Most wildfires, over 90%, are caused by people, particularly from burning vegetative debris larger than a standard campfire, which should be 3 feet wide by 3 feet high. Debris burns are allowed in winter only with sufficient snow. Caution is essential to prevent wildfires, as conditions can rapidly dry out vegetation. The summer risk depends on weather factors and available fuel.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources advises hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts to learn how to avoid conflicts with bears. Black bears usually stay away from humans but being careful is key. To prevent bear encounters, people should follow six BearWise Basics. Stay alert while hiking and keep children close. Always pack out trash and food, double-bagging it while hiking, and avoid burning scraps in fire rings. Keep dogs leashed and do not allow them to chase bears. While camping, store food, trash, and toiletries in bear-resistant containers or locked vehicles, and keep them away from tents. If you see a bear, remain with your group and do not approach. Stand still and slowly back away if the bear notices you. If a bear approaches, hold your ground, wave your arms, and yell “hey bear. ” Carry bear spray, know how to use it, and do not spray it on belongings.

May 2026 marks two years since Cass County adopted its all-terrain vehicle (ATV) ordinance, focusing on educating and enforcing rules for ATV operators. Overall compliance is high, but according to Sheriff Bryan Welk, improvements are still needed. The ordinance covers Class I and II ATVs and regulates their operation on county roads. Class 1 ATVs are 50 inches wide or less, while Class 2 ATVs are wider but not exceeding 65 inches. Key rules include operating ATVs in the same direction as traffic, not exceeding reasonable speeds (30 mph for Class 1 and posted limits for Class 2), and maintaining awareness of road hazards. Operators must have a safety certificate if born after July 1, 1987, and must follow all relevant laws. The ordinance applies only to county roadways, with state statutes governing state highways and local roads.