Latest News From Minnesota Daily News Dot Com

June 26, 2026

Shawn Klimek has been officially appointed as the elementary principal for the Nevis School District after serving as interim principal for four months. The Nevis School Board approved his hire during a meeting on June 22. Klimek took over in February after the previous principal, Brian Michaelson, was placed on leave and later resigned. Klimek has worked in the district for 23 years, teaching second grade and coaching football. He expressed his commitment to the school, stating it's his home. Klimek's hiring was preceded by his resignation from his role as dean of students. He will earn a salary of $100,000 in his first year, with a planned increase the following year. Superintendent Ranae Seykora praised his qualifications.

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Workforce Development Division is accepting applications for the 2026 Summer Youth Employment Program. This program, funded by the WIOA Supplemental Youth Services Program, offers eligible youth and young adults paid work experience to develop job skills and explore career paths. Participants can gain hands-on experience in several in-demand industries, such as healthcare, public administration, arts, transportation, construction, and food services. Applications are available now (https://www.leechlakenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SYSP-2026-Summer-Youth-Applicaton.pdf), with a deadline of July 3, 2026.

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) has announced the 2026 recipients of the Dual Training Grant, awarding a total of $4.87 million to 71 businesses and five regional organizations. This funding will help train 867 employees in high-demand industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, IT, childcare, transportation, and legal cannabis. Each grantee can receive up to $150,000 for instruction costs, with individual trainees eligible for up to $6,000 for tuition, fees, and materials. Additionally, up to $15,000 can be granted for trainee support costs like transportation and meals. OHE has awarded 455 Dual Training Grants since 2019, investing over $28.6 million to train 4,169 employees, supporting career pathways for Minnesota families. Included in the funding is $60,000 for Aircorps Aviation in Bemidji, nearly $40,000 for Discovery Place Early Learning Center in Thief River Falls, $79,200 for Grand Village in Grand Rapids, $6600 for Tall Pines Family Dentistry in Bemidji, $150,000 for Greater Bemidji who will represent 16 different employers.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) urges people to check boats, trailers, docks, and other water equipment for invasive species when buying or selling. Mid-season market activities can spread these species, especially zebra mussels. Minnesota law states that docks and lifts must be out of water for at least 21 days before moving to another body of water. A free permit is needed to transport docks with zebra mussels for cleaning. The DNR advises looking for zebra mussels, hiring trained lake service providers, and reporting unknown invasive species. People must also clean and drain equipment, dispose of unwanted bait properly, and dry equipment for 21 days before moving.

Headwaters Music & Arts is partnering with Fire in the Village, led by artist Annie Humphrey, to host a Mini Mobile Music Fest, Magical Frybread Drive-in on Tuesday. This event includes social time with frybread and printmaking, followed by a concert featuring music and poetry. It will take place in the Headwaters parking lot from 5:30–7:00 PM, with the concert starting at 7:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased at the door, with proceeds supporting free music lessons for students.

June 25, 2026

The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office requested help yesterday in finding a missing 15 year old Native American female, last known location of mile marker 17 on Hwy 89 north of Bemidji. Less than an hour after a Facebook message was posted, the girl was located. Several other high-profile missing person cases around Bemidji remain unsolved. If you have any information regarding any missing individual, you're asked to contact the Beltrami County Sheriff's Department Dispatch at 911 or 218-333-9111 option 2.

Voters in Northern Township will elect their first city council in November, with ballots ready by the end of July. The filing period for candidates has recently changed to July 14-28 to comply with a new state law. On the ballot will be four at-large council positions, and mayor. Election Day is November 3rd, with voting being conducted at Northern Town Hall. The township will officially become a city in January 2027 after the council is sworn in.

A Community Block Party is planned for tomorrow from 1pm to 9pm. The event features live music and food, and will be held on Beltrami Avenue in front of Brigid's Pub and the Keg N' Cork.

With a new director, the Northwest Minnesota Small Business Development Center and the LaunchPad are hosting monthly entrepreneur meet-ups on the first Wednesday of each month from 8 to 9 a.m. at the LaunchPad in Bemidji. These meet-ups will include guests, local entrepreneur stories, and discussions to help entrepreneurs learn and connect. Additionally, “Welcome Wednesday” gatherings will be held every other Wednesday at the same time, allowing for informal conversations without a set agenda. Entrepreneurs and community members are invited to attend without registration. For more details, visit greaterbemidji.com. Philip Knutson is the new director of the Northwest Minnesota Small Business Development Center. He's expected to join Brian Huch of the Launchpad on an upcoming episode on Paskvan Podcasts on YouTube.

North Country Food Bank and the United Way of Bemidji Area, along with the Clearwater County Food Shelf will hold a mobile food distribution event on Monday, June 29, along Great Northern Drive SW in Bagley. The food distribution event begins at 11 a.m. and runs until noon, or until food runs out.

National Bank of Commerce will hold its annual summer fundraiser brat lunch for the United Way of Bemidji Area on today. All proceeds support the 2026 United Way Campaign for the Community. If you missed the lunch, you can still dontate at UnitedWayBemidji.org.

The Clearwater County Historical Society will celebrate 30 years of public programming with an open house on Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Clearwater County History Center. Tours of historic buildings and archives will be offered, along with cake and refreshments. A short membership meeting will start at 1 p.m. For more information, call the history center at (218) 785-2000.

Tomorrow, starting at 9am, there will be a yard sale at the Group Home in Redby to raise funds for extracurricular resident activities. There will be food available for purchase at starting at 10am. The Group Home is on Green Lake Road in Redby. The group home in Redby offers programs for: alcohol and drug abuse prevention, education, intervention and treatment; Chemical dependency outpatient program; Alcohol rehabilitation program; Indian and Free Drug Prevention and Treatment Program; Pregnant women and families program; Red Lake Group Home - adolescent residential treatment; Northern Winds treatment center; New Roads halfway house.

June 24, 2026

The Bemidji City Council held a discussion about parking during a work session this week, focusing on various topics including calendar parking, technology, infrastructure, and enforcement. City Manager Rich Spiczka highlighted the need for the conversation as residents frequently express concerns about parking rules and availability. Central to the discussion was the concept of calendar parking, particularly during winter months. Some councilors supported the idea of having seasonal enforcement, with one suggesting a cut-off time for vehicles in downtown to help mitigate issues. Others proposed a time limit for vehicle removal that could benefit early morning businesses. Concerns about unclear parking signage and inconsistent enforcement were raised by several councilors. Mayor Jorge Prince suggested that the city could improve its parking regulations and consider investing in technology like electronic payment options. The council plans to continue this discussion in future meetings.

The Leech Lake Tribal Police Department is seeking the public's help in locating Bentley Sherman Gotchie, who was last seen Sunday in Cass Lake at the Leech Lake Days Pow Wow. He was last seen at 6pm Sunday wearing a dark t-shirt and shorts, with a blue backpack. Gotchie is known to frequent Cass Lake, Ball Club, and Bemidji. If you have any information, call the Leech Lake Tribal Police at 218-335-8277.


The Sanford Health Foundation raised nearly $415,000 at its Pours for a Purpose event two weeks ago to improve the Emergency Department at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. The foundation announced a $1 million donation from retired physician Richard Stennes and his wife, Nilla, leading to the department being renamed the Stennes Emergency Department. According to the press release, Sanford Bemidji serves over 176,000 people and experiences growing demand for emergency care. The enhancement project aims to raise a total of $2.6 million for various improvements, including better behavioral health rooms, security features, new treatment rooms, and upgraded equipment. The foundation will continue its fundraising efforts and welcomes community support at 218-333-5505.

The Nevis School Board has approved its preliminary budget for the next school year, anticipating $10,259,693 in revenue and $10,258,950 in expenditures. Most expenses, about $7.5 million, are for salaries, expected to rise by 4.45%. Non-salary costs will decrease by $21,000. The district lost $170,000 in compensatory revenue due to fewer families submitting lunch forms, as all students now receive free meals. To address this loss, some revenue is gained through direct certifications for families receiving assistance. Projections assume a conservative enrollment of 597 students. The board will partner with nearby districts for a three-year integration plan starting July 1, needed for state aid.

On Monday, we told you about a 11 year old boy, Ninde Lowell Paquette, injured in an ATV accident in Cass Lake. A GoFundMe (https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-nindes-courageous-recovery-journey) page has been set up for the boy, already nearing their $5500 goal. Doctors have informed the family that the boy has suffered paralysis and is not expected to walk again. On Saturday Paquette underwent a 13-hour surgery as a team of doctors worked to stabilize him.

An 80-year-old woman from Grand Forks was hit by a vehicle while in a crosswalk in Walker on Saturday. The driver, a 67-year-old man from Lake Elmo, was driving a pickup truck and struck her while waiting for traffic to clear. The woman, whose name is Ann Porter, suffered non-life threatening injuries and was hospitalized.

Beltrami County Farm Bureau's Ag Day Breakfast will be on Sunday, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Beltrami County Fairgrounds. The menu includes pancakes, berries, ice cream, sausage, ham, coffee, and juice for a donation. There will be activities like a silent auction, farm animals, children's activities, live music, and more. The Summer Swine Showdown starts at 11 a.m.

June 23, 2026

An adult male pedestrian, 65-year-old Floyd Cloud from Bemidji, was struck by a vehicle on Division Street NW on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at around 10:43 PM. He suffered multiple injuries and died at the scene despite lifesaving efforts by emergency responders. The driver, 56-year-old Robert Ortez, also from Bemidji, stayed at the scene and cooperated with law enforcement, showing no signs of impairment. The Minnesota State Patrol is assisting with the crash reconstruction, and an investigation is ongoing.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has added five counties to a ban on deer feeding and attractants to help prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) after new cases were found in wild deer. The ban aims to reduce deer congregating, which can spread disease. The counties now under the ban include: Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, and Polk counties, with Clearwater just added to the list. Even outside the ban, the DNR advises against feeding deer and encourages people to improve habitats to support deer in the long term. More information on habitat improvement can be found on the DNR website.

Tomorrow, Clearwater-Polk Electric members will have an outage starting at 9am for about 1.5 hours in the following townships: Jones, Moose Creek, La Prairie, Minerva, Bear Creek, Lake Hattie, Itasca, Rice, Long Lost Lake, and Lake Alice.. This is for substation maintenance. For questions, please call 1-888-694-3833.

Megan Hill, one of the owners of Bemidji Brewing, has an additional job. She has started working as a disaster recovery case manager with the United Way of the Bemidji Area. She is part of a Long-term Storm Recovery Group that includes various community leaders. The group's goal is to identify unmet community needs, prioritize vulnerable households, coordinate resources, and facilitate recovery services. They focus on community-centered decision-making and have arranged training for members, set priorities, and recruited volunteers and donations. Hill's role is to guide families affected by the storm toward necessary resources and support.

Work has begun, and the detour is now in place, along Highway 71 near Hay Creek, just north of Park Rapids. Crews are working to replace a box culvert. The project will improve aging infrastructure and is expected to be complete by August 12, weather permitting. Highway 71 will be closed at Hay Creek. Motorists can expect a detour during construction using Hubbard County roads 40 and 4 as well as Highway 200 and Highway 71. Boat access under the bridge will be closed during construction. Property owners will have access to their homes and businesses during construction. For more information on the project, including a detour map, please visit the project website www.mndot.gov/d2/projects/hwy71-hay-creek.

Red Lake Public Safety has announced a registered sex offender is being released. Michael Wayne Needham is 39 years old, and was convicted of interfering with privacy, by using a device to photograph or record intimate body parts. Needham is not wanted by Red Lake Law Enforcement and has served the sentence imposed on him by the Court. Information in this release is being given to educate the public, and not to alarm the public. With any questions about this case, call Red Lake Public Safety at 218-679-3313.

New statistics from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development shows that 885 in Beltrami County live in subsidized housing in Beltrami County. That's 1.9% of the population. Federally subsidized rental housing began with 1937’s US Housing Act, which created the United States Housing Authority and provided financial assistance to state and local governments for housing low-income people. The Minnesota average county has 2.8% in subsidized housing. Clearwater has 1.4%, Hubbard 1.9%, Cass 0.9%, Itasca is 2.3%, Polk County has 4.8%, which is the second-highest percentage in the state, only behind Ramsey County, which is St. Paul. Thirty-eight-percent of households with subsidies earned between $10,000 and $15,000 in annual income. To qualify for subsidized housing in Beltrami County, your household income generally must fall at or below 50% to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), with the exact limits scale directly with your household size. For a single person, the Very-Low Income Limit is $32,600, for two people, it's $37,250, and for a family of four, it's $46,550.

June 22, 2026

A wild weekend of weather on the one-year anniversary of the storm in Bemidji. On Friday, a tornado warning was issued in Cass County as weather spotters saw two tornado's touch down between Laporte and Walker, along highway 200 near Benedict. By Sunday, temps were in the 30's with a wind chill of 37 for Fathers Day morning. Lots of media outlets were in Bemidji last week to run stories of the one-year anniversary of the storm that downed 9-million trees in Beltrami County.

The Beltrami County GOP will host an "Old Fashioned Picnic" on June 28, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Buena Vista Ski Area. Attendees can enjoy sloppy Joes, hot dogs, and games. Visit beltramigop.net for more info.

The Akeley City Council is concerned about the high costs to repair the old depot, a historic site. The Akeley Chamber of Commerce, represented by president Peg Davies, is willing to help by proposing that the city lease the building to them for 50 years at $1. The chamber would take on repair and maintenance, while the city keeps responsibility for utilities and taxes. Davies plans to coordinate fundraising and gather volunteers for construction. Mayor Brian Hitchcock noted the building is not entirely original and that renovation would be a large task. The council postponed the decision to clarify legal issues regarding the lease.

The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities initially sought $250 million in state funding for lead service line replacements but later reduced the request to $100 million. However, the bonding bill provided only $15 million, which is insufficient, where replacing each water line costs about $20,000. There are nearly 90,000 lead or galvanized service lines in Minnesota that need replacing by 2033, with Duluth having addressed about a quarter of its estimated 11,000 lines. The Coalition hopes lawmakers will create a dedicated funding source in the future. The latest estimates from the city of Bemidji show, as of 10/16/2024, there are no lead service lines known, 117 galvanized requiring replacement, 327 unknown material, and 4228 non-lead service lines.

Lakeview Early Learning Center is launching a new website and accepting registration requests and job applications as it prepares to open in July. The center will cater to infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children. Owner Hannah Putt, with years of childcare experience and relevant degrees, aims to create a safe, fun, and nurturing space that feels like home. Each classroom will have two full-time teachers and support staff to ensure consistent care. The center will significantly expand childcare capacity in Walker, benefiting families and the local economy. It is also hiring for various teaching and support roles.

For the fourth year in a row, Bell Lumber and Pole Company will match all donations to Second Harvest Northland, up to $25,000, until December 31. Since starting their partnership in 2022, they have helped provide nearly 180,000 meals for those in need. Maddie Bell, the program manager, explained that the challenge match aims to encourage more donations. Eligible gifts will be matched, helping to provide more meals in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Second Harvest Northland’s mission is to End Hunger Together in Minnesota and Wisconsin. They are the Northland’s largest, non-profit charitable organization ensuring food access to our nearly 200 food banks serving and families, children and seniors in need. Their corporate offices are in the Twin Cities, but Bell Tire and Pole Company conducts business in northern Minnesota and Canada.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications for the second round of its Field to Forest Cost Share Program through December 1. Private landowners participating in the program can receive up to 75% reimbursement for tree planting costs and an additional $500 per acre after they complete their planting. Reforesting open lands, such as former pastures or crop fields, offers landowners a chance to improve the long-term health and value of their property while contributing to a more resilient landscape. Planting trees can slow runoff, combat erosion, improve water retention and rebuild healthy soils. New forests also create habitat, support wildlife and improve resilience to droughts and floods. For private landowners, transforming open land into forest can also increase property value, offer future timber income and create new recreational opportunities.