Your home can take a serious beating in a big storm and finding a dependable roofing contractor after bad weather strikes can be a challenge. Storm chasers and other door-to-door salesmen often peddle dubious deals that can cost homeowners thousands of dollars and create serious headaches. The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) recommends doing your research to avoid getting ripped off by an untrustworthy roofer. Monday, September 06, 2010
Sheriff Jeff Norlin wants the public to be aware of the latest scam/theft attempt that happened in Meeker County. At least two people in the county have reported receiving phone calls either as hospital staff or others related to a critical incident, that a family member has been involved in an accident and is at a specific hospital. The resident is then asked to respond to the hospital immediately. In both of these cases, the residents took the proper course of action. That was to not respond to the hospital right away, but to verify the information and call the Sheriff. Saturday, September 04, 2010
More than $50,000 worth of stolen property and 44 victims have been identified so far, relating to the arrest of Gerald Leroy Fleshman, age 51, of Eden Valley
July 20, 2010, by Meeker County Sheriff's Office Investigators.
"We are finding new victims and matching them with recovered stolen property every week," said Sheriff Norlin. The victims identified so far are mostly from Meeker, Renville Kandiyohi, and Stearns Counties. Friday, September 03, 2010
Last week Paul Hilsgen, a 58-year-old Nebraskan, originally from Watkins, confessed to raping four vulnerable women in his adult foster homes in rural Watkins more than 13 years ago.
Until the confession, authorities were unaware of the crimes. All four women, one of whom has since died, are severely mentally impaired and cannot speak. They were between the age of 40 and 60 at the time of the assaults in around 1997, according to Norlin.
Meeker County Sheriff Jeff Norlin said Hilsgen admitted to the assaults in a detailed letter "to get it off his chest." Thursday, August 19, 2010
July has been an active severe weather season, and forecasters expect August could be just as turbulent.
Since Severe Weather Awareness Week was a while ago, in April, it's been a long time since everyone received some basic reminders about severe weather. Here is some, often misunderstood, information about the warning and alert system.
First, a watch is issued when severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. It does not mean that they will occur. It only means they are possible. A warning is issued when a severe weather/tornado is imminent. When a warning is issued, seek safe shelter immediately. Saturday, August 14, 2010
A Stearns County Sheriff's Deputy tried to stop a 1993 Pontiac Grand Prix Thursday, Aug.5, for an equipment violation and expired registration, on CR 54 west of the city of Avon. The driver of the Pontiac refused to stop and fled from the deputy. The car went south out of Avon on CR 9 and the deputy pursued with speed up to 110 mph. The pontiac attempted to turn west on CR 42 north of Richmond, and left the roadway. When the car returned to the roadway, the deputy performed a "Pursuit Intervention Technique," using his squad car to force the Pontiac into a spin and into the ditch. The Pontiac rolled over and the driver was apprehended.
The driver, identified as Adam Mackedanz, age 36, from Roscoe, Minn., was treated at the scene and refused medical attention. Mackedanz was taken to the Stearns County Jail where he is being held pending charges of fleeing a peace officer and driving after revocation. The squad car was not damaged in the incident. Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Sheriff Jeff Norlin announces that at about 9:55 a.m. Tuesday, July 20, Meeker County Sheriff Office Investigators arrested Gerald Leroy Fleshman, 51 years old, of Eden Valley, on a traffic stop in Manannah Township on probable cause possession of stolen property. During this arrest, investigators found several grams of methamphetamine that field-tested positive as methamphetamine, along with other drug paraphernalia. Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tuesday, Aug. 3, Sheriff Jeff Norlin invites neighborhoods throughout Meeker County, including Dassel, Grove City, and Watkins to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the "27th Annual National Night Out" crime and drug prevention event. National Night Out, which is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch and co-sponsored locally by the Meeker County Sheriff's Office, will involve more than 14,625 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world. Saturday, July 24, 2010
Dear Trooper Kathy: My Sister left her kids in the car, for only a short time, when it was really hot. I was wondering, how hot is unsafe for kids?
Trooper Kathy Says: There are actually two wrongs here.
First: Never leave your children alone in the car, even for a SHORT while. Many times the SHORT trip turns out to be 15 minutes or longer.
The lazy days of summer have just begun. We have documented more than 100 nontraffic fatalities in the United States in less than 6 months. People's lives are being lost and we must all work together to end these preventable injuries and deaths. We have some excellent information to share with you and hope you pass this on to others. Thursday, July 15, 2010
Dear Trooper Kathy: We were having a garage sale and the highway department came and took all our signs away. Can they do that?
Trooper Kathy says: Yes. In fact Mn/DOT has asked me to remind you about keeping event signs, items for sale, real estate signs, campaign signs and any other markers away from highway rights of way. Here is a recent request from MN Department of Transportation.
With summer here, we are already seeing an increase in advertising signs and items for sale placed illegally along state highways to attract the attention of passing motorists. Friday, July 09, 2010
The July 4th holiday is a time when Americans celebrate generations of independence with family gatherings, community events and casual use of dangerous explosives.
"From a safety perspective, it doesn't make sense to celebrate anything by allowing our children to play with burning sticks that can reach 2,000 degrees," says Deputy State Fire Marshal Becki White. "Nor should we transport in our vehicles dangerous amounts of explosives along with the groceries and the kids. But we do these things every year. And every year someone suffers for it." Thursday, July 01, 2010
Sheriff Jeff Norlin announced that Friday, June 18, search warrants were issued at two separate addresses in Delano. Agencies involved were MeekerCounty Sheriff's Office, McLeod County Sheriff's Office, Glencoe Police Department, Wright County Sheriff's Office and the Wright County Drug Task Force.
Stolen property was recovered from a burglary reported May 31 on CSAH 27 in Kingston Township. June 14, two people, Joel Patrick Trebesch, age 42, of Winsted, and Kyle Robert Trebesch, age 19, of Glencoe, were arrested at this location in another burglary attempt. Saturday, June 26, 2010
Dear Trooper Kathy: I was visited by a relative who had run out of fuel on Interstate 90. Sitting alongside of the road and waiting for a tow, a trooper pulled up behind and asked "what was the emergency?" When explained that he ran out of fuel, the trooper stated that it was illegal to run out of fuel on the Interstate; however, would not issue a ticket but, instead, issue a warning. The exchange was very pleasant; but we both were surprised as, certainly, fuel exhaustion is an unavoidable emergency, should it happen, that could be construed as an emergency. Am I incorrect?
Trooper Kathy says: Sorry, but you are not going to like my answer. Friday, June 18, 2010
Minnesota State PatrolDear Trooper Kathy: I realize summer is coming. Do you have any special tips I can give to my kids OR my parents when they come to visit this summer. I worry about them traveling.
Trooper Kathy says: I try not to advocate one group over another but sometimes when I find worthwhile information I will pass on to you where you can get it. Here's one example.
An eye-catching new traffic safety booklet from AAA Minnesota/Iowa (a part of the Auto Club Group) and the Minnesota Safety Council provides engaging and practical tips for drivers of all ages. Get There! Saturday, June 12, 2010
Jerry Lee Thompson, DOB: 2/24/1959, appeared before the Honorable Vicki Landwehr Wednesday, June 2, and was sentenced to 414 months in prison after being convicted of three counts of attempted first degree murder, kidnapping, first degree burglary, two counts of assault in the second degree and an order for protection violation involving three separate victims, including his ex-wife and one of his children, arising out of a domestic violence incident in Fairhaven Township on Aug. 5, 2008. Wednesday, June 02, 2010
The Meeker County Sheriff's Posse recently attended the Wadena County Patrol Clinic. The Wadena Clinic is one of two clinics held in Minnesota that assist mounted officers with training and exercises that are used to enhance horse and rider skills needed for mounted officers. The Meeker County Sheriff's Posse hosts the other Minnesota clinic in late September each year. Friday, May 28, 2010
Heightened seat belt enforcement starts May 24; officers can stop motorists solely for seat belt violations
The Meeker County Sheriff's Office applied for and received a $2,500 grant administered through the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety, Safe and Sober Campaign. Meeker County deputies and law enforcement throughout the state ramp up enhanced Click It or Ticket seat belt patrols May 24ÐJune 6. The campaign marks one year since the state's primary seat belt law became effective June 9, 2009, allowing law enforcement to stop and ticket motorists solely for seat belt violations. Friday, May 21, 2010
Everyone wants to feel safe and secure in their own home. This can make a sales pitch for an alarm system a tempting offer. Homeowners should be on guard, however, against door-to-door traveling alarm sales agents who use deceptive pitches or questionable tactics and who may sell substandard but costly merchandise or service contracts.
In the spring and summer, some out-of-state alarm companies hire traveling sales agents to go door-to-door in Minnesota, making unsolicited "cold calls" on homeowners. Thursday, May 20, 2010
Dear Trooper Kathy: What is going on out there? Is there something we can do?
Trooper Kathy Says: This has been a horrendous spring on our Minnesota highways. People of Minnesota commonly think we have more "fatals" and serious personal injury crashes in the winter but, the latest round of fatal crashes reminds us that dry pavement tends to bring out faster drivers and more risk taking behavior.
Friday afternoon, April 23, four teenage girls (ages 16, 14, 13, 12) were involved in a single vehicle rollover near Altura, Minn. (D2100). The girls had just left their high school for the day when they crashed on County Road 27 in Winona County. All four girls were thrown from the pickup, three of them died at the scene, while the fourth girl was air lifted to the hospital. Sunday, May 16, 2010
The recently passed health-care reform has older adults looking at how the newly passed legislation may affect their Medicare or other health-care coverage. However, it is also providing a perfect opportunity for new scams to appear telling Medicare beneficiaries they have to make changes in their health-care policy. Scammers are calling older adults or even going door-to-door trying to sell "Obama Care" policies. "Obama Care" is a fictitious policy that scammers claim is required by health-care reform, even for those on Medicare. Saturday, May 15, 2010
May 6, the Meeker County Sheriff's Office received a report of "Theft by check" from a business located in Watkins. Mies Outland reported that May 1, Cory Paul Moudry of Olivia, Minn., came to the business and purchased two used Polaris brand ATVs from them. The suspect paid for the ATVs with a personal check in the amnount of $8,500. Upon presenting the check to the bank, it was returned "Account Closed."
Monday, May 10, at 3:32 p.m. Meeker County Sheriff's Office issued a Probable Cause Pick Up and Hold for Cory Paul Moudry. Renville County was advised of the hold; and a short time later at about 5:37 p.m., the Sheriff's Office was advised that Moudry had been located and was currently in custody. Moudry was taken to the Meeker County Jail and is currently being held pending formal charges through the Meeker County Attorney's Office. Friday, May 14, 2010
