Residents at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Fergus Falls will soon be enjoying 50-inch high-definition televisions in their lounge and public areas. Governor Tim Pawlenty said the move was designed to put an end to the embarrassing episode for a cost-conscious administration. Initially, the State government purchased two-dozen sets of high-definition televisions, worth upwards of $60,000, to help occupy patients in the state’s sex offender lockup. 14 of the televisions will be transferred to veterans homes statewide, and the remaining will either go to other state agencies, or sold, to recoup some of the cost. The Veterans Home in Fergus Falls will receive two of the television sets, and homes in Silver Bay, Minneapolis, and Hastings will also receive a few. Jon Skillingstad, the administrator of the veterans home in Fergus Falls, said the new televisions will be a welcome addition.
Archive for October, 2009
Local residents speak out about Council’s ice arena decision
Local residents spoke out Thursday at the Otter Tail County courthouse in Fergus Falls. At 10:15AM, concerned residents from the Fergus Falls area spoke out about the City Council’s decision on committing $4 million towards a new ice arena, which is planned to be built near the current Fergus Falls High School gymnasium. The meeting, which was set up by Peter Haugen, a Fergus Falls resident, said that the goal was not to get the community for or against the proposed arena, it was to voice their thoughts on how the City Council handled the situation. Mr. Haugen, and other Fergus Falls residents feel that the City Council do not care about the opinions and ideas of the community. Television stations from Fargo, ND (KVLY) and Alexandria, MN (KSAX) also attended today’s protest.
According to Mr. Haugen, a petition has been started to remove JoEllen Thacker from her 4th Ward City Council position, and he’s encouraging members in the City’s other wards to start similar petitions.
Fast Times in Fergus Falls closes
Fast Times, which opened in June 2008, has closed its doors for good in Fergus Falls. Fast Times, located in the former Steve’s Cycle building, offered an indoor airsoft arena and RC race car track. In addition, the Fergus Falls business hosted various dances and concerts. According to co-owner, Diana Magnuson, there was a lack of kids who wanted to come out and enjoy the facility. Magnuson also said that “Fergus Falls is not the place for inside air soft and RC car racing”.
Minn. says stimulus package saved nearly 12,000 jobs
The federal stimulus package has provided paychecks this year for nearly 12,000 workers in Minnesota. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has helped keep or add new jobs in education, prisons, construction, and other industries. Minnesota state finance officials reported on Monday that the stimulus created or saved 11,800 Minnesota jobs as of the end of September. Currently, Minnesota has spent $1.6 billion, or about one third of it’s $4.7 billion, that the state will recieve from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Ac, which was put into place by President Barack Obama.
At the end of August, Minnesota’s unemployment rate was at 8%, with over 120,000 jobs lost in 2009, alone.
Local construction projects that directly benefit from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes upgrading of over 20 miles of Interstate 94 in the Fergus Falls area, and the Concord Street bridge, which is set to open towards the end of October.
O’Reilly Auto Parts to open Fergus Falls location
O’Reilly Auto Parts will soon be adding Fergus Falls to their list of over 3,000 locations across the United States. The Fergus Falls store will be located between the American Welding & Carquest auto parts building and Goin’ Postal. Excavation of the site just began, and the building will start going up soon. O’Reilly Auto Parts signed-onto the location September 23rd. Typically, O’Reilly Auto Parts locations range from 6,800 to 7,225 square feet in floor area.
Sex offender moving to 700-block of Junius Avenue
A level three sex offender will be moving to the 700-block of Junius Avenue on October 12th, according to the Fergus Falls Police Department. Mark Anthony Rehm, age 25, was convicted for criminal sexual contact and failure to register as a predatory offender. Rhem has a history of sexual contact with female victims ranging for ages four to 14. The Fergus Falls Police Department said he is not wanted by the police, as he has already served his sentence. A meeting will be held on October 7th, at 6PM, at the Government Services Center in Ottertail Lake Room. Community members will be able to ask questions and learn more about Rhem’s future release on October 12th.
