Fergus Falls Forum

In an effort to protect visitors from anticipated flooding this year, the Minnesota Department of Transportation has built a dike around the parking areas at the Lake Iverson rest area on Interstate 94 eastbound in Otter Tail County.

“We expect rain or snow followed by warm weather or freezing that may cause unsafe conditions,” said Lee Berget, District 4 Transportation Engineer. “Although there is no immediate danger to motorists we are preparing to take quick action if necessary yet this fall or next spring.”

Motorists’ safety is Mn/DOT’s first priority. The Lake Iverson rest area will remain open, unless it is no longer safe for visitors to fully access it. If conditions make closing the rest area necessary, the facility will likely be closed with little or no notice. Once the rest area closes, it will remain closed until flood waters recede and the facility is completely safe and fully functional.

Mn/DOT continues to explore all options to keep the rest area open as long as possible, and appreciates the public’s understanding of the current situation at the Lake Iverson rest area.

For information about road closures and current road conditions call 5-1-1 or log onto www.511mn.org.

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Starting next year, inmates at the Wadena County Jail will be charged $20 for every day they’re housed in the jail. They’ll also be responsible for any medical expenses they incur. Wadena County Sheriff Mike Carr says the goal is to deter people who periodically land themselves in jail so they can take advantage of free services. He says there are some people who never go to a doctor or dentist, but as soon as they get to jail they get a toothache. The jail program is called “Pay to Stay.” It starts in January. It will rely on a collection agency to bill the inmates. Carr says the message is, if you “can’t pay for the time, don’t do the crime.”

Fergus Falls will once again be hosting hundreds of bikers July 29th, 2010, when the National MS Society’s annual MS TRAM tour, sponsored by the Star Tribune, rolls through town. The Fergus Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau received word Thursday night that Fergus Falls had been chosen as a host city. Cyclists participating in the 2010 MS TRAM tour will spend Thursday night (July 29th) in Fergus Falls and then ride on the Central Lakes Trail to Alexandria.

Fergus Falls has only once previously hosted the Star Tribune MS TRAM tour, which was in 2007.

U Motors will be closing its Fergus Falls location, just of Interstate 94, before Santa delivers presents this year. The business, which sells snowmobiles, ATV’s, dirt bikes, as well as a variety of racing clothing merchandise, will officially be closed for business December 1st, 2009. According to U Motors employees in Fergus Falls, owners of U Motors were not satisfied with the sales of the Fergus Falls store.Customers looking for going-out-of-business deals, currently can get 50% off all of their apparel, helmets, and jackets. All of their other inventory is being sold for “at cost”.

Their Fargo location, on 38th Street Southwest, will remain open. U Motors purchased former Edge Motor-sports in late 2007, and later opened their 30,000 square foot facility off Interstate 94.

Lakeland Hospice and Home Care celebrated the completion of their new Hospice House on Tuesday. The $2.6 million project has been under construction for the past several months. While the facility is finished, patients won’t move into the center until later this month. The facility features a private balcony in each patients room, as well as individual temperature controls. In addition, there’s a elevator, chapel, and a children’s play room. On average, room and board at the Hospice House costs $185 per day. The next closest Hospice House is located in St. Cloud/