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14-Oct-2026

Drug Sentencing

A 30-year-old Lakeville, Minnesota man has been sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl to Bemidji and the Red Lake Nation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Marquise Javon Walker was sentenced in U.S. District Court today. He pleaded guilty on April 3. According to court documents, starting no later than Mar. 31, 2024 and continuing through at least Sep. 10 of that year, Walker entered into an agreement or understanding with others to distribute fentanyl and other controlled substances. On Mar. 31, 2024, the defendant drove from the Twin Cities metro area to Bemidji to assist a co-conspirator’s drug distribution activities. On Apr. 13, 2024, the defendant’s co-conspirator sold approximately 48 grams of fentanyl to a buyer. In the following months, law enforcement seized an additional amount of fentanyl, approximately 267 grams, as well as 29.5 grams of methamphetamine from the defendant’s co-conspirator through a series of controlled purchases. Walker’s co-defendants, 40-year-old La’Veal O. Allen of Minneapolis and 38-year-old Michaela K. McKinney of New Hope, Minnesota are currently awaiting sentencing.

14-Oct-2026

Man Dies At Boat Landing

Meeker County authorities are investigating the death of a man at the Lake Washington boat landing on Monday. Sheriff's deputies and emergency medical personnel were dispatched at 1:20 p.m. to the public landing in the 68000 block of 215th Street in Ellsworth Township. The sheriff's office says 56-year-old Edward Chabot of Watertown and his wife were working to bring their pontoon to shore when the incident happened. Chabot was standing in the water and was working on the pontoon when he went under the water. Chabot was brought to shore where life-saving efforts were performed. Chabot was then taken to Hutchinson Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Meeker County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Meeker County Community Paramedic, a DNR conservation officer, Dassel Rescue, and Allina Ambulance.

13-Oct-2026

Baler Fire

A baler is considered a total loss after a fire on Saturday. The Meeker County Sheriff's Office says they received a call around 6:30 p.m. about a baler on fire in a field near the 31800 block of 620th Avenue in Harvey Township, which is near Litchfield. The Meeker County Sheriff's Office and Litchfield Fire Department responded. Once at the scene, authorities say they found a baler fully engulfed in flames. The fire had spread to the field as well. The landowner and operator, 70-year-old Timothy Peterson, was not hurt in the fire. The baler was a total loss, and the tractor that was pulling it was also damaged.

13-Oct-2026

Man Sentenced For Stabbing

A 45-year-old Park Rapids man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for first-degree assault after stabbing a man numerous times in October of 2025. Charles Justus pleaded guilty in August to the assault. The 17 years is an upward departure from the Minnesota sentencing guidelines. As part of the plea agreement, additional charges of first- and second-degree attempted murder and burglary were dropped. Justus admitted entering the victim’s trailer, which was his home, without permission and stabbing him multiple times. Medical records show the victim was stabbed eight times and suffered a collapsed lung, a rib fracture, and a damaged diaphragm.

13-Oct-2026

Sauna Fire

No one was hurt when a sauna caught fire over the weekend. The Meeker County Sheriff's Office received a call around 10:00 p.m. on Saturday about a sauna against the outside of a home on fire in the 72600 block of 243rd Street in Dassel Township. A neighbor alerted the homeowner, 39-year-old Johnathan Hohenstein, who was home, about the sauna being on fire.   The Dassel and Cokato Fire Departments, along with Meeker County Deputies and the Minnesota State Patrol, responded. Firefighters were able to put out the fire before it spread to the house. Hohenstein was not hurt, and no injuries were reported. Authorities say preliminary investigation indicates the fire spread from the wood-burning stove inside the sauna. The sauna was a total loss.

13-Oct-2026

Two Vehicle Crash

One person was hurt in a crash in Starbuck late Monday morning. The crash happened around 11:30 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 29 and Bingham Street. The Minnesota State Patrol says an SUV being driven by 54-year-old Louise Helgeson of Cyrus and a van being driven by 62-year-old Brian Midthun of Long Prairie were both going west on the highway when they crashed. Helgeson was taken to Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood with non-life-threatening injuries.  Midthun was not hurt in the crash.