Sarah Smith
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Sarah Smith is the outdoors editor. She covers courts, business and breaking news in addition to outdoors events.
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SSmith@parkrapidsenterprise.com
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A Park Rapids man who died in a grocery store parking lot in September suffered from a heart ailment, an autopsy has revealed. Ryan E. Allmon, 32, was found dead in his vehicle, which rolled into two guard poles surrounding a power box between Coborn's grocery store and Walgreens drug store in downtown Park Rapids. "The car accident didn't kill him," police chief Terry Eilers said. "There wasn't really an accident. He died of a dilated cardiomyopathy. Swollen heart was the cause of death." Toxicology tests showed no trace of alcohol.
The attorney for a Guthrie man charged in a marijuana growing operation said he would mount a legal challenge to the first search warrant executed on his property. Robert Wallner, the Bemidji attorney retained by Perry Raymond Eddy, 51, said he plans to file a motion challenging the probable cause portion of an initial search warrant conducted on Eddy's property in northeast Hubbard County Sept.
Looser federal eligibility requirements for food stamps may prompt a flood of new applications locally. It certainly will increase the potential pool of those eligible, estimated at 70,000 statewide. It will also result in nearly unmanageable caseloads for financial workers becoming more so, said Hubbard County Social Services Director Daryl Bessler. The state Department of Human Services is estimating as many as 70,000 more people could be eligible for food assistance under new rules promulgated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the food stamp program.
There may or may not be a new sheriff by the time you read this story, which went to press before the election results were known. Regardless of who it is, it has cost both men running for the job a wad of money. Expenditures for the Hubbard County Sheriff's race hit the $40,000 mark and continue to rise. Recent filings in the Hubbard County Auditor's office show expenses for Frank Homer at $17,440.52. That's in addition to his two previous filings, which totaled $877.08. The current sheriff's latest expenditures are reported for the period ending Oct.
Menahga mayor Tom Larson was defeated Tuesday in a three-way race by Patrick Foss. Alden Yliniemi and Roger Henstorf won council seats. In the school board race, the top three vote-getters were Mel Lockhart, Ernest Huhta Jr., and Jon Kangas.
In state legislative races, two DFL incumbents lost their seats Tuesday in a Republican wave that re-captured both Minnesota House and Senate. Dist. 4 Sen. Mary Olson of Bemidji and Dist. 2B Rep. Brita Sailer of Park Rapids both went down to defeat. Olson was beaten 45.25 percent to Bemidji insurance man John Carlson's 54.59 percent as of Wednesday morning. Sailer was defeated 47.54 percent to Bemidji businessman Dave Hancock's 52.37 percent. The only local Democrat to retain his seat was Dist. 2 Sen.
In state legislative races, two DFL incumbents lost their seats Tuesday in a Republican wave that re-captured both Minnesota House and Senate. Dist. 4 Sen. Mary Olson of Bemidji and Dist. 2B Rep. Brita Sailer of Park Rapids both went down to defeat. Olson was beaten 45.25 percent to Bemidji insurance man John Carlson's 54.59 percent as of Wednesday morning. Sailer was defeated 47.54 percent to Bemidji businessman Dave Hancock's 52.37 percent. The only local Democrat to retain his seat was Dist. 2 Sen.
There's a new sheriff in town. Sgt. Cory Aukes unseated Hubbard County Sheriff Frank Homer by 500 votes Tuesday evening in a race where expenditures topped $40,000. "I'm overwhelmed right now," Aukes said at midnight. He said he would work with Homer the next two months to ensure a smooth transition into office when he assumes it Jan. 4, 2011. Aukes garnered 5,021 votes to Homer's 4,534. In the District 1 commission race, challenger Kathy Grell unseated incumbent Don Carlson, who was seeking a second term. "I'm thrilled to be working for Hubbard County," Grell said.
It's a great day to vote. Polls will be open in Hubbard and surrounding counties generally until 8 p.m. Check with your county auditor if you have questions about where to vote. The Enterprise will launch a special module at 8 p.m.
Two 15-year-olds were hospitalized following an ATV rollover Saturday in Becker County. The 15-year-old male from Park Rapids was transported to St. Joseph's Area Health Services for treatment of a fractured wrist, according to a dispatcher. A 15-year-old girl from Osage was airlifted to Sanford Health in Fargo as a precaution, where she is hospitalized with fractured wrists and a collapsed lung.