BRDTF Drug Bust
On 2/26/2020 the Buffalo Ridge Drug Task Force executed a narcotics search warrant on the residence of Melvin Smith, at 812 2nd Street SE #2, Pipestone. Prior to executing the search warrant, BRDTF Agents encountered Smith outside the residence. After Agents advised Smith of the search warrant, and during an attempt to conduct a pat-down search for weapon, Smith physically resisted, ran away from and attempted to flee the BRDTF Agents on foot. BRDTF agents were able to catch and subdue Smith without injury after the deployment of the taser.
During the subsequent search of the residence, BRDTF agents located an ACE hardware bag in a walk-in closet. Inside the ACE bag BRDTF Agents located six individually wrapped packages of methamphetamine each weighing between 29.22 grams and 29.42 grams, having a total weight of 176.3 grams.
Additionally in the bathroom shower on a soap shelf, BRDTF Agents located another baggie of methamphetamine weighing 8.08 grams.
Melvin Smith was arrested and is currently be held in the Pipestone County Jail on charges of 1st Degree Controlled Substance Sales Crimes and 1st Degree Controlled Substance Possession Crimes.
The total methamphetamine seized by the BRDTF has an estimated street value of $23,000.
The Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office assisted the BRDTF with this investigation.
Second Annual Trivia Night!
Put on your thinking caps and join the Murray County Historical Society for a friendly history trivia competition! No history degree necessary! The trivia will take place on Saturday, March 14 at the Hadley Community Center (150 S Main St., Hadley) starting at 7pm. Registration for teams is $25 for 3-6 people per team. Advanced registration is required. First prize is half the pot after expenses, but no less than $50. Drinks available by the Hadley Liquor Store Bar. Proceeds go towards the Murray County Historical Society’s preservation efforts for the historic Dinehart-Holt House and Murray County History Museum. Bring a group or come alone to enjoy snacks, drinks, and the chance to win money. Deadline to sign up a team is March 6. Be sure to have a team name in mind when you sign up! Registration of teams or questions can be directed to the Murray County Historical Museum at 507-836-6533 or museum@co.murray.mn.us.
Memory Café Coming to Murray County!
Memory Café is a social outing for people experiencing memory issues/loss and their Caregiver. It is a time for good conversation, coffee or water, and a snack. Beginning this spring, Memory Café will be held on the first Tuesday of the month during the months of March, April and May at 2 pm in the Community Room at the Slayton Library. This program is sponsored by MCDAN (Murray County Dementia Awareness Network) and A.C.E. of SW Minnesota – Murray County thru a Dementia Grant from the MN Board on Aging.
FIREARMS SAFETY COURSE TO BEGIN IN SLAYTON
Minnesota Firearms Safety classes will be held at the Beaver Creek Archery Club in Slayton (1945 Engebretson Ave) on the following dates: March 17, 19, 24, 26, 31 and April 2, 2020. Class sessions will run from 5:30 – 8:30pm. The field day is scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 2020. Attendance at all class sessions and the field day are mandatory for receiving a firearms safety certificate.
The course is open to all persons who will be at least 12 years old by December 31, 2020. Class size is limited to 25 students. All students should pre-register prior to the first class in order to ensure attendance. Contact Wendy Krueger at 507-220-3408. The cost is $12.50 per student ($5 due 1st session, $7.50 due online after class completion).
A parent is required to attend the first class for approximately 1 hour to register their child and receive additional information.
The firearms safety course involves safe gun handling, care of firearms, live firing, hunting ethics and wildlife management. Do not bring a firearm or ammunition to class!
Dairy Princess Banquet approaching
SLAYTON, Minn. (2/14/2020) — Midwest Dairy Association of Murray County will hold their annual Dairy Princess Banquet on Saturday, March 21 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church fellowship hall in Slayton. A delicious meal catered by VanBully’s will begin at 7:30 p.m. MCC Rebel Voices and pianist Dayne Bose are the evening’s featured entertainment. The 2020 Dairy Princess will be crowned and many door prizes will be given away throughout the evening. Anyone wishing to support the local dairy industry is invited to attend.
Potential dairy princess candidates are encouraged to contact princess coordinator Jodi Beckmann for contest information (PH: 507-836-6891).
Tickets for the event are $10.00 and can be obtained from the Extension Office in Slayton or by contacting any of the following Murray County Midwest Dairy Association officers: Dave Schwartz, Slayton; Bill Post, Chandler; Dan Dysthe, Slayton; Wayne Spielman, Westbrook; Dave Bau, Slayton; Don Van Eck, Ruthton; Jodi Beckmann, Slayton.
MINNESOTA BRAILLE AND TALKING BOOK LIBRARY COMES TO SLAYTON AND MARSHALL LIBRARIES
Information Sessions to be Held at Two SW MN Libraries
The Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library’s Head Librarian, Catherine A. Durivage, is coming to two local libraries in Southwest Minnesota. Durivage will share information about the free braille and audio services available to Minnesotans living with visual, physical, or reading disabilities. These information sessions will take place on Wednesday, March 11 at 2:00 p.m. at the Slayton Public Library and Thursday, March 12 at noon at the Marshall-Lyon County Library. The same information will be presented at both sessions.
“The Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library (MBTBL) is one of the state’s best kept secrets,” said Marshall-Lyon County Adult Services Librarian Erin Conway. “I think individuals and their caregivers will be surprised to learn that they may qualify to receive books and magazines in either Braille or audio formats mailed direct to their doors. This service is for preschool age children through seniors. We are very excited to have the Head Librarian, Catherine, come to both Slayton and Marshall to share information regarding eligibility and the exciting things happening with this program.”
The Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library is part of a national program that receives materials from the Library of Congress’s National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. Individuals who are unable to come to an information session may contact their local library to learn more about the program or visit education.mn.gov/MDE/fam/mbtbl/. Additional information on the sessions can be found at mlclibrary.org/events
For additional information, please contact the Slayton Public Library at 836-8778.
FSA Encourages Producers to Enroll Soon in Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages agricultural producers to enroll now in the Agriculture Risk Loss (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. March 15, 2020 is the enrollment deadline for the 2019 crop year.
Although more than 200,000 producers have enrolled to date, FSA anticipates 1.5 million producers will enroll for ARC and PLC. By enrolling soon, producers can beat the rush as the deadline nears. Murray County is 70% signed up, 500 farms remain to come in.
FSA offices have multiple programs competing for the time and attention of our staff. Because of the importance and complexities of the ARC and PLC programs; and to ensure FSA meets your program delivery expectations, please do not wait to start the enrollment process. Stop by the FSA county office soon to ensure your elections are made and contracts signed well ahead of the deadlines.
ARC and PLC provide financial protections to farmers from substantial drops in crop prices or revenues and are vital economic safety nets for most American farms.
The programs cover the following commodities: barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium and short grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.
Until March 15, producers who have not yet enrolled in ARC or PLC for 2019 can enroll for both 2019 and 2020 during the same visit to an FSA county office unless yield updates are requested. Additionally, farm owners have a one-time opportunity to update PLC payment yields that take effect beginning with crop year 2020. If the owner accompanies the producer to the office, the yield update and enrollments may be completed during the same office visit.
For more information contact your local FSA office. Online ARC and PLC election decision tools are available at fsa.usda.gov/arc/plc.
Early Childhood Opportunities at Murray County Central Schools
Little Rebels Preschool enrolls children from ages 3 to 5 as of September 1st. We are a 4-star rated program through the MN Parent Aware Program, which allows us to offer full scholarships to those who financially qualify. Both teachers have a MN State Early Childhood teaching license, and we offer class ratios of 10:1 with a maximum of 18 students per class. Classes are 3 hours a day and offered 2 or 4 days per week. We are currently in year 3 of a 5 year initiative with the MN Centers of Excellence to help us ensure we are a high quality program that offers engaging opportunities to all children enrolled.
Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is a program for parents/caregivers and their children from birth to kindergarten entrance. We offer play and learning experiences that encourage the development of skills, readiness for school, and provide information and support for parents. The first portion of the class is designed for the parent/caregiver and child to engage in activities set up by a licensed teacher, while the second portion is set up for parents to separate to another room for parent time, allowing the children to play with other children under the supervision of a teacher and paraprofessional. ECFE also offers 1 time events for families unable to commit to longer sessions. The 1 time events are free and open to the public with pre-registration requested to ensure sufficient materials.
Upcoming Events:
*ECFE Spring Session starts March 16th with a focus on school readiness for kids ages 3 years to kindergarten - registration is now open!
*“Starbooks” an ECFE special event will be held on Saturday May 2nd (more information will be released closer to the date!)
*Little Rebels Preschool is now enrolling students for the 2020-2021 school year
2 days a week (kids who are 3 years old)
4 days a week (kids who are 4 or 5 years old)
Please visit www.mcc.mntm.org/early-learning-programs or call 507-836-6945 to register or learn more about Preschool or ECFE!
Cory Ann Skogrand Achieves Ameriprise Private Wealth Advisor Status
Marshall, MN – February 24.2020 – Cory Ann Skogrand, CFP®, ChFC®, CASL®, CLU®, RICP®, with Van der Hagen, Skogrand & Associates, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. has become an Ameriprise Financial Private Wealth Advisor.
Skogrand is among the 17 percent of approximately 10,000 Ameriprise financial advisors to achieve this status.1
Ameriprise Private Wealth Advisors provide personalized client service and are dedicated to meeting the complex and unique financial needs of their clients. To become eligible for this status, advisors must be experienced in providing a comprehensive approach to financial planning and advice, complete specialized training and achieve exceptional business results
As a Private Wealth Advisor, Skogrand provides financial advice that is anchored in a solid understanding of client needs and expectations and provided in one-on-one relationships with her clients. She has served the Marshall area since 1998. For more information, please contact Cory Ann Skogrand at (507) 532-2219 or visit the Ameriprise office at 122 N. Third Street.
About Ameriprise Financial
At Ameriprise Financial, we have been helping people feel confident about their financial future for more than 125 years. With a network of approximately 10,000 financial advisors and outstanding asset management, advisory and insurance capabilities, we have the strength and expertise to serve the full range of consumer financial needs. For more information, visit ameriprise.com or https://editor.ameripriseadvisors.com/advisoradmin/advisoreditor/corrine.2.skogrand
1 Ameriprise internal reporting.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC., a registered investment adviser.
Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC.
© 2020 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.
Good News
By: John Stenen
When I was a young Christian back in the ‘70’s, an elderly missionary spoke at our Church. He told us of how God called him and a few others to go to a certain area of Mexico to go to all the villages in that area and to preach the gospel of Christ; for many were bound in religious activity but did not know Jesus, as Savior and Lord. As they made their journey, they were told by a group of bandits to “Go home or we will kill you.” This threat did not deter them from their mission. One night as they left one of the villages, after a day of ministry, they were walking down the road, thanking and praising the Lord for the many who were converted to Christ and for divine protection. They passed an area with many large boulders on a nearby hillside just off the road. They saw the moon light reflect off the gun barrels of several rifles, but they just continued walking and praising God for divine protection. They were ready to die if necessary, their only desire was to be obedient to do what God had called them to do. They passed through the area with no harm to any of them. Many months later, the leader of the bandits came under great conviction and surrendered his life to Christ. He was asked by the missionary: “We knew you were in the rocks; we saw your rifles, why didn’t you shoot since you said you would kill us? “Are you kidding?” replied the former bandit, “With all those soldiers surrounding you?” Of course the missionaries knew that they there no soldiers with them. - God had sent some of His mighty angels. Our God is an awesome God! Ephesians 3:20 tells us: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” God also tells us that whatever we ask in prayer, believing, we shall have it. Do you think we often do not receive from God because we do not ask – and believe that He hears and answers? God bless.
