Haugen
CRIME & SAFETY
Competency exam ordered for man accused of stabbing assault
A 26-year-old charged with aggravated battery after being accused of stabbing a man on Aug. 6 in Rice Lake will be examined to determine if he is competent. Jonathan T. Christianson, of Rice Lake, was charged on Aug. 8 with three felonies — aggravated battery-intend great bodily harm, first-degree recklessly endangering safety and intimidation of a victim — plus misdemeanor criminal damage to property in Barron County Circuit Court. Christianson appeared in court on Friday, and Judge James Babler ordered a competency exam. The defendant is in jail on a $25,000 cash bond. If convicted of aggravated battery, Christianson faces a maximum penalty of a $50,000 fine and 15 years in prison.
New policy in place for Shell Lake police ride-alongs
SHELL LAKE — The Shell Lake City Council got an update on the new policy for police ride-alongs from the General Administration Committee at its meeting Monday, Aug. 12. General Administration (GA) Committee Chair Rob Anderson said Shell Lake Interim Police Chief Mike Jaszcak had asked if the Police Department could conduct ride-alongs. At the GA meeting on Aug. 7, Jaszcak said the benefit outweighs the risk significantly, and adult ride-alongs are not an issue. He said he would do background checks, and the officer...
1977 Five Mile Tower Fire: When an army of kids battled the monster
Memories were stirred last week as Bill Matthias, former superintendent at Northwood School in Minong, visited the Spooner Memorial Library for a presentation. His topic was the 1977 Five Mile Tower Fire. Many will recall that huge wildland fire, which raged out of control April 29-30 of 1977, until the mop-up on May 1. It was ignited by a campfire that got away and erupted thanks to tinder-dry conditions. Once it jumped into the dry jackpines, it became a crown fire and took on a...
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