PINE CITY
THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2019 VOL. 134 NO. 3 www.pinecitymn.com $1.00
HOT SHOTS: Pine City High School varsity hockey celebrates pair of victories. P10
Four remain in special senate race Special Primary Tuesday, Jan. 22 BY MIKE GAINOR EDITOR@PINECITYMN.COM
Four candidates remain in the race to fill the state senate seat for Minnesota’s District 11 – and soon that list will be down to three. Candidates include John “Sparky” Birrenbach, Legal Marijuana Now party; Michelle Lee, DFL; Jason Rarick, Republican and Stu Lourey, DFL. A special primary will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 22 for the two DFL candidates seeking the nomination: Lee and Lourey. Minnesota’s District 11 covers all of Pine and Carlton counties and parts of Kanabec
John “Sparky” Birrenbach
Michelle Lee
and St. Louis counties. The state senate seat for District 11 became vacant after Senator Tony Lourey resigned from the position on Jan. 3 in order to become the Minnesota Human Services commissioner in the administration of Governor Tim Walz.
Stu Lourey
REPUBLICANS NOMINATE RARICK District 11 Republicans held an endorsing convention at Tobies Restaurant in Hinckley on the evening of Jan. 8. All candidates agreed to abide by that endorsement. Republican candidates included: • District 11B State Represen-
tative Jason Rarick • Pine City Mayor Carl Pederson • Pine City resident Matthias Shir • 8th Congressional District Republican Deputy Chairman Justin Krych After the convention voted to
Jason Rarick
endorse Rarick, the three other candidates pulled out of the race by the withdrawal deadline on Jan. 9. HOW TO VOTE Absentee ballots for the SEE SENATE, PAGE 14
DWIs on upswing in Pine City ‘Grandpa scam’ callers BY MIKE GAINOR EDITOR@PINECITYMN.COM
In his January report to the Pine City Council, Pine County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Aaron Quesenberry said that officers patrolling Pine City saw an increase in DWIs this past month. “They’re not wanting to make use of the taxi service, evidently – or a sober ride,” Quesenberry said. “So we’ve been dealing a lot more with that.” He said that several cars stolen in Pine City over the past two months have been returned to their owners, and that criminal charges are being pressed against people believed to be involved with the thefts. Other incidents within the city limits included a man suspected of breaking open the laundry machines in area apartment buildings and stealing the money out of them. Deputies also dealt with public safety issues connected to the first big snowfall of the year. Quesenberry noted that deputies spent significant time in Pine City responding to criminals targeting local businesses. “Walmart continues to be, and will probably always be, a continual source of sheriff’s
office calls, both during contract hours and during non-contract hours, because people think things should just jump off the shelves and into their pockets,” Quesenberry said. ZONING CHANGES The lots between 8th Ave. SW and Hillside Avenue on Main Street have had their zoning designation changed to the General Business District, while the two school parcels on 8th Street SW between 6th Ave. SW and 7th Ave. SW have been changed to the Central Business District. The city also added five new conditional uses to the Central Business District, including multi-family dwellings. In her report to the city council, Pine City Community Development Director Lezlie Sauter wrote that the changes would give the city more flexibility and assist future business development, and support housing in the area. “The addition also embraces the residential uses of properties that have always been residential and protects the future use of those properties from becoming a non-conforming SEE CITY, PAGE 13
target local residents BY MIKE GAINOR EDITOR@PINECITYMN.COM
It’s a scam that takes a person’s instinctive love for family and turns it against them. Since 2010, scammers have been calling residents in Pine County using the “grandpa scam.” And now they’re at it again. Walter (not his real name) lives off of Pokegama Lake and has since 1996. The other day he got a call from a number he didn’t recognize. The Caller ID said “Hamilton County.” “Now there’s no Hamilton County in Minnesota,” Walter said. “That’s OK. I thought, robo (call), let’s get rid of it.” He picked up the phone, said hello, and a young male caller spoke.
“In kind of a weary voice he said, ‘Grandpa?’” This is the first step in the scam. Walter responded the way any grandparent would. “I thought it sounded like my grandson Zach,” Walter said. “I said, “Zach, are you OK? What’s going on?’” The caller told him that someone t-boned his car. He didn’t have his seat belt on and he broke his nose. “He said, ‘Grandpa, I’m in a lot of pain. I need your help.’ I said, ‘Hey, Zach. Calm down. We’re going to take care of it. How can I help you?’” The caller gave Walter a phone number, saying it was the number for an attorney. SEE SCAM, PAGE 14
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