15 minute read
Miller
In late January, the St. Cloud Police Department was noti ed of a sexual assault report involving Miller, 60, and the girl. The rst incident took place at the girl’s home in the Benton County portion of St. Cloud after a bon re. According to the complaint, the girl explained that Miller entered her bedroom March 30, after the bon re while she was watching TV and pretended to be sleeping. Miller allegedly entered the room and touched the girl inappropriately. The second occurrence, about one or two months later, the girl alleged that Miller entered her room when she was close to falling asleep, and groped the girl inappropriately once more. The girl said she was wearing clothes and rolled away to get him to stop, but she alleged Miller pulled her back toward him and continued to touch her. The girl said she sat up, and Miller “ducked down beside her bed, waited there for about a minute, and then got up and walked out,” according to the complaint. In an interview between Miller and law enforcement, Miller admitted he went into the girl’s bedroom at night to turn off the TV, and he searched for the remote, which was sometimes on the oor or on a blanket, but other times, he had to lift the blankets to nd it. In that interview, Miller estimated it had been about a year and a half since he had searched for the remote under the blankets while the girl was sleeping because he started to use the power button on the TV. The complaint states Miller denied ever groping or touching the 15-year-old “anywhere … that would be of a sexual nature.” After the two incidences occurred, the girl said she locked herself in the bathroom at night waiting for Miller to go to sleep as he was usually the last person awake in the house. She wrapped herself in multiple blankets, wore extra layers of clothes and made a barrier with pillows to protect herself from Miller. She also locked her door at night until Miller installed a “door blocker,” which prevented the door from locking. Miller said he installed the blocker at the request of the girl’s mother, but the girl’s mother said she never made that request, according to the complaint. Various members of the 15-year-old’s household were also interviewed, and they disclosed a similar version of both incidents as reported to them by the girl. The girl’s mother recalled several times within the last year that the 15-year-old locked herself in the bathroom late at night. Her siblings recalled her personality was different, and she avoided Miller and looked away from him when he talked to her. In the meantime, while Miller awaits court proceedings, Benton County Administrator Monty Headley said Miller can continue serving in his role as county attorney. “Since the county attorney is an elected of cial, he is not subject to the county’s personnel policies nor the control of the county board,” Headley said in an email. “Thus, the county board or the county administrator could not place him on administrative leave while the criminal case is underway.” Headley said Miller has not indicated whether he plans to take a leave of absence. The maximum penalty for the rst count of criminal sexual conduct 25 years imprisonment and a $20,000 ne. The second and third counts each carry maximum penalties of 10 years imprisonment and a $20,000 ne. Miller will make his rst appearance at 10:45 a.m. Aug. 18. Due to the con ict of interest in Benton County, the case is assigned to the Dakotah County attorney’s of ce. Miller and Miller’s attorney could not be reached for comment.
NEWS COVID-19 delta variant likely circulating locally
CDC updates mask wearing guidelines
BY JAKOB KOUNKEL STAFF WRITER
Editor’s note: Data as of Aug. 5 FOLEY – Benton County has 39 active COVID-19 cases, and in July, new daily infections did not eclipse nine cases. However, with the arrival of the COVID-19 delta variant, Benton County Public Health is asking residents to continue to be vigilant. “The delta variant is the main variant spreading in Minnesota and nationally,” said Jaclyn Lit n, Benton County community health supervisor, adding it is safe to assume the virus is spreading locally. Lit n said viruses, like the one that causes COVID-19, change and mutate. She said the best tool available to ght mutations and new infections is vaccination. Julie Willman, Benton County Public Health emergency preparedness coordinator, said 48% of county residents ages 12 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. That number is slowly trending upward, and Willman said Benton County Public Health continues to do its best to provide reliable information regarding the vaccine. Due to the gaining prominence and new evidence of the COVID-19 delta variant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its mask wearing guidance July 27. The CDC now recommends wearing a mask in public indoor settings if in an area of substantial or high transmission even if fully vaccinated. The CDC also purports that vaccinated people can participate in many of the activities they did before the pandemic, resume domestic travel and refrain from routine screening
testing if feasible. “Infections happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, even with the delta variant,” the CDC’s website reads regarding the new guidance. “However, preliminary evidence suggests that fully vaccinated people who do become infected with the delta variant can spread the virus to others.” Lit n said most new infections and deaths are stemming from unvaccinated people. She said vaccination is a personal choice, but she hopes those who have questions about the vaccine visit with reliable sources, like the CDC or Minnesota Department of Health, for more information. “People are sick of hearing about (the virus) and want it to go away, but the virus doesn’t care what we want,” Willman said. “Stay vigilant so we don’t have a repeat of last fall.” Lit n said everybody should continue to wash their hands and stay home when sick. Until fully vaccinated, residents should wear face masks indoors and outdoors when unable to social distance. According to Benton County’s COVID-19 dashboard, the county has experienced 5,914 cases since it rst appeared locally in March 2020. The dashboard reads that there have been 82 deaths linked to the coronavirus, including 283 hospitalized cases and 56 cases that needed intensive care unit treatment. The median age of those infected in Benton County is about 40 years old, with most cases coming from Sauk Rapids (2,600), Foley (1,152), Rice (883)), and the Benton County portions of St. Cloud (791), Sartell (308), Oak Park (103), Royalton (36) and Foreston (15). To nd a vaccination opportunity, visit the COVID-19 vaccine portion of Benton County’s website at co.benton. mn.us/654/COVID-19-vaccine. There, residents can schedule an appointment through the Minnesota Department of Health’s vaccine connector or schedule a vaccination appointment with CentraCare or Fairview Health. The website also offers information regarding types of COVID-19 vaccines, side effects, frequently asked questions, common myths and truths, and what to do after being fully vaccinated.
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Heat damage to plants
GREEN AND GROWING IN BENTON COUNTY BY LINDA G. TENNESON The University of Minnesota Extension published an article on the strange things that vegetable plants may be doing in this heat. Summarizing that information and from other research-based sources reveals that hot weather can cause tomato owers to wither and become brittle, and easily fall off the plant. Or, there may not be any owers at all. Vegetables such as tomatoes may start but then not ripen. Another result is plants that appear green and have plenty of leaves but no fruit. Other owers may drop off because of the extreme heat, or heat may hamper pollination because bees also suffer from extreme heat. Well-meaning gardeners may apply extra fertilizer, and the extra nitrogen encourages the production of green leaves but also stresses the plant. Sunscald may occur on vegetables or plant leaves. Sunscald may look like a discolored, dried out or a hardened area on fruit. Another heat result is only male owers appear on plants that produce male and female owers which must be pollinated by insects in order to produce fruit. This applies to cucurbits (pumpkins, squash, melons and cucumbers, etc.). Look for a swelling at the base of the ower bloom. A swelling indicates a female bloom that has the potential to develop into fruit. Remember that the edible part of vegetable plants that grow on top of the ground are technically fruit in a botanical sense. Dry soil may cause the stomata, or openings on the bottom sides of leaves, to close. These openings normally allow excess heat to leave the plant. Transpiration is the process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts, such as leaves, stems and owers. Water is necessary for plants, but only a small amount of water taken up by the roots is used for growth and metabolism. The remaining moisture leaves the plant similar to the perspiration that occurs in mammals. Photosynthesis also slows down when the heat is too high, about 94 degrees or more in the daytime or 75 degrees or more at night. Black plastic used as a mulch also contributes to high temperatures around plants because it absorbs heat. Plants such as corn, tomato, rhododendron and others curl their leaves in an attempt to conserve moisture. The edges of leaves may go brown as the plant attempts to conserve moisture. Or, as the plant senses dangerous conditions, it may bolt or produce seeds much earlier than usual. Shading plants may help them survive excess heat and drought. Soaker hoses will provide water to the soil without wasting any through evaporation that may occur when overhead watering is done. Plants should not be fertilized during these conditions. Do not transplant or stress plants by pruning them. Water deeply at weekly or spaced out intervals to encourage roots to extend deeply into the soil. Frequent but shallow watering encourages roots to remain close to the surface where they can easily dry out. An online search for “heat damage to plants” will provide more information on this subject. Linda G. Tenneson is a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener and Tree Care Advisor.
Making sense of design
LIFE BY FAITH BY MERCY NYGAARD A woman asked a question in a leadership group I am a part of. This life-giving leadership group is a resource that unites women for encouragement, elevating our character to elevate others within our circle of in uence to live for God’s glory. She asked, “Do you have a before and after story of when you embraced God’s design and it changed how you relate to men as a leader?” This question struck a chord in my heart as this subject has become my heart song. Before I had learned God’s design for womanhood, I didn’t know how to embrace it. I often came to church wondering where I t in and wondered what could the leadership do for me? What did they have and how could it bene t me? I saw areas that needed improvement and thought it was my duty as a sister in Christ to bring those areas to light for the good of the body. After I learned God’s plan for distinct gender roles and saw it unfold before my eyes so clearly from Susan Hunt’s books and Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth’s book, “Adorned,” I caught it. God’s story is tied to how he created us. It set me free to let go of power struggles in my marriage and my expectations about church. Now, when I see areas in my church that could be better, I pray the Lord shows me how I can help offer support. My new desire is to encourage the body by obeying Ephesians 4:29, letting no corrupt communication proceed out of my mouth except what is good for necessary edi cation, according to their needs that it may be a blessing. After I embraced God’s design, I started asking God to show me what I had and how it could bene t others, and then for him to multiply those things for his glory. I prayed for God to show me how I could help serve my family and family service became my ministry. I started putting into practice trusting God’s design for my husband to be the head of our family. I began learning how to love him and my children. The things I had done already, after salvation, became opportunities to model to my children in reading my Bible, praying out loud, trusting their dad as head of our house as Jesus trusts his father and showing how their dad loving me is just as Jesus loves the church. Teach-
ing what is good is teaching God’s purpose for submission, and equipping them to not simply submit to any authority. Because, submitting does not mean remaining quiet when harm is happening to you. As the children asked questions, we dove in the Bible to nd answers. From the over ow of my love for God and my family, I began to nd ways to help my church. I saw the heavy load and responsibilities our male leadership had, and I asked God if there were areas I could help lighten the load by serving women in women speci c needs. I prayed with them for help in loving their husbands and children, walking in purity, making and managing homes, teaching good, and trusting their husbands as the head, just as God was teaching me and always is. One thing has changed in how I relate to men as a leader. When we take what we are passionate about and hand it over fully to God for his glory, we come alongside men to help the body of Christ. When we speak life and give life by operating in our God given design, that helps lift up men to be who God created them to be. How cool is that? The more I’ve been practicing this and praying through it, both my husband and my pastor have given more trust and protection and oversight. This has also been a strong area of spiritual attack, loneliness, joy and personal growth. Why wouldn’t it be if God’s story is tied in with the way he created us and our gender speci c roles? The devil wants to distort how we perceive God’s design so we misunderstand God’s character. Ministry, for me, ows from a heart full of love for my family and for God, so God is glori ed and saints are revived. If there’s any truth to 19th century writer John Angell James’ following statement, then I am humbled and compelled to share God’s faithfulness. “Every woman, whether rich or poor, married or single, has a circle of in uence within which according to her character, she is exerting a certain amount of power for good or for harm,” James said. “Every woman, by her virtue or her vice, by her folly or her wisdom, by her levity or her dignity is adding something to our national elevation or degradation.”
Letter to Editor
Thank you to Howe, O’Driscoll
Brian Peters, executive director of Minnesota Police and Peace Of cers Association On behalf of our state’s police of cers, corrections of cers and dispatchers, we’re writing to publicly say thank you to Sen. Jeff Howe and Rep. Tim O’Driscoll for their steadfast support of increased public safety efforts during the past legislative session in St. Paul. With increasing crime, it’s especially important to stop all efforts to defund, demoralize or demonize public safety of cials who keep communities safe by deterring lawbreaking and aiding victims of crime. Howe and O’Driscoll are tremendous advocates for our rst responders and public safety of cials and stood against attempts to defund and dismantle the police. They voted to promote public safety legislation such as pay raises for law enforcement of cers and investments in training programs.
