Thursday, September 12, 2013

Volume 98; Number 12

www.bladepublishing.net staff@bladepublishing.net

A community newspaper serving Browerville, MN and surrounding areas. USPS 067-560

75

BHS welcomes new personnel

make her proud and continue the work she started.

Todd Board learns new levy limit from state

By Rin Porter At the work session that followed the Sept. 3 board meeting, Todd County commissioners learned from Auditor/Treasurer Karen Busch that the State of Minnesota had set a levy limit of $13,272,090 for Todd County for 2013 pay 2014 property taxes. The one-year levy limit was passed by the Minnesota Legislature during its 2013 session to apply to counties with over 5,000 population. It was part of the Omnibus Tax Bill of 2013 which included a number of measures that affected counties and their tax revenues. The levy amount is $795,064 less than the estimated 2014 county budget of $14,067,154 being compiled by county officials. Discussion about how to provide for that difference between the levy and projected expenses took up quite a bit of time at the work session. Busch told commissioners there would be enough money coming in from tax revenues to cover the difference between the levy amount and the budget amount. Our reserves and fund balances are sitting well, she said. Busch explained that some of the new money that would come in during 2014 tax collection would be used to pay budgeted expenses, instead of being placed in reserve funds. Board Chair Randy Neumann wanted to remove some items from the budget to decrease the difference between the levy and the budget. Commissioner Dave Kircher and Busch disagreed with him, saying if the items were removed, and then found to be necessary expenses, the money would not be there in the budget. Just because an item is listed in the budget doesnt mean the money MUST be spent during the year. But if an item is not in the budget, it is difficult to find the money for it later. Neumann asked Busch for the percentage amount the levy would increase. She did not have the information, but said she would calculate the percentage and inform commissioners by email. The next regular board meeting on Sept. 17 is the deadline for approving the preliminary budget and levy. The vote will be taken by the board then. Also at the work session, commissioners discussed a constituents question about why the county had an office in the city of Continued on page 12 Staples.

Anthony (Tony) Sanders

This is my first teaching position. I graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead with a B.M. Degree in music education. I have always had a gift with music and I began to find enjoyment in sharing my talents with others and teaching them about music and instruments. I live in Long Prairie, but my hometown is Brooten. My family consists of my dad, an electrician, my mom, an English teacher at BBE, and my sister attends UND studying physical therapy. My goal for this year is to get to know my students, the staff and music program as a whole. I also enjoy woodworking, playing trumpet, hunting, sports, and video games. Continued on page 12

Mandie Allen.

Anthony (Tony) Sanders State and received my teaching degree there. My husband, children and I live in Burtrum. We are big Twins baseball fans and I also enjoy gardening, playing games and spending time at the lake. I hope to be as successful at the SLP I am replacing . She was here for a long time and was an important part of the Special Education Program. I hope to

Mandie Allen
This is my first teaching assignment, but I worked at the Long Prairie Schools as their Hispanic/Migrant Liaison. I decided to become a teacher when my son received speech therapy and I discovered that I really wanted to become involved in speech and language pathology. I attended St. Cloud

Christ the King School welcomes kindergarten students

Kimberly Burkett case postponed again

By Rin Porter Defendant Kimberly Burkett appeared before Judge Jay Carlson in the Todd County Justice Center on Sept. 4, but the hoped-for end of the case did not happen. Instead, Burketts attorney Gregory Larson asked for and received another delay in the case, this time to present a mysterious document to the court. Burkett was arrested May 16, 2012, and charged with felony theft of movable property and felony theft by swindle. Her case has included numerous motions and substitutions of counsel and has been continued, cancelled, or postponed more than nine times. Burkett was the former director of the Long Prairie Chamber of Commerce, and was accused of misusing funds amounting to more than $29,000 between mid-2011 and April 2012. The new document to be provided to the court, according to Larson, is a challenge to the probable cause to arrest and charge Burkett in the first place. It is to be composed of reliable hearsay, according to Larson, and will be filed by Sept. 18. The prosecutions response is to be filed by Sept. 25. After both documents are received, Judge Carlson will take the matter under advisement and render a decision on the validity of the probable cause. Prosecutor Michelle Eldien told the court, I dont know what reliable hearsay is, but I would like seven days to respond. Judge Carlson granted her request. Larson also asked the court to consider dropping one of Burketts release conditions: that she not leave the state without the courts permission. Judge Carlson was not in favor of that, and ruled that Burkett would have to inform the court of each request to leave the state, and he would decide on a case-by-case basis whether she would be permitted such travel. Larson said Burkett was having difficulty finding employment, and believed she would have to leave Minnesota in order to find a job, due to the allegations against her.

The Christ the King 2013-14 Kindergarten Class: Elizabeth Perish, Faith Wiebe, Isaac Tolifson

Greyson DeJesus, Jayden Schultz,

WEEKLY WEATHER REPORT

Tue. Sept. 10 Partly Cloudy 81/57 Wed. Sept. 11 Mostly Sunny 79/49 Thur. Sept. 12 Mostly Sunny 72/42 Fri. Sept. 13 Sunny 70/48 Sat. Sept. 14 T-Storms 63/51 Sun. Sept. 15 Partly Cloudy 67/43