January Thaw to Delay Pond Hockey Tourney
S.M. Hentges Taking Scott County to Court
Boys’ Hoops Team Falls; Girls Win Page 11
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ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SIXTH YEAR
BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, january 18, 2017
75¢ SINGLE COPY
NUMBER 3
Belle Plaine Native is Right Where He Wants to Be James Fogarty Has His ‘Dream Job’
He recalls the many times he sat in a pasture at his grandfather John Halloran’s farm in Belle Plaine Township not far from Union Hill. James Fogarty watched ducks glide into a wildlife management area. It was a vision that cemented his career plans. Fogarty is one of the lucky ones, a person who works his dream job each and every day. He wouldn’t have it any other way. Fogarty is a new Department of Natural Resources conservation officer. He works in the La Crescent Station in southeastern Minnesota, one of the state’s most scenic areas. “This is a job that doesn’t feel like work to me,” Fogarty said. “I get to talk with people who are doing what I love to do.” He spends most of every day in the field, in a truck, on a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle meeting people out hunting, fishing or just hiking in the area’s many coulees (deep ravines). He has learned about the potential dangers of fishing on the Mississippi River, where the levels of water below the ice can fluctuate dramatically depending on the amount of water the U.S. Army Corps of Engi-
neers allows flowing through lock and damns at Genoa, Wis. and Dresbach, Minn. “It really changes how safe the ice is,” he said. “It can fluctuate dramatically in just a few hours.”
‘Standard’ Law Enforcement
Fogarty spent 13 years in what he calls “standard” law enforcement. His career started in 2003 as a dispatcher and corrections officer with the Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Office. He was later hired as a road deputy and later promoted to detective with the Carver County Sheriff’s Of-
fice. Both jobs taught Fogarty skills he uses everyday as a conservation officer. In standard law enforcement, when he wasn’t responding to calls, Fogarty learned to work with people, showing them the best ways to safely enjoy the outdoors. He constantly preaches safety to people he meets during his work as a conservation officer. As a road deputy and later detective, he learned about details of an incident or a crime were chronicled and properly handled. Along the way, Fogarty realized his true calling as a conservation officer. He became the Carver County Sheriff’s Office’s unofficial go-to deputy on questions involving outdoor The cross in this display at Veterans Park in Belle Plaine will be removed following a comsafety regulations and laws. plaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The soldier and rifle will remain. Just as in standard law enforcement, the overwhelming majority of people Fogarty deals with as a conservation officer are basically good people who may need some reminders about safety. Rarely does his work enter the realm of someone breaking a law. Cross From Veterans rial sends a message that the being there,” said Ruehling, But when it does, Fogarty uses government cares only about adding that the display was his law enforcement and DNR Park Display to be the death of Christian soldiers put up several months ago by training. In the field, he’s the and is disdainful of the sacri- a family member of a recently Removed evidence technician and the infices made by non-Christian deceased veteran. vestigator all in one. He sees an and nonreligious soldiers, since During the holiday season of by Dan Ruud incident through, from discovit excludes the one-third of the 2015, the FFRF objected to “A Minnesota town is mulling ery to resolution. over a religious veterans war population that identifies as the community’s annual NativFogarty memorial. We need to persuade such. Please act appropriately ity Scene being placed on city city officials to proceed in the and move the religious display property (the police department (continued on page 6) off city property.” grounds). The foundation used right manner.” The Belle Plaine City Council its First Amendment right to The “town” referred to is held a “closed” meeting on the place a banner of its own next Belle Plaine and the statement comes from the Freedom From issue on Jan. 3, citing attorney/ to the Nativity Scene that read: Religion Foundation (FFRF) client privilege as the reason to “At this season of the Winkeep the meeting closed to the ter Solstice, let reason prevail. website. personnel. The women eventupublic and media. There are no Gods, no devils, “In Veterans Memorial Park in ally left the store. City Administrator Mike Vot- no angles, no heaven or hell. the city of Belle Plaine, Minn., The store manager followed ca did not disclose any details There is only our natural world. them out the door trying to get there is a display of a soldier from the closed meeting, but Religion is but a myth & superthe license plate number of their kneeling before a Latin cross along with Mayor Chris Meyer, stition that hardens hearts & envehicle. The criminal complaint next to the Veterans Memorial attended Monday night’s Belle slaves minds.” says Lee told the manager, “he Stone. This display was report- Plaine Veterans Club meeting, The banner was stolen a short was going to die.” He had to edly added to the park very and veterans representatives time after its placement before recently,” continues the FFRF jump out of the way as their agreed to remove the cross from being returned and then stolen vehicle left the parking lot with complaint, which it has present- the display, as recommended by again. ed to the city of Belle Plaine. Lee at the wheel. City Attorney Bob Vose. The While helping set up the NaInvestigators later learned the “We certainly have no objec- soldier and rifle will remain. tivity Scene on private grounds check was stolen from a per- tion to veterans’ memorials. Belle Plaine VFW Command- at JD’s Auto Service this past son in Iowa who did not know But it is unlawful for a city er Larry Ruehling said he’s the check had been stolen. The government to display patently “disgusted” the FFRF would go Religious Display information on the check from religious symbols on city propthis far. (continued on page 3) Lake Area Bank belonged to erty, even to commemorate our “I see nothing wrong with it veterans,” continues the FFRF another person who did not realize her check information had website. “It shows an endorsebeen stolen, according to the ment of religion over non-religion. Additionally, the memocriminal charge.
Freedom from Religion Foundation Demands Another Belle Plaine Display be Taken Off City Property
Woman Gets Prison Time for Check Forgery, Assault at B.P. Store A 24-year-old woman will spend time in prison for trying to cash a stolen and forged check at a Belle Plaine grocery store and then threatening the life of the store manager when staff declined to honor the check. After being convicted of forgery and assault in July of 2016, Mai Kai Lee of Cottage Grove was sentenced Jan. 6, 2017 to 366 days in prison for felony check forgery and fifth-degree assault, a misdemeanor. Judge Rex Stacey dismissed a third count against Lee, misdemeanor disorderly conduct. According to the criminal complaint, Lee was one of two women who tried to cash the worthless check for $412.05
at the Belle Plaine Coborn’s Superstore Feb. 28, 2016. The manager was familiar with the two women thanks to a security alert he had received from a Coborn’s store in Albertville, Minn. The women were pictured on the alert. They had previously used a stolen check to purchase $1,251 in merchandise from the Coborn’s in Albertville. The criminal charge says Belle Plaine store personnel tried to delay the transaction until police arrived. The two women grew frustrated with the holdup and threatened to call the police. They demanded the identification and check they had presented to Coborn’s store
Rural Fire Association’s 71st Annual Meeting Next Monday
The 71st annual meeting of the Belle Plaine Rural Fire Protection Association will take place 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23 at the Belle Plaine Fire Hall, 700 East Main Street. All rural residents in the Belle Plaine Fire District are members and are invited to attend. Food and refreshments will be served. The meeting will include the
distribution of the annual financial report, determination of yearly mill rate assessment and the election of officers. RFPA Secretary John Murphy said no major purchases or spending increases are expected for 2017. Three seats will be up in the election of officers. Included are those of Ralph Malz, Gary Schmitz and Larry Schmidt.
Strait Smiles Again Taking Part in ‘Give Kids A Smile’ Strait Smiles Family Dentistry is among hundreds of dentists across the state who are joining together to provide free dental care as participants in “Give Kids a Smile Day” on Friday, Feb. 3. This program is part of a larger campaign organized nationwide by the American Dental Association. Contact Strait Smiles Family Dentistry at 952-873-6380 if your organization knows of children who would benefit Belle Plaine High School was lined with yellow school busses outside and colorful costumes inside for Saturday’s Belle Plaine from this program. We would Blizzard Dance Invitational. B-squad, junior varsity and varsity teams from a dozen schools competed in the day-long event. love the opportunity to work Pictured above is the BPHS Explosion varsity team during the high kick competition (see results story on page 11).
A Dance Blizzard
with you to serve these children. Our office is located at 201 West Raven Street, Belle Plaine. Patients seeking appointments should be under the age of 18 and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Information on specific services that will be provided will be outlined when an appointment is scheduled.