February 15, 2023
Representative John Burkel
309 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155
Representative Burkel,
I am writing you today over a greatly concerning proposed bill that has been introduced into legislation: HF396. This bill would require law abiding citizens to store firearms and ammunition separately inside their own homes. This is a dangerous overreach of State authority and a direct violation of the Second Amendment.
If passed, this bill would not only hinder law-abiding citizens from protecting themselves in their own homes, but also turn legal gun-owning citizens into criminals if they choose to be prepared to defend themselves from intruders, or for farmers to protect livestock from predators. In its current form, Minnesota State Statute 609.666 prohibits negligent storage of firearms. This current law is sufficient to protect our children from coming into unsupervised contact with firearms.
12/08/22
Rocksbury Fire Update
The deceased female discovered in the house fire has been identified as 70-year-old Audrey Miller. The case continues to be under investigation.
12/07/22
A residential house fire was reported in Rocksbury Township in the early morning hours on December 7th,2022. The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Thief River Falls Police Department, Thief River Falls Fire Department, and the State Fire Marshall’s Office responded. The fire was extinguished and upon investigation it was discovered that a female was deceased inside the residence. This case remains under investigation. No further information will be released until notification of next of kin. No other injuries reported.
Chief Deputy Seth Vettleson
12/07/22
A residential house fire was reported in Rocksbury Township in the early morning hours on December 7th,2022. The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Thief River Falls Police Department, Thief River Falls Fire Department, and the State Fire Marshall’s Office responded. The fire was extinguished and upon investigation it was discovered that a female was deceased inside the residence. This case remains under investigation. No further information will be released until notification of next of kin. No other injuries reported.
Chief Deputy Seth Vettleson
On September 8th, 2022, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office received numerous 911 calls reporting an apparent explosion at a mobile home just outside Thief River Falls. The Thief River Falls Fire Department responded to the scene and was assisted by the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Thief River Falls EMS, and the Thief River Falls Police Department.
No injuries were reported at this time and no further information will be released. The apparent explosion is being investigated by the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigator Scott Mekash
Pennington County Sheriff’s Office
The new Corrections (Jail) Phone Number is 218-416-7097. Please call this number for any inmate related questions.
Inmate voice mail line is 218-416-1120.
Sentence to Serve (STS) / Wade Cota - 218-683-7001
Jail Administrator / Dave Casanova - 218-416-7095 * Assistant Jail Administrator / Jo Williams - 218-416-7098 * Jail Programmer / Travis Black - 218-416-7082