Thursday, April 11, 2013
An Okoboji, IA, marina has refurbished the boat and plans to use it for dinner cruises, weddings and more.
The infamous Vikings “Love Boat” has sailed into a new harbor. The Dickinson County News reported Wednesday that The Parks Marina and Okoboji Boat Works in Okoboji, IA, has refurbished the 1994 SkipperLiner houseboat and will cruise it on the Iowa Great Lakes this summer. The marina plans to use the boat for dinner cruises, weddings and more, according to the Spirit Lake, IA, paper. The so-called Love Boat scandal broke Oct. 6, 2005 when a woman reported that seven people had urinated in her yard. Investigators later alleged that 17 Vikings players—including Daunte Culpepper, Bryant McKinne, Fred Smoot and Moe Williams—were on a boat in which players engaged in public sexual activity with women on the ship while crusing Lake Minnetonka. …
Friday, February 22, 2013
Deaths in Stillwater and Lake Minnetonka; dozens of cars, snowmobiles and ATVs have broken through area ice this winter.
This winter season (November to April) is on track to be the deadliest on the ice in more than five years, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). So far this winter, five people have died after going through the ice in Minnesota. A sixth person is missing and presumed drowned. In the 2006-2007 winter season, eight people died in ice-related incidents. Just last week a snowmobiler died after going through ice on the St. Croix River near Stillwater. Three of the state's five deaths—an infant, a man in his 30s and an elderly female—have occurred on Lake Minnetonka. “There could be several reasons why so many people have died this year,” said Kara Owens, DNR boat and water safety specialist. “It could be there are …
Monday, February 18, 2013
Two recent cases have emphasized the breadth of the legal definition. Patch wants to know what the word means to you.
“Murder” and “homicide” are loaded words that conjure images of malice and deliberate violence. This month, though, the west metro has been reminded that that’s not always the case. At the beginning of February, prosecutors charged Jonathan Markle with criminal vehicular homicide in connection with the drowning of his 9-month-old daughter. Prosecutors say Markle's blood alcohol level was .13 when his vehicle broke through the ice Jan. 18 after he tried to drive underneath the Halstead Bay Bridge on Lake Minnetonka. Hennepin County Mike Freeman acknowledged that the legal system has "no penalty that can approach the grief and agony this man might feel by the death of his daughter at his own hand." But Freeman went on to say he wants this …
Friday, February 8, 2013
The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is adding orange fencing around "Thin Ice" signs in an attempt to draw more attention to them.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
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Friday, February 8
Editor's Note: The following is a Hennepin County Sheriff's Office release. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office continues to warn motorists to stay off of thin ice. Our Special Deputy volunteers are providing safety information to people using Lake Minnetonka and many other lakes throughout the county. It is especially important to avoid channels and pressure ridges on Lake Minnetonka because those areas have thin ice even in the coldest of Minnesota winters. The Sheriff's Office is placing orange snow fencing around "thin ice" signs in order to provide greater visibility to these signs. It is the responsibility of motorists to respond appropriately to these warning signs and to make safe choices when they are behind the wheel.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Saturday afternoon accident near the Grays Bay Bridge claimed the lives of Harland Dietrich and Mary Ann Haram.
- POLICE & FIRE
- Jay Corn
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Sunday, February 3
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office has formally identified the two Maple Grove residents who drowned in Lake Minnetonka Saturday afternoon after their car broke through the ice. Harland Dietrich, 31, and Mary Ann Haram, 87, were trapped underwater for nearly an hour before divers could free them, according to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. The two lived together on 9000 block of 98th Place North in Maple Grove. Their deaths are the second and third this season attributed to accidents caused by thin ice. Nine-month-old Tabitha Markle died last month after her family's vehicle broke through the ice near the Halstead Bay Bridge. The first emergency responders reached Grays Bay in approximately six minutes, and several water …
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Dive teams have rescued two passnegers in a car that went through near Grays Bay Causeway.
Click here to read Lake Minnetonka Patch's latest update on this story. UPDATE (4 p.m.): Eileen Baker, a resident on Grays Bay, said she was driving by the scene earlier this afternoon, on her way home from errands. Upon arrving home, she decided to head to the site by skiing. Baker said the people inside the vehicle "still had not been rescued" and estimated the car had been under for "at least 45 minutes." * * * UPDATE (3:47 p.m. Saturday) - Two medical helicopters have landed on the ice in Gray's Bay to transport potential victims. No word on condition of those rescued from the car. Scanner chatter indicated there were two people inside the vehicle, both pulled from the submerged vehicle. Grays Bay Bridge, which connects north …
Friday, January 25, 2013
After seven vehicles plowed through the ice on Lake Minnetonka, Sheriff Stanek reminds citizens to be safe.
Editor's Note: The following is a Hennepin County Sheriff's Office press release. With warmer temperatures expected this weekend, more people are expected to be using the county’s lakes for recreation. The Sheriff’s Office urges all residents to use caution when using area lakes and other bodies of water. Remember that no ice should ever be considered completely safe. Freezing and thawing have created variable ice conditions. Last weekend, there were seven vehicles broke through ice on Lake Minnetonka. Hennepin County residents are urged to review these safety guidelines: · Anyone using the ice –including people on foot, snowmobiles and ATVs --should use safety precautions such as wearing life jackets. Sheriff’s deputies wear life …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
After the death of a baby, Sheriff Stanek reminds citizens of ice dangers.
There have been seven vehicles that have broken through the ice on Lake Minnetonka in four days, Jan. 18-21. Tragically, one incident resulted in the death of an infant, an 8-month-old girl from Minnetrista. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office reminds residents that no ice should ever be considered safe. Residents are urged to review these safety guidelines: · Despite the recent cold weather, channels of Lake Minnetonka remain dangerous and should be avoided. A vehicle, such as a car, truck, or SUV, should NEVER be driven through a channel. The weak ice in a channel is due to water constantly running from one bay to another bay. The friction of the running water causes the ice to weaken. · Channels should also be avoided by people on …
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Cost per slip for the 2013 boating season is $3,900 only Minnetonka residents are eligible.
The city of Minnetonka will hold a lottery drawing Thursday, Feb. 14, for 2013 Gray's Bay Marina boat slip vacancies and for the waiting list. Only city of Minnetonka residents are eligible for these slips. The majority of slips available are approximately 10-1/2 feet wide and can accommodate boats up to a maximum of 24 feet length overall. In addition, a very limited number of slips are available for up to 26 feet length overall. Cost per slip for the 2013 boating season is $3,900. Appplications must be received at Minnetonka City Hall no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13. The lottery will take place at Minnetonka City Hall on Thursday, Feb. 14 at 11 a.m. Applicants do not need to be present. Download lottery application forms and …
Sunday, December 30, 2012
More than 900 jumpers—many of which have made the jump an annual tradition—took the plunge last year.
Rachel Powell
7:47 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
not quite sure how they all got away without being charged with war crimes more ›