After Far Too Long, It's--Small Town News!!!

[DaveM]

Detective Dennis Belzer, longtime veteran of the Virginia (Minnesota) Police Department, was arrested at 2:35 this morning after driving his car through the wall of an area bar. He is expected to be charged with Driving While Intoxicated, though the police would not release his blood alcohol percentage at last word.

Det. Belzer has, for some years, been this area's D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer. Oh well.

[DaveM]

Not to be outdone, my former stomping grounds, Pine County, Minnesota ("a great place to leave") made the news yesterday after a woman was mauled to death by a captive Bengal tiger. This took place 14 miles east of Sandstone, Minnesota--an area so unpopulated that if it wasn't for the St. Croix River, there'd probably be disputes over exactly where the border with Wisconsin was located.

Pine County, population 12,000, has no ordinance against keeping wild animals. Sheriff Mark Mansavage, however, informed the press that "I guess we're going to have to talk to the County Board and have them look into this".

I once spent a lot of time in that area doing nature photography....and now am so glad I didn't know I should have been watching out for tigers.

[DaveM]

A 25 year old man linked to stealing 854 pairs of underwear was sentenced to one year in jail. It was the second time he had been convicted of stealing panties.

(He) had been accused of stealing three pair of thong underwear from a woman in Menomonie last summer. He allegedly broke into the woman's home while she was out of town and stole what the woman described as "very distinctive-looking" underwear.

So Janis....when you get to Wisconsin, watch where you keep your underwear. And from this bit at least, it doesn't seem as if Jenny is the only one to keep watch for.

[RedjackRyan]

No, i'm definately not visiting you in Minnesota anytime soon :D

[Eva]

Dave, does this mean that Dennis Belzer will lose his job too? Or does that have to be decided over a drink?

Eva

[SongDragon]

Awww... Kitty kitty! :D Okay, so I wanted to be a worker at a rescue place for big cats until someone reminded me I'm about the size of something they would eat. Ah well.

~Song

[DaveM]

Actually, I am wondering if Det. Belzer will start showing up at some of the local meetings.

He and I had a run-in once, over nothing in particular. Should he put in appearance, I will show him far more consideration than he did me. As will we all, actually.

I rather hope he does not lose his job--his experience will make him a far better police officer than he could ever have been without it.