District 6 - Two Harbors
Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports angling and ATV activity picked back up in the Arrowhead area as temperatures dropped and air quality improved. Fishing was generally good as walleyefishing success again picked up. Violations included angling without alicense in possession and failure to display ATV registration.
CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) spent most of the week assisting the local sheriff’s office and the U.S. Forest Service with fire response in his station. Ihnen also provided security for out-of-state resources that were brought in to assist with other area firefighting efforts. Additional time was spent checking ATV operators.
CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) spent the week patrolling area lakes for boating and angling activity. Fishing remains slow for most anglers. Berry pickingseasonhashitfullstride.People are reminded to be prepared before striking off in the forest in search of berries. Packing minimal items like water and a compass can be the difference between a fun trip and a stressful one. CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked fire duty in northeastern Minnesota.
CO Megan Franzen (Silver Bay) spent the week primarily monitoring ATV and angling activity. Time was also spent working on a background investigation and assisting other local officers with aTIP call. Due to continued fire activity, the surrounding area is in a fire ban, and campfires of any type are still not allowed.
CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on ATV and angling activities for the week. Recent rains have helped with fire activity in the area. Assistance was given to local agencies on a variety of calls.
CO Cassie Block (Two Harbors) spent time this week attending K9 training with fellow K9 handlers. Block also spent time patrolling local ATV trails. Time was also spent following up on various complaints.
District 5 - Eveleth area
CO Paul Kennedy (International Falls #1) worked angling and ATV activity throughout the week. ATV
complaints regarding operation were followed up on. He also received calls about injured and nuisance animals in the area. Enforcement action for the week included angling without a license, no license in possession. Various watercraft-safetyrelatedviolations were addressed.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) assisted with fire duties in the northeastern part of the state. He checked anglers and monitored recreational boating activity. Anglers are reporting an increase in success, with both fish for the livewell and fish too big to keep being caught. Warm weather over the weekend resulted in any accessible sand beach being utilized for swimming and relaxing.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports fire danger remains extreme. Closures remain in effect, as do increased burning restrictions. Bear problems continue. Activity on area lakes has decreased significantly from previous years. He continues to assist to DNR Forestry regarding ongoing wildfires.
CO Sean Cannon (Cook) spent time this week checking anglers and monitoring boating activity on area lakes. Many anglers are having success finding fish willing to bite. Time was also spent monitoring ATV activity and assisting area law enforcement responding to calls.
CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily angling and ATV activities. He spent time checking local trails and following up on angling complaints. He spent time assisting other agencies with various calls and assisted the state park with a violation for failure to restrain a pet. Time was also spent checking for illegal fires in the area.
CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) worked fire duty in northeastern Minnesota.
CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring fishing, boating, and ATV activities. Anglers continued to report limited success. Boating and ATV activities were lower than expected. Broughten also fielded calls regarding burning restrictions, youth ATV regulations, and public water access rules.
