The Northland's Week in Review - April 4-9, 2009

Saturday and Sunday, April 4-5

• Dan Zamlen, 18, a St. Thomas student from Eveleth, went missing early Sunday. As of press time, he was yet to be located.

Monday, April 6

• Four lawsuits were filed against the Enbridge pipelines aimed at bringing Canadian crude through Minnesota and into Superior.

• F-16 aircraft from the 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth scrambled and intercepted a Cessna stolen from a Thunder Bay flight school near Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the Wisconsin border.

The 148th’s planes were replaced by fighters from the Wisconsin Air National Guard based out of Madison, who then handed off the pursuit to the Louisiana Air National Guard fighters from New Orleans. The man piloting the stolen plane, Turkey-born Yavuz Berke (he changed his name to Adam Dylan Leon when he moved to Canada), wanted to be blown out of the sky, the FBI said.

He was eventually caught in Missouri after landing on a dirt road and fleeing on foot to a convenience store.

• A 6-year-old child was hit and killed by a school bus in Itasca County.

Tuesday, April 7

• Democrat Kerry Gauthier formally announced that he will be running for the Duluth City Council’s District 4 seat.

• Dr. Javier De La Garza was in court on Duluth gun and police-standoff charges. He admitted there is enough evidence to convict him.

• UWS and WITC signed an agreement allowing WITC early childhood grads to transfer credits to UWS.

• MnDOT announced that Duluth International Airport will receive a $97,850 grant to design a new airport terminal parking lot.

• Berthiaume Logging of Cloquet was named Minnesota Logger of the Year.

• The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minneapolis says Patty Miller stole $125,518.91 from the First Witness Child Abuse Resource Center she headed in Duluth.

The dollar amount was contained in a government petition filed Tuesday indicating it intends to seek a 21- to 27-month prison sentence for Miller at sentencing on April 21.

Wednesday, April 8

• The Enger Park Golf Course driving range opened for the season. Both Enger and Lester Park clubhouses are open for the season as well.

Thursday, April 9

• Five Duluth school district taxpayers who filed a Red Plan-related lawsuit against ISD 709 and Johnson Controls last month have moved to add six of seven School Board members to the suit — Gary Glass being the only member not named — which could make them liable for punitive damages.

• Beth Olson announced she will run for an at-large seat on the Duluth City Council.

• The Star Tribune reported that Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner is going to drop terrorism charges against eight activists connected with a group that planned demonstrations at the Republican National Convention last fall.

The Duluth News Tribune contributed to these reports

Coming this weekend

• Interested in joining the North Country RIDE (therapeutic horseback riding) team? Additional volunteers are needed for the 2009 season. They need leaders, side walkers, office assistants, people interested in helping with horse care and evaluation, fund-raising and volunteer recruitment. Volunteer applications available at www.ncride.com. A training event will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at 180 Hatinen Road in Esko. Call 879-7608 with any questions.

• The International Order of Job’s Daughters will meet at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at Trinity Lodge, 2118 W. First St. Arletta Baretta will preside. Janessa Brackett will be in charge of food and reception. For more information regarding this organization, call 729-6246.

Tags: budge news, week in review, red plan, beth olson, rnc 8, javier de la garza, kerry gauthier, dan zamlen, budgeteer, lawsuit, cessna, stolen, northland, outdoors, hunting