On August 20, 2021, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office joined the historic $26 billion multi-state settlement agreements with pharmaceutical distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen, and opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. This settlement will bring more than $300 million to Minnesota counties and cities with an anticipated spending start date of August 1, 2022.

Pennington County's expected portion of the settlement is $684,371.02

Pennington County is committed to reducing the negative impacts associated with opioid use disorders by convening key sectors on an Advisory Council. The Opioid Settlement Advisory Council will guide the spending of National Opioid Settlement dollars to save lives and prevent further damage.

• For more detailed background on the multi-district litigation (MDL), visit the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office – Fighting the Opioid Epidemic
• Minnesota opioid related data can be found on Minnesota Department of Health’s opioid dashboard.The dashboard contains detailed information on overdose deaths, opioid-related hospital visits, the number of opioid prescriptions dispensed, the prevalence of substance use disorder, and more. 
• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health – endorsed by nearly 50 major organizations - created the Guiding Principles to ensure proper spending of opioid litigation funds;
  • Principle 1 - Spend the money to save lives.
  • Principle 2 - Use evidence to guide spending.
  • Principle 3 - Invest in youth prevention.
  • Principle 4 - Focus on racial equity.
  • Principle 5 - Develop a fair and transparent process for deciding where to spend the funding.
  • Download Opioid Principles PDF
• According to the Minnesota Opioids State-Subdivision Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the Public Health departments shall serve as the lead agency and Chief Strategist to identify, collaborate, and respond to local issues as Local Governments decide how to leverage and disburse Opioid Settlement Funds. In their role as Chief Strategist, public health departments will;
  • Convene multi-sector meetings
  • Lead efforts that build upon local efforts like Community Health Assessments and Community Health Improvement Plans
  • Foster community focused and collaborative evidence-informed approaches that prevent and address addiction across the areas of public health, human services, and public safety. 
  • Consult with municipalities located within their county in the development of any Community Health Assessment
  • Collaborate with law enforcement agencies in the county where appropriate.
• The Council serves to advise the Pennington County Board of Commissioners as to how to most effectively, efficiently, and equitably spend the Opioid Settlement funds awarded. Informed by the MOA, the Council will both recommend the standards by which funds are spent as well as specific projects to be funded via a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. 
  • Ideal candidates to serve on the Opioid Settlement Advisory Council will;
    • Be open to learning and promoting best practices in opioid treatment, recovery, and prevention
    • Be champions of the work needing to be done and has the time to commit
    • Be familiar with the Request for Proposal (RFP) process
    • Help make decisions that guide how funding should be spent
    • Have a baseline understanding of the current work and data trends
  • Ideal sectors to be represented:
    • Legal Professional
    • Law Enforcement
    • Corrections
    • Public Health
    • Human Services
    • Treatment
    • Recovery (individual in recovery or recovery professional)
    • Board of Commissioners
    • Primary Care
    • Community of color and other communities affected by historical patterns of discrimination, such as Indigenous and LGBTQ+
    • Education
    • Community Member At Large (one per Commissioner district)
    • Addiction Medicine
    • Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
    • Local Municipality (city or township)
    • Veteran Services
    • Other

Public Input Wanted as County
Updates Hazard Mitigation Plan

Pennington County residents, community leaders, business owners, area agencies and organizations now have an opportunity to share how severe weather events impact their property and lives. There is also an opportunity to share their ideas on how to reduce local impacts in the future.

The Pennington County Office of Emergency Management is working with U-Spatial at the University of Minnesota Duluth to update the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). The plan assesses the natural hazards that pose risk to the county, such as tornadoes, straight line winds, ice storms, blizzards, wildfire, flooding, and extreme temperatures and identifies ways to minimize the damage of future events. As the county works to update the plan, it wants to hear from the public.

The Pennington County HMP is a multi-jurisdictional plan that covers Pennington County, including the cities of Goodridge, St. Hilaire, and Thief River Falls. The Pennington County HMP also incorporates the concerns and needs of townships, school districts, and area agencies or organizations participating in the plan. The plan will be updated by a planning team made up of representatives from county departments, local municipalities, school districts and other key stakeholders. When completed, the plan will be submitted to the Minnesota Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for approval.

“Hazard mitigation planning is a central part of our emergency management program,” said Erik Beitel, Pennington County Emergency Management Director. “Understanding the natural hazards that can cause serious impact to our communities and taking action to reduce or eliminate the impact of future disasters makes us more resilient. Hazard mitigation helps us to break the cycle of damage and repair caused by things like flooding, ice storms, and severe wind events that can damage property, stress economies, and threaten life safety in our county.”

Examples of hazard mitigation include:

• Conducting public outreach on severe weather awareness and preparedness
• Limiting or restricting development in floodplain areas
• Removing existing buildings from flood or erosion prone hazard areas
• Using snow fences to limit blowing and drifting of snow over road corridors
• Constructing tornado safe rooms in vulnerable areas such as mobile home parks
• Burying overhead powerlines that may fail due to heavy snow, ice, or windstorms

Some mitigation activities may be eligible for future FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant funding.

Public input is an essential part of the plan update. As part of the planning process, Pennington County is seeking
feedback from residents and businesses from across the county to incorporate into the plan:

• What are the natural hazards you feel pose the greatest risk to your community?
• What concerns do you have, and what sorts of actions do you feel would help to reduce damages of future hazard
events in your community or the county as a whole?

Comments, concerns, or questions regarding natural disasters and potential mitigation actions to be included into the plan
update should be submitted to Pennington County Emergency Management by phone, email, or by posting a comment via
a social media posting of this article.
There will be additional opportunities for public feedback throughout the planning process. A draft of the plan will be
made available for public review prior to submission of the plan to the State of Minnesota. Future news releases will be
shared with the media to notify the public of these opportunities.

The Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) requires counties to update their plan every 5 years to maintain
eligibility for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs.

Contact
Erik Beitel
Pennington County Emergency Management Director
Phone: (218) 683-7087
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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The following precincts located in Pennington County have elected to vote by mail ballot procedure in statewide elections as authorized under Minnesota Statues 204B.45. All other precincts vote at their designated polling places on election day.

Townships                              Cities
Black River Kratka                  Goodridge
Bray Mayfield                         St. Hilaire
Cloverleaf Numedal
Deer Park Reiner
Goodridge River Falls
Wyandotte

For the 2024 Presidential Nomination Primary election (PNP) the election date and the corresponding date that ballots will be mailed to all registered voters in the mail ballot precincts are:

Presidential Nomination Primary Election: March 5th, 2024

Ballot Mailing Dates: January 19th – February 20th, 2024

Each voter registered by February 13th, 2024 for the Presidential Nomination Primary Election, will be mailed a ballot automatically.

Eligible voters not pre-registered by the dates noted, or pre-registered voters wishing to receive their ballot at a temporary address may contact the County Auditor’s Office by phone, mail or in person for an absentee ballot application.

If you receive a ballot but are no longer a resident in the Mail Ballot precinct, you cannot use the ballot and vote this option. You must re-register at your new residence and vote at your correct precinct.

All ballots may be returned by mail (a postage prepaid return envelope is included when the ballots are mailed), or may be delivered in person, or delivered by designated agent to:

Pennington County Auditor-Treasurer
101 Main Avenue North
P.O. Box 616
Thief River Falls, MN 56701

Ballots must be received no later than 8:00 p.m. on election day in order to be counted. Normal business hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In addition to the normal hours, extended hours for mail ballot voting are:

Presidential Nomination Primary Election: Saturday, March 2nd, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Monday, March 4th, 2024 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.;

The polling place for this election will be at the Pennington County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office.

The polls will be open:

Presidential Nomination Primary Election: Tuesday, March 5th, 2024 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

At least one Omniballot ballot-marker will be available at that polling place that permit persons with disabilities to vote privately and independently and that permit any voter to submit their ballot to be automatically checked and corrected for voting errors prior to being cast and counted.

All mail ballots will be counted at the Pennington County Courthouse after 8:00 p.m. on March 5th, 2024.

Additional information is available by contacting the Pennington County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office at (218) 683-7000.

Jennifer Herzberg
Pennington County Auditor Treasurer

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 NOTICE OF MAIL BALLOT PROCEDURES

FOR VOTERS IN PENNINGTON COUNTY FOR THE PRECINCTS LISTED BELOW

The following precincts located in Pennington County have elected to vote by mail ballot procedure in statewide elections as authorized under Minnesota Statues 204B.45. All other precincts vote at their designated polling places on election day.

            Townships                                            Cities                          

Black River      Kratka                                      Goodridge

Bray                 Mayfield                                  St. Hilaire

Cloverleaf        Numedal

Deer Park         Reiner

Goodridge        River Falls

Wyandotte

For 2024 statewide elections, the election dates and the corresponding dates that ballots will be mailed to all registered voters in mail ballot precincts are:

Statewide Primary Election:  August 13^th, 2024

Ballot Mailing Dates:  June 28^th – July 30^th, 2024

Statewide General Election:  November 5^th, 2024

Ballot Mailing Dates:  September 20^th– October 22^nd, 2024

Each voter registered by July 23^rd, 2024, for the Statewide Primary Election, and/or October 15^th, 2024, for the Statewide General Election, will be mailed a ballot automatically.

Eligible voters not pre-registered by the dates noted, or pre-registered voters wishing to receive their ballot at a temporary address may contact the County Auditor’s Office by phone, mail or in person for an absentee ballot application.

All ballots may be returned by mail (a postage prepaid return envelope is included when the ballots are mailed), or may be delivered in person, or delivered by designated agent to:

Pennington County Auditor-Treasurer

101 Main Avenue North___________

P.O. Box 616____________________

Thief River Falls, MN 56701________

Ballots must be received no later than 8:00 p.m. on election day in order to be counted.  Normal business hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In addition to the normal hours, extended hours for mail ballot voting are:

Statewide Primary Election:  Saturday, August 10^th, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Monday, August 12^th, 2024, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.;

Statewide General Election:  Saturday, October 26^th, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Tuesday, October 29^th, 2024 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, November 2^nd, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Sunday, November 3^rd, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Monday, November 4th, 2024 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.;

The polling place for this election will be at the Pennington County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office.

The polls will be open:

Statewide Primary Election:  Tuesday, August 13^th, 2024, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Statewide General Election:  Tuesday November 5^th, 2024, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

At least one Omni Ballot marking device will be available at that polling place that permit persons with disabilities to vote privately and independently and that permit any voter to submit their ballot to be automatically checked and corrected for voting errors prior to being cast and counted.

All mail ballots will be counted at the Pennington County Government Center after 8:00 p.m. on the respective election dates.

Additional information is available by contacting the Pennington County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office at (218) 683-7000.

Jennifer Herzberg

Pennington County Auditor-Treasurer

Dated 3^rd day of June, 2024.

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NORTHWESTMINNESOTA HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT

P.O. Box 186 Bagley, MN 56621 218-694-2090

Ag Waste Pesticide Collection Schedule For Summer 2024

July 9° 2024                        

Roseau County Northern Resources Coop

Collection time: 9:00 am -12:00 pm

1504 Center St. Roseau, MN. 56751

July 24^th 2024    

Kittson County    Nutrien Ag Solutions

Collection Time 9:00 am — 12:00 pm 2424 240* St.

Hallock MN. 56728

July 16“ 2024

Polk County  CHS Ag Services

Collection Time 9:00 am — 1:00 pm

3035 Hwy. 75 S Crookston, MN.56716

July 18^th 2024  

Pennington County CHS Ag Services Hazel location

Collection Time 9:00 am — 12:00 pm

17273 Center St. E Thief River Falls, MN. 56701

July 22^nd 2024   

Marshall County CHS Ag Services

Collection Time 9:00 am — 12:00 pm

747 S Main St. Warren, MN. 56762

PENNINGTON COUNTY

2024 GENERAL ELECTION

POLLING LOCATIONS

NOVEMBER 5^TH, 2024

TOWNSHIPS                                                      POLLING LOCATION                                        VOTING HOURS

Hickory                                                               Hickory Town Hall                                            10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Highlanding                                                       Highlanding Town Hall                                    10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Norden                                                              Norden Town Hall                                            10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

North                                                                 North Town Hall                                               7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Polk Centre                                                        Polk Centre Town Hall                                     10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Rocksbury East/West                                         Rocksbury Town Hall                                       7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Sanders                                                              Sanders Town Hall                                            7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Silverton                                                            Silverton Town Hall                                          10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Smiley                                                               Smiley Town Hall                                              7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Star                                                                    Star Town Hall                                                 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

CITIES                                                             POLLING LOCATION                                             VOTING HOURS

City of TRF – All Wards                                   Ralph Engelstad Arena                                     7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Registered voters in the following townships/cities will receive ballots by mail, as requested by the respective Township Boards/City Councils:

Black River                                                          Goodridge                                                           Reiner

Bray                                                                     Kratka                                                                 River Falls

Cloverleaf                                                           Mayfield                                                              Wyandotte

Deer Park                                                            Numedal                                                             City of St. Hilaire

City of Goodridge

Voters in mail ballot precincts that did not receive a ballot by mail may vote by absentee ballot by contacting the Pennington County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office, Pennington County Government Center, 101 Main Ave N, Thief River Falls, MN  56701, 218-683-7000, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Absentee voting is allowed for mail ballot precincts until 8:00 p.m. on November 5^th, 2024. 

Voters may vote in person by absentee ballot from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning Friday, September 20^th, 2024, at the Pennington County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office, Pennington County Government Center, 101 Main Ave N. Thief River Falls, MN 56701. Absentee voting for voters in non-mail ballot precincts is allowed until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 4^th, 2024.

The Pennington County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office will be open extended hours for Absentee Voting on Saturday, October 26th, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Tuesday October 29^th, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, November 2^nd, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Sunday, November 3^rd, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and also until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 4th, 2024.

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