Moonset through the Trees

Excerpts from the Sheriff's Report:

12:12 a.m. - Caller reporting an F150 in the middle of the road, no light on, just sitting there.  Officer found vehicle sitting in the middle of the roadway with a male driver, female passenger and three kids in the back seat all asleep/passed out.  Officer fearing medical issues called for a second unit and began banging on the window.  Male and female woke up.  Male explained they were on their way home from her parent's house and he was extremely tired.  They stopped for a train that was going very slow and was very long.  With everybody else sleeping, driver also fell asleep waiting for train to pass.  Driver was asked to step out of vehicle.  He was clearly not under the influence and was released with a verbal warning.

9:57 a.m. - Reporting party believes their juvenile son has taken $6,300 in cash from them.  Reporting party stated she and her husband got the juvenile to admit to taking $500, via text.  Deputy spoke with juvenile at school and got him to admit taking at least $4,500.  He wasn't sure the exact amount.  Parents will talk to juvenile and discuss after how they would like to move forward.

11:14 a.m. - Caller asking to speak to someone about a furnace emergency.  Their furnace is not working right and the landlord will not respond to them.  They are taking care of an individual on hospice there.  Dispatch contacted the Rusk County furnace emergency person.

3:25 p.m. - Bank requesting law enforcement for a female trying to empty her bank account and use all her money to buy gold.  Officer spoke with elderly female and bank employee about transaction.  Confirmed company is legit but there are concerns about third parties accessing the gold.  Female did not tell any family members about this.  Officers state they can't stop her from doing the transaction but had concerns about her getting scammed.  Female understood but did not care about officers' opinion.

5:08 p.m. - Caller at his property.  They aren't there that often so they have a cable across the driveway with a no trespassing sign.  Someone shot the sign with buck shot and wrecked the sign.  

7:39 p.m. - Caller reporting there are people crawling on their hands and knees towards her front door and deck.

8:09 p.m  Complainant reporting her son's vehicle was struck while parked at his friend's house.  The son told her he had parked his van at the friend's address and had gone to Churchville with his friend.  While they were gone, someone backed into the van breaking the back window and causing other damage.  Deputy took photos of the van and went to the location of the reported hit and run where he was told the van was never parked there.  He was told the driver had actually gone to Greatlaketown to meet a girl where he backed into a tree.  Mother was informed that her son had made a false report which is a crime.  His explanation was that he lied because his mother and her boyfriend are always fighting and he didn't want to set them off.  The mother assured the deputy her son will 'have consequences' for his actions.  No accident report.

8:25 p.m. - Call from a medical alarm company that a medical alarm is activated but they can't make contact with the individual.  Officer spoke with female through the window who said she did need help.  Officer made entry.  Female fell but was able to get up w/ help.  Declined EMS.

Misshapen Sun

 

Earlier in the week when the temp was above freezing, I'd opened Sleipnir's garage door and moved out Svadilfari.  The pile of snow in front of that door had all but melted away and I shoveled a small area so the lawnmower could pass.  I moved it into Mjolnir's garage alongside Jormungandr and called John Deere.  I like getting the yearly servicing on both machines done before the spring rush.   John Deere said they could pick it up on Friday.  Unfortunately, Librarian Trevor had moved our library volunteer's meeting to this Friday also.  I told John Deere if I wasn't around when they came to pick up the lawnmower and UTV that they would be sitting outside.  Just before I left for the meeting I parked both of them right outside Mjolnir's garage door w/ their keys in them.   (It's back below freezing again so glad I didn't have to open Sleipnir's garage door where I have all of the overwintered flowers!)   Library meeting only went for a half hour.  The volunteers don't get together that often so we stayed later to catch up on all of the interesting things we've seen people do at the library.     An hour and a half later I was back home.   Jormungandr and Svadilfari were gone.    For my peace of mind I called John Deere  and, yes, the driver had arrived w/ both of my machines.  I told the manager if fixing both machines (replacing blades, fixing a back reflector, etc.) didn't go over a certain amount to just do it.  No need to call for my okey-dokey.  I'm doing my best to get the work finished quickly.   I'd like to get the machines back before the next big snowfall so I don't have to shovel a path into one of the garages.  I looked at the forecast for the next two weeks - so far so good.

Harrier

The harrier is back now that much of the snow pack has melted.  During the winter the mice and voles can tunnel under the snow and keep out of the harrier's sight.  When the snow melts away these denizens of the field are suddenly left out exposed - no snow tunnels, no covering vegetation.  Harriers are fun to watch.  They float slowly over the fields in a gridlike flight plan often less than 20 feet above the ground.  I watched this male doing it's thing over the meadow when he noticed something and suddenly dropped to the ground.  He had caught a fat vole in it's talons.  He lifted off again to alight in a nearby hayfield.  While the harrier is exposed out in the open there, he can also see anything approaching.  Once settled on the ground, he ate his lunch.   Interestingly, while the cats and dog can occasionally catch voles, they never eat them.  Assume they are an acquired taste.

Sunrise

Before 8 a.m. I was back down at the Town Hall.  It would have been quick and easier last night when we had four people to move the tables and chairs back into their usual places.  After 14 hours, however, we had all used up our last bit of brain power and just wanted to go home.  Took me less than 15 minutes to rearrange the room this morning.  Then picked up the election materials from the locked back room and took them over to the County Clerk's office.  Lots of impressive new ponds on either side of the road as I drove over.  The warmer weather has melted much of the snow.  The piles of snow plowed off the road haven't melted completely and act like dams so the melt can't run off.  There is still frost in the ground so the water can't soak in either.  Plus it's been raining since late last night.  Some fields are mostly underwater at the moment.  The new County Clerk's aide let me into the office.  This is her first election in this role so she had a 'cheat sheet' out to check that each municipality brought in everything the county would need to verify the final election count.   The County Clerk came over to help her recognize the different documents.  "A long day for you wasn't it?" the County Clerk said to me.  I had been pleasant up to that point but since the clerk asked I turned to her.  "We had to turn away eight voters.  Whoever allowed pieces to be ripped off our town is an idiot."   The County Clerk took a small step backward and I turned my attention again to the aide who wasn't finding our tally sheet.  I pointed to it and she went on checking things off her list.  This afternoon the temps dipped below freezing so the rain turned to snow.  A fresh layer of snow always brightens things up.

A Layer of Fog

Election Day at the Town Hall.  We had 11 voters come but only 3 could vote.   After the last census, the County Board and County Clerk in their 'infinite wisdom' had split off parts of our rural town into three wards.  The only ward having a primary today consists of five complete towns to the north of us  and  a small corner of our town.  The paper mentioned the towns that would be part of the primary today.   It did not explain that in our town you had to live in an area bounded by Imalone Road, Bennor Road, County Road H, and State Highway 40: roughly 25 people.   That's how we got more people come in than could vote.   I'm very grateful that the people we turned away understood what was going on and didn't accuse us of something sinister like election tampering.   The poll workers knew it would be a slow day so they brought other things to do.  I brought my computer. Had  Planning Commission tasks to complete before next week's meeting.  I thought it wouldn't take long but didn't finish until late in the afternoon.   The Town Clerk arrived  when we closed the polls.  She's just back from a cruise where she picked up a cold.  The bathroom in her house is being remodeled and she had her regular job to go to today.   I offered to take the ballots and other voting materials in to the county tomorrow for her.  She didn't put up a fuss.   I considered writing a letter to the paper's editor about how splitting up a municipality into small pieces has disenfranchised it's voters.  However, it's five years before there is another census and the wards can be redrawn.  Doubt anyone reading my letter now would stay riled up that long - but I can.  

Jigsaw Puzzle

Today is all warmth (well ... might have hit 50) and sunshine. People are smiling and saying how springlike it feels.   Tomorrow things change - cloudy, rainy/snow.  Tomorrow is also election day here.  Even though it's the smallest one the town is likely to ever have, need to do all of the usual prep.

• Moved Whip's bed, water and food bowls to the foyer.  Put up the baby gate so I can cut off the foyer/garage from the rest of the house.  Wouldn't have to do that if the cat's hadn't figured out how to use the doggie door to get outside.
• Picked out what I'll wear and laid it out.  Polls open at 7 so need to get going early.   Also packed a small bag w/ extra jeans, socks, and a sweater.  I'll be at the polls all day.  I've had elections where I spilled coffee down my blouse and helped push a voter out of a mud hole.  It pays to be prepared.
• Bopped over to the County Seat to pick up something for tomorrow's breakfast (latte and cherry scone), snacks (cheese, nuts, and dried cranberries), and lunch/supper (a spicy Italian wrap cut in two).  Picked up bottled water (the water at the town hall is barely potable) and I'm all set.
• Checked that car the isn't low on gas.  Put in my bag of extra clothes, food, and stuff to do during lulls in voting.
• Chief Inspector Andy and I met at the town hall and spent a half hour setting up for the election.  There was a wedding celebration at the town hall over the weekend so couldn't do it when we did the Public Test. The tabulator w/ it's security tabs already applied had been locked in the office.  

Now just need to get to bed early. 

Morning light off the snow pack

Excerpts from the Sheriff's Report:

4:43 a.m. - Caller reports his daughter was in the house and the boyfriend was on the street shining a spotlight through the windows.  Boyfriend wants to be transported somewhere.

8:41 a.m. - Caller reporting someone knocking on his door.  Caller states it was an unknown male dressed in all black.  Deputy told caller this is not a crime and if they return ask them why they are there instead of calling the police.  

11:52 a.m. - Caller reports there is a vehicle driving east bound on the snowmobile trails.  Trail groomer recently groomed the trail.  No signs of a motor vehicle driving on trail.

1:13 p.m. - Caller concerned about snowmobiles speeding down the road.  States there was almost an accident last week as he was leaving his house.  Snowmobile route goes across his driveway and continues on through the ditch.  Complainant is worried he may back into a snowmobile or that one will hit him as he backs out of his drive.  Complainant was reminded he has to yield right-of-way to all motorized traffic on the road including snowmobiles.

2:27 p.m. - Nearby county police officer asking for a deputy to make contact with an individual who has been harassing the lawyer in a recent child custody case.  Is refusing to take officer's phone calls.  Individual needs to be told to cease any and all contact with attorney and his office.  Individual appears to be a religious zealot and caution is advised.  Officer found tracks near house, can hear music inside residence, but individual would not answer the door.

3.23 p.m. - Caller reporting three cows on the road.  Deputy declared cows won the game of hide and seek.  He was unable to locate.

5:09 p.m. - 911 call from IPhone satellite emergency relay station reporting a possible accident.  They could not get a response from the number.  Deputy checked area and did not locate anyone.  Call from female stating her phone fell out of her saddle bag and was run over.

7:57 p.m. - Laundromat reporting a homeless woman sleeping on the sofa.  Owner would like her removed.  Officer spoke with female who was eating her dinner on the couch.  She stated she will be in town for another two months saving money to go back to Colorado.  After officer told her laundromat owner wanted her to move along, she asked if she could finish eating her dinner before going back out in the cold.  She agreed she would move on and not return to sleep on couch.

9:37 p.m. - Caller states her mom threw her cat outside and now it's limping.  Also stated her mother has been living there for a month and she doesn't want her there anymore.  Informed that homeowner would have to go through proper eviction process.  Also determined the cat hurt itself climbing on objects in the home.  Mom stated she is afraid of homeowner and his past with abusing women.  Stated she is not afraid to hit a man if he starts it.  Mom spent the night separate from homeowner to prevent further problems.

10:25 p..m. - Caller reporting two males outside her door wanting to get into her house and use her phone because they are lost.  She is not feeling safe.  Officers directed to McDonald's parking lot and found two individuals there.  Males are minors not from around here.  They were trying to access wifi of residences so they could call their parents due to not being allowed to stay the night at their friend's house  Juveniles could not reach parents.  Officer contacted a nearby county sheriff to send deputies to get in contact with parents.  Shortly the mom of one of the juveniles called back.  She is going to pick up her kid and drop the other at his residence.

Dear Valentine deer

I had a small glass dessert cup of strawberries and whipped cream w/ breakfast.  My homage to Valentines Day.  (Plus it's delicious.)  I made chili for dinner.  Fairly certain chili is not traditional for the holiday - that would probably be a nice meal out of filet mignon.   Instead of  a steak, I opted for 'a stake' by curling up on the couch and watching Svengoolie air the original 'Dracula'.  Friend Kathy and I text back and forth during 'Sven' movies.  She felt the movie is apropos for the holiday - lots a necks get nuzzled and it's a good bet Drac doesn't have garlic on his breath.

Amaryllis

Yesterday got above freezing and looks like we are going to have a string of days that do the same.  A corridor of bare gravel has opened up on my driveway.  I have to be careful in some spots but Whip and I are back to having a morning constitutional.  Much to her delight, I've also caved to her desire to walk first, feed birds after.  

Can tell there is a change in the weather at the bird feeders too.  Last month it was goldfinches scolding and chickadees thanking me when I filled the feeders.  No birds this morning plus there were seeds left over from yesterday.  Warmer weather either means they don't have to eat as much or their usual food sources can peak up out of the snow.   

Whip has a dead prize that she feels the need to move every day to a new hiding place.  The ground is frozen but she buries it in snowdrifts.   I'm hoping some traveling-through coyote finds it before the snow is gone and Whip wants to bring it inside.

Stopped by the library with the largest opening plastic bag I could find.  It a-l-m-o-s-t fit the book drop cart but not enough to be useable.  My plan B is a box.  I brought a box almost the same size as the inside of the drop box and placed it on the platform.   That seems to work.  Shoved some small books into the book drop.  They all fell inside the box.  Have a plan C also but will wait to see how plan B goes.

One of the amaryllis I thought would bloom over Valentines.  It's the first time this clone of the main amaryllis has put up a stalk w/ buds but they still remain closed.   This is a pic of another clone that bloomed earlier.

Variegated Sunrise

A lady came into the library tonight and said she had put six books in our book drop but they were still showing as checked out to her on her on-line account.  Two were now overdue.  I said I would check for them in the stacks.  We've had times where volunteers bypassed checking a book back in before putting it back on the shelf.  Easy enough to do if someone brings the books in from the drop and puts them on the distribution cart instead of on the counter.  Librarian Trevor was standing nearby and asked if they were children's books.  "Yes."  the lady said, "Some Board Books and some Early Readers."  Those are thin books and Trevor said he'd check the book drop she'd used.  Trevor came back from the book drop w/ the cart that is enclosed inside the drop box.  There is a bouncy platform inside the cart that breaks the books fall plus goes down to allow more room as more books are added.  Trevor could see that there was a book that had slid under the platform and was in the bottom of the cart.   I pressed down on one side of the platform allowing enough of a gap that Trevor could fish out the book.  We tipped the cart again and another book appeared.  All six of her books had slid under the platform.  There is a rough fabric covering to the bottom of the platform so books shouldn't skid around.  The slit around the edge of the platform is very thin.  I'm surprised one book would go through it, much less six.  My idea for a fix is to treat the inside of the book drop cart like a kitchen garbage bin.   Will put a construction sized garbage bag around the top.  The bag will be a covering over the slit and expand as more books are added.  Best of all it's a cheap solution - provided, of course, it works.

Deer at the salt lick

Psalm 90 says we have three score and ten years upon the earth - maybe four score.  This last year I read obits for three people in my high school graduating class.   Figured while I still have some money and haven't yet lost my faculties I should set up my funeral.  I bopped down and had a meeting this morning w/ the funeral director in town.   I'd read up on pre-paying options but got his take on the pros and cons.  Then we went through what I would want included in a funeral.  He chuckled when he was going over container options and I asked if he didn't have something more recyclable.  Yes!  He does!  Anyway, didn't take very long to get everything on paper.  I commented that it was an easy process and he replied it was since I knew what I wanted.   It was also much less expensive than I thought (cardboard isn't as pricey as mahogany).  I bopped over to the bank and everything is setup and paid for.    I can also write my obituary and pick readings & songs - just e-mail them to him and he'll put them in my file.    Think I will wait on those.  At the moment I'm liking the song "Sloop John B".   Either I need to give this process more gravitas or I'm too late on the 'losing my faculties'.

Jigsaw Puzzle

One of those days where I kept busy but bounced between tasks all day: a little time on taxes, on working on a jigsaw puzzle, on cleaning, on folding clothes, on reading a book, etc.  Whenever I did sit down there was a pet that wanted attention (they may all be suffering from cabin fever).  So I didn't get anything accomplished today.  Did manage to get a lot of things almost done though.

White Birch in Winter

 

Excerpts from the Sheriff's Report:

1:29 a.m. - Call from concerned wife.  She and her husband have been arguing all night.  He is intoxicated and set a chair on fire.  Upon officer arrival he observed a chair near the residence smoldering which he moved further away from house.  Extremely intoxicated male in question stated relationship issues made him upset.  He stated he poured rubbing alcohol on chair and started it on fire.  He didn't care if the house started on fire.  Female stated she got upset because male nearly tipped his drink over several times so she dumped it in the sink.  An argument occurred and the male flipped a coffee table over and set the chair on fire.  Male placed under arrest for criminal damage to property with domestic abuse enhancer.

6:54 a.m. - Female reporting male has been screaming at her and children.  Nothing physical.  Two officers responded.  Female started to scream at a child and two adults screamed at each other.  Parties were asked to separate for awhile.  Parties were warned further law enforcement action could be taken if they have to come back.

8:09 a.m. - Reporting party states daughter is refusing to go to school.  Deputy called the parent who complained her teenage daughter wouldn't get out of bed so she poured a pitcher of water onto the bed to get her out of it.  Child now yelling and being disrespectful.  The parent also said the child hit her in the stomach a few days ago.  DHHS had given parent some options that she would have to pay for.  Parent wasn't willing to pay for juvenile detention of some sort or respite care.  Deputy offered to go to the house and interview the child but parent said the child would just lie.  When deputy asked parent what she wants him to do she disconnected.  Deputy called parent back.  She said she doesn't want law enforcement anymore because he wasn't willing to help.  Deputy referred problem to DHHS.

9:24 a.m. - Caller requests deputy help with traffic control for a funeral procession.  The horse-drawn hearse to be flanked by individuals on horseback from Mud Lake to the Island Lake church.  Traffic blocked for about 15 minutes.

10:45 a.m. - Caller reporting a female wearing pajama pants and a sweatshirt walking on highway heading east.  Deputy in contact with female who was going to walk from her house to Kwik Trip (14 miles).  Juvenile said her mother knew she had left home but deputy was unable to speak with mother as she didn't answer phone.  DHHS contact.  They agreed that juvenile should either be taken home or to school.  Deputy escorted juvenile to main office of school.  Deputy at family's residence.  Mother believed juvenile left the house to go to school.  Mother wants police and DHHS to do her parenting job.  It was explained that this is her responsibility.  Mother kicked deputy out of her house.

2:24 p.m. - Caller states his neighbor contacted him about a male riding a snowmobile on caller's property.  Caller is out of country - did not give permission to anyone to be on his property and has several no trespassing signs around driveways.  Neighbor identified snowmobile driver who was contacted by law enforcement.  Told the land owner didn't give him permission which he understood.

3:41 p.m. - Traffic stop for wheels extending past the fender by more than two inches.  Driver exited vehicle and was hostile and argumentative.  Driver stated several times he was being harassed and hated police because they are only trying to make money off him.  He refused to provide proof of insurance and told deputy to just issue the citations because deputy was wasting his time.  Citations to be mailed to avoid further disruption at the business he pulled into after being signaled to stop.

5:03 p.m. - Call regarding child exchange matter.  Issue is related to parties having a no-contact order and figuring out who can drop off child.  Dispatch advised everyone they need to grow up and figure it out.  

6:55 p.m. - Caller requests to speak with city officer about tax fraud.  Reporting party stated her mother is claiming her children as a dependent on her taxes.  Likely a civil issue.  Officer recommended she submit a tip to the IRS for them to investigate.

8:23 p.m. - Vehicle parked in the lane of travel with no lights on.  Deputy detected smell of marijuana.  Probable cause search of vehicle revealed two glass smoking devices that smelled of marijuana, a glass jar with raw plant residue, and a prescription bottle with the incorrect medication inside.  All items were seized and destroyed.  Due to a more pressing call, the driver was released with warnings for illegal parking, possession of drug paraphernalia.

Cleaning up under the bird feeders

Bopped down to the Town Hall this morning for the Public Test of the voting machine.  We need to test the machine to make sure the ballot is loaded correctly.  Then we mark up some ballots and throw them through the machine and check what the tally is to make sure it's registering correctly.    That test is open to the public if they want to watch but in all of the year's I've been here we've never had anyone come.  Sometimes people do show up for other reasons.  Treasurer Michelle walked in during the test.  It's the end of collecting property taxes and she has a lot of paperwork to do.  She still found time to fill out a ballot for us.  She filled in the second circle on the ballot because she liked the name.  She doesn't know the candidates nor does she live in their district.  Chief Inspector Andy took note and asked how people will know there even is an election.  He's the fourth person in the last 48 hours to ask me the same question.  There is only one county board seat on the ballot in a district covering parts of six towns.  A sample ballot and a notice of the Public Tests was in this week's newspaper.  I assume a short writeup of the three candidates along with a notice of polling place addresses plus the hours they will be open will be next week's newspaper.  Other than that I don't know how people will know to vote.   There will be some people who come in to vote just because they see the flag is out on the town hall.    The County only put the names of voters in the poll book that live in the contested district.  Our poll books this time have 6 double sided pages - some w/ just a name or two on a page.  We will know who can/can not vote in this election even if a voter isn't sure.  The County Clerk's new aide may have printed the poll books because the backside of each page is printed upside down.  I noticed this irregularity during the Public Test but Andy and I figured w/ such a small number of voters we wouldn't insist the County Clerk's office print new poll books for us.