Enterprise Dispatch Blog

MEEKER COUNTY, MN – Kingston Township resident Mike Housman announced Thursday that he has filed a suit against the Meeker County Commissioners for the redistricting plan they adopted April 17.
In a press release, Housman explained that he filed a petition with the Eighth District Court applying for a Writ of Mandamus to be issued to the commissioners ordering them to revise the plan “in accordance to state statute.”
Housman, a political activist in Meeker County, followed the redistricting process closely, he said, even proposing a number of alternative plans to the ones provided by the auditor.
Instead, the commissioners approved a plan, 3-2, that Housman believes does not meet the statutory requirements of being regular and compact in shape and having nearly equal population. The approved plan leaves commissioners Tim Benoit and Roney Kutzke in the same district according to residence.
“It appears that the goals of the plan adopted were to prevent two longtime incumbents, Dave Gabrielson and Jim Swenson, from having to face off against each other in the 2012 elections,” Housman said in a press release, adding that the plan “clearly violates statute.”
“This issue needs to get resolved quickly so that these districts are finalized in time for the 2012 election cycle,” Housman said in closing.
Meeker County Attorney Stephanie Beckman explained that this is the process the citizens have and it will be left up to the judge to decide.
A court date has been set for Thursday, May 10 at 2 p.m.

COKATO, MN –The Cokato citywide garage sales will take place Saturday, April 28.

SILVER LAKE, MN – A year after the death of Dassel Elementary third-grader Mileka Hall, a run/walk will take place Mother’s Day in her honor. The final day to pre-register is today, Monday, April 30. This date guarantees a T-shirt, however, registration will be taken the day of the event, as well.
The 5k run/walk will raise money for scholarships to be offered to seniors graduating from both the Glencoe-Silver Lake and Dassel-Cokato school districts through Mileka’s graduation year, 2020.
Mileka passed away May 7, 2011, from injuries sustained in an all terrain vehicle (ATV) accident.
Mileka’s family, parents JoAnna Hall and  Kyle Wawrzyniak, and siblings Justin Wawrzyniak, and Brianna and Ashley Hall, have planned Mileka’s Run to celebrate her life.
Mother’s Day was chosen as the day of the run, because Mileka passed away Mother’s Day weekend.
“We want this Mother’s Day to be one that we can celebrate her life, and spend the day with family and friends who have helped us, and continue to help us, through our grief,” JoAnna said.
The family chose to provide scholarships to students at DC and GSL because Mileka attended school at DC, but lived in Silver Lake and participated in youth activities through GSL, as well as church activities in Silver Lake.
“She was a giver, and now, she will continue to give, with our help,” JoAnna said.
The 5k run/walk will take place Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13, beginning at the Silver Lake City Park in Silver Lake.
A kids’ mile run (for those under 12) will begin at 10:30 a.m., with the 5k starting at 11 a.m. A light lunch will be provided following the race.
The registration fee for the kids’ run is $10, and the registration fee for the 5k is $20. Registration forms are available at all of the schools in the DC and GSL districts.
Anyone with questions can contact JoAnna Hall at (320) 327-2628.