Local News

Press Release

Aitkin, Minn.— Aitkin County has contracted with Emergency Communications Network to license its CodeRED high-speed notification solution. The CodeRED system provides Aitkin County officials the ability to quickly deliver emergency messages to targeted areas or the entire county. It can be used to assist in things from weather warnings to evacuations and missing children or adults. Most importantly, it will be used to help keep people safe.

Sheriff Scott Turner cautioned that such systems are only as good as the telephone number database supporting them. If your phone number is not in the database, you will not be called. Aitkin County has input all telephone numbers from Aitkin County’s 911 database. Cellular telephone numbers will need to be added.

One of the reasons the CodeRED system was selected is it gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own phone numbers directly into the system’s database, this is an extremely important feature. No one should automatically assume his or her phone number is...

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Press Release

9-1-1 It is simple to remember, easy to do and is the number that everyone should call when they have an emergency and want to summon the help of a fire department, ambulance, or law enforcement. As the emergency-response community has evolved with their communications systems, gone are the days of directly calling your local fire or ambulance for assistance. There are a great many reasons for this evolution – all of which are geared towards a better response to better serve you – the caller.

When you call 911 today, the call rings into the dispatch center at the sheriff’s office. All hard wire phones (frequently referred to as “land lines”) are on file with an address associated with that number. When a call is received from one of the land lines, it will appear on a map with the location of that call and associated address. Cell phone calls also ring into the sheriff’s office dispatch center. Depending on the call (location in county, cell phone provider or cell phone) that caller location can be pinpointed to an area or even an exact location.

Even with all of this technology at work, the dispatcher will also verify your address and location. As good as technology is today, it is still subject to failure and we want to ensure a timely and appropriate response to your emergency.

We have come a long way in...

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Press Release

McGregor, Minn.— In 1923, the poppy became the official flower of The American Legion Family in memory of the soldiers who fought on the battlefields during World War I. Donations received by our volunteers for poppies are used exclusively to assist and support disabled and hospitalized veterans.

The veterans who make the red crepe paper flower are able to earn a small wage, which helps supplement their income and makes them feel more self-sufficient. The physical and mental activity provides many therapeutic benefits for the veteran. The poppy has become a nationally known and recognized symbol of sacrifice and is worn by Americans to honor those who served and died for their country.

The McGregor Dale Wayrynen American Legion Auxiliary will be out distributing the...

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