Domestic abuse calls up in Northfield
Domestic abuse in Northfield is on the rise. This last weekend Interim Police Chief Chuck Walerius reports that the calls tripled. He says high heat and humidity as well as alcohol played a role. He says there’s an increase in the level of violence as well. Not all of the calls wound up going to jail, they will separate the groups if they have no clear evidence of abuse. Walerius says they take into account if there’s children involved, which raises the stakes. 32 year old Jason Wade Hostutler is accused of strangling his ex-girlfriend, a resident of Northfield and mother of his 15 month old child and unborn baby. Northfield police were dispatched to the Northfield Hospital where the victim was taken last Friday after several days of beatings, according to the criminal complaint. Hostutler faces one felony count of domestic abuse by strangulation and one misdemeanor. The maximum sentence for the felony is 3 years. His criminal history includes kidnapping and other domestic assault convictions.
Female aggressors on the rise
While men generally tend to be the aggressors, I asked Walerius if they’re seeing more women becoming the aggressor. His answer “most definately. While on average more men are arrested, arrest rates for women have increased especially in the last few years. Walerius says that more men are speaking up because they’re finding it’s smarter for them to call police than do something they’ll regret later. He also says that the use of alcohol and/or drugs plays a “huge” role in the level of violence. Another incident involved 2 brothers reportedly fighting over the same girl. One, 26 year old Shane Michael Hejl has multiple past convictions of domestic assault. He is charged with a felony this time and faces up to 5 years in prison, his brother, Danny Lee, also sits in the Rice County jail at this time charged with misdemeanor assault.
City Council work session includes budget, HPC, Fire Service update and NCRC
The Northfield City Council will hold a work session tonight starting at 7 o’clock. First up is a presentation by the Heritage Preservation Commission. They’ll share their bylaws and work plan. Part of which includes exploring grant and other funding opportunities for preservation, studies and surveys. Council will hear their first presentation by Melanie Schlomann as interim Finance Director. She’ll update them on proposed and projected tax levy and the status of the General Fund budget. Schlomann is recommending a 3% increase in the general fund. The financial health of the City will be discussed. The City’s financials as audited by Abdo, Eick and Meyers, as well as their findings and the City’s responses are all on the City website under City Council most recent agenda. Councilors Zweifel and Pownell, along with Lee Runzheimer will give an update on the Fire Service Task Force. They hope to present recommendations to the public by September 1st. Council will also hear a report from the Council Subcommittee on its research to date on the Northfield Community Resources Center related to options for management of the facility and its future ownership.
HCI seeks Board members
The Northfield Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) is currently seeking nominations for positions on the HCI Board of Directors. HCI expects to have at least two open adult board positions and one board position for a high school student, beginning in September 2013. Board members serve three-year terms. Formed in 1992, HCI is a coalition run by a board of community leaders, youth, parents, and school representatives. HCI does not operate or manage its own programs. Instead, HCI works with community partners to foster collaboration and to support community-driven efforts that benefit Northfield youth and families. The HCI Board meets from 7:30-9:00 a.m. on the third Wednesday of every month. For more information on the HCI board or to nominate yourself or someone else for the board, please contact HCI at 664-3524 or info@northfieldhci.org. Nominations should be received by August 1, 2013.
Click here to listen to 7-23-13 FULL newscast
Listen for news updates on-air at 6, 7, 8, Noon, 3 & 5
(Please spread the word! RECOMMEND to your Friends below)
The post Today’s news update – Domestic abuse calls up in Northfield; Female aggressors on the rise; HCI seeks Board members appeared first on KYMN Radio | Northfield, MN.