Please listen to the podcast below. Stories include the Northfield City Council approval of the Skateboard Park, The Contented Cow Controversy over the appearance of Jim Fetzer with quotes from Norman Butler and the escape of 2 inmates from the Rice County jail annex. One of them a Northfielder.
Click below to listen to FULL newscast:
TEXT:
Skateboarders erupt in cheers at the Chamber
In a unanimous vote, the Northfield City Council approved a permanent Skateboard Park to be built at Old Memorial Park. With a standing room only Council Chambers, there really wasn’t much debate. One by one, 19 voices spoke at the podium. Age was irrelevant as young and old gave their support. President of the Northfield Rotary Matthew Rich said the club gave serious consideration when deciding to contribute $15,000 to the Skateboard Coalitions efforts. A young voice, not even a skateboarder but a part of The Key, spoke eloquently of the skateboarders continued passion. And another view from a skateboarder was all about safety. Councilman Ludescher had a personal visit from supporters Kiffi Summa and Rob Hardy earlier. He said “this old financial curmudgeon will vote yes”. Even DeLong got behind it. Mayor Graham’s interview this morning is posted online.
The Contented Cow not so content
Standing his ground may sink his ship…. “I nearly folded but then got my second wind”. Norman Butler has invited controversy and conversation at The Contented Cow for years but his latest invitee is a step too far for many in the community. Conspiracy theorist Jim Fetzer is a McKnight scholar whose focus is the philosophy of science. He searches for evidence of major events and reports his findings. According to Fetzer, briefly, he believes the CIA responsible and that “innocent patsies” were framed. He believes that President Bush and the Israeli’s conspired to take down the towers on 9/11. He also says he has proof that 6 million jews did not die in the Holocaust. That point is the most contentious to professors from both St. Olaf and Carleton who sent emails to Butler trying to reason with him to uninvite Fetzer calling his position “hate speech” and saying they would no longer patronize the Cow or Chappati. As Carleton Professor Louis Newman wrote in an email to me: He is not just “controversial;” if that were all, no one would care. Newman teaches Judaic studies. Butler says he was amazed at the reaction. He did not “expect the Spanish Inquisition”. Nor a boycott of The Cow and Chapati. Butler sent the emails he received to Fetzer himself who chose to publish them, including the contact information of all those on the emails, in an article titled “The Abdication of Reason and Rationality in Northfield” on a website called Veterans Today which also sells customized firearms. Those who sent the emails have now received threatening mail from Fetzer followers. Two people I asked to speak to me said they were fearful and didn’t want their names attached to it. Butler contends that this is about “Freedom of Speech vs Hate Speech”. The backlash so far is that bands scheduled to play have backed out and Quiz Mistress Jessica Peterson White is looking elsewhere to host her quiz night events. Fetzer’s first appearance is scheduled for February 19th. His subject is the tragedy at Sandy Hook, which he contends was staged. While some find Fetzer to be a, quote, “Whack Job” there are others that find him deeply offensive.
Escaped inmates captured hours later
Two inmates that escaped the Rice County jail annex in Faribault just after 1 this morning were apprehended 3 hours later. In a press release Sheriff Troy Dunn said the inmates escaped through a window, climbed a perimeter fence and stole a car. After a short pursuit, they exited I-35 at the Owatonna rest area, crashed into a car and fled into the woods. A short time later they stole another vehicle in Owatonna. 18 year old Austen Michael Chytracek of Northfield was serving a 60 day sentence for criminal sexual conduct. 18 year old Austyn Daniel Gates of Faribault was being held for possession of stolen property and warrants in 2 other counties for burglary. At 4:22 this morning Freeborn County deputies nabbed the pair near Albert Lea after they crashed.
Listen for news updates on-air at 6, 7, 8, Noon, 3 and 5
The post Today’s news update – Skateboard Park to become reality; Standing his ground may sink his ship, or rather, Pub; Rice Co escaped inmates captured UPDATED to include text appeared first on KYMN Radio - Northfield, MN.