Aitkin Independent Age

4 days ago | messagemedia.co | Jesse Grabow

Question: I know there is a lot of discussion on distracted driving. I have a question how does the law apply to amateur radio devices? For example, trained storm spotters sometimes use hand-held and vehicle mobile radios during a weather emergency. Answer: Devices such as amateur radio, two-way radio and citizens band (CB) radio are exempt under the hands-free law.

4 days ago | messagemedia.co | Jesse Grabow

Question: I have a new driver in the house. We were having some discussion on where a person needs to stop when coming to a stop sign and other situations. Answer: Here is what a person needs to know when it comes to stopping your vehicle. kAmkDEC@?8m$E@A $:8?Dik^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm• r@>6 E@ 2 4@>A=6E6 DE@A 2E DE@A D:8?D]k^AmkAm• x7 E96C6 :D 2 >2C<65 DE@A =:?6[ DE@A 367@C6 E96 =:?6]k^AmkAm• x7 E96C6 :D 2 A656DEC:2?

6 days ago | messagemedia.co | Jesse Grabow

Question: What is a safe routine when backing up using the mirrors in conjunction with the vehicle's backup camera? Answer: Backing up is not allowed on freeways or expressways, except for emergency vehicles on duty. Backing up on public roads can result in a charge of reckless or careless driving. If you must back out of a driveway onto a public road, back into the nearest lane and drive forward from there. Never back into or across lanes of traffic unless you are sure it is safe.

1 week ago | messagemedia.co | Kat Robb

Aitkin County Assessor Mike Dangers presented the 2025 assessment summary to the Aitkin City Council at its meeting April 7. He went through the summary with the council and included city specific information on value changes and the size of the tax base. Dangers’ report said, “Values generally increased for the 2025 assessment.” The largest percentage increase of a class was for apartments (8.7%).

1 week ago | messagemedia.co | Kat Robb

Palisade Fire Chief Jere Gruhlke went to get more chairs to seat the people who packed city hall at the Palisade City Council meeting April 7. Four members from the Minnesota Rural Water Association: Technical Advisors Kyle Kedrowski and Jennifer Koenig along with Lead and Copper Technical Advisor John Nelson and Wastewater Technical Advisor Jeff Frost, were in attendance to speak about a prior asset management plan performed by MRW in Palisade.