Star Tribune
Officers cite people for illegally harvesting evergreens for holiday decorations in northern Minnesota
A St. Louis County man accused of illegally harvesting the tops of evergreens to sell for holiday decorations faces a felony theft charge for the first time because of the enormity of the violation and repeat offenses, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The charge comes at a time of year when the state’s conservation officers (COs) often report more suspicious activity involving spruce tops, birch poles and boughs, aka “decorative materials.” CO reports in the last two weeks have had several references to investigating theft cases.
Blake Buschman of Babbitt was caught Oct. 27 with 1,300 cut spruce tops on county land west of town, said state conservation officer Anthony Bermel, who has had several run-ins with Buschman in recent years.
“I would call him a very habitual offender,” Bermel said.
Other charges in the case include a gross misdemeanor for trespassing; a failure to obtain consent to cut decorative materials; and littering on both public and private property. Buschman faces jail time and fines if convicted, the officer added.
The legal harvest and purchase of decorative materials is allowed in Minnesota. For example, a DNR permit is needed to cut in state forests. Also, private landowners permit others to harvest on their properties.
The business market has picked up in recent years, increasing illegal activity, Bermel said. Some violators will cut from mid-September until Thanksgiving, removing as many as 10,000 spruce tops from dense bogs in a season. Assisted by the St. Louis Sheriff’s Department and Babbitt’s police chief, Bermel seized 1,300 spruce tops that Buschman allegedly cut and bundled. His last cut covered 5 acres, Bermel added.
“There have been problems on state forest, private and county land, and it just seems like there are certain cutters out there — Buschman being one — that have no regard for land ownership,” the officer said.
Hubbard County is filling the vacancy for County Attorney Jonathan Frieden, who recently died of cancer.
County Administrator Jeffrey Cadwell said in an email to the Minnesota Star Tribune that John Olson will be acting county attorney and oversee the office until the vacancy is filled by appointment.
Frieden, 43, died Nov. 9. He was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer 18 months ago. It was a shock to the community, his family and the small prosecutors office in Park Rapids that he led for seven years.
His term expires in 2026. The Hubbard County Board will open the application process and appoint a replacement in the coming months, but it will be “very big shoes to fill,“ Ninth District Judge Tamara Yon previously told the Star Tribune.
Frieden was appointed as county attorney in 2017 to fill a vacancy due to retirement. At the time, he was 36 years old. He ran unopposed twice, in 2018 and 2022. He previously served as assistant county attorney in the ninth judicial district for nearly a decade.
The legal community remembered Frieden as a highly respected, personable attorney. “He was just a fantastic young man. What a tragedy to lose him,” Yon said.
He is survived by his wife, Sarah Frieden, three young daughters and six siblings, including an identical twin.
A celebration of life was set for Thursday in Park Rapids.
A Metro Transit bus struck and injured a pedestrian on Wednesday evening in Roseville, according to the transit agency.
The incident occurred at about 8:15 p.m. in a crosswalk at Rice Street and Little Canada, said Metro Transit spokesman Drew Kerr, who added that no passengers were on the bus at the time.
Metro Transit said the victim was an adult male who was reportedly in stable condition after receiving treatment at Regions Hospital.
Star Tribune
Businesses at George Floyd Square sue Minneapolis, Frey for $30 million, demand city take over
Citing years of deterioration and crime since George Floyd’s murder, several business owners at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis demand in a new lawsuit that the city and Mayor Jacob Frey begin eminent domain proceedings to take over their properties.
Last week, the owners of Cup Foods filed a civil lawsuit in Hennepin County District Court seeking $30 million in damages, arguing city actions ruined the businesses and constitute an unlawful taking of their property without just compensation.
The lawsuit argues that business in the area lost revenue, real estate value, reputation and tenant and rental income for both business properties and apartments due to how the city handled the unrest after Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police. That includes the use of concrete barricades to isolate the area that became known as George Floyd Square. It points to a rampant escalation of violence in the neighborhood because of these decisions and alleges the city created a “No Go Zone” for police near the businesses.
The legal action, known as a writ of mandamus, comes two months after Hennepin County Judge Edward T. Wahl dismissed a civil lawsuit filed by the business owners in 2023 that sought $1.5 million in damages from the city and Frey. Wahl dismissed with prejudice claims of negligence and nuisance against the city and claims the city charter had been violated, meaning they cannot be refiled.
But the claim that the city had effectively taken over the property “without formally invoking its eminent domain power” was dismissed without prejudice, meaning that it could be subject to further inquiry.
Wahl said if the businesses near 38th Street and Chicago Avenue wanted to make that claim, they first needed to file the writ of mandamus, a term for ordering the government to properly fulfill their official duties or correct an abuse of discretion.
The new filing essentially asks the city to begin imminent domain proceedings, said Michael Healey, the lawyer representing Cup Foods Inc.; Menthol Tobacco LLC; Southside Electronics, Inc.; NMA Investments, LLC; and 3759 Chicago Ave, LLC. Healey said seven additional businesses will soon file similar suits against Minneapolis and Frey.
“There are two possible outcomes, one is the city will allow my clients — a couple had to sell or leave town — but the folks that still own businesses there could conceivably keep the property if a settlement is reached with the city on the diminished value,” Healey said. “The other possible outcome is the city grants the writ and initiates an official taking of these properties in which case they will definitely have to be paid something. That would have to be litigated.”
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Mysterious diamond necklace — possibly linked to Marie Antoinette’s demise — sells for $4.8 million