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With NORTHERN MINNESOTA'S REGIONAL MARKETPLACE Regional Classifieds - General, Real Estate, Personals, Auto & Boat Shopper; pages 14 & 16 Serving Grand Rapids Walker Bemidji Blackduck Cass Lake Park Rapids Bagley Red Lake Emmaville with Priority Coverage in Deer River, Hackensack, Nevis, Akeley, Remer, Boy River, and Red Lake and with limited service to Pine River and Brainerd 75¢ WE ARE AMERICANS. TO THOSE, WHETHER HERE OR FROM ABROAD, WHO DON'T RESPECT THIS GREAT NATION AND THE VALUES THEREOF: DON'T MESS WITH US. WE MEAN BUSINESS. Flag courtesy of www.ushistory.org VOLUME 14 NO. 1 We never release the issue until it's something you'd want to read. OCT. 26, 2009 - JAN. 26, 2010 P.O. BOX 1132, BEMIDJI, MN 56619 BOX 1132, P.O. Northern Herald LEADING EDGE JOURNALISM LEADING EDGE Volcano of JOURNALISM Grand Rapids Group In this issue Batchelder Charged - p. 3 Formed to Expose The MAGIC of MOONDANCE - p. 8 "Advocates" Corruption Erupts READER DISCRETION ADVISORY: This publication, though generally written in tasteful and family-friendly language, contains frank and accurate reporting of what really happened; as well as poignant and thought-provoking opinion. Sometimes it is the actual news event that is disgusting and filthy - like when the taxpayers were forced to bail out Wall Street. We do not try to soften or otherwise dilute or suppress the reporting of the In Itasca County news, regardless of who was involved; and we don't mince words or compromise values in providing our editorial opinion. Accordingly, this shouldn't be read by anyone. LEADING EDGE JOURNALISM LEADING EDGE JOURNALISM Sheriff's Office Grand Rapids Court of Appeals: Itasca County Sheriff: Pat Medure Attorney Hayes Judge Benshoof Former Itasca Co. Head Jailer, Itasca Co. Deputy and Investigator, David Sigfrinius, Charged Gregory Snyder, Charged With 33 Disciplined Abused Discretion With Unnatural Crimes Counts Including Unnatural Acts BEMIDJI -- Coming into office Involving 17-Year Old Male With Boy, 13 Years Old In Earliest Our mascot, The Bear False Editor's Note: To avoid Witness Bear, as interpreted by misunderstanding, we hasten in 1997 to sit primarily at Bemidji, the newly-appointed (by Gov. Arne GRAND RAPIDS -- Former Incidents artist Kendra Mirabal, (then) to explain that when the OLPR Carlson) Judge Paul Benshoof Itasca County Head Jailer (Itasca 6th grade, Grand Rapids, MN. "disciplines" an attorney, it GRAND RAPIDS -- Pursuant pointed out, in interview,1 Co. Sheriff's Office), David Allen The Bear False Witness Bear usually means a letter of that he to an investigation conducted by intended to bring compassion to the Sigfrinius, 59, of Bovey, was the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal was inspired by the practice of admonition or some such arrested November 17th, 2008 on Grand Rapids' "Advocates for thing. They don't, for instance, Ninth District bench. And he said, Apprehension (BCA), on March "A trial judge's role . is to . 6 charges, 2 each of 3rd degree and 26, 2009, Deputy (Itasca Co. Family Peace", and certain actually stand the shyster up 4th degree criminal sexual other travesties observed in against a wall and flog him, as apply the law as the legislature has Sheriff's Office) Gregory Alan written it and as the appellate conduct, and 2 of furnishing Snyder, 43, turned himself in, and, Northland courtroom practice. would often be fitting. alcohol to a minor, stemming from courts have interpreted it." on March 27th, was charged, in Since then, however, although incidents alleged to have occurred GRAND RAPIDS -- A GRAND RAPIDS -- Grand Itasca County, with 33 counts of issuing some very inspective (of the Sept. 15th and Sept. 27th, 2008 substantial group of people who say Rapids attorney John Wallace criminal sexual conduct in the 1st, Hayes, Esq. (reg. no. 219848), evidence), well thought out, and involving a 17 yr. old male. The 2nd, and 3rd degrees, for numerous that they have suffered injustice at 2 male is believed to be a relative of the hands of the Grand Rapids, officing at 38110 Co. Rd. 469, well reasoned rulings , Judge alleged acts, including many Cohasset, Minn. (previously at Benshoof has been criticized by Sigfrinius (Itasca Co. case no. 31- alleged unnatural acts, occurring Minn. organization, "Advocates For CR-08-3939). The third & fourth Family Peace" (AFP) (essentially, 321 NE 4th St., Grand Rapids, members of the local bar and from 2004 through March, 2009 Minn.) was, on May 15, 2008, others, for "off-the-wall" decisions degree charges relate to alleged (Itasca Co. case no. 31-CR-09- a women's advocacy organization), conduct where the victim is 16-17 as well as other Itasca County social officially admonished by the in other cases which have seemed 1016). All of the counts are Minnesota Office of Lawyers' unduly punitive or vindictive, and yrs. of age, and the perpetrator is felonies. On conviction, each of the services agencies, has formed and over 48 mos. older than the victim, began meeting in Grand Rapids to Professional Responsibility sometimes, beyond the law and the 1st degree counts carries a (OLPR) at St. Paul. authority of his Court. and is either in a position of minimum sentence of 144 months work towards establishing avenues authority over, or of significant of countering the AFP's alleged The admonition cites lack of Now, in appellate case no. in prison; with a maximum of 30 diligence in Hayes' representation A07-1375 (an unpublished case), relationship to, the victim. years and/or $40,000 fine. unethical and biased courtroom As the Minnesota age of practices, and unconscionable of a male client, Brad Graber, in the Minnesota Court of Appeals All of the acts are alleged to child custody and visitation has found that, in ordering the consent is 16, a person committing have involved a single victim, agency practices; and trying to the same acts with a 17 yr. old to discourage future funding of AFP proceedings in the Itasca County victim in a libel case to pay over Snyder's stepson, who was 13 years courts. Mishandling of fees was $10,000 in sanctions, Judge whom he is not related or in a of age when the earliest offenses and similar organizations whose position of authority over, would activities, coordinated and also raised in the admonition. The Benshoof abused his discretion. were allegedly committed. The client claimed that Hayes withheld Reversing the sanctions award, not be chargeable; so it is not complaint to authorities was made combined with those of the other known whether Sigfrinius has county organizations and agencies, services for nonpayment of fees the Appellate Court said " . the by the alleged victim's mother, who ($700) that Hayes claimed were district court clearly lacked thusly committed other, non- is believed to be Snyder's wife, exercise unjustified authority over chargeable acts with males under family matters and produce an due, but that Hayes did not provide authority under rule 11 to award immediately after she learned, in an accounting of the use of, and monetary sanctions . ." the age of 18. mid-March, 2009, of what, uneven playing field for men and Sigfrinius was released women litigating issues in court. any monies left from, the retainers The suit sought damages allegedly, had been happening. ($1,750) paid by Graber at the against two Bemidji individuals for November 18, 2008 on a $30,000 According to the Complaint, the Said the woman who had surety bond; he pled not guilty to facilitated the initial meeting, times of Graber's initially retaining making false and defamatory acts began with fondling in 2004 Mr. Hayes as counsel (in two statements regarding the Plaintiff, all 6 charges, and the case is when the alleged victim was 13; and "Their name is Advocates For scheduled for pre-trial at 9 a.m. Family Peace, but they started out related cases). some of which were published on rapidly escalated from there to the as Advocates For Women, and Specifically, the admonition, the Internet. Also sued was Google, Nov. 3rd, with trial commencing most serious aberrations. The at 9 a.m. Nov. 23rd, 2009. Several they've changed their name but not signed by Martin A. Cole, Inc., for continuing to index and complaint alleges that the criminal their philosophy." Director, OLPR, finds, provide excerpts of the libelous Itasca Co. judges have recused acts then happened frequently when themselves in this matter, and the The name of the new group "1. Respondent's [Mr. Hayes's] material, after Google was notified the boy's mother was away, and that which takes exception to AFP's conduct in failing to diligently of its false and libelous character.