The Daily Dispatch

The Wahpeton-Breckenridge area received a two-day storm total of 15 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service in Grand Forks. Temperatures were at a low of 15 degrees below zero with a 40 below zero windchill at the height of the strongest winds, said Brad Hopkins, meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

With blizzard conditions, Wilkin and Richland counties roads were restricted to emergency travel only. Even so, it was difficult getting to a fire which broke out at the Merle and Stephanie Miranowski residence in Nordick Township.

On Sunday, at approximately 5 a.m., the Wilkin County Sheriff's Office received a call of a shop fire Miranowski residence. The Abercrombie Fire Department along with Breckenridge, Wolverton and Christine fire departments and the Wilkin County Sheriff's Office responded to the fire. The shop contained construction equipment, trucks and tools. The building was destroyed along with all the equipment inside the shop. The fire is believed to have begun in a bathroom by an electric heater or electric hot water heater.

Though the weather was nasty with a 40 below zero wind chill, most were unaffected. Neither the Wahpeton nor Breckenridge police departments had anything remarkable to report.

A Wilkin County Sheriff's deputy was in an accident early Saturday morning on U.S. Highway 75. Several deer were crossing the road and the deputy did not see one and hit it, causing about $2,000 to the squad car.

North Dakota Highway Patrolman Keith Huwe reported an injury accident just east of McLeod. Two men were driving eastbound on N.D. Highway 27 after hunting Saturday. "They were trying to beat the storm back to Fergus Falls," Huwe said. Matthew Jessen, Fergus Falls, Minn., was driving and Reed Franklin, St. Paul, Minn., was the passenger. Jessen fell asleep and entered the ditch, vaulted over a township road and rolled his pickup. Both men were buckled in but their hunting dog was ejected from the vehicle. Wyndmere Ambulance, Richland County Sheriff and N.D. Highway Patrol responded to the accident.

The dog was taken to the Lisbon Veterinary Clinic. Franklin was transported by Wyndmere Ambulance to St. Francis Healthcare Campus for a laceration to the head. Jessen was OK.

There were a few power outages reported in Richland County. Ottertail Power Company had a small power outage in Fairmount Sunday morning, but it is taken care of, said Operations Manager Geri Coyne.

Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative had 10 reported outages five miles south of Wahpeton. They went out about 5 p.m. Sunday and restored around 9:30 a.m. Monday. "There was a failure out there on a certain line," said Craig Rysavy, operations manager. "Crews tried to get out there (Sunday), but couldn't get there."

Wahpeton and Breckenridge police departments would like to remind residents that snowmobiles have restrictions within city limits. In Breckenridge, snowmobilers cannot ride on county or state highways — South Eighth Street, Main Street, Minnesota Avenue, Fifth Street and Fourth Street. The dikes are all off limits as well.

In Wahpeton, snowmobiles must be carted into town, but may take the most direct route out of town. They cannot drive along or across Dakota Avenue, Second Avenue North, Fourth Street or 11th Street. They must drive on the far right side of a road, not on sidewalks, playgrounds, airport property or school grounds.

For both Wahpeton and Breckenridge, snowmobile speed limit is 15 mph and they cannot be ridden in town between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m.

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