The pre-trial conference of Bert James Hertzog, 53, of Winsted was continued from Jan. 14 to Wednesday, Feb. 13.
Hertzog is charged in Wright County with theft-by-swindle, aggravated forgery, and inspecting vehicles without certification.
Hertzog has entered a plea of not guilty. He is being represented by Attorney Robert Adams of Buffalo.
Hertzog’s charges stem from him allegedly making false inspections of commercial vehicles.
Marlin Roy Zierman of Mayer, 63, was identified by authorities as the pilot of a single-seat , amateur-built plane that crashed as it was headed from Brainerd to Winsted on Saturday afternoon. The plane went down on the ice of Round Lake north of Garrison. Aitkin County Sheriff Scott Turner says Zierman was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Witnesses told investigators it sounded like the plane was having engine trouble and that the pilot appeared to be attempting an emergency landing.
Authorities in northern Minnesota are investigating a plane crash that was reported Saturday at 12:38 p.m.
A spokesperson for the Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office said the single-seat, fixed wing amateur-built craft was en route from Brainerd to Winsted when it crashed on Round Lake, located north of the City of Garrison, near Mille Lacs Lake.
The pilot, a 63-year-old man from Mayer, was airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Witnesses told investigators it sounded like the plane was having engine trouble, and it appears the pilot was trying to make an emergency landing,” commented Aitkin County Dispatcher Ben Mowers.
The pilot’s identity has not been released by the sheriff’s office, pending the notification of family members, Mowers said.
South Aitkin First Responders, Garrison Fire Department, the Minnesota State Patrol, Crow Wing Sheriff’s Office, and North Ambulance all assisted Aitkin County at the scene of the crash.
Wright County Commissioner Elmer Eichelberg of St. Michael took over as board chair during Tuesday’s meeting, replacing Commissioner Jack Russek of Delano, who served as board chair for 2007.
Wright County rotates the chair position each year.
Eichelberg was elected to the county board in 1999, and his current term expires in December 2010.
Commissioner Pat Sawatzke was appointed vice-chairman for 2007.
Minnesota has eight congressional districts now, but this might drop to seven after the 2010 census, if projected numbers become reality based on US Census projections.Other states that could lose seats are Iowa, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan. States that could win are South, such as Texas, and western states.
Four people were apprehended in connection with two weekend burglaries at the Crossroads animal shelter in Rockford Township recently.
The Wright County Sheriff’s Office executed two search warrants Dec. 31, that led to the recovery of most of the stolen property that was taken during the two burglaries at Crossroads. Four people were taken into custody on probable cause possession of stolen property charges.
Phillip Harrison, 18 of Annandale, and a 16-year-old juvenile from Annandale were charged Jan. 2 with two counts of third degree burglary. A 20-year-old male and a 14-year-old juvenile male also from Annandale were released from jail without charges pending further investigation.
The incident remains under investigation by the Wright County Sheriff’s Office
