CLOQUET, Minn. — Eight Cloquet police officers were honored for their conduct during a Jan. 8 shooting at the Super 8 hotel that left three people dead, including the shooter.
“In January of this year, tragedy struck our community, which resulted in the loss of two innocent victims,” Police Chief Derek Randall said at the ceremony during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 16. “Our hearts are still with those families to this day.”
The sudden act of violence resulted in the deaths of Super 8 hotel clerk Shellby Marie Trettel, 22, of Cloquet, and Patrick Jeffrey Roers, 35, of Deer River. Police identified Nicholas Elliot Lenius, 32, of Ramsey, as the shooter in the homicides.
Officers were recognized for meritorious service and awarded with a small acrylic plaque with an engraving of their name that read: “In recognition of your exceptional bravery and selfless dedication during the active shooter incident, January 8, 2024.”
The criteria for the awards include superior handling of a difficult situation, conspicuous bravery, outstanding performance, and any action or performance that is above and beyond typical duties.
“They fearlessly and without hesitation or regard for their own safety responded to a hostile area unknowing of what or what was or had occurred,” Randall said.
The officers on duty perfectly exemplified the motto, mission, vision and core values of the department, he said.
“It’s extremely heartening to witness our officers’ acts of bravery and courage,” said Randall, visibly emotional during the ceremony. “While it would have been better to honor with lifesaving awards, their actions deserved recognition and gratitude nonetheless.
“We owe them a debt of gratitude for their selflessness and bravery,” he said.
The following officers were recognized for meritorious service:
Sgt. Nathan Cook
Sgt. Zack Sandstrom
Detective Kristina Sather
Officer Jacob Bubb
Officer Brodie Nordquist
Officer Trevor Kaldor
Officer Ben LaFave
Officer James Demko
Minnesota Department of Health and Department of Agriculture officials are warning consumers not to eat Infinite Herbs brand organic basil in 2.5-ounce clamshell-style containers purchased at Trader Joe’s due to a multistate salmonella outbreak announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
This Infinite Herbs brand organic basil in 2.5-ounce clamshell-style containers sold at Trader Joe’s has been recalled after a salmonella outbreak.(Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Health officials report that four Minnesotans between 3 and 59 years of age, all from the Twin Cities metro area, became ill between Feb. 15 and March 27. None of them were hospitalized and none died, the health department reports in a news release issued on Thursday. Their illnesses have been linked to eating Infinite Herbs brand basil purchased at Trader Joe’s.
Nationally, a total of 12 people infected with the outbreak strain of salmonella have been reported from seven states. One person was hospitalized.
The basil was sold at Trader Joe’s stores in 29 states, including Wisconsin, as well as in Washington, D.C., according to the CDC.
Traceback data collected by FDA determined that Infinite Herbs LLC, in Miami, was the supplier of the 2.5-oz packages sold at Trader Joe’s stores, according to the CDC’s investigation info.
Infinite Herbs is cooperating with the FDA investigation, the CDC reports, and has agreed to initiate a voluntary recall.
“We are heartbroken that any item we sold may have caused illness or discomfort,” the company stated in a post on its Facebook page on Thursday. “We value your trust and are carrying out a thorough investigation into the cause.”
Trader Joe’s, which states in a recall on its website that the basil was sold in some of its stores from Feb. 1 through April 6, has removed the product from its shelves. Anyone who has it in their refrigerator or freezer should throw it away, health officials say.
Also, the FDA recommends extra care in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with this product to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Since many people with salmonella infection (salmonellosis) do not seek health care or get tested, the number of ill people that are part of this outbreak is likely to be larger than the identified cases. People who became sick after consuming this product and are concerned about their health should consult their health care provider and mention this outbreak.
Symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever. Symptoms usually begin within 12 to 96 hours after exposure, but they can begin up to two weeks after exposure. Infections usually clear in five to seven days, but about 28% of laboratory-confirmed cases require hospitalization. Many salmonella infections in otherwise healthy people do not require medical treatment. More serious infections occasionally occur. For those who seek health care, most do not require antibiotics.
Approximately 1,000 salmonella infections are reported each year in Minnesota. More information on salmonella and how to prevent it can be found on the MDH website at health.state.mn.us/diseases/salmonellosis.
Minnesota is working with the CDC and the FDA on this ongoing, multi-state investigation, according to the health department.
Minnesota gained an estimated 11,000 jobs in March, on a seasonally adjusted basis, with the private sector posting roughly 8,000 jobs, according to data released Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. The unemployment rate remained steady at 2.7%.
DEED also said Minnesota’s labor force increased by an estimated 3,000 people over the month, bumping the labor force participation rate up one-tenth of a percentage point to 68%. This rate measures the total number of people working full-time or actively seeking work, and is used to calculate the headline unemployment rate.
“March was a great month all around for Minnesota employers and workers,” said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek in a news release. “Our strong job and labor force growth shows that Minnesota’s economy continues to provide great opportunities for Minnesota residents as well as those who would like to call Minnesota home.”
Five sectors saw job gains, including, including Leisure & Hospitality, up 5,000 jobs; Government, up 3,000 jobs; Education & Health Services, up 2,800 jobs, and Construction up 2,700 jobs.
Over the year, Minnesota has gained 47,508 jobs, up 1.6%, with the private sector up 23,161 jobs or 0.9%.
Year-to-date nationally, U.S. employment grew 1.9% with the private sector up 1.7%. In March, the national unemployment rate ticked down one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.8%.
By ethnicity in March, unemployment among Black Minnesotans was 3.3% in March; for Hispanics 4.3%; white Minnesotans, 2.7%, and Asians 1.9%.
A broader measure of unemployment, called the U-6, was 5.4% in March, down from 5.5% in February. This measure factors in people who have voluntarily left the labor force and are no longer looking for work, in addition to part-time workers seeking full time work.
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Carnival Cruise Line has released another round of updates on what travelers can expect when its new private destination Grand Bahama Celebration Key opens.
Debuting in summer 2025, the port of call will be welcoming ships from Florida ports Port Canaveral, PortMiami, Tampa and Jacksonville as well as six other U.S. ports.
The 369-acre site less than 20 miles east of Freeport will be the first dedicated to Carnival Cruise Line, although Carnival ships have used sister line destinations Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay for years.
The largest port construction project in the line’s history will be carved into five segments the company calls portals, and Carnival released details about the third one tied to retail, an artisan village called Lokono Cove.
Named in deference to the native Lucayan language, “lokono” means “the people.” It was the winning selection from Grand Bahamas resident Deidre Rahming, who was on hand in Miami Beach with an entourage from the Bahamian government on Tuesday at the Seatrade Cruise Global conference.
She received a check for $5,000 from Carnival and a future day pass for the resort, which won’t normally be open to visitors from the island. The line says at least 300 jobs will be generated for locals serving the cruise guests.
Lokono Cove will have kiosks and stores alongside “an authentic Bahamian artisan market” showcasing local craftsmanship, according to Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy. Beyond the items for sale, the space will have music and murals to enhance the space, and local food.
“Lokono Cove will be a treasure trove – a place for our guests to immerse themselves in the spirit of the Bahamas and find locally inspired keepsakes, symbols of paradise they can share with loved ones, or cherish for themselves for years to come,” said Duffy said/ “Honoring the beauty and culture of the Bahamas is integral to our plans for Celebration Key, and that will be on display throughout Lokono Cove.”
The space also will be the excursion gateway for visitors to explore Grand Bahama.
It’s the third name drop by Carnival following the reveal of welcome area Paradise Plaza and adult-friendly area Calypso Lagoon. The final two space names and details, which will be a family-friendly area and an adults-only private area, will be revealed later.
The site will also have a south-facing mile-long beachfront expanse and massive freshwater inland lagoon the line says is the largest in the Bahamas and Caribbean.
Paradise Plaza is the name of the welcome area coming to Carnival’s Celebration Key on Grand Bahama island when it opens in summer 2026. (Carnival Cruise Line/TNS)
Paradise Plaza features a rainbow-colored walkway through a sunshine entranceway with a 10-story “Suncastle” as a centerpiece. The welcome area is the place to book the day’s activities including cabanas, water sports and shore excursions. The area will also feature a Bahamian-themed fountain and ice cream shop.
Calypso Cove is the name of an adult-friendly area coming to Carnival’s Celebration Key on Grand Bahama island when it opens in summer 2026. (Carnival Cruise Line/TNS)
This image shows cabanas within Calypso Cove, an adult-friendly area coming to Carnival’s Celebration Key on Grand Bahama island when it opens in summer 2026. (Carnival Cruise Line/TNS)
Calypso Lagoon falls just to the west, home to the sport court and freshwater lagoon and lounging options galore. It’s home to a bar with 50 swings that let visitors dip their feet into the water, and just one of many bars serving the space and two full-service restaurants and other casual snack shacks. And adults-only area of the portal will feature a swim-up bar with a DJ, food trucks and more lounging options.
Future expansion will build beyond the five portals including the construction of a water park.
The port of call will open with one dock capable of handling its largest ships, the 6,000-passenger Excel class, including Port Canaveral-based Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration out of Miami.
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The line announced this year a $100 million plan to expand that with a second dock so that it could handle up to four such ships beginning in 2026. That expansion, which grows the line’s investment to $600 million so far, means it expects nearly 4 million passengers to visit the site annually by 2028, an average of 11,000 visitors every day. For now, it has more than 500 itineraries planned among 18 ships available to book.
Other U.S. ports visiting the new site are Galveston, Texas; Baltimore; Norfolk, Virginia; Mobile, Alabama, Charleston, S.C. and New Orleans.
“As is fitting for our plans for Grand Bahama island, our vision for Celebration Key is quite grand, and we’re already thinking about the next phase of expansion and development,” said Duffy when the pier expansion was announced. “Building the second pier now allows us to implement growth plans and build itineraries with certainty, and signals to the local community just how important this development is to Carnival Cruise Line and the future of the island.”
