Thief River Falls News: April 2015

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Busy Week for TRF Fire Fighters

No injuries and no damage this week as Thief River Falls Fire Fighters were called on to deal with a fire in a shelter belt at the Kern Larson Farm north of Thief River Falls in Excel Township.
According to a spokesman at the Fire Hall, the call for assistance came in just after 6pm Tuesday – F...
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Irene Schultz

Irene Schultz, age 89 of Red Lake Falls, MN died on Monday, April 27, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.
Funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, May 1, 2015 at St. John Lutheran Church, Red Lake Falls, MN with Rev. John Bungardner officiating. Burial will be held at Zion Lutheran...
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Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Crookston man charged for stealing a vehicle in the TRF Police Report

Vehicle theft
Santos Anthony Bower, 25, Crookston, has charges pending for vehicle theft. Bower was arrested in Crookston. He allegedly stole a 2005 Chevy pickup truck owned by Northern Pride on April 21. The Crookston Police Department notified police here that the pickup truck had...
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Obit – Irene Schultz

Russell “Bud” Zimpel

Russell “Bud” Zimpel of Plummer, MN, passed away suddenly on Friday, April 24, 2015 at his home at the age of 86. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Plummer, MN, with Rev. John Bumgardner officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove C...
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Brian Solberg

Brian Solberg, of Thief River Falls, MN passed away April 24, 2015 at Thief River Falls, MN.
Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 2:00 PM in the Ekelund Lutheran Church with Reverend Robert Dahlen officiating. Burial will be held at Ekelund Lutheran Church Cemetery rural...
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Delores Forsberg

Delores Forsberg of Thief River Falls, MN, age 88, died on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at the Thief River Care Center in Thief River Falls surrounded by her family.
Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at Zion Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with...
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NCTC Wins Amaze Award

It is Minnesota’s First VEX Trophy from the VEX Robotics World Championship Tournament …
Congratulations Northland Community and Technical College and Team Members; Nic Skinner, Nick Radke, Peter Tydlacka and Robert Fay – winning the Amaze Award at the recent World Championship held at the Kentu...
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Marville Hjelle

Marville Hjelle of Thief River Falls, MN formerly of Viking, MN age 86 died peacefully on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at Good Samaritan Society in Clearbrook, MN.
Funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at the Evangelical Free Church in Thief River Falls, MN with...
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Thief River Falls woman sentenced for a felony charge of theft

Michelle Shirley Elizabeth Daniels, 24, Thief River Falls, was sentenced for a felony charge of theft. She was granted a five-year stay of imposition. As a condition of that sentence, she was ordered to serve supervised probation for five years. If she successfully completes probation, the ...
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Sunday, April 26, 2015

Pennington County Citation Disposition Bulletin 4-23-2015

Thief River Falls Police Department cases
Ryan Philip Anderson, 25, Spring Lake Park, DWI, $585, 90 days in jail with 60 days stayed for one year, chemical assessment, failure to notify the victim and police of a collision with an unattended vehicle, $50, conditions concurrent with count 1,...
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Grand Forks man sentenced for felony fleeing

A Grand Forks, N.D., man was sentenced Monday, April 13 in Pennington County District Court for a felony charge of fleeing in a motor vehicle. A gross misdemeanor charge of driving while impaired and a misdemeanor charge of driving after suspension were dismissed against Richard Lee Fabian,...
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Gene Magner

Gene Magner of Newfolden, MN died Wednesday April 22, 2015 at his home at the age of 73.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, April 27, 2015 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with Pastor Troy Bates officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery...
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Harold Brandon

Harold Brandon, age 84, of Middle River, Thief Lake community, passed away, Friday, April 17, 2015 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.
Funeral service will be held at 2:00PM, Friday, April 24, 2015 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Thief Lake.
Visitation will be held after 6:00PM, Thursday, w...
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Vivian Dvergsten

Vivian Gladys Dvergsten, 76, of Greenbush, MN, died Monday, April 20, 2015 in Oakland Park Communities Nursing Home in Thief River Falls, MN.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at 3 PM in Bethel Lutheran Church of Greenbush with Pastor Mark Mathews, offici...
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Obit – Dorothy Ranstrom

Dorothy Ranstrom went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Center in Warren, MN, at the age of 78. Dorothy Mae Myszkowski was born on June 13, 1936, in Strandquist, MN, the daughter of John and Helen (Gonshorowski) Myszkowski. She attended her...
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New Plan for the Old Hospital

It began 3 years ago when architect Link Wilson visited the Riverside Terrace renovation in Thief River Falls and began to visualize the potential for executive and family housing at the adjacent hospital site, along the banks of the Red Lake River in Thief River Falls.
Representing the Schuett...
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Four people have charges pending for separate drug offenses

Warrant apprehension, felony fifth degree controlled substance crime and driving after suspension
On April 14 at 10:30 a.m., police received a report that someone was trying to obtain prescription drugs at Thrifty White. Aaron Alexander Holmes, 30, St. Hilaire, has charges pending for fifth...
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Man jailed after allegedly crashing truck reported stolen from TRF

A man was treated for minor injuries and then arrested after he crashed a truck reported stolen from Thief River Falls very early Tuesday on Walsh Street on Crookston’s north end.
The Crookston Police Department was called to 1201 Walsh Street at 2:10 a.m., where they found the servi...
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Patricia Markstrom

Patricia Markstrom, 90, of Thief River Falls, MN passed away peacefully on Monday, April 20, 2015 at Sanford Hospital in Thief River Falls, MN. Mass of Christian Burial and a celebration of the life of Patricia will be held at 1:30 p.m. with a visitation one hour prior to the service on Friday,...
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Obit – Vivian Dvergsten

Obit – Harold Brandon

Harold Brandon, age 84, of Middle River, Thief Lake community, passed away, Friday, April 17, 2015 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.
Funeral service will be held at 2:00PM, Friday, April 24, 2015 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Thief Lake.

Visitation will be held after 6:00PM, T...
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Obit – Maci Leigh Lawrence

Maci Leigh Lawrence of Thief River Falls, MN, 7 month old daughter of Brandy Hermanson and Chris Lawrence died Sunday, April 19, 2015 at Sanford Hospital in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Thursday, April 23, 2015 at...
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Speedway Moves Back Opener 1-Week!

(Grand Forks) — While conditions have been dry enough this spring, the recent cold snap has forced promoters at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks to push back their scheduled season opener to Friday, May 1st.

The Premier racing program will feature four regular classes o...
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Obit – Patricia Markstrom

Holmer Frowns on Summer Hours

That locked door at City Hall Friday afternoons this summer is going to be a problem for Mayor Brian Holmer …
Over Holmer’s objections, the Thief River Falls City Council this month approved Summer Hours for employee’s city-wide. Beginning May 18th through the 5th of September, all dep...
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Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Schuett to Develop Old Hospital Site

A Golden Valley based developer is scheduled to appear before the Thief River Falls City Council tonight to present a preliminary plan for apartments and commercial space at the site of the old Northwest Medical Center and CNC, along the Red Lake River in down town Thief River...
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Obit – Joan “Cookie” Potucek

Joan “Cookie” Potucek, 68, of Radium, MN, passed away peacefully on Saturday evening, April 18, 2015 at her home with her family by her side. Joan Roberta McMurray was born on August 27, 1946 in Bemidji, MN, the daughter of Archie and Bertha (Vivier) McMurray. She was raised in Bemidji where she ...
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Redby woman sentenced for a felony charge

Donna Jean Lewis, 49,Redby, was sentenced for a felony charge of third degree assault. A misdemeanor charge of domestic assault was dismissed. For the felony charge, Lewis was granted a five-year stay of imposition. As a condition of that sentence, she was ordered to serve supervised probation...
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TRF man sentenced for felony fleeing

A Thief River Falls man was sentenced Thursday, April 2 in Pennington County District Court for felony fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle.
Cristian Antonio Tapia, 24, was also sentenced for a misdemeanor offense of fourth degree driving while impaired.
A gross misdemeanor charge...
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Court cases include dismissed felony offense

A dismissed felony offense is included in the latest edition of the Pennington County Citation Disposition Bulletin.
Thief River Falls Police Department cases
Cristian Antonio Tapia, 24, Thief River Falls, felony charge of defeating security on personalty dismissed
Sharon Ann Madoll,...
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Avian Influenza Confirmed Roseau County

It is the first case reported in the listening area, included in the daily briefing yesterday from the State Board of Animal Health .. A case of Avian Influenza, discovered at a commercial turkey operation in Roseau County.
The highly pathogenic strain of the disease was confirmed...
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Friday, April 17, 2015

Thief River Falls Police Department investigating a death

The Thief River Falls Police Department and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating the death of a Thief River Falls woman.
Police Chief Dick Wittenberg said the Law Enforcement Center received a 911 call at 4 a.m. Thursday. A resident reported that Amber Wold had ...
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Thursday, April 16, 2015

Herald Reporter Admits Mistake

An apparent case of journalistic license gone awry and another headache for NCTC President Anne Temte, who says the reporting in a Grand Forks Herald Article this week appears to be based on assumption instead of fact.
The article; an expose on Northland Thief River Falls student housing – by H...
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Nancy Hess

Nancy Hess, 66, Argyle, MN, passed away unexpectedly in her home on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
Nancy Lee Jensen was born on July 26, 1948, to Glen and Ruth Jensen, in Ladysmith, WI. Her father was a minister, and later a State Park manager, and she spent her childhood in several...
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Wildfire Spreads in Red Flag Conditions

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton issued an executive over night, calling out the National Guard to assist fire fighting efforts after a number of fires sparked in Red Flag Conditions Wednesday.
That includes wild fires between Gully and Gonvick, in Polk County – in the Beltrami Island S...
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TRF woman has charges pending for drugs in TRF Police Report

Felony fourth degree controlled substance crime
After an investigation, Rachel Jo Nelson, 34, Thief River Falls, has charges pending for felony fourth degree controlled substance crime. She allegedly sold morphine pills on Jan. 14.
Obstruction of the legal process
On April 12 at 10:48 p.m.,...
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Gertrude Grace Douglas

Gertrude Grace “Gertie” Douglas of Newfolden, MN age 81 died on Friday, April 10, 2015 at Sanford Hospital Palliative Care in Fargo, ND with her loving family at her side. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, April 16, 2015 at Evangelical Free Church, Newfolden, MN wit...
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Ormond Johnson

Ormond Johnson of Thief River Falls, MN, 90, died Monday April 6, 2015 at Oakland Park Communities, Thief River Falls, MN.
Funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. John Voelker officiating. Burial...
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Saturday, April 11, 2015

TRF Firefighters called to rescue two dogs

One dog was rescued and another died Friday morning after the two of them were running on the Red Lake River in the city of Thief River Falls.
The Thief River Falls Fire Department was dispatched to an area near the Eighth Street boat landing at 10:40 a.m. Friday. Callers, including...
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TRF Firefighters called to rescue two dogs

St. Hilaire Man sentenced for a total of 12 misdemeanors

Thief River Falls Police Department cases
Laurah Kay Ganyo, 26, Thief River Falls, calendar parking violation, $52
Jesse Lee Higdem, 27, Warren, second degree driving while impaired, $1,260 with $650 stayed for six years, supervised probation for six years, complete DWI Program, DUI...
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Eunice Quesnel

Eunice Quesnel, age 96, of Oklee, MN, passed away on Monday, April 6th, at Essentia Health Living Center in Fosston. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 10th, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Oklee with Father Bill DeCrans presiding. Interment will be in...
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Bonita “Bonnie” Aaseby Thygeson

Bonita “Bonnie” Aaseby Thygeson of Thief River Falls, MN age 59 died on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND with her loving family at her side.
The funeral service to celebrate the life of Bonita Aaseby will be held at 11:30 AM on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at ...
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Bonita “Bonnie” Aaseby Thygeson

TRF police to step up distracted driving enforcement next week

Minnesota law enforcement officers will step up efforts to catch distracted drivers beginning Monday, just in time for Distracted Driving Awareness Month, according to the East Grand Forks Police Department.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office along with the Crookston, East Grand Forks and Thief R...
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Obit – Eunice Quesnel

Remembering “Radioman” Ormond Johnson

He was an unlikely “radioman” – soft spoken, understated – his background really more in agriculture than advertising …
But, Ormond Johnson was a man who understood the power of radio and knew how to wield a beautiful, big smile that sold that powerful market for 25 years before retiri...
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Remembering “Radioman” Ormond Johnson

Stumpf Proposal – Free Tuition

An area lawmaker pushed ahead this week with a 25 million dollar proposal that would provide free college tuition to qualifying high school graduates.
At the heart of the measure, authored by Senator LeRoy Stumpf of Plummer, a focus on finding workers for a hard pressed labor market, where 54%...
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TRF man pleads guilty to possession of child porn

A Thief River Falls man pled guilty Thursday, April 2 in Pennington County District Court to two felony counts of possession of pornographic work involving minors.
Chad Michael Dietrich, 26, was initially charged with five felony counts of possession of pornographic work involving...
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Obit- Jean Weinberg

Jean Beyer Weinberg, age 86, of Red Lake Falls, MN passed away on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.
Jean’s Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, April 10, 2015 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls, MN, with Rev. John Bumgardner officiating. Int...
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NCTC Volleyball Academic Champions

(Thief River Falls) – – The Northland Pioneer volleyball team was named the Minnesota College Athletic Conference academic champions. The team recorded a team GPA for fall semester of 3.65. Northland led all MCAC volleyball teams for this award.
Members of the Pioneer Volleyball team in...
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Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Credit card fraud among offenses reported

Financial transaction card fraud and trespassing
After an investigation into a March 25 report of credit card fraud, two people have charges pending. Rachel Jo Nelson, 33, and Elsie Marie Jones, 42, both of Thief River Falls, each have charges pending for two counts of financial transaction...
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Marian Finstad

Marian Finstad of Thief River Falls, MN, 84, died Saturday April 4, 2015 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.
The funeral service to Celebrate The Life Of Marian Finstad will be at 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 9, 2015 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Ben Carlsen and...
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Amundson All-American

Northland Pioneer, Crystal Amundson, was named a First Team 2014-15 NJCAA DIII Women’s Basketball All-American. The two-year women’s basketball Pioneer captain led the team in scoring, rebounding, free throw percentage and field goal percentage this season. Amundson was one of five players in the...
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Sunday, April 5, 2015

Vangard Tries to Get the Job Done

Thief River Falls City Officials say they are running into something of a road block as contractors try to complete the new AMI – Automated Meter Reading – System upgrade.
After changing over thousands of residential and commercial utility meters, crews have only 600 water meters to go – but are ...
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Red Lake man sentenced for drug offense

A Red Lake man was sentenced Tuesday, March 24 in Pennington County District Court for a felony drug offense.
Joshua Jon Lussier, 26, was sentenced for a felony charge of fourth degree sale of a controlled substance.
Lussier was granted a five-year stay of imposition. If he...
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Friday, April 3, 2015

TRF man sentenced for a felony charge of fleeing a peace officer

Isiaha Martin Zuniga, 21, Thief River Falls, was sentenced for a felony charge of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle. A misdemeanor charge of fleeing a peace officer by means other than a motor vehicle was dismissed.
For the felony offense, Zuniga was sentenced to 12 months...
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Marian Marquis

Marian Marquis of Oklee, MN, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Monday morning, March 30, 2015, at the First Care Living Center in Fosston, MN, at the age of 83. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 4, 2015, at Zion Lutheran Church in Oklee, MN, with Reverend...
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Statutory stay of adjudication granted

A statutory stay of adjudication was granted for a felony offense included in the latest edition of the Pennington County Citation Disposition Bulletin. The Police Report pays for copies of this public information. If it appears in this manner in an online forum other than The Police Reports...
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The End of “The Wetch”

The community said goodbye to a piece of Thief River Falls history, Wednesday …
Demolition began this week at the one-time site of the Wetch Hotel and former Fountain Cafe in down town Thief River Falls.
Mayor Brian Holmer says property owners are taking the building down to clear the ...
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No Truth to Rumors Rogalla is Stepping Down

There is no truth to the rumor that Pennington County Attorney Alan Rogalla is stepping down …
We contacted Rogalla Wednesday, (April Fools Day) following the bogus post on Facebook.
Rogalla said he was as surprised as anyone to see the post, which he said held no truth at all.
As Ap...
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Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Pennington County Attorney Alan G. Rogalla stepping down

It was announced Wednesday morning that Pennington County Attorney Alan G. Rogalla will be stepping down April 3rd and return to private practice, ending his tenure in Pennington County as Assistant County Attorney and then County Attorney, he has been in office since January, 1990...
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Obit – Marian Marquis

St. Paul man has charges pending for meth

Felony fifth degree controlled substance crime
On March 19 at 4:16 p.m., the sheriff ’s office assisted the Red Lake Police Department with a drug case in Mayfield Township. Brandon Lee Jackson, 20, St. Paul, has charges pending for felony fifth degree controlled substance crime. He allegedly p...
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Suspect in Viking, Minn., murder waives extradition

A Devils Lake man accused of killing a rural Viking, Minn., man earlier this month waived extradition to Minnesota today.
Ray Erick Littlewolf Jr., 25, agreed to the transfer during an extradition hearing this morning before District Judge Donovan Foughty.

Littlewolf is wanted in...
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