Deer Hunters Help Stock Food Shelves

Minnesota hunters are helping to stock food shelves. Then, a racial incident in Rochester earlier this year is still prompting new criminal charges. And, Blue Cross Blue Shield customers in Northern Minnesota are breathing a sigh of relief.
—–Executive Producer: Victor Palomino Producer: Maija HechtAnchor: Grace Jacobson Reader scripting: Joel Glaser Fact checking: Joel Glaser, Victor Palomino Editorial support: Emily Krumberger Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood—–

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Transcript

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HOST: You're listening to North Star Stories: Voices from Where We Live, a daily newscast about what it means to live in Minnesota.

ANCHOR: Minnesota hunters are helping to stock food shelves. Then, a racial incident in Rochester earlier this year is still prompting new criminal charges. And, Blue Cross Blue Shield customers in Northern Minnesota are breathing a sigh of relief.

I'm Gracie J.

A South Carolina man is facing felony charges after threatening to travel to Minnesota and murder everyone involved with bringing criminal charges against Shiloh Hendrix. You may remember a viral video of Shiloh Hendrix yelling racial slurs at a young child at a Rochester park earlier this year. After the Rochester City Attorney announced criminal charges against Hendrix, a 25-year-old from South Carolina started calling the City Attorney's office, leaving threatening messages. He's now charged with a felony count of threatening violence and two gross misdemeanor counts of harassment. He is due in court next May.

Up next, families seeking food assistance this holiday season may find venison at their local food shelf. Reporter Maija Hecht explains why.

Maija Hecht: This holiday season, Minnesotans seeking food assistance may be able to bring home venison.

Pat Zimmerman: We know everything is going up. You know, groceries are getting very high. Utilities are increasing.

Maija Hecht: Pat Zimmerman directs Pierz Food Shelf, serving Morrison County.

Pat Zimmerman: This year has been record numbers. We used to average, probably a year ago, 80-90 families a month come through the door. In November, I just finished the paperwork, we had 145 families that used our services.

Maija: Pierz is one food shelf of many across Minnesota that receives venison through a Minnesota Department of Agriculture donation program.

Pat Zimmerman: This venison, it really makes a difference for what I have to purchase.

Maija Hecht: Venison is donated by Minnesota hunters who bring their deer to participating processors around the state.

Jennifer Stepphes: It's made into whole muscle cuts or ground venison, and then it is X-rayed for potential lead.

Maija Hecht: Jennifer Stepphes is a Dairy and Meat Inspector for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, or MDA.

Jennifer Stepphes: And then it is distributed to food shelves in time for the holidays. You Thank

Ambient Sound/Shop: Thank you. Here's three of them.

Maija Hecht: This doesn't come at a cost to participating meat processors—who are eligible for reimbursement through the MDA if they follow sanitation and labeling guidelines.

Jennifer Stepphes: For the Venison Donation Program, a processor that's registered and licensed would have to accept whole carcass deer.

Maija Hecht: Whole carcass donations ensure that deer are able to be tested for Chronic Wasting Disease, which is increasing in prevalence in Minnesota, before processing to avoid cross contamination.

Jennifer Stepphes: If someone was looking to donate deer, we do maintain a list of registered processors and include the hunting zone.

Maija Hecht: That list is available to hunters on the MDA website.

Jennifer Stepphes: I think, especially now, there's definitely a need for good sources of protein.

Pat Zimmerman: We've been really seeing an uptick in families and our budget is, it's never enough.

Maija Hecht: At Pierz Food Shelf, Pat isn't alone. Last year, state statistics reported record-breaking food shelf visits across Minnesota, in a trend that has been increasing since 2021.

Pat Zimmerman: You know, it used to be a—they were embarrassed. They were ashamed that they needed to access free food. But no, there's no shame in it.

Maija Hecht: Families can contact their local food shelf to find out if venison donations are available near you.

Pat Zimmerman: You know, we're a small town, and we do serve, you know, the surrounding area, but we do not turn anybody away. We welcome anybody, and we're very happy to be able to help them.

Maija Hecht: Maija Hecht for North Star Stories.

ANCHOR: You are listening to North Star Stories.

Blue Cross Blue Shield customers with health care providers in the Aspirus St. Luke's system no longer have to worry about finding a new provider or paying higher rates for out-of-network coverage. The current agreement between Blue Cross and the health care network was set to expire at the end of the year. That would have meant providers in the Aspirus St. Luke's system would no longer be in-network, resulting in significantly higher health care costs for patients. The two parties were able to hammer out a new agreement that goes through the end of 2027.

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HOST: North Star Stories is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, with support from the McKnight Foundation and the State of Minnesota. Online at ampers dot org.