Cass briefs

WALKER -- Donna Witham of Hackensack is one of four people who filed for election as of 2 p.m. Tuesday to fill the Cass County Board District 3 vacancy created when her husband, Glenn, died April 22.

Other candidates so far include Dennis E. Haley of Ponto Lake Township, Rusty Lilyquist of Trelipe Township and Gordon Arthur Friday of Hackensack.

Filing deadline for this special election to fill Glenn Witham's unexpired term through the end of this year is May 15. There will be a May 29 primary election and a June 18 general election.

Candidates must live in the cities of Hackensack or Longville or townships of Hiram, Deerfield, Birch Lake, Powers, Woodrow, Ponto Lake, Wabedo, Blind Lake, Kego, Trelipe, Thunder Lake, Crooked Lake, Smokey Hollow or Beulah.

At the regular county board meeting Tuesday, commissioners approved a certificate of appreciation for Glenn Witham's service as District 3 Cass County commissioner.

Cass declines smoking ban

WALKER -- The Headwaters Medical Society informed the Cass County Board by letter of that organization's endorsement of a ban against smoking in restaurants.

Cass commissioners declined Tuesday to act on their request to adopt a county ordinance banning smoking in restaurants at this time.

Commissioner Jim Demgen questioned how the sheriff would have time to enforce such a ban when Sheriff Randy Fisher has requested additional deputies to handle calls received for violations of existing laws.

Cass timber auction results listed

LEADER -- Cass County Land Commissioner Norm Moody told the county board Tuesday loggers paid $877,201.44 at timber auctions in January and April this year to buy trees from county-managed land.

A total of 27,698 cords of wood were sold, plus 10,200 board feet of red pine saw timber. Prices paid in April generally were higher per cord than in January, except for balsam poplar and basswood.