GRAND RAPIDS — The Itasca County Sheriff's Office will distribute free youth life jackets at L&M Fleet Supply in Grand Rapids on Friday, Aug. 2.
Residents can learn about water safety from experts and receive proper fitting and usage instructions for the life jackets.
State law requires children under 10 to wear a life jacket when moving on the water. Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death, especially among children.
"Our goal is to ensure that everyone can enjoy the water safely, and events like this help us make a real difference in preventing water-related accidents," Sheriff Joe Dasovich said.
L&M, Onyx Outdoor, National Marine Manufacturers Association and Water Sports Industry Association are cosponsors of the event.
Life jackets will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. The event begins at 3 p.m. and runs until 5 p.m. or until all life jackets have been distributed.
-
Plus: DNR cancels mineral lease for Twin Metals; and ICE's immigration crackdown last winter may have ripple effects for farm labor during harvest season. -
Contributed/Twin Metals Minnesota via MinnPostThe action comes weeks after executive action by Gov. Tim Walz halted the mining company's efforts to establish a copper-nickel mine in the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEThe Bureau of Indian Affairs announced it was assuming operations of family and children services in Red Lake following a raid on Sept. 10, 2026. -
Contributed/Adobe Stock via Minnesota News ConnectionAn estimated 15,000–20,000 seasonal agricultural workers arrive for work in Minnesota during the peak harvesting season, according to the National institutes of Health. -
Contributed/MedicAlert UK via Unsplash.comThe standard began Sept. 10, 2026, following approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Aug. 11. -
Scott Rodgerson/UnsplashOfficials found a man dead in the yard of a residence in Pike Bay Township on Sept. 13, 2026. The Cass County Sheriff's Office, Leech Lake Tribal Police and other agencies are investigating.
