Insurance office employee accused of fraud

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT FROM 12 PM CDT SUNDAY THROUGH 8 PM CDT MONDAY... * WHAT...The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for ozone pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach the Orange or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category. * WHERE...Portions of central and southern Minnesota. * WHEN...From 12 PM CDT Sunday through 8 PM CDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, children and older adults, and people who are active outdoors, may experience health effects. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Ground-level ozone is expected to be high during the afternoon hours on Sunday and Monday, and air quality is expected to reach the Orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups) AQI category across central Minnesota. Sunny skies, warm temperatures, and low humidity will create an environment favorable for two types of pollutants (Volatile Organic Compounds and Nitrogen Oxides) to react in the air to produce ground-level ozone. Ozone will be highest during the afternoon and early evening hours when sunshine is most abundant, and temperatures are highest. Air quality is expected to reach the Orange AQI category. This is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. Ozone levels will be low during the overnight and morning. Air quality will improve on Tuesday, when a weather system will move across the state and bring increased moisture, clouds, and scattered thunderstorms to eastern Minnesota. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, children and older adults, and people who are active outdoors, should limit prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning devices. Reduce vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as possible. && For information on current air quality conditions in your area; and to sign up for daily air quality forecasts and alert; notifications by email, text message, phone, or the EPA AirNow; mobile app, visit https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-; climate/current-air-quality-conditions. You can find additional; information about health and air quality at; https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-climate/air-quality-; and-health.

Insurance office employee accused of fraud

WELLS — An insurance office employee in Wells allegedly pocketed payments from customers who were never issued insurance policies.

Jackie Jo Wetzel, 53, was charged with felony counts of insurance fraud, theft and forgery Thursday in Faribault County District Court.

Wetzel was the office manager for a Farmers Insurance Agency, according to a court complaint. The owner of the company called police after customers reported they had not received proof of insurance after they paid Wetzel in cash.

An investigator found Wetzel had taken nearly $10,000 from seven customers between 2017 and 2020, the charges said.

Wetzel allegedly admitted to pocketing about $7,000 from customers. She also allegedly admitted to making fraudulent insurance cards to give to some customers and making a fake insurance policy for herself so she could buy a vehicle.