WINONA, Minn. – Police recovered a stolen 16-foot fishing boat that had been parked several days on its trailer at the East End Marina. Officers notified the owner. “But where’s the motor?” he asked. Missing was a 40-horsepower Yamaha outboard motor. The 2006 MirroCraft aluminum boat and the motor had been stolen from a storage unit in the 900 block of Frontenac Avenue.

WINONA, Minn. — A Tennessee driver whose blood-alcohol-tested more than double what’s allowed was arrested about 1:30 a.m. Steven Anthony Bradford, 31, of Nashville, was driving withiu headlights which precipitated a traffic stop, police said. This was near Fifth and Hamilton streets. A test found his blood-alcohol at 0.17%.

Bradford. Cop asked: Why no lights?

NODINE, Minn. –A man burning unwanted furniture lost control, and firefighters had to respond to a resulting wildfire. The fire was extinguished quickly. This was about 8:40 p.m. west of Nodine on Township Road 125.  Firefighters said that Lance Louis Klessig didn’t have a burn permit. Klessig, age 42, who has a rural Dakota address, was issued a citation. He had been burning a couch and a mattress, deputies said.

LACRESCENT, Minn. – Winona County deputies were called about a burning bag with a suicide note up the bluffs from La Crescent. No identifying information was found. This was about 4:45 p.m. on Apple Blossom Drive near Aerie Heights Lane. A passerby had alerted authorities to the bag.

WINONA, Minn. — Police recognized a Winona woman bicycling near downtown as wanted on a warrant for theft — only to discover that she was riding on a bike reported stolen only moments earlier. Nicole Angelica Klink, age 37, had just been seen on campus surveillance video at Winona State using a bolt-cutter to steal the bike from a bike rack, police said. And there she was now, at Huff and Fourth streets, pedaling away. She was charged with possessing a stolen vehicle and burglary tools — the bolt-cutter. The arrest was about 3:05 p.m

Klink. Police said her get-away was only five blocks.

WINONA, Minn. — A man who shot and seriously wounded a neighbor in a private dorm at Winona State University in October has been sentenced to three years in prison. In a plea deal Cole Robert Cameron, age 27, had pleaded guilty to second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. The prison sentence was pronounced by Winona Judge Dwight Luhmann. Police had responded to a reported shooting at the Studios on Huff apartments. On the third floor they found the wounded man on a hallway floor and also Cameron. They quoted Cameron: “I shot him.” This was about 4:20 a.m. Cameron was very drunk, police said. His blood-alcohol tested at 0.20%, which is 2-1/2 times the threshold for intoxication.

Earlier: Winona shooting victim hangs on to life

Earlier: Witnesses to cops: Argument preceded shooting

Cameron. Sentenced on plea-reduced charge.

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. — The judge in the trial for the murder trial of Carson Peters-Berger has been asked to deny public access to key prosecution evidence against the teenager. The boy’s attorney wants a seal the transcript and flash drive of a police interview. Because of he e horrendous nature the crime, it already has been decided that Peters-Beger will be tried as an adult even though only 14 when he crie was committed. His cousin, 10-year-old Lily Peters, was killed on an afternoon in April 2022 while pedaling her bike home through woods after visiting her aunt.

Earlier: Teen’s name now shows in murder, rape documents

Earilier: Murder update: Chippewa Falls teen legally an adult

Earlier: Murder update: Chippewa Falls teen legally an adult

Earlier: Teen seeks juvenile jurisdiction for murder trial

Earlier: Movement afoot to broaden missing child alerts

Earlier: Teen accused in Chippewa Falls rape, murder

Earlier: Chippewa Falls boy blamed killing of 10-year-old girl

Earlier: 10-year-old girl killed in Chippewa Falls

WINONA, Minn. — Three men abused as children by Winona Diocese priests are back in court with renewed claims for monetary compensation. The men, all in their 70s, filed their new cases in Winona, where the Diocese was headquartered at the time, and in Rochester, where the Diocese has since relocated its headquarters. As in the original cases, the men identified themselves in the new cases only as Doe 221, Doe 257 and Doe 276. The original cases were among hundreds nationwide that sent Catholic dioceses all over the country into bankruptcy to pay millions for priestly misdeeds. The Winona Diocese cases were settled with $22 million of Diocesan assets and $6.5 million from Diocesan insurance policies. The renewed cases involve payouts. The cases:

> Doe 221: The original case alleged that Harold Mountain, a now-deceased priest at St. Casimir’s Catholic Church in Wells, molested him in 1968 and 1969 when he was 7 or 8.

> Doe 257: The original case alleged that Sylvester Brown, a priest at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Blue Earth, molested him around 1974 when he was 13.

> Doe 276: The original case alleged that Tom Bork, a teacher at Cotter High School in Winona, molested him in 1972 and 1973 when he was 15 or 16.

Although the abuses were long ago, the Minnesota Legislature voided the usual statute of limitations for child sexual abuse in 2013. More than 100 claims followed.

Earlier: More sex abuse claims against Catholic Diocese

Earlier: Earlier: New case charges sex abuse by priest

Earlier: Post-bankruptcy Catholic diocese looks ahead

Earlier: Catholic bishop: Sex abuse pay-off detail OK’d

Earlier: Church sex abuse settlement: $21.5 million

FOUNTAIN CITY Wis.—A man walking his dog on the Burlington Northern double-track mainline was killed when struck by a freight train. The dog died too. Without explanation Buffalo County Sheriff Mike Osmond didn’t release the man’s name. The accident was about 11 a.m. near Lock and Dam 5A south of Fountain City. Northbound trains along the Mississippi River are authorized  at 72 mph. South-bound trains headed for LaCroosse usually are slowing for a switch to single tracks across backwater swamps at Bluff Siding.

Pedestrian crossing near Lock and Dam 5-A in vicinity of where fatality occurred. Image: Steve Lunde

RED WING, Minn.—A Red Wing man accused of sex with a 15-year-old girl—five to 10 times over the December 2023 holidays—is going to prison. Jeffrey David Nelsen, 44, was sentenced to 12 years. Initially Nelsen denied sexual contact but later agreed to plead guilty to a single count if other counts were dropped. Goodhue County Judge Patrick Biren issued the sentence. The judge also specified 10 years of probation when Nelsen gets out. The case had been  developed after Nelsen was seen holding the girl’s hand and kissing her on her way to school. During a subsequent interview with a school counsellor, the girl admitted to a “bond” with Nelsen. A search warrant for her phone led to finding affectionate messages.

MINNEAPOLIS – An attorney for a federal deportation agent accused of producing child pornography defended the agent as shocked to be arrested. “He had no idea he was dealing with a minor and was shocked when he learned otherwise,” attorney Ryan Pacyga to MPR. Pacyga said that Timothy Ryan Gregg, age 51 had been told repeatedlythat the girl was an adult. He was lied to, said Pacyga. The attorney defended Glenn for a “long, distinguished career in law enforcement.” He’s dedicated his life to public service, the attorney said. According to the criminal complaint, Glenn was doing duty for Immigration Control and Enforcement agency.

Earlier: FBI agent in sex case with Rochester link

PRESTON, Minn. – One of the twin sisters accused in a deadly 2023 crash into an Amish buggy is too ill with an eye issue to make a hearing scheduled for Monday. The attorney for Samantha Petersen, Carson Heefner, asked for an extension. Heefner said Petersen is facing surgery and probably will need until mid-summer to recover.  Heefner said he too has health issues that preclude the Monday plea hearing. Responding to the request, Fillmore County Judge Jeremy Clinefelter reset the hearing to July 11 over objections from prosecutor Brett Corson. Corson cast doubt on the veracity of Petersen’s eye surgery claim. “This is believed to be routine surgery with a short recovery period,” Cordon told the judge. “Past cases have shown that the defendant may not always give accurate information.”  He pointed to “deception and trickery” dating to the 2023 accident scene itself. The case against Petersen is that she and her identical twin Sarah colluded to claim that it was Sarah, not Samantha, who was driving, in order to protect Samantha, who was high on meth. Sarah already has been sentenced for her role and is in jail.

Earlier: First twin in fatal 2023 Amish wreck to jail

Earlier: Amish buggy deaths: One twin fesses up

Earlier: Trial set for twin for in Amish buggy deaths

WINONA, Minn. – Investigators believe they have wrapped up the May 24 drive-by shooting case in Rollingstone with two arrests this week.  No further arrests are expected, said Chief Deputy Sheriff Jeff Mueller. The only loose ends are incidental, like processing digital evidence, Mueller said. Arrested have been:

> Damein Lamont Smith Jr., age30, of Winona, who is accused of driving.

> Kamri Jatovion Jordan, 21, also of Winona, accused of firing from the back seat.

No one was injured inside the targeted homes, but the occupants, who had no reason to expect the attacks,  were in peril.

Earlier: Another arrest for Rollingstone drive-by shots

Earlier: Winona man jailed for mystery Rollingstone drive-bys

Summer nutrition.  Free summer meals are available again through the Winona Schools. Anyone 18 and under is eligible regardless of whether they attend the system’s schools, the District announced.  The meals begins Monday with four pickup points around town. Pickup points: Boob Welch Aquatic Center, Goodview Elementary School, Sinclair Park, Winona Middle School, Details. The program is funded through a federal nutrition program. funded as U.S. farm-support project.

WINONA, Minn. – Drum roll, please. The 2025 Miss Steamboat Days queen will be crowned Wednesday in a pageant at Levee Park at the foot of Main Street. Time: 5:45 pm. Admission $10. The finalists:

The competition begins with private interviews conducted by a five-judge panel. Scholarships of $1,000 to $3,500 will be awarded to the winner and two runners-up. All will appear in the Steamboat Days grand parade, the kiddie parade, and Merchant’s pancake breakfast There will be a downtown autograph session with Miss America 2025.

LEROY, Minn. – A fatal house fire near LeRoy two weeks ago remains under investigation, Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge confirmed. The fire’s origins haven’t been identified conclusively by the state fire marshal, the sheriff said. The victim, dog breeder Donald Anderson, 90, had been involved in allegations of animal abuse that ended up in court. His wife Elham was also was a defendant in the case. She jumped from a window to escape the fire.

Earlier: LeRoy fire victim’s name released

Earlier: Man dies, woman saved in Fillmore County fire

Earlier: Kennel keepers: Not guilty of animal cruelty

Earlier: Rescue mission: At-risk dogs retrieved near LeRoy

TREMPEALEAU, Wis. – The state Natural Resources Department asked for an informant to come forward about a fire that destroyed an old timber bridge on the 16-mile Trempealeau-Onalaska biking trail. “Any information from the public will be welcomed,” said Warden Chris Shea. “Even if the information seems too small to matter, it may be important.” The bridge was built by the old Chicago & Northwestern railroad with creosote-soaked timbers in 1871. The bridge was torched May 16.

Earlier: Fire closes Trempealeau trail bridge

WINONA, Minn. – Police figured they had found a hit-and-run driver when they traced the suspected car to a residential driveway on the West End. One wheel was missing – just like the wheel ripped off in the hit-and-run impact three blocks away. This was about 12:45 a.m. At the address Daniel Allen Lyke Jr., 24, admitted to having drunk whiskey sours. Officers asked Lyke how drunk he felt. He said three on a 10-point scale. Lyke’s guesstimate seemed a low, police said: His speech was heavily slurred, his eyes bloodshot and watery, his balance poor – and his breath smelled of alcohol A breath test showed his blood-alcohol at 0.27%, roughly 3-1/12 times the legal intoxication threshold.  Lyke showed minor cuts apparently from the accident – a cut lip — before being charged. The crash, into a parked and unoccupied car, was near Fifth and South Baker streets. The arrest was near Fifth and John streets. Police were scratching their heads how the car could have been driven three blocks on only three wheels.

FARMINGTON, Minn. – The grandparents of Maddi Kingsbury’s children are calling for a new Minnesota law to deny parental custody for anyone convicted of first-degree murder. They discussed plans to lobby for such a law a few days after a drawn-out battle with the grandchildren’s father — convicted murderer Adam Fravel. “Our hope is that we’re going to be able to affect a change in the law,” David Kingsbury told a KAAL interviewer.  “Once you’re convicted of first-degree intentional murder of your spouse or your partner and there’s young children involved, your parental rights by statute should be automatically terminated.”  Fravel killed Maddi Kingbury of Winona in March 2023 and was found guilty in November 2024. Only last week, seven months later, did the grandparents win clear custody of the 7-year-old and 4-year-old children. The grandparents now are proceeding with adoption.

David and Cathy Kingsbury. In KAAL interview in their Farmington home.  The grandfather is a lawyer although not in criminal law.

Although understandably bitter against Fravel, the Kingsburys said in the KAAL interview that they’re not totally averse to the chidren having contact with Fravel as their father when they’e older and if it’s their desire and if mental health counselors see no danger of psychological damage. Fravel, age 31, is in prison for life.

Earlier: Judge: Kingsbury kids to stay with grandparents

ROCHESTER, Minn. – A Rochester woman accused of selling drugs out of a car says she’s not guilty. A trial for Vanna Thuok, age 44, was scheduled for January. The charges: Possessing and selling drugs. Thuok was arrested in February 2024. Police said they confiscated 32 grams of meth and 11 fentanyl pills from her home.  In a white Dodge Dart that poilce had stopped for a traffic issue, police said they found 33 grams of meth in a black bag.