Unseen images released in Kingsbury slaying
WINONA, Minn. – With the Adam Fravel murder case almost surely out of her hands, Judge Nancy Buytendorp released images that the jury saw but that she withheld from the public at the time. Some are benign, like a map of the area where Maddi’s body was found. Others are unsettling for the gore they illustrate. Buytendorp still kept sealed images of the Favel-Kingsbury children and of Kingsbury’s body during the recovery or autopsy. Also released was video of eary police interviews with Fravel. A sample of what was released:
Highway 43 corridor. Down the center of the map. Forty miles south of Winona and a few miles short of Mabel on the way to Iowa border. Dark green are forested coulees and draws in the rolling farm country.
Recovering the body. From a culvert off Highway 43. The remains were found by a Fillmore County deputy who saw an usual number of flies at a barely visible culvert on a seldom used dirt riad. This was June 2023.
Bedding labels. From a bed- sheet that wrapped around the body, which matched a label from a sheet at the Winona house that Fravel and Kingsbury shared.
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Killer-cop wins new access to George Floyd autopsy
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal judge has authorized killer-cop Derek Chauvin’s request to examine tissue and fluid samples from George Floyd. Chauvin is in prison for Floyd’s death in a high-profile Minneapolis trial for police violence. Chauvin wants to pursue a theory that Floyd didn’t die from being choked but from a rare heart condition called takotsubo cardiomyopathy. The theory has been advanced by forensic pathologist William Schaetzel in Topeka, Kansas. Said Judge Rasmussen: “Given the significant nature of the criminal case that Mr. Chauvin was convicted of, and given that the discovery that Mr. Chauvin seeks could support Dr. Schaetzel’s opinion of how Mr. Floyd died, the Court finds that there is good cause to allow Mr. Chauvin to take the discovery that he seeks.”
Earlier: Minneapolis killer-cop Chauvin to different prison
Emergency, fire crews make 42 calls
WINONA, Minn. – The Fire Department reported 23 emergency medical calls plus 19 fire calls in recent days:
> Tuesday, December 17: 2 medical calls plus 2 fire call.
> Monday, December16: No medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Sunday, December 15: 5 medical calls plus no fire calls.
> Saturday, November 14: 3 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Friday, December 13: 6 medical calls plus 7 fire calls.
> Thursday, December 12: 3 medical calls plus 6 fire call.
> Wednesday, December 11: 3 medical calls plus 2 fire call.
Earlier: Emergency, fire crews make 57 calls
Pole shed lost in fire above Pickwick
PICKWICK, Minn. – A pole shed was pretty gone when firefighters arrived up Big Trout Creek on County Road 7. Nobody was hurt. The owner estimated the loss at $20,00. Suspected cause: An oil heater used to keep the shed warm. This was about 5:20 a.m. in the 27000 block.
Avian flu makes dreaded leap in Wisconsin
BARRON, Wis. – A poultry farm worker 50 miles north of Eau Claie has tested positive for bird flu — the first apparent human case in Wisconsin. She is among 19 people potentially exposed to the infected poultry at a commercial breeding facility. The state Health Department lab in Madison described the woman’s symptoms as mild — a sore throat, slight fever, fatigue and eye discharge. She was responding well to he TamiFlu an antiviral drug, said Tom Haupt, a state epidemiologist. Bird flu seems to be in resurgence after wiping out much of the commercial U.S. chicken and turkey industry two years ago. Nationally the new outbreak has affected 60 persons in poultry and dairy operations.
Notable journalism
Jessie Van Berkel and James Walsh (Minnesota Star Tribune, December 14, 2024): “Why Are Minnesota Special Ed and Learning-Term Care Costs Rising So Fast?”
Steve Karnowski (Associated Press, December 12, 2024): “Judeg Allows Testing of Tissue from George Floyd as Officer Convicted of Killing Jim Seeks New Trial”
Estelle Timar-Wilcox (Minnesota Pubkic Radio, December 17, 2024): “Minnesota-Backed Bill to Make Bald Eagles the National Bird Heads to Biden’s Desk”
Campaign widens against Glock Switch hardware
TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin has joined other states, including Minnesota, with legal steps to get Glock handguns off the street if equipped with switches to convert them into machine guns. Platkin said that Glock, an Austrian gun manufacturer, has knowingly sold weapons that anyone with a screwdriver and a YouTube video can convert into a military-grade machine gun in a fewf minutes. “Glock’s ownership sits in Austria lining their pockets with profits paid for by American bloodshed fueled by their products — and we are sick of it,” Platkin said. “Our message to Glock is clear: The days of putting greed ahead of the safety of our residents and law enforcement officers are over. Platkin thanked Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison for leading a multi-state push against weapons “that flout our public safety laws.”
Earlier: Police chief lauds suit against Glock machine guns
Minnesota prep
Basketball (boys): Owatonna Huskies 75, Winona Winhawks 36
Basketball (girls): Owatonna Huskies 60, Winona Winhawks 15
Wisconsin prep
Basketball (boys): Independence Indees 68, Eleva-Strum Cardinals 60
Basketball (boys): Galesville Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau Red Hawks 68, Viroqua Blackhawks 53
Basketball (boys): Onalaska Luther Knights 69, Arcadia Raiders 48
Basketball (girls): Whitehall Norse 55, Alma Center Lincoln Hornets 39
Basketball (girls): Mondovi Buffaloes 70, Galesville Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau Red Hawks 25
Vacated ice-fishing hut worries cops
GOODVIEW, Minn. – An abandoned ice-fishing shack on Bartlett’s Lake after dark had police concerned. A state Natural Resources agent was called to go out on the ice to check whether there was an emergency but couldn’t tell much in the dark. The agent planned to recheck in the morning. The lake is part of the Gilmore Creek system that feeds Lake Winona.
False alarm: Explosive scare at Byron school
BYRON, Minn. — Firefighters were called to Byron High School to investigate “suspicious substances” in a student’s locker. A bomb squad with K-9 snuffers from Bloomington, 90 miles away, determined there were no safety concerns. This was about 4 p.m. The substance was removed safely. What was it? Authorities declined to say. The school has 690 students.
Judge: Life sentence to Fravel for murder
WINONA, Minn. – The Winona man convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his children, Adam Favel, was sentenced to life in prison as mandated by law for a jury conviction for first-degree murder with premeditation. Judge Nancy Buytendorp, who had presided at the trial, pronounced the sentence. It was the finale of a painful 62-minute hearing at which six members of the family of Maddi Kingsbury presented witness impact statements and encouraged no mercy. When Fravel was given an opportunity to respond, he said: “I never caused harm. I am innocent.” Bailiffs escorted him away. For the hearing Fravel was dressed in orange jail garb and handcuffed.
Fravel. Entering courtroom for sentencing. Attentive and straight-faced throughout the proceeding.
What next
First-degree murder convictions and sentences always are reviewed by state Supreme.Court. A reversal is rare but possible. Conceivably a new rial could be ordered. So too could be reconsideration of the trial court’s sentence.
Bowman poisoning case off until February
ROCHESTER, Minn. – A delay has been granted in the criminal case against a Mayo Clinic doctor in the fatal poisoning of his wife. An attorney for the doctor, Connor Bowman, said he needed more time because his investigator has been away on leave for personal reasons. Judge Kathy Wallace agreed to move the next hearing to February. Bowman’s wife Betty died in August 2023. At the time Bowman was finishing a Mayo residency.
Earlier: Bail remains $5 million in poisoning death
Notable journalism
Sean Baker (Minnesota Star Tribune, December 13, 2024): “With One Last Hymn, Parishioners Bid Farewell to 150-Year-Old Church in Small Minnesota Town”
Madeline Heim (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 12, 2-24): “Decades After It Disappeared, Wild Rice Boomig Again on Upper Mississippi River”
Greg Stanley (Minnesota Star Tribune, December 15, 2024): “Phermones from Tiny Beetles Could Help Save Minnesota Tamarack Trees”
Close to home: Avian flu infects Iowa turkeys
NORTHWOOD, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Agriculture detected a case of highly pathogenic avian flu in a commercial turkey flock in Worth County, which borders Minnesota south of Albert Lea. The flock was Iowa’s 12th infected site this year – some in commercial flocks and some in backyard flocks. State agriculture agents encouraged poultry producers and also dairy farmers to bolster their biosecurity practices. While this flu is often fatal to birds, including chickens and turkeys, it rarely makes a species leap to humans. When it does, antibiotics are a cure. There have been increasing infections, however, in dairy herds.
For safe eating
Authorities say eggs and poultry products are safe for human consumption, authorities say.. But to be safe, meat should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Raw eggs? Take it on prairie oysters, amaretto sours and true Caesar’s salad,.=
Police chief lauds suit against Glock gun kits
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara welcomed a lawsuit by Attorney General Keith Ellison to ban kits that convert Glock handguns into machine guns. Glock needs to be accountable for making it way too easy to commit violence, said O’Hara. “This is not a political issue. This should not be a partisan issue. This is a violent crime issue. This is an officer safety issue.”
Glock’s sales spiel
With a screwdriver just about anybody can install a Glock Switch. But why? Glock’s promotional materials say:
“Incorporating a Glock Switch into your firearm setup offers numerous advantages. First and foremost, it provides your Glock pistol with unmatched versatility. The ability to seamlessly alternate between semi-automatic and fully automatic modes allows you to adapt your firearm to various shooting situations. Whether you’re in a self-defense scenario or competing in a shooting match, the capability to switch modes offers a significant tactical edge.
“Additionally, the Glock Switch can greatly enhance your shooting speed and accuracy. When set to fully automatic, firing multiple rounds becomes effortless, improving your chances of hitting your target precisely. This feature is particularly valuable in high-stress situations where quick decision-making is crucial.
“ Finally, using a Glock Switch can make your shooting experience more thrilling. The exhilaration of firing a fully automatic weapon adds a new level of excitement to your sessions, giving you a taste of professional-level shooting.”
Glock 19 Gen 3. Retails at $450 to $500.
Full auto Glock Switch. Retails $150 to $160.
R.I.P.: Marie Steigerwald
LITTLETON, Colo.– Marie Steigerwald, age 90, who lived most her life in Winona, died in retirement in Littleton. In Winona she was a laboratory secretary at the hospital for 20 years. She was known in Winona State University circles through her husband Jacob, a foreign languages professor. She was born in Romania. At age 9, shed fled with her family to Austria ahead of Russian combat forces. Those were tough times. Food and housing were in short supply. She remembered sharing living quarters in some barracks with 70 people. The family arrived in Chicago in 1949.
Detail: EllisFuneral Home
Earlier: R.I.P.: Jacob Steigerwald
1934-2024
Minnesota prep
Basketball (boys): St. Charles Saints 82, Randolph Rockets 58
Basketball (girls): Randolph Rockets 61, St. Charles Saints 43
Wisconsin prep
Basketball (boys): Cochrane-Fountain City Pirates 76, Eau Claire Immanuel Lancers 48
Basketball (girls): Cochrane-Fountain City Pirates 50, Eau Claire Immanuel Lancers 37
Teen shooter opens fire in Madison school
Three dead, including shooter; seven wounded
MADISON, Wis. – A student shooter killed two persons and wounded seven others at a private school on a leafy 28-acre cams on the East Side, then turned the gun on herself in a suicide. The shooter, Natalie Ruonow, age 15, began shooting with a handgun in a study hall. It was there that a teacher and a fellow student were killed and the others wounded. Ruonow survived her self-inflicted wound but died en route to a hospital. Of the six wounded students, two were hospitalized in critical condition. Not much was known immediately about Ruonow except that she was relatively new to the school. Madison Police Chief Shon Banes said that investigators had not established a motive. There was no record of any previous interaction with police, he said
Police Chef Shon Barnes. In dark-rim glasses at initial news conference. The shooting was about 11 a.m.
School profile
The Abundant Life Christan School has 390 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The school was founded in 1978 by Lake City Church, a local congregation. Over the years it grew through mergers and has expanded its affiliations to 50 congregations. It is accredited through the Association of Christian Schools International. Address: 4901 East Buckeye Road. It is one of the largest private schools in Madison, population 270000 with 400,000 more people outside the city limits in the metropolitan area.
Timeline
Police Chief Shon Barnes offered this timeline:
> 10:57 a.m. A second-grade teacher called 911 to report a shooting.
> 11:00. A deputy sheriff was first to the scene.
> 24 seconds later.The first Madison police officer arrived. Officers entered the school as they arrived.
> 11:05. Officers reported that the shooter was down and a gun recovered.
> 11:05. Firefighters arrived to help victims.
> 11:14. Officers began clearing the building.
> 11:23. Bomb dogs arrived to help clear the building.
> 11:26. Victims were treated at the school. Transportation to hospitals began.
Less-than-sober driver halted in stolen vehicle
WINONA, Minn. – Police intercepted a stolen vehicle coming off the Interstate bridge from Wisconsin and arrested the driver. Taken into custody was Julien Brost Jaminski, 32, of Wisconsin Rapids. The stolen vehicle, a 2008 Lincoln Navigator, had been taken in Fall Creek in Eau Claire County in Wisconsin. Deputies in Buffalo County spotted the vehicle, chased it to the bridge, and radioed Winona police to make a stop. The stop was at Fourth and Winona streets about 1:50 p.m. Police said that Jaminski acknowledged having had the vehicle “several hours.” He was drunk, said police, who found his blood-alcohol content at the 0.08% legal threshold for impairment. He was booked for auti theft, driving drunk, not havg a valid license to drive ––and being a fugitive from Wisconsin.
Jaminski. Joy ride at Winona bridge ended after 70 miles.
Police raid yields large cocaine cache, arrest
WINONA, Minn. – Police confiscated 2.1 pounds of cocaine, some in zip-lock bags ready for resale, in a raid on an East End address. No one was home, but police arrested a woman who had just driven off while the place was under preliminary surveillance. Tanya Sherrice McCain, age 50, of Winona, was charged with possession and sale of cocaine. The arrest, police said, was the result of a multi-agency investigation going back to early fall. Armed with a search warrant, 10 officers surrounded the house in the 650 block of East Sanborn Street. No one answered a call to surrender, so officers entered the house and found:
> A large bag with 926 grams (two pounds) of cocaine.
> Three zip-lock baggies with 4.2 grams of cocaine altogether.
> Twelve individual baggies, each with between 0.5 grams and 2.1 grams of cocaine.
> A digital scale.
> 2,000 cash.
Apparently McCain had driven away unaware that police were in the area organizing a search. She was taken without resistance in a car on Mankato Avenue a few blocks away. This was about 11:10 a.m. The investigation had originated with the Rochester-based Southeast Minnesota Violent Crimes Enforcement Team. Also in the raid were Winona city officers and Winona County deputies.
McCain. Charges included tampering with a motor vehicle.
Burglars with penchant for Mexican eateries?
WINONA, Minn. – Four high-volume, mid-price Mexican restaurants in LaCrosse, LaCrescent and Winona have been burglarized in recent weeks. Police in all three communities are comparing notes about possible connections. Winona police suspected a connection right away with a theft at Mango’s and another heft the next night at El Patron. Now Mexican eateries LaCrescent and LaCrosse have been hit.
Earlier: El Patron — a second Mexican eatery to be hit
Earlier: Burglar flees Mango’s just in time
Mail way late? Rochester postal operation faulted
WASHNGTON – Minnesota Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar want answers on why mail delivery is running as much as four days late out of the Rochester sorting center for southern Minnesota and North Dakota. The senators told Postmaster General Louis DeJoy that 130,000 pieces of mail at six post offices were missing or delayed in one recent two-day period. Too, they said deliveries have been delayed for four days, sometimes longer, in Rochester. “Letter carriers, especially in rural areas, work extremely hard to make deliveries on time, especially around the holidays, said Klobuchar and Smith. “Without support from district management and the postmaster general in Washington, their jobs go from difficult to nearly impossible.” Bity Klobuchar and Smith are Democrars.
Why USPS clog? Senators blame postal leadership for failures.
Postmaster profile
Louis DeJoy was appointed U.S. postmaster general in 2020 by then-President Donald Trump. He was a major Republican donor and fundraiser for Trump. He was the first postmaster general in a generation without any previous experience with the U.S. Postal Service. Also he was he first postmaster general to come directly from the board of a privately owned competitor to the Postal Service. His company, New Breed Logistics, still held active service contracts with the Postal Service, generating controversy over conflicts of interest. The appointment to postmaster general is open-ended with no fixed expiration date.
DeJoy. Introduced elaborate and untested sorting systems that he claimed wold reduce costs but flubbed badly, resulted in delivery slowdowns, and damaged postal worker morale.
Inside Caledonia High’s wrestling locker room
CALEDONIA, Minn. – Townspeople here and 12 miles away in Houston have taken exception to the word “brawl” in news reports to describe what happened in he Caledonia High School boys locker room on December 11. Word on the street is that it wasn’t a brawl but a savage attack on a Houston wrestler who was a weaker team member. The injured boy ended up not only bruised seriously but beaten senseless. Police and school authorities have chosen to be silent on what details they know, which has left talk on street to wander different directions. The consensus, however, is that:
> After workouts a group of Caledonia wrestlers, the number isn’t clear, colluded to attack the Houston boy. They knew he was the only Houston wrestler at practice that day and that he had no Houston comrades to come to his defense. The other Houstonites were away on a senior class trip.
> The Caledonians switched off the locker room lights and pummeled the Houston boy mercilessly.
> The Houston boy either was beaten unconscious or fell during the attack or was pushed into a wall or the floor, hit his head, and lost consciousness.
> The assailants panicked. It’s not clear if they scattered or called a coach.
> An ambulance took the Houston boy 32 miles to a trauma unit at a LaCrosse hospital.
> The bou has recovered and will return to school. His family, however, will not allow him to rejoin the joint Caledonia-Houston team, which some say is what the Caledonia wrestlers had in mind in the first place.
The future of a joint Caledonia-Houston high school teams is uncertain. The combined team hadn’t gone over well in Caledonia when after it was realized it put the team into an interscholastic division with tougher competition. The town’s teams have dominated southeast Minnesota athletics for years and have become a town obsession. Some say a strong strain in the local mentality is winning at any cost.
Earlier: Anything criminal in Caledonia wrestling brawl?
A brawl?
Savage attack?
School profiles
Caledonia High School
270 students in grades 9-12.
Overall enrollment: 700
Budget: $14.1 million
Per student: $19,100
Houston High School
230 students in grades 7-12
(excluding virtual program)
Overall enrollment: 430
(excluding virtual program)
Budget: $29.7 million
(including virtual program)
Per student: $15,600,
(including virtual program)
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