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13September 2024

College scores

Soccer (men): Coe 1, Saint Mary’s 0

Soccer (women): Winona State 1, UW-Parkside 0

Volleyball (women): Winona State 3, Malone 0

Volleyball (women): Alverno 3, Saint Mary’s 0

Volleyball (women): Carroll of Wisconsin 3, Saint Mary’s 1

Volleyball (women): Wartburg 3, UW-LaCrosse 0

Volleyball (women): UW-LaCrosse 3, Illinois College 2

13September 2024

Minnesota prep

Football: Byron Bears 48, Winona Winhawks 15

Football: Winona Cotter Ramblers 6, Kenyon-Wanamingo Knights 0

Football: Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 57, Hayfield Vikings 12

Soccer (girls): St. Charles/Lewiston-Altura 3, Minnehaha 0

(more…)

13September 2024

Wisconsin prep

Football: Cochrane-Fountain City Pirates 40, Whitehall Norse 0

Football: Alma-Pepins Eagles 54, Independence Indees 12

Football: Arcadia Raiders 32, Viroqua Blackhawks 2

Football: LaCrosse Aquinas Blugolds 38, Galesville Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau Red Hawks 13

(more…)

13September 2024

Cop runs over fellow officer, also a suspect

LACROSSE, Wis. – A police officer rushing to a disturbance ran over a fellow officer who had wrestled a suspect to the ground. The suspect also was run over. A WKBT television crew on another assignment happened on the scene. The crew witnessed what happened as other officers and medics flooded the scene. The television crew was ordered to leave. This was about 8:20 p.m. at the Trane all-abilities public recreational park on the South Side. The television crew got some video for the 10 o’clock newscast but not a complete account of what was happening. Photographer John Hayes and producer Alec Olson said they saw a male La Crosse police officer wrestling another male to the ground near his squad car. They then saw a backup police vehicle quickly enter the parking lot and run over the officer and suspect. From a distance, they saw first-responders treating the officer apparently for a leg injury. They couldn’t tell how badly the other individual was injured.

2024 09 16 LSE cop hits cop w car - Winona Journal

Exclusive video. LaCrosse television crew caught the confused situation on video as backup officers and first-responders arrived. This at Fifth and Chase streets. Image: WKBT

13September 2024

Remains in Mississippi slough a missing teen

LACROSSE, Wis.  – Skeletal human remains found in Running Slough on the South Side have been identified as a teenager who reported missing six years ago. James B. Mummer, age 17, had been last sighted last in September 2018 near the Mississippi River. Technology at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona made the identification, the county medical examiner said. The remains were found 17 months ago. The medical examiner said were no signs of injury or trauma.

MUMMER james LSE drowng A - Winona Journal

Mummer. His disappearance dated to 2018.

13September 2024

Man dies after overcome by sewer gas

FARIBAULT Minn. – A man was found overcome by sewer gas inside a maintenance shaft and died after being airlifted to a hospital. Faribault Fire Department rescuers found the man unresponsive. Fire Chief Dustin Dienst said the underground chamber had extremely high levels of hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide and low levels of oxygen. Rescuers placed oxygen on the man before pulling him up. This was about 7:30 a.m. in the 1900 block of Second Avenue Northwest. Without explanation the fire chief declined to release the victim’s name. Dienst said he didn’t know why the man was inside the line or how he got there. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration was notified. Dienst wouldn’t comment on whether the man was a municipal employee.

13September 2024

Klobuchar consistently leads White for U.S. Senate

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Media-commissioned polls on Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race consistently give incumbent Amy Klobuchar a commanding advantage over Republican Royce White. Klobubar, age 64, a Democrat, is seeking a fourth Senate term. White is a former professional basketball player and MAGA Trump Republican who fancies conspiracy theories. At 33, White is the first U.S. Senate nominee born in the 1990s.

> September 6 to September 9: Klobuchar 42%. White 36%, 617 likely voters. By Redfield & Wilton Strategies. For newspaper London Telegraph.

> August 27 to August 29: Klobuchar 50%, White 36%. 635 likely voters. By SurveyUSA. For television stations KSTP, KAAL and WDIO.

> August 25 to August 28: Klobuchar 41%, White 34%. 426 likely voters. By Redfield & Wilton. For newspaper London Telegraph.

> July 23 to July 25: Klobuchar 55%, White 33%. 656 likely voters. By SurveyUSA. For KSTP, KAAL and WDIO.

> June 3 to Jun 17: Klobuchar 48%. White 37%. 1,000 registered voters. By Emerson College. For The newsletter The Hill.

Earlier: August 2024 primary: U.S. Senate from Minnesota

Earlier: Democrats vote to keep Klobuchar in Senate

13September 2024

New on WSU inclusivity agenda: Better learning

WINONA, Minn. – Winona State has joined the latest cohort of colleges to refine ongoing campus projects to help black, Hispanic, indigenous and low-income students succeed academically. Ken Janz, university president, said that the new affiliation is “a significant opportunity to advance educational equity.” The Winona State student body is 82% white. Black and mixed-race students compromise 3.7%. Hispanics comprise 3.5%. Students with indigenous roots are a mere 0.03%. The new affiliation is sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, which already has run three groups of  colleges through its Students Success Equity Intensive program. In the fourth cohort with Winona State: Adams State of Colorado, East Georgia State College, Missouri State, North Carolina A&T State, SUNY-Cobleskill, SUNY-Potsdam, and Western Michigan.

12September 2024

Minnesota prep

Volleyball (girls): Winona Cotter Ramblers 3, Caledonia Warriors 2

Volleyball (girls): Wabasha-Kellogg Falcons 3, St.  Charles Saints 1

Volleyball (girls): Chatfield Gophers 3, Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 0

(more…)

12September 2024

Wisconsin prep

Football: Holmen Vikings 31, Baraboo Thunderbirds 0

12September 2024

Driver pinched for speeding, imbibing

WINONA, Minn. – A Winona woman who was stopped for speeding on Riverview Drive was then arrested for suspected drunkenness at the wheel. Police said the woman’s blood-alcohol level was 0.09%, above the legal threshold for impairment. Police described her eyes as blood-shot and watery, her speech as slurred, and her breath as carrying the odor of alcohol. Arrested was 23-year-old Alexandria Marie Van Den Heuvel. This was about 10:40 p.m.

12September 2024

Disabled RV blocks Highway 43; driver arrested

WINONA Minn. – A deputy in a squad car pushed a live-in recreational vehicle onto the shoulder after coming across it blocking south-bound State Highway 43. The deputy then called for back-up. When a state trooper arrived, the driver was arrested for drunkenness and an expired driver license. This was about 8:10 p.m. at Debbi Lei Drive just south of town. The driver, Jorden Matthew Gardner, 26, said the vehicle had mechanical problems that he was fixing. The trooper described Gardner as excited, speaking rapidly, sweaty, and smelling of alcohol. As much as the officers could determine, Gardner lived in the vehicle. A man and woman with Gardner were not detained.

12September 2024

Biker hits debris on road, crashes; injuries fatal

GALESVLLE, Wis.  – A motorcyclist was injured fatally when he struck debris on Highway 53 north of Galesville. The driver died later 27 miles away at a LaCrosse hospital. The name of the victim was withheld from the public by Trempealeau County Sheriff Brett Semingson without explanation. The crash was about 7:30 p.m. near the County Road TTT junction. Deputies said the motorcyclist was heading north. He was ejected when the bike went over on its side. He was not wearing a helmet, deputies said.

12September 2024

Oberton bluff bike trail dedicated

WINONA, Minn. – Miles of the new mountain bike trails were inaugurated officially in a ceremony behind Holzinger Lodge with thanks to s to Will and Shirley Oberton as the prime benefactors. Mayor Scott Sherman noted the trails are for bikers of all skill levels — some aggressive with berms, drops and jumps and others for beginners. “We are creating community here,” said Sherman. “I know anybody who’s a mountain biker who’s been out here recently is meeting someone new every single time they’re coming out here.” Noting some trails are for youngsters, he said: “We’re getting kids off their iPads and their phones.” The trail system has been named the Oberton Family Bicycle Skills Park. Oberton is a retired chief executive of the hian Winona-based bolts and fastener manufacturer and distributor Fastenal.

Earlier: Obertons jump-start Winona mountain-bike training

WNA mtn bike trail - Winona Journal

Wild corduroy plank section. Some 500 hours of volunteer work preceded the official opening. The trails will be maintained by Winona Area Mountain Bikers volunteers.

12September 2024

Boat sabotaged at Winona Levee

WINONA, Minn. – Someone cut the gas line and damaged the motor on a boat tied up at the Levee. The damage was reported about 2 p.m. Police said the boat owner had video of the vandal, and they were working to locate the suspect.

12September 2024

Eleva seeks to fill police chief vacancy

ELEVA, Wis.  – This Buffalo River town of 600, in northeast Trempealeau County, is looking for a new police chief to replace Patrick McKillip, who resigned after a drunken-driving conviction and losing his driver license. The vacancy was posted on social media. The pay: $30 to $35 an hour. Among requirements: A high school diploma and 60 college credits. Also, to be sure,  a valid driver license. Besides, a chief, the Eleva Police Department has a  part-time officer.

Earlier: With DWI on record, Eleva police chief must resign

12September 2024

Woman accused of circumventing court order

WINONA, Minn. – A Winona woman was arrested after asking a friend to make contact with a man she was barred legally from bothering. The charge: Violating a judge’s restraining order. Arrested was 58-year-old Michelle Lee Pepke. The man said he had received a phone call and a notes tacked on his door from a person acting at Pepke’s behest.

12September 2024

School bus rammed off road; one injury life-threatening

CHERRY, Minn. – A car T-boned a school bus from a side road, sending the bus carrying 21 Cherry grade school students over on its side. First reports said a dozen of the students were triaged at the scene and oters sent 18 miles to the Hibbing hospital. The driver the car, Svea Lynn Snickers, age 19, of Alborn, was airlifted in critical condition to the Eveleth hospital and then to a Duluth hospital 70 miles away. The accident was just before 8 a.m. on Highway 5 southwest of Cherry at Towline Road. Snicker’s Toyota RAV4 was demolished. The roof of the bus was crumpled its full length. The children on the bus exited on their own. The bus driver, Shawn Allen Lindula, 52, of Iron, was taken to the Virginia hospital with sustainable injuries.

Screenshot 2024 09 13 at 4.19.20 PM - Winona Journal

The kids are OK. Half the students were checked out at a hospital for bumps and bruises. The others were cleared at the scene.

12September 2024

The whole story on the run-away pontoon boat

WINONA, Minn. – The run-away pontoon boat floating empty down the Mississippi on Tuesday had been abandoned upriver after the motor failed, the boaters said. They had paddled the disabled craft to an island and got off — and the craft floated away, leaving them stranded. A Winona Fire Department team launched a rescue at the downtown levee to catch the craft. By then, another boater had tied onto the run-away craft off the Bay State Milling elevators. The craft was towed to the St. Charles Street landing, where, incidentally, the rescue team was able to start the motor. Meanwhile, a search was started for missing boaters. The two were located on the island where the craft got away. They were OK and not needful of medical attention.

Earlier: Rescuers pull empty pontoon boat ashore

12September 2024

Smooth busing start for new Winona school year

WINONA, Minn. – The Winona Schools busing system got off to a good start albeit a few typical first-day delays, said Jennifer Maki, the school district’s transportation specialist. Minor glitches will be corrected over the next week, Maki said. The only problem reported to police was one lad getting off for home at the wrong stop. The smooth start was in contrast to a year ago when an inexperienced driver became lost and drove around with a busload of kids whose parents panicked waiting to pick them up.

Earlier: Lost Winona school bus: Bad judgments compounded

11September 2024

News summary at mid-week: September 11, 2024

11September 2024

College scores

Soccer (men): Saint Mary’s 4, UW-Stout 3

Soccer (women): UW-LaCrosse 34, Milwaukee Engineering 1

11September 2024

Volunteers mark 9/11 packing meals for food banks

2024 09 11 STP food bank WALZ oacked eals - Winona Journal

Hair nets everywhere. An estimated 900 volunteers crowded the Roy Wilkins auditorium in St. Paul to pack meals for Minnesota food banks.

Governor lends hand; 230,00 meals packaged

ST, PAUL, Minn. – Hundreds of volunteers packed meals for the National Day of Service and Remembrance on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorism attacks in 2001. The 230,000 meals will be distributed to food shelves around Minnesota. Volunteers were mostly from food banks. Governor Tim Walz attended the event and told volunteers: “Thanks for continuing to make it not just another day on the calendar but a way to express that we are truly honoring the memory of those folks.” The 2001 death toll was 2,700. Walz was in town on a break from his nation-roaming campaign schedule as running mate with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. He didn’t mention politics. After brief remarks, the governor joined the volunteers packing meals.

Earlier: Flags half-staff in sad memory of 9/11 terrorism

Screenshot 2024 09 12 at 4.49.41 AM - Winona Journal

National project. Thirty-thousand volunteers packed 8.5 million meals nationwide.

11September 2024

R.I.P.: Allen Abts

FOUNTAIN CITY, Minn. – Allen Paul Abts, 91, of Fountain City, who worked 30 years for the Buffalo County Highway Department, died at home. He was a  Fountain City volunteer firefighter for 30 years. In retirement he built birdhouses, painetd, and made mosaics

Details: Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home

ABGTS allen 1933 2024 - Winona Journal

1933-2024

11September 2024

Rabies alert: Odd-acting racoon at Farmers Park

LEWISTON, Minn. – A man out for a walk at Farmers Park reported a raccoon acting strangely and following him around. The animal had moved on by the time deputies arrived. This was about 3 p.m. There have been no reported cases of rabid animals in the area recently.

Earlier: Rabies frequency climbing in Minnesota

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