Trump’s safety perimeter on LaCrosse riverfront
LACROSSE, Wis. – A city parks crew will block off the south end of Riverside Park as part of the security perimeter for ex-President Donald Trump’s campaign event at the riverfront LaCrosse Center auditorium. The event is Thursday at 6 p.m. The zone will remain barricaded overnight. Expected to be unaffected were scheduled events at the other end of the park:
> Cruise boat. The Viking Mississippi, with 386 passenger and 148 crew, will be docked all day and departing at 5 p.m.
> Moon Tunes. Outdoor performances at the bandshell with LB and the High-Volts at 3:45 p.m., the Molly Maguires at 5:30 p.m. and LB and the High-Volts again at 7 p.m.
R.I.P.: Charlotte McElmury
MINNESOTA CITY, Minn. – Charlotte A. McElmury, 82 of Minnesota City, who sdrove chool buses and worked 30 years for Community Memorial Hospital, died at home. She was a member of the Westfield Bridge Club and the Red Hat Club.
Details: Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home
1942-2024
Fleeing man taunts cops: “Catch me if you can”
WINONA, Minn. – A Winona man tripped and fell while being chased by a police officer, who tackled him just in time and cuffed him. This was about 12:30 a.m. on the Near West Side. Arrested was Paul Anthony Clark, 34. Police had been called to a house in the 100 block of West Howard Street by a woman who said she was being harassed by a man against whom she had a restraining order. On arrival, police recognized Clark in a parked car. He climbed out as instructed, then, officers said, he began to walk away. This is the officers’ account of what happened next: Clark stopped, then ran. “Catch me if you can,” he shouted over his shoulder. A few backyards away, Clark fell and was arrested. Police found he was carrying a minute quantity of meth — 0.01 grams.
Clark. Booked for fleeing police, obstructing justice, illegal drug possession.
Minnesota prep
Volleyball (girls): Chatfield Gophers 3, Winona Cotter Ramblers 1
Volleyball (girls): Harmony Fillmore Central Falcons 3, St. Charles Saints 0
Volleyball (girls): Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 3, Wabasha-Kellogg Falcons 0
Wisconsin prep
Soccer (boys): Eau Claire North Huskies 7, LaCrosse Logan Rangers 0
Swimming (girls): LaCrosse/West Salem 97, Onalaska/Holmen/Aquinas 73
Volleyball (girls): Holmen Vikings 3, LaCrosse Aquinas Blugolds 2
Driver hurt in Money Creek car-pickup wreck
MONEY CREEK, Minn. – A New Ulm driver was injured and takem 28 miles to a LaCrosse hospital after her car and a pickuo collided. Abigail Faith Allen, 23, was not believed to be seriously hurt. She was driving north on State Highway 76 toward Ridgeway. The collision was at the intersection with Houston County road 26 in Money Creek. The driver of the pickup, Paul Edwin Myhre, 64, of Houston, didn’t appear hurt but also was taken to a LaCrosee hospital to checked be out. The accident was about 3:20 p.m. Allen was in a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu, Myhre in a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado.
Trump in LaCrosee: Ex-Hawaii lawmaker as moderator
LACROSSE, Wis. – A Trump champion, former member of Congress Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, will be moderator at ex-President Donald Trump’s townhall in LaCrosse on Thursday. The announcement, from Trump’s re-election headquarters, suggested that Trump’s visit indeed would be a townhall format. Unclear were format details:
> Would a panel be on the podium with Trump? If so, who?
> Would questions be allowed from the floor? If so, would questioners be screened in advance? Would questions be screened? scripted?
Gabbard profile
Gabbert served four terms in Congress from 2013 to 2021. She was the first American Samoan elected to Congress. Although a Democrat, she voted frequently with Republican conservatives. In 2022, she dropped her Democratic affiliation and declared herself an independent. She is a paid commentator by Fox News. As a member of the Hawaii National Guard, she was deployed to Iraq in 2004 as a military police platoon leader. On foreign policy she is an anti-interventionist. On Tuesday Trump named her to his transition team to help organize his ascendency, if elected, to the White House.
Gabbard. She sought the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, then dropped out of the party.
Flood-ruined Rapidan dam, bridge to be razed
MANKATO, Minn. – The Blue Earth County Board voted to remove the Rapidan Dam that has been at risk of crumbling apart after heavy floods in June. The Board also voted to tear out the structurally damaged County Road 9 bridge a few yards behind the dam and replace it. With the bridge out, farmers have needed to drive 45 minutes to another the bridge to reach their fields. The County Board hadn’t budgeted for the projects and hopes for state and federal grants. Guesstimates range from $15 milln to $80 million.
Pre-dawn storm wreaks havoc at State Fair
FALCON HEIGHTS. Minn. – Heavy storms with gusts to 60 mph downed trees at the Minnesota State Fair, overturned porta-potties, and left a mess. The worst was about 5:30 a.m. This, thank goodness, was while hardly anyone was around – and well before the usual 10 a.m. opening time. Still at 10, however, Fair officials weren’t ready to open the gates. All morning people waiting outside could hear chainsaws and blowers. There was still disarray and lots of sawdust at 12 noon when the gates were opened. The DNR Fire Tower remained closed because of slippery steps. Two rides also were still closed — the brand-new Kraken and the Giant Slide.
Earlier: Storm worries cancel State concert, rides
Date set for Winona coach’s sex trial
WINONA, Minn. – A jury trial for former Winona High School coach Eric Birth on teen sex charges has been rescheduled. A pre-trial conference has been put on the docket for March 6. The trial will begin April 7. Birth has pleaded not guilty to sexual relations with four track and field athletes, all female, beginning in 2016. Meanwhile, he is free on a $20,000 bail.
Brilliant meteor at 36,000 mph 50 miles up
SHAMROCK, Wis. – The meteor that shot over four states on Friday probably disintegrated over western Wisconsin near the hamlet of Shamrock 9-1/2 miles miles south of Black River Falls, the national space agency says. NASA said the meteor broke up from friction with the upper atmosphere 50 miles up and at 36,000 miles an hour. It was unlikely any remnants reached the ground, NASA said.
Pickup drivers hurt in Fillmore County crash
RUSHFORD, Minn. – Two drivers were hurt, albeit neither seriously, when their pickup trucks, coming from opposite directions, collided on a wet State Highway 30. Both were taken 40 miles to a Rochester hospital Stormy Brook Siltman, 20, of Little Falls, was headed west toward Stewartville in a 2011 Ram 2500, and Gavilan Grant Tollefson, 38, of Peterson, was headed east toward Rushford in a 2002 Ford Ranger. This was about 8:15 a.m. The accident was near Furrow Road. Airbags deployed in both vehicles, said first-responders from Rushford and Lanesboro.
A not-quite-subtle anti-Trump yard sign
Hard to miss. This home-stenciled message on Highway 61 near Twin Bluffs is a warning about the 920-page blueprint, called Project 2025. Trump’s people have put the master plan together for him to, if elected, make immediate and sweeping overhauls of federal infrastructure, practices and policies. Trump denies any and all knowledge of the plan. Nobody believes him. Image: Steve Lunde
Minnesota prep
Volleyball (girls): Mabel-Canton Cougars 3, LeRoy-Ostrander Cardinals 0
Volleyball (girls): Stewartville Tigers 3, Faribault Falcons 0
Volleyball (girls): LaCrescent-Hokah Lancers 3, Plainview-Elgin-Millville Bulldogs 1
Drunk driving stop up Highway 43
WINONA, Minn. –A Winona man was arrested for drunken driving on State Highway 43 two miles south of town toward Wilson. Deputies said that Marcus Jason Wangen, 29, refused testing for his blood-alcohol content. He was charged on the basis of physical signs of impairment: Red watery eyes, balance issues, and also failing roadside sobriety tests. This was about 8:20 p.m.
Wangen. Arrested beyond Pleasant Valley.
Storm worries cancel State Fair concert, rides
FALCON HEIGHTS. Minn. – Anticipating severe thunderstorms, Minnesota State Fair officials cancelled evening performsances at the 13,000-seat open-air grandstand. On the program were the Turtles, Jay and the Americans, the Association, Badfinger, the Vogues, and the Cowsills. Also closed were thye Mighty Midway and Kidway rides and games. Level 2 and 3 severe weather was forecast.
Security beefed up for new Walz status
ST. PAUL, Minn. – New layers of security have been set up around Governor Tim Walz now that he’s qualified for Secret Service protection as a candidate for vice president of the United States. A white picket fence has been built around the University of Minnesota-owned home on Summit Avenue where the Walz family is living while the Governor’s Mansion is being reconstructed. Signs were posted outside barring guns and other weapons. At the Capitol a velvet cordon has been installed to channel visitors through a security stop at the governor’s office. The Secret Service also has heightened restrictions throughout the Capitol.
Two men in Amish buggy survive auto crash
CHASEBURG, Wis. – Two Amish men were injured when a car struck their horse-drawn buggy from the rear on a rural road. Reuben A. Miller, 34, and his passenger, Andrew M. Miller, 28, were transported 22 miles to a LaCrosse hospital. They were treated and released. A veterinarian said the horse would recover. Sheriff Roy Torgerson said the car was driven by Kurtis John Woodhouse, 30, of Genoa. Both the car and buggy were traveling southeast on County Road KK between Enterprise Road and Waldenberger Lane.
Splintered wreckage. Buggy rear-ended by car. Image: Vernon County sheriff
Power providers: Please power down for peak
RUSHFORD, Minn. — Electricity companies and co-ops throughout southeast Minnesota, including MiEnergy, asked users to minimize afternoon consumption. Extraordinary demand was expected due to the heat spell. In peak periods the companies are charged premium rates by their suppliers, which then is reflected in billing to customers. The peak: 2 to 6 p.m.
Bail at $10,000 in child porn arraignment
ALMA Wis – Bail was set at $10,000 for a Fountain City man arrested last week in a child pornography investigation. The arrest of Staniel A. Neverdahl, 37, followed an investigation involving multiple agencies. He has lived two years at the Fountain City address.
Melrose man pleads not guilty in road-rage homicide
WHTEHALL, Wis. – The man accused in a road-rage homicide on U.S. Highway 53 between Galesville and Ettrick in May, Todd Gieck, 47, pleaded not guilty. The charges:
> Committing reckless homicide.
> Shooting from a vehicle at another vehicle.
> Possessing a firearm as a felon.
Judge Thomas Clark ordered a pre-rial conference for October. Meanwhile Geck is in the Trempealeau County jail in Whitehall in lieu of $1.5 million bail. He is from Melrose in neighboring Jackson County. The victim was Kyle Dahl, a 35-year-old Ettrick family man. Dahl took at bullet in the head while driving home alone. Gieck originally was held on $5 million bail, which later was lowered to $1.5 million.
Earlier: Bail in Gieck murder case: $5 million
Earlier: New judge to try Gieck for murder
Earlier: Judge recuses from Ettrick murder case
Earlier: Charges filed in Ettrick drive-by fatality
Earlier Murder charges prepared against Melrose man
Earlier: Official: Name released in Ettrick highway murder
Earlier: Cops jail suspect in drive-by Ettrick fatality
Notable journalism
Steve Karnowski (Associated Press, August 22, 2024): “Sudden Fame for Tim Walz’s Son Focuses Attention on Challenges of People Learning Disabilities”
Richard Lardner, Jonathan Mattse, Trenton Daniel and Steve Karnowski (Associated Press, August 25, 2024): “Walz’s Exit from Minnesota National Guard Left Openings for Criitics to Pouce on His Military Career”
Amelia Wedemeyer (Winona Post, September 27, 2021): “Vivian Fusillo: In a Class All Her Own”
A water-themed exhibit on checkered U.S. past
“Saving the Newcomers.” By Kent Monkman in 2023. 74-inch by 25-inch acrylic on canvas. On loan from John and Susan Horseman.
Unique collection at Marine Art Museum
WINONA, Minn. – An exhibit exploring the complexities of America’s formation with ties to waterways, conquest and trans-Atlantic slave shipping, “A Nation Takes Place,” runs through March 2 at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. Works from 38 artists and 20 lending partners are on display. Commissioned works:
> Kwame Akoto Bambo, a native of eastern Ghana, known for sculptures on people of African descent.
> Cole Redhorse Taylor, of Red Wing, whose fabrics, beads and paintings draws on the Native American experience.
Monkman. a Cree artist whose works are provocative interventions into Western European and American art history.
Accompanying book. The exhibit opened Thursday with the launch of the Museum’s 152-page catalog about the exhibit, “Navigating Race and Water in Contemporary Art.” The book is edited by Scott Pollock, the musem’s executive director museum; Tia-Simone Gardner, of Macalester College; and Shana M. Griffin of New Orleans.
Strangulation charged in mano y mano case
WINONA, Minn. – A Winona man was arrested at an East End hotel after another man called 911 that he had been strangled and badly beaten. Arrested at the hotel was 25-year-old Anyelo Marin Vizcaino. The other man had deep bruises, swelling ,and bloody scratches on his face. He was taken to the Winona hospital. Police were told that that the men got into an argument over money.The victim said Marin Vizcaino pushed him onto a bed, held him down with all his weight, clamped both hands around his neck, punched him, and slapped him with closed fists. The victim struggled away, ran down the hotel hallway to the next room, banged on the door, and called police. Obvious injuries, police said, were reddening and a bloody lip. This was at the $110-a-night Wyndham Super 8 about 7:50 p.m.
Marin Vizcaino. Charged with instilling fear and causing injury in domestic assault.
Late night fight over other women on his phone
WINONA, Minn. – A Winona woman told police her boyfriend strangled her after she discovered photos of other women on his cellphone This, she said, was in the middle of the night at an East End hotel. She had awakened and was checking his phone, she said. Angry, she woke him. He too was mad but not so much at being awakened but by her peeking at his photos. Police arrested Erick St. Louis, 20, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, who by then had moved to another East End hotel. The arrest was about 7:50 p.m. Police had been alerted to the situation mid-afternoon when the woman showed up for work badly bruised. Her supervisor called police. She said she had been punched in the head, strangled, and pushed off a bed into a wall. Her face as bruised and lips were swollen, police said. Later they learned she had a concussion.
St. Louis. Booked for domestic abuse by strangulation.
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