Opponents of new state flag hit legal snag
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Republicans in the Legislature have run into a legal obstacle in their quest to stop revisions to the state seal and flag. Their plan was to take the issue out of the hands of the Democrat-controlled Legislature and put it to a vote of the people. But Secretary of State Steve Simon says the state constitution doesn’t provide any sort of direction on ballot referendums. That means, he said, that a plebiscite would possible only by amending the constitution – a long, laborious process with the risk of all kinds of unintended consequences. Neither of the major GOP backers of a public vote is a lawyer – Senator Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, and Representative Bjorn Olson, R-Fairmont. And apparently they haven’t done their homework on how government works. A rally Tuesday for a public vote drew only a few dozen supporters.
Proposed flag. Recommended after a year’s study by a special commission on state symbols.
Simon. Secretary of State since 2015. A Democrat. Earlier elected to four terms in the Legislature.
Verbatim
Simon: “Minnesota’s Constitution does not provide a process for citizen referendums or initiatives on legislative proposals. As such, a constitutional amendment would be needed – either to create a process for a referendum or approve the flag and/or seal directly. Constitutional amendments must be approved by both the Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate before going to the voters.
Attorney seeks all documents in fatal buggy crash
PRESTON, Minn. — One of the twin sisters accused in the highway death of two Amish school children in a horse-drawn buggy has lined up a Minneapolis criminal defense attorney to take her case. Attorney Carson Heefner’s name appeared in court documents on behalf of Samantha Jo Petersen. Heefner asked for a discovery hearing to identify police findings, including drug tests, to prepare his case. Petersen. age 35, has been charged with vehicular homicide while high on meth and then convincing her identical twin sister Sarah Beth, who was sober, to switch places and take the rap. About representing Samantha Jo, Heefner told KTTC that it was “one of the most interesting cases” he’s ever had. He was quick to point out that he’s not representing the sister Sarah Beth. That, he said, would be a conflict of interest. All tolled, the twins face 37 charges.
Heefner profile
Heefner is a 1998 graduate of William Mitchell Law School with honors. He has advanced certification from the National College for DUI Defense. T9 clients he explains what the does this way: “As we all know, the government has a lot of power, strength and resources. It can be very intimidating when the people who wield that strength and power are intent on taking away your liberty and freedom. And make no mistake, that is what the government wants to do when they charge you with a crime. My job is to protect you against those forces.” He lists 1,000-plus cases in his 21 years of practicing law. They range, he notes, from drunken driving to murder.
Heefner. A Minneapolis-based criminal defense attorney 21 years.
Veteran Rochester newscaster leaves anchor desk
ROCHESTER, Minn. – A prime-time news anchor at KTTC, Tom Overlie, told viewers he is “stepping back” from anchoring but will continue with less visible roles. Among continuing g projects: Leading station-sponsored tours abroad. Overlie, age 54, joined KTTC in 2000. The station has tapped Brock Bergey to join Overlie’s co-anchor, Caitlin Alexander, for 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts. Bergey hired on at KTTC as a weekend anchor in September. Earlier Bergey was with LaCrosse, Madison and Wausau stations in Wisconsin.
Overlie. His final newscast on March 28.
R.I.P.: Allen Thompson
WINONA, Minn. – Allen Robert Thompson, age 93, who retired to Winona in 1993 after a career as a retail store manager, died at Watkins Manor nursing home. He grew up in Wyattville and was a 1948 graduate of Lewiston High School. He worked at Eustermann’s Auto and Implement in Lewiston, then entered the U.S. Army for duty in the Korean conflict. He was a manager for the C.R. Anthony department store in Spring Valley and later at Iowa stores in Humboldt, Eagle Grove and Webster City. In Humboldt he was president of the Chamber of Commerce. In 1983 he joined he Bethel Seminary in Arden Hills as postal coordinator. At Pleasant Valley Church in Winona, he was in the Wordsmiths group and wrote three books for family and friends about his life experiences and observations.
Details: Hoff Funeral Home
1930-2024
Minnesota election poll: Biden 42%, Trump 38%
ST. PAUL, Minn. – President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are locked in a close race for Minnesota voters, according to a television station KSTP poll. Biden led Trump by 42% to 38%. Biden, however, should not take too much confidence in his edge. The poll found 11% of respondents undecided. These voters could decide the election. Also: Another 9% preferred other candidates. The poll, it should be noted, was conducted February 23 to 28 — before the Super Tuesday primary winnowed the field of candidates. The poll affirmed Minnesota’s age-old split political personality:
> Twin Cities and core suburbs: Biden led 48% to 30%.
> Southern Minnesota: Trump led 45% to 37%.
> Northern Minnesota: Trump led 51% to 33%.
The poll, by the contract nonpartisan polling company SurveyUSA, followed the survey industry’s usual criteria for statistical confidence. The sample ssize: 2,075 registered voters.
News summary at mid-week: March 6, 2024
POLITICS: Walz: Voters unhappy with Biden on Gaza war
POLITICS: Phillips exits presidential campaign, backs Biden
POLITICS: Haley quits campaign, snipes at Trump
POLITICS: Super Tuesday results: Biden, Trump on top
POLITICS: 73,00 advance votes cast in Minnesota primary
POLITICS: SCOTUS setback for Minnesota anti-Trumpers
POLITICS: Finstad flyer straddles legal-ethical divide
HEALTH: $100,000 grant to fund mental-health group homes
ENVIRONMENT: Aerial North Woods count: 3,470 moose
GOVERNANCE: Minnesota House OKs school policing revision
FIRE: Two houses lost, one injury in 1,000-acre wildfire
CRIME: Charge: Man tries screwing neighbor’s door shut
CRIME: LaCrosse cops: Body in park a Trempealeau man
CRIME: Driver stuck in up-the-grassy-slope escape
RIVER: Winter repairs almost complete at four dams
Earlier: News summary at week’s end: March 2
College scores
Lacrosse (women): UW-LaCrosse 11, Edgewood 4
Softball: Winona State 9, Queens 0
Softball: Missouri-St. Louis 2, Winona State 1
Tennis (men): Albion 5, Saint Mary’s 4
Tennis (women): Saint Mary’s 8, Albion 1
Tennis (women): Saint Mary’s 8, King’s 1
Minnesota prep
Basketball (boys): Caledonia Warriors 63, Winona Cotter Ramblers 59
Basketball (boys): Cannon Falls Bombers 71, Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 69
Basketball (boys): Goodhue Wildcats 75, Rushford-Peterson Trojans 64
Basketball (boys): Lakeville South Cougars 71, Rochester Mayo Spartans 36
Basketball (boys): Harmony Fillmore Central Falcons 56, Spring Grove Lions 44
Online threat to Winona woman: I’ll get you
WINONA, Minn. – An East Side woman told police she had been threatened online by someone she didn’t know and who said he would come to get her. The woman, age 46, said the threat was in an internet exchange. The other party, she said, claimed to be from Kansas. She told police that she hadn’t given out her address and wasn’t too concerned because she didn’t know anyone in Kansas. It was in an abundance of caution that she alerted police, she said.
Psychiatrist: Tomah man OK for stabbing trial
TOMAH, Wis. – A Tomah man charged with stabbing two family members while watching a Thanksgiving football game is sufficiently competent mentally to stand trial, according to a psychiatric report to the Monroe County Court. Trial for George Solis, 44, will be next month. Meanwhile, he remains in jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.
Phillips exits presidential campaign, backs Biden
WAYZATA, Minn. – It’s the end of the trail for Dean Phillips. The Minnesota congressman suspended his long-shot campaign to be president of the United States. To run, Phillips gave up a re-election campaign for a fourth term in the U.S. House from western Minneapolis suburbs. Why his presidential run? Phillips was convinced that Biden, if nominated for re-election, would lose a matchup-up with Republican ex-President Donald Trump. Phillips’ campaign against Biden was a tricky proposition. In Congress Phillips had voted almost entirely for Biden initiatives – a kind of Biden 2.0. The campaign never caught traction: Phillips trailed badly in caucuses and primaries from the beginning, capped by poor showings in 14 states on Super Tuesday, mostly in the the 3% range. Phillips, a millionaire and one of the richest members of Congress, drew from his own fortune for the campaign. His net worth from an inherited distillery fortune and also a lucrative gelato start-up: $77 million.
Verbatim
Phillips on WCCO talk show: “Clearly and convincingly, Democratic primary voters have opined that I’m not that guy.I invite, I encourage and will do everything humanly possible to ensure Joe Biden’s reelection this November.”
Super Tuesday
Phillips tallies:
Alabama: 4.5%.
Alaska: Being tallied.
Arkansas: 2.9%.
California: 2.9%.
Colorado: 3.1%.
Maine: 7.1%.
Massachusetts: 4.5%.
Minnesota: 7.8%.
North Carolina: Not on ballot.
Oklahoma: 8.9%.
Tennessee: Not on ballot.
Texas: 2.7%.
Utah: 4.4%.
Vermont: 3%.
Virginia: 3.5%.
Aerial North Woods count: 3,470 moose
DULUTH, Minn. — The Minnesota moose population remains stable with 3,470 animals calculated in a recent aerial survey. The state Natural Resources Department said, however, the count remains about 60% short of the mid-1960s. Even so, the population has been roughly the same about 10 years. Seth Goreham, state wildlife research manager, called the current status “semi-stable.” Variables remain, Goreham said: Climate change, parasites, and predators.
Survival. State’s moose population not yet out of the woods. Image: Minnesota Natural Resources Department
Haley quits campaign, snipes at Trump
CHARLESTON, N.C. –– The last-standing challenger to Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, Nikki Haley, suspended her campaign. She did not, however, kiss up to Trump. This is how the former North Carolina governor worded a brief statement:
“The time has now come to suspend my campaign. I said I wanted Americans to have their voice. I have done that. I have no regrets. And although I will no longer be a candidate, I will not stop using my voice for the things I believe.”
Haley had waged a vigorous campaign but never came out ahead of Tump. Her withdrawal came after 15 state primaries on Super Tuesday, including the Minnesota GOP primary. About Trump in a separate interview, she said:
“I have always been a conservative Republican and always supported the Republican nominee.” But on Trump specifically, she quoted former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher: “’Never just follow the crap. Always make up your own mind. It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it, who did not support it. I hope he does that.”
Charge: Man tries screwing neighbor’s door shut
ROCHESTER, Minn. — A Rochester man was charged with screwing the door of a neighbor’s apartment, apparently to seal him inside. The criminal complaint against Charles Tewes, 43, didn’t speculate on motive but listed evidence from Tewes’ apartment: A red and black drill with a drill bit, as well as a box of screws that matched one found in the other man’s door. Police had been called to the apartment, in northwest Rochester, on Tuesday night. The resident told police that he had heard drilling outside his door. He said he opened the door, which forced out a screw. Then, he said, Tewes charged into the apartment and tried to stab him in the neck and chest with the drill. The man said he forced Tewes back and out. There also had been a screw-shut incident the previous day, the man said.
Tewes. Charged with burglary, assault intended to harm or kill.
Finstad flyer straddles legal-ethical divide
WASHINGTON – Congressman Brad Finstad has blanketed southern Minnesota mailboxes with a slick four-color flyer under the guise of constituent communication but which actually is a slightly veiled campaign advertisement. The flyer was designed, printed and mailed at government expense under what’s called “franking privileges.” Law specifically forbids franking for overt political purposes as unfair to challenger who don’t have free mailing privileges and who must raise their own funds for flyers. Even so, it’s not unfair for members of Congress to skirt the law with flyers that mix legitimate constituent updates and political pitches. Ethicists decry the practice, but it persists. Overall, House members divvy up $18.4 million a year for franked mall.
Finstad’s first term record
As a freshman member of Congress, Finstad has few accomplishments to tout. He has introduced 18 bills – a relatively small number. None has cleared committee, let alone become law. A careful reading of the flyer yields theb message that he’s fighting what he hopes constituents will see as the good fight.
> Finstad reports he favors recovering unspent CoVid appropriations to fund federal budget deficits. The bill hasn’t gone anywhere.
> Finstad reports favoring limits in federal environmental “over-each” that he says disadvantages farmers. The bill hasn’t gone anywhere.
> Finstad reports favoring action against fraud in CoVid programs for child nutrition, but these abuses already are being prosecuted by the U.S. Justice Department.
> Finstad reports sponsoring a bill for a military veterans service center in Mankato. The bill hasn’t gone anywhere.
Finstad’s constituent service
In the flyer Finstad reported responding to 60,793 constituent messages – about 150 a day. This is not an unusual number for a member of Congress with 782,000 constituents and 11 staff members. Also: Many messages are routine. How many cases did Finstad closed? He says 503.
The franking loophole. The practice bears the name of Benjamin Franklin. As the first U.S. postmaster general, Franklin thought that members of Congress should be spared postal charges for their “official business.’” To address abuses over the years, the law has been updated several times to narrow the definition of “official business.”
Recall: Any “dollar” apple sauce on your shelves?
CHESAPEAKE, Va. – Concern about lead contamination prompted the Virginia-based parent company of Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores to recall apple sauce pouches. In an earlier alert, in October, Federal regulators reported that 500 children had been sickened by lead-laced cinnamon. No illnesses were reported the new recall, but the same cinnamon was cited as an ingredient in the apple sauce. The recall included 15,000 “dollar” stores, which are ubiquitous, as well as other discount retailers. The ground cinnamon products in the new recall had lead levels of 2.03 to 3.4 parts per million — far lower than the earlier-recalled purees, which chad as much as 5,110 parts per million. Long-term exposure can contribute to learning disabilities, behavioral difficulties and lower IQs in children.
Cops seek squatter holing up in garage
WINONA, Minn. – Somebody broke into a storage garage in an alley behind an East Side house and spent at least part of the winter living there unnoticed. The property manager, who hadn’t opened the garage for months, discovered that there had been an unwanted occupant. Nobody was “home,” he said. Police were called. The floor was littered with hypodermic needles, police said. There were also a few items of clothing. Police found an envelope addressed a man they know to be homeless, and he is the suspected squatter. The envelope was addressed to general delivery and had been picked up at the post office. Police called haz-mat experts at the fire department to dispose of the needles, which police assumed were for illicit drugs. This was in the 200 block of East Fifth Street. The “tenant” apparently had cut his way through a fence for access to the property and climbed in and out of the garage through a sliding window. A string of Christmas lights stored in the garage, had been plugged in or illumination.
Walz: Voters unhappy with Biden on Gaza war
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Governor Tim Walz said growing voter disenchantment with Israel’s military campaign in Gaza hurt President Biden in the Minnesota presidential primary. In the Super Tuesday election, Biden prevailed but almost one in five Minnesota Democrats voted “uncommitted.” Why? The Walz theory is that voters fault Biden for not reining back Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military excesses. Voters are asking to be heard, Walz said in a CNN interview: “Their message is clear that they think this is an intolerable situation and that we can do more. And I think the president is hearing that.” Like Biden, Walz is a Democrat. The dissatisfaction manifested itself powerfully in the Michigan presidential primary last week when 101,000 Democrats voted “uncommitted.”
Earlier: Super Tuesday results: Biden, Trump on top
Emergency, fire crews make 47 calls
WINONA, Minn. – The Fire Department reported 32 emergency medical calls plus 15 fire calls in recent days:
> Tuesday, March 5: 3 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
> Monday, March 4: 8 medical calls plus 4 fire calls.
> Sunday, March 3: 1 medical calls plus 2 fire call.
> Saturday, March 2: 6 medical calls plus 5 fire calls.
> Friday, J March 1: 5 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Thursday, February 29: 5 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Wednesday, February 28: 5 medical calls plus no fire calls.
Earlier: Emergency, fire crews 50 calls
Rochester woman missing possibly on new date
ROCHESTER, Minn. – Police posted a picture of a missing woman online and asked for public help to locate her. Alice Faye Dobmeier, 34, was last seen on March 3, leaving her place in southwest Rochester and may have met up with a new social media friend, a man, at the Culver’s restaurant on South Broadway, police said. Her phone last pinged near the Menard’s super-hardware, also on south Broadway, around 5 p.m. the next day. Friends and family said it was unlike Dobmeier to be out of touch with them so long.
Dobmeier. Long brown hair, blue eyes, 5-foot-9, 160 pounds. She was last seen with her hair tied up and wearing glasses, and a maroon shirt with a map of Texas.
R.I.P.: Donald Wilson
STOCKTON Minn. – Donald Charles Wilson, age 75, who lived on Grandview Ridge above Garvin Brook, died in an automobile accident. He grew up in Whalan on the Root River and attended Peterson High School. He was in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war and decorated a war hero. He drove semi-trucks several years. He loved restoring classic cars, especially Fords.
Earlier: Driver dies after rollover on ridge-top route
Details: Hoff Funeral Home
1948-2023
College scores
Baseball: Winona State 28, Notre Dame of Ohio 3
Baseball: Saint Mary’s 7, Marian of Wisconsin 6
Softball: Winona State 6, California of Pennsylvania 4
Softball: St. Rose 6, Winona State 4
Tennis (men): Saint Mary’s 6, King’s of Pennsylvania 3
Minnesota prep
Super Tuesday results: Biden, Trump on top
WINONA, Minn. – Winona voters have spoken. No surprises:
> Among Democrats: Incumbent President Joe Biden prevailed easily in the Super Tuesday presidential primary. Minnesota native son Dean Phillips, the MN-3 congressman, trailed badly — a mere blip at 3%. Biden’s dominance, although 78%, showed cracks. Some 15% of Winona County Democrats filled in the “uncommitted” circle on their ballots, which analysts said was a reflection of dissatisfaction in this fourth year of the Biden administration, some of it the unsettling human tragedy in the Israeli war on Palestinian Gaza.
> Among Republicans: Former President Donald Trump easily dominated with 73%. But his erstwhile nemesis, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, demonstrated that enthusiasm for Trump was far, far from unanimous . Haley garnered 25%. Elsewhere on Super Tuesday: Haley gave Trump his his first defeat since state caucuses and primaries began in January. She won Vermont 50% to 45%.
>Turnout: Far more Republican ballots were cast in Winona County than Democratic ballots. Republican: 2,944. Democratic: 1,381. Turn-out typically is a sign of enthusiasm in hotly contested races, which these were not and went largely as expected.
> Delegates. The Winona County returns reflected statewide Minnesota preferences, as well as preferences in 14 of the 15 Super Tuesday states – Vermont being the exception. If the Minnesota delegation remains solid through the Democratic national convention, Biden will have ye state’s 92 delegates. In all after Super Tuesday, he has 994. To win he party’s nomination Biden will need 1,986. On the Republican side, Trump picked up 39 Minnesota delegates. So far, including Minnesota, Trump has 751 delegates going into the GOP national convention. He needs 1,215 for the nomination
Winona County databank
49 of 49 precincts
> Democrat leaders
Joe Biden: 1,243 (78%)
Dean Phillips 53 (3%)
Uncommitted: 232 (15%)
> Republican leaders
Donald Trump: 2,153 (73%)
Nikki Haley: 724 (24%)
Other jurisdictions
> Fillmore County: Democrats: Biden. 532 (82%); uncommitted, 61 (9%); Phillips, 27 (4%). Republicans: Trump, 1,358 (74%); Haley, 406 (23%).
> Houston County: Democrats: Biden, 477 (82%), uncommitted, 55 (9%); Phillips, 17 (2%). Republicans: Trump, 1,018 (74%); Haley, 315 (23%).
> Olmsted County: Democrats: Biden, 4,367 (76%); uncommitted, 925 (15%); Phillips, 231 (4%). Republicans: Trump,5,872 (62%); Haley, 3,334 (25%).
Wabasha County: Democrats: Biden, 173 (80%), uncommitted, 63 (8%); Phillips 47 (6%). Republicans: Trump, 1,367 (74%); Haley, 419 (22%).
> Statewide: Democrats: Biden, 171,299 (70%); uncommitted, 45,942 (18%); Phillips, 18,94 (7%). Republicans: Trump, 232,919 (68%); Haley, 97,227 (28%).
Sustainable injury in Lewiston collision
LEWISTON Minn. – A Winona driver was injured and taken to the hospital after being struck by a pickup truck at the Kwik Trip crossroads in Lewiston. It’s a frequent accident site. Injuries to Daniel Crews Jacobs, 65, were described as non-life threatening. Police said the other driver, Ethan Carter Atkinson, 22, of Lanesboro, was unhurt. So too a passenger, Nathaniel Michael Kingsley, 30, of Rushford. They were in a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado southbound on County Road 25. Jacobs, in a 2017 Lincoln MKZ, was westbound toward Winona on U.S. Highway 14.
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