$3,000 in checks gone from home office
WINONA, Minn. – Three checks totaling $3,000 were stolen from a man’s home office sometime in the previous few days. The checks, made out to the business operator, were cancelled by the issuer before they could be cashed, the man told police. The theft, in the 150 block of West Mill Street, was reported to police about 11:40 a.m. Police found no sign of forced entry.
Super Tuesday early voting opens in Minnesota
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Early voting has opened in Minnesota’s Super Tuesday presidential primary. The primary itself is March 5, but people can vote early in person at city and county election offices. They also can request mail-in absentee ballots to vote from home. Voters doesn’t have to register as a party member but can vote in only one of three party options. The candidates all are self-nominated.
> Democratic Party. Choices: President Joe Biden, Eban Cambridge, Gabriea Cornejo, Franklie Lozada, Jason Palmer, Armando “Mando” Perez-Serrato, Congress ember Dean Phillips, Cenk Urgur, Marianne Williamson.
> Legal Marijuana Now. Vermin Supreme, Krystal Gabel, Dennis Shuller, Edward Forchian, Rudy Reyes.
> Republican. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, former President Donald Trump.
Early voters have until February 15 to “claw back” their ballots if they change their mind.
New rule
Names of voters are reported to the party they choose. But a change from 2020 is that the party choice of voters is not available to the public. This, said Secretary of State Steve Simon, who administers Minnesota elections, is a new security step, among others, to guard against fraud in later stages in the election process.
Other “super” races
Sixteen states “have Super Tuesday presidential primaries, hence the name “Super Tuesday.” Alabama began early voting January 10. Beginning this weekend are Arkansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia and Vermont.
Charges fled in catalytic converter thefts
ROCHESTER, Minn. – Two Twin Cites men were charged with a raid on Rochester to steal catalytic converters from the undercarriage of parked cars. Nay Thar of St. Paul, 36, and David Htoo, 24, of North St. Paul, were stopped last February with five cut-off converters in their vehicle, police said. The charges were filed belatedly. Also in the vehicle: A reciprocating saw, a floor jack, and 13 Sawsall blades. Police had been tipped by a 911 call from a witness to an attempted converter theft. The criminal complaint quoted Thar and Htoo that they planned to sell the converters to a fence in The Cities for $200 to $300 each. Typical costs to a car-owner for to replace a converter is $2,300.
Plainview dairy again called out for polluting
PLAINVIEW, Minn. – The farmer-owned dairy co-op in Plainview has been fined again for sloppy and environmentally unfriendly practices, this time for $20,000. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency levied the fine after finding that 6,900 gallons of cream were spilled at the dairy. The cream flowed into the Plainview municipal water system and clogged wastewater tanks. Worse, said the agency, the dairy failed to report the spill immediately as required by law. In a previous spill, in May, the dairy was fined $17,000 for an illegal dischgarge of milk-laden industrial wastewater. In the latest transgression, the MCPA said:
> Suspended solids exceeded state limits by a multiple of 15.
> Carbonaceous biological oxygen by 11.
> Phosphorus levels by three.
The MPCA says the spill sent cream-laden wastewater into a city storm sewer and into a ditch.
Warrant issued for Arches attack on sleeping woman
WINONA, Minn. – An arrest warrant has been issued in a savage attack on a woman at a house along Highway 14 east of Lewiston three days ago. Named was Darron Dylan Miller, 39. whose last known address was Winona. The charges: Burglary and assault. The woman, who was attacked asleep at a friend’s house, said that Miller was unhappy that she had spurned his persistent advances. Court records show previous arrests for domestic assault, some with a firearm; numerous restraining orders; theft; and drugs, including crack cocaine, heroin and marijuana.
Miller. Minnesota addresses over the years: Albert Lea, Austin, Cannon Falls, Circle Pines, Minneapolis, Rochester, St. Cloud and St. Paul. Also Crecco, Iowa; Chicago; and Indianapolis.
Pair jump from wrecked car on West Side, vanish
WINONA, Minn. – A Honda CRV crashed into three parked cars in a residential area while fleeing police at an estimated 55 mph. There were no injuries. The officer had ended the chase for safety reasons. When he arrived at the accident, he saw two adult men running from the wrecked Honda. The officer chased the pair 100 feet on foot into a backyard – this was on Grand Street — but they had disappeared. This was about 4:55 a.m. The chase had begun when the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, which was traveling dark. The driver turned onto a side street and sped up – obviously to escape, the officer said — and ignored stop signs at two corners. The vehicle’s speed was 55 mph, perhaps 60, the officer said. The officer terminated the risky chase, himself already at 37 mph. Then he came upon the crash. The Honda, attempting a turn, had struck one parked car, which was catapulted into two other parked cars. Police did not know immediately if he Honda, a 2009 model, had been stolen. They were attempting to the registered owner.
Winona museum wins grant to upgrade lighting
WINONA, Minn. — The Winona Historical Society received a $98,000 grahn to upgrade exhibit lighting. The grant is from the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage program administered the state Historical Society.
Phy-ed prof named WSU nursing dean
WINONA, Minn. – After a national search the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Winona State has a new dean — from the university’s own faculty. Brian Zeller, whose background is athletic training, was appointed to the deanship by Darrell Newton, the university’s vice president for academics. Zeller previously served as chair of the university’s Department of Health, Exercise and Rehabilitative Sciences. His new salary: $170,000. He earned a doctoral degree in exercise science from the University of Kentucky, a master’s degree in physical education from Indiana State, and an undergrad degree in physical education from UW-La Crosse. Zeller has been at Winona State since 2000. He has been director of athletic training. As nursing dean Zeller succeeds Julie Anderson. She had headed the college six years, a tenure interrupted by a medical leave. She returned last year as interim dean.
Zeller. Background in health, exercise and rehab.
College scores
Wrestling: UW-LaCrosse 29, UW-Whitewater 7
Minnesota prep
Basketball (boys): Rochester Mayo Spartans 56, Winona Winhawks 40
Basketball (boys): Winona Cotter Ramblers 68, Wabasha-Kellogg Falcons 45
Basketball (boys): Caledonia Warriors 90, Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 52
Basketball (girls): Rochester Mayo Spartans 78, Winona Winhawks 51
Basketball (girls): Caledonia Warriors 72, Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 28
Basketball (girls): Winona Cotter Ramblers 75, Wabasha-Kellogg Falcons 30
Basketball (girls): Rushford-Peterson Trojans 62, St. Charles Saints 25
Hockey (boys): Winona Winhawks 6, Faribault Falcons 3
Wisconsin prep
Basketball (boys): Cochrane-Fountain City Pirates 86, Blair-Taylor Wildcats 60
Basketball (boys): Melrose-Mindoro Mustangs 82, Independence Indees 46
Basketball (boys): Whitehall Norse 60, Alma-Pepin
Basketball (girls): Onalaska Luther Knights 70, Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau Redhawks 45
Basketball (girls): Arcadia Raiders 69, Westby Norsemen 35
New Winona teacher salaries up 5%-plus
WINONA, Minn. – The Winona School Board approved a new teachers contract with a 2% pay increase retroactive to the beginning of classes this school year and another 3.25% the coming year. The salary range goes begins at $46,200 for new teachers and maxes at $80,100 for experienced teachers with a master’s degree. The contract also includes roughly $1,100 a month for medical insurance for individuals and $1,400 for families.
10 days jail for wayward ex-priest
WINONA, Minn. – A former priest was sentenced to 10 days in jail for forcing sex on a drunk friend 3-1/2 years ago. Ubaldo Roque Huerta, 51, was also fined $900 and placed on four years of supervised probation. The sentence was issued by Judge Mary Leahy.
Earlier: Winona jury to former priest: Guilty
Missing wallet leads to overnight police saga
WINONA, Minn. – After almost six hours of an on-again off-again pursuit that began with a missing wallet, police had Demandre Tyshann Andrew Frazier of La Crosse behind locked in cell Among other charges Frazier was accused of theft and fleeing police.
Stolen wallet and fraud
The case began routinely enough: A shopper returned to the Walmart service desk about 845 p.m. to ask if anyone had turned in her wallet. She thought perhaps she had had left it behind, Inside, she said, was $300. Then she received an alert from her credit card company that a $27 charge had been made on her card half a mile away at the Kwik Trip at East Broadway and Mankato streets. The card had been in the wallet. Police checked Kwik Trip surveillance video and identified the thief’s car.
Get-away flight on slick streets
Around 10:30 p.m. an officer spotted the car near Fourth and Adams streets, also on the Far East End. The driver sped away and zipped through stop signs at cross streets. After six blocks the officer terminated the chase: The driver was reckless at 40 mph on slick streets and the risk of a wreck was unwarranted for a misdemeanor case of a $27 fraudulent credit card charge. Later the car was located in the 450 block of Mankato Avenue – all this in roughly the same neighborhood. The car was abandoned. Police impounded the vehicle.
The guy’s favorite Kwik Trip
About 2:40 a.m. police received a call from a clerk at the all-night Kwik Trip at Broadway and Mankato where the $27 credit card charge had been made: The guy had come back. Police spotted Frazier on foot two blocks away. He gave a false name, but police figured out who he was in an online check of old jail mugshots. He ran. By this point a sheriff’s deputy had arrived and joined the chase. The deputy tackled Frazier. Still resisting, Frazier was dragged by his feet to a squad car. He was booked at 4:14 a.m. with a new mugshot added to the collection.
Frazier. Booked for theft, fraud and fleeing. No stranger in the Winona County jail. Last time was in 2021 after a lengthy Wisconsin police chase, also on slippery winter roads.
DWI arrest: Driver passed out, engine running
WINONA, Minn. – A Winona woman was found slumped across the console of her car on the Far East End and at first unresponsive. The car was running. A police officer got her awake. The officer said the woman admitted to drinking. A preliminary breath test showed her blood was 0.16% alcohol – twice what the law allows for driving. Emily Jane Kutter, 46, was taken into custody. This was about 1:40 a.m. at Mankato Avenue and Wabasha Street. Earlier the vehicle had been reported being driven erratically.
Political scientist into WSU deanship
WINONA, Minn. – The interim liberal arts dean at Winona State University, Kara Lindaman, has been placed in the deanship permanently. Lindaman had been in the position temporarily since last year when psychology scholar Peter Meine retired. Lindaman had been on the university’s political science faculty since 2006. Her new salary: $158,000. Lindaman was selected after a national search. She holds a doctorate in public administration and politics from the University of Kansas. At Winona State she has coordinated the American Democracy Project and served as NCAA faculty athletics agent and on the executive committee of the faculty union.
Lindaman. Now chief of liberal arts, the largest of Winona State’s five colleges.
News summary at mid-week January 17, 2024
GOVERNANCE: Walz seeks $1 billion for bricks and mortar
GOVERNANCE: Miller again tries to loosen gambling limits
COLLEGES: Walz budget: $71.8 million for WSU project
COLLEGES: Any advance tip on Gow firing at UW-L? Barely
COLLEGES: Experts unsure on legality of Gow’s dismissal
GOVERNANCE: On Minnesota victory against Big Oil: “No done deed”
GOVERNANCE: Ex-Wisconsin state senator to Mayo lobbying job
ENVIRONMENT: Large farm groups join Daley expansion fight
CRIME: Woman badly bashed in assault near Lewiston
COMMENT: Quieting foes of new state flag
Cupcake-armed intruder charged with assault
WINONA, Minn. – A woman opened her apartment door, was smashed in the face by a cupcake, and then beaten. This according to what the woman and a male friend told police. Police arrested Kaleb Michael Komperud, 21, of Winona. The woman, age 20, had bruised eyes and mouth cuts, police said. The incident was about 10 p.m. in the 300 block of West Howard Street. This is how police reconstructed what happened: The woman and two men, one of whom was Komperud, were chilling at her place. Komperud was asked to leave, which he did — and taking a cupcake with him. Shortly thereafter he banged to get back in. The woman opened the door. Komperud pushed the cupcake in her face, barged in and threw punches. When police arrived they found a baggy with 5.2 grams of meth in Komperud’s coat pocket. Police found no weapons aside from the smashed cupcake. Komperud was booked for assault and drugs.
Komperud. Already with a record of domestic assault arrests.
College scores
Basketball (men): Saint John’s 84, Saint Mary’s 59
Masketball (men): UW-LaCrosse 85, UW-Oshkosh 75
Basketball (women): Saint Benedict 84, Saint Mary’s 59
Basketball (women): UW-Oshkosh 68, UW-LaCrosse 56
Tenant, cat escape upstairs apartment fire
SPRING VALLEY, Minn. — An upstairs apartment on Broadway Avenue was heavIly damaged by fire that sent the tenant fleeing for safety with his cat. No one was injured. The fire was above a vacant storefront next to Stellar 181 Taphouse. Everyone in the taphouse evacuated safely.
Multiple alarms. Crews from several communities responded. Image: Spring Valley Fire Department
Flames consume car near Viroqua
Vehicle a total loss. Firefighters arrived at a burning car west of Viroqua in Jefferson Township to find the engine compartment fully engulfed and the fire spreading into the cabin. Fire extinguishers controlled the blaze, but not much was left. This was about 5 p.m. No injuries were reported. Image: Vernon County sheriff
The Walz influence on Minnesota Supreme Court
ST.PAUL, Minn. – Beginning this summer he majority of the justices on the Minnesota Supreme Court will have been appointed by Governor Tim Walz. Already Walz has filled two vacancies with Gordon Moore III and Karl Procaccini. This coming spring and summer Walz will replace two more justices who just announced their retirements. That’s four Walz appointments either in place or pending on the seven-member high court. Also: Walz elevated Justice Natalie Hudson to chief justice last fall.
Supco appointments
The Minnesota constitution calls for Supreme Court vacancies to be filled by popular vote if they coincide with a general election. Not since 1990, however, has a vacancy occurred in time for election. Otherwise the incumbent governor fills the vacancy by appointment Appointees then stand for election on the next general ballot. Terms are six years.
Any advance tip on Gow firing at UW-L? Barely
LACROSSE, Wis. – The acting chancellor of University if Wisconsin-LaCrosse, Betsy Morgan, told packed convocation of faculty and students that she foresees campus stability for the weeks in ahead. It was Morgan’s first public appearance since replacing Joe Gow, who was fired over the December break for sex videos. Morgan, who had been UW’L’s chief academic officer under Gow, said she was unaware until he last minute that the UW System regents were preparing to fire Gow, who had been a popular campus figure. At the convocation in the Student Union, Morgan made these points about the Gow situation:
> Her only advance warning that Gow’s job was on the line was December 27 “slightly before” the regents met in Madison to fire Gow. It was a call about whether she would serve as interim chancellor if needed. “None of the cabinet or any other person I have spoken to knew of the reasons until the outcome of the regents meeting and the subsequent press,” she told the convocation.
> Whether Gow will move to the faculty is a decision that regents haven’t made, Morgan said. Gow holds tenure in the Communication Department. Pending legal analysis on its options, the regents have put Gow’s move to the faculty on hold, she said.
> The process fora national search for a permanent chancellor was already in process last fall when Gow announced his intention to retire in June. This was months before the video issue erupted. The search process is unaffected by Gow’s dismissal. Morgan said. Finalists will visit campus in early March, she aid.
> Morgan hasn’t ruled out applying for the permanent chancellorship herself: “I’m taking it one day at a time right now and trying to keep my options open.”
Morgan was upbeat about the spring semester. Recruiting of new students is proceeding for fall, she said. Retention of freshen from fall to winter semester has exceed expectations, she said. She ended the convocation by inviting everybody to a chili lunch in the cafeteria.
Morgan. Acting chancellor learned only “slightly before” regents fired Gow.
Verbatim
Morgan: “This is the benefit of being here for 30-plus years. I do love the people here. I know the university, and this is just the obvious step. I’m happy to provide the stability and take us into the future.”
Morgan profile
Morgan started at UW-L in 1993 as a professor and later became department chair. She became provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs n 2017. She.holds a doctorate in social psychology from the University of California-Irvine. As a UW-L administrator she retains tenure on the psychology faculty. Age: 60.
Miller again tries to loosen gambling limits
WINONA, Minn. – A southeast Minnesota state senator, Jeremy Miller, is taking a new stab at legislation to legalize sports betting. Miller, a Republican from Winona, said he will introduce a bill when the 2024 Legislature convenes to pick up where, in his view, a 2023 revision in state gambling law fell short. Miller calls this new version the Minnesota Sports Betting Act 2.0. His plan is complex. It attempts to appeal to diverse stakeholders on gambling issues with something for everyone. Key provisions:
> Allowing Minnesota’s 11 tribal nations to offer retail and mobile sports betting. This would include on-premise betting at horse tracks and professional sports venues.
> Taxing sports betting revenue at 15%. Proceeds would go to charitable gambling, to mental health and gambling addiction services, to youth athletics, and to attracting larger sporting events to the state.
> Restoring some controversial charitable gaming options that were lost in the 2023 Legislature. These include free plays and bonus games on electronic pull-tabs.
Miller said his 2.0 bill incorporates feedback from constituents, legislators, and a variety of stakeholders. Without such changes, Minnesota will continue to miss out on a growing $100 billion industry, Miller said.
Miller. Elected in 2010 from Senate District 26. Includes Houston and Fillmore counties, most of Winona County, a sliver of Mower County.
Verbatim
Miller, on his 2.0 bill: “So it brings the tribes, the horse-racing tracks and the sports teams all to the table to try to come up with a solution. There is a lot of demand for Sports betting in Minnesota. And there’s plenty of action to go around for all of the stakeholders. This proposal is good for the tribes. It’s good for the horse racing tracks. It’s good for the professional sports teams. And most importantly, it’s good for the folks who would like to bet on sports here in Minnesota.”
Sports gambling law
In 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal law that had banned most states from authorizing commercial sports gambling. Since then, 38 states have legalized sports gambling. But not Minnesota, Miller points out. “Minnesota is the only state in our region without a legal sports betting option,” he said. “This means Minnesotans must cross state lines to bet on games or find illegal workarounds with online vendors.”
Walz budget: $71.8 million for WSU project
WINONA, Minn. – The 2024 budget proposal going to the Legislature from Governor Tim includes $71.8 million for a state-of-the-art classroom building at Winona State University. This would be in addition to $4.8 million already spent on design. The building — somewhat awkwardly and temporarily called CECIL, short for Center for Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Engagement and Learning — is fourth on the Walz list for the Minnesota State colleges system. Priorities on the Minnesota State list:
> Systemwide: Asset preservation and replacement: $200 million.
> St. Paul College: Renovations, $31.8.
> MSU-Mankato: Complete replacement of the 56-year-old Armstrong classroom building, $86.3 million.
> Winona State: Raze the Gildemeister and Watkins classroom buildings, now 60-some years old, and build CECIL, $78.1 million.
Further down the list, at 12th, is $14.6 million for Southeast State College, which has Red Wing and Winona campuses, for modernization.
WSU savings
Minnesota State system trustees made the case to Walz for CECI funds by notig that $10.3 million could be saved in pending maintenance for the aging Gildemeister and Watkins classroom buildings. Both would be torn down.
Lesser projects
Included in the Walz higher-ed construction budget is infrastructure, roof, heating, cooling and exterior projects at Winona State and also roof and electrical projects at State College Southeast.
WELCOME
The worthiest goal of journalism is to promote intelligent citizen involvement. Such is our goal with Winona Journal. We focus on local issues so you can go about your daily activities with confidence that you can be a genuine and valued part of informed public dialogue on the kind of community we’re building.
Although Winona-centric, we are attentive also to regional issues. Our community doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
You will find opinion here. We quote and paraphrase with attribution so you know the source and can assess ideas and thoughts. Sometimes you will find our commentary but always clearly labeled.
As journalists we are committed to accuracy but not perfect. Please let us know if you spot an error, whether substantive or even just a dumb typo. We’ll get errors squared away promptly.
We’re glad you’re with us.