So much produce, so many people
Schwertels’s roadside stand. Midway on U.S. Highway 35 in Wisconsin between Bluff Siding and Centerville. Lots of pumpkin, lots of hay, lots of shoppers. Image: Steve Lunde
Cops: Child porn on Cochrane man’s computer
COCHRANE, Wis. – Tipped by a national child-porn police tracking site, Buffalo County deputies searched a Cochrane house and arrested Mark Klevgard. He was charged with five counts of possession of child pornography. Sheriff Mike Osmond said that Klevgard, age 62, had numerous images of child sexual abuse on a computer. The state Criminal Investigations Division will conduct a full scan of Klevgard’s hardware, the sheriff said. The arrest was at 202 North Main Street in Cochrane.
Klevgard. Criminal complaint alleges illicit downloads
Plainview disciplining homecoming troublemakers
PLAINVIEW, Minn. — School authorities are taking “corrective action” against students whose misbehavior led to the amcellation of the homecoing parade and pep rally, said Superintendent Darrin Strosahl. He declined to be soecific about what discipline was being doled out. Nor did he identify the miscreants excerpt that it was “a small number of students.” The behavior, he said, violated the Plainview-Elgin-Millville School District’s code of conduct. He acknowledged rumors making the rounds, some of which he said were false. There was no hazing, sexual harassment, or anything racially based, he said. No physical injury resulted altough students were “put at risk or in unsafe situations.” Property damage occurred, he said.
Stroshal. Superintendent since July 2022. Earlier academic vice president at Nortwest Technical College in Bemidji.
Verbatim
Strosahl: “Moving forward, we will continue to work with students on repairing and building positive relationships, advise and be clear with students as to our expectations for the future, investigate and deal with poor behavior, and provide meaningful educational experiences and activities that promote student growth.”
R.I.P.: David Trocinski
WINONA, Minn. – David Herman “Shorty” Trocinski, 81, of Winona, qho worked at Lake Center Industries for 30 years. died at home. In his retirement he worked for Minnesota City Machining in Minnesota City. He was raised on a farm in Nodine and home-schooled.
Details: Hoff Funeral Home
1942-2023
College scores
Tennis (men): UW-LaCrosse 7, Hamline 2
Minnesota prep
Volleyball (girls): Kenyon-Wanamingo Knights 3, StewartvilleTigers 0
Volleyball (girls): Goodhue Wildcats 3, Dover-Eyota Eagles 0
Volleyball (girls): Austin Packers 3, Rochester Lourdes Eagles 3
Fire crews intercept explosive dust at Bay State
WINONA, Minn. – Firefighters suppressed a smoldering fire inside a dust-collector grain bin at the towering Bay State Milling elevator complex on the riverfront just east of downtown. The fire posed a danger of spontaneous combustion from heat-generating dust in the bin. In fact, the 911 caller for help from Nay State said it was a “possible dust explosion.” This was about 8 p.m. Firefighters used long hoses at the top of a Bay State building to contain the fire storage bin from above. There were no injuries.
Riverfront landmark. This 1930s postcard has Model As and horse0drawn wagons in and out. Even un the 1930s, the facility is one Winona’s largest industrial complexes.
On Second Street. At foot of Franklin Street. The danger was that a growing concentration of flour dust inside a grain bin, already smoldering, could burst into spontaneous combustion. Flour mills have a history of massive explosions – the larger the mill, the larger the potential explosion. Image: Winona Fire Department
Bay State profile
The family-owned company, based in Quincy, Massachusetts, is 125 years old. It has mills in 10 states and provinces. Annual revenue: $155 million. Bay State produces a broad range of traditional and gluten-free flours, grains, seeds, mixes, and blends. The Winona mill specializes in wheat and rye flour. Products include Health-Sense high-fiber wheat and SowNaked high protein oats.The company has 460 employees systemwide. The Winona manager, Dustin Sanborn, has been with Bay State six years. Earlier he was with General Mills for Bisquick production in Kansas City.
1878 Washburn Mill tragedy
The danger of grain dust in a confined space was inscribed indelibly in Midwest memories by the Washburn Mill explosion in Minneapolis in 1878. Debris was blown hundreds of feet into the air by what’s known as the Great Mill Disaster. The ruins now are a National Historic Landmark. The Washburn mill, then the largest mill in the world, had been opened four years ealier by LaCrosse businessman Cadwallader Washburn. About 6 p.m. on May 2, 1878, the 14-man night shift staff had arrived. An hour later three large explosions occurred. Large chunks of granite came down as far as eight blocks away. The explosions were likened to an earthquake. A massive fire spread to two adjacent mills, which exploded and killed another four millworkers. Intense heat kept firefighters at a dostance. In total, six mills were destroyed. The combustibility of flour dust was confirmed by investigators who concuded that two millstonestone grinders had rubbed against each other and caused a spark that ignited the dust.
Death toll. Eighteen millworkers in all. Image: Contemporary illustration
Cops pinch weaving driver as drunk at wheel
ROLLINGSTONE, Minn. – A deputy pulled over a vehicle weaving on County Road 28 and determined that the driver, Jeffrey Mark Dornbusch, 53 of Rollingstone, was less than sober. This was about 6:05 p.m. northwest of Rollingstone near Fern Valley Road. Duties said that Dornbusch was staggering and his speech mumbled. At the jailhouse in Winona, his blood-alcohol tested at 0.15%, almost double the allowable level.
Dornbusch. Spent night in jail.
Errant driver hits parked car, backs into cycler
WINONA, Minn. – A Winona driver pulled into a Kwik Trip on the West Side and struck the open door of a parked car, then backed up and hit a bicyclist behind her. The cyclist suffered a minor scratch. Nobody else was injured. This was abut 5:30 p.m. at 1601 West Fifth Street. Arrested was Bonnie Lou Moen, 55. Officers quoted her as admitting to three glasses wine: “I should have walked.” She was charged with drunken driving.
Rescuers extricate child entwined in swing
WINONA, Minn. – First-responders from the Winona Fire Department cut a child from a playground swing in which he had become entangled. A janitor had already cut down the swing, but the child was still stuck in the seat. As teachers comforted the child, firefighters used tin snips to cut the back and one side of the seat to free one leg. From there the swing was stretched wide enough to slide down the other leg without cutting. This was at Jefferson School about 11:40 a.m.
Notable journalism
Peter Callaghan (Minnesota Post, September 22, 2023): “Walz on Withdrawal of Minnesota’s New Cannabis Director: ‘We Got This Wrong’”
Ryan Faircloth and Brooks Johnson (Minneapolis Star Tribune, September 22, 2023): “Minnesota Cannabis Director Steps Down after One Day Amid Report She Sold Ilegal Products”
Chris Rogers (Winona Post, September 14, 2023): “That smell? Burning Trash and Sewer Filter, City Says”
Charges elevated in Maddi Kingsburg homicide
WINONA, Minn. – Legal problems have deepend for Adam Fravel in the homicide of his live-in girlfriend in March. The charges against Fravel were elevated to first-degree murder in new documents filed in Winona County District Court. Fravel, 29, has been in jail in lieu of $2 million bail since the body of Madeline Kingsbury was found wrapped and hidden in a culvert in April. The new charges:
> Premeditated first-degree murder.
> First-demree murder while committing domestic abuse.
The original charges were second-degree intentional murder without premeditation and unintentional homicide while committing a felony. The revised complaint was signed by County Attorney Karin Sonnema and reflects counsel from Phillip Prokopowicz. Sonneman hired Prokopowicz as a consultant for his experience in Dakota County with high-profile criminal cases. Prokopowicz had been in retirement. He has been working 5-1/2 months on the Kingsbury case.
Earlier: Bail at $2 million for Fravel in murder case
Earkier: Domestic abuse listed in murder charges against Fravel
Earlier: Boyfriend of Maddi Kingsbury arrested on murder charge
Earlier: Probe restructured in Maddi Kingsbury disappearance
Prison prospects
If Fravel pleads guilty or is found guilty in a trial, he faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Fravel’s next court appearance is Thursday before Judge Nancy Buytendorp at the Winona County Courthouse. In announcing the new charges, a spokesperson for prosecutor Karin Sonneman pointed out that that a grand jury indictment is not evidence of a crime but a finding that there is sufficient cause for charges – in this case revised charges. “Mr. Fravel is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,”the spokesperson said. The initial charges of second-degree murder had been sufficient to arrest and hold Fravel. Under Minnesota law, however, first-degree murder charges require a grand jury indictment.
Winona home sales in September 2023
WINONA, Minn. – Among residential property sales logged by Bob Bambenek, county recorder, in September:
> 19532 Grandview Ridge Road: Sauer to Broersma, $800,000.
>174 East Garvin Heights Road: Baum to Ellingson, $700,000.
> 22333 Pleasant Ridge Road: Baumann to Richards, $535,000.
> 354 Pleasant Hill Drive: Lugwigson to Melillo, $453,000.
> 58 Lois Lane: Pecarina to Devoy, $502,000.
> 375 Pleasant Drive: Epsy to Dunn, $435,000.
> 115 Jederman Drive: Leighton to Schaeffer, $390,000.
> 1423 Conrad Drive: Styx to Winona Mall, $365,000.
> 31339 Highland Drive: Johnson/Peterson to Magnuson, $360,000.
>22277 East Burns Valley Road: Hoffstrom to Frank,, $360,000.
> 74 Oak Park Court: Nay to Tremain, $$390,000.
> 1389 Brookview Drive: Olson to Kishwaha, $329,000.
> 457 Kerry Drive: Kinowski to Stephens, $300,00.
Earlier: Winona home sales in August 2023
Winona County home sales in September 2023
WINONA, Minn. – Among residential property sales outside Winona logged by Bob Bambenek, county recorder, in September:
Altura: 16946 Chaffe Ravine Lane: Sherbing to Pyfferoen, $402,000.
Rollingstne: 22342 Highway 248: Jonsgaard to Lozenski, $200,000.
R.I.P.: Erika Gilbertson
WINONA, Minn. – Erika (Kalitta) Gilbertson, , 93, of Winona, a crusader for women’s righst in the 1960s, died at home. She continued her feminist activism the rest of her life. She was born in Germany but left the partitioned east section as a political refugee. She became an associate member of the American Society of Interior Designers. Due to health, however, she quit full-time work and turned to designing and sewing most of her own clothes and doing oil and watercolor paintings and needlework designs.
Details: Hoff Funeral Home
1930-2023
Culver’s again crowns burgers with oversize curd
PRAIRIE DU SAC, Wis. – The CurdBurger has returned to the grills at Culver’s fast-food places. The hearty burger is topped with a thick slab of cheese curd. The burger is a little too thick, say some, although nary a Wisconsinite. The CurdBurger will be available through October. Or, warns Culver’s, until supplies run out. The Wisconsin-based Culver’s chain, now with 899 restaurants in 26 states, floated the CurdBurger on social media in 2021 as an April Fools’ joke for Cheeseheads. Joke or not, the response overwhelmed Craig Culver, the company resident. He recognized that he might be on to something. The CurdBurger went live in October 2021. People lined up as early as 7 a.m the first day. Some Wisconsin locations sold out within two hours. In all, 36,000 CurdBurgers were sold nationwide. One enthusiast — from Wisconsin, you guessed it — posted: “I’m not even sure this should be legal.”
A cheesehead’s delight. A gooey golden curd stacked on a gussied-up Culver’s signature ButterBurger. Why is this Packer fan smiling?
Culver. Smiling all the eay to the bank.
R.I.P.: Ann Pruka
WINONA, Minn. – Ann Marie Pruka, 60, of Winona, an administrative assistant at Edina Realty for several years, died at home. She graduated from Winona High in 1981 and attended vocational school for two years. She was artistic and enjoyed sewing, crafts, painting, and decorating
Details: Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home
1963-2023
Addicts rejoice: McDonald’s resurrecting McRib
CHICAGO – The marketeers at McDonald’s lied, quite cleverly, when they announced a year ago that the McRub sandwich was being retired and never to return. Now, according to insiders, the saucy pork sandwich, a cult favorite, will be back on menu boards in November, albeit for a limited time and not at every location. The 2022 season supposedly was a Farewell Tour for McRib — not the first, by the way. That clearly again was a marketing ploy. It’s worked many times before. So why not?
Around off and on since 1981. The stacked sandwich is a boneless pork patty in a tangy barbecue sauce and topped with onions and pickles.
McRib mystery
Where will McRib reappear this time? It’s a secret but maybe:
Rochester: 6 locations.
LaCrosse: 4.
Winona: 3
Arcadia, Black River Falls, Durand, Red Wing, Zumbrota, 1 each.
Fresh-spiraled hay bales en route for winter feed
Harvest season. A Wisconsin farmer towing a loaded hay wagon waits patiently for what seems an endless parade of 55 mph cars to pass so he can cross U.S. Highway 35 from Trempealeau County Road F to Harris Road. These bales, 600 to 700 pounds each, are from the rich soil tableland north of Centerville. Image: Steve Lunde
College scores
Soccer (women): Bemidji State 2, Winona State 1
Soccer (women): Saint Mary’s 0, UW-Stevens Point 0
Two injured in crash at Red Wing intersection
RED WING, Minn. – Two Red Wing men were hurt, albeit not critically, in a two-vehicle collision on U.S Highway 61 in Red Wing. Wayne Edward Johnson, 44, one of the drivers, and Quentin A Currie, 39, his passenger, were taken a few blocks to the Red Wing hospital. The collision was about 6:50 p.m. at Highway 61 and County Road 1, also known as Bench Street. Uninjured in the second vehicle were Mary Ann Cahoon, 61, the driver, and Perry Walter Cahoon, 64, both of McGregor, Iowa. The Johnson vehicle was a 2018 Ford Focus, which was northbound. The Cohoon vehicle was a 2015 Ford Explorer, which was southbound.
Our galloping gourmands: At Drugan’s supper club
HOLMEN, Wis. – Supper clubs with salad bars are hard to find these days. But to the delight of our Galloping Gourands, three 1950s-style super clubs are thriving still in a magic triangle north of LaCrosse – Beedles in Centerville, Sullivan’s at Trempealeau, and Drugan’s at the Castle Mound golf course near Holmen. Our latest 1950s excursion, to Drugan’s, renewed delightful memories and comforted our palates, albeit two disappointments: The signature Drugan’s lutefisk and lefsa are offered now only in winter months. A Norwegian homage remains, however, at the salad bar. A rich selection of vool greens, pastas and fruits is laid out in scaled-down Viking longship hull with a fierce dragon raising its scaly head at the tail prow and stern. The scoop-yurself soup te day of our visit was scrumptuous — a creamy bacon-laced chowder . The menu is true to yesteryear:
> Tenderloin Tips. This grilled dish dates to 1948 in Drugan’s early days. A savory sauce is loaded with bacon and mushrooms. One disappointment: The kitchen didn’t get the message for rare, although the tips were still juicy. $19.
> Chicken livers. This unusual item nowadays is offfered either as an appetizer or main dish. We suspect the kitchen misread our order for the appetizer. The plate that arrived was heaped with enough liver for a Norse horde, all braised and loaded with bacon. $11.
> Shrimp cocktail. What could be more retro than shrimp cocktail. $9.
The Galloping Gourmands roam the region for great places to dine. The panel pays full fare. To assure dispassionate reviews, the panelists don’t identify themselves.
Earlier: Our galloping gourmands: At Dublin Square
“Gourmand.” An oil by he Tuscan master Pietro Torrini, who spoofed gourmands in the 1500s.
Drugan’s. Fifteen minutes north of LaCrosse off U.S. Highway 35.
Seating tip
Ask for a window table for an overview of the wooded rock formation that encases an outdoor wedding cove, around which the 18-hole Castle Mound golf course bends.
Report: Biker to 11-year-old: “Want a ride, little girl?”
HOMER, Minn. – An 11-year-old told deputies that she was walking on the gravel shoulder along Old Homer Road when a biker slowed and asked if she wanted a ride on his motorcycle. She didn’t respond. Then, she said, he turned around and came back and asked again. Again she didn’t respond. He then drove off, the encounter ending. This was between 2:30 and 3 p.m., Saturday, near the intersection with County Road 15, which goes up Homer Valley to Witoka. The girl didn’t report the encounter until a day later. Investigators were unable to track the motorcyclist, who easily could have left on U.S. Highway 61, which parallels Old Homer Road, or on any of several sideroads up the bluffs to Witoka and Interstate 90. Also: When reported, the incident was more was 24 hours earlier and the trail cold.
Biker profile
The girl offered these details: The man was 60-ish. His motorcycle had no windshield. There was a pillion seat for a passenger and also a basket in back. He had a black helmet with a rainbow in black and gold. He was wearing a blue shirt, ripped jeans and a black leather coat. She didn’t note the license plate number.
Walz nixes cannabis appointee: “We goofed”
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Egg’s on the face of Governor Tim Walz. After fanfare in announcing Erin DuPree as the state’s first marijuana regulation czar, Walz has asked for her resignation. Both the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Minnesota Public Radio had unearthed that DuPree’s marijuana shop in Apple Valley had sold highly potent illegal hemp products. Also, it was reported, DuPree had has a series of tax liens and unpaid debts from previous businesses. Walz had appointed DuPree as director of the new state ffice of Cannabis Management to organize the regulation of legalized recreational marijuana. The appointment was a mistake – not “my finest hour,” Walz said. ““I own this one. We got this wrong.” Walz said that Charlene Briner, a senior Department of Agriculture official, will continue her interim leadership at the agency. About DuPree, Walz said he expects people in his administration to “follow the rules.”
Verbatim
DuPree: “I’ve become a distraction that would stand in the way of important work that needs to be done. I have never knowingly sold any noncompliant product, and when I became aware of them I removed the products from inventory. Conducting lawful business has been an objective of my business career. However, it has become clear that I have become a distraction.”
Week’s summary: Ending September 30, 2023
COLLEGES: WSU’s enrollment close to steadying itself
COLLEGES: WSU outcome data ranks high in region
POLITICS: Potomac chatter: Minnesota’s Emmer for top House job?
POLITICS: Klobuchar in chorus for Menendez resignation
GOVERNANCE: Budget crisis: Federal shutdown delayed 45 days
HONORS: Second-grader cited for heroism in dad’s rescue
HONORS: Winona emergency chief wins state honors
HONORS: Winona High senior a National Merit scholar
SCHOOLS: Winona Mall sale deal near ready to close
SCHOOLS: Expert: First Amendment supports gay flag at Gale High
COMMERCE: Kwik Trip marches west into South Dakota
REMEMBRANCE: Outpouring of love for Amish children in fatal wreck
REMEMBRANCE: R.I.P.: Gene Olstad
REMEMBRANCE: R.I.P.: Mark Zimmerman
TRIBAL: Minneapolis land transfer for Indian addiction therapy
ARTS: Reza illusion show set for 560-seat WSU venue
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