Southbound Canadian train wrecks near Lancaster
Jack-knifed freight. Tankers with hazardous contents didn’t puncture.
Railroad: No injuries, no hazardous spill
LANCASTER, Minn. – A freight train with tankers carrying hazardous cargoes derailed 20 miles southeast of the Canada border crossing at Pembina. The Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad was quick to report there were no leaks. Nor were injuries reported. Twenty-four cars jumped he rails about 4:30 p.m. four miles south of Lancaster. The derailment was in an open rural area area along Highway 59, which connects the U.S-Canada border at Tolstoi to Detroit Lakes and Worthington in Minnesota and south into Iowa. The highway was blocked and traffic detoured. The CP route goes southeast from Lancaster to Minneapolis and Winona and destinations father south and east. The derailment was the fourth major rail accident srecently in the Upper Midwest:
> May 30. A CP pusher-locomotive and a dozen cars derailed near Balfour in central North Dakota without injury, but there was a minor fire.
> April 27. Two BNSF locomotives and 10 cars derailed on the Mississippi River in southwest Wisconsin, injuring four crew members and spilling cargo, some hazardous, into riverside swamps.
> March 30. Twenty-three cars of a BNSF freight derailed near Raymond in western Minnesota, with ethanol escaping and burning and forcing evacuation of half the town.
Out of gas, out of luck on I-90
RIDGEWAY, Minn.- – Deputies arrested a man for auto theft after he knocked at the door of a rural house and asked for help because he was out gas. It turned out the auto had been reported stolen in Texas. Francisco Hernandez-Aguirre, 31, was booked at the Winona County jail for having stolen property. Apparently, deputies said, he had no permanent address. The arrest was east of Ridgeway on the County Road 12 service road off Interstate 90.
Hernandez-Aguirre. Stranded with empty tank.
Negligence seems factor in Iowa apartment collapse
DAVENPORT, Iowa — City officials and the owners of a collapsed apartment building had been warned for months that the building was unstable, documents show. Tenants had complained about a lack of heat and hot water as well as about mold and water leakage from ceilings and toilets. Seven fire code violations were issued February 6. Three weeks later inspectors reported that none of the problems were corrected. Inspectors gave vacate orders to individual apartments, although a broader evacuation was never ordered. As recently as four days before the collapse, the city’s chief building official, Trishna Pradhan, had visited the building and erroneously reported it had passed an inspection. Unexplained was why Pradhan attempted to change the inspection result to “incomplete” on Tuesday — after the collapse. Pradham has since resigned. Other city officials said an evacuation was never ordered because of an independencent engineer’s assurances the week before that the building remained safe.
Earlier: Six-story Davenport apartment falls Apart; three missing
Building profile
The six-story brick building, downtown at 32 Main Street in this Mississippi River town,, was a century old. It had been acquired in 2021 by the company Davenport Hotel for $4.2 million. The company’s owner, Andrew Wold, released a statement two days after the collapse that “our thoughts and prayers are with our tenants.” News reporters were unable to reach Wold or his attorney to follow up.
Legal follow-up
Assistant City Attorney Brian Heyer said the city has filed a civil infraction seeking a $300 fine against Wold for failing to maintain the structure in a safe manner. He will be required to pay for the cost of demolition, Heyer said.
Minnesota joins 22 states with legal marijuana
ST. PAUL, Minn. – With a law legalizing recreational marijuana set go into effect in August, Minnesota will be the 23rd state to legalize the substance for adults. The law expunges or restructures past cannabis convictions. although the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has estimated the processing pf cases cannot be completed until August 2024.The law establishes retail dispensaries, but was expected to be a year for the retail system to be set up. Sales will be taxed at 10%.
Emergency, fire crews make 47 calls
WINONA, Minn. – The Fire Department reported 37 emergency medical calls plus 10 fire calls in recent days:
> Tuesday, May 30: 4 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Monday, May 29: 10 medical calls plus 2 fire call.
> Sunday, May 28: 6 medical calls plus no fire calls.
> Saturday, May 27: 5 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
> Friday, May 26: 6 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
> Thursday, May 25: 3 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Wednesday, May 24: 3 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
Earlier: Emergency, fire crews 40 calls
State grants new $5 million for Winona Riverfront Trail
More hiking, biking. The Riverfront Trail will be extended downriver beyond Levee Park. Already it’s linked to.the Flyway Trail over the Mississippi River to Latsch Island and Wisconsin.
To go past Bay State graineries, Winona Marina
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Riverfront Trail project in Winona received $5 million in the Legislature’s statewide construction budget. The city had sought the funds to extend the hiking and biking trail to extend the trail farther downriver from Levee Park to beyond the Winona Marina on Laird Street. The city can use the new funds to acquire property and build a bridge over the over marina entrance. The trail earlier had received $2 million in state funds. The new trail money was part of a state bonding package of projects statewide to be financed bythe state at low-interest rates. Here is how southeast Minnesota legislators voted:
For the bonding bill:
Senator Jeremy Miller, R-26 (Winona)
Representative Gene Pelowski, D-26A (Winona)
Against:
Senator Steve Drazkowski, R-20 (Mazeppa)
Representative Steve Jacob, R-20B (Elba)
Earlier: Senate: Yes to Winona jail, yes to riverfront trail
Pretty, dainty: But now is time rip it up
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The state Natural Resources Department asked gardeners to pull up garlic mustard and smother it in plastic bags to kill stop reseeding. Garlic mustard is an invasive weed now blooming in southern Minnesota. Now is the time act, the DNR said, noting the weed’s white flowers are in bloom with thousands of tiny seeds. You also can cook with it: Great for a garlicky touch in pesto and hummus, the DNR said.
Garlic mustard. Out, out, damned spot.
Garlic mustard profile
Garlic Mustard came to the United States as food and medicine in the 1800s. It forms thick mats that shade and outcompete native plants. It impedes natural forest regeneration by producing chemicals that hinder other plants from growing. It also blocks trails.
Rochester bracing for school financial bind
ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Rochester School Board began public meetings to explain its budget woes – and to listen to citizens. The proposed budget next school year cuts spending $14 million and could eliminate 77 teachers and 40 para-professionals, school nurse, clerks and janitors. The cuts are based on a projected loss of 295 students and also assumes a 4% increase in state funding. This year the district has 17,600 students and 839 teachers.
Beekeeper’s buddy Bruce the Bear savors honey
ORONOCO, Minn. – Beekeeper Greg French at a rural ginseng farm has struck up a relationship with a bear. He calls him “Bruce.” Something had been tipping over French’s hives for almost a week. So he set up a trail camera and caught Bruce on video. French is amused as much as anything. In 30 years he’s never had an ursine visitor. He said he has beekeeper friends Up North, where bears are common, and they protect their hives with electric fences. He doesn’t want to do that. “It’s a once in a lifetime thing around here,” he told a KTTC interviewer.
Trail cam. Bruce makes his video debut, messing with beehives
Old armory’s stained glass glows anew
Museum gift. The masterpiece was a gift 38 years ago to the Winona Historical Society museum , the armory’s latter-day occupant.
Winona glazier took on restoration as a pet project
Penic. For 30 years a career in stainedglass. President of Cathedral Crafts Studios, one of several Winona stainedglass companies.
Not alone. The central panorama is flanked by matching works. Image: Steve Lunde
WINONA, Minn. – The gorgeous stainedglass panorama of Winona history above the alley stable gate in the 1915 downtown armory, has been rediscovered, refurbished and returned to its former glory. The massive work of art — 16 feet across and arching to 9 feet — had been largely forgotten, obscured by yellowed storm windows and decades of dust and grit on the backside of the Winona history museum, the current occupant of the armory. Not surprisingly it was a glazier, Eric Penicof Winona, who made the restoration a pet project. Penic had watched the window’s gradual fading into obscurity from across a parking lot on the alley – on the the backside of the museum — and decided to do something about it. His restoration, now compete, includes a synthetic polymer covering guaranteed not to yellow. The idea: Never let the Ruth Lucas memorial window ever fade again as testimony to Winona’s reputation as home to generations of stainedglass artists.
Rising from faded glory
The window was designed by Edward Glubka in 1985 and presented to the Winona Historical society. It was dedicated to the memory of Ruth Lucas by her husband. For museum visitors, the window reigned as a grand overarching backdrop from the inside the museum. The sun originally made for a radiating brilliance most of the day. Gradually, however, it came to be taken for granted and, day by day became opaque with built-up dust and yellowing storm windows.
Poll: Lewiston voters not keen on new school taxes
LEWISTON, Minn. – With signals of only lukewarm voter support for new school taxes, the Lewiston School Board is pondering whether to proceed with a referendum. The board already has pared an original proposal for $55.4 million for gym, auditorium and classroom upgrades. Now a community survey found only 43% supported the facilities projects There was not quite 50% support for new taxes to cover day-to-day operating expenses.. The Board invited citizens to a meeting Tuesday about options at 6:30 p.m. at the high school.
Earlier: Board ponders Altura school’s market value
Earlier: Major upgrades proposed for Lewiston Altura schools
Had she been kidnapped? Had she called?
DRESBACH, Minn. – Deputies responded to a request from LaCrosse police about a caller who claimed to have been kidnapped and possibly might be at the Dresbach tourist rest stop. Deputies found a drunk and disheveled woman but couldn’t get a coherent account from her – or even whether she had been kidnapped or made the call.
Freight cars, engine jump rails in North Dakota
BALFOUR, N.D. – A pusher-locomotive and 24 cars at the end of a freight train skipped the rails and piled up on the Canadian Pacific mainline from Moosejaw, Saskatchewan, through North Dakota into Minnesota. In a statement from CP headquarters in Calgary, the railroad confirmed that three cars were carrying hazardous contents — lithium batteries, airbags and small drums of methanol — but said nothing leaked. There was a fire, but McHenry County Sheriff Trey Skager said firefighters put it out quickly. Diesel fuel from the derailed pusher-locomotive was recovered with no leaks, the railroad said. Pusher-locomotives being remote controlled, there were no train-board injuries. “There is no threat to the environment and no risk to public safety,” the railroad said. The derailment was about 5:15 p.m. south of Balfour, population 20, halfway to Lake Bronson State Park, which is in short-grass flatlands 40 miles southeast of Minot.
Containers every which way. Explosive cargo included lithium batteries, airbags and drums of methanol. Image: McHenry County Sheriff
Marijuana legalization: Ventura says “about time”
Marijuana moment. Surrounded by cheering cannabis advocates, many wearing green, Governor Tim Walz signs a bill legalzing marijuana. At his side was former Governor Jess Ventura, towering at 6-foot 4, who dropped in from retirement in Mexico for the occasion. Ventura: “It’s very wonderful to see a dream of yours over 20 years ago finally happen today, and I’m still alive to see it” Ventura was governor from 1999 to 2003.
Marijuana law updates a “long journey”
ST.PAUL, Minn. — Governor Tim Walz signed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana for people over 21. Walz, long a supporter of loosening marijuana restrictions, said: “This has been a long journey with a lot of folks involved.” The gradual process goes back to Fastenal cofounder Bob Kierlin of Winona, a who broke ranks a Republican state senator from 1999 to 2007 and advocated marijuana to relieve the pain of terminal cancer patients. Kierlin was persuasive with his personal story of his ballerina wife’s death. Republicans, however, declined to support further legalization. Meanwhile, marijuana advocates had created a series of political parties and put their single-issue candidates on ballots. None picked up any traction. In 2022 came a bjg break. The Legislature legalized THC in edible or drinkable form so long as it was derived from the agricultural product hemp. It turned out to be an embarrassing moment for Republicans, who controlled the Legislature. They acknowledged later that they were asleep at the switch and that the bill, backed by Democrats, slipped by. Whatever, low-strength gummies and beverages have been on sale since July. The next major break came a few months later, in the November 2022 elections, when Democrats took control of both houses of the Legislature and Walz, a Democrat, was re-elected as governor. With so-called trifecta control of state government, Democrats passed the new legislation, albeit narrowly. The bill was comprehensive, including details to set up state-controlled distribution and also a taxation structure on sales. The bill comprised 300 pages.
Earlier: How they voted: Marijuana legalization / 3
Earlier: House reaffirms marijuana legalization policy
Earlier: How they voted: Marijuana legalization / 2
Earlier: Agreement reached on marijuana reforms
Earlier: How they voted: Marijuana legalization / 1
Earlier: Marijuana legalization bill passes House
Earlier: Democrats push to OK adults-only marijuana
Earlier: Walz: Let’s legalize marijuana; prohibition a failure
Verbatim
Walz: “We’ve known for too long that prohibiting the use of cannabis hasn’t worked. By legalizing adult-use cannabis, we’re expanding our economy, creating jobs, and regulating the industry to keep Minnesotans safe. Legalizing adult-use cannabis and expunging or resentencing cannabis convictions will strengthen communities. This is the right move for Minnesota.”
Verbatim
Peggy Flanagan, lieutenant governor: “Legalizing adult-use cannabis is about keeping our communities safe, advancing justice for Minnesotans, and investing in a strong economic future. Prohibiting the use of cannabis hasn’t worked and has disproportionately harmed communities of color across the state. By expunging nonviolent cannabis convictions, we are removing the barriers that prevent thousands of Minnesotans from fully returning to work, to their communities, and to their lives. This is how we make safer communities.”
Knife incident reported on river; details fuzzy
MINNESOTA CITY, Minn. – Deputies were waiting at the Bass Camp landing on the Mississippi River for a fishing boat on which a knife incident had been reported on the Wisconsin side. Authorities in Buffalo County in Wisconsin had asked Winona County deputies to intercept the boat, which they did. But deputies said they had insufficient information to warrant an arrest.
Morning house explosion unnoticed all day
DOVER, Minn. – A fire and explosion caused major damage to a rural house west of Diver on County Road 142. Nobody was home. There were no injuries. A neighbor discovered the damage when she returned to her house next door about 4 p.m. The damage had gone unnoticed all day. Another neighbor’s surveillance camera showed an explosion and fireball burst from the north side of the house about 8 a.m. Firefighters suspected a water heater exploded. The basement and part of the main floor were rendered uninhabitable,
Hidden damage. The blow-out on the backside. In the 14000 block of County Road 142 southeast.
Children escape injury in St. Charles collision
ST. CHARLES, Minn. – Two vehicles, each with children aboard, crashed on U.S. Highway 14 at the Kwik Trip. One driver, Kimberly Lynn Shealy, 52, of St. Charles, was taken 25 miles to a Rochester hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The accident was about 7:20 a.m. No one else was injured. In Shealy’s car were two adults and a 2-year-old child. The other driver, Amber Jean Sengthongphat, 33, had two passengers, ages 10 and 5, in her pickup. The State Patrol said Shealy was heading west on Highway 14, Sengthongphat’s pickup was emerging from Church Street.
Downtown clinic seemed good idea at the time
Walk-in clinic closed. At Main and Fourth streets.
Staff originally seven; all back to main campus
WINONA. Minn. — After three years, Winona Health has shuttered its walk-in downtown clinic and optometry shop. Rachelle Schultz, chief executive of Winona Health, said the location was no longer sustainable. Caregivers working at the Main Street Clinic location have moved back to Winona Health’s main campus, Schultz said. The clinic had offered a $39 walk-in “smart exams.” There also were over-the-counter medical supplies. The clinic also offered CoVid screening. The pandemic is over, Schultz said.
Earlier: Walk-in clinic opens downtown
State tax coffers filling ahead of projections
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The state tax collections agency continued in April to pull in more revenue than projected. Revenues were almost $3.7 billion — 3.8% more than expected. Since the beginning of the fiscal year last July, state revenues now exceed the forecast by $306 million, or 1.2%. The breakdown:
> Individual income tax: $2.4 billion.
> General sales tax: $607 million.
>Corporate franchise tax: $449 million.
> Other: $246 million.
Toad’s Cove car wash survived fire, open again
CENTERVILLE, Wis. – The owners of the Toad’s Cove convenience store that was destroyed by fire last week, Andy and Tracy Todd, re-opened their adjacent car wash – and also the stand-alone dog-wash. The store itself is a total loss. The car fueling pumps out front appear operable and the goal is to open them to customers soon, Andy said. The diesel pumps for trucks on the side of the building also weren’t touched by the inferno. Nor was a propane tank by the store’s office. It may be possible to restore car and truck refueling in a few weeks, but a schedule for rebuilding the store is an open question, he said. The hope, he said, is to rebuild.
Earlier: Traffic restored around Toad’s fire in Centerville
Earlier: Fire takes out Toad’s Cove near Centerville crossroads
Wash Betsy, wash Bowser. The Toad’s Cover car-wash an dog-wash were untouched by the fire that devastated the landmark Centerville convenience store. Even the car vacuums are working. Image: Steve Lunde
State Patrol: Our cruelest season begins now
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The 100 days beginning Memorial Day weekend have more fatalities on Minnesota highways than any other season. The Patrol cited the statistic in urging motorists to drive safely.
Holiday motoring demand presses gas cost up
WINONA, Minn. – With demand outpacing supply for the start of the summer road trip season, fuel prices have climbed roughly 10% from winter lows. The latest GasBuddy tracking report has Winona County lows for regular-grade gasoline at $3.29 at the Kwik Trip and Cenex stations at St. Charles. The Memorial Day price was $3.49 in LaCrosse County at Kwik Trips, BPs and most other stations.
Bargains out there. The downtown Winona BP station, across from the library, was charging 24 cents more gallon than Interstate 90 stations 25 miles away at the other end of the county in St. Charles. You decide whether it’s cost effective to drive to St. Charles. Image: Steve Lunde
Earlier: Fuel dips to lowest point in months
Trailer house burns up; three cats rescued
STOCKTON, Minn. — Fire destroyed a trailer house at the Hickory Lane trailer court at mid-morning. Lewiston Fire Chief Dan Roberton said that no one was inside but that three cats suffered smoke inhalation. The cats were taken to a veterinarian.
Open again: The once-trendy, fancy Bunnell House
HOMER, Minn. – The historic Bunnell House, built probably in 1853, after the Dakota Territory was opened to non-native settlers, begins it the summer season for visitors Fridays and Saturdays. Hours: 2 to 6 p.m. Admission: $3 to $5. Kids under 7 free. Museum educator Jennifer noted that the house is significant not only as Minnesota’s first permanent house south of St. Paul but for its twist on Gothic Revival architecture. A two-story veranda and a flat-roofed rear wing were fashionable at the time in the Ohio and lower Mississippi rivers. Address: 36106 Old Homer Road in Homer.
River view on high ground. Above the Mississippi River. Built by lumberjack and timber trader Willard Bunnell to replace his original cabin.
Marking Maddi’s 27th birthday in blue
WINONA, Minn. – With the birthday of missing Winona woman Madeline Kingsbury on Thursday, a new kind of memorial is planned. Maddis’s friend Michaela Riepl invited people to decorate their porches in blue, her favorite color, to mark her 27th birthday. “Everybody is always asking how can we get involved and what can we be doing even if we’re not physically able to search,” Riepl said. “It’s another opportunity to bring awareness to Madeline’s situation.” There also will be ribbon and porch lighting event. “‘Good Morning America’ and all of these places are doing it. it’s not just in Winona community,” Riepl said. “It’s reaching all over.”
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