Minnesota prep
Basketball (boys): Stewartville Tigers 56, St. Francis Fighting Sioux 55
Winona Schools: April 3 back as class day
WINONA, Minn. – The Winona School Board changed the calendar to make Monday, April 3, a snow make-up day. Originally it had been a teacher workshop day without classes. There have been seven snow days this school year, but some are excused without a penalty in state funding,
Minnesota House: Private prisons never again
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota House voted 70-61 to ban private prisons. The bill next goes to the Senate. The last private prison in the stat, the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, closed in 2010. There had been research that showed private operators inadequately funded their operations. Representative Patti Anderson, a Dellwood Republican, called the bill fiscally irresponsible because it would require the state to borrow money to build new prisons. Dan Wolgamott, a St. Cloud Democrat, called private prisons a threat to public safety: “Private prisons result in higher rates of recidivism. They do not adequately fund the rehab programs for mental health drug abuse. Things that we do to make sure that when people who are incarcerated come back into the communities they have received the support that they need to be successful members of our society.”
Invasion of dreaded “flying carp” reaches Winona
WINONA, Minn. – Thirty invasive silver carp have been pulled from the Mississippi River near Winona, marking the most significant northern incursion of the dreaded fish. The Minnesota Natural Resources Department said the Winona carp were retrieved by a contract research company. This means the carp have penetrated Lock and Dam 6 at Trempealeau and are on the cusp of taking over Pool 6. The next hurdle would be the Lock and Dam 5 barrier at Fountain City. There have been occasional albeit rare silver carp caught as far upriver as far as St. Paul but never ever as many in a single day as the Winona catch on Monday.
Silver carp. Can be aggressive en masse, especially when excited by boat motor vibrations. They jump in frenzies and have been known to knock boaters off balance. They have caused serious injury.
Silver carp profile
Invasive carp have been progressing upstream since escaping into the Mississippi in Arkansas in the 1970s. They had been imported from Asia to control algae in aquaculture and municipal sewage plants. They’ve been moving up the Mississippi River and tributaries since. Silver carp have voracious appetites, competing with native species and posing a significant threat to rivers and lakes. Silver carp can grow to 55 inches and 110 pounds. As filter fish that feed on plankton, the carp don’t lend themselves to hook-and-line sports fishing. Snagging gear can be used to fish them, but why? Their meat carries enough algae toxins to be hazardous for human consumption.
Road-grader strikes, kills operator
MILLVILLE, Minn. – A heavy-equipment operator was killed doing road work on Wabasha County Road 72 west of Millville. Robert Allen Staub, 61, was dead when first-responders arrived. Staub apparently had dismounted to fix he the grader when it went into gear, knocked him down, and ran over him. This was about 11 a.m.
Murder charged for Mille Lacs dismemberment
MILACA, Minn. – The Mille Lac County prosecutor, Joe Walsh, led a murder charged 21-year-old Bradley Weyaus for the death of an Isle man whose dismembered body was fund n a tote abg. Other charges were interfering with a dead body and fleeing police.
Meteorologist: These spring temps have dark side
MINNEAPOLIS — Recent warm days may not be a blessing this spring, says meteorologist Ryan Dunleavy at the National Weather Service in the Twin Cities. “Consistency of warm, high temperatures — right around our normal highs or where they’re at right now – we’ll see a much more rapid snowmelt, and then increase that flooding potential,” Dunleavy said. The snowpack in the upper Mississippi basin has been near records and heavy and wet, he noted. Overnight freezing could slow the thaw, he said.
Minnesota prep
Basketball (boys): Pequot Lakes Patriots 51, Plainview-Elgin-Millville Bulldogs 42
Basketball (boys): Spring Grove Lions 39, Mankato Loyola Crusaders 38
Basketball (boys): Stewartville Tigers 85, Hermantown Hawks 57
Regulators: Let’s not cry over spilt milk — err, tritium
Riverside nuclear station. Xcel’s license to operate the plant expires soon. The company seeks a 20-year license renewal.
Xcel, government agencies assure new openness
MONTICELLO, Minn. – Government regulators and the energy company Xcel pledged transparency as the cleanup on a radioactive leak at the Monticello power station continues but fell short of justifying four months of silence after the leak occurred. This was at a public meeting at which the silence was an issue. Looking forward, Kirk Koudelka, assistant state pollution control commissioner, said: “We want to make sure the folks out there have the complete information.” Regulators at the meeting, as well as Xcel, danced away from the question of the four months of laggard public acknowledgement of the spill. Xcel’s regional president, Chris Clark, conceded that Monticello city officials have encouraged full transparency. But he left wiggle room, noting that the Xcel’s nuclear station is on private property and that the spill was contained entirely on the property. The regulators reiterated these themes:
> The failure to keep people informed is old news.
> Let’s focus forward. Trust tus: e will be more forthcoming in the future.
> There was never any health risk.
Verbatim
Valerie Myers, a health physicist with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, who has a team monitoring the cleanup: “There are wells between the ones that are showing elevated tritium, and the Mississippi that are not showing any elevated levels. We are watching that because the ground flow is toward the Mississippi. While that is not ideal, of course, there’s three times as much tritium in a hallway exit sign than in the water under the plant.
Public forum on Xcel liecnse reneewal
The meeting had been scheduled weeks in advance on Xcel’s application for a 20-year license renewal to operate the plant to 2050. However, the meeting became a forum for Monticello residents to voices concerns about the November leak and the failure of government agencies — and Xcel too — to inform the town immediately and to provide timely updates. One local resident William Fair, encouraged his neighbors to be calm. “We need cool heads to look at the issues that are facing us and proceed in the manner that needs to be taken to resolve the issues.” Monticello. population 24,500, leans heavily economically on 670 jobs at the Xcel plant.
Earlier: Monticello wants answers on nuclear leak
Earlier: Earlier: Who to blame for nuclear leak news blackout
Earlier: Xcel on nuclear leak: Still working on it
Earlier: Monticello nuclear plant leaks tritium-tainted water
Land stewards greet end of latest Daley suit
2021 at Windom Park. Environmentalists organized by the Land Stewardship Project gathered on a cold November day to protest the Daley plan to intensify their Lewiston feedlot.
LSP: Suit aimed to bully people into silence
LEWISTON, Minn. – The Land Stewardship Project, which has crusaded against factory agriculture, claimed a victory for “Winona County’s water, land and air.” The claim was in a public statement in the wake of a decision by the Daley mega-dairy farm at Lewiston to withdraw a federal lawsuit against the Project and nine individuals. LSP repeated its contention that the Daley suit was dirty politics. The lawsuit, right before the November 2022 election, was an attempt “to intimidate public servants for doing their jobs. Among defendants, The Land Stewardship Project noted, were three members of the Winona County Board — Marie Kovesci, Chris Meyer and Greg Olson. The suit also was an effort to silence neighbors who were speaking up for and core values to protect he environment, the LSP statement said. “During the past four years, neighbors of Daley Farm and other residents in Winona County have repeatedly made it clear that Daley Farm’s proposed expansion, which approaches four times the County’s animal unit cap, is not welcome in the community.”
Verbatim
LSP: “It is time that Daley Farm finally recognizes the reality: the proposed expansion makes no sense legally, environmentally, or from a community wellbeing standpoint. It is well past time that Daley Farm listens to the people of Winona County, stops wasting public resources, and drops its expansion.”
Bank catches forged $59,000 check
WINONA Minn. – An Illinois bank intercepted a $59,000 check that a Winona business had sent to an Illinois address. The bank spotted irregularities in numbers and refused to cash the check. It noted too that the name of the recipient had been forged. The attempted fraud was reported to Winona police about 3:30 p.m.
Seeing Winona through a Wisconsin lens
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The folksy Wisconsin day-tripper John McGivern crosses the border into Minnesota and explores Winona for a new 30-minute installment in his “Main Streets” television series. The premier will be at 7 p.m., Thursday, on many PBS channels. McGivern and his Milwaukee-based Plum Media crew visited Winona in August. Among stops: The Marine Art Museum, Nosh Scratch Kitchen, and the boathouse community. The “Main Streets” series is sequel to McGivern’s nine-season “Around the Corner,” whose focus was Wisconsin towns and for which he earned five Emmy awards. The new series branches out to neighboring Midwest states.
An upbeat view. From the ever-amazed chronicler John McGivern.
Now 11th season. From the ever-amazed and ever-amused traveler-host.
Mille Lacs homicide suspect arrested in hiding
ISLE, Minn. – Deputies arrested a man in an outbuilding on a rural property in connection with the death of another man whose remains were left along a Mille Lacs road in a tote bag. Arrested was Bradley Weyaus, 21, of Isle. Weyaus was hiding, Sheriff Kyle Burton said. The arrest was not for the death but on an earlier warrants on unrelated matters. Even so, Sheriff Kyle Burton termed Weyaus a person of interest in death of the the man whose r4mains were in the tote bag.
Evidence related to Weyaus
Sheriff Kyle Burton said that investigators executed multiple search warrants at a mobile home near where he body of Rodney Pendegayosh Jr., 25, of Isle. was discovered – and also at an apartment. Among information assembled by investigators:
> In the building where Weyaus was arrested, deputies foundduffel bags that had a hammer, hacksaw and industrial tape inside. The tape appeared to match the kind found on the tote.
> A spent shotgun shell inside was in Weyau’white Saturn.
> In the apartment where Weyaus had been staying, several areas of carpet were removed.
> In a nearby dumpster were trash bags filled with blood-stained pieces of carpet, the victim’s identification documents, a hardware store receipt that included the purchase of a knife, a tool sharpener, rubber gloves, a black mask, industrial tape, and empty 12-gauge shotgun shell boxes.
> Earlier in the week, Weyaus was seen transporting the bound tote in an acquaintance’s vehicle.
> In the tote were carpet remnants of carpet like that at Weyaus’ apartment.
Weyaus. Booked at the county jail in Milaca.
Record snows portend Upper Mississippi flooding
CHANHASSEN, Minn. — Epic snows in the Midwest this winter have flood forecasters worried. Masha Hoy, a hydrologist with the North Central River Forecast Center, said the above-average snowpack is the problem, especially because it’s very wet. “The snow water equivalent in the snowpack that’s still on the ground is in the top 10 or 20% compared to historic years, so there’s really just quite a lot of snow water out there,” Hoy said. “With temperatures on the colder side for this winter, it hasn’t had a chance to melt out slowly.” Hoy noted that Minneapolis has had its eighth-snowiest season on record, with 81 inches of snow. The average of 51 inches. Downriver, she said, there is increased likelihood of major spring flooding al the way to St. Louis.
Winona Schools pre-school program goes full day
WINONA, Minn. – Winona Schools will offer all-day preschool for children ages 3 to 5 beginning in the fall. Currently the Community KIDS program is half-days. “Through our new all-day programs, we are able to provide a longer amount of time in a day for children to learn and practice the skills that promote improved health and learning,” said Angie Denis, coordinator. The programs will be at Goodview and Washington-Kosciusko schools Transportation and meals will be available. The market for all-day programming is expected to swell as federal and state workforce expansion funds make their way to young families. Details: (507) 494-0913.
All smiles. Saying cheese with their pre-school teachers Grace Rysted, Hannah Sweet, Tracy Howell and Natalie Robison.
Emergency, fire crews make 49 calls
WINONA, Minn. – The Fire Department reported 32 emergency medical calls plus 9 fire calls in recent days:
> Tuesday, March 21: 6 medical calls plus no fire calls.
> Monday, March 20: 6 medical calls plus no fire calls.
> Sunday, March 19: 3 medical calls plus 1 fire call
> Saturday, March 18: 3 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Friday, March 17: 5 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Thursday, March 16: 4 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
> Wednesday, March 15: 5 medical calls plus 4 fire calls.
Earlier: Emergency, fire crews 45 calls
Winona voters not alone with school tax ballot
WINONA, Minn. – The Winona school referendum on April 11 is one of five in the state. By far, the Winona district is the largest seeking taxes to finance improvements.
> Winona. Enrollment: 2,630. A two-tier referendum for $72.5 million and an additional $21.7 million.
> Jordan. In Scott County southwest of Minneapolis. Enrollment: 1,850. A referendum for $34.9 million
> Redwood. In Redwood County in southwest Minnesota. Enrollment: 1,210. referendum for $46.6. million.
> Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop. In Sibley County southwest of Minneapolis. Enrollment: 620. A two-tier referendum for $55 million and an $14.9 million
> Hills-Beaver Creek. In Rock County in southwest Minnesota. Enrollment 370. A two-tier referendum for an initial $26.5 million and an additional $3.4 million
College scores
Baseball: Winona State 4, UM-Crookston 3
Baseball: Saint Mary’s 3, Northwestern of Minnesota 1
Baseball: UW-LaCrosse 11, Kalamazoo 2
Minnesota prep
Basketball (boys): Dilworth-Lyndon-Felton Rebels 63, Plainview-Elgin-Millville Bulldogs 61
Basketball (boys): Minneapolis DeLaSalle Islanders 71, Stewartville Tigers 66
Amish buggy crosses cornfield, causes damage
SARATOGA, Minn. – A farmer on Keller Drive called the sheriff’s office that a horse-drawn buggy had crossed his cornfield and caused damage. Deputies located an Amish man who admitted to trespassing and promised to make restitution. This about 6 p.m.
Bobcat workers go with Steelworkers union
ROGERS, Minn. – Workers at the Bobcat factory in Rogers that produces skid-steer loaders have unionized. The voted to join the United Steelworkers union as their collective-bargaining agent. The plant has 200 employees at Rogers, a northwest Minneapolis suburb. In September 700 workers at Bobcat’s Bismarck, North Dakota, plant voted to join the Steelworkers.
Bobcat Company. U.S. facilities of the Korean-owned company are in North Carolina, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Road crew finds gruesome remains in tote
ISLE, Minn. – Human remains were found in a tote bag sealed with bungee cords and tape on the south shore of Mille Lacs. The tote was discovered by a highway work crew cleaning up roadside winter debris along the lake. Sheriff Kyle Burton said the body was identified by tattoos as Rodney Pendegayosh Jr., 25, of Isle. Pendegayosh’s family had reported him missing a day earlier. There was no doubt the death was homicide, the sheriff said. One foot had been crudely cut off. Mille Lacs is 90 miles north of Minneapolis.
How Cotter artist sees fishing in bluffs
WINONA, Minn. – Soon an impressionistic piece by Cotter High School student Magdalena Stjepanovic will be hanging in the State Capitol. Stjepanovic was the winner in the Senate District 26 annual art contest.Top of FormBottom of Form Senator Jeremy Miller, R-Winona, made the decision. The work will be on display through 2023.
Framed for Capitol. A fall evening in Winona by seventh grader Magdalena Stjepanovic.
Downtown Preston collision injures driver
PRESTON, Minn. – A Mabel man was injured in a two-vehicle collision at the busiest intersection in town and taken 35 miles to a Decorah hospital. Injuries to Anthony John Heppner, 52, were described as non-life threatening. A passenger in his pickup truck, Joshua Tatum Heppner, 8, of Mabel, was unhurt. Also were unhurt were the driver of the other vehicle, Leroy Edward Vogel, 86, of Spring Valley, and his passenger, Gloria Louise Vogel, 85, of Spring Valley, The collision was about 2:05 p.m. at U.S. Highway 52 and St. Paul Street, deputies said
New penalties for dealing in stolen exhaust devices
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The law soon will have new teeth against fencing stolen catalytic converters. Governor Tim Walz signed a bill with new penalties. The bill also requires scrap-metal dealers to to keep detailed records on anyone bringing in the devices, including the vehicle registration number of the vehicle. Police joined the governor for the signing ceremony.
Catalytic converters
The devices are required in exhaust systems to reduce environmentally toxic automotive fumes. Converters contain precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium, thus making them valuable on the black market. Minnesota ranks fifth nationally for converter thefts. Crooks crawl under vehicle s and saw them off. Replacing a converter costs $500 to $2,300. Without a converter, a vehicle won’t work.
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