R.I.P.: Lois Loven
PETERSON, Minn. – Lois Loven, 97 who with her husband farmed near Peterson, died in her sleep at a grandson’s home. At Grace Lutheran Church in Peterson, she was a teacher, and later was active at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hart. Early in her career she worked at Dayton’s Department store in Minneapolis in the Statistical Department. n. Although of German and Prussian descent, she learned traditional Norwegian foods and made lefse, flatbread, sweet soup, and lutefisk. Her German favorite was peppermint cookies.
Details: Hoff Funeral Home
1925-2023
Hy-Vee shuts down cell-phone grocery shopping
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – The Hy-Vee grocery chain scrapped the checkout-free technology it had installed in 70 stores. The company declined to explain why, but sources said Scan & Go encouraged customers to abuse the system. The much ballyhooed Scan & Go allowed customers to scan items on their phones as they moved through the aisles and pay using their phones at kiosks on the way out. But, sources said, shoppers were either forgetting to scan items or intentionally shoplifting. He-Vee had launched Stop & Go at select stress in 2021.
College scores
Baseball: Drury 10, Winona State 2
Softball: Grand Valley State 7, Winona State 0
Softball: Jewell 4, Winona State 1
Cops have description of Troy hit-run driver
TROY, Minn. – A driver took a curve near Troy too fast, hit a parked car, and kept on driving. A person in the parked car wasn’t hurt. The driver was described to deputieus as in his 20s with curly hair and driving a blue Ford Fusion. The vehicle has driver side damage, deputies said. The accident was about 4:40 p.m. on Nichols Spring Drive.
LaCrescent man jailed on teen sex charge
LACRESCENT, Minn. — A LaCrescent man was arrested and charged with criminal sexual conduct for an ongoing relationship with an under-age teenager. Kevin Arthur Humfeld, 36, was taken into custody at his residence in LaCrescent. He was booked at the Winona County jail about 3:40 p.m. His recent jobs inclde pizza delivery. He holds a certficate in auto-body repair from Winona Tech and and in farm management from Western Tech in LaCrosse. Over years he has lived in Caledonia, LaCrescent, Minnesota City and Rushford.
Humfeld. A long court record of substance abuse.
Cash reported missing from strip-mall till
WINONA Minn. – A shop manager at a Frontenac Drive strip mall on the Far East End reported $500 missing from the till. Police said the manager suspected an inside job. Police began a check of surveillance video. The theft was reported about 10:25 a.m.
East End shop. Video being checked for clues.
Cops: ATM heist was by “a professional crew”
ROCHESTER, Minn. – Well-organized thieves stole a heavy-duty pickup truck from a car dealership, drove it several miles to a credit union, chained an ATM cash machine on the truck and yanked the machine from its moorings, drove off, smashed the ATM open, took the cash, and ditched the truck, motor running. on a remote road. Police spokesperson called the thieves “one professional crew.” The caper was incredibly methodical. Here’s how it went: Responding to a suspicious activity call at 4:38 a.m., police found the abandoned truck in the 4300 block of East River Road. Strapped to the bed was the “busted open” ATM. Later police discovered the truck, complete with snowplow, had been stolen from a Mazda dealership on the Northwest Side. (What aa great disguise for roaming the streets before dawn.) Police also discovered that the ATM was from First Alliance Credit Union across town on the Northeast Side. There have been similar ATM heists in the Twin Cities, but this, said police, was the first in Rochester.Per bank protocol, police didn’t release publicly how much cash was taken.
R.I.P.: Joel Bjorlo
WINONA, Minn. – Joel Peter Bjorlo, 79, of Winona, who drove many years for the Minnesota City Bus Company, died at home. He took pride in visiting sports arenas on his bus trips. He graduated from Spring Grove High School. He did seveeal tours with the U.S. Navy and served during the Vietnam war. He was a graduate of the Police Academy and worked for the Goodview Police Department for 25-plus years.
Details: Hoff Funeral Home
1943-2023
Audit: College president lied about freebies
ST. AUL, Minn. – An audit found that the president of Minnesota State College Southeast misled investigators when she claimed that the energy company Xcel had offered her a ticket package to Wild hockey games. The report on investigating Marsha Danielson said that an email was found in which Danielson in fact had solicited the tickets. The tickets are among issues in a larger disciplinary review of Danielson, who has been president of the joint Winona-Red Wing college since 2021. The value of the tickets was not stated in the heavily redaccted audit report, but tickets to Wild games range from $42 a game in the nose-bleed section to $423 in a rink-side suite. Season packages are $13,800. State policies forbid accepting gifts other than those of “nominal value.” The investigation was conducted by state college system’s Office of Internal Auditing. Separately Danielson was accused also of using a state car for commuting. She has offered to reimburse the state for the mileage as well as to reimburse Xcel for the hockey tickets. As president of the college. Danielson earns $188,000. Danielson, age 60, lives in Lake City, midway between Winona and Red Wing. Unstated in the audit report was whether the audit began as a routine procedure or whether it was triggered by a tipster. Danielson also has been under a separate investigation after four subordinates reported insults and profanity and being degraded in the workplace.
Doubts on explanation
Danielson told investigators initially that she viewed the Wild tickets as a business or networking function, the report said. Patty Sifferle, who was contracted to investigate the Danielson case, was uncredulous at Danielson’s explanation that she was unaware that the tickets violated state policies. The explanation, Sifferle said, “defied logic” given Danielson’s 25 years working for state college system and having attended countless required training sessions on ethics.
National Hockey League. The Wild’s home rink is the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Seating. Capacity 18,000.
Quietly in the wake of winter storm
Snowplows have gone home. Winona thoroughfares have been cleared, but on this quiet morning the street-lined banks of snow are reminders of the latest storm. So too the white-capped roof tiles on the Mexican restaurant El Patron on Service Drive and on the landscaping. Image Steve Lunde
Week’s summary: Ending February 25, 2023
GOVERNANCE: How they voted: ex-felon voting / 2
GOVERNANCE: How they voted: Easier driver licensing / 2
GOVERNANCE: Davids misses roll calls: Why? Travel commitments
COLLEGES: Chancellor disturbed at Southeast wrong-doing
COLLEGES: Death threat to WSU president “a joke”
STORM: Storm drops 11.5 inches snow in Winona
STORM: Blizzard closes transcontinental artery I-90
CRIME: Three-vehicle smashup ends 120-mph police chase
CRIME: Body cam shows machete threat to St. Paul cops
CRIME: Child abuse evidence: Girl knew too much anatomy
HEALTH: Clinic offers mid-level mental health care
FIRE: Theory: Forklift spark set off Goodview fire
COMMERCE: Ice at typical 20 inches on Lake Pepin
College scores
Baseball: Drury 11, Winona State 0
Baseball: Drury 9, Winona State 2 (doubleheader)
Softball (women): Winona State 7, Ferris State 0
Softball: UW-LaCrosse 6, Buena Vista 0
Softball: Luther of Iowa 8, UW-LaCrosse 2
Tennis (men): Saint Mary’s 5, Bethany 4
Tennis (women): Saint Mary’s 9, Bethany 0
Minnesota prep
Basketball (boys): Winona Winhawks 78, Kasson-Mantorville Komets 48
Basketball (boys): Dodge Center Triton Cobras 58, Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 56
Wisconsin prep
Basketball (boys): Onalaska Luther Knights 73, Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau Red Hawks 57
Basketball (girls): Neillsville Warriors 59, Osseo-Fairchild Thunder 43
Basketball (girls): Blair-Taylor Wildcats 69, Elroy Royall Panthers 27
UTV passenger dies when lake ice breaks
LAKE CAMELOT, Wis. — A man died after a four-wheeler went through the ice on Lake Camelot. Bystanders pulled the driver, 64-year-old man, to safety. They were too late for his 66-year-old passenger. The names of the individuals were not released by Adams County Sheriff Gene Clap. The lake is 25 miles north of Friendship. The accident was abut 4 p.m.
Driver in drunk case didn’t take jail kindly
WINONA, Minn. – A Wisconsin woman, apparently heading back home to Galesville after a night on the town in Winona, was stopped just short of the state line and displayed signs of alcohol-impairment, police said. Ruby Esmeralda Barrillas, 26, failed several standard field sobriety tests, police said. This was on Highway 43 on Latsch Island about 1:40 a.m. At jail, Barrillas yelled at an officer, refused to listen to instructions, and refused to submit to a state-certified blood test for impairment. The refusal itself resulted in a charge besides drunken driving.
Almost 3,200 911 storm calls to State Patrol
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The three-day winter storm that blitzed Minnesota, mostly jn southwest counties, has left a maze of statistics in its wake. The State Patrol reported responding to 3,182 calls to 911. All of the calls were answered within 20 seconds, the Patrol said.
Earlier: Storm drops 11.5 inches snow in Winona
Earlier: Hours extended at Winona warming centers
Earlier: Earlier: Winona emergency planner: Prepared for worst
Billboard countdown: 23 days to spring
WINONA, Minn. – The folks at the Louisiana-based Lamar outdoor advertising company are either sympathizing or mocking Minnesotans with electronic reminders of the season. Or may it’s a kind matter of sharing hopes that spring is coming. Among rotating messages on Lamar billboards in Winona is a countdown to spring.
Sprouting from a giant snow bank. A cornucopia of spring blossoms and a countdown. Only 23 days of winter left. Or so proclaims the Lamar billboard at Westgate Bowl on Highway 61. Image: Steve Lunde
College scores
Baseball: Drury 10, Winona State 0
Basketball (men): UW-Whitewater 72, UW-La Crosse 68
Gymnastics (women): UW-LaCrosse 189.555, Gustavus Adolphus 184.775
Softball: Winona State 7, Saginaw Valley State 3
Tennis (men): Saint Mary’s and Loras, cancelled
Tennis (women): Saint Mary’s and Loras, cancelled
Minnesota prep
Basketball (boys): Winona Winhawks 76, Albert Lea Tigers 55
Basketball (boys): Caledonia Warriors 77, Winona Cotter Ramblers 35
Basketball (boys): Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 72, St. Charles Saints 64
Basketball (girls): Winona Winhawks 58, Albert Lea Tigers 36
Basketball (girls): Rochester Lourdes Eagles 67, Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 31
Hockey (boys): Albert Lea Tigers 4, Winona Winhawks 1
Wisconsin prep
Basketball (boys): Gilmanton Panthers 60, Independence Indees 41
Basketball (boys): Whitehall Norse 55, Eleva-Strum Cardinals 42
Basketball (girls): West Salem Panthers 69, Arcadia Raiders 47
Basketball (girls): Elroy Royall Panthers 62, Cochrane-Fountain City Pirates 53
Basketball (girls): Bangor Cardinals 62, Melrose-Mindoro Mustangs 38
WSU Lyceum speaker cancels March event
WINONA, Minn. –The actress-author Jennette McCurdy cancelled a speaking visit to Winona State, the university’s events planner, George Micalone, said. McCurdy’s booking agency said she has had a schedule change. The Winona State event, for March 22 with $20 tickets, was almost sold out, Micalone said. Refunds will be arranged, he said. The university had a $43,500 deal with McCurdy.
McCurdy. “Schedule change” usually translates a better deal elsewhere. McCurdy’s agency pushes for $50,000 to $100,000 per appearance.
Police: Perkins muffin theft case still open
WINONA, Minn. – A thief who broke into the Perkins restaurant after hours two weeks ago did more than take five muffins. A whole section of bakery goods had to be thrown put because of possible contamination. The muffins themselves were only $20. Police Chief Tom Williams said case remains open until Perkins supplies a tally of the value of all the goods that possibly were contaminated.
Earlier: Muffin thief leaves crumbs behind
Fire destroys Stewartville trailer; five flee
STEWARTVILLE, Minn. —Five people living in a trailer house safely escaped a fire that destroyed their place. They were standing in awe outside when firefighters arrived. This was about 11:20 a.m. Two dogs also got out in time. The fire was in the Southern Hills Mobile Home Park in the 700 block of 23rd Street Northwest
Red Cross. Taking care of displaced occupants and their dogs. Image: Goodview Fire Department
Snowplow backs up and hits, kills woman
ROCHESTER, Min n. – A city snowplow struck and killed a woman pedestrian on a southeast street. The plow was reversing. Killed was Linda Rud, 69, whom police said was walking alone. The accident was about 8:55 a.m. near Pinewood Elementary School. Mayor Kim Norton said the city has asked the State Patrol to investigate as an outside agency. The plow driver, Jordan Dohrmann, 32, has been placed on administrative until the situation can be sorted out, the mayor said. No other vehicle was involved, just the plow.
Pinewood residential street. Mayor Kim Norton said the city has asked the State Patrol to investigate as an outside agency.
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