LEROY, Minn. — An Iowa man was severely injured when his car and a truck collided near the Iowa-Minnesota state line about 2:15 p.m. Josh Allen Bartels, 81, of Cresco, was taken 40 miles to a Rochester hospital. His injuries were described as life-threatening. The accident was nine miles east of LeRoy at the Highway 63 and Highway 56 crossing. Bartles was eastbound in a Chevrolet attempting to turn left. The truck driver, Juan Carlos Rodriguez. 39, of Dallas, Texas,  was unhurt.

SPARTA, Wis. –  A Sparta massage therapist, Ethan Karls, 31, pleaded not guity to three felony counts of sexual assault. Karls was charged last year with touching, grabbing and fondling women clients as far back as 2020. .\Until the cases are settled, his state license has been suspended Karls’ massage license.

Earlier: Masseuse challenges basis for sex charges

Earlier: Massage therapist charged with fondling

Moment of horror. The body-cam video has been enhanced with the red square to show the machete.

Police fire rifle, taser; knife-wielding man dies

ROCHESTER, Minn. – A Rochester man was charged with criminal vehicular operation for a traffic crash last week near Apache Mall. Neil Leroy Krieppner, 66, drunk when his pickup crashed into car when he attempted to make a left turn. Two people in the car were injured

Earlier: Iowa pair to hospital after pickup-car crash

LACROSSE, Wis. – Mayor Mitch Reynolds has ordered homeless people to pack their tents and leave Houska Park by March 15 so city crews can clear out litter and accumulated waste . It’s believed about 100 people have spent the winter camping at the park even though the city has offered other accommodations. The city tried closing the park in October and even turned off power and water – but with only partial success. The park is south of downtown on the Mississippi River.

RUSHFORD, Minn. – At full muster the volunteer Rushford Fire Department, has a roster of 30. But not now.  The roster needs five more volunteers. In a KTTC interview Fire Chief Chad Rasmussen said thyat finding volunteers for anything is hard these days. Rasmussen said he’s never seen such lack of new signups in his 23 years with the department. He’s planning a recruitment project for summer. The four-engine department responds not only to fires but also to medical emergencies, car wrecks, rescues, and hazmat incidents. It’s on call for neighboring fire districts in Houston, Lanesboro, Lewiston, Ridgeway and Wilson.

Despite sunny smiles for camera. The volunteer department is shy of volunteers. Five needed. Where are they?

WINONA, Minn. – Winona Health announced the creation of a a new mental health unit to fill the gap between regular psychiatrist or counselor visits and 24-hour inpatient care. It’s called “intensive outpatient care.” Participants meet three or four times a week, two to three hours at a time, for individual or group therapy. The program is geared to disorders like depression, addiction and eating disorders that don’t need detoxification. “It’s an option that allows people to get the care they need while also maintaining their day-to-day activities,” the announcement said.

Earlier: Clinic beefs up mental health outreach

Elizabeth Martinka. Behavioral health specialist.

Kattie Tibbs. Clinical counselor.

WINONA Minn. — A major winter storm is taking aim at the Upper Midwest starting Tuesday evening with 12-inch accumulations possible. Then on Wednesday will come winds in the 45 mph range and blowing snow and blizzards.. Come later Wednesday  there may be  a wintry mixture and light icing. The National Weather Service described the storm as “highly impactful with many facets.” Expect refinements in the forecast as the storm nears, the agency said.

Earlier: Now that we’ve had a taste of spring, just wait

Softball: Winona State 5, Northwest Missouri State 4

Softball: Washburn 9, Winona State 0

Softball: Saint Mary’s 13, North Central of Illinois1

Softball: Saint Mary’s 5, Bethany Lutheran 1

Tennis (women): Carleton 8, Saint Mary’s 1

WINONA, Minn. – Two gents, age 69 and 67, got into a scuffle over the last electric shopping cart in a corral at Walmart. One gentleman shoved other to the floor and rode off to do his shopping. Police were called.

CIRCLE PINES, Minn. – The usual measure of police efficiency is response time. In a fatal car crash is this north St. Paul suburb, the time was zero. A police officer in the Circle Pines police station parking lot saw it happen. The vehicle crashed into a snowbank and rolled. The driver, whose name was not released immediately by Anoka County Sheriff Brad Wise, died in the wreckage. This was about 2:40 a.m.

STOCKTON, Minn. –Spring has been teasing us for a few days with highs reaching the low 40s. But don’t pack the shovels away yet. The National Weather Service expects a storm Wednesday with four inches of snow, perhaps eight, and another inch Thursday

Desperate for spring? Look carefully: Daffodil bulbs embedded by master gardener Jerry Engler in the fall are budding already – five weeks ahead of expectations. Why? Global warming? Jerry’s wonderful green thumbs? Perhaps sun radiating off the south-facing retaining wall?  Or are the Ides of March unusually eager for who knows why? Whatever, the promise of spring has us smiling. Thanks, Jerry. Image: Steve Lunde

Basketball (men): Winona State 81, Concordia of St. Paul 77

Basketball (men): Saint Mary’s 77, Gustavus Adolphus 69

Basketball (women): Winona State 73, Concordia of St. Paul 53

Basketball (women): Gustavus Adolphus 75, Saint Mary’s 51

Hockey (men): Concordia of Moorhead 4, Saint Mary’s 1

Hockey (women): Saint Mary’s 4, Concordia of Moorhead 3

Softball: Winona State 6, Quincy 4

Softball: Winona State 11, Emporia State 2

Softball: Saint Mary’s 8, Crown 0

Softball: Saint Mary’s 7, Wesleyan of Nebraska 6

Tennis (men): Gustavus Adolphus 9, Saint Mary’s 0

Tennis (women): Winona State 6, UM-Crookston 1

Tennis (women): Gustavus Adolphus 9, Saint Mary’s 0

Basketball (girls): Eau Claire Immanuel Lancers  52, Whitehall Norse 40