Wisconsin prep
Basketball (boys): Arcadia Ramblers 72, Westby Norsemen 58
Basketball (girls): Holmen Vikings 62, Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau Red Hawks 25
Basketball (girls): Durand Panthers 44, Arcadia Raiders 42
Basketball (girls): Independence Indees 46, Black River Falls Tigers 38
Hockey (boys): Winona Winhawks 5, Onalaska Hilltoppers 2
Lost on Harriet Street: Rare possum visit
WINONA, Minn. – How the possum got there or when isn’t known. He’s not talking. But there he was in a backyard on the 650 block of Harriet Street — at least eight blocks from Lake Winona and 10 locks from the Mississippi River, the kind of haunts where a possum might more likely be found.
Mama and joeys. Along for a ride. Our own North American marsupial. About the size of a cat. They can hiss and bite.
New score: Environmentalists 1, car dealers 0
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota car dealers lost a court case against a new state policy requiring new cars to meet tougher emission standards. The decision, from the state Court of Appeals, was a victory for Governor Tim Walz and environmentalists. Car dealers had fretted that tougher emissions would force car prices upward and hurt their sales. Their legal argument, however, was not so shameless or self-serving. The car dealers argued that a Walz regulatory unit, the Pollution Control Agency, had created the Clean Car Rule outside of legislative channels. “Improper,” they called the procedure. The rule was modeled on a recent California requirement that phases in ultra-low or zero tailpipe emissions standards. On the side and under their breath, the Minneoita car dealers demonized Walz and his Pollution Control Agency as copycatting.
House OKs immigrant-friendly driver licensing
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota House voted 69-60 to allow undocumented Minnesota residents to obtain state driver licenses. The Driver’s Licenses for All bill would end a requirement that applicants for driver licenses produce documents that they’re in the United State legally. A companion bill is moving through the Senate. The House bill, also, prohibits special markings on licenses on immigration status. The bill was sponsored by Maria Isa Perez-Vega, D-St. Paul, and Aisha Gomez, D-Minneapolis. They argued that driver’s license should be about driving – not a tool for catching illegal immigrants The current system, they said, is problematic because illegals who need to drive to jobs – and thus pay taxes — are not allowed to be tested on driving skills. That, they note, is a safety issue. Also, without licenses illegal immigrants cannot obtain car insurance, which means they can’t pay their share of for damages and injuries from car wrecks. The bill has support from law enforcement.
Almanac
Minnesota has an estimated 81,000 undocumented immigrants. These people cannot be licensed to drive nor can they buy liability insurance to pay for damages and injuries in a traffic accident.
Opposition
Representative Patricia Mueller, R- Austin, who voted against the bill, explained that she worried that driverlicenses might be used by non-citizens to vote. Otherwise, she said she would have voted for the bill.
Costs
Secretary of State Scott Simon says the state Motor Vehicle Department need $2.9 million to switch to broader licensing practices.
R.I.P.: Vivian Linander
WINONA, Minn. – Vivian Ann (Harvey) Linander, 76, of Winona, who worked many years at Riverside Electronics in Lewiston, died at St. Anne’s Extended Care. She was raised in Pickwick and was a 1964 graduate of Winona Cotter High School.
Details: Hoff Funeral Home
1946-2023
A cold, quiet weekend at Watkins headquarters
Chimney vapors. The Watkins stack is no stranger to Winona winters. It’’s been venting high above the elegant neo-classical offices since 1912. The grand entrance bears the somewhat pretentious early corporate name for a liniment manufacturer: J.R. Watkins Medical Company. The Watkins fortune was all from over-the-counter stuff originally sold mostly door to door and mail-order. Medical? Only loosely. Image: Steve Lunde
Two vehicles collide on Stockton’s main street
STOCKTON, Minn.—A van and car collided at the crossroads of U.S 14 and County Road 23 in Stockton. John Berg, 36, of Winona, was taken eight miles to the Winona hospital with what appeared as minor injuries. The accident was about 7:05 a.m. The second driver, Ronny Lee Prondzinski, 67, of Winona, was unhurt.
Smile, Bryce: Catalytic converter theft on camera
STEWARTVILLE, Minn. – Video surveillance from August shows how catalytic converter thieves do their business. Bryce Suess, 47, climbed out of his pickup with a cordless saw. This was after dark at a Stewartville business with vehicles parked outside. Moments later there he is on camera carrying a cut-off converter in one hand and the saw in the other. Then comes video from Watson Recycling in Rochester. Suess again climbs out of his pickup, this time to sell the converter. It turns out to his surprise, however, that he’s on a Watson watchlist because of previous fencing. He’s turned away. The sale doesn’t go through. His arrest followed. Now Suess has been to court to plea. He admitted guilt to misdemeanor drug and domestic assault charges. In exchange, these felony charges were dropped:
> Illegal firearm or ammo possession.
> Burglary tools possession.
Sentencing is due in March.
Black-market value
Scrap dealers typically $80 to $230 for catalytic converters but there are occasional sales as high as $1,000. The emission-control devices are required by law on biofuel-powered vehicles. Their value is for the platinum, rhodin or palladium – the precious metals that capture fumes that are especially bad for the environment. A vehicle without a converter won’t work. Replacement in most cases runs the vehicle-owner $2,000 or so. At the high end:
> Ferrari F430, which has two converters, s $7,500.
> Lamborghini Aventador, also with two converters, $6,200.
> Dodge Ram 2500, $3,400.
> Ford F-250, $2,800.
Most targeted
Some cars are especially popular with thieves because their converters are quick to remove or because so many are around: Ford F-Series (1985-2021); Jeep Patriot (2007-2017; Chrysler 200 (2011-2017); Chevrolet Equinox (2005-2021); Dodge Avenger (2008-2014); Ford Econoline (1990-2022); Honda CR-V (1997-2020); Chevrolet Silverado (1999-2021); Toyota Camry (1987-2019); Honda Accord (1989-2020).
College scores
Tennis (men): Carleton 9, Saint Mary’s 0
Wrestling: Augsburg 33, UW-LaCrosse 3
Feel like an ice box out there? Because it is
WINONA, Minn. — An Arctic mass will push mercuries below zero overnight Sunday with some relief but not much in the week ahead. These are the overnight lows and highs forecast by the National Weather Service.:
> Monday: High 5 above and low10 below.
> Tuesday: 14 above and 7 above.
> Wednesday: 25 above and 10 above.
>Thursday: 18 above and 7 below. Brr. Brr.Triple brr.
>Friday: 11 above and 8 above.
> Saturday: 32 above and 21 above.
> Sunday: 25 above and and 14 above.
West End taser struggle ends with arrest
WINONA, Minn. – Police tased a man repeatedly as he resisted arrest following a report of domestic disturbance at a Far West End apartment. Once incapacitated with the taser, Terrell Desean Watkins, 34, was taken to the hospital, where a doctor cleared him medically to go to jail. He was booked for domestic assault meant to harm and for obstructing officers. The call began about 10:45 a.m. when a woman reported being assaulted 1-1/2 days earlier. The woman said she had been struck in the head with a with a broom stick, to which she responded by smacking the guy on the chin. He threw her to the floor, she said. The woman said the altercations escalated on and off verbally and physically . Her injuries, police observed, included a cut lip and scratches. She said the guy at one climatic moment threatened to kill her. To police Watkins denied any assault. “She’s making it up,” he said.
Police arrest report
Officers gave this account: Watkins was told he was under arrest. He walked away yelling. Told again he was under arrest, he kept walking from living room to the kitchen. Officers tried further to defuse the situation orally, but Watkins tensed and flexed his muscles. He and one officer fell into a closet. Watkins stood up. Another officer fired a stun gun. Watkins fell back and tried grabbing the gun. The officer fired several more times. This was in the 1700 block of West Wabasha Street. Once Watkins was taser-suppressed, he was cuffed, escorted outside, and driven to the hospital. One officer suffered minor injuries to a hand.
Watkins. In jail accused of harm-intended domestic assaultt and resisting arrest. Police say he attempted to grab an officer’s Taser gun.
R.I.P.: Ardis Scattum
MINNESOTA CITY, Minn. – Ardis Sylvia Scattum, 93, of Minnesota City, who worked at the Knit Craft mill in Winona, died at home. She grew up on a farm near Hart. She graduated from Rushford High School in 1947. With her husband she farmed near Minnesota City.
Details: Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home
1929-2022
Blood at 0.14% alcohol, too much to drive
WINONA, Minn. – After stopping a car for a bad taillight, police suspected that the driver had been boozing. A breath test found his blood was running 0.14% alcohol — way high to be driving legally. Markeith Steffan Blankenship, 21, of Winona, was arrested and booked for drunken driving. This was about 12:55 a.m. at Mankato Avenue and Third Street.
Patiently awaiting spring at Winona Marina
WINONA, Minn. – If yachts could talk, they’d express displeasure at Winona’s current cold spell. Worse, though, would be getting squeezed and ripped to pieces by ice forming in the Mississippi River only a few feet astern.
Shrouded in blue. Plastic wrapping keeps out the snow . Image: Steve Lunde
Teen artist creates Winona mug series
WINONA, Minn. – A keepsake mug with Winona images has been created by a teen-age Minnesota artist and stocked for sale at the Winona Visitor Center on Huff Street. Willow Larson of the Red River Valley town of Fertile depicts seven Winona images on the mug — the Mississippi River, the Wagon Bridge, the Choate building, the Watkins building, the Polish Museum, Sugar Loaf, and, of course, Bloedow Bakery. Larson has done keepsake mugs for other Minnesota communities too. In fact she has 150 town designs. Her sales so far total 10,000 mugs. The Winona mug: $22.
99 botles of beer on the wall. Err, we mean mugs. Willow Larson’s custom Winona mugs are now among those at the Visit Winna tourist shop.
Larson. Town-centric mug-maker.
Walz to be in need of temp housing
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Governor Tim Walz and his family have been told they will need to leave the governor’s mansion on historic and ritzy Summit Avenue this summer. No, Walz isn’t being evicted. The government agency that manages state property says the 110-year-old mansion needs major renovation. Work on the 16,000-square foot mansion with 20 rooms is expected to take 18 months. The state will rent alternative housing for the Walzes.
Mansion profile
The stately home at 1006 Summit Avenue was built for lumber baron Horace Irvine beginning in1910 and was ready for occupancy in 1912. His daughters donated the mansion to the state in 1965. Every governor since has lived there. Officially the structure goes by two titles: the Governor’s Residence and the Executive Mansion. Take your pick.
1006 Summit Avenue. Some 2-1/2 miles from Capitol.
How they voted: Abortion / 2
ST.PAUL, Minn. – In the Minnesota Senate, the majority Democrats and minority Republicans each kept their members in line on the abortion bill. There were no mavericks on either side. The vote: 34-33. Here’s how southeast Minnesota senators voted:
For a woman’s choice
Liz Boldon, D-25 (Rochester)
Against
Gene Dornick, R-23 (Hayfield)
Rich Draheim, R-22 (Mankato)
Steve Drazkowski, R-20 (Mazeppa)
Jeremy Miller, R-26 (Winona)
Carla Nelson, R-24 (Rochester)
Earlier: By single vote Minnesota Senate goes pro-choice
Week’s summary: Ending January 28, 2023
GOVERNANCE: By single vote, Minnesota Senate goes pro-choice
COLLEGES: SMU looks to Spain for new provost
COLLEGES: Prof: Her reputation sullied in Islamic brouhaha
COLLEGES: WSU at mid-year: 10th year of losing students
COLLEGES: UM president cedes to ethics critics, quits Securian
GOVERNANCE: Governor goes with $2,600 for Walz Checks
GOVERNANCE: Walz seeks record public works budget: $3.3 billion
GOVERNANCE: Walz 3.0: Major budget hikes for housing, safety
GOVERNANCE: How they voted: Minnesota clean energy / 1
GOVERNANCE: How they voted: Juneteenth /1
GOVERNANCE: Way paved for Holte as chief county executive
ART: Islam group backs Hamline art prof
HEALTH: Nine LaCrosse overdose deaths: Tranq blamed
SCHOOLS: Minnesota teacher shortage increasingly dire
SCHOOLS: Suburb tackles growing danger: Guns in school
CRIME: Mom admits killing one infant but not two
WILDLIFE: Wild elk roaming southern Winona County
College scores
Basketball (men): MSU-Moorhead 88, Winona State 59
Basketball (men): Carleton 65, Saint Mary’s 63
Basketball (women): MSU-Moorhead 66, Winona State 54
Basketball (women): Carleton 68, Saint Mary’s 57
Hockey (men): Saint Mary’s 3. Bethel 2
Hockey (women): Saint Mary’s 2. Bethel 1
Minnesota prep
Basketball (boys): Blooming Prairie Amazing Bloomers 58, Winona Cotter Ramblers 53
Basketball (girls): Winona Cotter Ramblers 59, Blooming Prairie Amazing Bloomers 44
Hockey (boys): Winona Winhawks 8, Fairmont Cardinals 1
Wisconsin prep
Basketball (boys): Arcadia Railroaders 70, Altoona railroaders 55
Basketball (girls): St. Croix Falls Saints 57, Mondovi Buffaloes
Fentanyl suspected in Mankato teen overdoses
MANKATO, Minn. – Three teenagers who overdosed on poisoned pills were found in time and rushed to a hospital. Police injected the overdose antidote Narcon on the scene. Hours later, one remained in critical condition. The others revived sufficiently to go home. Police blamed fake oxycodone M30 pills that contained fentanyl. The laved drugs can slow heartbeats and respiration to life-threatening rates.
Author to read to kids from her “Barnyard Tough”
WINONA, Minn. – Children’s author Jenny Baertsch of Winona will read from her book “Junkyard Tough: A ‘Tail’ of Bravery,” in a bookstore event Wednesday to mark World Read Aloud Day. The event is at Paperback and Pieces. 429 Mankato Avenue. Baertsch will read the second chapter. Children will be invited to work with Baertsch to create their own take-home storybook. Charge: None. Book for sale: $14.
Baertsch. Hers is the tale of a cat named Boots Meowington.
Again: Overdosed woman found in snowbank
ROCHESTER, Minn. – A woman who had overdosed on drugs was rescued unconscious from a snowbank outside Apache Mall on the Zumbro River. The woman’s spouse, who had been frantic searching for her, found her and called 911. Rescuers gave the 42-year-old woman a double dose of the drug antidote Narcon, and she came out of it. She was taken to a hospital for further treatment. Police said it was the second time in a week that the woman had been found overdosed outside in the snow and needed to be revived
Driver trapped inside car in I-90 rollover
ST. CHARLES, Minn. — Rescuers pulled a woman trapped in her overturned car on Interstate 90 between St. Charles and Lewiston. Megan Lee Strittmater, 26, of Holmen, Wisconsin, was conscious and used her cell phone to tell a police dispatcher that she had hit her head and had back pain. Firefighters took Strittmater to their truck to warm up while waiting for an ambulance. She was taken 46 miles to a LaCrosse hospital. The wreck was about 9:50 a.m. The woman was heading east toward LaCrosse.
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