R.I.P.: Audrey Palmer
WINONA, Minn. – Audrey Mae (Oevering) Palmer, 80, of Winona, an employee of the sports memorabilia firm WinCraft for 40 years died at home. As a retiree she still attended company picnics.
Detail: Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home
1942-2022
Cops: Wrong-way driver had pocket of drugs
DAKOTA, Minn. – A Wisconsin man was arrested after driving the wrong way coming out of the complex Interstate 90 Winona-Rochester split. Arrested was Ka Zoua wang, 21, of Onalaska. The stop proved even more serious for Wang. In his pockets, deputies said, they found meth, marijuana and a puffing pipe. This was about 2:30 a.m.
Wang. Foggy and confused at I-90 junction.
Play about not-yet prime time librarians
WINONA, Minn. – The upbeat one-act play “Caution: Librarians Ahead” goes on stage at the Winona High School this weekend. The student production later will go ion to state competition. Times: 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets: $3 and $7. The play, by Bradley Walton, follows interviews with not-so-capable school librarian job applicants. Expect some improv. Tech director: Susan Krohse, Director Debbie Berhow. student director is Brooke Cherny.
Organic farming pair accused of faking purity
MINNEAPOLIS – Two southwest Minnesota organic farmers have been charged for a $46 million organic grain fraud scheme. Accused in federal court: James C. Wolf, 65, of Jeffers, and Adam C. Olson, 45, of Windom. The criminal complaint says the massive fraud involved claiming crops as organic when actually they had been grown with chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Organic crops command higher prices. Wolf lost his organic certification in 2020 and was charged earlier. In expanding the charge now, prosecutors said Olson, also a certified organic farmer, then helped Wolf sell grains under false pretenses. This involved documenting sales with a copy of his National Organics Program certification, the complaint said.
College scores
Basketball (men): St. Cloud State 74, Winona State 70
Basketball (women): St. Cloud State 58, Winona State 43
Hockey (men): Saint Mary’s 8, St. Olaf 2
Hockey (women): Saint Mary’s 2, St. Olaf 2
Minnesota prep
Basketball (boys): Northfield Raiders 71, Winona Winhawks 52
Basketball (girls): Winona Winhawks 59, Northfield Raiders 38
Basketball (girls): Rochester Lourdes Eagles 67, Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 35
Wisconsin prep
Basketball (boys): West Salem Panthers 83, Arcadia Raiders 43
Basketball (girls): Cochrane-Fountain City Pirates 58, Alma/Pepin Eagles 32
Basketball (girls): Melrose-Mindoro Mustangs 46, Independence Indees 33
Basketball (girls): Mondovi Buffaloes 65, Boyceville Bulldogs 27
Truckers massing to honor one of their own
THEILMAN, Minn. – Although only 12, Blaze Himl knew what he wanted to be when he grew up – a trucker just like his dad. Then he died. Last weekend Blaze’s snowmobile crashed into a tree near this Wabasha County village. Truckers got word of the tragedy and began posting photos online of their trucks with all their lights on — a silent tribute to an aspiring trucker. Then trucker Erik Madison had a further idea: How about a convoy to pay respects at Blaze’s interment Saturday in Theilman. “When I planned this I figured five or 10 trucks,” Madison said. “Now it sounds like it’s going to be huge.” How will so many trucks maneuver in Theilman? It’s a village so small it doesn’t even register in census data. State Patrol officers and sheriff’s deputies will be there to direct traffic.
Details: Funeral services
Earlier: Lad dies when snowmobile hits tree
All smiles. In a keepsake photo, Blaze digging into a slice of restaurant pie,
Trucks aglow. In memory of a 12-year-old boy who will never realize his dream of driving truck.
Proposal: Rename post office for congressman
WASHINGTON — Congress member Brad Finstad introduced a bill to rename the post office in Blue Earth, Minnesota, after his predecessor as southern Minnesota’s representative in Congress — the late Jim Hagedorn. Blue Earth was Hagedorn’s home. Blue Earth, population 3,200, is 40 miles west of Albert Lea. Hagedorn died of cancer during his second term. Like Hagedorn, Finstad is Republican.
Verbatim
Finstad: “Jim loved few things more than his Minnesota roots, and I am proud to honor him by preserving his legacy in the Blue Earth community.”
Heisman honors to Winona High scholar-athlete
WINONA Minn. – A Winona High School senior, Claira Jordan, was named a Heisman national scholar-athlete who makes a community contribution. Jordan was a late arrival at the school, transferring from Mellen, Wisconsin. At Mellen she had been class president six years. At Winona she was the softball team captain and played basketball. She is in forensics. Her memberships include the National Honor Society. She is involved in theater and plays trumpet and piano. Jordan has been in taekwondo since she was 5 and holds a black belt.
Jordan. First Winona student to be recognized by the Heisman program since Josh Bade in 2017.
Cops on drunk driving arrest: Not his first time
WINONA, Minn – A Winona driver who was arrested for drunken driving admitted to four or five drinks, police said. Casey Martin Dobbe, 24, exhibited physical and odiferous signs of drunkenness and failed sobriety tests. police said. A breath-a-lyzer check showed his blood was 0.15% alcohol, police said. That’s almost double what’s acceptable. Dobbe was booked at an elevated DUI charge because of an earlier conviction. The arrest was about at Fourth and Walnut streets. about 12:50 a.m.
Baroque winds, strings in WSU concert
WINONA, Minn. – The ensemble Ground Bass from the Lyra Baroque Orchestra in St. Paul will perform Wednesday at Winona State University. Works will include J.S Bach, Buxtehude, Couperin and Rameau,on historical instruments, said Winona State music prof Deanne Mohr. The ensemble includes harpsichordist Jawes Ogg. Time: 7:30 p. m. at the Performing Arts Center. Free.
Ogg. A harpsichord professor at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague. Also co-directs a Baroque summer music course in St. Paul.
Five retailers into old Onalaska Shopko
ONALASKA. Wis. – The Shopko big box in Onalaska, empty since the 2019 meltdown of the Green Bay-based retailer, is being divided into five stores. Most are discount retailers. By fall, announced Corta Development, these stores will be open:
> T.J. Maxx. A department store known for undercutting competition prices, which will move from a nearby location.
> Homegoods. A home furnishing store in the T,J. Maxx ownership umbrella, which also will move from nearby .
> Sierra. Also a T.J. Maxx enterprise, specializing in athletic gear, whose only other Wisconsin sites are in Brookfield, Delafield, Madison and West Bend.
> Ulta. A cosmetics shop and salon, currently at Valley View Mall.
> Five Below. Part of chain specializing in products less than $5, none more than $25, whose nearest other shop is in Rochester.
Earlier: U-Haul acquires ex-Shopko superstore
GOP senator: Marijuana impact on youth?
ROCHESTER, Minn. – More research is needed before Democratic-backed marijuana legalization is adopted in Minnesota, said state Senator Carla Nelson, a Rochester Republican. Nelson pointed to a study in the current issue of the Addictive Behavior Journal that youth marijuana usage increases wherever recreational legalization occurs. “That should be a warning bell,” said Nelson. The Democratic proposal would all cannabis in private homes and licensed public establishments for adults 21 and over. The plan would license cultivators, transporters, retailers and wholesalers.
Earlier: Sheriff: Police unready for marijuana problems
Earlier: Police groups don’t much like looser cannabis
Earlier: Democrats push to OK adults-only marijuana
Earlier: Walz: Let’s legalize marijuana; prohibition a failure
Free grief-support program Thursdays
WINONA, Minn. – Winona Health Hospice begins a free six-week grief-support group beginning Thursday. Invited is anyone experiencing grief, no matter when their loss occurred or where they receive healthcare. Time: 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursdays through February 23. Address: Watkins Manor House, 175 E Wabasha Street. Details.
mailto:mkromrey@winonahealth.org
Driver explains sleeping at stoplight: “Tired”
WINONA, Minn. – Police didn’t make it to Vila Street in time to check on a report about a man asleep at the wheel at a stoplight. He was gone. But getting there they had seen a vehicle matching the called-in report. They turned around and pulled the vehicle over a 1-1/2 miles away at East Bellview Apartments. The driver, Cameron Richard Hanson, 29, of Rushford, explained that he had been tired. He also was drunk, said officers. He failed field sobriety tests and was arrested. This was about 10 p.m.
Almanac: 2023 Minnesota Legislature committees
ST.PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Legislature opened its 2023 session with these among he committee assignments:
> Greg Davids, of Preston, a Republican, House District 26-B: Ethics Committee Also Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee. Also Taxes Committee.
> Steve Drazkowski, of Mazeppa, a Republican, Senate District 20: State and Local Government and Veterans Committee. Also Taxes Committee.
> Steve Jacob, of Elba, a Republican, House District 20B: Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee. Also Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee.
> Jeremy Miller, of Winona, a Republican, Senate District 26: Rules and Administration Committee. Also Taxes Committee.
> Gene Pelowski, of Winona, a Democrat, House District 26-A: Chair of Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee. Also Capital Investment. Committee Also Rules and Legislative Administration Committee. Also Ways and Means Committee.
College scores
Wrestling: UW-LaCrosse 25, UW-Whitewater 14
Minnesota prep
Basketball (boys): Winona Cotter Ramblers 62, St. Charles Saints 53
Basketball (boys): Harmony Fillmore Central Falcons 91, Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 56
Basketball (girls): Winona Cotter Ramblers 68, St. Charles Saints 53
Basketball (girls): Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 66, Harmony Fillmore Central Falcons 59
Hockey (boys): Winona Winhawks 6, Austin Packers 3
Hockey (girls): Winona Winhawks 8, Austin Packers 2
Wisconsin prep
Basketball (boys): Onalaska Luther Knights 67, Galesville-Ettrick-
Basketball (boys): Cochrane-Fountain City Pirates 56,
Basketball (boys): Alma/Pepin Eagles 76, Gilmanton Panthers 49
Basketball (boys): Melrose-Mindoro Mustangs 55, Gilmanton Panthers 20
Basketball (boys): Whitehall Norse 87, Black River Falls Tigers 45
Basketball (girls): Eau Claire Immanuel Luther Knights 67, Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau Red Hawks 53
Basketball (girls): Whitehall Norse 59, Black River Falls Tigers 43
Basketball (girls): West Salem Panthers 73, Arcadia Raiders 38
Basketball (girls): Onalaska Luther Knights 56, Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau Red Hawks 28
Sheriff: Police unready for marijuana problems
MANTORVILLE, Minn. – Sheriff Scott Rose of Dodge County worries that police agencies are ill-equipped to deal with legalized marijuana. Police can’t even make progress in their Toward Zero Deaths project against drunken driving. “We still don’t have the alcohol in check yet,” he said in an interview with television station KTTC. “And now you’re going to add an additional element here.” Noting a growing shortage of police officers statewide, Rose said that few police departments have the funding for training or staff for problems that he says would result from legalized marijuana. Rose said that marijuana use for kids ages 12 and has increased 29% in Colorado, which has legalized marijuana for eight years. The Colorado suicide rate is 61% higher than the national average, he said.
Earlier: Police groups don’t much like looser cannabis
Earlier: Democrats push to OK adults-only marijuana
Earlier: Walz: Let’s legalize marijuana; prohibition a failure
Cops knock but no answer; drug arrest later
WINONA, Minn. – Tipped that a man on probation might have fallen back into drugs, a seven-officer task force went to his place on the East End for a search. The guy wasn’t home. The officers let themselves in and waited. When Dominic Joseph Stanley, 22, came home, he found the reception committee. This episode began about 9 a.m. in the 600 block of Mankato Avenue . Seized were eight grams of an illicit drug and somebody else’s Rx. The police contingent was comprised of officers from the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crimes Task Force e and the Winona County sheriff’s office.
Stanley. Tough questions ahead from his probation officer.
Walz signs first 2023 bill from Legislature
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The first bill to clear both houses of the 2023 Legislature, for specific tax breaks, was signed into law by Governor Tim Walz. The bill:
> Refunds state taxes on federal economic stimulus funds.
> Eliminates the state tax on student loan forgiveness, if indeed the U.S. Supreme Court approves President Biden’s student loan relief.
The law amounts to $100 million in tax cuts. This a minor compared with partisan struggles on larger tax legislation in Senate and House committees. This lesser part of major tax legislation was singled out to move quickly through the Legislature to give tax preparers time to update their systems before taxpayers file their 2022 return.
Modern alchemy: Turning $10 bills into $100s
WINONA, Minn. – A Winona merchant was duped into accepting a cleverly counterfeited $100 bill. The bill was what bankers call “washed.” Forgers take a real $10 bill and reprint “$100” over the original denomination. The bills escape counterfeit detectors at check-out. Several washed bills also have been passed in Rochester – four in one day at a Hy-Vee grocery. In one case an adult woman purchased a $300 gift certificate and got change for the rest.
Charge: Man impregnates barely pubescent teen
ROCHESTER, Minn. – After a paternity test a Rochester man, Rafeal Steele, 37, was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct on a young teenager. The baby was born prematurely with significant health issues. To investigators Steele denied the charge. The criminal complaint called the paternity test a 99% reliable indicator. The victim was identified in the complaint only as “under the age of 15.” The impregnation was in February. The baby was born this fall.
WELCOME
The worthiest goal of journalism is to promote intelligent citizen involvement. Such is our goal with Winona Journal. We focus on local issues so you can go about your daily activities with confidence that you can be a genuine and valued part of informed public dialogue on the kind of community we’re building.
Although Winona-centric, we are attentive also to regional issues. Our community doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
You will find opinion here. We quote and paraphrase with attribution so you know the source and can assess ideas and thoughts. Sometimes you will find our commentary but always clearly labeled.
As journalists we are committed to accuracy but not perfect. Please let us know if you spot an error, whether substantive or even just a dumb typo. We’ll get errors squared away promptly.
We’re glad you’re with us.