Emergency, fire crews make 48 calls
WINONA, Minn. – The Fire Department reported 36 emergency medical calls plus 12 fire calls in recent days:
> Tuesday, December 20: 3 medical call plus n 1 fire call.
> Monday, December 19: 2 medical calls plus 3 fire calls.
> Sunday, December 18: 7 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
> Saturday, December 17: 7 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
> Friday, December 16: 4 medical calls plus no fire calls.
> Thursday, December 15: 9 medical calls plus 3 fire calls.
> Wednesday, December 14: 4 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
Earlier: Emergency, fire crews make 44 calls
Days will last only longer after this – until June
STOCTON Minn. – Precisely at 3:28 p.m. Winona time, Earth reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun. It’s the winter solstice, also known as the hibernal solstice — the day of the year with the least daylight. The farther north, the shorter the day. In Tromso, above the Arctic Circle in Norway, they celebrate by dancing in the streets at the precise hibernal hour. It’s a twilight event. At the north pole itself the days the sun is out 24 hours, albeit it very low in the sky. In the southern hemisphere, it’s the opposite. In fact, it’s 24 hours of daylight at the southern pole.
About as low as it gets. On a recent clear day atop Stockton Hill, as the solstice neared, the sun was almost at its lowest point in the sky. Image: Steve Lunde
Land mass. Most of the the human-habitable planet is nn the northen half.
Minnesota prep
Basketball (boys): Winona Winhawks 65, Red Wing Wingers 58
Basketball (girls): Red Wing Wingers 61, Winona Winhawks 56,
Hockey (boys): Winona Winhawks 5, LaCrescent-Hokah Lancers 4
Wisconsin prep
Basketball (boys): Arcadia Raiders 72, Eleva-Strum Cardinals 15
Basketball (boys): Melrose-Mindoro Mustangs 59, Mondovi Buffaloes 57
Basketball (boys): Whitehall Norse 62, Osseo-Fairchild Thunder 55
Basketball (girls): Blair-Taylor Wildcats 65, Melrose-Mindoro Mustangs 37
Basketball (girls): Augusta Beavers 46, Eleva-Strum Cardinals 45
Basketball (girls): Bangor Cardinals 76, Arcadia Raiders 32
Basketball (girls): Osseo-Fairchild Thunder 77, Thorp Cardinals 44
Clark dairy at Rollingstone OK’d to expand
WINONA, Min. – The County Board voted to allow a dairy west of Rollingstone to expand its herd roughly 16%. The permit will allow the Clark Dairy to grow to 630 cows, 80 heifers, and 60 calves. This is within the cap that the county has for feedlots – and far short of what the Daley farm at Lewiston has sought in a long-running battle with the county. With only 950 animal units, the Clark dairy will be subject only to county inspections. not state inspections, for compliance.
Earlier: D&D dairy plans to grow herd 50%
Earlier: Daleys back in quest to grow herd exponentially
Secrecy shrouds deal for old cannery site
ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Olmsted County Board voted to begin negotiations with the Rochester-based Titan Development & Investments for making a new use of the former Seneca cannery site on the South End. The public hasn’t been informed about Titan’s plans for the 11 acres next to Graham Park. And County Board discussions ahead of the vote were behind closed doors. The county paid $6.7 million in 2019 to buy and raze the old cannery.
Giant ear of corn. Apparently the landmark water tower, built in 1931, will remain no matter what is done with the rest of the old cannery grounds.
Burbach pair arrested on Winona drug warrants
WINONA, Minn. – After weeks of undercover drug work, police arrested two men at a West End apartment and seized a hefty cache of illicit drugs from their bedrooms. Taken into custody:
> Joseph Frank Burbach, 59. In his room, police said, were 5 grams of marijuana, 3 grams of psychedelic mushrooms, and 0.75 grams of cocaine.
> Tyler Lee Burbach, 28. In his room, police said, were 1,042 grams of marijuana, 11.5 grams of heroin, 2 grams of cocaine, and 8 grams of a cocaine-meth mix.
Neither offered resistance and admitted to possessing heroin, police said. Not knowing what to expect, police had 10 officers on site for the arrest. These included three members of the southeast Minnesota regional drug task force, from Kasson, Lake City and Preston. The arrests were about 10:20 a.m. at 773 West King Street.
Burbach. The older. Earlier conviction for brawling.
Burbach. The younger. Earlier conviction for brass knuckles or switchblade.
R.I.P.: Bob Mueller
WINONA, Minn. – Robert (Bob) L. Mueller, of Winona, who called himself a jack of all trades, died at age 68. He attended Lewiston High School. In his younger years, he helped Elden Salwey farm. Later he worked for Badger Equipment and retired in 2017. Hd was named employee of the month at Badge. He worked off and on for for Clate’s Mobil fueling station and Blong’s Tree Service.
Detail: Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home
1954-2022
Hayfield man charged in crackdown on johns
ROCHESTER, Minn. – The sixth man arrested in a prostitution sting in November was charged belatedly. Five other men were charged earlier. New court documents alleged that Russell Hodge, 46, of Hayfield, responded to an online offer of sex for a price. Not realizing he was being set up, Hodge arranged online with an undercover police officer to meet at a Rochester hotel and showed up with $250, the document said. There he was arrested.
Earlier: Six arrests at Rochester sex-cruising site
Where can snow go? And where not?
WINONA, Minn. – Police ticketed a man whom they say ignored complaints and warnings about clearing snow off his own property onto other’s property. Donald Gale Brown, 56, who lives in East King Steet, had been piling snow from his driveway onto neighbor’s land and onto a city street. Officers had warned Brown after the first complaint and even sent a letter with the city ordinance on the issue. Brown said it didn’t seem right that the city could plow onto driveways and boulevards. “Why not me?” he asked. Short answer: The law is the law.
R.I.P.: Evelyn Woychik
WINONA, Minn. – Evelyn T. Woychik, 94, formerly of Arcadia, who was employed with Miller Waste Mills and Arcadia Manufacturing before joining the Arcadia school as a custodian. died at St. Anne’s nursing home. She was at the school more than 20 years. She was remembered for dancing, especially polka and old-time music.
Detail: Wozney-Killian Funeral Home
1928-2022
Can health system handle CoVid, RSV surge?
ST.PAUL, Minn. – Public health officials fear a CoVid resurgence in Minnesota after the holidays. Only one in five Minnesotans is current on CoVid vaccinations, said Ruth Lynfield, state epidemiologist. She recommended getting shots against CoVid as well as the respiratory virus RSV as soon as possible to build up immunity before the holidays are in full swing. She expressed concern whether the state’s health system can accommodate another surge.
Vaccination data
Minnesota has had what public health experts call “a heavy early-season surge” in the flu There have been ore 2,100 hospitalizations and 41 deaths. Minnesota schools have had 900 outbreaks of flu-like illnesses this year, and nursing homes almost 40. Flu vaccination rates are 10% less than normal, state epidemiologist Ruth Lynfield said.
Fierce winter storm bearing down on region
WINONA, Minn. – Forecasters say a “high-impact winter storm” is coming. Expect possibly a blizzard starting Wednesday night, the National Weather Service said. Wind chills could be minus 35 degrees. Gusts of 40 to 55 mph on ridgetops could bring down trees. Snow accumulations by Saturday could be 5 to 9 inches. The Weather Service alert, issued from LaCrosse, covers a wide section of southeast Minnesota and adjoining Iowa and Wisconsin.
Notable journalism
Tom Cherveny (Willmar West Central Tribune, December 2, 2022): “City Council in Prinsburg, Minnesota, Rejects Proposed Abortion Ordinance”
Abby Coch (Mason City Globe Gazette, December 14, 2022): “Nora Springs to Help Fundraise for New Bison”
Chris Rogers (Winona Post, December 17, 2022): “On Her Own: Evangelisto’s Road to Miss America”
Minnesota prep
Basketball (boys): Winona Cotter Ramblers 78, West Salem Coulee/Providence 24
Basketball (boys): Zumbrota-Mazeppa Cougars 80, Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 59
Basketball (girls): Rochester Lourdes Eagles 75, St. Charles Saints 22
Basketball (girls): Zumbrota-Mazeppa Cougars 80, Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 59
Wisconsin prep
Basketball (boys): Tomah Timberwolves 61, Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau Red Hawks 58
Basketball (boys): Winona Cotter Ramblers 78, West Salem Coulee/Providence 24
Basketball (boys): Colfax Vikings 83, Augusta Beavers 49
Basketball (boys): Fall Creek Crickets 66, Durand Panthers 59
Proposed landlord orderliness rule delayed
WINONA, Minn. – It’s back to the drawing boards for a proposed crackdown on landlords who tolerate tenant behavior that disrupts neighborhood quietude. City Manager Chad Ubl pulled the proposal from the City Council agenda for yet another review. Landlords have objected and recently called on the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union to assess whether impoverished tenants might be rendered homeless. Ubl said the city staff will review possibly fine-tuning the proposal for Council consideration in January.
Guilty plea in state GOP sex scandal
MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Thomas University student who moved in fast circles in state Republican politics pleaded guilty for sex trafficking. Gisela Castro Medina, 20, admitted to recruiting teen-age girls for playboy GOP donor Anton Lazzaro and pimping them for sex At the time Medina was president of the College Republicans at St. Thomas, although the club later disavowed her and the university expelled her. The scandal broke in August 2021. The fall-out:
> Lazzaro, like Castro Medina, was indicted.
> Jennifer Carnahan, state Republican chair, was forced to resign for courting Lazarro for large donations to the party.
> Congressman Jim Hagedorn, of southern Minnesota, found himself having to answer for hobnobbing with Lazzaro and accepting campaign donations.
Castro Medina used social media and her school, friend, and community networks to identify minor girls for Lazzaro, according to the federal indictment.. Castro Medina would show Lazzaro photographs of minor girls. If Lazzaro “approved” Castro Medina would tell the minors how to contact Lazzaro, the indictment said. Meanwhile, Lazarro has pleaded innocent to charges against him, as did Castro Medina until she changed her mind.
Sordid details
According to federal court documents:
> Castro Medina met Lazzaro through the sugar-daddy website Seeking Arrangements.
> Lazzaro invited Castro Medina and a minor she recruited to his condo at the ritzy Hotel Ivy in Minneapolis.
> Castro Medina told Lazzaro that the minor was only 16 years old.
> Lazzaro provided Castro Medina and the minor victim with alcohol and paid them $600 for sex with him.
> Lazzaro continued to engage in commercial sex with the minor, and on each occasion he paid her cash.
> Castro Medina took half of each cash payment.
> Lazzaro also compensated Castro Medina with cash for apartment rent, for tuition to St. Thomas, for car payments, and for travel
Castro Medina.
Lazzaro.
Carnahan.
Hagedorn.
Five years for vaper’s machete attack
ROCHESTER, Minn. – A man was ordered to prison for getting mad, really mad, when he couldn’t find his vaping pipe and went swinging with a machete to find out who took it. Three women were slashed. Omar Abubakar Maani, 25, was sentenced to five years. Maani was arrested in July 2021 for the attack at Cascade Creek Apartments in northwest Rochester. Court documents asserted that he woke up angry and starting yelling and chasing people with a machete. One woman took a long although shallow cut on her back. A second woman had a large leg gash A third had a stab wound to an arm that left her unable to lift.
Maani. All for want of a vape pipe.
R.I.P.: Ruth Squires
WINONA, Minn. –Ruth Mary Squires, of Winona, who attended school at St. John’s in Nodine, and later Winona High School, died at age 93. She was a member of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church.
Detail: Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home
1929-2022
Walz Checks: Coming back from the dead?
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Governor Tim Walz has made no secret he intends to revive his proposal for direct-to-taxpayer refunds. These are the $350 Walz Checks that were killed n the 2022 Legislature by the Republicans led by GOP Senator Jeremy Miller of Winona. Now with Democrats controlling the Legislature and the state revenue surplus at $17 billion, Walz, a Democrat, is bullish about giving Walz Cbecks a second go. He said as much while touring Minneapolis Community and Technical College a couple weeks back. This time, instead of $350 per taxpayer, it may be $1,000, Walz budget-planners say. The revenue surplus, they note, has grown from $9 billion back early this year to the current $17 billion. Miller and other Republicans never liked the original Walz one-time refunds. The GOP preference: Permanent tax relief for businesses. They bristled at the governor calling them Walz Checks and derided the proposal as a reelection scheme. Walz was re-elected in November by a 56% to 40% margin.
Remember Jesse Checks
When Jesse Ventura was governor, 1999-2003, he proposed a series of direct-to-taxpayer refunds that ended up at $779 per family. He didn’t call them Jesse Checks, but the media did. The name stuck.
Elsewhere
Several states last year approved rebates to taxpayers, albeit many variations and stipulations:
> California: $1,050.
> Colorado: $750.
> Delaware: $300.
> Hawaii: $300.
> Idaho: $600.
> Illinois: $850.
> Indiana: $200.
> Maine: $850.
> Masachusetts: 14% of personal income.
> Rhode Iaslnd: $750.
> South Carolina: $700.
> Virgina: $500.
Death claims Amanda, whose kidneys were failing
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The popular and beautiful Amanda has died at 46, an old age for an orangutan. Como Park zookeepers euthanized Amanda to end recent misery. She hadn’t been eating because of failing kidneys. She had thousands of visitors every year. She was intelligent and playful and loved painting and listening to music. To honor her, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter declared Monday as Amanda the Orangutan Day.
Bye, Amanda. We loved you.
Cops: Taser fired in self-defense move
WINONA, Minn. — A Winona man was tased as he swung a 16-inch metal pipe at officers attempting an arrest, police said. Stunned by the taser, Joshua Kenneth Deppe, 29, offered no further resistance This was about 10:40 p.m. in the 450 block of West Eighth Street. Deppe was booked on a felony probation violation with a charge pending for resisting arrest. Police offered this sequence:
> Police received a tip that Deppe, wanted on a probation violation, was at his mother’s place.
> Officers knocked on the door.
> Deppe opened the door, saw the officers, slammed the door, fled to an interior room, and locked the door.
> Deppe’s mother unlocked the door.
> Inside Deppe was in a fighting stance and appeared ready to swing the metal pipe at officers.
> An officer unholstered a stun gun and fired.
Deppe. He didn’t want to be arrested.
College scores
Basketball (men): Winona State 82,Augustana 79
Basketball (women): Augustana 73, Winona State 57
Wisconsin prep
Basketball (boys): Middleton Cardinals 68, Galesville-Ettrick-Trempealeau RedHawks 46
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