Emergency, fire crews make 64 calls
WINONA, Minn. – The Fire Department reported 42 emergency medical calls plus 22 fire calls in recent days:
> Tuesday, October 7: 7 medical calls plus 3 fire calls.
> Monday, October 6: 7 medical calls plus n 1 fire call.
> Sunday, October 5: 7 medical calls plus 6 fire calls.
> Saturday, October 4: 5 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
> Friday, October 3: 3 medical calls plus 6 fire calls
> Thursday, October 2: 7 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Wednesday, October 1: 5 medical calls plus 3 fire calls.
Earlier: Emergency, fire crews make 60 calls
Jack Frost visits glens, vales, coulees
WINONA, Minn. – Rural commuters woke up to a skiff of frost on cars parked outside overnight. It was hardly a killing frost, but it sapped any lingering vim and vigor from late-summer bloomers. In Winona proper the overnight low was 41 degrees at 7:35 a.m.
Schutz sets sight on election as attorney general
MINNEAPOLIS — A politically conservative Minneapolis lawyer, Ron Schutz, a Republican, declared his candidacy for state attorney general. The position is one of only five statewide elected offices. Incumbent Keith Ellison, attorney general since 2019, hasn’t announced his intentions for the November 2026 ballot. In announcing Schutz took aim at Ellison, promising to be “tough on crime” and to restore integrity to the office. Schutz pointed to his record as a former U.S. Army lawyer who tried 20 felony jury trials. He is former chair and current board member of the Center of the American Experiment. He chaired Governor Tim Pawlenty’s 2012 presidential campaign. This year Schutz was listed by Forbes amagazine as one of 250 top U.S. lawyers. Schutz prides himself an outdoorsman and skydives. He’s believed to be 69 years old but sidesteps age as issue in his campaign literature. For months he’s been on Minnesota political observers’ short lists for the GOP nomination, along with:
2014 Minnesota magazine cover. Also on Forbes magazine’s 250 national rankings.
> Joseph Thompson, until recently the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota.
> Ryan Wilson, who lost a 2022 bid for state auditor.
> Tad Jude, a former legislator, judge and Hennepin County Board member.
> Harry Niska, a state legislator who ran briefly for attorney general in 2017.
Notable journalism
Ryan Faircloth (Minnesota Star Tribune, October 1, 2025): “Mike Lindell’s Possible Run for Governor Met with Mix of Excitement, Uneasiness from GOP”
Jeffrey Meitrodt (Minneapolis Star Tribune, September 29, 2025): “’Red Flag’ Gun Law Is Preventing Violent Attacks in Minesota”
Rachel Mergen (Winona Daiy News, October 7, 2025): “Big River Magazine: Three Decades of Highlighting the Mississippi River”
Governor on Lindell: A disaster if elected
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Although pundits have pooh-poohed failed MyPillow entrepreneur Mike Lindell’s hints at running for governor as an amusing if not pathetic sideshow, Governor Tim Walz has taken notice. Rather than ignoring Lindell, Walz, a Democrat, who himself is seeking a third term, issued a statement:
“Mike Lindell is selling conspiracies, MAGA extremism, and pillows. He has no business holding the highest office in our state. Make no mistake about it, he would undo all of the work we’ve done to make Minnesota one of the best places to raise a family.”
Presumably Lindell would run as a Republican. He was a stalwart promoter of President Trump in 2000, although Trump has shunned him since the 2024 election.
Congressional hopeful to speak at Winona rally
WINONA, Minn.— A Democrat running for Congress to unseat Trump sycophant Brad Finstad confirmed he will speak at the upcoming No Kings Day 2 rally at Windom Park. Jake Johnson, a Rochester math teacher, has pledged in early campaigning to stand up for citizen rights and freedoms. The rally sponsor, Winona Indivisible, plans the event to start at 12 noon on October 28, a Saturday. The rally is Winona Indivisible’s fourth since April against autocratic Trump brazenness against democratic norms. Previous Winona Indivisible rallies, all peaceful, have drawn crowds exceeding 1,000. The new “No Kings 2” rally is part of a nationwide protest. Previous No Kings rallies at 2,300 locations across the United States drew 5 million people.
Indivisible profile
Indivisible is a nonviolent, nonprofit, nonpartisan national network of local grassroots organizations. Formed in 2017. The Winona chapter claims 550 members. Indivisible’s mission: To support elected leaders who will secure and preserve democracy: “We want to hold our elected officials who corruptly serve themselves accountable to uphold the common good our constitutional rights.”
Johnson. Teaches at Mayo High School in Rochester. Has been the governmental relations representative for the Rochester teachers union.
Drug bust: Why’d they let Liz drive
WINONA, Minn. — A police officer recognized a woman in a car pulling out from a known Mankato Avenue drug house as not having a valid driver’s license. A couple blocks later, near Sanborn and High Forest Street, Elizabeth Joy Shelley stopped for the officer’s flashing lights. This was about 12:50 a.m. The three persons in the car had conflicting accounts of where they had been and where they were headed. None mentioned the Mankato drug house, a drop-in and move-on transient place in the 400 block. In talking with the occupants of the car, the officer spotted a tiny orange container, no bigger than a 25-cent piece, in the backseat. While such containers are designed to carry contact lenses, police know them as handy snap-top plastic holders for drugs. Confiscated from the flip-top orange container and from bags, purses and backpacks:
> Used meth pipes with residue.
> Burned foil.
> Hypodermic needles.
> 1.1grams of suspected meth.
> 4.5 Clonazepam pills, a prescription drug to calm the brain during panic.
> Marijuana smoking devices.
> A small quantity of marijuana.
To jail
Arrested without resistance and booked for drug possession:
Erin Margaret Beirne, age 49.
Aaron Patrick Dvorak, 47.
Elizabeth Joy Shelley, 37.
Minnesota prep
Poached? Felled legally? For sure: Dumped wrongly
Gruesome remains. This dismembered deer, its antlers and head sawed off, was left 10 feet off the gravel road next to an intermittent stream bed in the 24900 block of East Burns Valley Road. The state wildlife agency offers a $1,000 reward for poachers and also carcass dumping. Tip wardens at 800-652-9093 or cell phone #TIP. The remains were dumped probably Thursday or Friday during bow-hunting season. Image: Andy Frank
Corps resets Minneapolis dam open house
MINNEAPOLIS — The Army Corps, which manages U.S. navigable waters, is hosting an open house Saturday at Lock and Dam 1 on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Time: From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 5000 West River Parkway in Minneapolis. The Corps plans water safety demonstrations. The event had been scheduled in September but was postponed because of confusing road work.
R.I.P.: Elden Salwey
RUSHFORD, Minn. – Elden W. Salwey, age 84, of Rushford, whose place was recognized as a Winona County Century Farm, died at the Mayo hospital in La Crosse. He also held a soil and conservation award. After retiring from farming, he did parts delivery for Peterbilt of Winona. He was a U.S. Army reservist from 1958 to 1963 and belonged to the American Legion in Lewiston. He served on th Trinity Lutheran Church Council in Wilson. He also served on the Fremont Creamery Board and belonged to the Root River Valley Tractor Club, and the Lewiston Lions Club.
Detail: Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home
400 neglected, ailing farm animals rescued
MAUSTON, Wis. — In the largest animal neglect case anyone in these parts can remember, nearly 400 animals were rescued. Beginning Friday, authorities took in five horses, 81 dogs, 19 puppies, 136 chickens, 35 goats, and 126 rabbits. Juneau County Sheriff Andrew Zobal said many of the animals needed medical attention. Animal shelters were enlisted to help from as far away as LaCrosse and Trempealeau, 70 miles west; Shawno, 150 miles northeast; and Milwaukee 140 miles east. Arrested were Dean Lewerenz, 62, and Amy Thomas, 48. Their small farm is near Elroy in the western reaches of the county. Authorities were alerted to the situation Friday because animals were loose in the area of 2720 North Brown Road, which is a rural Elroy address.
Minnesota prep
Volleyball (girls): Winona Cotter Ramblers 3, St. Charles Saints 1
Volleyball (girls): Alden-Conger Knights 3, Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 1
City Council OKs first pay boost since 2019
WINONA, Minn. — City Council members voted 5-2 to raise their own salaries for the first time in six years. Effective in January the salaries become:
> Mayor: $14,500 a year, up from $10,780.
> Council members: $9,500, up from $7,700.
The new rates will be delayed for some members until after their terms expire and they are re-elected or replaced. Arguments pro and con followed the usual agonizing over appearing self-serving and keeping salaries sufficient to attract worthy but not necessarily well-heeled candidates in the future. A framework for the debate included data that Winona salaries are less than similar communities. It was noted too that Winona County Board members earn twice as much — $24,200 annually. When fully implemented, the Council raises will together cost the city $14,500. In coming weeks, the Council will turn to deciding compensation for city employees. How Council members voted on their salaries:
For raises
Jerome Christenson (at large)
Jason Dicus (at large)
Jeff Hyma (2nd Ward, West Side)
Scott Sherman (mayor)
Sam Zierden Shortridge (3rd Ward, downtown)
Against
George Borzyskowski (4th Ward, East End)
Steve Young (1st Ward, West End)
Rochester goes with single auto e-charge rate
ROCHESTER, Minn. — The City Council tentatively approved a uniform rate for charging electric vehicle at all public kiosks: 17 cents per kilowatt hour. There also would be a $5 hourly fee for cars left parked too long at a kiosk. Kayla Betzold, the city sustainability coordinator, said the current rate structure has failed to recognize that vehicles have different sizes of batteries. Her recommendation reflected a survey of 34 cities.
Napping? Or way drunk? Cop: The latter
WINONA, Minn. — A St. Charles driver told the officer he was too tired to drive so he pulled off Sarnia Street for a nap. Also, the officer concluded, the guy was so drunk that he passed out. This was about 1:40 a.m. James Alan Abbott, age 65, was arrested for drunken driving. The officer had found Abbott asleep in the 250 block of West Sarnia, his engine running, his headlights on. In the passenger seat were containers of twisted tea, some open, some not. Abbott conceded he had been drinking in Wisconsin and needed to sleep it off. His blood-alcohol level tested at 0.18%, 10 points higher than the threshold for intoxication. He failed balance and dexterity exercises on the spot. Where he had been in Wisconsin he didn’t say, but on Sarnia Street in Winona, he still had 29 miles to get home.
Abbott. Twisted tea can be wicked, as he can tell you.
Fall brilliance: Report Number 4
Maroon march southward. Coming soon to a forest near you. The southeast counties, however, are resisting the autumn color changes with weekend afternoons in the 70s and even upper 80s. But just you wait. Image: Minnesota Natural Resources Department
Earlier: Fall brilliance: Report Number 3
A couple drinks, she said; test suggests otherwise
WINONA, Minn. — Police said a Minneiska driver, drunk and speeding and weaving, made it through town on U.S. Highway 61 and then through two Mankato Avene roundabouts. Well, not quite: She hit a sign in the second roundabout. When stopped, she told the officer she was aware of the sign. Her face, the officer said, explained why it happened: Bloodshot and watery eyes and droopy eyelids. Too, she wasn’t talking straight. She admitted to a couple drinks, the officer said. Her blood tested as 022% alcohol, roughly triple the state-defined level for intoxication. The officer gave Damaria Angelica Sequeira, age 52, a lift to jail. This was about 10:30 p.m.
Sequeira. A night in Winona in her silver Kia.
College scores
Soccer (women): Winona State 2, Wayne State of Nebraska 1
Soccer (women): Rochester Community 9, North Dakota Science 0
Expert: Measles has growing Minnesota foothold
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The state Health Department confirmed 10 more cases of infectious measles in the Twin Cities area. The new cases are in addition to eight last month. The increased incidence comes amid messages from President Trump’s federal health agency, where anti-vaxer Robert Kennedy Jr. has been put in charge despite having no medical credentials. Kennedy has discouraged vaccination based on idle speculation that vaccines are dangerous. Kennedy’s pronouncements have bewildered and scared public health experts. Myra Kunas, assistant Minnesota commissioner for health protection, said to ignore Kennedy: “Measles is one of the most infectious diseases on the planet. It spreads easily, and it finds those who are not vaccinated.” Kunas was specific to vaccinate children. Also she encouraged vaccination for Minnesotans traveling internationally. Measles remains prevalent in many regions and can be carried back home.
Kunas. Heed your doctor. Heed legit public health practices. Ignore quackery in high places.
Goodview bounty: Pavement pumpkins
In parking lot at the Cornerstone Baptist church in Goodview. What better place to display the bounty of the season than at 44th Avenue just off busy U.S. Highway 61. Image: Steve Lunde
Police amass evidence in $450,000 scam
LACROSSE, Wis. — Police said airport security cameras have helped track high-flying scammers whose victims included an elderly LaCrosse couple. Images include individuals moving through security checks at the Las Vegas airport. Warrants issued from LaCrosse in September accuse the five individuals of using fake names, spoofing phone numbers, and an array of conning tactics. The charges are:
> Using false representations.
> Being a party in the scheme
> Taking advantage of elderly victims, which elevates the crime.
In all. the LaCrosse couple paid $450,000 over nine months after being told they had won a sweepstakes but first need to pay fees and taxes. The scheme had intriguing twists. In one friendly gesture, investigators said, one of the scammers called a LaCrosse pizzeria to deliver a surprise pizza to the couple with a note. Who can resist pizza. Over the course of nine months the scammers, faking several personages, averaged eight contacts a day. Investigators in LaCrosse have placed the case in a larger context going back to 2018, although the scale of the LaCrosse fraud — $450,000 — was unusually large. In one case an elderly Texas woman lost $12,300 after being told she won $2.5 million from Publisher’s Clearing House. In another case an Ohio, victim paid $7,000. There also have been parallel schemes in Alabama, California, Florida and Oregon.
At Las Vegas airport. Although the scammers never showed themselves in person to victims, police say they know what they look like. Police released these photos from waiting areas and security lines at the Harry Reid airport in Las Vegas. The dragnet is out.
Cotter Schools enrollment edges higher
WINONA, Minn. — Enrollment in Cotter Schools, which has completed the consolidation of the former Catholic parochial system, grew slightly this fall. The total: 1,154 this fall, up 26 from a year earlier. The data are required by federal and state agencies to qualify for public funding.
> Early childhood: 192, up by 25.
> Kindergarten through Grade 6: 504, up by six.
> Grades 7 through 12: 461, up by eight.
In a Winona Post interview Erin Koetz admissions coordinator, attributed some growth to parents who transferred children from other schools. These included 21 from the Winona public schools,14 from Winona charter and other schools, and 10 are from outside Winona.
Firefighters: Heavy damage to West Side garage
Contents unsalvageable. Fire caused significant damage to a garage at a house in the 400 block of West Sarnia Steet. No one was injured. The fire was about 6 a.m. Cause: Not immediately determined. Image: Winona Fire Department
Soybean farmers in Trump’s world of hurt
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, Gary Wertish, says farmers are feeling a financial strain nobody has ever seen. “We’ve been through the 1980s farm crisis, but this is potentially setting up to be a lot worse,” he said. The global trade war created by President Trump has wiped out U.S. soybean exports to China. Instead, the Chinese are buying from Argentina and Brazil. U.S. farmers are selling at depressed prices — $10.23 a bushel compared to $12.74 a year ago. Every bushel now sells at a loss, which is unsustainable. To be sure, some U.S. farmers are putting harvests into storage, but that’s risky. Who knows what’s ahead. How big has the China loss been? China had been the largest U.S. soybean customer — 12 billion a year. No more.
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