Car hits Winona bicyclist on West Side
WINONA, Minn. — A bicyclist was struck by a car in a West Side crosswalk and sent to the hospital. Police believed the injuries were sustainable. This was about 7:30 a.m. at Gilmore Avenue and South Baker Street. Police said the bicyclist, age 19, drove into the car’s path. The motorist, police said, had stopped, at the corner, looked both ways, and was proceeding.
Caledonian held $100,00 Minnesota lottery card
Why he’s grinning? With his permission, the lottery released the Houston County man’s first name and photo. His plans: Replace his jalopy. Visit the ocean. He’s never been. His card was purchased at a Kwik Trip.
Notable journalism
Keegan Eide (WXOW, September 4, 2025): “Cameron and Burns Parks in LaCrosse Temporarily Closed”
Rachel Mergen (August 25, 2025): “New Mexican Grocery Brings Authentic Flavors to Winona”
Chris Pitter, Kaliea Lawrence, Gabriella Rusk, Camberyn Kelley and Nicole Herzog (WMTV, September 6, 2025): “’There Is No Cover-Up’: Diocese of Madison Responds to ‘Devastating Allegations Against Priest”
Spirit Airlines abandons Minnesota service
MINNEAPOLIS — The ultra-discount airline Spirit is ending its remaining two flights a day from Minneapolis to Atlanta and Denver. The Florida-based carrier once had six destinations out of MSP. Financial difficulties have forced Spirit to shrink its service map.
Yellow birds. Fleet is wholly Airbus 320s.
An anti-suicide plan to self-ban guns
MADISON, Wis. — Democratic lawmakers proposed a law to allow individuals to list themselves as ineligible to buy a handgun. The bill originated as a recommendation of a task force on suicide prevention. The bill had been advocated by the late State Representative Jonahan Brostoff of Milwaukee. Brostoff was open about his mental health challenges. He committed suicide last November.
Where the farmer ended his long day
Back at dawn. The tractor will still be there in the morning to finish the job in this field near Frenchville in central Trempealeau County. Image: Steve Lunde
News summary at mid-week: September 10, 2025
GOVERNANCE: Rocky road ahead on Minnesota gun reform
GOVERNANCE: Town Board OKs problematic fertilizer plant
GOVERNANCE: Coon Rapids salon to lead House Democrats
ENVIRONMENT: Harmony folks fret at MiEnergy’s data mine plan
POLITICS: Walz leaning toward re-lection bid
HEALTH: Mayo to eliminate six rural clinics
HEALTH: Rabid racoon dispatched
POLICING: 14 booze vendors OK on compliance, 3 fail
POLITICS: Miller to leave Winona seat in State Senate
CRIME: Right-wing activist had been due at Minneapolis
CRIME: “No dog bite, they say? Look at this scab”
CRIME: Boyfriend reportedly irked at divergent lifestyles
CRIME: Strangulation charged against Milwaukee guest
CRIME: Registered predator accused of child sex crimes
SEARCH: Body believed to be missing Minnesota kayaker
SEASONS: Fall brilliance: Report Number 1
Right-wing activist had been due at Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS — Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated Wednesday in Utah, had been scheduled to continue his American Comeback Tour at the University of Minnesota. The two-hour event was planned for the 2,700-seat Norhrop Auditorium the evening of September 22, a Monday. The same as elsewhere on the tour, the Northrop event was promoted as “a candid conversation about conservative values, followed by a live Q&A.” Kirk a gifted debater, was calling his QA’s “Prove Me Wrong” with ideological challengers. Admission was to be free. Kirk was shot at a 3,000-seat outdoor amphitheater in Orem, Utah, apparently from a rooftop 200 yards away. The bullet struck his neck in mid-sentence. Kirk, age 31, was instrumental in organizing young voters for Trump in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 elections.
Kirk. Taking his Turning Point USA campaign on the road again.
The tour
September 10: Utah Valley University in Orem. September 18: Colorado State University in Fort Collins. September 22: University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. September 24: Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. September 30: Utah State University in Logan. October 7: Montana State University in Bozeman. Ocyober 9: University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. October 21: Indiana University in Bloomington. October 27: Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. October 9: University of Mississippi in Oxford.
College scores
Soccer (men): Saint Mary’s 2, Simpson 2
Soccer (women): Saint Mary’s 3, Wartburg 0
Volleyball (women): UW-LaCrosse 3, Saint Mary’s 0
Volleyball (women): Saint Mary’s 3. Luther of Decorah 1
Rocky road ahead on Minnesota gun reform
ST. PAUL, Minn. — With Governor Tim Walz expected to convene the Legislature to reform gun laws after the Annunciation Church mass shooting, Democrats and Repbluoains have out very different goals. A summary:
Democrats
> Assault weapons: Prohibit the sale of semi-automatic military-style rifles.
> High-capacity magazine: Ban magazines that hold large numbers of rounds.
> Safe storage: Require firearms to be stored securely.
> Liability insurance: Require liability insurance for gun owners.
> Expanded “red flag” law: Strengthen the existing “red flag” law to be remove guns temporarily from individuals deemed a threat.
Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Bloomington mayors are also urging the legislature to repeal a state law that prevents cities from enacting their own gun restrictions, which would allow them to pass local assault weapons and high-capacity magazine bans.
Republicans
> School security grants: Expand school security funding, including non-public schools.
> School resource officers: Boost funding to hire more officers.
> Mental health: Increasing funding for mental health services and establishing more hospital beds for mental health patients.
> Mandatory minimum sentences: Make minimum prison sentences mandatory for certain gun crimes.
> Straw purchaser penalties: Stiffen penalties against individuals who buy guns for people legally prohibited from owning them.
> Enforce existing laws: Better enforcement of existing gun laws, including the “red flag” law.
> Repeal conversion therapy: Reverse the state ban against gender adjustment conversion therapy and facilitating sexual orientation conversion.
Truck rolls off I-90, driver hurt
DRESBACH, Minn. — A long-distance trucker was injured when his truck-trailer rig rolled into the four-lane median on Interstate 90 appeaching the interstate bridge to Wisconsin. Dmitrii Veshchunov, 38, of Jacksonville, Florida, was taken to a LaCrosse hospital. He was belted and his injuries were non-life threatening. said Winona Coutv deputies. Veshchunov’s truck was a 2020 Volvo. The accident was about 3:20 p.m.
Registered predator accused of child sex crimes
AUSTIN, Minn. — An Austin man has been accused of producing and purveying porn of children, with lewd video of kids as young as 7 or 8 and and one infant being abused. Jason Dean Vandeweer, age 40, was arrested after a search of his home, where police reported finding evidence to support 14 felony counts. On his elect9jic devices, police reported finding 82,000 images and 12,000 videos. Besides confiscating the devices, police took several firearms in illegal possession. Also working against Vanderweer is that he had been a registered predator offender.
How it came down
The arrest was a model of interagency coordination over four months. Austin police were tipped by gheMinnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which had been advised by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which head learned that Microsoft had detected a user uploading multiple files of suspected child sexual abuse material. The provider service T-Mobile then provided information identifying the suspect’s online address.
Vandeweer. Charged with producing, trafficking lewd child images.
Walz leaning toward re-election bid
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. — Governor Tim Waklz said he will caucus with family this weekend about runo fir a third term. Walz has been in the fence a=bout runnng again. But in visiting an elementary school in Inver Grove Heights, Walz acknowledged to reporters that he may run. Expect a decision in a few days, he said: “It’s a safe assumption that I’m leaning toward a third term.” The night before at a Democratic fund-raising event at the Iron Ranger bar in St. Paul, he said: “You’re all here making contributions, and you probably know I’m not going to run off to Mexico with your money.”
Earlier: Walz ponders post-overnorship life
Second helicopter crash victim identified
LAKEVILLE, Mjnn. — Two men killed in a helicopter crash near Lakeville were flying buddies from Wisconsin. The pilot was identified earlier as David Kent Schmitz, age81, of Spooner. His passenger was Robert Gene Drallmeier, age 66, of Glenwood City. Drallmeier and Schmitz were co-founders of the T6 helicopter demonstration team that performed at community events. Drallmeier was crew chief for the team.
Emergency, fire crews make 56 calls
WINONA, Minn. – The Fire Department reported 40 emergency medical calls plus 16 fire calls in recent days:
> Tuesday, September 9: 6 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Monday, September 8: 4 medical calls plus 2 fire calls.
> Sunday, September 7: 4 medical calls plus 3 fire calls.
> Saturday; September 6: 8 medical calls plus 3 fire callw.
> Friday, September 5: 10 medical calls plus 4 fire calls
> Thursday, September: 4: 5 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Wednesday, September 3: 3 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
Earlier: Emergency, fire crews make 68 calls
Minnesota prep
Soccer (boys): Owatonna Huskies 4, Winona Winhawks 3
Soccer (boys): Winona Cotter Ramblers 8, Plainview-Elgin-Millville Bulldogs 1
Volleyball (girls): Harmony Fillmore Central Falcons 3, Winona Cotter Falcons 0
Volleyball (girls): Dover-Eyota Eagles 3, St. Charles Saints 0
Volleyball (girls): Lewiston-Altura Cardinals 3, LaCrescent-Hokah Lancers 0
Harmony frets at MiEnergy’s water-mining plan
HARMONY Minn. — The City Council agreed to review a plan by the dominant rural electricity utility in southeast Minnesota, MiEnergy, to build a multi-million project on the city outskirts. The MiEnergy project suddenly jumped from being an obscure City Council agenda item to scaring the bejeebees out of just about everybody. Although benignly labeled as a “data center” by MiEnergy, the project is for a plant that would draw massive quantities of ground water to cool banks and banks of large-scale computers that sort online data from all over the Globe. Alarm spread immediately as it was realized that the plant would draw water from bedrock aquifers on which farmers depend. An unanswered and troubling question: Although super-heated water would be discharged back to the aquifer, would the plant’s need become insatiable? Would the process chemically change the water? Also, these data mines require massive amounts of electricity: Long term would this mean displacing more agricultural acreage with solar farms and turbine farms? Big picture: Was a southeast Minnesota’s way of life way be at stake? Concern deepened when state-level environmental organizations revealed that global computing giants Google, Meta, Facebook and others were behind data mine projects all over Minnesota. These mega-players promised construction jobs to build the plants. But what then? Wouldn’t ongoing payrolls to operate the plants be relatively minor?
The immediate issue: Zoning
After scoping acreage outside Harmony for a data mine, the Rushford-based MiEnergy Co-op settled on a 60-acre a farm owned by Jeff and Barb Soma outside the Harmony city limits. The Somas wanted to sell, but the deal would require rezoning the farm for industrial use. The Township Board agreed on conditony that the City of Harmony would pay a $6,000 transacinon fee. Hence the issue went before the Harmony City Council. Responding to public clamor, the city’s Economic Development Authority scheduled a townhall meeting for MiEergy and its partner Dairyland Power to explain the project and take public questions. Time: October at 6 p.m. at the Harmony Community Center 225 Thirrd Avenue Southwest. The Board postes a proforma notice for the townhallbut created no link for interim open dialogue online.
Presenters: Brian Krambeer, chef executive at MiEnergy; Kenty Whitcomb, a vice president at Dairyland; and Chris Giesen, economic development manager at CDairyland. After a 30-minute presentation there will a Q&A although it will be cut off after 30 minutes.
City Council members: Steve Donney, mayor; Jesse Grabau, Keith McIntosh; Tara Morem; Kyle Scheevel.
Economic Development Authority: Kerry Kingsley, president; Kyle Scheevel; Stuart Morem; Greg Schieber; Keith McIntosh.
MiEnergy service area. Straddles Minnesota-Iowa border.
Demograhics
Fillmore County: 21,200 people.
City of Harmony: 1,020.
Harmony Township: 294.
Inexhaustible aquifers? Dark rust denotes the porous karst bedrock of the Mount Simon-Hinckley aquifer and the St. Peter-Prairie du Chien-Jordan aquifer system. The aquifers historically have provided significant groundwater for agriculture. Management concerns include water level declines. Image: Minnesota Natural Resources Department
Town Board OKs problematic fertilizer plan
28 acres of orchard. The current generation of Sacias has soought for two years to sell the family namesake orchard. Image: Steve Lunde
Evironmental issue: Groundwater safety
GALESVILLE, Wis. — The Gale Township Board voted 4-0 to rezone the 28-acre Sacia apple orchard for expansion of a nearby fertilizer factory. The rezoning has been opposed by environmentalists because of the danger of nitrate, phosphate and other chemical run-off. The existing factory, next to the Sacia property, is a few hundred yards uphill from Beaver Creek, which empties into the Mississippi River. Final approval of the rezoning is up to the Trempealeau County Board. The fertilizer factory was built in 2023 by Allied Co-Operative of Adams, Wisconsin, which is 100 miles away. At its existing plant the co-op already stores 14,500 tons of fertilizer, much of it in tanks. Containment ponds hold back contaminant run0off, the co-op claims. In the Town Board’s 4-0 approval of rezoning, Chair Paul Halderson abstained.
14 booze vendors OK on compliance, 3 fail
WINONA, Minn. – Three more Winona liquor establishments showed themselves lax on checking the ages of customers who walk in the door, often passing bouncers, and who order and are served liquor. In this second compliance check of the new school year, police sampled 17 establishments. Service was refused at 14. Three failed. A week ago at the first compliance check of the new school year, two establishments failed. This week:
Failed
Discount Liquor, 3733 Service Drive.
Third Street Liquor, 157 East Third Street.
VFW, 208 East Third Street.
Passed
Bruski’s Pub & Grill, 900 Bruski Drive.
Cornerstone Bar, 501 West Fourth Street.
Highway 61 Liquor, 1213 Gilmore Avenue.
Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits, 1463 West Service Drive.
Kate’s Place, 1000 East King Street.
Kwik Trip, 757 Cottonwood Drive.
Kwik Trip, Sixth and South Baker streets.
Lucky’s on Third, 107 West Third Street.
Mango’s Mexican &American Grill, 408 U.S. Highway 14.
Miya Japanese Bistro, 62 East Third Street.
MG’s on Fifth, 500 West Fifth Street.
The Lafayette,79 East Third Street.
Café Sapori di Sicilia, 211 Main Street.
Two Brothers Sports Bar & Grill, 129 West Third/
Low-budget policing
Compliance cheeks in recent years have involved sending an under-age police accomplice into bars to order a drink or into liquor stores to make a purchase. If served, a police officer enters. It’s hardly bust. The establishment is handed a a letter of non-compliance. Police Chief Tom Williams calls the procedure “educational”— a slight slap-on-the-wrist deterrent. There’s minimal hassle. Business goes on uninterrupted. There’s no report to the City Council as the licensing authority for liquor establishments.
Yesteryear’s bar busts
A decade ago the compliance checks were major police operations. Outside agencies sometimes assigned officers to help. Here’s what happened back then: Officers sealed front, back and side entrances to prevent anyone from escaping. Other officers went table to table and stool to stool and checked restroom stalls and looked under and behind counters for anyone hiding. Either you were of age – 21 — or you were hauled outside to be ticketed or in some cases to be hauled to jail. Now with a short-handed and budget-strapped police force and a shift in priorities, the thrust has softened. Rather than raids to capture under-age boozers, the compliance checks now focus on the establishments that do the serving. Nobody is much inconvenienced. Nobody goes to jail. A certificate of thanks is issue to compliant businesses. Others are handed a warning letter. The police staffing couldn’t be more minimal: A single officer and an under-age person to do the sting, although it’s hardly a sting and doesn’t hurt much.
Trucker injured when Ford 650 overturns
STEWARTVILLE, Minn. — An Arizona driver was injured when his heavy-duty Ford Class 6 overturned at the Interstate 90 exit to the Rochester airport. Harold Austin Whitfield, 32, of Phoenix was taken to a Rochester hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The accident was about 7:40 p.m. Whitfield was southbound on U.S. Highway 63 into Stewartville.
Biker hurt when tire blows on Interstate 90
STEWARTVILLE, Minn. — A Wisconsin motorcyclist was injured when a tire blew on Interstate 90 between the Marion and Stewartville exits into Rochester. Taken to a Rochester hospital was Dennis William Lato, age 70, from the north-central Wisconsin village of Withee 160 miles away. First-responders said Lato’s injuries appeared sustainable. He was westbound toward South Dakota. The 2020 Kawasaki VN1700 veered off the highway and into the ditch.
Kenyon driver accused of drunken homicide
HASTINGS, Minn. — A Kenyon man was charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide for a collision that killed wo Apple Valley [ersons. Seth John Nechville, age 28, was charged with drunken driving. The accident was about 11 a.m. on Saturday. Killed outright were Peter Olson, age 68, and Patricia Olson, 49, of Apple Valley. The criminal complaint said that Nechville was driving his pickup the wrong way on the two-lane highway and collided with an oncoming vehicle. The wreckage burst into flames. Police said Nechville offered various versions to where he was going and where he was coming from. They said he smelled of alcohol and his eyes were bloodshot and watery. He denied consuming alcohol but later admitted to drinking from midnight to 2:30 a.m., the officers said. Nechville has two prior drunk-driving convictions.
Nechville. Collision on Highway 56 near Randolph in southern Dakota County. This was 20 miles from Kenyon.
Campers told to leave Farmers Park
LEWISTON, Minn. — Two homeless people sleeping in their car at Farmers Park were rousted by a deputy sheriff and told to move along. They had been camped overnight. The park is posted as closing at 11 p.m. It was about 7:40 a.m. that they were found. They headed for Winona, 15 miles away on the State Highway 23 detour.
Mayo to eliminate six rural clinics
ROCHESTER. Minn. —Mayo Clinic is closing six rural clinics in southern Minnesota in anticipation of President Trump’s cuts in federal health programs for needy and impoverished patients. Being closed are clinics in:
> Belle Plaine, popilation 7,400, in Scott County.
> Caledonia, population 2,700, in Houston County.
> Montgomery, population 3,500, in LeSueur County.
> St. Peter, population 12,400. in Nicollet County.
> Wells, population 2,400, in Faribault County.
Also closing: The Northridge clinic in North Mankato. Services will be cut back at its Albert Lea hospital.
In a news release the politically cautious Mayo did not mention Trump by name but cited “national challenges for rural medical providers.” The Trump budget, which became law in July, cuts Medicaid funding, creating massive uncertain for rural health services. According to the Congressional Budget Office, nearly 5 million people will lose Medicaid coverage by the year 2034. Another 3 million will lose to lose Affordable Care Act coverage. The number of uninsured patients will lead to more uncompensated care for rural hospitals already operating on thin financial margins. The cuts are part of Trump’ plan to offset revenue losses from tax cuts his budget gives to financially upper-tier people and corporations.
Its changes, said Mayo, put the best face possible on the situation it faces as part of the Trump rural health crisis. The changes, Mayo said, are part of “ongoing efforts to strengthen rural health care delivery and ensure safe, high-quality and sustainable care for generations to come.” Patients will be advised about options in the new centralized albeit scaled back system. The changes are expected to be complete within three months.
Verbatim
Karthik Ghosh, a Mayo vice president: “We recognize these decisions affect people, and we are committed to supporting both our patients and staff throughout this transition. The changes will allow us to have the infrastructure, staff and support where needed to provide timely, coordinated care.”
Fall brilliance: Report Number 1
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The state Natural Resources Department has found the first hint of autumn in extreme northeast counties and two other pockets now approaching 10% of the seasonal peaks.
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.