9=25=07
Bridge collapse survivor in court on child abuse charges
With all the heroic stories of the 35W bridge collapse two months ago, there was also a troubling story of a two-year-old girl from Spooner who was abused so badly, she had to be airlifted to a Twin Cities children's hospital. Her parents were on their way to that hospital when the bridge fell, and they both barely survived – and in the week after the collapse, charges against one of those survivors emerged, even while he recovered in a Twin Cities hospital. 26-year-old Michael Stoner of Spooner faces felony child abuse, reckless endangerment and obstruction charges from the alleged abuse of his two-year-old daughter. Stoner has claimed all along that the girl received her injuries after falling down the stairs, but investigators think the girl was abused several times over the months up to the collapse. The girl continues to receive treatment for her injuries, and her injuries are likely to be life-long. Michael Stoner goes before Judge Eugene Harrington today (Tuesday) in Washburn County Court, where the judge will determine if enough evidence exists to move the case ahead to trial. Stoner continues to be held in Shell Lake at the county jail on a 50-thousand dollar cash bond.
SCF council approves vacant store purchase
After unanimous approval last night (Monday), the St. Croix Falls Common Council approved the purchase of the long-vacant Holiday grocery store on Washington Street . The store will be used for a new city library, and a local dentist will also use a portion of the store for expansion of his business. The purchase has been in the works for several months, after numerous options for a new library were finally exhausted – including building an “eco-friendly” structure along the St. Croix River . The former grocery store has been vacant for almost a decade, and since its closure fully half-a-dozen possible ideas have emerged as a use. Everything from a roller rink to a bowling alley to a workout center has been explored. The asking price hasn't changed in five years, and the city approved buying the 16-thousand-square-foot building for 400-hundred thousand dollars. Under several redevelopment options, the old building will have a new exterior shell, roof and parking lot paid for with grants, with Tax Incremental Financing and through possible future grants. The Library Association will have two years to raise the money for the actual move, and that is no small task. They need to raise 1.2-million dollars. St. Croix Falls dentist Dr. Ammen Uddin has agreed to partner with the city on the purchase, and will move his business to the building as soon as possible. He is also assisting with many of the upgrades and improvements.
Clayton man charged with sexual assault
A 19-year-old man living in Clayton is charged with second-degree sexual assault after an incident that allegedly occurred last week involving a local woman. Eucebio (you-see-bee-oh) Xochicale (Cho-Chee-coll-AY) is currently being held on a 75-hundred-dollar cash bond after his arrest last week. According to the police report, he asked for a ride home from a local woman after a night of drinking at a tavern near Turtle Lake , and once at the farm where he works and lives, that he grabbed her by the neck and attempted to strangle her into submission, eventually sexually assaulting her. The woman did have scrape marks on both sides of her neck. Cho-Chee-coll-AY has a preliminary court hearing set for Thursday before a Polk County judge, where she will determine if enough evidence exists to move the case ahead to trial.
Chisago Project close?
This summer marked the eleven-year-anniversary of the first public proposals for the controversial “Chisago Project” power line plan to build a larger power line from western Chisago County to central Polk County . Xcel Energy and Dairyland Power have since downgraded the plan from 230 to 115 and 169-kilovolts after huge opposition and a concentrated public campaign against the proposal back in the late 90s. Now comes word that the approval for the project may finally be close. One of the municipalities involved in the process and Xcel Energy have confirmed that the line expansion may be close to final approval in Minnesota – possibly as soon as this winter. The lawsuits and negotiations were one of the top news stories on both sides of the river for several years – with dozens of street placards and banners on private yards showing their disapproval. There was even a citizen action group that emerged as one of the major negotiators in the process, and they continue to stay involved in the process, though with fewer members. The Concerned River Valley Citizens (CRVC) worked with Xcel and Dairyland Power to find a common ground on things such as overhead wires, stray voltage, pollution, view shed over the St. Croix River and private property easements. The proposed 38-mile-long line resulted in a major lawsuit with the CRVC and the cities of Taylors Falls and St. Croix Falls six years ago, and through those lawsuits, Xcel and Dairyland Power met with the two cities and the CRVC to come to an agreement on ways to have the powerline cross the river between states. The CRVC raised objections and backed out of the negotiations. That settlement resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars for both cities, agreement that the line's voltage would be reduced to 115-Kilovolts and be run underground through the two cities. They also agreed to a reduction or elimination of overhead powerlines on both sides of the St. Croix River . Negotiations and permit applications are set to come to a head in December.
Cumberland shooting incident
An early Saturday morning shooting in the City of Cumberland involving both Barron County Sheriff's deputies and a Cumberland police officer has led to an out-of-county investigation. The officers were faced with a man who was threatening police and others – and then emerged from a residence with a loaded long rifle and shot near officers. The armed man was named Tuesday as 46-year-old Robert Knowlton of Cumberland, and the deputy invovled has been named as Vince Graf - a four-year-veteran of the Barron Coutny Sheriff's office. Accoridng to Sheriff Tom Richie, the officers felt threatened enough to use lethal force on the man. He was shot twice, and suffered unspecified injuries. He did survive, but his condition has not been released. The man had apparently ignored calls to drop his weapon, and Sheriff Richie said the early indication from witnesses and all accounts is that the officers made a good call, and that is was a quote, “justifiable shooting.” Polk County Sheriffs investigators are reviewing the case - to eliminate any possibility of a conflict-of-interest
9=21=07
Storm damage
The National Weather Service is still assessing damages from last night (Thursday) and this morning's stew of storms that swept through the region and left ditches, ponds, farm fields and even some basements full of water. There were various reports of nickel and even some quarter and golf-ball-sized hail in areas ranging from northern Chisago County to Burnett, Washburn, St. Croix and Washburn counties. There were also two separate reports of funnel clouds last night near River Falls and Ellsworth, although no confirmed touchdowns as of yet. The Weather Service will try to determine if a tornado touched down in Woodbury last night. Two town homes were seriously damaged and witnesses say it looked like tornado damage to them. Falling trees also caused damage - one man had a tree fall on his car and there is a lot of scattered debris. At the height of the storm 18-thousand Xcel Energy customers lost power in the Twin Cities. Several thousand western Wisconsin residents were also powerless for a time last night and this morning, although the final numbers have not been released.
Rice Lake VA clinic on track for opening
After months of delays and back-tracking, a new Veteran's clinic will officially open next week in Rice Lake . The VA clinic has been in the works for over a year, but was delayed for several reasons. That clinic is meant to provide health care for the more than 17-thousand veterans in Barron, Polk, Rusk, Burnett, Sawyer and Washburn counties. – many of whom had to drive several hours for health care. Vets must still be enrolled for eligibility, although most are already registered and using care facilities around the region. The new VA Clinic is located at 2700 College Drive , just north of the Sears store. They will provide primary and preventive care, mental health services and on-going care for chronic diseases and afflictions – such as diabetes.
SCF council to consider new Library purchase
On Monday the St. Croix Falls common council will finally vote on a final plan to either back out of or purchase the long-vacant Holiday grocery store on Washington Street downtown. The city is considering turning a portion of the store into a new city library- replacing the current facility in the historic Auditorium Theatre, just below the Festival Theatre Company. The deal has been on the table and considered for several years, and would be a cooperative effort with a local dentist, who wants to expand his business into part of the building. Dr. Ammin Uddin has agreed to go as a partner in the deal, if the city goes along. Fundraising to actually convert the store into a library still has over a million dollars to go, and would be done with entirely private funding. The council considers the library plan Monday night at their regular meeting, which starts at 7 P-M. The public is encouraged to attend.
9=18=07
Balsam Break-In Gone Bad
A rural Balsam Lake duo is being held in the Polk County Jail after allegedly driving a truck into an electric transformer to shut down power to a tavern – allowing them to break-in without a security alarm. 42-year-old Eric Steven Johnson is charged with felony burglary after allegedly driving his pickup into an electric transformer near the Eagle Lounge, east of Balsam Lake on 190 th Avenue . While he was knocking out the power to the tavern, Johnson's nephew – 26-year-old Jeremiah Johnson is alleged to have broken into the lounge and busted open a number of video gaming machines to steal the money. However, the Eagle Lounge apparently has a battery back-up system for the alarm, meaning authorities were alerted even without the power transformer. Jeremiah Johnson has an extensive criminal history in the region, with convictions for auto theft, forgery, weapons and hunting violations, as well as driving infractions. He is expected to be charged with felony burglary by the end of the week. Eric Johnson is also facing felony burglary charges, and is currently being held in the Polk County Jail on an undetermined bond. Another acquaintance of Jeremiah Johnson's is also facing charges from the incident, after allegedly obstructing the investigation. 25-year-old Kerry Rauscher is facing a misdemeanor charge of obstruction, and is currently in custody at the St. Croix County Jail on an outstanding warrant.
PoCoBd deals with GAM Expect a large and vocal crowd tonight for the Polk County Board of Supervisors meeting, as the future and fate of the Golden Age Manor county-owned nursing home will be discussed in depth. Several nursing home-related issues are on the docket, including a much talked-about and so far private report from the senior-housing organization Ecumen. That report was commissioned earlier this year by the county board to evaluate the Golden Age Manor. That report has been completed for several weeks, but so far, only a few county officials have been able to review it. Tonight, the Ecumen group will make a presentation on their findings. The Board will also deal with a proposed resolution to defer the Golden Age Manor question to voters at the ballot box next April. That referendum resolution would ask the simple question of whether the county should sell the nursing home or continue to support and keep it as a county-owned entity. The seating may be limited tonight, as a large crowd is expected. This is the latest of several times the board has considered selling the home, and each time it has brought large crowds and numerous public comments against the idea.
9=11=07
SCF man accused of sexually assaulting kindergarten girl over 100 times A kindergarten-age girl from this region was the alleged victim of over a year of almost daily sexual assaults by a St. Croix Falls man, according to the Polk County Sheriff's office. According to Sheriff Tim Moore, 49-year-old Trent Stringer sexually assaulted the pre-schooler sometimes twice a day over the period, starting when the girl was just four-years-old. Stringer was taken into custody last week and is currently being held in the Polk County Jail on a 25-thousand-dollar cash bond. The sexual assaults allegedly went back to September of last year, with the most recent incidents taking place as recently as last week – the day prior to his arrest. In total, investigators say they can confirm and that Stringer admitted to having sexual contact with the girl at least 110 times over the last year. In the criminal complaint, Stringer claimed that at no time did the assaults involve actual penetration, although he also said that law enforcement would someday find out about him having sexual contact with the girl. No court appearance has been set, as of yet.
Lino Lakes prison escapee Minnesota Correctional officials are seeking the public's help in tracking down a convicted “gang banger” who escaped form a minimum-security prison facility in Lino Lakes over the weekend. 27-year-old Jun William Vang walked away from the minimum-security facility in Lino lakes sometime between 1:45 and 4:30 Saturday afternoon – even though he was scheduled to be released into freedom this winter – several years short of his court-ordered sentence. Almost to the day, eight years ago, Vang was convicted of second-degree attempted homicide for the benefit of a gang after being the driver of a car involved in a drive-by shooting in Maplewood . Vang originally was sentenced to 13 years in prison, but had been moved to the minimum-security facility in Lino Lakes in January. He is described as an Asian male, five-foot-four and 145 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair with numerous tattoos on his arms, chest and neck. He is considered dangerous, and authorities are asking the public to call 911 immediately if they spot him in public.
Fred teen accused of driving car into home – w/baby beside her A 17-year-old Frederic girl stands accused of driving her car into her estranged husband's home over the weekend – with the couples infant child in a car seat beside her. Ashley Nicole Johnson faces charges of second-degree reckless endangerment, damage to property and likely disorderly conduct charges after the incident on Saturday morning at 3187 State Highway 35 near Frederic. According to the criminal complaint, Johnson was upset with her husband and threatened him. Police first were told she had a gun, although there is no mention of a weapon when she was finally taken into custody. She is reported to have been in an argument with the man when she first threw a rock through her husband's car window, and then got into her car and accelerated toward the home, jumping from the car at the last moment. The child was strapped in the car seat at the time, but luckily was not injured. When police arrived, they discovered the vehicle still stuck in the home, with part of the car's nose in the living room. Johnson was taken into custody a short time later, and charges are likely to be filed by the end of the week.
Osceola man involved in local stand-off w/police A bizarre stand-off between a local sheriff's deputy and an Osceola man last Tuesday apparently started with a two-vehicle crash south of Osceola, and ended with a 55-year-old man facing several felonies for intoxicated use of a firearm and numerous other charges. 55-year-old David Waseleski was apparently just a passenger in a vehicle that was involved in a crash, where the driver then pulled into Waseleski's driveway, and police were concerned that he was attempting to flee the scene. According to the police report, when the officer attempted to interview Waseleski, he ordered the officer off the property, and reportedly threatened her with a gun from inside the house, going on a tirade about police and his distrust of law enforcement. After an extensive back-and-forth, the officer convinced the man to drop his weapon, and began to take him into custody, at which point he reportedly began to fight with the woman, forcing her to use a Taser stun gun to bring him into line. Waseleski then fought to get out of the officer's squad car, and then told the deputy he would kill her and her family and children. He also reportedly said he was infected with a blood borne disease, and then spit on the officer through the squad cars' cage. He was taken to a local hospital and later to the Polk County Jail, where he remained until late last week, when he posted a 15-hundred dollar cash bond. Waseleski is a convicted felon, and is now charged with four more felonies, including illegal possession of a firearm, failure to comply with an officers order, intimidation of a witness and throwing a bodily substance on the officer. His next court appearance has been scheduled for October 2 nd , where during a preliminary hearing a judge will determine if enough evidence exists to bind him over for trial.
Richard Merrill found dead in ditch Details on the death of 40-year-old Richard Merrill of rural Luck are just now being released by St. Croix Tribal Police. Merrill had been missing since late August from his home, and family members alerted authorities last week. After an extensive search of the Round Lake Tribal Community over the weekend, searchers found Merrill's body in a ditch near the intersection of 225 th Avenue in northwestern Polk County late Saturday. The last time Merrill had been seen was on the previous Friday evening. His cause and time of death has not been determined, although an autopsy was conducted over the weekend. St. Croix Tribal Police and Polk County Sheriff's officials are joining in the investigation.
9-11 connection Lieutenant Colonel Dean E. Mattson was 57-years-old when he lost his life in the Pentagon on this day, six years ago. Mattson was born and grew up in the Luck area, and still has family in the region. He was likely among the first to perish when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the western side of the Pentagon with 64 people aboard. Mattson was living in California at the time, and was just three months away from retirement. He has been honored several times since the tragedy, and has a memorial at the Luck School, where he graduated in the early sixties. Mattson was first drafted into the service in 1964, and traveled extensively across the world. Lt. Colonel Dean Mattson, one of the almost three-thousand victims of the 9-11 attacks, and one of the most honored local veterans in recent times.
