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| Back to: Home > Local News & Info > KRWC News Archives 2004 |
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| KRWC News 3/29/04 - 4/04/04 |
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Battle Lake Man Indicted on Murder Charges in Death of Wright County Man
A Sherburne County Grand Jury has indicted a Battle Lake man on 2nd Degree Murder charges in connection with the death of a Wright County man last month. 31-year-old Joseph Loehrer has been held at the Sherburne County jail on charges of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident after being arrested in connection with an incident on February 18th. Sherburne County Sheriff Bruce Anderson says Loehrer was driving a van in Palmer Township that afternoon, when multiple witnesses saw a man later identified as 24-year-old Jamie Prestidge of Buffalo, and formerly of Howard Lake fall from the passenger side of that vehicle onto the side of the road at highway speed. Prestidge later died at St. Cloud Hospital from injuries he received in the incident. Witnesses were able to get a license plate number and the description of the vehicle, which led to Loehrer's arrest. The grand jury had been convened to determine if enough evidence existed to charge Loehrer with murder. In addition to the 2nd degree murder charges, Loehrer was also indicted on two counts of kidnapping. He is being held at the Sherburne County Jail on a half-million dollars bail. |
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Buffalo Fire Fighters Battle Grass Fire, Burning Ban in Effect
Buffalo Fire Crews contained a 10 to 15 acre grass fire Thursday afternoon on Dempsey Avenue west of Buffalo. The blaze apparently started when embers from a fire of nearly a week ago re-kindled. The fire broke out on the same day that a burning ban went into effect for Wright, Sherburne, and Stearns counties. The ban will be in effect until further notice. Dry conditions so far this spring, along with sunshine, wind, and warm temperatures have promoted a quick drying of grassy areas throughout our region. |
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Business Expos, KRWC Sport Show Among Weekend Activities
Wright County will be a busy place again this weekend, as 3 communities will host business expos, and KRWC Radio will sponsor its 2nd annual Sport Show. The area Chambers of Commerce of Annandale, Delano, and Rockford are hosting business expos at their area schools tomorrow morning through the early afternoon. Meanwhile, it will be the first of 2 days of the KRWC Sport Show at the Buffalo Civic Center. All the events are free and open to the public. |
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MN House OK's Higher Speed Limits on Some 2-Lane Highways
The Minnesota House of Representatives voted Thursday to raise the speed limit on some outstate 2-lane highways to 60 miles per hour. Supporters say the vast majority of drivers are not following the posted speed anyway, while opponents said the legislation would infer to motorists that even higher speeds would be tolerated. The Senate and Governor would also need to give the go-ahead to the measure before MN Dot officials could do road safety studies on sections of roads where speed limits could be raised. |
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Monticello takes 4th in Class 3A Boys Basketball
The Monticello Boys Basketball team lost in Saturdays 3rd place game to Holy Angels 43-42. Holy Angels led after the first quarter 12-9, but Monticello went 6-for-8 from the field in the second quarter, outscoring the Stars 14-5 in the quarter to take a 23-17 halftime lead. Holy Angels Nathan Phillips scored his only point of the game with nine seconds remaining to claim the third-place trophy 43-42. Cory Laugen led the Magic with a game-high 18 points. Click Here for game pictures of the Magic's opening round win over Shakopee. |
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Pre-Retirement Information Fair
Folks nearing retirement age may want to make plans to attend a pre-retirement information fair that's scheduled for late April in Buffalo. The event is scheduled for April 27th from 5:30 to 8 PM at the Park View Care Center in Buffalo. Several informational presentations on topics such as retirement planning, Social Security and Medicare issues, and a vendor fair are planned as a part of the evening. The event is free, but pre-registration is required, and space is filling quickly. Contact the Park View Care Center at (763) 682-1131 to register. |
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Rep. Urdahl Pleased With Education Bills Passed This Week
The Minnesota House passed two major education bills this week. State Representative Dean Urdahl of Grove City says that both the omnibus K-12 bill, and the higher education funding bill passed this week have provisions that should help school districts and residents in our area. The bills were passed in a lengthy Wednesday night session. |
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Wright County Unemployment Up Again in February
Wright County's jobless rate was up again in February. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says that the non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February was 7.7%, up two-tenths of a point from January. The February rate was also the highest in more than a year. It should be noted that the available labor force in Wright County last month was the highest ever, with close to 56 thousand persons recorded. Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February was also up a tenth of a point to 4.7 percent. Nationally, the unemployment rate last month was stable at 5.6 percent. |
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University of Wisconsin Student From Rockford Missing
A young woman from Wright County who is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison went missing over the weekend, and the community is praying for her safe return. 20-year-old Audrey Seiler was last seen leaving an apartment building around 2:30 AM on Saturday according to Madison police. Officials are calling the disappearance a "missing persons" case, and not an abduction. The young woman was reportedly wearing an oversized burgundy colored Abercrombie & Fitch hooded sweatshirt with large white numbers on the front, navy blue sweat pants, and either white flip-flops or tennis shoes. Seiler is 5 feet 8 inches tall, 120 pounds, with long brown hair and brown eyes. A prayer service was held in Rockford Sunday night for the safe return of the 2002 Rockford High School graduate. Anyone with information is asked to contact Madison, Wisconsin police officials immediately. |
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No Solid Leads on Missing UW Student from Wright County
Police in Madison, Wisconsin, along with friends and family members are continuing the search for a young woman from Wright County who went missing over the weekend. 20-year-old Audrey Seiler of Rockford was last seen leaving an apartment building around 2:30 AM on Saturday according to Madison police. Officials are calling the disappearance "suspicious." Friends from the University of Wisconsin where Seiler is a student became worried when she didn't show up for events on Saturday. Family members say that it's unlike Audrey not to let someone know where she was going. Authorities say it's unclear whether or not there is any connection between the young woman's disappearance and an assault on February 1st in which she was knocked unconscious from behind in an area a short distance from her apartment. Seiler recovered from the incident, but could not recall any details. Some 80 people from Minnesota are in Madison helping with the search. Meanwhile, a fund has been set up to help cover some of the costs of the search. Donations may be made in care of BankWest in Rockford. |
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No Signs of Foul Play in Disappearance of UW Student from Wright County
The FBI has joined the search in Madison, Wisconsin for a young woman from Wright County who went missing over the weekend. 20-year-old Audrey Seiler of Rockford was last seen leaving an apartment building around 2:30 AM on Saturday according to Madison police. Officials are calling the disappearance suspicious, but they say no signs of foul play have been uncovered so far. Authorities are still trying to determine whether or not there is any connection between the young woman's disappearance and an assault on February 1st in which she was knocked unconscious from behind in an area a short distance from her apartment. She was apparently carried to an area several blocks away, where she later regained consciousness. Seiler recovered from the incident, but could not recall any details. Close to 100 people from Minnesota, and many from the Rockford area are in Madison helping with the search. A fund has been set up to help cover some of the costs of the search. Donations may be made in care of BankWest in Rockford. |
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UW Student Audrey Seiler From Rockford Found Alive in Madison, Wisconsin
The community of Rockford is overjoyed this afternoon after receiving word that 20-year-old Audrey Seiler, the University of Wisconsin-Madison student who has been missing since early Saturday morning, has been found alive in Madison. Authorities acting on a tip from a caller who apparently looked out of an office building window and saw a person fitting the description of the young woman found Audrey Seiler just before 1 o'clock this afternoon. Seiler was found in what is being described as a wooded and swampy area near the Holiday Inn where her parents and many friends and family members who were assisting in the search were staying. Police officials are confirming that Audrey had been held against her will by a suspect possibly armed with a firearm and a knife. Authorities have cordoned off a one block area surrounding the site where the young woman was found, and are in an intensive search for a suspect. Officials say Audrey Seiler was taken to an area hospital for medical evaluation and treatment of what are being described as "non life-threatening" injuries. Reports say her parents and immediate family have also been taken to that hospital to be with her. Stay tuned to KRWC Radio for breaking news. |
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Police Say Audrey Seiler Disappearance, Alleged Abduction was Staged
Questions and speculation regarding the inconsistencies in the story given to police from 20-year-old Audrey Seiler of Rockford have led authorities to say they believe the entire incident was staged. Madison, Wisconsin Assistant Police Chief Nobel Wray held two press conferences Friday, first to announce that Audrey Seiler had admitted that she was not abducted from her off-campus apartment as she had earlier stated, but that she was abducted from a different area of the city. Then just before 1 o'clock Friday, the Assistant Chief told reporters that Madison Police do not believe there is a suspect at large, "...period." The announcement has brought a sense of disbelief to a community that had been reeling from the word of the Rockford High School graduate and honor student's disappearance, then had been overjoyed to hear that she had been found safe and alive, only to learn from what authorities have released, that the incident appears to be a calculated hoax. There is no word yet from authorities on whether or not charges will be brought against the young woman, though it is now unlikely that she will be allowed to leave the area anytime soon. Officials with the city of Madison and authorities however were quick to point out that their relationship with Audrey's family and friends, and those from the community that had come to participate and help in the search could not have been better, and city officials said that the outpouring from the Wright County community was nothing short of remarkable. Tune into KRWC Radio news this evening and this weekend for the latest information. |
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