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| Back to: Home > Local News & Info > KRWC News Archives 2004 |
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| KRWC News 6/28/04 - 7/4/04 |
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Annandale 4th Celebration & Fireworks
July 1st-5th. Here are the events for the 4th of July on Sunday: The carnival opens at noon, then closes during the parade and immediately reopens after the parade. The Fourth of July Parade begins at 2 p.m. The parade will feature several bands from the surrounding area and will include performances by the Annandale High School Band and the Annandale Middle School Band. Bingo in the city park pavilion from 4 to 7 p.m., sponsored by the Annandale Boy Scouts. Queen Coronation will begin at approximately 7 p.m. in the city park. The Freedom Singers, a local group of vocalists, will sing a variety of patriotic music in the city park at approximately 8:30 p.m. Finally, a spectacular fireworks display will take place at dusk, in the city park.
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Audrey Seiler Sentenced in Madison, Wisconsin
A Wright County woman will serve 3 years probation, and will pay 9 thousand dollars restitution to the city of Madison, Wisconsin for staging her disappearance earlier this year. 20-year-old Audrey Seiler was sentenced in a Dane County Court Thursday after entering a plea of guilty to two misdemeanor charges of obstructing police. Prosecutors and attorneys had reached the plea agreement last week. The fake abduction case received national attention for several days in March when Seiler disappeared from her apartment prompting an intensive search by police and volunteers. When she was found, the UW-Madison student said she had been kidnapped at knifepoint by a man who held her against her will in a swampy area. Seiler later confessed that she had made up the entire incident. She offered a lengthy apology, and tried to explain her mental state in late March when the 5-day incident which drew national attention occurred. Seiler reportedly said she knows now that she was severely depressed, which caused her to think irrationally, though she said she knows her decisions were wrong. Dane County District Court Judge James Martin noted Seiler's prior clean record, limited means, and minimal public risk in his sentence of 3 years of probation, and 250 dollars a month restitution, as well as 250 hours of community service, and a court order to continue her psychiatric counseling as well as prescribed medication. Audrey's parents, Keith and Stephanie Seiler of Rockford told reporters that they were grateful for the support of their community, friends, and total strangers who searched for their daughter. They noted that they felt Audrey was very much lost, if not in a physical sense, and did need to be found. They thanked God that their daughter had not been abducted and was able to return home safely. |
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Delano 4th of July Parade is states oldest
Delano's 4th of July celebration is the states oldest and largest. Sundays events include the popular 8k run, parade at 10:30am and Fireworks at dusk. For a complete schedule of the weekend events visit DelanoMn.com |
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Funeral Services Today For Doug Gruber, County Auditor / Treasurer
Funeral services are set for this morning for Wright County's Auditor / Treasurer, and former Wright County Assessor, Doug Gruber. Gruber died Friday at his home in Buffalo at the age of 51 after a battle with cancer. Gruber became Wright County's Assessor in 1986, serving in that position until the retirement of County Auditor / Treasurer Darla Groshens in 1998. He filed for the position and was elected in November of that year, and was re-elected in 2002. Gruber was respected and well known throughout Wright County and in the state, serving on several Associations. He also was active in his church, and was a longtime member and former Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council #6608, as well as a member of the Buffalo Rotary Club.
Funeral services for Doug Gruber are scheduled for 11 o'clock this morning at the Church of St. Francis in Buffalo. |
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Funeral Services Today for Albertville Businessman, Civic Leader, Donald Berning
Funeral services are scheduled for this morning in Albertville for a longtime businessman and civic leader in that community. Donald Berning died Tuesday at the age of 78. Berning owned and operated Don's Auto Service and Amoco in Albertville for more than 50 years. He was also active with Albertville civic affairs. He was a former Albertville City Council member and served as the City Clerk for 35 years, and was a former Albertville Planning Commission and Albertville Development Committee member. Berning was also a member of the Albertville Fire Department for more than 30 years, and was a past Fire Chief.
He was also a member of the American Legion, Knights of Columbus, Albertville Lions, Catholic Aid Society, and he served as a Parish Trustee and a member of the St. Albert Society at the Church of St. Albert in Albertville. Funeral services for Donald Berning are scheduled for 11 o'clock this morning at the Church of St. Albert in Albertville. |
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Funeral Services for Local Man Killed in Out Of State Motorcycle Crash
Funeral services are scheduled for today in St. Michael for a local man who died last weekend in a motorcycle crash on the west coast. 48-year-old Stephen Spraungel died last Saturday when the motorcycle he was riding was struck head-on by a truck that had reportedly crossed the center line on a roadway in Prosser, Washington. Funeral services for Stephen Spraungel will be held at 11 AM at the Church of St. Michael in St. Michael. |
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Good Weather Boosts Attendance at Good Neighbor Days, Spud Fest
The weather through the weekend was generally very nice with the exception of a few daytime showers on Sunday, and the beautiful conditions helped to attract big crowds for Howard Lake's Good Neighbor Days, and Big Lake's Spud Fest. Most activities, including Sunday's parade in Howard Lake dodged the rain drops, and those who visited the festivals were treated to mild conditions, and great activities. Two Wright County communities are gearing up for the next summer festivals this coming weekend, as Annandale and Delano prepare for their 4th of July celebrations.
*2004 Good Neighbor Days Royalty*
Queen - Jenna Jones
Princesses - Camie Bernick, Jacklin Hubbell
Miss Congeniality - Jacklin Hubbell |
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I-94 Traffic Slowdowns, Detours Today, Tonight
Drivers in our area should plan for some slowdowns, and detours on separate portions of I-94 near Monticello and Clearwater today. The St. Cloud office of Mn/DOT says short term lane closures will be needed today as crews work to complete repairs on the bridge deck at Wright County Highway 75. You'll remember that bridge was damaged late last month when a crane being transported by a flatbed semi struck the bridge causing damage to the piers and bridge deck. Mn/DOT's Steve Kavanagh says one lane of eastbound I-94 will be closed to traffic to several hours this morning, while this afternoon, one lane of westbound I-94 will be closed in order to complete repairs on the bridge. It is hoped that the work will be completed in time to handle the afternoon peak traffic period. Meanwhile, work will resume tonight to remove the old Stearns County Highway 75 bridge to prepare for construction of a new interchange at that location. Mn/DOT officials say tonight and tomorrow night from 10 PM to 5 AM, both westbound lanes of I-94 will be closed as demolition work on the bridge continues. Traffic will be detoured via Stearns County Highway 75 between Minnesota Highway 24 in Clearwater and Stearns County Highway 75 in St. Augusta. Crews are expected to complete the bridge removal by early Thursday. Weather permitting, construction on the new interchange project is expected to be completed by the end of the 2004 construction season. |
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Kent Jones Retrial Set for Mid-November
The retrial of a former Big Lake man who was convicted three years ago of killing a woman whom he admitted having an affair with has been set for mid-November. 41-year-old Kent Jones was convicted in 2001 of murdering Linda Jensen at her Big Lake Township home. The Minnesota Supreme Court however, overturned a lower court's decision, and ordered a new trial for Jones. The Supreme Court ruled that the lower court was wrong when it excluded evidence that the defense wanted to submit regarding other suspects. A potential hearing in the coming months could determine whether or not jurors in a second trial will hear that evidence. During the trial, Kent Jones admitted to having an affair with Linda Jensen, but denied having anything to do with her death. |
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Miss Minnesota Hails From Wright County
The new Miss Minnesota hails from Wright County. 24-year-old Tiffany Ogle of Waverly, daughter of Norma Ogle, and the late Jim Ogle was crowned Miss Minnesota at ceremonies earlier this month at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul. Ogle graduated from Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School in 1998, and is currently living in St. Louis Park. She works for Caryn International, a model and talent scouting agency based in the Twin Cities. Before becoming Miss Minnesota, Ogle first had to win a local pageant, which she did in February, when she became “Miss Metropolitan.” Several portions of the competition included an interview about social issues, and a platform statement. Ogle's platform is “Gone in 60 Seconds – Preventing Childhood Abduction.” She has been a volunteer with the Jacob Wetterling Foundation, and became acquainted with the Wetterlings when she lived next to them while attending college at St. Benedict's. Ogle said she will be doing three or four appearances a week from now until September 1st, when she leaves for Atlantic City, New Jersey for the pageant. Ogle says she plans on being in the Waverly Daze parade on Sunday, July 11th, and also plans on attending the coronation of the new Waverly ambassadors. |
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Rockford Man Dies in Motorcycle Crash
A local man has died after the motorcycle he was riding was struck by an SUV. Wright County Sheriff's officials say the crash happened just before 4 PM on Thursday in the 6700 block of County Line Road in Franklin Township, claiming the life of 38-year-old Mark Anderson of Rockford. Authorities say Anderson's motorcycle was southbound, when it was struck by the SUV driven by 48-year-old Marit Kaiser of Delano. Kaiser was attempting to make a left turn into a driveway when her vehicle struck the motorcycle. Mark Anderson was taken by air ambulance to North Memorial Medical Center in the Twin Cities, where he later died from his injuries. Authorities say Anderson was not wearing a helmet.
No other injuries were reported in the accident, which remains under investigation by the Wright County Sheriff's Office. |
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Rockford Township Boy Critically Injured in Car-Bicycle Crash
A Rockford Township boy is hospitalized in the Twin Cities after the bicycle he was riding was struck by a vehicle Thursday evening. Sheriff Gary Miller reports that the accident happened around 6:45 Thursday evening in the 300 block of Farmington Avenue Southeast. Officials say the initial investigation showed that 12-year-old Keaton Bowden was riding his bicycle with his younger brother when he came out of a driveway onto Farmington Avenue, and was struck by a northbound car. Neither the boy's younger brother, nor the driver of the car, identified as Marilyn Lamkin of Buffalo were injured. Keaton Bowden was taken by ambulance to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale where he is listed in critical condition. The Wright County Sheriff's Office is continuing its investigation. |
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Saturation Patrols Produce Doubling of Impaired Driving Arrests
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety says saturation patrols on highways in Minnesota's most dangerous counties has already doubled the number of DWI arrests this year over the 2003 effort. The patrols, funded by federal dollars, are called Operation NightCAP. Local police, county sheriffs and the State Patrol join forces especially in the 13 Minnesota counties with the highest incidence of alcohol-related fatalities for the saturation patrols. So far this year, over 1 thousand DWI arrests have been made, more than doubling last year's total. Over 8 thousand total citations have been issued, along with close to 12 thousand warnings. The number of participating officers has also more than doubled. Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety Director Kathy Swanson says no one should be surprised about the patrols, as they are publicized and enforced. Regarding the results of the saturation patrols, Swanson says the theory is that fewer drunk drivers means fewer crashes, and fewer fatalities. |
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Tom Keating Named Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow
Minnesota's 2004 Teacher of the Year, Tom Keating, an educator at Monticello High School was recently recognized as a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow. Keating had been nominated for his contributions to youth and his ability to connect with students through education. Keating is the adviser for Monticello's Turning Point Alternative Learning Program. The Paul Harris Fellow award was created to honor Rotary founder Paul Harris in appreciation of a community member whose service and life exhibit a shared purpose along with the Rotary's mission of building world understanding and peace. |
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Traffic Complaint Leads to Recovery of Stolen Goods
A simple driving complaint turned into a major stolen goods bust and three arrests this week. Wright County Sheriff Gary Miller says his department got a call from a resident on Odean Avenue in Otsego Monday evening at around 7 PM, reporting that a pickup truck pulling a trailer nearly hit him as he was mowing his lawn. Upon investigation, deputies found the truck and trailer described by the man a short distance down the road. Two men at the residence were questioned about the driving complaint, and deputies noticed that both men seemed nervous and that their answers to routine questions seemed suspicious. Deputies ran the serial number on a new ATV that was on the trailer, finding that it had recently been stolen from an implement dealership in Mille Lacs County. More checks revealed that both the trailer and the pickup were also stolen, as was another trailer parked at the residence which contained more stolen property. Hours later as deputies were clearing the residence, a truck pulling a large trailer was about to pull into the driveway, but quickly tried to back up and leave when the squads were spotted. The driver of the truck bailed out and escaped on foot. A check showed both the truck and trailer were also reported stolen out of Mille Lacs County. Inside the trailer were several garden tractors and other lawn implements also reported stolen from the same implement dealership in Mille Lacs County. Three arrests were made in all, two men from Princeton and Cold Spring, and the woman whose address is Brooklyn Park.
Sheriff Miller says this is a perfect example of community policing, as a simple driving complaint call turned into 3 arrests and the recovery of more than 70 thousand dollars worth of merchandise. |
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Wright County Auditor / Treasurer Doug Gruber Succumbs to Cancer
Wright County residents, officials and co-workers were saddened to hear of the passing of County Auditor / Treasurer Doug Gruber over the weekend. Gruber died Friday at his home at the age of 51 after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. Funeral services for Doug Gruber have been scheduled for Thursday morning at St. Francis Catholic Church in Buffalo. KRWC will have a complete obituary of Doug Gruber later in the week. |
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