KNUJ » Breaking News State & Local

Woman Drowns In Owatonna

susan — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:50:25 +0000

A woman has died after being pulled from a lake in Steele County. Authorities say the woman was found face down in Lake Kohlmier in Owatonna at just before 5 p-m Sunday. She was pulled from the water and first responders attempted to revive her, but they were unsuccessful. The woman has not been identified at this time. Local police and fire, the sheriff’s department and coroner responded to the scene.

Brownton Man In Cycle Crash

susan — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:50:23 +0000

A Brownton man was injured in a motorcycle accident in Renville County Sunday evening. 47-year-old Mark Raddatz was driving a 1979 Honda Roadster on Highway 71 near the Lower Sioux Community when he hit the rumble strips and lost control of the cycle and drove into the ditch at just before 6pm. Raddatz was taken to the Redwood Area Hospital with injuries described as being non-life threatening. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Child Neglect Trials Rescheduled

susan — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:48:59 +0000

The child neglect trials of a Nicollet County couple scheduled to begin this week were rescheduled. Russell and Mona Hauer’s 8-year-old adopted son was taken from their rural North Mankato home last year. He reportedly weighed 35-pounds at the time, and the Hauers had allegedly put an alarm on the boy’s bedroom door to keep him from taking food because he had what they claimed was a “Food Hoarding” problem. He had also supposedly been punished with a broom handle and forced to sleep in a plastic sled in the basement due to bed-wetting problems. The Hauers pleaded not guilty to felony charges of child neglect, child endangerment and malicious punishment of a child. A judge has since ordered child protective services for their other children as well. The pretrial hearing for Mona Hauer will now be held August 19th, with her jury trial starting October 21st. Russell Hauer’s pretrial hearing is set for August 18th, with his trial beginning November 14th.

Good News For Ethanol Biz

susan — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:48:13 +0000

There’s some good news for Minnesota’s ethanol industry in the latest round of USDA reports. Economist Joe Glauber says corn used for ethanol was increased by 50-million bushels for this crop and the next. He says that’s largely due to the fact that we’ve seen strong margins for ethanol producers over the last few weeks. Weekly production levels have been up close to 13.6 billion gallons a year, on average, in the past week

U of M Tuition Freeze Approved

susan — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:46:56 +0000

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents has approved a tuition freeze for in-state undergraduates next year. University officials say it’s the first tuition freeze in a generation. The plan also increases tuition for students from states without reciprocity agreements, raises price tags for graduate and professional students and boosts funding for research. The plan also cuts administrative costs and funds the hiring of more than 50 faculty members. The University’s proposed 2014 operating budget spends about $61-million more than the year before, an almost 2% increase.

Local Blood Drives This Week

susan — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:45:31 +0000

The American Red Cross Bloodmobile is making a few stops around the area this week. The need for blood is constant, with someone in the US needing a blood transfusion every 2 seconds. Around 44,000 pints of blood must be donated every day in order to meet that demand. The Bloodmobile will be at the Lake Crystal Area Recreation Center from 12:30 to 6:30 today (MON). On Tuesday eligible donors can give blood at the Le Center American Legion from 1 to 7pm, and on Thursday there’s a blood drive at the Gaylord American Legion from 1 to 7. For more information on giving the gift of life, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or log on to www.redcrossblood.org.

New Ulm Concert In The Park

susan — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:44:09 +0000

The Monday Night Concerts in the Park continue this (MON) evening in New Ulm’s German Park with a free show by Barton’s Hollow. The Minnesota bluegrass and acoustic band has members that range in age from 16 to 21, including 16-year-old Ian Kimmel of New Ulm. The show starts at 7pm at German Park, and Relay For Life will be selling pop and popcorn. The New Ulm Puppet Wagon will be on hand to entertain the kids before the show as well.

BCA concludes investigation in standoff

adelle — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:06:46 +0000

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has completed its investigation into a North Mankato standoff that occurred in January in which a man was shot and killed by police. Authorities were called to the Lloyd Tschohl (shole) residence on January 17 to conduct a welfare check. Several attempts to communicate with Tschohl were unsuccessful. Authorities eventually broke a window and rammed a door to break it open. In doing so, officials say Tschohl shot at them and they retreated for cover behind their vehicles. Authorities say Tschohl emerged from the residence carrying two pistols, raised his ars and fired one shot at officers. Officials returned fire and according to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office, struck Tschohl 11 times. Chief Chris Boyer of the North Mankato Police Department says the events of that day are portrayed accurately in the BCA report. The Nicollet County Attorney’s Office says no charges will be filed against the officers involved in the standoff.

Body Of Mankato Native Found

susan — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:11:26 +0000

The body of a Mankato native missing for nearly a month in Colorado has been found in the mountains near Denver, and officials are calling it a homicide. 49-year-old David Noren was last seen May 19th. Hikers found his body Friday morning, and after an autopsy on Monday confirmed his ID authorities issued a warrant for the arrest of Noren’s roommate, 34-year-old Ryan Hicks. He’s wanted on charges of 1st-degree murder and robbery. Authorities reportedly found evidence of foul play during a search of the men’s residence. No other information has been released at this time.

Local Man Drowns In Canada

susan — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:10:18 +0000

A Nicollet County man has died after falling out of a boat into a northwestern Ontario lake over the weekend. The accident happened Saturday afternoon on Manion Lake, which is about 70 miles northeast of International Falls by road. Ontario Provincial Police say three vacationing fishermen from Minnesota were ejected from their boat for an unknown reason. Another group of fishermen noticed the empty boat, discovered the three men in the water and brought them to shore. 64-year-old Douglas Davis of North Mankato died. The names of the other two men have not been released. Ontario Provincial Police continue investigating.