The City of Winsted observed Arbor Day by planting an Autumn Blaze Maple tree in Westgate Park Tuesday afternoon. Mayor Steve Stotko, Winsted tree member Hank Poshek; city council members Dave Mochinski, Bonnie Quast, and Tom Wiemiller; Police Chief Mike Henrich, Officer Justin Heldt; city maintenance staff Dave Meyer and Jamie Stotko; and people from around the area were all willing to lend a hand with the planting. After the planting, a proclamation at Winsted City Hall was given by Mayor Steve Stotko on the value of planting and maintaining trees in the community.
Last night’s Lester Prairie city council meeting seemed a bit like a game of musical chairs. Mayor Eric Angvall, who announced his intention to resign in March, stepped down at the end of the meeting. Council Member Larry Hoof entertained motions accepting the resignation and announcing the vacancy. Then Hoof acknowleged that as acting mayor, he would normally be the person to fill out the remainder of the term of mayor which expires in January 2009, but respectfully asked the council to appoint Council Member Andy Heimerl as mayor instead. Heimerl was appointed, and entertained a motion to appoint resident Bob Messer to fill the council seat he, Heimerl, had just vacated, through January. Hoof administered the oath of office to Heimerl, and Heimerl administered the oath of office to Messer.
Roundabouts are off the table, but the Lester Prairie City Council and representatives from the McLeod County Highway Department discussed other options for changes to the intersection of McLeod County Road 9 and County Road 23 during a special meeting Monday. The construction will not begin until 2010, but the county is getting input from the city during the preliminary planning stages to be sure the design will meet the city’s needs. The county will meet with the city again this fall, and final plan should be approved early next year, according to County Engineer John Brunkhorst.
The Howard Lake Fire Department, with mutual aid from Winsted Fire Department supplying full equipment and Cokato Fire Department bringing water, responded to a house fire in Victor Township Monday evening on 110th Street, according to Howard Lake Fire Chief Joe Drusch.
No one was in the home, owned by Craig Kieser, at the time of the fire. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time and is under investigation, according to Drusch.
Two metro-area men have been charged with arson, and a third suspect will likely be charged, in connection with a Howard Lake house fire on Sixth Avenue March 16, according to the Howard Lake Police Department.
Michael Hartsook Gotsch, 21, of Spring Lake Park and Michael Todd Rolla, 20, of Blaine have been formally charged with arson, while a third suspect is awaiting a court date, according to Howard Lake Police Chief Dan Lang.
“Through the investigation, it was discovered that the suspects set the house fire in Howard Lake to concentrate units in Howard Lake,” Lang said. “They then used that diversion to burglarize the banks in Cokato.”
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A suspect was captured in Winsted today who was involved in a Watertown Township shooting early this morning, according to Carver County Sheriff Bud Olson. Winsted Police Chief Mike Henrich noticed the vehicle in the cemetery and checked it out — finding the suspect asleep in his car. Ryan Lindeen, 44, (unknown address) was arrested without incident after allegedly shooting a female in the arm and leg with a .22 caliber rifle after a struggle. Lindeen’s car was towed from the Holy Trinity cemetery in Winsted this afternoon at about 4 p.m.
Pond installation and widening of the roadway between Highway 25 and Carver County Road 10 are the latest phase of the Highway 7 construction project, MnDOT Engineer Kelly Brunkhorst said during the weekly project update today. Neaton Brothers Erosion Control is installing erosion control measures throughout the project area. Pavement removal continues at the intersection of Highway 7 and County Road 10, where the first of two roundabouts will be built. Bituminous removal has been started from McLeod County Road 15 and Eagle Avenue, and this work is expected to continue through this week. Once the pavement has been removed and power poles are relocated, deep organic excavation (also described as “muck excavation”) will be started. Once this material has been removed, the area will be rebuilt with suitable fill.
A free concert presented by Higher Ground and Holy Trinity Parish and School will feature the band Lightswitch. The concert will be at Holy Trinity School gymnasium, tonight April 30, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. There will be door prizes, and concessions available. Discounted Higher Ground tickets will be available, as well. Everyone is welcome!
Senior Survey Technician Bill Augustin has retired after having been employed by Wright County since 1975. The county board presented a retirment plaque to Augustin and acknowleged his service to the county during the April 28 board meeting. Augustin was in charge of all Wright County surveyors, and was the county’s chief bridge inspector. He performed more than 3,000 bridge inspections on county, city, and township bridges during his long career, according to County Engineer Wayne Fingalson.
On Monday (April 28), the attorney for Bert Hertzog of Winsted challenged the probable cause for a search warrant executed at Hertzog’s residence last June, which resulted in charges of inspection of commercial vehicles without certification, theft-by-swindle, and aggravated forgery.
Attorney Thomas Shiah of Minneapolis presented the challenge to the probable cause that led to the search last summer. The search recovered unauthorized vehicle inspection stickers, as well as a letter that informed Hertzog that his inspector certification was suspended — something that Hertzog said he was unaware of.
The charges stem from Hertzog allegedly issuing fake inspection stickers to commercial vehicles even though he wasn’t licensed to do so.
The judge will take the matter under advisement and issue a decision after May 16, commented Assistant County Attorney Brian Lutes. Both sides of the case submitted their legal arguments, and the judge will weigh both.
An initial investigation done by the State Patrol showed Hertzog did commercial vehicle inspections in 2006 and 2007. Hertzog issued vehicle inspection reports to owners and inspection decals, according to a formal complaint. The decal numbers issued with inspections were recorded and tracked. The decals appeared to be fake, because the actual decals were issued to other people by legitimate certified inspectors, according to the complaint.
Hertzog’s next court date is a pre-trial conference 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 27.
