SEPTEMBER 9 - A New Ulm man is out of the hospital and in jail after he was shot by police in Ames, Iowa. 40 year old Julian Kral was released from Mercy Hospital Wednesday and taken to Story County Jail, where he's being held on a more than $22,000 cash bond.
Kral faces charges including assaulting a police officer, disarming a police officer and eluding a police officer. Police say two officers opened fire on Kral after he allegedly drove at them during an early morning traffic stop on Tuesday.
SEPTEMBER 8 - KNUJ's Hometown Hero for the month of September is Ellery Peterson of St. Peter.
Peterson has been honored by the St. Peter Kiwanis Club and as a Nicollet County Senior of the Year. He has also volunteered his time with the City of St. Peter, the St. Peter Rotary Club, Gustavus Adolphus College, the St. Peter Chamber of Commerce and Development Committee, and the St. Peter American Legion.
The Hometown Hero recognition is sponsored by KNUJ AM and FM and select Thrivent Financial For Lutherans agents. Nomination forms for YOUR Hometown Hero are available at the KNUJ and SAM 107.3 studios in New Ulm and Sleepy Eye or by clicking HERE.
SEPTEMBER 7 - New royalty was crowned in the small town of Godahl Monday afternoon as part of the 55th annual Godahl Day festivities.
The new Miss Godahl is Olivia Schmidt. Crowned Godahl Princesses were Megan Beckius and Megan Lindquist.
Hundreds of people attended the annual Labor Day celebration in the town, which has only a few dozen residents.
The day included live music, food, a parade, and more.
SEPTEMBER 6 - The National Weather Service has cancelled a Flood Warning for the Minnesota River at New Ulm.
Heavy rains across the region last week had caused river levels to rise, but the Minnesota is now expected to crest at just below the Action Stage of 794-feet early Friday morning. Flood Stage is 796 feet.
The Redwood River at Redwood Falls had also been under a Flood Warning, but is now expected to crest at it's Action Stage of 5-feet Tuesday afternoon. The Redwood River's Flood Stage at Redwood Falls is 6-feet.
SEPTEMBER 4 - A fire at a home in Mankato last week is now being investigated as a case of arson, and a Henderson teen who was killed in a fire at her home 2 days later was reportedly at the scene of the Mankato fire.
Firefighters responded to the fire on Lynn Lane on August 27th, and the home was declared a total loss. Damages were estimated at $25,000, but no one was injured.
Authorities said on Friday that the investigation into the fire has been concluded, and it has been deemed suspicious. Authorities have also confirmed that 17-year-old Amee Lee Thiel was at the Mankato mobile home when firefighters arrived. She died 2 days later on August 29th after a fire broke out in a bedroom of the Henderson home she shared with her father.
That fire is being investigated as suspicious by the State Fire Marshal's office, and authorities have declined to comment on Thiel's presence at the other fire.
The finale of Tall Tales & Legendary Ales was held at the Searles Bar & Grill on Thursday, August 19. Jill Hady, left, was the winner of the trip to Ballard's Resort in Baudette. Jill is the winner of the fish stories finale. She is pictured with Kristy Paulson from the August Schell Brewing Company.
Ashley Marks was the winner of the bean bag finale and won four tickets to the Minnesota Twins. Click here for more pictures of the event.
SEPTEMBER 4 - A Gibbon man was charged with a felony count of fleeing police this week after being arrested in New Ulm.
25-year-old Nicholas Earl Cotter was seen accelerating rapidly on a motorcycle going north on Broadway and then allegedly made a lane change that nearly caused an accident before running a stop sign.
When police stopped him, Cotter reportedly told them "I don't stop for stop signs." He has also been charged with careless driving and a stop sign violation.
Cotter is on probation for several crimes in Nicollet and Sibley County as well, including criminal sexual conduct.
SEPTEMBER 9 - Authorities continue to investigate the shooting death of a rural Lake Crystal man that occurred last week. 26 year old James Mervin Nibbe died on a single gunshot wound early last Tuesday morning after what was initially reported as a burglary.
The Blue Earth County Sherrif's Office announced Wednesday that they continue to investigate the homicide, along with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, but there are no suspects in custody.
SEPTEMBER 8 - A former New Ulm man accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the New Ulm Hockey Association pleaded guilty to felony theft in Brown County Court on Tuesday.
43-year-old Scott Roger Lennander of Brainerd, and his wife, 38-year-old Angela Louise Lennander were accused of stealing over $14,000 from the hockey association while arranging a fundraiser comedy show featuring Louie Anderson in April.
The Lennanders reportedly entered into a contract with Anderson's booking agency for the April 10th show, and used $10,000 of their own money toward the fundraiser. That check was later returned for insufficient funds, and money from the hockey association was never put toward the show.
Lennander also owes around $568,000 through other criminal cases, and recently served 2 years in federal prison for failing to pay income taxes. He will be sentenced October 26th, and faces up to 10 years in prison. Angela Lennander's next court date is November 16th.
Sensational Salsa Contest
Friday, September 17
Bring salsa to KNUJ by 9am.
Prizes awarded to top three entries!
Label salsa with name, address and phone number.
Wheeler Dealer MN.com Online Auction
Get registered now for KNUJ's online auction with our local Wheeler Dealer items.
Our next auction starts September 14 at 11am to September 21 at 11am.
You will find items from throughout Southern Minnesota and beyond on our Wheeler Dealer MN.com auction!! Remember, just like our previous on air Wheeler Dealer offerings, you can save lots of money!
But, just like a regular auction, you must first register. Go direct to wheelerdealermn.com or click here.
SEPTEMBER 8 - The Brown County Board on Tuesday unanimously agreed to set the county's preliminary tax levy at $11.4 million dollars for 2011, a 5% increase over 2010.
Brown County's preliminary budget for next year has been set at $26.5 million, a 6.7% decrease over this year. A public hearing on the proposed budget and tax levy will take place at 6pm on December 1st at the county courthouse in New Ulm.
In other business Tuesday, the Brown County Board approved a 15-year tax abatement proposal for an expansion project at MAT Industries in Springfield, and again heard concerns from residents of Eden Township concerning the proposed route of CAPX 2020 high-voltage power lines through Brown County.
Township residents say the power lines would form corners on the property of 2 landowners. The Board agreed to draft a letter to the state PUC asking it to reconsider the route, and will ask project representatives to meet with local landowners to find a better route.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A fallen Minnesota auto mogul accused of defrauding lenders and others of millions of dollars has pleaded guilty to two federal charges. Denny Hecker faces up to 10 years in prison under his plea agreement entered yesterday in Minneapolis, and prosecutors say they'll seek the maximum.
WINONA, Minn. (AP) - Under a new policy, Winona County employees will be required to stay at hotels where pay-per-view pornography is not available. KAGE-AM says supporters call it a step toward reducing sexual and domestic violence. Winona County employees traveling on business will be reimbursed only for hotels on a list developed by the Minnesota Department of Health.
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. (AP) - Fair officials say attendance at the 2010 Minnesota State Fair was the second-highest on record. That's despite sweltering heat at the start and a cold, windy final finale. Final attendance for the 12 days of the Great Minnesota Get Together was announced yesterday at over 1.77 million fairgoers.
ELK RIVER, Minn. (AP) - The Elk River School board has voted to discipline six football coaches. The board gave few details, but assured parents and boosters that the coaches will be on the field for Friday night's game against Rogers. The action follows hazing incidents last month.
Click here for a nomination form and more information.
Ellery Peterson of St. Peter was selected as the Hometown Hero for September.
SEPTEMBER 9 - The Sibley County Sheriff's Department received a report that a juvenile female had been abducted and assaulted Tuesday afternoon about four miles north of Gibbon.
The Sheriff's Department, with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, investigated the allegation and determined the abduction and assault did not occur, with the juvenile female recanting the allegation.
SEPTEMBER 8 - The New Ulm City Council set the city's preliminary budget and property tax levy on Tuesday.
New Ulm's 2011 tax levy was set at $5.6 million, a 4.23% increase over this year. The city's preliminary budget for next year was set at around $21.6 million, or about $1.3 million less than 2010. New Ulm City Manager Brian Gramentz says with the preliminary tax levy set, that is now the maximum amount that it can be.
New Ulm is expecting to receive around $4.8 million in Local Government Aid from the state next year, an increase of $730,000, but a nearly $6 billion budget deficit for the state leaves that funding questionable.
The city will hold budget workshops over the coming months, and will hold its final budget hearing on December 14th.
SEPTEMBER 7 - Students across the state head back to school today (TUE), including those in New Ulm's District 88 schools.
District 88 Superintendent Harold Remme says the district's staff is in place and the teachers are ready. He says Jefferson and Washington Elementary Schools in New Ulm underwent major window replacement projects over the summer, and the entrance at the high school was upgraded as well.
He reminds everyone to drive with extra caution as more pedestrians hit the streets on their way to school. District 88's last day of school will be June 2nd.
SEPTEMBER 6 - Sleepy Eye firefighters responded to a fire at the Sellner Variety store on East Main Street Sunday afternoon.
The fire was contained to the store's basement, although the entire building sustained smoke damage, and a water pipe broke in the basement. The call was received at about 1:40pm Sunday, and firefighters remained on the scene until about 6pm.
No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
SEPTEMBER 6 - A more-than $1-million recreational trail in Blue Earth County more than a decade in the making is now open, unofficially at least.
The $1.1-million dollar Minneopa Trail links Sibley and Minneopa Parks, and features two bridges and a tunnel. It also connects to the Red Jacket and Minnesota River trails as a key part of an expanding regional trail system.
The funding for the new trail included $800,000 in federal grants, $136,000 from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and a $50,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. More than $400,000 came from the Blue Earth County Parks Fund as well.
An official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Minneopa Trail is scheduled for October 2nd.
Justin Retzlaff was the winner of the 2010 Big Fish Contest, sponsored by Twin Rivers Archery and Outdoors and KNUJ/SAM. Justin wins a prize from Twin Rivers Archery and Outdoors. The 2nd place winner of a pair of Renaissance Festival tickets was Francois Uys and 3rd place winner of a pair of Nickelodeon Universe tickets was EJ Berdan. Click here for pictures of all the 2010 Big Fish entries.
SEPTEMBER 4 - Authorities have released the 911 transcript from the murder in rural Lake Crystal earlier this week.
26-year-old James Mervin Nibbe died of a single gunshot wound in what was initially reported as a burglary. Nibbe's wife, Jennifer, called 911 at 5:57am Tuesday. She stated that her husband was shot by an unknown man in their home on 176th Street south of Lake Crystal.
She told dispatchers that the man was around 5-foot-8 and probably wearing a hooded sweatshirt. She also said she believed he had a nylon stocking covering his head, and that he had her pinned down for a time and cut her.
James Nibbe was apparently shot in the head with his own 20-gauge shotgun, which had been up against the door of the residence. He was dead at the scene, and Jennifer Nibbe was treated for her injuries in Mankato. Her teenage son was also in the home at the time, but was apparently uninjured.
Authorities continue to believe this was an isolated incident and say there's no risk to public safety. The investigation continues.