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NEWS ARCHIVE

Kimball Man Killed in Crash

08/26/2010 - 10:35 AM

A Kimball man is dead after a two car crash in his home town. It happened Wednesday evening at the intersection of highway 55 and County Road 48, just west of Kimball. The State Patrol says 54-year-old Craig Vannurden was driving east on highway 55 when he slowed down to make a left on county road 48. That’s when, officials say, he was hit from behind by a car driven by 20-year-old Michael Sichender of Annandale. Vannurden was pronounced dead at the scene. Sichender was not hurt in the crash.

Man Hurt in Car vs. Tractor Crash

08/26/2010 - 10:05 AM

A Rice man is seriously hurt after the tractor he was riding was rear-ended by a car. It happened Wednesday night in Rice at the intersection of County Road 22 and 55th Avenue Northeast. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office says 21-year-old Brent Roy Seppelt was riding a tractor west on County Road 22 when a car driven by a 16-year-old girl hit the back of his tractor. When deputies arrived, they found Seppelt pinned underneath the tractor. Crews lifted the tractor off of him and he was airlifted to the hospital. The Sheriff’s Office says it does not believe alcohol played a role in this crash.

Residents Evacuated Due To Dumpster Fire

08/25/2010 - 11:00 AM

St. Cloud Police Officers responding to a fire call in the 800 block of 13^th Street South arrived to find a dumpster on fire. The St. Cloud Fire Department ultimately arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire.

240 People Cited Over SCSU's Move In Weekend

08/24/2010 - 11:25 AM

St. Cloud Police issued more than 310 citations to 240 people during SCSU’s move-in weekend, most of them involving alcohol. That's an increase from last year, when 226 total citations were issued. 

Of this year's citations, 121 were for open bottle violations and 115 were for alcohol consumption by a minor. Of the 115 minors issued, about 100 of them were directed toward a new diversion program, which is a partnership between the city and the university. Under the program, violators are required to undergo about 90 minutes of alcohol education in the classroom. St. Cloud City Attorney Matt Staehling says first or second time violators are eligible for the program.

Also last weekend, 14 people were cited under St. Cloud’s new social host ordinance, which makes it illegal to host a party where underage drinking is present.
 

Human Rights Office Likely to Operate out of St. Cloud

08/23/2010 - 11:25 AM

The St. Cloud City Council is expected tonight to approve a lease agreement with the state to operate the new Regional Human Rights office out of St. Cloud City Hall. Expected to open on September 1st, the human rights office will be facilitated by the state Department of Human Rights and will handle human rights issues in St. Cloud and St. Joseph. The idea for a regional human rights office gained momentum late last year, when a Waite Park man posted anti-Muslim cartoons in various places around St. Cloud.

3 Weekend Rollover Crashes in Stearns County

08/23/2010 - 10:55 AM

There were a number of one car injury crashes in Stearns County over the weekend. The first crash happened Saturday afternoon on County Road 11 near Freeport. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says 63-year-old Clarence Welle of Lastrup, MN was riding his motorcycle north on County Road 11 when he hit gravel and lost control. His motorcycle flipped over into the ditch and he flew off the bike. The Sheriff’s Office says Welle was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. He was taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries.

The second crash happened Saturday night near Lake Sylvia, north of Melrose. The Sheriff’s Office says 22-year-old Matthew Stangler of Melrose rolled his car on County Road 17 and was ejected from the vehicle. When deputies arrived they say Stangler was lying face down in the ditch. He was taken to the Melrose Hospital and later airlifted to the Hennepin County Medical Center in the twin cities. The Sheriff’s Office says alcohol played a role in this crash.

The final Stearns County crash happened Sunday afternoon in the Eden Lake Township. The Sheriff’s Office says 52-year-old Ronald Stang of Watkins was riding his motorcycle west on County Road 21 when he lost control, fell into the ditch and flew off the bike. Stang was taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries. The Sheriff’s Office says he was wearing a helmet.
 

Crews Installing Traffic Ramps in Southeastern St. Cloud

08/23/2010 - 10:45 AM

St. Cloud drivers can expect minor delays when driving on the city’s southeast side. On 33rd Street South, just east of Lancewood Drive, traffic will be down to one lane as crews install low speed traffic ramps. Ramps will also be installed across Montrose Road just east of Lancewood Drive. The city of St. Cloud says this road work is necessary for treatment of sanitary sewer interceptor lines in that area. It is expected to be complete by mid October.

Metro Bus Expands Service in Sartell

08/19/2010 - 9:45 AM

Metro Bus is expanding service in Sartell beginning this weekend. It’s in order to keep up with added traffic to the new Walmart Supercenter, Sam’s Club and the expanding medical facilities near the intersection of County Road 120 and Highway 15. The new schedule will run later on weeknights and operate on weekends. To view the new schdule, click here.

SCSU Campus Library Celebrates 10th Year

08/19/2010 - 10:10 AM

It’s ten years old, but it looks as good as new. The James Miller Learning Resources Center on the campus of St. Cloud State turns 10 this year and library employees are hosting an open house commemorating the occasion. Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00pm, folks can stop by to see the “Ten Year Evolution of Technology at SCSU” exhibit, view the “SCSU Libraries of Past and Present” installation, or sample an Apple IPad or Amazon Kindle. Cookies and bars will be served from noon to 1:00 pm to honor the Miller Center’s 10th birthday.

Free Concert of Global Music Sunday

08/19/2010 - 10:00 AM

Folks can see an eclectic concert of global music this Sunday at St. Cloud State. The Stearns County Pachanga Society will perform songs from as far away as Chile and as close as Stearns to reflect the diversity of Community Garden on campus. In six seasons, the Community Garden has attracted increasing numbers of people to see the harvest of plants from places all over the world. Sunday’s concert is from 5:00-8:00 pm. It’s free and open to the public.

Woman Hurt After Losing Consciousness While Driving

08/18/2010 - 9:55 AM

A Sauk Rapids woman is hurt after losing consciousness while driving and crashing her minivan. It happened at about 5:00 Tuesday evening on Northway Drive near St. Cloud Technical College. Police say 37-year-old Kerry Lynn Clavich was driving northbound when she lost consciousness, drove over the median and continued heading north in the southbound lane. Police say Clavich ultimately hit a tree on the east side of the college. Clavich was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

SCSU Considering Athletic Cuts

08/18/2010 - 9:30 AM

St. Cloud State University is considering cutting its football program and other sports as it deals with a budget shortfall. The university is weighing three options: eliminating football, cutting football and three other sports or keeping the football program and eliminating eight other sports. The university's athletics department has a $500,000 shortfall for the fiscal year beginning next July. St. Cloud State will ask the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference next month for permission to remain in the conference if the university cuts one of the sports required to be an NSIC member.

SCSU has sent layoff notices and early retirement offers to dozens of faculty members in an attempt to cut $14 million from the fiscal 2012 budget.
 

Gov. Pawlenty Appoints SCSU Dean to Council

08/18/2010 - 11:00 AM

SCSU’s Associate Dean for Multicultural Affairs has been appointed to a prestigious committee by Governor Tim Pawlenty. Dr. Carolyn Williams is now a member of the Governor’s Council on the Martin Luther King Holiday. The purpose of the council is to plan the activities and events in observation of the Martin Luther King federal holiday.

Dr. Williams has been at SCSU for more than ten years. She has served as a consultant for the National Science Foundation, as well as the federal and state Department of Education. Her term on the Martin Luther King council will expire in April of next year.
 

Government Seeks Light Sentence for Petters Aide

08/17/2010 - 10:55 AM

Prosecutors are seeking a light sentence for the woman who blew the whistle on Minnesota businessman Tom Petters' alleged $3.7 billion Ponzi scheme. In court filings Monday, prosecutors say Deanna Coleman's assistance was critical to ending the fraud and bringing the participants to justice. She faces a maximum of five years in prison when she's sentenced on September 2nd. But prosecutors are arguing for an unspecified lesser sentence that visibly rewards her for her efforts and encourages other potential whistleblowers to come forward. Coleman's attorney asks the court in a separate filing Monday to spare her from any prison time. Allan Caplan says her cooperation was unprecedented, so she's earned an equally unprecedented sentence.
 

Annual Volunteer Event at SCSU

08/17/2010 - 10:00 AM

St. Cloud State University’s Center for Student Organizations and Leadership is hosting Main Street, an annual event which is an opportunity for students to explore ways to get involved with student organizations, and learn about volunteer opportunities on campus.