HBC TV 25 News

We here at HBC–TV 25 lost a friend over the weekend. Long–time Winona broadcaster Chuck Williams died Saturday at his home in Winona at age 89. Many of you remember Chuck from his days at KWNO as an announcer and sportscaster. Chuck's play–by–play descriptions of Winona's sports teams vividly brought the games right through the radio.

The time to be counted is here. Residents of the City of Winona should have begun receiving 2010 Census forms in the mail today. The form has 10 questions including: the number of people living at the residence, the name, gender and date of birth or each resident, and their race. Winona County census officials have been expressing the importance of the once a decade count. Government money and a U.S. congressional seat are at stake for Minnesotans.

One man is in custody today after being arrested on drug possession charges. Winona Police Sergeant Chris Nelson said 26–year–old Nicholas Jacob Pederson of Rio Rancho, New Mexico was stopped by officers shortly before 5:00 a.m. Saturday. Reports say Pederson and a companion identified as 24–year–old Treyton Joseph Luby of Winona were stopped in the 100 block of East Broadway by an officer who had seen the men darting through yards. Pederson had in his possession 156.3 grams of a substance that tested positive for THC and a marijuana pipe.

The latest version of the state's construction, or bonding bill, is on its way to the governor's desk. The House and Senate passed the nearly $1 billion measure yesterday. State Representative Gene Pelowski of Winona said the revamped bill is still a good one and does include money for projects throughout the district. Some of the money will go towards a Winona Port project, roads and bridges in the district and to WSU and MnSCSET for heating and ventilation upgrades.

A Winona man, accused of choking a woman, has been summoned to appear in court. A criminal complaint filed in Winona District Court charges 47–year–old Ronald Wayne Langowski with false imprisonment–intentional restraint and domestic assault by strangulation. The alleged incident occurred in the late evening or early morning hours of February 14 and 15 after Langowski had been out with the 42–year–old female victim. According to the complaint, the victim referred to Langowski's mother in a derogatory manner.

Winona's Early Childhood Education program has announced registration dates and locations for Community KIDS Preschool and Rollingstone Community Preschool. Community KIDS Preschool is located at Goodview Elementary, 5100 W 9th Street in Goodview. Rollingstone Community Preschool is located at Rollingstone Community School, 61 Main Street in Rollingstone. Registrations for the 2010–2011 school year are being taken at the Early Childhood Education Programs office located at Goodview Elementary. A $25.00 non–refundable registration fee is payable at the time of registration.

The Lewiston City Council voted to fire its police chief. The Winona Daily News is reporting today that Dave Kleinschmidt has been relieved of his duties. The action was apparently the result of what city officials called performance issues. Part–time officer Jeremy Newton has been named interim chief. Kleinschmidt was hired as an officer for the Lewiston Police Department in February 2008. He was appointed police chief in November 2008. Lewiston has had four different police chiefs over the past two years.

A House Committee on Wednesday approved a bill that would cut the time it can take for citizens and journalists to get public information from the government. The bill, sponsored by Winona Representative Gene Pelowski, would shift disputes over whether data is public from district courts to a state agency. The agency would have to rule on a request within a few months. Pelowski says the change would remove time–and–money obstacles that have kept some people from pursuing data in the past.

The Wabasha City Council continues to look for the least painful alternative to trim $175,000 from the city budget. A majority of the shortfall is a direct result of a $134,000 loss in Local Government Aid or LGA. City of Wabasha department heads have been asked to make cuts wherever they can. Council continued its discussion of budget cuts at a meeting yesterday afternoon.

Part one of a CNN news segment regarding broadband stimulus funding and featuring HBC was part of the network's "Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" program last night. Part two of the feature is scheduled to air today on CNN between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. Last month a CNN crew was in Winona to investigate the impact of the government's rejection of HBC's first round broadband stimulus funding request. CNN also took a closer look at a funding request that was approved to provide broadband to a New Hampshire ski resort.