HBC TV 25 News

The case for closing Central School may have gotten stronger for proponents of the idea. At last night's meeting of the Winona Public School's Board, administrators presented their findings on the financial savings the district could see if the building is closed. According to superintendant Paul Durand, $300,000 annually could be saved. Most of those savings would come from the loss of salaries and benefits. The only significant cost would be around $60,000 to relocate Community Educations offices and other district programs located at Central.

The Interstate 90 eastbound lanes near Dresbach have re–openned according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Since early June, the I–90 eastbound lanes have been closed while crews worked to replace two bridges. The work is part of the $4.4 million I–90 bridge replacement project. The project will resume in spring 2010 for the westbound I–90 bridge replacements and is expected to be completed by November 2010.

Winona Health Auxiliary is holding its 8th annual Fantasy of Trees today and Saturday. The event is being held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Watkins Manor located at 175 East Wabasha St. Winona. The Fantasy of Trees features decorated holiday trees created and donated by local businesses, organizations and individuals. The trees will be available for purchase by sealed bid during the event. Yesterday, the trees were judged with awards given in several categories. This year's winners are: *Best Use of Color "Purple Masquerade" by Emily Brom.

Ten people were injured when a Wabasha–Kellogg school bus and a car collided in Rochester at around 5:15 p.m. Eight of 22 bus passengers were hurt. The injured students were taken to St. Mary's Hospital with what were described as non–serious injuries for observation. The driver of the car, identified by officials as 75–year–old Robert Temple, also of Wabasha and his passenger, 77–year–old Leona Hentz of Hammond, Minnesota, were seriously injured, but their injuries were said to be non–life threatening.

The third man implicated in a May mugging, was sentenced Wednesday in Winona County District Court. Joshua Wayne Knutson, 19, of Winona was sentenced to serve 4 ½ years in prison for his role in the beating during the early morning hours of May 3. Two other men, 23–year–old James Daniel Farris and 24–year–old Joshua Lee Duden were sentenced earlier. Under a plea agreement, each plead guilty to aggravated first–degree robbery. Farris is serving six years, Duden 6 ½ for their roles in the incident. A criminal complaint states the men had plotted to rob someone at random.

The shipping season will soon come to a close along the Upper Mississippi River. The U–S Army Corps of Engineers says locks will be closed beginning the first week of December. With the final day for tow barges to head south scheduled for December 5. The Corps said that date is firm with Lock and Dam number 5 at Minneiska set to close for repairs.

Winona Area Public Schools administrators will address members of the school board tomorrow night to answer questions about Central Elementary. At its last meeting, the school board had several questions regarding the cost savings of closing the school and what it would cost to relocate Community Educations offices currently located at the site. The school board has long debated closing an elementary building with Central School being in the cross–hairs. The board will consider setting a date for a public hearing on the issue. One could be scheduled as early as next month.

A Winona man has been acquitted of assault charges by a Winona County jury. The Winona County Attorney's office said Charles David Sackett was cleared of a charge of Second Degree Assault stemming from an incident that occurred on January 23, 2009. The trial lasted just two–days with jurors hearing from three witnesses. Sackett is currently in prison serving a 63–month sentence for an unrelated offense.

A Rushford man is facing charges after he was found loading scrap metal into his personal vehicle while at work. Winona Police Deputy Chief Tom Williams said Efrain Joel Trejo has been referred for charges of second degree burglary and possession of stolen property for taking $2,000 to $2,500 in aluminum, brass and other scrap metals from Whetstone Salvage in Winona. Police were notified Monday night by the company's owner who was watching Trejo loading up his pickup at a rear loading dock. Police said Trejo told them he worked for the company but that he had no permission to take the items.

Three years of research, discussion and public hearings will officially come to an end next month. Last night the Winona City Council passed the proposed bluffland protection ordinance, but with a couple of modifications. Language concerning what defines a blufftop was changed. The original document defined a blufftop as the highest point of a one hundred foot segment where the average slope is greater than 25 percent. However, the slope restriction was increased to 18 percent. Those changes will be adopted for the final version of the ordinance.