HBC TV 25 News

A Winona man pleaded guilty yesterday for his role in the drug overdose death of a Winona woman on February 1, 2008. As part of an agreement reached with prosecutors Jeffrey Lee Frey was convicted of aiding and abetting manslaughter in the second degree. Frey admitted he was asked by another defendant, Douglas Zubick, to obtain methadone. Frey said he knew that Zubick was going to give the drug to Jane Jay Christenson who died from using the drug. Frey was also found guilty of four controlled substance crimes for selling hydrocodone and clonazepam to a police informant.

Teachers in the Wabasha–Kellogg school district have agreed to a new contract. The contract, ratified last week by the Wabasha–Kellogg School Board, covers the next two school years. It calls for a salary increase of zero–point–one percent over those two years and a 4.62 jump in health insurance premiums and steps.

Two men were beaten and robbed as they waited for a cab outside an East end bar early Tuesday morning. Winona Police Deputy Chief Tom Williams said the men, a 38–year–old from Trempealeau and a 33–year–old from Winona, are brothers and were waiting for a taxi outside the Handy Korner tavern at about 1:20 a.m. The men said they were attacked by as many as four males as they stood outside the bar. The attackers made off with one of the men's wallets that contained about $300 cash and credit cards.

A local industrial development organization has filed papers with the City of Winona requesting annexation of property in Wilson Township into the city. The request was made by WAIDA–the Winona Area Industrial Development Association for 210–acres of land located near the I–90/Highway 43 interchange. WAIDA president, Brad Peterson said they have had some inquiries from interested parties. Peterson said they see the area as a site for light industry. WAIDA treasurer, John Eddy, says WAIDA's request supports the organization's goal of stimulating local economic growth.

A Winona District Court judge has dismissed a grand jury indictment against one of three defendants in a 1985 Winona murder. Citing errors by the Winona County Attorney's Office, the Honorable Jeffrey Thompson dismissed the indictment against James Raymond Bolstad. According to a story in today's Winona Daily News, Thompson ruled inadmissible evidence was introduced by prosecutors that unfairly prejudiced the grand jury. Police say Bolstad orchestrated a conspiracy that ended with the fatal stabbing of Ada Francis Senenfelder in June 1985.

The Winona County Board approved the annex building expansion and renovation project last night. The vote to proceed with the project was 3–2 with Commissioners Mena Kaehler, Dwayne Voegeli and Greg Olson voting in favor and Marcia Ward and Jim Pomeroy voting against the motion. The project involves remodeling of current annex space and building an 18,600–square–foot addition at a cost of $6.3 million. The county has $3.9 million in reserves earmarked for the project. The remaining balance will be paid for through bonding.

Winona County law enforcement agencies issued 109 seat belt citations during the recently completed statewide "Click It or Ticket" enforcement effort. Over 400 law enforcement agencies statewide participated in the Minnesota Department of Public Safety campaign aimed at increasing seat belt and child restraint use among Minnesota motorists. In the last three years in Winona County, 20 motorists died, 9 were unbelted and another 22 were seriously injured. The estimated economic impact of unbelted deaths and serious injuries in Winona County during this period was $11,825,500.

Those traveling across the Winona Bridge could run into delays as crews install some special sensor devices. Weigh–in–motion equipment and strain gauges are being installed on the bridge by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Work will take place today and Wednesday with crews will installing the weight sensors into the pavement between 6:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., weather permitting. Traffic will be reduced to a single lane and controlled by flaggers while the work is underway. Also, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Republican Rhett Zenke has announced he will be seeking his party's endorsement for a run at the Minnesota House District 31A seat. A fundraiser and campaign kick–off event has been scheduled from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on November 2 in the Athletic Club front room. In a released statement, Zenke said he endorses a three–step plan will help decrease the size of government, shrink the deficit, and help Minnesotans to grow their way out of this economic slowdown.

Traffic counts are being done by the state transportation today near the Gilmore Avenue/Highway 61 intersection. The Minnesota Department of Transportation will be using automatic and manual counters to record traffic counts through Thursday. The traffic counts are being conducted to help identify traffic patterns in the area.