TODDLER STORY TIME AT THE LIBRARY:
There will be a story time for two and three year olds at the Pleasant Hill Library in Hastings from 10:30-11:00 AM on Tuesday, February 7th. There will be stories, rhymes, songs and activities selected to entertain and develop early literacy skills in toddlers. This event is free and no registration is required.
PRESCOTT CHAMBER ANNUAL DINNER:
The Prescott Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their 33rd Annual Dinner set at the Valley Bar and Grill on Tuesday, February 7th. This year’s theme for the event is Minute to Win It- Mardi Gras Style. The night Starts off at 5:30. Buffet at 7:00 PM and awards at 8:15. For more information contact Trisha at 715-262-3284.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST OPEN HOUSE:
St. John The Baptist Elementary School in Vermillion will be hosting a open House on February 7th at 6:30 PM. Kindergarten Families will be February 16th at 6:30 PM. For more information contact the school at 651-437-2644.
HASTINGS BEYOND THE YELLOW RIBBON:
Hastings Beyond the Yellow Ribbon will hold a community meeting on Thursday, February 9th, at 7:00 p.m. at Nelson Lucking American Legion Post 1210. Come out an assist the community in making plans to serve, support, and honor military veterans and their families. For more info, call Dean at 651-438-2208.
CG MAN CHARGED WITH SPITTING ON OFFICER:
36-year-old Eric David Arntzen of Cottage Grove has been charged with assault of a peace officer, and test refusal. On January 22nd, around 12:40 a.m. a Cottage Grove Police officer was dispatched to the area of the 8800 block of Ivystone Court South, on the report of suspicious activity. A resident had called police to report that a strange car had pulled into his driveway, knocked on the door, and honked it’s horn. The officer located the vehicle, and began to follow it. The vehicle appeared to be swerving, and the driver was not wearing his seatbelt, so the officer initiated a traffic top. The vehicle continued for a little while, and then eventually came to a stop after running over a curb. The officer spoke with the driver, who appeared to have been drinking heavily. He had a strong odor of alcohol, slurred unrecognizable speech, and bloodshot watery eyes. When the officer asked for his drivers license and proof of insurance, he searched around for a while, and then lost his train of thought. The officer had him step out of the vehicle to perform several field sobriety tests, which he failed. Eventually the officer was able to identify the driver as Arntzen, from the vehicle’s license plates. Officers attempted to place Arntzen under arrest for DWI, at which point he fought with them, and resisted arrest. On the way to the Washington County Jail, Arntzen began spitting on the police officer from the backseat, and ignored commands to stop. At the Washington County Jail, he spit on another officer, and refused to submit to a blood or urine test. If convicted for assault of a peace officer, Arntzen faces up to three years in prison. He faces an additional year for test refusal.
PICKETERS NOT EVEN UNION MEMBERS:
Hastings residents may have noticed a group of picketers representing the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters that has been gathering off and on outside of Hastings Family Service for the last few weeks. The group is in opposition to Friedges Drywall - a sub-contractor working on the remodel project at Hastings Family Service. They claim that Friedges Drywall does not pay area standard wages. What you may not have noticed is that none of the picketers are actually union members. KDWA spoke with Steve Thom from the north Central States Regional Council of Carpenters on February 1st, as demonstrators yelled in the background. Thom confirmed that the group of around 25 demonstrators are not union members, and are in fact paid demonstrators. Thom told KDWA that although the picketers are not union members, they are paid area standard wages. Friedges, which is a non-union business, has been in operation for 36 years. The North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters claims that they will be back to picket again, as the project continues.
PREDATORY OFFENDER CHARGED:
20-year-old Karonie Daron Streeter has been charged with failure to register as a predatory offender. In September of 2010, Streeter was convicted of terroristic threats, an offense arising out of the same set of circumstances as a charged of false imprisonment. As a result, Streeter is required to register as a predatory offender. In September of 2011, Streeter filled out a change of address form with his corrections officer, showing that his new primary address would be a residential facility in the City of Hastings. The change of address form was submitted to the bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and forwarded to the Hastings Police Department. On September 22nd or 2011, Streeter met with his corrections officer at the Hastings facility, and then fled. Streeter has not returned to the residential facility in Hastings, or filed a new address, or registered as homeless with his corrections officer, law enforcement, or the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. At this time, Streeter’s whereabouts are unknown. If convicted for failure to register as a predatory offender, Streeter faces up to five years in prison.
BRIDGE PROJECT UPDATE:
As mentioned before, much of the current construction activity on the new Highway 61 Mississippi River Bridge centers on completing the piers - the concrete columns that will support the bridge and roadway. The roadway will split south of the river. As a result, separate sets of land piers will carry the northbound and southbound lanes. Piers one through four for the southbound lanes are all complete. Southbound roadway forms and temporary supports are in place between Piers one through four. The abutment, or land-to-bridge roadway connection, is also complete. Pier 4 is complete for the northbound lanes. Construction on the remaining northbound piers will begin after the first two lanes of the new bridge open to traffic. Near the beginning of the project crews built a causeway, or temporary peninsula into the river, to enable construction on the piers closest to the northern bank. Work has now moved farther into the river, and barges are being used as construction platforms to access the work areas. At Pier five, crews are working on the concrete knuckles for the arch connection. On Pier six, crews have begun work on the cap. The cap connects the pier to the bridge span. Cap work continues on Pier seven, and Piers eight and nine are complete. Pier 10 is also complete. Long concrete girders that will eventually support the bridge deck are in place between the pier and North Abutment.
WI MAN CHARGED WITH DRUG CRIME:
30-year-old Joseph John Kleschult of New Richmond, wisconsin has been charged with a fifth degree controlled substance crime. On January 16th, Cottage Grove Police were dispatched to Kohls on the report of a theft. When officers arrived, they were advised that the female suspect had fled on foot, and was headed towards Walgreens. While enroute to Walgreens, Officers observed a suspicious vehicle with Wisconsin license plates, pulling into the parking lot across from Walgreens. The driver was talking on his cell phone and driving erratically. Police stopped the vehicle, and Kleschult, who was the driver could not explain where he was going, or why. Kleschult’s drive’s license was suspended, and he had no proof of insurance for the vehicle. Police searched Kleschult, and found a pill bottle containing several prescription pills. It was later determined that the female suspect from Kohls was Kleschult’s wife, and that he was at Walgreens to pick her up. If convicted for a fifth degree controlled substance crime, Kleschult faces up to five years in prison.
AFS NEEDS HOST FAMILIES:
The AFS Intercultural Exchange Program has a need for host families in the Hastings area. Right now there is an immediate need for a family for a sociable boy from Sweden. There is also a need for a second semester family for a helpful boy from the Ukraine. You can make a difference by welcoming an AFS Exchange student into your family. For more information, call Anne at 437-5221.
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