SMU loses basketball coachWINONA, Minn., March 31, 1997 -- The men's basketball coach at Saint Mary's University, Will Rey, was hired as top assistant coach at Wright State University. Although the team finished only 3-21 this season, Rey leaves the program in good hands with three starters coming back.. SMU food worker Wilma Brugger diesWINONA, Minn., March 31, 1997 -- Wilma Brugger, a familiar face at the Saint Mary's campus food service before she retired, died at the Winona hospital. She was 79. WSU closing for snow? Tune inWINONA, Minn., March 30, 1997 -- Students no longer have to surf channels on snowy mornings to learn if Winona State University is closed. Academic Vice President Dennis Nielsen said new procedures send the word out to seven television and 17 radio stations by 5 a.m. if day classes won't meet and 3 p.m. for evening classes. This is earlier than before and includes more stations. On the list: Stations in Eau Claire, La Crosse, Red Wing, Rochester, Twin Cities and Winona, Nielsen said. Reported by Rachel McConnell. County attorney chimes in: Seal booze dataWINONA, Minn., March 28, 1997 -- County Attorney Chuck MacLean closed ranks with City Attorney Rich Blahnik's interpretation of state open-records requirements regarding the accident that killed five Saint Mary's University people. MacLean said an exception to releasing toxicology reports exists when the driver is not known. Families of two accident victims have pressed officials not to release toxicology data. MacLean spoke on the issue as criticism mounted to Blahnik's recommendation that police seal the information. See Winona Daily News article. Three bars caught in latest police stingWINONA, Minn., March 27, 1997 -- Five Winona bars passed the test when a 20-year-old man, working with police, flashed an obviously wrong identification card. Three flunked the latest police sting, the fourth in four months. The under-age man's ID identified him as 21 but the photo didn't even resemble him, said Deputy Chief Don Walski. He said bartenders at Jake's, Rascal's and Shorty's. all campus hangouts, would be charged. The man didn't make it at Brothers, Cozy Corner, Fitzgerald's, Mutt Lynch's or Sidetrack, Walski said.Have a news tip? Click CyberIndee to tell us about it. WSU honors Dukakis press aide, 5 othersWINONA, Minn., March 26, 1997 -- Winona State University announced it will honor Christine Jahnke, news secretary for the Dukakis presidential campaign, and five other alums at the spring reunion. Jahnke is a 1985 Winona State broadcast grad. After graduation she worked at Rochester television station KTTC. Other grads to be honored: retired Navy Capt. John Curtin ,a 1968 grad; Theodore Frederickson, 1976, business dean at the University of St. Thomas; James Traeger, 1989, who operates a Twin Cities marketing business; Ruth Severud Fish, 1933, a retired Winona State art prof; and Ken Seebold, 1952, a Winona banker. Attic fire displaces Amethyst tenantsWINONA, Minn., March 26, 1997 -- An attic fire at the Amethyst House, a treatment home for chemically dependent adults near Winona State University, sent tenants into the street. None of the 10 residents nor employees was injured. But nobody could move back in. Heather Thompson, a Winona State student intern, thought she smelled incense, then saw a smoking vacuum cleaner. Flames spread quickly to the attic, firefighters said. Damage to the house, at 428 W. Broadway, was estimated at $50,000. Wobbly poll praises, disses WSU profsWINONA, Minn., March 26, 1997 -- Weak student responses to a straw poll on prof popularity didn't stop the Winonan student newspaper from printing the results. Chemist Charla Miertschin received three positive votes andwas proclaimed the campus favorite.With six negative votes, sociologist Brian Aldridge and masscom prof Ajit Daniel took a drubbing as least favorite. In all, 62 students submitted a clip-out form for the poll. Colleges expected to share state windfallST. PAUL, Minn., March 26, 1997 -- The Minnesota Senate, buoyed by the $2.3 billion state surplus, likely will add $20 million to $25 million to Gov. Arne Carlson's higher-ed spending recommendation, insiders said. House Democrats, more generous, want to up the governor by $70 million. Priorities for the extra funding include incentive funding for campuses in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system that meet legislature-mandated performance standards. Technology and buildings are other priorities. Winonan editor stands by columnistWINONA, Minn., March 26, 1997 -- Editor Chris Drago said he has no second thoughts about hiring Eric Gordon to apply his controversial humor to liven up the Winonan student newspaper. Gordon, the creative force behind Scoop, a short-lived underground campus sheet, raised eyebrows with a March 19 Winonan column that referred to his using drugs and drinking and driving. Among critics was admissions counselor Meg Gernes, who said the Gordon created a damaging, misrepresentive picture of Winona State. Drago responded that the Winonan is not a university publicist. Accreditors review WSU social work programWINONA, Minn., March 25, 1997 -- An accreditation team began a four-day visit of Winona State University to review the social work program. The team, from the Council on Social Work Education, will prepare a preliminary report that the social work faculty can respond with corrections and comment, said prof John Burdick. A decision on accreditation will be made in October, Burdick said. Reported by Amy McPherson. City clerk foresees no drop in liquor licensesWINONA, Minn., March 25, 1997 -- Despite police crackdowns on under-age drinking that have cut Winona bar traffic, City Clerk Jim Pomeroy expects all 47 bars to apply for license renewal in June. Said Pomeroy: "Although it's a tough business, each old or newly bought-out business will apply." Police Chief Frank Pomeroy has predicted an eventual shake-out in the Winona bar business because, in his view, the community can support only about 30 bars. Pomeroy, the city clerk, agrees in the long term that Winona will have fewer bars. See Dec. 15, 1996, article. Democrats seek more higher-ed fundingST. PAUL, Minn., March 25, 1997 -- The Democratic caucus in the Minnesota House vowed to assign $70 million more to higher education than Republican Gov. Arne Carlson proposed. Rep. Gene Pelowski, D-Winona, House high-ed chair, called the decision "a huge victory." The additional funding, totaling almost $1.1 billion if it makes it through the legislative process and survives Carlson's veto pen, would help curb tuition increases, Pelowski said. The Democrats also want expanded job training at community and technical colleges, he said. Prez wants WSU to become "Laptop U"WINONA, Minn., March 25, 1997 -- Winona State University will require all Fall 1998 freshmen to buy university-supplied computers, President Darrell Krueger told faculty leaders. Krueger said the university can make a volume purchase, so the units will be less than $1,000 each. He called on profs to redesign their courses to incorporate the computers. Whether profs do so, he said, will be up to them. Consensus: Booze factor in truck wreckWINONA, Minn., March 24, 1997 -- The police decision to withhold toxicology reports from the accident that killed five Saint Mary's University people March 1 confirmed in most people's minds that alcohol played a role, a straw poll at the Winona Mall found. "Why else won't they give it out?" said one woman. The victims -- two 1995 Saint Mary's grads and three seniors -- died when their truck went into the Mississippi sometime after midnight. See March 22 article. Star Trib columnist: Winona distorting data lawB>WINONA, Minn., March 23, 1997 -- Columnist Doug Grow, writing in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, said Winona City Attorney Rich Blahnik used torturous logic in advising cops against releasing toxicology reports from the March 1 accident that killed five Saint Mary's University young people. Grow said Blahnik glommed onto obscure ambiguities in state open-records requirements. Blahnik's "twisting," Grow said, was in response to pressure from some victims' parents. See March 22 article. See WSU seventh in national forensics meetHIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky., March 23, 1997 -- With one superior and 15 excellent ratings, the Winona State University forensics team finished seventh in the 72-school Pi Kappa Delta national tournament. Sophomore Katie Kallstrom, an English and organizational communication major, led the team with a superior rating in informative speaking. The Winona State Pi Kappa chapter was named the best in the Northern Lights region. Media lawyer: Release accident dataMINNEAPOLIS, March 22, 1997 -- Media lawyer Mark Anfinson called it "preposterous" for Winona police to withhold blood-alcohol data from the Stapleton truck accident that killed five people. Anfinson, of the Minnesota Newspaper Association, said Police Chief Frank Pomeroy was wrong to conclude that the law opens up such data only if the driver is known. For the community to put closure to the tragedy necessitates that everybody know as much as possible about what happened, Anfinson said. See Winona Daily News article. Hard-hit WSU cuts summer coursesWINONA, Minn., March 21, 1997 -- Cautious after disastrous 1996 summer enrollments, Winona State University pared back its summer program. Some academic departments will offer a quarter fewer courses. In 1996, for the second year, enrollment slipped significantly -- down almost a third from the previous year, to 1,564. University statistical analyst Dennis Martin estimated 1996 summer school costs, including faculty salaries, exceeded revenue by $500,000. Cops keep alcohol data under wrapsWINONA, Minn., March 21, 1997 -- Police know the blood-alcohol levels of five Saint Mary's University people who drowned in a truck accident March 1 but won't tell. City Attorney Frank Blahnik interpreted a state law to mean toxicology data should be withheld. Blahnik conceded, however, the law applies explicitly only to coroners. Violation could be a misdemeanor, he said. Police Chief Frank Pomeroy acknowledged pressure from the family of at least one victim to withhold the data. See Winona Daily News article. WSU clamps down on phoningWINONA, Minn., March 20, 1997 -- Academic deans, who are the faculty bosses at Winona State University, began monitoring profs' phone bills to catch long-distance calling that's not for university business. The new procedure, devised by Joanne Rosczyk, campus phone chief, followed the discovery that a student had racked up $3,800 in calls home to Asia by using a prof's calling code. The prof, who had loaned the code to the student, repaid the $3,800. See March 18 article. Cops can't tell who driving Stapleton truckWINONA, Minn., March 20, 1997 -- The official police report on the truck accident that killed five Saint Mary's University people March 1 will say it's impossible to determine who was driving, a source said. The sport-utility truck, which went into the Mississippi, was owned by Tim Stapleton, a 1995 Saint Mary's grad. Stapleton apparently escaped through the sunroof but drowned. The other four bodies were found in the back of the truck, where, rescuers said, it appeared they were trying to kick out the door. Rape case fact-gatherer visits WSUWINONA, Minn., March 19, 1997 -- An insurance investigator visited campus journalists and security people at Winona State University to pick up information about a brutal parking-lot attack on a student in October 1995. The student, who left the university, has filed a $200,000 claim for negligence. At the time, a security camera designed to scan the parking lot across from the Sheehan high-rise dorm was not turned on, according to news reports. Police never found the attacker. See Oct. 25, 1995, article. WSU finds $3,800 in illegit Asia callsWINONA, Minn., March 18, 1997 -- A Winona State University student made $3,800 in unauthorized calls home to Asia, using a prof's state telephone code, records show. There was an additional $1,200 for a "legitimate project," Fred Naas, the university's chief financial officer, confirmed. The prof had given his code to the student for the project. Naas said he was convinced the student was unable to distinguish between personal and business calls, probably for cultural reasons. When the personal calls were discovered on the university phone bill in late August, the prof promptly reimbursed the $3,800, Naas said. Coroner: SMU fivesome all drownedWINONA, Minn., March 18, 1997 -- Five Saint Mary's University people whose truck went into the Mississippi early March 1 died of drowning, death certificates show. Coroner Tom Retzinger found "no signs" to suggest any other cause of death. Retzinger noted, however, that the length of time the bodies were submerged -- five to six days -- made absolute verification of drowning difficult. See Winona Daily News article. Three seek top WSU student postWINONA, Minn., March 17, 1997 -- Three veteran student senators will run for president of the Winona State University Student Senate. Junior Mike Kurowski and sophomores Ryan Kulikowski and Bob Walsheid confirmed plans to file nomination papers. Vice President Tim Greenway said he has lost interest in student government and won't run: "Nobody cares or is interested in what we are doing." The outgoing Senate president, Scott Kluver, declined to endorse any candidate. City likely to fund campus lightsWINONA, Minn., March 16, 1997 -- The Winona City Council is leaning toward more street lighting to improve safety on the Winona State University campus perimeter. A poll found these Council members tentatively in support: David Kluger, Gerry Krage, Harland Knight, Dieter Mielimonka and Mayor Jerry Miller. Mielimonka said, however, that Darrell Krueger, Winona State president, "should give the city money to help pay for the lights." Council members Jay Kohner and Tim Breza were unavailable for the straw poll. The $15,500 lighting project is on the city's 1998 public works budget proposal. "Innocent bystander" hit on head in fightWINONA, Minn., May 15, 1997 -- A Winona State University junior, Robert Navarro, 24, was hit over the head with an aluminum baseball bat while trying to break up a fight at his downtown apartment building. He was treated at the Winona hospital and released. Policeman Thad Pool said Navarro was "an innocent bystander trying to help." Pool said two other men were charged with assault. Reported by Rachel L'Heureux. WSU keeps Sawyer as football coachWINONA, Minn., March 14, 1997 -- Interim football coach Tom Sawyer hardly had a winning season, four victories and seven losses, but his bosses at Winona State University saw potential and decided to issue him a four-year contract. Athletic Director Larry Holstad, who announced the deal, said Sawyer shined in a national search. Holstad said he was impressed that Sawyer, a 1983 Winona State grad, had beefed up off-season training. See Winona Daily News article. Snow, broken plows close WSU againWINONA, Minn., March 14, 1997 -- Snow continued falling, two feet in all, which prompted Winona State University to close for a second day. Academic Vice President Dennis Nielsen, who decides whether to close the campus, said the situation was all the worse because two campus snow plows were broken. WSU has day off because of snowWINONA, Minn., March 13, 1997 -- Academic Vice President Dennis Nielsen woke up to six inches of snow, twice the predicted fall, and decided to shut down Winona State University for the day. City and campus crews had been unable through the night to keep up with falling and blowing snow. Profs urged to call legislators for moneyST. PAUL, Minn., March 11, 1997 -- The Minnesota college profs' union issued an all-points bulletin for members to light up the switchboards at the Legislature in last-ditch lobbying for more higher-ed money. Union chief Dave Abel suggested profs to note to legislators that high-ed funding fell from 19 percent of the state budget to 12 percent over the previous 10 years. Abel said one result has been less-competitive faculty salaries. Also, he said, there has been "deteriorating ability to serve students." WSU creates "virtual" PR courseWINONA, Minn., March 11, 1997 -- An on-line public relations course, in which students keep in touch via computer and never go to a classroom, began at Winona State University -- the university's first entirely on-line offering. Prof John Weis had 70-plus inquiries, but because the course required heavy instructor involvement he limited enrollment to 22. The course was designed for off-campus people. Weis: "The virtual classroom enables people to attend regardless of location." Hearing set in WSU prof slayingSUVA, Fiji, March 11, 1997 -- A Suva man held in the slaying of former Winona State University computer prof Kevin O'Mara will appear before the Fiji High Court on April 27. The issue: Whether Henry Ingvald is guilty of murder or manslaughter or was merely defending himself, deputy prosecutor Wilkinson said. Ingvald was arrested in O'Mara's apartment Feb. 2, 1996, after neighbors heard a struggle. Police found O'Mara bleeding from the head. He died on the way to a hospital. See Feb. 19 story. Prof union emphasizes money issuesST. PAUL, Minn., March 10, 1997 -- The Minnesota college professors' union will emphasize economic issues in upcoming negotiations with the state, insiders say. The sources say David Abel, president of the Inter-Faculty Organization, told Chancellor Judith Easton the union wants to start talking money at the opening session of negotiations. Nursing prof attends accreditation refresherINCLINE VILLAGE, Nev., March 9, 1997 --Nursing prof Linda Seppanen began a four-day training program that will help give Winona State University an inside track as it prepares for a 1998 accreditation review. Seppanen, a site visitor for the National League of Nursing since the 1980s, won't be on the team that evaluates Winona State, but she will return to campus with increased familiarity with the league's expectations. Body of fifth river victim foundWINONA, Minn., March 7, 1997 -- Rescuers found the body of the fifth Saint Mary's University person who died after their truck went into the Mississippi. Tim Stapleton, 24, apparently had escaped through the submerged truck's sunroof but died in the ice-covered river, said Fire Capt. John Rybarczyk. The body was found at the Interstate Bridge off Johnson Street, a quarter mile downstream from where the truck went into the river. Stapleton was a 1995 Saint Mary's grad. See Winona Daily News article. Grieving SMU campus boots reportersWINONA, Minn., March 5, 1997 --News reporters covering the truck accident that killed five Saint Mary's University people were told to stay off the grounds of the private school. Vice President Sharyn Goo said students had felt harassed by reporters seeking interviews and photos. Spokesperson Bob Conover: "We had to reclaim the campus for ourselves." Students said crews from five competing television stations were the most upsetting. See Winona Daily News article. Mississippi yields truck, four bodiesWINONA, Minn., March 5, 1997 -- The bodies of four Saint Mary's University people were found in a submerged sports truck that left the curve on Huff Street and plunged into the Mississippi. The victims: seniors Anne Locher, Mary Clare Karnick and Susan Wall and 1995 grad Jason Collins. Apparently they were trying to escape through a back hatch, police said. A fifth person, Tim Stapleton, may have broken through the submerged truck's sunroof. Searchers continued looking for his body. Police surmised from car-phone signals that the accident happened at 3:22 a.m., March 1. See Winona Daily News article WSU speaker to national tourneyMINNEAPOLIS, March 4, 1997 --A Winona State University junior, Jaceson Hauser, won a berth in the American Forensics Association national tournament by placing first in poetry interpretation in a Twin Cities League tournament. Overall, the Winona State was sixth in the tournament. Tina Ross was second in communication analysis. River, lake searched for SMU fivesomeWINONA, Minn., March 2, 1997 -- Three Saint Mary's University seniors and two recent graduates didn't return from a Friday night on the town, prompting a massive search for their truck. Divers searched Lake Winona on the theory the truck, a Nissan Pathfinder, had crashed through the ice. An aerial search of Mississippi backwaters yielded no trace. Fellow Saint Mary's students turned up nothing on backroads in the bluffs and backwaters. See Winona Daily News article. | CYBER
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