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BREAKING NEWS: Owatonna Shooting

Publisher — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 13:20:33 +0000

BREAKING NEWS: Owatonna Shooting Publisher Thu, 07/02/2026 - 15:20

Kay Fate, Staff Writer

An Owatonna man was taken into custody early Thursday morning after authorities say he fired a gun toward police officers, then later shot himself.

According to the Owatonna Police Department, dispatchers received a call about 8:20 p.m. regarding the 36-year-old; he was reported to be in crisis and had left in his vehicle.

About an hour later, officers spotted the vehicle on West Bridge Street; when they performed a traffic stop on South Oak Avenue and Southview Street, they saw cuts on the driver’s arm.

The man became uncooperative during the stop, the OPD statement says, then reached for a gun and began shooting at the officers before fleeing in his vehicle. He stopped about two blocks away in the 200 block of West McKinley Street, between Oak and Linn avenues.

Law enforcement shut down the area and issued a shelter in place order about 10:15 p.m. Residents in all of Steele and Rice counties received the alert.

The man shot himself about two hours later, the police statement says. He was taken into custody without further incident and transported for medical care.

No officers were injured in the incident; there is no mention if officers returned fire when the man shot at them, though video from the incident shared online clearly indicates two different weapons were fired.

The scene remains under investigation, and some roads may remain closed.

Officers from Steele and Rice county sheriff’s offices and the Minnesota State Patrol assisted, along with SWAT teams from the South Central Drug Investigation Unit and Rice County.

Authorities will release more information as it becomes available.

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BP and Hayfield create football co-op for fall 2026

Publisher — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 01:11:56 +0000

BP and Hayfield create football co-op for fall 2026 Publisher Wed, 07/01/2026 - 03:11

Johnnie Phillips, Sports Editor

Blooming Prairie’s Lukas Loverink dives for the pylon to score a touchdown against Fillmore Central in a game during the 2024 season. Blooming Prairie will co-op with Hayfield this coming fall to freate the Blooming Prairie-Hayfield football team for a minimum of two seasons. Staff photo by Johnnie Phillips

Blooming Prairie and Hayfield High Schools will put their football rivalry to the side in 2026 and instead join forces as the Blooming Prairie-Hayfield co-op football team this coming fall after news of the union was made public today.

Hayfield Schools Superintendent Gregg Slaathaug made the information public with a post to Facebook around 3 p.m.

“I wanted to share an important update regarding our football program for the upcoming school year. After many thoughtful discussions, Hayfield and Blooming Prairie have agreed to enter into a cooperative agreement for football for students in grades 7-12,” said Slaathaug in his post to the Hayfield Community Schools Facebook page.

The two teams join forces after program participation numbers have fluctuated in the past few seasons for both teams.

“The number one reason for this cooperative agreement is student safety. As participation numbers continue to fluctuate, it is our responsibility to provide a safe environment where students can compete, develop, and enjoy the game of football. Just as important, we want every student-athlete to have the opportunity to be part of a positive, competitive, and rewarding experience,” said Slaathaug.

Both teams have a storied history of going toe-to-toe on the gridiron, but Slaathaug doesn’t see the change interfering with either town’s football identity.

“I know this is a significant change, and I also know how much pride both communities have in their football traditions. Please know that this decision was not made quickly or lightly. Throughout this process, one priority remained above everything else-our students,” he said.

More information is still to come about the co-op’s next steps.

“Many details are still being finalized, and additional information will be shared with families as those decisions are made. At this time, we can share that the cooperative agreement will include grades 7-12. Practices and games will be hosted in both communities, uniforms will be shared, and each school will continue to celebrate its own homecoming and traditions. Our team will compete as the Blooming Prairie Hayfield Football Team,” he said.

According to him, the co-op will last “for a minimum of two years.”

The Times will continue to update its reporting as new information is made available.

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Council puts public safety facilities on the ballot

Publisher — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:52:19 +0000

Council puts public safety facilities on the ballot Publisher Wed, 06/17/2026 - 05:52

Kay Fate, Staff Writer

Dozens of residents filled the Owatonna City Council Chambers for Tuesday night’s meeting, when councilors unanimously approved calling a special election relating to the issuance of bonds for the construction of two new public safety facilities in town. Staff photo by Kay Fate

With little fanfare, the issue that has dominated Owatonna City Council meetings – and conversations around town – has been settled … for now.

Councilors voted unanimously Tuesday night to authorize a vote on the issuance of bonds to finance the construction of two new public safety facilities.

The question of spending up to $65 million to build a new police station and new fire hall will be on the ballot in a special election, held in conjunction with the Nov. 3 general election.

Residents have been showing up at city council meetings for months to weigh in on the proposed project; the vast majority are against the current plan.

While no one disputes that the firefighters and police officers need better facilities, it’s the location of the police station, specifically, that drew the most opposition.

The plan is to build the new police station on the West Hills Campus, a city-owned 40-acre parcel of land that was once home to the State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children. About 11,000 children lived there from 1886 through 1946, when it closed.

The entire campus is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The two-pronged project calls for the Owatonna Police Department to move into a temporary facility on Bridge Street, tear down the existing police station and construct the new fire hall on that site.

Meanwhile, the new facility at West Hills would be built while the police occupy the Bridge Street building.

Multiple residents who have frequently voiced their objection to the project as presented used their time during the public comment portion of the meeting to thank the council for putting the measure to a vote.

A complete story about the meeting will appear in the June 24 edition of the Steele County Times.

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BREAKING NEWS: Man killed in UTV crash

Publisher — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:02:43 +0000

BREAKING NEWS: Man killed in UTV crash Publisher Thu, 06/11/2026 - 23:02

An Owatonna man has died in an UTV crash in Merton Township.

The Steele County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as James Duane Hansen, 63, of Owatonna.

The incident happened when Hansen was operating a Polaris Ranger UTV around 5:15 p.m. on June 1 at 2759 44th Ave., according to the Sheriff’s Office. Reports indicate Hansen was found pinned under the driver’s side of the UTV by a neighbor who was just returning home from work. Deputies provided life saving measures until they declared him deceased.

The Sheriff’s Office report indicates a culvert was likely responsible for making the UTV overturn.

Owatonna Fire and Mayo Ambulance assisted at the crash scene. Mayo Air Ambulance had been dispatched but canceled once it was determined Hansen was deceased.

Hansen is survived by his wife Stacy.

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BREAKING NEWS: Owatonna police chief to retire

Publisher — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:16:24 +0000

BREAKING NEWS: Owatonna police chief to retire Publisher Fri, 06/05/2026 - 20:16

Owatonna’s police chief has announced he will retire on Sept. 18.

With his retirement, Chief Jeff Mundale will conclude a career of more than 30 years in law enforcement service to Owatonna. He became chief in 2022 after the retirement of Keith Hiller, who had been in the chief’s role for 12 years.

Mundale’s retirement comes at a critical time for the city as it tries to build a new police station. He is the second top chief to leave the city this year. In February, Fire Chief Ed Hoffman left Owatonna for “personal reasons.”

The police chief joined the Owatonna Police Department in 1995 as a patrol officer and steadily advanced through the organization, including five years on the regional SWAT team and 10 years in the training unit. He served as patrol sergeant, administrative sergeant, patrol captain and ultimately chief starting in 2022. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his commitment to public safety, professional excellence, community engagement and is the recipient of many service awards and commendations.

"Chief Mundale's impact on the City of Owatonna extends far beyond his years of service," said City Administrator Jenna Tuma. "His leadership, integrity and dedication to our community have strengthened both the Police Department and our organization. We are grateful for his service, friendship and the high standard he has set for future leaders."

Under Chief Mundale's leadership, the department built on a strong foundation of community partnerships while maintaining a focus on public safety and professional standards.

The city plans to recognize Chief Mundale's career and contributions at a retirement reception later this year. Details regarding the event will be announced in the coming weeks.

The city will also begin a comprehensive recruitment process immediately to identify Owatonna’s next chief. City leaders are committed to conducting a thorough search to attract highly qualified candidates who will continue the department's tradition of service and leadership while helping guide the organization into the future.

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Rural internet provider closes without notice

Publisher — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:03:59 +0000

Rural internet provider closes without notice Publisher Wed, 06/03/2026 - 15:03

Kay Fate, Staff Writer

An area internet provider has abruptly closed, leaving customers without service and with no way to contact anyone – and now says he has filed for bankruptcy protection.

Questions about the status of Radio Link Internet, based in Ellendale, began late Monday morning; by 3 p.m., customers had turned to social media to seek out others affected.

By then, the phone numbers for both customer service and tech support had been disconnected; people in the area drove to owner Dan Petsinger’s home, which also housed the office. There, the business signs were down and orange construction cones blocked the driveway.

Two men were in an outbuilding, removing Radio Link Internet logos from vehicles.

Petsinger wrote in an email statement to the Times on Wednesday morning that “due to a recent downturn in support for local communications providers, coupled with a shifting community response regarding RLI’s presence in the area, the decision was made to dissolve the business.”

About 4 p.m. Monday, customers said they received word from the business via email, but with no mention of the bankruptcy:

“We are writing to inform you that Radio Link Internet has permanently closed all business operations, and all internet services have been shut down.

“Please be advised that this shutdown includes all of our communication channels. Our website, customer phone lines and company email addresses are no longer active or monitored …”

That prompted customers to question how they would receive refunds; prepayment for the internet service was made yearly. Some said they had just paid Radio Link for the upcoming year as recently as March or April, leaving them asking for a refund for the 10 months prepaid – with no expected service.

Filing for bankruptcy protection allows “breathing room” for a person or business to reorganize their finances – and stop creditor collection efforts – while remaining operational.

Since Petsinger has admitted his business has closed, it’s unclear how he plans to reorganize his finances. The “protection” also allows filers to keep assets.

Though the business was rarely named, it was at the heart of several lawsuits filed by – and against – Petsinger. Included as defendants are the city of Ellendale; members of the Ellendale City Council and several officials in Steele County.

In addition to losing the lawsuits and subsequent appeals, Petsinger was ordered to pay legal fees for many of the defendants.

He owed more than $32,000 to Ellendale and nearly $29,000 to cover the county’s attorney fees.

Petsinger has long sought to use the water towers in rural towns on which to place his internet service equipment; New Richland is the most recent city to order Petsinger to remove the equipment from its water tower.

In May of last year, he said he had “over 700 households and/or businesses that count on the service for broadband communication.”

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BREAKING NEWS: Owatonna church hit with major embezzlement

Publisher — Sat, 16 May 2026 15:07:06 +0000

BREAKING NEWS: Owatonna church hit with major embezzlement

Ellendale woman charged with the theft of $350K from Associated Church

Publisher Sat, 05/16/2026 - 17:07

Kay Fate, Staff Writer

An Ellendale woman accused of embezzling more than $350,000 from an Owatonna church has told authorities there was an issue with the bookkeeping software – but has been unable to provide documents to prove it.

Vanessa Ann Stoltz, 40, was charged by summons last week in Steele County District Court with one count each of theft by swindle and theft-no consent, both felonies.

She is expected to make her first appearance July 20.

Stoltz was hired to serve as the financial coordinator for Associated Church, working part-time and earning about $20 an hour; she was in charge of payroll, which involved access to the church’s QuickBooks account.

Church officials told detectives that when the board periodically asked Stoltz about their financial picture, she would “only provide small bits of information and not a complete summary,” promising – but failing – to get them the data they requested.

In late summer of 2025, the IRS informed church leaders they had not paid payroll taxes; when they questioned Stoltz, “they did not receive a clear answer” about the issue.

The last contact the church had with Stoltz was in November; it remained “locked” out of QuickBooks, so sought help from a local accounting firm – which was able to access the church’s account.

According to the criminal complaint, the bookkeeping records showed Stoltz had grossed nearly $450,000 in 2024 and 2025 – $350,000 more than her expected salary for that time. Church leaders contacted law enforcement.

In December, a detective spoke with Stoltz, who confirmed she was the financial manager for the church, working part-time.

She told the detective she was aware of a problem with QuickBooks, claiming something happened when the church moved from “desktop to online,” and that she brought the issue to the attention of church leaders.

The church had provided her with a laptop computer so she could work from home.

Stoltz denied receiving any extra/over payments, the document says, and told the detective she was “broke.”

The complaint further outlines that the accounting firm found that Stoltz was the only employee to be overpaid; the funds were direct-deposited into a local bank, aligning with the payroll schedule on QuickBooks.

The funds were spent down each month on items such as Amazon payments, credit cards, clothing and food delivery services, liposuction and body-contouring treatments and more.

A search warrant of Stoltz’s bank account did not reveal any type of reimbursement to the church, the report says.

During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that four checks were written to Stoltz and signed by a church leader; the leader told law enforcement none of the signatures were hers.

The checks – totaling nearly $7,000 – were allegedly deposited into Stoltz’s bank account.

When the detective spoke to Stoltz again in February, she again confirmed her wage, hours and responsibilities, including processing payroll for the church over the past two years.

According to court documents, Stoltz again mentioned the issues with QuickBooks, saying it “could show she was being paid essentially double,” but there would also be a refund noted.

She reportedly said the excess payments were never deposited into her bank accounts, and agreed to provide investigators with copies of her bank statements to prove it.

Stoltz made arrangements to send the statements to the detective; as of Feb. 10, he had not received correspondence of any kind from her.

Associated is a community of faith of the Presbyterian Church and the United Church of Christ located on Owatonna’s south end.

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State’s letter questions council’s denial of EAW

Publisher — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 23:52:25 +0000

State’s letter questions council’s denial of EAW Publisher Sat, 04/25/2026 - 01:52

Kay Fate, Staff Writer

A letter to Owatonna’s city administrator indicates the city council’s decision to deny a request for an Environmental Assessment Worksheet was made with incomplete – and possibly misleading – information.

The State Historic Preservation Office sent the correspondence to Jenna Tuma last week. Also on the letter is Chris Ziemer, identified as a business development executive for ICS – the construction manager for the proposed public safety facilities in Owatonna.

According to SHPO, the project – which would see a new fire hall and a new police station built – “meets the criteria that require consultation with our office.”

The new facilities, which have an estimated price tag of more than $61 million, have been a lightning rod for community activism in the past six months – four years after discussions began, and nearly two years after planning began in earnest.

In addition to the cost, residents oppose the location of the new police station: On the West Hills Campus, which is a National Register of Historic Places designated district, and is owned by the city.

The grounds are the site of the former Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children. From 1886 to 1945, more than 10,000 children were sent to the facility that was once the third-largest institution of its kind in the nation.

It now houses a State School museum; its cemetery; the Owatonna Arts Center; Little Theatre of Owatonna, City Hall and more.

Owatonna residents filed a petition request for an EAW – which was denied at the Owatonna City Council meeting on March 17, via a resolution.

One line in the resolution, however, is problematic: WHEREAS, additionally, City staff and consultants have consulted with the State Historic Preservation Office and the State Archeologist about the Project;

“This statement does not accurately reflect the status of consultation,” the letter from SHPO says.

In fact, it says, the organization “only received a formal request for consultation for the police facility construction on March 17,” which provided very little time for anything to be done by the council meeting that night, much less a full consultation.

Additionally, the attachments for the request by the city were not received until March 19 – two days after the meeting.

Finally, a request for the fire station consultation was not included – nor had SHPO received it as of April 10.

The State Archeologist had not received a request on either facility, again, as of April 10.

The five-page letter goes on to say that “the placement of the new police facility is likely to adversely affect characteristics of the State Public School that qualify it for listing in the National Register, in ways that diminish its integrity.”

While much of the debate has centered around the new police station, the 1906 fire hall is also drawing attention from SHPO.

“Construction of the new fire station potentially will result in change of use, vacancy, loss of original materials and neglect of the Owatonna City and Firemen’s Hall.”

It, too, is listed in the National Register, as well as contributing building within the National Register-listed Commercial Historic District in Owatonna.

A call seeking comment from Tuma was not returned Friday.

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City deems petition ‘sufficient’

Publisher — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:31:19 +0000

City deems petition ‘sufficient’

Next steps to be determined

Publisher Wed, 04/15/2026 - 20:31

Kay Fate, Staff Writer

Owatonna city officials have determined the petition submitted by residents requesting a vote on whether to issue bonds for two new public safety facilities is “legally sufficient.”

The petition, which had nearly four times the number of signatures required, was presented to City Administrator Jenna Tuma on April 2; the city had 10 business days to complete the review and issue its decision.

The announcement was made this afternoon that the paperwork met the legal requirements to be certified as “sufficient” under Minnesota law.

“The city’s role in this process was to ensure the process is handled fairly, accurately and transparently,” Tuma wrote in the announcement.

“The petition meets the legal requirements under state law and now our city council will determine (the) next steps. We are committed to ensuring the community remains informed as this moves forward.”

The Owatonna City Council will discuss the next steps at is April 21 council meeting.

To force a reverse referendum – a demand to put the issue to a public vote – the petition needed 721 signatures; organizers collected 2.766 – 315 pages’ worth. The city’s review whittled the number down to 2,436 valid signatures.

Council members last month voted to provide preliminary approval to issue up to $65 million worth of bonds to build a new fire hall and a new police station.

Residents have voiced their concerns with both the cost and the location of the new police station: The West Hills campus, which is a National Register of Historic Places designated district. It is owned by the city.

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Nationally renowned Christian singer Jeremy Camp to star at fair

Publisher — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Nationally renowned Christian singer Jeremy Camp to star at fair Publisher Wed, 03/18/2026 - 19:00

Kay Fate, Staff Writer

Camp. Thunderstorm.

It’s not a recipe for a disastrous weekend – it’s two-thirds of FaithFest on the Fairgrounds, planned for the 2026 Steele County Free Fair.

Jeremy Camp will headline the Aug. 19 Christian music night, with special guests Jon Reddick and Thunderstorm Artis.

“We’re making it more of a family event,” said SCFF Manager Scott Kozelka, “and if we’re doing it, we’re going to do it right.”

That will include packages for youth groups or church groups; staff has been sending Save the Date cards to churches and youth groups.

“This is a top-notch lineup,” said Rhonda Bennett, with the SCFF. “I like Jeremy Camp, but our special guests are awesome, too.”

The price is right, too, Kozelka said.

“What we’re charging to see three national acts is unheard of,” he said.

Tickets are available online at https://tickets.scff.org/p/tickets.

The music begins at 6 p.m. with Artis, a Hawaiian native who grew up surrounded by creativity, which shaped his blend of folk, pop, soul and gospel.

He rose to national prominence as a finalist on “The Voice” and later captured the hearts of millions as a Top 5 finalist on “American Idol.”

Artis is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist; his newest single is “I Just Want You to Know,” a reminder of what matters most in life and love.

That message dovetails nicely with the music of Camp, Billboard’s No. 2 Christian artist of the decade.

Much of the musicians’ work is about family, Kozelka said.

Between 2002 and 2025, Camp released 12 albums, five of them RIAA-certified as gold. He has sold more than 6.5 million albums, with 45 No. 1 singles across all formats.

He is currently touring with Toby Mac, including a concert last weekend in Minneapolis.

Camp’s music has earned him numerous awards and nominations across the Christian and secular music industries, including five GMA Dove Awards, a Grammy nomination, three American Music Award nominations and four ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Awards.

Outside of music, Camp had an international theatrical movie release in 2020 called “I Still Believe,” which hit No. 1 in the box office opening weekend. The film depicted his life story of the love and loss of his first wife after a battle with cancer.

Camp, who is expected to take the stage about 8:30 p.m., has always written songs about his experiences and continues to write from the deep places of his heart.

Reddick, the main special guest, will precede Camp.

A worship pastor and songwriter, he has a heart for the church and the songs that pour out from congregations into world.

On Aug. 13, 2017, he found himself at a crossroads. It was a Sunday morning and he was on deck to lead worship. But that Sunday was different.

He’d spent the previous two days hearing about the events unfolding in Charlottesville, Va., where white supremacists surrounded a small group of Black protesters on the University of Virginia campus. The protest, which quickly turned violent, garnered national attention and resulted in three deaths.

“There was so much discord surrounding that event,” Reddick said. “It was really difficult being a minority in a moment like that. It was a really lonely feeling. All I could think about was my 12-year-old son and how someone could hate him before ever getting to know him. It was the first time I’d allowed myself feel the pain of racism in a deep way. In that moment, I wished I had the right song, something that could talk about hope.”

Reeling from the hurt of racism and searching for a way to communicate it to the congregation, Reddick asked God to give him the words to express what he was feeling.

A few days later, Reddick went to a songwriting session with some friends, where the song “You Keep Hope Alive” was birthed. “It felt like God had answered my prayer from that Sunday morning,” Reddick said.

The song was incorporated into the church’s worship service, where it instantly connected. What started as a personal prayer to deal with his own hurt became an anthem for the congregation.

Reddick has worked on songwriting with artists like Matt Redman, Tommy Sims, Josh Kerr, Nicole C. Mullen and Sheryl Crow.

“We’re excited,” Kozelka said of the lineup. “We want this to succeed; we want people to get excited every year about our Wednesday night” entertainment.

Thursday is tribute night, with Hairball; Friday is country night, with performers Randy Houser and special guest Cori Kennedy, a Dodge County native who found fame in the last season of “The Voice.”

The 2026 Steele County Free Fair runs from Aug. 18-23.

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