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Thursday, August 07, 2008
Lake Elmo Leader


Minnesota News

Rita and Marty Javens of rural Cottonwood sit outside the Kandiyohi County Courthouse in Willmar during the trial Wednesday of Olga Marina Franco Del Cid. The Javens lost two sons in a Feb. 19 crash Franco was convicted of causing. staff photo by Bill Zimmer
Rita and Marty Javens await verdict in Willmar

Franco guilty of all 24 counts

08/07/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota News
WILLMAR — Olga Marina Franco Del Cid was found guilty of all 24 counts, including criminal vehicular homicide, for driving a minivan that caused a school bus crash and killed four students near Cottonwood.

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Schools' progress toward federal education requirements.

More schools miss federal benchmark

08/07/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota News
ST. PAUL – Small schools in rural Minnesota fared best in the latest round of federal education assessments, but even they are part of a statewide trend of fewer schools meeting the standards.

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Brian Davis, a GOP congressional candidate, says he wants to allow off-shore oil drilling. He said that will help lower farmers' costs.
Brian Davis wants to allow off-shore oil drilling

Debate over off-shore oil drilling reaches into farm country

08/06/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota News
REDWOOD FALLS, Minn. – A southern Minnesota congressional challenger used a Tuesday farm forum to drill home his support for off-shore oil drilling.

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Illustration of Olga Marina Franco Del Cid who testified in her trial Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008, being held in Kandiyohi County District Court concerning the fatal school bus crash on Feb. 19 near Cottonwood, Minn. Illustration by Ron Adams Forum Communications
Olga Franco testifies at her trial

Franco says boyfriend drove minivan that caused school bus crash

08/06/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota News
WILLMAR — Olga Marina Franco Del Cid took the stand Tuesday and testified that her boyfriend, Francisco S. Mendoza, drove the minivan that caused the fatal school bus crash on Feb. 19 near Cottonwood.

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Sen. Norm Coleman counters Al Franken's charge that he votes with President Bush most of the time. Coleman, like Bush a Republican, said he opposed the president's farm bill vetoes, for instance.  Staff photo by Don Davis
Sen. Norm Coleman counters Al Franken's charge

Franken comes out shooting

08/06/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota News
REDWOOD FALLS, Minn. – Al Franken took the offensive in his first face-to-face meeting with incumbent U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman.

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Lake Elmo woman pleads guilty to wildlife smuggling

08/05/2008 12:00 AM
A Lake Elmo woman could face as many as five years in prison over her role in a scheme to smuggle protected wildlife from Laos.

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Olga Marina Franco del Cid

Prosecution rests; Franco defense witnesses testify about man leaving scene from fatal bus crash

08/05/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota News
WILLMAR — The prosecution rested this morning, and the defense team began calling witnesses in the trial of Olga Marina Franco del Cid, 24, of Minneota.

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Families of victims show emotion while the Emerald Society bagpipe and drum group performs following a procession to near the site of last year's Minneapolis bridge collapse. About 600 took part in the Friday evening ceremony.  staff photo by Don Davis
The Emerald Society bagpipe and drum group performs near site of bridge collapse

Friends join in supporting bridge victims

08/04/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota News
MINNEAPOLIS – Peter Hausmann's friends eagerly added their voices to a service honoring victims of the Aug. 1, 2007, Minneapolis bridge collapse.

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Tom Sorel said as Minnesota Department of Transportation commissioner he is working to restore public trust in the agency following the Minneapolis bridge collapse one year ago. But Sorel and others said it will take more time to ease public concerns.
Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner, Tom Sorel

MnDOT still rebuilding image

08/01/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota State News
ST. PAUL – Bodies of Minneapolis bridge collapse victims were still in the Mississippi River last Aug. 2 when inspectors were ordered to give all state bridges another look.

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New laws restrict, protect

08/01/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota State News
ST. PAUL -- If you are a health-care professional looking to make a profit, don't chase an ambulance.

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Charge dropped against mother of autistic churchgoer

07/31/2008 12:00 AM
Carol Race will not face criminal charges for allegedly bringing her severely autistic 13-year-old son, Adam, to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bertha, Minn., on Mother’s Day in violation of a restraining order.

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E’leese Madgett-Manrique, left, and her 16-year-old Arabian gelding “Chip” are escorted Wednesday in Paynesville by Stearns County Sheriffs Mounted Reserve members Cheryl and Arnie Veldkamp. Madgett-Manrique is in the midst of an 860-mile journey to raise funds for U.S. troops. The teen and her mother, Kerry Madgett, hope to raise $16 million through donations to construct a resort-like ranch to offer relief and relaxation to returning troops through equine therapy.  Bill Zimmer/Tribune
Girl rides to raise $16 million for troops

Minnesota girl on trek across state to raise funds for a unique ranch for returning troops

07/31/2008 12:00 AM
PAYNESVILLE, Minn. — One girl. One ride. One seriously huge undertaking. Twelve-year-old E’leese Madgett-Manrique of Plymouth, mom Kerry Madgett and their 16-year-old Arabian gelding “Chip” weren’t horsing around Wednesday when they rode through Paynesville with a $16 million dream.

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Olga Marina Franco Del Cid

Opening arguments set for this morning in crash trial

07/31/2008 12:00 AM
WILLMAR, Minn. — Opening arguments will begin at 8 a.m. today in the trial of the Guatemalan woman accused of causing the fatal school bus crash near Cottonwood.

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No charges expected in 10,000 Lakes music festival death

07/31/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota News
No charges are expected in the death of a young Wisconsin woman during a music festival near Detroit Lakes, Minn., last week, said Becker County Sheriff Tim Gordon.

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Minnesota Conservation Corps workers Jake Krum, 17, of Winthrop, Minn., (left) and Cindy Hang, 18, of St. Paul unearth the steps of a pump house Tuesday that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps at Gooseberry Falls State Park. Clint Austin/News Tribune
Minnesota Conservation Corps workers unearth pump house steps

Group unearths history at Gooseberry

07/30/2008 12:00 AM
Most people who visit Gooseberry Falls State Park appreciate the work done by Civilian Conservation Corps members, even if they aren’t aware of it.

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As one group of visitors enters a crop circle site, another group exits the wheat field Monday evening east of Fosston, Minn. staff photo by Eric Hylden.
As one group of visitors enters a crop circle site, another group exits

Mysterious crop circles materialize near northwest Minnesota town

07/30/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota State News
FOSSTON, Minn. — The first reports of something amiss in the wheat fields east of here came early Sunday from barking dogs and bawling cows, but no livestock is missing — no people, either — so locals seem inclined to doubt that alien spaceships made a stop at Dean Sorgaard’s place.

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Rosemount chosen for program to study housing choices

07/30/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota News
Rosemount will receive expert help in creating a full range of housing choices in the city through a program sponsored by the Urban Land Institute Minnesota and the Regional Council of Mayors.

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The monumental replica of the Runestone was erected in Runestone Park just east of Alexandria in 1951. Stone for the giant replica was quarried in Cold Spring. Members of the Alexandria Kiwanis Club financed the monument.
Runestone replica dates back to 1951

State frowns on city's plan to move Runestone replica

07/29/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota News
Moving the granite replica of the Kensington Runestone from its long-held spot near Highway 27 is proving to be a monumental task.

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A videographer sets up his camera Monday on the lawn outside the Kandiyohi County Courthouse in Willmar as jury selection begins in the case of a Minneota woman accused of causing a bus crash near Cottonwood that killed four students. Bill Zimmer/Tribune
Videographer prepares equipment outside Willmar courthouse

Six jurors picked in bus crash case; Franco may not testify

07/29/2008 12:00 AM
WILLMAR — Six jurors were selected Monday in the trial of Olga Marina Franco Del Cid, 24, of Minneota, who is accused of causing the fatal Feb. 19 Cottonwood school bus crash.

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West Nile risks high in western, central parts of state

07/29/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota News
WILLMAR — Health officials are urging Minnesotans to watch out for mosquitoes, now that the West Nile virus season is officially here.

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New laws take effect Friday for teen drivers

07/28/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota News
WORTHINGTON — At one time or another, everyone has watched a car pull up and teenagers crawl out in an unending stream, like the clown car at a circus. But a new law that goes into effect Aug. 1 will make it unlawful for new drivers to pack their cars with peers.

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Emergency personnel respond to the scene Feb. 19 of a fatal bus crash at an intersection near Cottonwood. The bus tipped onto a pickup truck driven by James Hancock after being struck by a motorist facing 17 charges as a result of the collision. Hancock was traveling in the opposite lane on Minnesota Highway 23 toward Cottonwood. Photo courtesy of the Marshall Independent
Emergency personnel respond to fatal bus crash scene

Trial for suspect in bus crash starts today

07/28/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota News
WILLMAR — The jury trial of the woman accused of causing the fatal Cottonwood school bus crash begins today (Monday) in Willmar.

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Presidential election results

New site makes overseas voting easier

07/28/2008 12:00 AM
ST. PAUL – The state’s top election official says a new program could boost voter turnout tenfold among Minnesotans overseas.

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Lake Elmo Leader Web IconClick for Minnesota Overseas Vote Foundation Web site
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Bobby Ballstadt surprised his parents, Tony and Candace Ballstadt, when he arrived in the cab of the family pickup en route to the hospital July 9. His big sister, Samantha, was visiting other family members at the time.  staff photo by Cody Buckalew
Ballstadt family with their newest member Bobby

Baby born in pickup truck on way to hospital

07/25/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota State News
Candace Ballstadt chewed on the headrest a bit, trying to distract herself.

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6 months after shooting final suspect in Red Wing murder caught

07/25/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota State News
Nearly six months to the day after a 26-year-old man was gunned down in Red Wing, the final suspect in his murder was arrested.

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty told reporters repeatedly Thursday he no longer will engage in speculation he is a top contender to be GOP presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain's running mate. Pawlenty is a national co-chairman of McCain's campaign.  staff photo by Scott Wente
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty speaks to a crowd in Bloomington on Thursday

Pawlenty cuts off chatter about VP chances

07/25/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota State News
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Gov. Tim Pawlenty went to a gas station Thursday to tout presidential candidate John McCain's energy policy, but what he refused to say will fuel more talk of another kind.

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Taxpayers in need of help should visit with Dept. of Revenue

07/24/2008 12:00 AM
Minnesota News
ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Revenue is warning taxpayers to be wary of tax advice advertisements and instead mend their tax debt with the department’s assistance.

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