E-edition Jan. 5, 2017

Page 1

PINE CITY

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017 VOL. 132 NO. 1 www.pinecitymn.com $1.00

ICEMEN ON FIRE: Dragon hockey squad 1st in Waseca tourney, win 7 in a row. P13

Shooting reported in Pine City STAFF REPORT NEWS@PINECITYMN.COM

ANDREW ESPESETH

Freezing fun on New Year’s Day Pine City Boy Scout Troop 188 and friends ranging from age 10 to age 65 took their annual icy dip near Pine City Beach on Jan. 1. Kylie Nascene, pictured on the left in the top photo, made her very first polar plunge, dropping into the chilly water near Bette Christiansen who was clearly enjoying the refreshing moment. On the left, a semi-submerged Jeff Espeseth gets a visit from granddaughter Ingrid.

2016 a year to remember BY MIKE GAINOR EDITOR@PINECITYMN.COM

It was a year of Olympic glory and election mudslinging, when the Zika virus reminded the world of the fragility of human life and the war in Syria and terror attacks made the world itself seem fragile. It was a year in which we lost musical icons but in which heroes rose up to make a difference in large and small ways. Closer to home, it was a year of mixed blessings. While unemployment approached record lows in

Pine City, the city lost St. Mary’s School and several beloved local businesses, though a number of other businesses opened their doors for the first time. The eyes of the nation were on Pine County Courthouse as self-proclaimed pastor Victor Barnard was sentenced to 30 years in prison for abusing young women in his care, and when rescuers helped save a woman trapped in a burning car. As usual, it was both the best and worst of times.

$1m lottery ticket sold in Rock Creek STAFF REPORT NEWS@PINECITYMN.COM

MIKE GAINOR | THE PIONEER

SEE YEAR IN REVIEW, PAGE 2

Pine County deputies believe that a man suffering from a gunshot wound received on Jan. 2 was not a victim of a random act. The Pine County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Jan. 2 at 9:48 p.m. 911 dispatchers received a call of gun shots in the Pine Terrace Trailer Park located south of Pine Technical and Community College in Pine City. Within minutes, a second 911 caller requested an ambulance at the FirstLight Clinic parking lot in Pine City for a male with a gunshot wound. Deputies arriving on scene at the clinic found a 47-year-old male with a non-life threatening gun shot wound to his left leg. The male was transported to an area hospital and then transferred to a hospital in the Twin Cities. In a press release, the sheriff’s office described the investigation as still being in the early stages. “The initial statement from the victim is not consistent with the investigation findings so far,” the press release stated. “It is believed that this was not a random act. Investigators will be meeting with the victim as soon as possible to re-interview him about the incident.” The Pine County Sheriff’s Office has reported that no suspect has been identified at this time, but that additional information will be released as the investigation proceeds.

One of two $1 million tickets for the Minnesota Millioaire Raffle was sold just south of Pine City. Minnesota Lottery officials announced that one of the two winning tickets (with numbers 349334 and 501460) was sold at the Rock Creek Pit Stop at 5987 State Highway 70. The other million-dollar ticket was sold at a Kwik Trip in Coon Rapids. For a complete list of the 4,164 Jan. 1, 2017, winning Minnesota Millionaire Raffle numbers, visit https://www.mnlottery.com/games/raffle_2017/ winning_s/

Anglers enjoyed coming out for the 2016 Pokegama Ice Derby whether they caught anything or not.

WARM UP BY THE FIRESIDE OF YOUR COZY NEW HOME Stop in or callToday!!

NMLS #416535 CLASSIFIED ADS 320-629-6771 mel@countystar.com

NEWS 320-629-6771 editor@pinecitymn.com

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PINE CITY 320-629-5000 1015 Hillside Ave. SW

RUSH CITY 320-358-0800 1275 W 4th St. BREAKING NEWS, UPDATES Whenever, wherever you are! Scan me with your smartphone


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E-edition Jan. 5, 2017 by Pine City Pioneer - Issuu