Pioneer PINE CITY
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22 , 2018
VOL. 133 NO. 47 www.pinecitymn.com $1.00
HOT SHOTS: Find out who bagged big bucks during this past weekend of deer season. P9
PHOTO PROVIDED
Plans for the Hillside Avenue/County Road 7 bridge across Interstate 35 include a decorative railing along the north side with the Pine City logo at the center.
Bridge plan includes lights, logo PHOTO PROVIDED
Governor’s Christmas tree cut down in Pine County The holidays are coming to the Governor’s residence in St. Paul. Foresters from the Department of Natural Resources and the Conservation Corps of Minnesota harvested the official state Christmas tree last Friday from the Nemadji State Forest. The tree, which is approximately 60 years old, will decorate the Governor’s residence in St. Paul. “This year’s tree is absolutely gorgeous—tall, full, and almost perfectly shaped,” said Jean Mouelle, the DNR forester who selected this year’s tree. “It’s an impressive example of a balsam fir.” Each year, DNR staff choose the Governor’s Christmas tree from one of Minnesota’s 59 state forests. Although the tree is always harvested on the Friday before Thanksgiving, the search for the perfect tree begins months beforehand. DNR foresters keep an eye out for a tall tree that’s nicely shaped and well filled out. The tree also needs to be in a location where it will not be damaged when dropped, and where foresters can easily remove it from the forest and load it onto a trailer. The tree will be set up at the Governor’s residence, 1006 Summit Ave., St. Paul, at 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 19, and lit Monday, Nov. 26. Information about viewing the tree can be found at www.mn.gov/admin/governors-residence/tours/schedule.
BY MIKE GAINOR EDITOR@PINECITYMN.COM
Pine City officials are making plans to add visual elements to the Hillside Avenue/County Road 7 bridge across Interstate 35 to bring travelers’ attention to Pine City. The overpass is scheduled to be torn down and rebuilt next year. Plans include a decorative railing across the north side of the bridge next to a pedestrian sidewalk, and LED lighting set in a channel along the bridge parapet. SEE BRIDGE, PAGE 15
Suspects arrested after armed robbery in Hinckley BY MIKE GAINOR EDITOR@PINECITYMN.COM
Three men have been charged after the armed robbery of the Holiday convenience store in Hinckley on Nov. 12. Nicholas P. Thorson, 27, of Willow River; Byron J. Sternaman, 37, of Hinckley and Michael Alan Hanson, 24, of Chaska face felony charges for their alleged involvement with the crime. According to the Pine County Sheriff’s Office, on Nov. 12 at 11:32 p.m., officers were dispatched to an armed robbery at the Holiday. The perpetrator had left the scene but was described as a tall white male wearing all black with
a gray bandanna covering his face, who had pointed a gun at the employee, stolen the cash from the register, put it in his pocket then ran out of the store. The employee then pressed the silent alarm. Officers began searching the area for the suspect. Another employee at the store – Byron J. Sternaman – said he did not see what happened and only found out about it after the robber left. However, when officers later reviewed the surveillance video they could see Sternaman standing behind the register and looking in the direction of the robbery as it happened. Surveillance video from the Holiday
store showed that the male appeared to have been dropped off by a vehicle around 11:29 p.m. near Hardees on the north side of the Holiday parking lot. He exited the Holiday at 11:30 p.m. and ran west. Surveillance video from the Firehouse liquor store showed the suspect get into a maroon Chevrolet Tahoe with silver rims and no front license plate. The vehicle then drove out of the parking lot. Surveillance video from Grand Casino Hinckley was able to locate footage of the Tahoe entering the parking lot of the Great Northern Inn at 11:34 p.m. They entered room 245, which was later
found to be registered to Sternaman. The two men and a woman left the hotel 17 minutes later, but had to contact casino for security for assistance as they had locked themselves out of the Tahoe. They left at 12:17 a.m. on Nov. 13 and went to the Kwik Trip. Officers observed the room and saw two people enter at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 13. They applied for a search warrant to search the room. While waiting for the warrant, a male exited the hotel room. This was Sternaman. Deputies approached him, and he told them he was on his way to work
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