News Briefs: Mother accused of abuse in Hubbard County

Editor's note: The following is a collection of news briefs from Forum Communication Company newspapers in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota.

MINNESOTA

Mother accused of abuse

PARK RAPIDS, Minn. -- A Fargo doctor who examined a Hubbard County toddler in a case of suspected abuse said the 2-and-a-half-year-old had 26 separate injuries that were strongly indicative of “non-accidental trauma.”

When a caseworker told the child’s mother about the documented injuries, Katrice Mae Lund allegedly said, “Yeah, it sucks but bruises heal.”

Lund, 32, of St. Paul Park, is charged with malicious punishment of a child and child neglect/endangerment. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail and/or a $10,000 fine upon conviction. She appeared in Hubbard County District Court on Monday.

The child is disabled and developmentally delayed. The criminal complaint charging Lund states the baby had been seen with multiple bruises throughout her body, missing clumps of hair and pinprick marks on the bottoms of her feet.

The investigation began when a family member brought her to St. Joseph’s Area Health Services on Oct. 17.

The child was subsequently referred to the Fargo doctor, who “found significant multiple bruises over multiple parts of her body including a pattern bruise to her right leg,” the complaint states.

Car rear-ends school bus in Proctor

PROCTOR, Minn. -- A Proctor school-bus driver and four students escaped injury when their bus was rear-ended by a car Tuesday morning.

The woman driving the passenger car apparently suffered minor injuries, including a cut on her head, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

The crash was reported shortly before 8 a.m. on Boundary Avenue between Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 2. According to the State Patrol, the bus that was hit was stopped behind a car and a second bus that was picking up students. The bus that was hit didn’t have its flashers on because it was not picking up or dropping off passengers, the State Patrol said. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Toyota delivers prize vehicle to nonprofict

BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Northwoods Habitat for Humanity was presented with a new Toyota Tundra on Tuesday, fulfilling a contest prize won by the nonprofit this summer.

“Thank you so much,” said Geri Hickerson, executive director of Habitat as she accepted the keys from a Toyota official. “That’s all you can say, thank you. There are no other words to express our gratitude.”

The local Habitat chapter, which serves Beltrami and Clearwater counties, secured the new vehicle through Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good campaign. Through the program, Toyota gave away 100 new vehicles to nonprofits receiving the most votes on a particular day.

Northwoods Habitat for Humanity was one 3,000 initial applicants and one of 500 finalists. On Aug. 8, it was among five nonprofits vying for one of the vehicles; it received the most online votes on that date, securing the win, thanks in large part to supporters who solicited votes via Facebook.

Lodging tax receipts up

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. -- A 3 percent lodging tax in Alexandria is generating big bucks for promoting the local tourism scene.

Through the first nine months of this year, the tax has raised more than $200,000 and is on track to eclipse last year’s record-breaking mark of $237,153 by 4 percent.

Sara Stadtherr, executive director of Alexandria Hotel and Hospitality (AHH) – the organization that collects and oversees the proceeds – went over the numbers with the Alexandria City Council at its meeting Monday night.

The lodging tax is added on to the bills paid by guests staying at 598 rooms at 15 local lodging establishments, which include motels, hotels, bed and breakfasts and resorts.

AHH collected record-breaking totals in six of the first nine months this year, Stadtherr said.

“Not many markets are seeing the growth rates we are,” she told the council.

An AHH board, comprised of five members representing the 14 properties, two from the local tourism organizations and one city council member, decides how the money is spent. It targets demographics in two main areas: the Twin Cities and Fargo-Moorhead, Stadtherr said.

Search on for county administrator

GRANITE FALLS, Minn. — Yellow Medicine County is launching its search for a new administrator after accepting the resignation Tuesday of County Administrator Ryan Krosch.

The County Board of Commissioners agreed at its meeting Tuesday to contract with Springsted Inc., of St. Paul, for the search. Members postponed a decision on appointing an interim administrator.

Krosch had announced earlier to the board that he was accepting a position as administrator for Nicollet County. He begins his new duties in St. Peter after the start of the new year.

Krosch has served as Yellow Medicine County administrator since February 2007. He is the county’s first full-time administrator. The county had shared an administrator with Swift County prior to employing Krosch.

Woman accused of stealing from Legion club

PARK RAPIDS, Minn. -- A Park Rapids woman has been charged with the theft of more than $16,000 in gaming proceeds from the Park Rapids American Legion.

An omnibus hearing in Hubbard County District Court has been set for Dec. 3 in the case of Julie Ihme Swanson, 41.

The criminal complaint states the money, $16,871, was taken over the past four years.

“The defendant stated she would sell bingo cards for cash and pocket the money,” the complaint stated. “She would make the books look like the cards were not sold to hide the theft.”

The theft was discovered during a recent audit of gaming funds.

“The defendant stated by the time she realized she had stolen such a large amount it was too late,” the complaint stated. “The defendant stated she thought she would be caught sooner.”

WISCONSIN

Northern Wisconsin deer harvest up from last year

Hunters registered more deer from Wisconsin’s nine-day firearms season this year than last.

The number of bucks registered increased 12 percent from last year, while the number of antlerless deer increased 4 percent. Overall, 243,739 deer were registered, 7.7 percent more than last year.

Like the rest of the state, hunters registered more deer this year than last in Wisconsin’s four northernmost counties, although the percentage increases were below the statewide numbers.

The number of bucks registered in Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, and Iron counties increased 6 percent from last year, while the number of antlerless deer increased 1 percent. Overall, 10,892 deer were registered in the four counties, 4 percent more than last year.

Boy injured in gun accident

SPRING VALLEY, Wis. --A 9-year-old boy was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul on Saturday after being shot in the leg.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department reports the accident happened about 1:30 p.m. Investigator Marty Shepler said the boy’s 11-year-old brother was unloading a handgun when it accidentally went off.

Sheriff Nancy Hove said the was treated and released from Regions Sunday.

NORTH DAKOTA

Surgeon’s wife file’s civil suit

FARGO – The wife of a Fargo surgeon has sued him for medical malpractice, two days after a Cass County jury found him not guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting her.

The malpractice lawsuit was filed Friday on behalf of Alonna Norberg against her husband, orthopedic surgeon Jon Norberg.

A jury acquitted Jon Norberg Nov. 30 on charges of gross sexual imposition and reckless endangerment.

Jon Norberg denied the criminal allegations that he gave his wife the powerful sedative propofol without her consent and had sex with her while she was unaware. He said that his wife, who also is a doctor, agreed to use the drug to relieve her chronic pain and help her sleep and that the sex was consensual.

Alonna Norberg is seeking more than $50,000 to compensate her for economic damages, including loss of income and employment, as well as damages for mental anguish, emotional distress and pain and suffering.

Man sentenced for child sex acts

FARGO – With the mother of two of his victims sitting in the courtroom, a 22-year-old Fargo man was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Tuesday for engaging in sexual acts with three girls ages 7 to 9.

Frederick Wayne Archdale pleaded guilty in August in Cass County District Court to three counts of Class A felony gross sexual imposition, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

A Class AA charge carrying a potential life sentence was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Archdale entered Alford pleas, meaning he didn’t admit guilt but acknowledged there was enough evidence to convict him.

The alleged crimes took place between February 2011 and Jan. 26, 2012, and Archdale was acquainted with all three victims.

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