Collectors flock to flea market

ROCHESTER, Minn.-The Mayo Civic Center hosted day two of the 44th annual "Rochester Area Builders Home Show" today. Jeremiah Program Rochester sold raffle tickets for these play kitchens built by members of the Rochester Area Builders. Exhibitors there could talk about job openings available in the construction industry. There was also a skills competition for high school students in which they performed tasks such as drill driving. John Eischen, the executive director of Rochester Area Builders, said it's important to get kids interested in the construction industry.

ROCHESTER, Minn.-There was a celebration of love at a toy library today. At the Nana Gogo Toybrary, people could make some love-themed arts and crafts, a ballerina performed for the attendees and danced with them, and Mapleford Studio led participants through some music-in-motion activities. The idea behind the event was to expose kids to various forms of art. Pavs Kumar, the owner and founder of the Nana Gogo Toybrary, said Valentine's Day isn't just about couples.

ROCHESTER, Minn. – A longtime business that has served generations of brides and grooms is abruptly closing its door. Mestads Bridal and Formal Wear in Rochester says it is closing after 43 years. A Facebook post states “With the circumstances over the last three years, COVID being a main...

ROCHESTER, Minn.-Chilly temps have made it more difficult for firefighters to fight blazes. Rochester Fire Department Captain Ben Davis said their air packs, which they use when going into an area filled with smoke, can freeze and not work properly. In those instances, firefighters have to thaw them out or swap them out. They also need to be on the lookout for patches of ice, which can make putting out the fire quite difficult.

ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Otto Bremer Trust is giving $40,000 to the Collider Foundation. “The entire Collider Board and I are so appreciative of the support of the Otto Bremer Trust. Through this support, Collider will be able to do more to help grow and support Rochester's emerging business creators in their dreams of starting their own business,” says Traci Downs, Board Chair of Collider Foundation.

ROCHESTER, Minn. - Rochester Public Schools introduced its new bus tracking app for smartphones recently. It's called FirstView, and the app makes it simple to track bus routes in real time while maintaining the security, privacy and welfare of students. Over 1,000 registrations have already been placed since the app...

ROCHESTER, Minn.- A trailer home was destroyed by a fire at Bob's Trailer Court in southeast Rochester early this morning. The fire started around 12:15 a.m. Crews found heavy smoke and fire coming from it, but no one was inside. The Rochester Fire Department, Rochester Police Department, Mayo Clinic Ambulance...

GOODVIEW, Minn. – One employee was injured by a business fire in Winona County Saturday. The Goodview Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department says it was called to Mississippi Welders Supply in the 5100 block of West 6th Street around 11:31 am Saturday. Firefighters who arrived at the scene say they found heavy flames on a loading dock at the backside of the building and there were propane cylinders on the dock.

ROCHESTER, Minn. - The trailer park where a mobile home burned down early Friday is in the process of closing down. The Rochester Fire Department responded to a fire at a mobile home unit at Bob’s Trailer Park, located at 1915 Marion Road SE. The Rochester Fire Department is investigating how the fire started. The City of Rochester and Olmsted County are discussing preventative measures and enforcement of fire hazards with park ownership and management. No one was inside the unit when firefighters arrived, and no injuries were reported.

ROCHESTER, Minn. - One driver is hurt after a two-vehicle collision on Highway 52 in Olmsted County. It happened around 1:16 pm Friday near mile marker 52. The Minnesota State Patrol says Lauren Elizabeth Mathaus, 21 of Lake Elmo, and Cindy Romero Boettcher, 43 of Preston, were both driving north when their vehicles collided.

ROCHESTER, Minn. - A man accused of stealing over $80,000 from a Rochester business is pleading not guilty. Richard Lee Holston, 44 of St. Paul, was charged in July 2022 with second-degree burglary, third-degree burglary, and felony theft. Rochester police say Holston is one of three individuals who robbed a store in northwest Rocheter on November 4, 2021. Court documents state $80,200 in cash, a truck title, check books, a death certificate, and a company safe were stolen during the burglary.

ROCHESTER, Minn. – A man who threatened to shoot up an Olmsted County business with a semi-automatic rifle is sentenced. Javarie James Smith, 21 of Rochseter, was ordered Thursday to spend five years on supervised probation and either perform 50 hours of community work service or pay a $500 fine. Smith pleaded guilty in November 2022 to one count of terroristic threats.

DODGE CENTER, Minn.-Students at Triton High School learned about opportunities open to them after they graduate at an event called "Beyond High School Day." They could explore options with area employers as well as colleges, the military, and even apprenticeships. Over sixty exhibitors were part of the event. Due to the COVID-19, this is the first time they've been able to do "Beyond High School Day" on a scale like this since 2019. Christi Runnells, the Triton High School counselor, said the event benefits both the students and the employers.

BANCROFT TOWNSHIP, Minn. – A pickup truck and a semi collided on Interstate 35 in southern Minnesota Saturday morning. The State Patrol says it happened just after 7:30 am near mile marker 13 in Freeborn County. A 2017 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Todd Alan Vanessen, 53 of Edgerton, and a 2020 Freightliner driven by Denece Lynn Frisbie, 58, were both northbound on I-35 and alongside each other when they crashed together.

AUSTIN, Minn. - Getting caught sleeping in a car leads to a prison sentence for a St. Paul man. Elijah Denton II, 29, was arrested in August 2021 and charged with two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of fourth-degree assault, fifth-degree drug possession, fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, and driving after revocation.