Hudson Star Observer - crime and courts

River Towns

Just because Gov. Scott Walker put his pen to paper doesn't mean you can put your pedal to the metal yet.

The Department of Transportation says it's still illegal to...

Hudson Star Observer

A Roberts woman accused of burglary and teaching a child to inject methamphetamine was sentenced last week to jail time, probation and enrollment in drug court.

The sentence, issued by...

Hudson Star Observer

A six-person St. Croix County jury determined Wednesday that a man who kidnapped and a raped a girl in Hudson in the 1980s should continue to be held at a...

James L. Thorin, formerly of Hudson, was convicted in 1983 of kidnapping and burglary in St. Croix County.

River Towns

WISCONSIN RAPIDS -- A Marshfield man could be heading to prison for three years, for running a Green Bay Packers ticket scam that cost its victims over $50,000.

Patrick Blachut,...

Hudson Star Observer

Formal charges were filed on Friday against the three men accused of escaping from a New Richmond corrections facility.

Jesse Jamal Fairley, 26, Kyle John Peterson, 19, and Andre Lee...

River Towns

St. Croix County authorities participated Tuesday (June 2) in a major cockfighting-related raid that spanned two western Wisconsin counties.

According to a news release, more than 1,100 birds...

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals workers handle one of the more than 1,100 estimated chickens seized Tuesday in St. Croix and Polk counties. (Photo courtesy of ASPCA)

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals released this photo from a farm in Amery, which allegedly housed birds used in a cockfighting operation that was raided Tuesday in a joint operation. (Photo courtesy of ASPCA)

River Falls Journal

St. Croix County authorities participated Tuesday (June 2) in a major cockfighting-related raid that spanned two western Wisconsin counties.

According to a news release, more than 1,100 birds were seized...

River Towns

Charges were expected to be filed Friday afternoon in a suspected St. Croix County kidnapping case.

Authorities were called at 1:41 a.m. Thursday to a kidnapping complaint at an...

Hudson Star Observer

A man convicted of numerous armed robberies in Wisconsin and St. Croix County will spend at least 17 years behind bars.

Anthony Partee, 31, was sentenced Monday by St. Croix...

Hudson Star Observer

Thomas Woznicki is back in the news. Yes, the same Woznicki of the “Woznicki notice” and “Woznicki fix.”

And he’s trying, once again, to block the release of records—the same...

River Towns

The man accused of kidnapping a woman in southeast Wisconsin and driving her to Eau Claire was found dead with a rifle next to his body.

Eau Claire County Sheriff...

Hudson Star Observer

The driver of a minivan that slammed into a monument at a Houlton cemetery made his initial court appearance last week on felony charges related to the crash.

Bayport, Minn.,...

Hudson Star Observer

St. Croix County authorities participated June 2 in a major cockfighting-related raid that spanned two western Wisconsin counties and resulted in charges against three men.

According to a news release,...

New Richmond News

According to a press release sent out by the Minnesota Department of Corrections, Patrick James Buswell walked away from a minimum-security unit at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater on June 12. He was a...

Hudson Star Observer

A young man seriously injured three years ago when his car was hit by a freight train at a crossing in Baldwin is suing Union Pacific Railroad, a track supervisor...

River Towns

A St. Croix County prosecutor is receiving a promotion.

St. Croix County Attorney Eric Johnson announced Wednesday that prosecutor Michael Nieskes will take on the role of deputy...

Hudson Star Observer

The campus of Hudson High School went from calm to chaos last Tuesday as it became the scene of one of the largest active shooter drills ever conducted in the...

Officers surround a student who appears to be shot. The drill had students trapped in classrooms and fleeing through the hallways.

An officer provided cover as a victim was taken from the school commons where he had been shot. Those injured are not always immediately taken from the scene. The priority for officers is to find the shooters and stop them. Officers also check to be sure that someone who appears to be a victim isn’t actually one of the armed assailants.

St. Croix EMS and Hudson Hospital & Clinic set up a triage area to treat the wounded in the corner of the campus.

Students and teachers ran from the building calling for help. The tags they wore identified their role in the drill but that was the only information they received prior to the event.

St. Croix County Lt. Cathy Borgschatz met students and teachers at the reunification center set up at Faith Community Church. Each person was asked if they had seen any of the shooters or had any information about the shooters. If they did, they were taken aside and interviewed immediately.

Officers moved throughout the school in teams of three searching any space that could hide a shooter.

This student was among those playing dead at last week’s exercise.

What appeared like an accident involving a pedestrian and a driver turned out to be the opening salvo at the “active shooter exercise” at Hudson High School. The drive turned his gun on a fireman there to help. (Hudson Star-Observer photo by Meg Heaton)

Hudson Star Observer

The rising number of prescription drug-related deaths in St. Croix County will be public enemy No. 1 for a new sheriff’s unit set to deploy this summer.

Sheriff John Shilts...

River Towns

The owner of a Somerset fireworks business is offering a reward following the theft of fireworks.

Apple Grand Prix reported about $8,500 worth of fireworks was stolen the night...

River Towns

Drug overdoses have become the leading cause of injury in 36 states, including Wisconsin, according to a national report.

The Trust for America's Health has issued the report that drug...

Walker signs 70 mph speed limit, but drivers need to wait for the signs; GOP tries to fast track 20-week abortion ban; 10 more state news stories

Roberts woman allegedly taught 12-year-old to inject meth

Jury: Convicted Hudson rapist still dangerous

Marshfield man gets prison for role in Packer ticket scam; JFC proposes borrowing millions for educational buildings; 10 more state news stories

Charges filed in New Richmond escape case

Cockfighting raids launched in St. Croix, Polk counties

Updated: Authorities launch cockfighting raids in western Wisconsin

St. Croix County kidnapping report being investigated

Convicted armed robber gets 17 years in prison

Woznicki is fixing for another court battle

Kidnapping suspect apparently killed himself; State Senate votes to ban abortions after 20 weeks; 9 more state news stories

Charges filed against driver in Houlton crash

Cockfighting case generates charges

Minimum-security offender sought by Minn. DOC

St. Croix man sues over railroad crossing accident

Hudson's Nieskes named deputy district attorney

Active shooter drill: keeping it real

New sheriff's department unit will focus on prescription drug abuse

Reward posted following theft of fireworks in Somerset

Drug overdoses now leading cause of injury in Wisconsin; Republicans bicker over budget -- package still not out of committee; 10 more state news stories