Linda Vanderwerf
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I cover education issues for the West Central Tribune and have worked for the paper since 1995. I have worked in journalism since 1981.
Follow me on Twitter: @lindavanderwerf
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- Member for
- 5 years 6 months
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GRANITE FALLS — A man was listed in critical condition Friday at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis after being found bleeding from apparent gunshot wounds early Friday morning south of Granite Falls. According to a news release from the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office, a caller reported at 12:41 a.m. Friday that a man was lying on Highway 23 covered in blood at the intersection with 260th Avenue south of Granite Falls. The release did not include information about the man’s age or city of residence.
WILLMAR — The new principal at Litchfield Middle School will be coming from Willmar. Beckie Simenson, assistant principal at Willmar Middle School, will be in charge of the Litchfield school beginning Aug.
WILLMAR — The Willmar School Board could be making budget cuts next year, despite funding increases from the state. At Monday’s board meeting, board members and administrators discussed some of the reasons that cuts could be looming Business and Finance Director Pam Harrington said questions were raised in the community after the board approved the 2014-15 budget last month.
MONTEVIDEO — A 37-year-old Milan man has died after a one-vehicle rollover crash late Tuesday morning. According to a report from the Minnesota State Patrol, Siprian Ysikar, 37, of Milan, was a passenger in the vehicle when it left the road and rolled over on Highway 59 north of Montevideo. The driver, Steve R. Stephen, 44, of Milan, and another passenger, Marvin Kuttono, 19, of Milan, were uninjured. All three were wearing their seat belts.
WILLMAR — Marvin Roberto Paz, 29, of Willmar is being held in the Kandiyohi County Jail on $50,000 bail, charged with second-degree assault in a stabbing Saturday evening in downtown Willmar. Paz made his first court appearance on the felony charge Tuesday morning in Kandiyohi County District Court. Judge Michael Thompson granted his request for a public defender.
WILLMAR — The West Central Integration Collaborative closed its office doors last week after 11 years serving area school districts. The day after they left the office for the last time, director Idalia “Charly” Leuze and assistant director Leslie Kelly talked about the work they’d done and their pride in the collaborative’s accomplishments. In the beginning, much of their work was with Latino students and families, and their work expanded as more Somali families moved to town.
WILLMAR — The West Central Integration Collaborative closed its office doors last week after 11 years serving area school districts. The day after they left the office for the last time, director Idalia “Charly” Leuze and assistant director Leslie Kelly talked about the work they’d done and their pride in the collaborative’s accomplishments. In the beginning, much of their work was with Latino students and families, and their work expanded as more Somali families moved to town.
ATWATER -- Two people were injured Saturday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash in Atwater. Kamal H. Ahmen, 27, of Willmar, and Kama H. Ahmed, 23, of Willmar, were taken to Rice Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to the report from the Minnesota State Patrol. The report said both were wearing their seat belts, and their air bags deployed. The driver of the other vehicle, Lloyd G. Swenson, 72, of Atwater, was uninjured.
MILAN — The Minnesota State Patrol has released the identification of a driver injured in a one-vehicle rollover crash Friday morning. Raphael Marson, 27, of Milan was seriously injured in the crash, according to the State Patrol report.
WILLMAR — Kandiyohi County commissioners expressed their support for a new drug court program which starts this week in the Eighth Judicial District. The County Board heard a report on drug court at its meeting Tuesday morning. The drug court will divert addicts accused of committing felonies into an intensive program aimed at helping them turn their lives around. Meeker and Kandiyohi counties will work together on drug court. Karon White, drug court coordinator, said the program will not be open to people who are first-time offenders.