Author: Dan Hanger

New Exec. Dir. Starts At PAVSA

DULUTH, Minn. — Sara Niemi is officially in her new role as executive director of PAVSA in Duluth, which is also known as the Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault. Niemi has a Master’s degree in mental health counseling, did graduate internship work at a sexual assault center in Minneapolis and spent the past five years at the…

PAVSA Exec. Dir. Retires After 20 Years Of Advocating For Victims

PAVSA is the Program For Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault

DULUTH, Minn. – A leading voice for victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse in the Twin Ports has stepped aside into retirement. FOX 21’s Dan Hanger talks with Candy Harshner Winkler on her 20 years at PAVSA. “You know, I’ve done a lot of different work in my life, but I really consider this my life’s work,” Candy explained. At…

St. Louis Co. Atty. Mark Rubin To Keep Seat For Another Term

Rubin Is In 8th Year As County's Top Prosecutor

DULUTH, Minn. – St. Louis County Attorney Mark Rubin has been reelected for another four years. 63-year-old Rubin is right now in his 8th year as the county’s chief prosecutor of crimes. Rubin says he thought about retiring for the past eight or nine months, but in the end, he felt he and his team still have unfinished work to…

Popular Canal Park Fountain Undergoing Routine Maintenance

Duluth, Minn. – You know it’s a sign of summer when fountains across the Northland turn back on.  That’s not the case though for a popular Canal Park fountain — across from Little Angie’s — that so many tourists love to walk through.   However, a spokesperson for the city told FOX 21 on Sunday that crews are simply performing routine…

Caricature Business Opens Along Duluth’s Lakewalk

Artist Purchased A License From the City For the Summer

DULUTH, Minn. People strolling along Duluth’s Lakewalk this summer can now see their faces transform on paper. That’s because a caricature business called Lakewalk Memory Lane has popped up near the Endion Station along the Lakewalk. The artist, Adnan Shati, recently retired as a special education teacher in the Twin Cities. He said this new job with the view of…

Teacher Accused Of Sex With Foster Son Who Was Former Student

Karla Winterfeld Is Charged With First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct

DULUTH, Minn. – A teacher with the Duluth School District, Karla Winterfeld, 33, of Duluth, has confessed to having sex with her 15-year-old foster son who is also her former student, according to the criminal complaint in St. Louis County Court. Winterfeld is charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct and is being held on $100,000 bail. According to the criminal…

Zeitgeist’s ‘Spirit Of The Times’ Raises More Than $100K

DULUTH, Minn. – Zeitgeist Center for Arts and Entertainment held its annual ‘Spirit of the Times’ fundraiser Saturday, which raised more than $100,000. Attendees enjoyed food, drinks, improv comedy, and a dance party. The event supports Zeitgeist’s community work like their Zinema 2 movie theater, their Renegade Theatre Company, and efforts to improve food access and transportation equity in Duluth….

Gone Too Soon: Father Of Three Dies From Heroin-Fentanyl Overdose

Austin Overfors Was 24 Years Old

DULUTH, Minn. – The numbers are alarming. More than 40,000 Americans die each year from opioid overdoses, and of that number roughly half of the deaths involved fentanyl, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts say fentanyl is up to 50 times more powerful than heroin, and these days heroin is being laced with fentanyl — resulting…

Stinson Avenue Reopens Near Husky Explosion Site

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Stinson Avenue between Bardon and Hill avenues has reopened following its closure after the Husky Energy fire and explosion. Speed is reduced through the area, and stopping in the roadway is not allowed. Husky representatives said Thursday the closure was necessary so investigators could complete their work and clean up debris along the road. There may also…

Daughter Remembers Father Who Died Working At Sappi Paper Mill

Cause Of Death Under Investigation

CLOQUET, Minn. – FOX 21 learned more about a worker at Cloquet’s Sappi paper and pulp mill who died on the job Tuesday. He’s 53-year old Ryan Martin of Duluth. Circumstances surrounding his death were not made available Wednesday. Authorities are investigating. A Sappi spokesperson said the company is “shocked and saddened.” Martin’s daughter, Melissa Martin, said her father was…

Charges Dropped In Superior Fatal Shooting

Jamar Smith Remains Behind Bars Charged with Unrelated Crimes

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Charges have been dropped against the man arrested in connection to a fatal shooting that happened in Superior in January of 2017. The shooting happened New Year’s Day behind Third Base Bar on Tower Avenue. Jamar Smith, 26, was arrested in connection to the crime, those charges are now dropped. Smith remains behind bars charged with unrelated…

Body Of Missing Virginia Man Found

VIRGINIA, Minn. – The body of a Virginia man missing since December has been discovered. 49-year-old David Pagel’s body was found in a creek on the 900 block of 3rd Street South. A woman walking her dog Friday evening saw a shoe in the creek, which lead law enforcement to search the water for the body. The medical examiner’s office…

Leah Vukmir Wins GOP Endorsement In U.S. Senate Race

MILWAUKEE (AP) –  Republican U.S. Senate candidate Leah Vukmir has won the state party’s endorsement giving her candidacy a boost against challenger Kevin Nicholson. Vukmir won 73 percent of the vote Saturday at the Wisconsin Republican Party convention. Nicholson got 27 percent. It took 60 percent to capture the endorsement. The win means Vukmir can tap into the state party’s resources,…

Superior Police Dept. Swears In New Officers

SUPERIOR, Wis. – It was the annual Law Enforcement Recognition Ceremony on Thursday. Superior Police welcomed five new officers to the department, as they swore to serve their community. “I still can remember the day that I was sworn in and took the oath of office, and I remember how proud I was, and how exciting it was for me,”…

Vista Fleet Starts First Tours Of Season

DULUTH, Minn. — The Vista Fleet started its first tours of the season Wednesday with the Queen boat.  The Vista Star will arrive Thursday for tours.  The Vista Fleet is located behind the DECC, and the city says operations will not be affected at this time while crews work on the delayed seawall reconstruction project in the Minnesota Slip. Categories:…

Fitger’s Brewhouse Owner Finds Way Around Law To Distribute Brewpub’s Beer

Rod Raymond Gives Brewhouse's Beer Recipe Rights To Son To Create 'Duluth Brewhouse'

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s no secret the craft brewing industry is continuing to explode in the Twin Ports. Microbreweries, like Bent Paddle and Lake Superior Brewing can now be found everywhere — in liquor stores, bars and restaurants. But there’s a law still on the books in Minnesota preventing brewpubs like Fitger’s Brewhouse from doing the same. Brewpubs can only…

Vista Queen Arrives In Duluth Port For 2018 Season

Vista Owner Says City Will Be Building Temporary Docking For Safe Harbor During Seawall Construction

DULUTH, Minn. – There is a sigh of relief and excitement for the Vista Fleet’s 2018 tourism season with the arrival of the Vista Queen boat in the port of Duluth. Boat tours begin on Wednesday and the bigger Vista Star will arrive on Thursday. Owner Justin Steinbach said after he did a story last week with FOX 21’s Dan Hanger about…

Pete Stauber Gets Republican Endorsement In 8th Dist.

DULUTH, Minn. – 8th Congressional District candidate Pete Stauber has won the Republican endorsement. The announcement comes after the GOP district convention in Park Rapids, Minn., over the weekend. Stauber is a retired Duluth police officer and current St. Louis County Commissioner. The following statement was released to the media: “It is an honor to receive the endorsement of my…

6 Displaced After House Fire In Chisholm

CHISHOLM, Minn. – The Red Cross is helping six family members after their home went up in flames in Chisholm. The fire broke out around 5:30 a.m. Sunday on the 300 block of 10th Street NW, according to the Northland Fire Wire. Six people, including three children, were taken to the hospital and later released for smoke inhalation. Two family…

Vista Fleet Owner: City’s Delayed Seawall Project Still An Issue For May Opening

Justin Steinbach Says Safe Harbor In Minn. Slip Is Still Not Possible For Two Boats; City Disagrees

DULUTH, Minn. — Justin Steinbach, owner of the Vista Fleet in Duluth, told FOX 21’s Dan Hanger Thursday that promises by the city to have the Vista fully operational by the first week of May for tourism season don’t look so promising after all, which all centers around the delayed seawall reconstruction project. Steinbach says the city did do good…

Final Bids Approved For New Superior Fire Department

SUPERIOR, Wis. – After years of planning, all contracts were in place Tuesday to begin construction for Superior’s new multi-million dollar fire station. Councilors gave the final bids Tuesday night to KBK Services out of Ashland, Wis. Councilor Brent Fennessey told FOX 21 the company came in at the lowest cost for the plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning at…

Charter Season Feeling Cramps With Seawall Reconstruction Delay

William A. Irvin Is 10 Feet Closer To Docks During Seawall Work

DULUTH, Minn. – 12-hour work days, six days a week: That’s the new pace underway for the $6 million seawall reconstruction project in Duluth’s Minnesota Slip that the city says is scheduled to be completed by mid-June, with new bike lanes and sidewalks wrapping up in August. The delayed seawall project has the William A. Irvin pushed out about 10…

Tickets On Sale: Zeitgeist’s ‘Spirit Of The Times Fundraiser & Party’

DULUTH, Minn. – A big fundraiser is approaching at the Zeitgeist Arts Building, are you are invited. The Spirit of the Times Fundraiser and Party is May 19, which helps support the non-profit’s work, like investing in local artists and filmmakers, and addressing disparities in our communities like health, income, and access to fresh food. Tickets are on sale now, and…

Routine Inspections Of Blatnik Bridge Start Monday

DULUTH, Minn. (Press Release) – Motorists travelling on Interstate 35/I-535 and Highway 53 in Duluth will encounter temporary ramp closures for routine Snooper bridge inspections Monday, April 30 through Wednesday, May 2. Monday, April 30 the ramp from northbound I-35 to southbound I-535 and the ramp from southbound Highway 53 to southbound I-535 will close between 9 a.m. and 3…

Clean-Up Effort, Questions Continue After Husky Explosion, Fire; Gov. Walker To Return

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The city of Superior is continuing to stay in the conversation among other local and state agencies as Husky Energy works through the clean-up effort after the historic explosion and fire at the Canadian company’s Superior refinery Thursday. Mayor Jim Paine told FOX 21 Sunday there is no evidence of any lingering health effects or contamination of…

Mental Health Group Launched For Wisconsin Firefighters

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association has launched a task force to help firefighters struggling with mental health issues, following the death of a Superior firefighter who took his own life. Association President Jon Cohn tells Wisconsin Public Radio that members of the task force will receive 40 hours of training to become peer support counselors….

City: Irvin Can Fit Through Slip Bridge; Seawall Construction Timeline Released

DULUTH, Minn. –  The city of Duluth has released new details to FOX 21’s Dan Hanger involving an updated construction timeline on the delayed seawall project in Canal Park, and also when and where the William A. Irvin could eventually open for the season. But first, the Minnesota Slip Bridge in Canal Park, also known as the “Blue Bridge,” is…

Halted Duluth Seawall Project OK’d After Historic Preservation Concerns

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s multi-million dollar seawall reconstruction project has been given the green light to start work up again after questions were raised about the historical significance of the Minnesota Slip, according to the mayor’s office late Wednesday. This means the State Historical Preservation Office has completed its work and has concluded the seawall reconstruction will not cause adverse…

Former Kozy Owner Speaks Out About Lawsuit Against City

Eric Ringsred: City Not Doing Enough To Save Former Kozy Building

DULUTH, Minn. – The former Kozy building owner, Eric Ringsred spoke out to FOX 21’s Dan Hanger Wednesday for the first time since filing a lawsuit against the city of Duluth last week claiming the city is not doing enough to preserve the historic structure that’s falling apart. The Kozy Bar and apartments on East First Street went up in…

Superior Battalion Chief Erik Sutton’s Death Ruled Suicide

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The city of Superior has released the cause of death of its beloved battalion chief, Erik Sutton. Mayor Jim Paine said Sutton’s death is a result of suicide after a long struggle with mental illness. Sutton “ultimately fell to an illness that plagues far too many first responders and veterans,” Paine said. Sutton was a 20-year veteran…

Former Kozy Building Owner Files Lawsuit Against City of Duluth, DEDA

DULUTH, Minn. — Eric Ringsred, the former owner of the condemned Kozy building in Duluth tells FOX 21 he has filed a lawsuit against the city with claims that the historical landmark building originally known as the Pastoret Terrace is not being preserved properly.   Click here for the complaint that was provided to FOX 21 by Ringsred. The civil suit is…

Superior Firefighters Mourn After Death of Battalion Chief

Cause Of Death Not Officially Released Sunday

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Firefighters in Superior are mourning after the death of their longtime battalion chief who recently retired. Erik Sutton, 46, was on the Superior Fire Department for 20 years. The Superior Firefighters Local 74 released the following statement to FOX 21: “It is with deep regret and sadness that the Superior Firefighters Local 74 announce the passing of…

Construction Halted On Already Delayed MN Slip Seawall; Irvin, Vista Affected

Continued Delays Center Around Slip's Historical Preservation Review

DULUTH, Minn. – FOX 21 has learned the William A. Irvin and Vista Fleet – two of Duluth’s top tourist attractions – might not be fully open for business as the upcoming tourism season begins – a season that usually get underway in less than two weeks in May. The uncertainty of the Vista and Irvin’s normal operations centers around…

Barbara Bush, former first lady, dead at 92

With her cloud of snow-white hair, signature three strand pearls and compelling presence, Barbara Bush’s image was what she laughingly called “everybody’s grandmother.” But the feisty, outspoken Bush was also a tireless advocate for literacy , an author, experienced campaigner and both wife and mother of a U.S. president. Bush, 92, died Tuesday, shortly after her family announced she was…