St. John’s Abbey releases personnel records for 18 monks

By John Fitzgerald
MinnPost
January 19, 2016

https://www.minnpost.com/greater-minnesota/2016/01/st-john-s-abbey-releases-personnel-records-18-monks

St. John's Abbey

St. John’s Abbey on Tuesday released personnel records on 18 monks accused of sexual abuse against minors. Ben Rodgers of the St. Cloud Daily Times reports that the files were released to Jeff Anderson & Associates law firm, which notes that seven of the 18 monks were allowed to work in diocese after initial reports of abuse. The files are available at The Minnesota Transparency Initiative’s website. The monks are Andre Bennett (dead), Michael Bik (on restriction), Robert Blumeyer (dead), Cosmas Dahlheimer (dead), Richard Eckroth (dead), Thomas Gillespie (on restriction), Francis Hoefgen (no longer a monk), Othmar Hohmann (dead), Dominic Keller (dead), John Kelly (no longer a monk), Brennan Maiers (on restriction), Finian McDonald (on restriction), Dunstan Morse (on restriction), James Phillips (on restriction), Francisco Schulte (on restriction), Allen Tarlton (on restriction), Pirmin Wendt (dead), Bruce Wollmering (dead).

A man who sued two Fergus Falls police officers because he says they caused him to miss the birth of his son had his case dismissed from court. Jacob Tellers of the Fergus Falls Journal reports that Otter Tail County Judge Vicki Landwehr dismissed the case filed by Dennis Fronning of Battle Lake against Officer Robb Foreman, Sgt. Andrew Miller, the Fergus Falls Police Department and the City of Fergus Falls. In 2014, Fronning was rushing his pregnant wife to Lake Region Healthcare when he was stopped and detained by the officers. His wife was taken the rest of the way via ambulance. The civil suit claims officers denied him the chance to see the birth. Fronning sued for damages for suffering mental pain and anguish, severe emotional trauma, embarrassment and humiliation. Landwehr found that the officers’ actions didn’t rise to the level of malice and they have immunity whether the detention was lawful or not.

A family-owned grocery store in Atwater closed last weekend after 42 years. Shelby Lindrud of the West Central Tribune writes that Keith Passmore, the owner of Vern’s Town & Country Foods in Atwater, says he can’t compete against chain grocery stores in Litchfield and Willmar. “The big corporations have taken over the world,” Passmore said. He added that he has operated the store at a loss for a year. He inherited the store from his parents.

Officials are warning of the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning in ice fishing houses. The Bemidji Pioneer reports that Jared Nels Johnson, 34, of Akeley, died after carbon monoxide poisoning Sunday in an ice fishing house on Walker Bay of Leech Lake. Cass County deputies also found three other adult males with symptoms believed to be carbon monoxide poisoning. The fish house was a converted camper-trailer.

It’s not just the weather that’s cold. Jenae Hackensmith of the Austin Daily Herald reports that an 11-year-old boy stole a mobility scooter Monday from a 69-year-old man at The Cedars of Austin. The four-wheeled, blue scooter with a flag on the back was taken from the garage at The Cedars. The scooter’s estimated value is $1,500. Security footage showed three juveniles were involved. The 11-year-old was taken to the Olmsted County Detention Center while the other two males were taken to their parents or guardians. The scooter was found at the 11-year-old’s home and returned to the owner.

When kids get unruly on his bus, Rochester driver Philip Bologna, 63, bursts out in song. Matthew Stolle of the Rochester Post-Bulletin writes that in 1984, the tenor was one of 11 winners of the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions. He later soured on the career when it took him away from his wife and son nine months out of each year. He moved to Anoka to become conductor of an opera company, then produce children's operas at Anoka schools. He founded the Lyric Arts Company of Anoka and was drama director of the Elk River High School. When funding for arts at schools dried up and his wife lost her job, he moved to Rochester to be near his son and daughter-in-law. When he saw a sign advertising openings for bus drivers, he applied and became a driver.