JP Cola

(Willmar MN-) A plea hearing takes place Friday in Kandiyohi County District Court for a Spicer attorney facing drug, weapons and child endangerment charges. Nick Rekieta, 43, was arrested after a search warrant at his home near Lake George May 23rd turned up drugs and weapons while his children were in the home. Rekieta is well known for making videos on You Tube about high profile legal cases. In August, Judge Stephen Wentzell denied a request by Joshua Moon and a company called Lolcow LLC to allow audio and video coverage of the proceedings against Rekieta. With Rekieta possibly entering into a plea agreement, Moon has renewed his request for audio and video coverage. Lolcow has a You Tube page that has been covering the Rekieta case.

(Willmar MN-) In a plea agreement, Spicer attorney and You Tuber Nick Rekieta Friday pleaded guilty to an amended drug charge in Kandiyohi County District Court. Rekieta, 43, will be sentenced April 18th (10a).

(Forest City MN-) An early Sunday morning fire destroyed a house with 7 people inside north of Litchfield. Fortunately no one was hurt. The Meeker County Sheriff's Department says at 3:17 a.m. Sunday they received a report of a house fire in the 31000 block of County Road 2 in Forest City Township. Meeker County Deputies and with fire departments from Litchfield, Eden Valley and Dassel, Litchfield Rescue, and Mayo Ambulance all responded to the scene.

(Willmar MN-) The City of Willmar opened bids last week for the new outdoor ice rink and pavilion outside The Willmar Civic Center. City Administrator Leslie Valiant says they have a base price of 1.4 million dollars, and will pay for the facility using leftover funds from other Invest in Willmar projects. The facility will be used for skating in the winter, and the concrete pad will be available for outdoor events in the warm months. The rink and pavilion will be covered by a fabric roof made by Legacy Building Systems of South Haven. The roof will let in the light but not retain heat. The city last week opened bids and the low bidder was Tradesman Construction of Alexandria.

(Willmar MN-) Willmar Public Schools is proud to announce that Todd Blaser, a music educator within our district, is being inducted onto the inaugural Wall of Honor by the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA). This prestigious recognition celebrates Mr. Blaser’s commitment to fostering a love for music and his significant impact on music education in Minnesota.

(Willmar MN-) A Willmar man will be sentenced Tuesday afternoon for driving while intoxicated and striking and killing a pedestrian. In November, 34-year-old Paulo Portillo pleaded guilty to Criminal Vehicular Homicide-Leaving the Scene, and in exchange, charges of Failing to Stop at the Scene of an Injury or Fatal Crash and Driving After Suspension were dropped. Portillo will be sentenced by Judge Stephen Wentzell in Kandiyohi County District Court at 330 pm.

(Willmar MN-) The sentencing for a Willmar man who drove drunk and killed a pedestrian 14 months ago was cancelled yesterday. No reason was given by Judge Stephen Wentzell for cancelling the sentencing of 34-year-old Paulo Portillo, who earlier pleaded guilty to Criminal Vehicular Homicide-Leaving the Scene. Portillo struck and killed 52-year-old Jason Jarvis of Cokato at 1st Street and Willmar Avenue Dcember 26th 2023, fled the scene, and turned himself into police one month later. He entered into a plea agreement last November. Relatives of Jarvis had asked to be able to attend the sentencing via remote video, and Judge Wentzell granted their request, then cancelled the sentencing. No make-up date has been announced

(Cedar Mills MN-) A Mcintosh woman was killed in a crash in McLeod County Tuesday morning. The state patrol says it was reported at 10:05 a.m. on Highway 22 at 230th Street, about 3 miles northeast of Cedar Mills. An SUV driven by 66-year-old Roxanne Stordahl of Mcintosh was westbound on 230th Street, and a truck driven by 42-year-old Rolando Pliego of Eagan was northbound on Highway 22 when they collided. Stordahl was killed, and Pliego and his passenger 18-year-old Manuel Montero of Minneapolis were taken to the Hutchinson hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

(Willmar MN-) A Willmar man was injured after rolling his pickup on an icy Highway 12 west of Willmar Tuesday morning. The state patrol says 81-year-old Robert Vandeneide was driving eastbound on Highway 12 when he left the road near 1st Avenue and rolled into the ditch. Vandeneide was taken to CentraCare Rice Hospital in Willmar with non-life-threatening injuries. The crash was reported at 8:04 a.m.