A home in Oakdale was engulfed in flames Monday night, resulting in major damages to the property.

Oakdale Fire and Police departments were called at 7:50 p.m. to the 7300 block of Stillwater Boulevard on reports of a fire. Upon arrival, they found the one-story home covered in flames showing from all sides, according to the city of Oakdale.

The homeowner was reported safe and said that no other occupants were inside. The house, however, experienced significant damage.

“Yesterday’s fire is what we consider a total loss,” Oakdale Fire Department Chief Kevin Wold said.

The Oakdale Fire Department was helped by Lake Elmo, Maplewood, Woodbury, North St. Paul Fire and Lakeview EMS with the first report of fire. A second alarm sounded shortly after to bring in other fire units from White Bear Lake, Stillwater and Mahtomedi fire departments, according to the city. Wold said there were reports of explosions during the fire but no propane tanks or other explosives were found. He said it’s not uncommon for a large fire to create “mini-explosions.”

Oakdale Fire and Police departments and the Ramsey County Fire Investigation Team are currently investigating the cause of the fire with cooperation from the homeowner.

“It doesn’t look like anything was suspicious at this point,” Wold said.

No other fire department staff or civilians reported injuries from the fire.

— Talia McWright

Court system taking trial evidence digital

As of Jan. 1, the state judicial branch will require all hearing and trial evidence to be uploaded into the Minnesota Digital Exhibit System.

Kim Pleticha, public affairs director with the judicial branch, said the change is in response to an increase in remote hearings.

“For the past three years, though, MNDES has been a pilot program, so its use was optional,” Pleticha said. “Now, as of Jan. 1, MNDES becomes mandatory for all cases statewide, so that means remote and in person.”

She said the change will streamline court proceedings.

“Everyone involved in the case, from the parties to the attorneys to the judges to the jury, will all have secured digital access to any exhibits uploaded in the case,” Pleticha said.

Formats that can be uploaded to MNDES include audio, video, images and documents. While not directly accessible to the public, judges and juries can view the information during court and jury deliberations.

— MPR News

Woman, 61, charged with her 11th DWI

A driver in northeastern Minnesota with 10 DWI-related convictions allegedly admitted to drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana but refused testing after she was pulled over on Dec. 20.

France Margaret Smith, 61, of Cloquet, was charged Dec. 23 in Carlton County District Court with felony counts of DWI and refusal to submit to a DWI test, plus misdemeanor driving without insurance and a petty misdemeanor for not having illuminated license plates.

According to the court complaint, on Dec. 20, a Carlton County sheriff’s deputy noticed a pickup, without a rear license plate light, that stopped for a long time at the otherwise empty intersection of Carlton Avenue and 14th Street. The deputy ran the license plate and learned the registered owner, Smith, had a revoked license.

When the deputy pulled over Smith, she could not produce a license or insurance, smelled of alcohol, had bloodshot and glossy eyes and her speech was slurred, according to the complaint. She was arrested after she allegedly admitted she had been drinking beer and smoking marijuana.

Smith reportedly became belligerent after she was taken to the Carlton County Law Enforcement Center. She allegedly refused to take a breath alcohol test.

Smith has 10 convictions related to driving while under the influence spanning from 1995-2021. At least five of the last convictions were felonies, according to court records.

— Forum News Service

Arrest, recovery after hockey sticks stolen

Hockey players — and parents — can rest a little easier after the Duluth Police Department found and returned more than 30 hockey sticks stolen from the Mankato West boys team competing in the Heritage Holiday Classic last week.

Police arrested a 23-year-old man Monday on pending charges of felony theft after the Scarlets’ stick bag disappeared from the team bus sometime late Friday or early Saturday. The Duluth News Tribune generally does not identify suspects until they have been formally charged with a crime.

Public information officer Mattie Hjelseth confirmed in a news release that police met with representatives of the Mankato West team and returned the recovered items — which also included the missing duffel bag.

Scarlets coach Nate Olsen estimated the bag contained $10,000 to $12,000 worth of hockey sticks.

Late Saturday evening, police saw a man walking in the 100 block of East Third Street with a few of the items, Hjelseth said in a statement Sunday morning. The man told officers he found the items behind the Chum homeless shelter. He didn’t match the suspect’s description but was arrested on an unrelated warrant, Hjelseth said.

— Forum News Service

Police seek man after 3 found dead

Wisconsin police investigating the deaths of three people, including two juveniles, were searching Tuesday for a person of interest who is “considered armed and dangerous.”

The New Lisbon Police Department said the bodies of two juveniles and one adult were found Monday afternoon in a home in the small Wisconsin city located about 80 miles northwest of Madison.

Police said Tuesday morning in a Facebook post that they were searching for a 47-year-old man known to live in New Lisbon and said he is wanted by Wisconsin Probation and Patrol.

“Law enforcement asks that if seen, do not confront or approach him and contact 911,” police said in their update.

New Lisbon police said that on Sunday night the Juneau County Sheriff’s Office was contacted for help locating a missing child. Police said the child had been picked up in Monroe County and was last seen with the man in question.

New Lisbon police learned on Monday of a second missing child from the city.

Police did not say whether the two juveniles found dead in New Lisbon were the ones reported missing, nor did they say what the man’s relationship was to the three deceased people.

— Associated Press