public safety

What’s the deal with outdoor warning sirens?

May 13, 2026

Brenda Tomlinson Emergency Management Director Wabasha County Outdoor warning sirens are pretty common in Minnesota, but what do the different sounds mean and why do they sound at different times? Many, but not all, communities have the siren sound at noon. Some also sound it at 6 pm. It’s just...

Three injured in two highway crashes March 19

Mar 25, 2026

Three people were injured in two vehicle crashes less than two hours and a few miles apart on Hwy. 61 Thursday, March 19, according to State Patrol reports. The first was a single vehicle crash a few miles south of Lake City in Lake Township at about 3 p.m. A 2020 Toyota Rav 4 was southbound when...

Wall damaged, driver arrested

Feb 25, 2026

A section of the rock wall lining a portion of South Lakeshore Drive and the pier concourse in Lake City was missing Friday, Feb. 20, after being struck by a vehicle overnight. The vehicle, which was northbound, rolled. Emergency responders extracted the driver, who was later arrested on suspicion...

Juvenile arrested for alleged online threat

Jan 14, 2026

Lake City Police announced that they have taken a juvenile into custody for allegedly posting a threat online. Police said they received a report of possible threats at around 4:20 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, and immediately investigated. “The reported threat was based on a video in which a weapon was...

Lake City man charged with felonies involving child pornography, sexual chatting with minors

Dec 10, 2025

A Lake City man is charged with four felonies in Wabasha County District Court for alleged offenses relating to child pornography and sexual online communications with minors. Kurt Alan Banaszynski, 59, of Lake City was arrested by the Lake City Police Department and booked into Wabasha County...

Millville man pleads guilty to rape charges

Dec 3, 2025

A Millville man has pleaded guilty to raping a girl under age 16, according to information at kttc.com. Jesse Tesmer, 40, pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct in Wabasha County Court. He accepted a plea deal before the case would have gone to trial. Court records...

Duck hunters rescued after boat capsized

Dec 3, 2025

On Nov. 26, at 6:07 a.m., the Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of three duck hunters in the Mississippi River and needing help, according to a news release. The duck hunter’s boat had capsized near the Weaver Landing. The Sheriff’s Office, Wabasha Fire Department, Wabasha...

Lake City man charged with felony criminal sexual conduct involving minor

Oct 1, 2025

A Lake City man was in Wabasha County jail Sept. 30 facing numerous charges related to alleged sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 14 that took place over the span of about six months. Chase Andrew Thurber, 35, is charged with seven felony counts of First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct,...

Police using license plate readers to aid enforcement efforts

Sep 17, 2025

Sharp-eyed readers of the weekly police report in the Graphic might notice a new category of call identified as “FLOCK CAMERA.” According to Lake City Police Sgt. Bill Weist, it refers to “a new ALPR [automatic license plate reader] system that was installed a couple weeks ago. It helps alert us...

One injured in Zumbro Township crash

Sep 10, 2025

One person was injured when two southbound vehicles collided on Hwy. 63 in Zumbro Township on Sept. 5, according to the State Patrol. A Buick Lacrosse and a Chevrolet Impala collided shortly before 9:30 a.m. near 605th Street, according to the report. The driver of the Impala, a 23-year-old Lake...