DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE

Minnesota woman found dead at Wisconsin state park identified

Staff reports — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 17:10:54 GMT

TOWN OF SUPERIOR, Wis. — Douglas County (Wisconsin) Sheriff Matt Izzard has identified 65-year-old Kim Creager of Washington County, Minnesota, as the woman found deceased in Pattison State Park on Saturday, March 9, three days after she was reported missing.

Foul play is not suspected, he said.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office took the missing person report on Wednesday, March 6, according to a post on the sheriff’s office Facebook page. Deputies quickly located the woman’s car at Pattison Park in the town of Superior.

Following an extensive search, Creager was found deceased.

The sheriff’s department thanked the St. Louis County sheriff’s search and rescue team, multiple divisions from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, volunteer fire departments from the towns of Superior, Maple, Summit, Parkland, Cloverland, Lakeside, Dairyland, and the City of Superior Fire Department for their help with the search.

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Name released of Alexandria woman who died in head-on crash

Staff reports — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 15:34:47 GMT

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — The name has been released of a 54-year-old Alexandria woman who died in a head-on crash southwest of Alexandria on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday morning that the victim was Charlene Patricia Berglin.

At 9:28 a.m. Tuesday, the sheriff's office responded to the crash on County Road 45 SW, south of the intersection with Turning Leaf Lane SW.

Deputies arrived and determined Berglin was traveling north in a Chrysler 200 when she collided head-on with a south-bound Chevrolet Silverado driven by Kelly Jull, 55, also of Alexandria. According to the sheriff's office, the Chrysler car appears to have crossed the center line and collided with the Chevrolet truck.

Emergency medical services arrived and assisted with both patients. Berglin was pronounced dead at the scene. Jull was transported to Alomere Health in Alexandria with minor injuries.

The crash remains under investigation by the sheriff's office.

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Brother seeks information about missing sister last seen in Alexandria

Travis Gulbrandson — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 17:17:45 GMT

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — A Duluth man is seeking information on the whereabouts of his sister.

Steve Woodworth is trying to find out what happened to his sister, Melissa Burt, who has not been seen in more than two years.

"She was active on Facebook, and the last thing she posted on Facebook was in December of 2020, and that's the last time anybody she has been in contact with on Facebook has heard from her, too," Woodworth said. "It was just like all communications stopped."

"That's not like her," he added.

Woodworth reported his sister missing with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, and he said they have spoken with a person with whom she was known to be in contact.

"They said that she was known to be in Texas, Kansas and Iowa with this individual, and this individual said the last time he saw her was in a small town in Iowa, but he doesn't remember the name of the town," Woodworth said.

According to a flier with information about Burt, she was last seen getting into an RV.

Burt is an American Indian who is 55 years old, with brown hair and eyes. She is listed as being 5 feet, 6 inches tall, and weighing 140 pounds.

Burt and Woodworth grew up in Parkers Prairie.

"On the outside, she's a happy person," Woodworth said. "On the inside, there's a lot of trauma. … But she's still a human being."

Burt also has a son who graduated from high school this year, Woodworth said.

"I want to know if she's OK, which I don't think she is," Woodworth said. "My brother passed away a year ago, and if she'd have known, she'd have been there. Any information will help."

If anyone has any information about Burt, they are asked to contact the Douglas County Sheriff's Office at 320-762-8151.

Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Motorist killed in west-central Minnesota crash identified

Staff reports — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 17:00:11 GMT

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — The motorist killed in a single-vehicle rollover crash which took place early Friday morning, June 16 has been identified publicly.

The deceased, Logan James Pfeffer, was a 17-year-old Alexandria resident.

At approximately 3:29 a.m. on Friday, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office responded to the crash. The crash took place near the intersection County Road 73 NE and Berglund Mile NE in Alexandria Township.

Upon arrival, deputies pronounced Pfeffer dead at the scene, a news release from the sheriff's office stated. An obituary published by Lind Family Funeral and Cremation Services stated that a celebration of Pfeffer's life will take place at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 22 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria.

Also responding to the crash were the North Memorial Ambulance and Carlos First Responders, the release said.

As of Sunday, June 18, the crash continues to be investigated. The Minnesota State Patrol has been asked to assist in the reconstruction of the crash.

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17-year-old male dies in single-vehicle crash Friday morning near Alexandria

Staff reports — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 15:20:14 GMT

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — A 17-year-old male from Alexandria died in a one-vehicle rollover early Friday morning, June 16, northeast of Alexandria.

At 3:29 a.m., the Douglas County Sheriff's Office received a report of a single-vehicle rollover crash on County Road 73 NE near the intersection with Berglund Mile NE in Alexandria Township, about two miles southeast of the Nordic Trails Golf Course.

Deputies arrived, and the driver, a 17-year old male, was pronounced dead on the scene. No name has been released yet.

The incident remains under investigation. The Minnesota State Patrol has been asked to assist.

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Minnesota State Sen. Torrey Westrom involved in snowmobile crash near Alexandria

Al Edenloff — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 02:12:29 GMT

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — State Sen. Torrey Westrom, R-Alexandria, was injured in a snowmobile crash on Lake Ida, north of Alexandria Sunday afternoon, March 12.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call at about 3 p.m. from Trista Stamness, who reported a single vehicle snowmobile accident on the north end of Lake Ida.

Deputies and first responders arrived to the scene and found Westrom about 200 yards from the shoreline.

A 13-year-old male was operating a 2009 Arctic Cat two-up snowmobile, which is designed to safely accommodate two passengers. Westrom, 49, was a passenger.

The snowmobile struck a packed snowdrift on the lake, causing Westrom to be thrown clear of the snowmobile, according to the sheriff's office.

Westrom was complaining of upper body pain at the scene. The juvenile, whose name was not released, wasn't injured.

North Ambulance and Leaf Valley First Responders tended to Westrom on the lake. Westrom was

transported by snowmobile rescue sled to a nearby public access and transported to Alomere Hospital by North Ambulance.

Westrom was elected to the Senate in 2012, after serving eight terms in the House. He is the first known blind person to be elected to the Minnesota Legislature.

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Woman dies in UTV crash in west-central Minnesota

Forum News Service — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 19:11:42 GMT

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — The name of the person who died in a utility terrain vehicle crash south of Alexandria has been released.

She is Jennifer Lynn Craig, 39, of Alexandria.

The fatal crash happened near Wild Rose Lane Tuesday night, Aug. 16.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office received a call at 7:46 p.m. that a UTV rolled over in the ditch. Callers, who were driving by the area, said they saw a person, later identified as Craig, trapped underneath the UTV.

The callers were able to roll the vehicle off the individual and began life saving measures. It was determined a short time later that Craig had died, according to the sheriff's office.

Initial investigation indicates the UTV was southbound on Wild Rose Lane, about a half mile south of Highway 27 east of Holmes City, when it left the road, entered the ditch and rolled over.

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