POPE COUNTY

The Vault

Man convicted of 1970 mass murder in rural home later met his own violent end

A family of five was shot to death in their home in 1970. The confessed murderer, Neil M. Pladson was later strangled to death in his apartment -- by his roommate.

Dante Perez, 6, of Willmar takes a bite out of a corn dog while attending the Kandiyohi County Fair on Saturday, August 13, 2022.

Community

Summer in Minnesota also means it's county fair season

Before going to the Twin Cities for deep-fried treats and fun rides this summer, consider stopping at these west central county fairs in the area. Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Pope, Renville, Swift and Yellow Medicine counties are all hosting their county fairs before "the great Minnesota get-together" is set to begin.

Jul 1, 2023

Minnesota

Nearly 4,500 pay respects to fallen Minnesota sheriff's deputy and procession draws hundreds more

Community members and law enforcement officers from across the state of Minnesota and beyond gathered for a final salute to Joshua Owen who was fatally shot answering a domestic abuse call.

Apr 22, 2023

News

'Losing Josh will never go away, ever,' says wife of slain Pope County deputy

A statement by Shannon Owen was read by her husband's cousin at a news conference Thursday at the Pope County Courthouse

Apr 20, 2023

Latest Headlines

Minnesota

Fallen deputy shot 3 times, suspect died of multiple gunshot wounds in west-central Minnesota

The medical examiner determined that Bryan Nygard, 34, of Cyrus, died from multiple gunshot wounds. The initial investigation shows he began firing on officers when he was informed of his arrest.

Apr 19, 2023

By Travis Gulbrandson

Minnesota

Funeral for Pope County sheriff鈥檚 deputy set for Saturday in Glenwood

Josh Owen, 44, of Glenwood, was killed in the line of duty on Saturday, April 15

Apr 18, 2023

By West Central Tribune staff report

News

'A senseless act': 3 law enforcement officers shot Saturday in west-central Minnesota, one fatally

It has been reported that Deputy Josh Owen was killed on his 44th birthday.

Apr 16, 2023

By Travis Gulbrandson

Minnesota

Minnesota woman becomes her family's fourth-generation pilot

Addy Randt, 18, of Glenwood, Minnesota, hopes to join her mom, Captain Michal Randt of Delta Airlines, in the cockpit as a mother-daughter aviation duo.

Jan 4, 2023

By Thalen Zimmerman

Minnesota

Bail set at $1M for suspect in Pope County kidnapping case

Victor Ramirez Alvarez, 22, of Big Lake, appeared in District Court on Monday on felony charges of kidnapping and depriving custodial and parental rights. He is accused of abducting a 2-year-old boy from a rural Pope County home as members of the family slept.

Mar 21, 2022

By Tom Cherveny

Minnesota

Toddler believed abducted in west-central Minnesota found safe; Amber Alert canceled, suspect in custody

Robert Ramirez, 2, was found safe early Friday, after an Amber Alert was issued when law enforcement believed the toddler was abducted near Westport.

Mar 18, 2022

By Shelby Lindrud

Minnesota

West-central Minnesota county issues Amber Alert for 2-year-old boy

The Pope County Sheriff's Office has issued an Amber Alert for two-year-old Robert Ramirez.

Mar 17, 2022

By West Central Tribune

The Vault

Man convicted of 1970 mass murder in Sunburg, Minnesota, was strangled to death in 1988 by his roommate in their St. Paul apartment

A family of five was shot to death in their rural Sunburg home in 1970. The confessed murderer, Neil M. Pladson, was sentenced to 25 years in prison. In 1987, Pladson was released to a halfway house. A year later, he was found strangled to death in his apartment. His killer, Douglas Tank, was his roommate and he told authorities that Pladson had threatened to kill the man's family while brandishing a knife. Tank said he knocked the knife out of Pladson's hand and strangled him.

Nov 30, 2021

By Mark Wasson

Minnesota

Minnesota Supreme Court orders new proceedings to determine if Pope County, three workers liable in 2013 child abuse death

The Minnesota Supreme Court has overturned the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling that upheld a lower court finding that Pope County and its child protection workers are immune from liability in the 2013 child abuse death of 4-year-old Eric Parker Dean. A physician, day care provider and teacher had reported suspected maltreatment of the youth prior to his death. The girlfriend of Eric Dean's father was convicted of murder while committing child abuse and is serving a life sentence.

Nov 10, 2021

By Mark Wasson

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POPE COUNTY