Morning Newswatch with Jay Caldwell

We are nearing the end of 2023 and the amount of traffic fatalities in the state is concerning. The Minnesota Department of Transportation are reporting 339 traffic fatalities so far in 2023.

Bowlus is a town of 279 people that was settled in the early 1900s, platted in 1907 and became incorporated in 1910. Bowlus has had an operating post office since 1907, a lumberyard, meat market, hair salon, restaurant, gas station, liquor store, boutique, fire department, park with bike trail going through it, Legion, and Catholic Church.

Rockville is a town of 2,448 people in Central Minnesota south and west of St. Cloud located in the southeastern portion of Stearns County. Rockville was originally platted in 1856 and named for granite rock formations on nearby streams.

St. Anna is a small town tucked between St. Anna, Holdingford and Albany in Central Minnesota. The town is unincorporated and located along County Roads 9 and 154 in Stearns County.

St. Anna is an unincorporated small town in Stearns County north of Avon and south of Holdingford in Avon township located along county roads 9 and 54.

Brushes with the law as a young person, the military and now a State Senator. This it the story of Jeff Howe. Jeff grew up in a small town in western Minnesota named Chokio just 12 miles west of Morris. Jeff's father was a farmer when he was a kid before selling the farm and becoming a hired hand and then a salesman of farm products.

Today we examine the life of Stearns County Commissioner Tarryl Clark. She was born in Norfolk, Virginia where he dad was serving in the Navy. Tarryl is the oldest of 4 children, she has 3 younger brothers.

ESPN's Clay Matvick is a native Central Minnesotan. He is our next featured person on WJON's My Life Series. Matvick grew up in southern Morrison County near a small town called Ramey.

Numerous homeless encampments this summer and fall made the homeless challenge in the St. Cloud area public. St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis explains that this isn't just a St. Cloud issue but an issue for surrounding communities and counties.

St. Cloud State's "Huskies Advance" program pairs students with staff. SCSU's Dr. Matthew Vorell and President Dr. Robbyn Wacker joined me on WJON to talk about this unique option for students.