2021 Year in Review: The Most Read Stories

(KNSI) — As 2021 draws to a close, we’re taking a look back at our most read stories of the year.

The most read story on our website this year was the announcement that St. Cloud-based Coborn’s Incorporated would be offering the COVID-19 vaccine to the general public at 20 of its pharmacies. The announcement of a vaccine available locally, for many, may have meant a light at the end of the tunnel.

The second most read story was the bank robbery and hostage situation at the Wells Fargo Bank on 33rd Avenue in St. Cloud. Ray Reco McNeary is accused of walking into the bank on May 6th, saying he had an issue with his account. He became so upset, the branch manager became worried and someone hit the panic alarm, triggering the police response. Police said several people fled the bank, but five people remained inside. McNeary held the police at bay for several hours before being arrested. McNeary’s state case is on hold while he is prosecuted on federal charges.

Several hundred CentraCare employees being placed on leave for not getting a COVID-19 vaccine per company policy was the third most read story of 2021. CentraCare says as of December 16th, “100 percent of its staff and clinicians are compliant with the vaccine requirement,” while between 250 and 300 employees are on a leave of absence.

One of the most read business stories on the website was the announcement that the Coleman Company was closing its Sauk Rapids facility this year and its Little Falls office by January 1st, 2022, but there was some good business news in 2021.

After businesses closed for the pandemic in 2020 – some of them temporarily, others for good – the St. Cloud area saw new businesses move into the area and established businesses grow in 2021. Some of our other most read stories included the Amazon fulfillment center opening, Coborn’s Incorporated opening a new store in Buffalo, Crew Car Wash opening its first Minnesota location in St. Cloud, Stihl Wolf Bar opening downtown St. Cloud, Sierra opening in the old Ulta location in the Rivertown Village Shopping Center, and Raising Cane’s opening a location in St. Cloud. The Ultimate Sports Bar and Grill rose from the ashes in 2021, opening a new building on its old site following a devastating fire in 2020.

Much like elsewhere around the state and country, crime stories also dominated the headlines in St. Cloud.

Some of the most read stories on our website included the murder of two women on back to back days in June. Police say Janesa Lashay Harris was found shot to death in her apartment on the 1400 block of 12th Avenue North on June 2nd. June 3rd, Keisa Marie Lange was also found shot to death on the 4300 block of Cooper Avenue South. Four people were arrested for Lange’s murder. One of those suspects, Angela Renee Jones, was also arrested in Harris’s murder and has been indicted on first-degree murder charges in connection to her case.

Another top read story on the website was the car crash that claimed the life of 2020 Cathedral grad Mack Motzko. Motzko and another man were riding in a car driven by James Blue of Orono. Blue was allegedly under the influence and speeding when he lost control of his Bentley Flying Spur on a curve and drove off the road, crashing into a tree, killing Motzko and 24-year-old Sam Schuneman. Blue was arrested is charged with two counts of third-degree murder and criminal vehicular homicide for the crash.

Other top read crime stories included the prosecution and conviction of three suspects who grabbed a woman off the street, dragged her to a park and sexually assaulted her; a drive-by shooting in June left two teens injured, and the shooting death of St. Cloud State University Professor Edward Ward.

The coronavirus pandemic continued to dominate headlines in 2021, including CentraCare officials saying hospital systems are reaching a tipping point due to the rapid spread of the Delta variant. That happened in October when CentraCare President and CEO Dr. Ken Holman compared it to being at war as healthcare staff battle the pandemic. In November, CentraCare made a plea to the public, asking anyone who has healthcare experience to step in and help. The crush of COVID patients at St. Cloud Hospital led to a federal strike team being deployed to the hospital to help overworked staff.

Not all health stories revolved around the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. A medical team at CentraCare’s Heart and Vascular Center in St. Cloud is the first in the world to use 4D hologram technology during a structural heart procedure. St. Cloud also ranked in the top 50 for Drunkest Cities in America according to 24/7 Wall Street.

Among the biggest news in education around the area and making news around the country and the world was the Sartell St. Stephen School District’s equity audit on race relations. The audit was commissioned in late 2020, and the results were returned in June. Residents and parents were upset the district hired Equity Alliance Minnesota in the first place and even more upset after the results were returned, saying the company painted the community and district as racist and that Equity Alliance Minnesota should be fired. Information surfaced showing the district used federal COVID-19 dollars to pay for the survey, which prompted Congressman Tom Emmer to pen a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen questioning the district’s use of the money. Less than two months after the survey results were released, newly minted Sartell St. Stephen Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Ridlehoover said the district was ending its relationship with Equity Alliance Minnesota. Ridlehoover said he and the district were extremely dissatisfied with how the audit was conducted, analyzed, and presented. The company said the district needed an equity officer and offered to take that over to the tune of more than $100,000. The district felt it was better for the community, officials, parents, and students to face the issues by working together without Equity Alliance.

Other big stories this past year included the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources changing some rules and regulations to the 2021 deer hunting season and the Paynesville Police Department being offered what is believed to be the first in the state officer sabbatical to focus on mental health and well being.

After 2020 came to a screeching halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person events were again held. One of them was Firefest 2021 coming back. Blackhawk, Dustin Lynch, and JoDee Messina were all included in the Firefest lineup. Firefest is the annual fundraiser for the Cold Spring Fire and Rescue Department Relief Association. In other local entertainment news, The Ledge Amphitheater in Waite Park opened in July with a special performance of Cinderella. The Beach Boys, Willie Nelson, and punk rock group Rancid all played the brand new venue.

Also making news in 2021 was St. Cloud police officer Ryan Priebe named the Officer of the Year by the Minnesota Peace and Police Officer’s Association. Priebe was nominated by his fellow officers and recognized, in part, due to his actions the night of June 14th, 2020. Priebe was shot in the hand during a struggle with someone allegedly seen on social media and reportedly flashing a gun. He was also recognized for his ongoing efforts to provide community safety, particularly in the South Side neighborhood and his work with the COP House.

Other big news included American Pickers returning to St. Cloud and the NCHC issuing a statement on the controversial end to the St. Cloud State University versus the University of Minnesota Duluth hockey game.

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