Tuesday, December 2, 2025

A Catholic priest serving five parishes in central Minnesota is being charged in Stearns County District Court after he allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with a woman that turned violent. According to court documents, the woman told police that Father Joseph Herzing gave her spiritual advice and comfort through confession in 2018 while he was serving as a priest in Little Falls. Between 2018 and 2022, multiple people told church leadership they saw inappropriate intimate conduct between the 61-year-old priest and the woman, including Herzing being at her home late at night and early in the morning. In February 2022, the relationship escalated to violence when he allegedly choked and threatened to kill her. In May 2022, the woman saw a text message that led her to believe Herzing was involved in an intimate relationship with someone else, and she confronted him. Herzing choked her, wrestled her to the ground, pulled her hair and threatened to kill her. In August of 2022, the two got into a physical altercation at an event in Milaca, and on the motorcycle ride home, she says he threatened to ride into a tree and kill them both, and also drove toward an oncoming semi truck before swerving out of its path. In October 2022, diocesan leadership learned of potentially inappropriate behavior between Herzing and an adult. He was immediately placed on administrative leave by then Bishop Donald Kettler and ordered to undergo a comprehensive professional evaluation. Herzing entered and completed a residential treatment program, and admitted to kissing the woman on two occasions, but denied having a spiritual guidance relationship with her. Following treatment, Bishop Patrick Neary decided to return Herzing to active ministry in June 2023 with limited responsibilities as a parochial vicar in Cold Spring, Rockville, Richmond, and Jacobs Prairie. In June 2024, Herzing was appointed pastor of five parishes in Browerville, Clarissa, Grey Eagle, Long Prairie, and Swanville. In August of 2024, St. Cloud police began investigating the reported sexual abuse, and the next month, Bishop Neary learned that a report had been made to police regarding the allegations in 2022 and that an investigation was underway. Despite this, the bishop allowed Herzing to continue serving as pastor under severe restrictions and monitoring. Bishop Neary was notified of charges of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, stalking and three counts of making threats of violence on Wednesday, November 26th, and immediately placed Herzing on administrative leave. He is prohibited from all public ministry pending the outcome of the criminal case. His next court date is December 29th. Retired diocesan priest Father Arlie Sowada has been named parochial administrator of the affected parishes. The diocese stated it is cooperating with authorities and encouraged any abuse victims to come forward to either law enforcement or diocesan victim advocates. Herzing was ordained to the priesthood on June 5th, 1999, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud and has served in numerous parishes across the diocese throughout his career.

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office reports that on November 29th at approximately 6:05pm, their office received a report of a one-vehicle accident at the intersection of Cable Road and 50th Avenue, approximately four miles east of Swanville, MN in Swanville Township. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 30-year-old Brock Cichon of Bowlus, MN was traveling south on 50th Avenue approaching the T intersection with Cable Road. Cichon’s vehicle went through the stop sign and ended up in a pond on the south side of Cable Road. Cichon was able to get out of the vehicle and was treated at the scene by medical personnel. This crash is still under investigation. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Swanville Fire Department, Swanville First Response Team and Mayo Clinic Ambulance.

The Stearns County Sheriff's office was dispatched to a property in the 29800 block of Dolphin Drive just before 6:00 p.m. The location is just northwest of the town of Paynesville. The sheriff's office says 30-year-old Jerrod Quade of Paynesville had brought the tractor to that location and was showing a neighbor how to start the machine. Authorities say Quade was standing in front of the rear right tire when the tractor was started. The tractor was still in gear, and when it started, the tire dragged Quade to the ground and drove over him. Quade was taken to Paynesville Hospital and later airlifted to the Hennepin County Medical Center with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

A teenage driver was hurt in a single vehicle rollover. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened at about 8pm on Sunday on Interstate 94 in Wright County.  Eighteen-year-old Chris Koiblee of Fargo was traveling east when his vehicle went off the road and rolled into the ditch, resting on its roof in standing water. Koiblee was taken to North Memorial with non-life-threatening injuries.

A high-profile local Republican state representative announces her bid to move to the Senate. Republican Bernie Perryman has thrown her hat into the ring to potentially challenge incumbent Aric Putnam in District 14, which includes Minden Township and Sauk Rapids in Benton County, St. Cloud, Waite Park, and St. Augusta. Perryman first ran for the House in 2022, winning a close race. She comfortably defended the seat in 2024. Perryman is running on a platform of bipartisan solutions to the affordability crisis, promoting Main Street stores, and tackling fraud in state programs. She says, “We need a State Senator who will stand up for our district in St. Paul, advocate for real economic relief for our families and small businesses, and collaborate across party lines to deliver solutions that address our community’s needs.” She adds, “We can and will be the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”