Whether it’s celebrating or saluting, July 4 is one of America’s biggest days. This Independence Day marks 250 years since 40 East Coasters decided to sever their colonies from English control. As an author and law professor, this Vietnam veteran and St. Paul resident knows a lot about U.S. history because for him, it’s family history.

A St. Cloud Tech ninth-grader won the Minnesota State High School League Clay Shooting championship on Friday.

Allie Lauer won the title with a score of 99 and reverse run of 83, while second-place finisher Isabella Blaz (Rosemount) also scored a 99 but a reverse run of 54. LeRoy-Ostrander’s Kimberly Volkart finished in third place with a score of 98.

MSHSL:

“I was nervous coming in because the other girls are older,” Lauer said. “It was nice weather today and things worked out well. Your average (score) doesn’t really matter. Just keep a good mindset and don’t focus on the scores.”

BOYS CLAY SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP 

Proctor sophomore Lane Graves took home the championship after a grueling three-way, two-round shoot-off against Rushford-Peterson’s Colton Ronnenberg (second place) and Prior Lake’s Jack Benedict.

After Benedict was eliminated in the first shoot-off, Graves outlasted Ronnenberg with a 9-7 win in round two.

TEAM CLAY SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP 

The Bemidji Lumberjacks took the team title with a total score of 487, one ahead of Lakeville South and five better than both Stewartville and Spring Grove.

REDWOOD FALLS

— The 64-year-old Redwood Falls man

killed in a rollover crash Saturday in Redwood County

was fleeing police in his vehicle at the time, according to information from the Redwood County Sheriff’s Office.

Francis Albert Rohlik was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash at approximately 7:22 p.m. on June 27. He was northbound on Redwood County Road 7 north of

Belview

when his vehicle left the roadway and rolled at the intersection with 400th Street in Kintire Township, according to

an accident report

by the

Minnesota State Patrol.

Rohlik was not wearing a seat belt, the State Patrol reported. According to the Redwood County Sheriff’s Office, he was ejected from the vehicle during the crash.

Shortly before the crash, at approximately 7:19 p.m. Saturday, law enforcement officers attempted to stop his vehicle for traffic violations on County Road 7 near Belview. The driver accelerated away from deputies and a brief pursuit ensued. After approximately three miles, the vehicle lost control and rolled over near the intersection with 400th Street, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies immediately administered medical aid to the driver. However, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Rohlik was the only occupant in the vehicle.

Assisting agencies included the Minnesota State Patrol, the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office, Belview Fire Department, Belview First Responders, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, CentraCare Ambulance, and North Memorial AirCare. The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating the crash.