Midwest

2 boys, both 12, killed on Halloween hayrides in warning to families

Published

1 year ago

October 27, 2024

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2 boys, both 12, killed on Halloween hayrides in warning to families

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Two boys were killed at hayrides this month, offering a warning to parents about the potential dangers of the popular fall activity ahead of Halloween.

Samuel “Sam” Jessen, 12, of Ooltewah, Tennessee, was run over by a tractor on Oct. 12 along the Haunted Hilltop hayride route in Chattanooga, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.

Jessen hid in the bushes with his friends and tried to jump onto the trailer behind the tractor to scare its riders. He slipped and fell underneath the wheels. Police said he was found unresponsive.

“Please keep the Jessen family in your prayers during this super difficult time as well as our staff,” Haunted Hilltop wrote on its Facebook page.

DINNER FOR CHILDREN DOESN’T HAVE TO BE COMPLICATED WITH THESE SIMPLE TIPS FROM FOOD EXPERTS

Samuel “Sam” Jessen of Ooltewah, Tennessee, 12, was run over by a tractor on Oct. 12 along the Haunted Hilltop hayride route in Chattanooga, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. (Williams Dingman Family Funeral Homes)

Alexander “Xander” Mick of Rice, Minnesota, also 12 years old, was killed when he was run over by a wagon at the Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride in St. Augusta over the same weekend, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office said. Despite lifesaving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The sheriff’s office said Tuesday that it appeared Mick’s death was accidental and no one saw how it occurred. The boy was a volunteer at the event and was “part of a group whose job was to frighten riders being pulled through the cornfield area,” they said.

Harvest of Horror announced that it would cancel its remaining events for the 2024 season “out of respect for the family involved.”

“After this incident occurred, representatives of the Stearns County Sheriff’s Department and other emergency medical personnel reported to the scene. A member of the Sheriff’s Department initially instructed us to keep the event operating as usual so as to keep attendees away from the accident scene,” they wrote in a statement. “Sometime later we were instructed by a Sheriff’s deputy to begin turning away guests and closing down the event for the night. We complied with all of their instructions throughout the evening.”

“We are deeply shaken by this event and are asking for thoughts, prayers and support for the family and friends of the individual involved and all those affected by this tragedy,” they continued.

GRATEFUL CHILDREN MAKE PARENTS HAPPIER AND LESS STRESSED, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS

Alexander “Xander” Mick of Rice, Minnesota, 12, was killed when he was run over by a wagon at the Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride in St. Augusta on Oct. 11. (Heritage Funeral Home)

Both of the boys’ families launched GoFundMe initiatives to cover medical and funeral expenses.

Xander played the drums, was in a band, sang in the choir, participated in taekwondo and was “almost an Eagle scout,” according to his obituary.

“Xander was always so helpful, scientific, very techy, loved computers, was full of energy, had a great sense of humor and an infectious smile,” the obituary reads. “He loved Jesus with all his heart and shared that with others. Xander was kind, very polite, unique, creative, investigative, and saw the good in everyone. He always tried to be first to say, ‘Love you more.’ Xander was well known for his unique white hair, he could be spotted from a distance.”

HALLOWEEN MOVIE LOVERS CAN ROAD TRIP ALONG THE EAST COAST TO THESE CREEPY SITES

Jessen, who was in seventh grade, was passionate about football, according to his obituary. The young quarterback aspired to play for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was also an “avid reader and [an] incredible writer,” the obituary continues.

“Sam certainly had a zeal for life. It was infectious. His smile (along with his recently installed braces) lit up every room he was in,” the obituary reads. “Sam was feisty and fearless, but also compassionate and kind.”

Hayride safety

Nationwide Children’s Hospital has several recommendations to keep kids safe on hayrides, according to its website.

The hospital recommends reading posted rules before riding and explaining them to your children. Staff members – including the person selling tickets, the one helping you board the wagon or trailer and the operator of the tractor – should be listened to closely.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital recommends reading and explaining posted hayride rules to your children, listening to operators and staying seated throughout the ride. (iStock)

Once riders have been seated, they should remain seated for the entire ride and hold onto any railings. Adults should hold onto their small children.

When you are not on the hayride, it is important to stay out of its path and to warn children not to do so either.

Finally, if you have any misgivings about the ride or its operator, trust your instincts and find another seasonal activity to do as a family, the hospital recommends.

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Midwest

Ilhan Omar doesn’t have any regrets for her ‘unavoidable’ outburst at State of the Union

Published

3 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Ilhan Omar doesn’t have any regrets for her ‘unavoidable’ outburst at State of the Union

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Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., spoke candidly on Wednesday, defending her outbursts during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.

Omar, along with colleague Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who was seated next to her, appeared on video repeatedly interrupting and gesturing toward Trump several times throughout his speech.

Omar appeared to shout “You are a murderer” and “You’re a liar.”

Rep. Ilhan Omar, right, with Rep. Rashida Tlaib at her side, spoke at a news conference at the State Capitol. (Renee Jones Schneider/Star Tribune via Getty Images)

When appearing on CNN, Omar was pressed by host Wolf Blitzer, who noted that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., asked members of his caucus to either sit in silence or to not attend at all.

“Should you have just boycotted the address? And do you think you violated the guidelines set out by your own leader?” he asked.

“No, I think it was really unavoidable. The president talked about protecting Americans, and I just had to remind him that his administration was responsible for killing two of my constituents,” Omar responded.

“Do you have any regrets at all about the interaction we played between you and President Trump just last night?” Blitzer asked.

“I do not, and I think many people look at that moment when the president says, ‘It is our responsibility to protect Americans,’ and he does not acknowledge the fact that two Americans, two of my constituents, two of our neighbors, were killed,” she said. “And it was important for me to just remind the American people that the president and his administration was responsible for killing two American citizens.”

Blitzer proceeded to ask, with hindsight in mind, whether she still thinks she made the right choice by showing up.

‘SQUAD’ MEMBER WEARS ‘F— ICE’ PIN ON HOUSE FLOOR DURING TRUMP ADDRESS

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., left, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., shout at President Donald Trump as he delivers his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol Feb. 24, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“I brought four Minnesotans up as guests for the Minnesota delegation. It was important for us to be there, to bear witness, to hold space for our constituents that have lived through an occupation from federal law enforcement, that have been terrorized, that have seen our neighbors been killed and traumatized in so many ways and, so, no. I think it was really important for my constituents to see me there,” she said.

“It was really important to my constituents to hear that. I was reminding the president that Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed under this administration.”

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Democrats have rallied around the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good as a means to criticize ICE and immigration enforcement efforts. (Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.

It responded with a Truth Social post from Trump in which he called for critics like Omar and Tlaib to be put on a boat and “send them back from where they came.”

Fox News’ Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.

Alexander Hall is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Alexander.hall@fox.com.

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Detroit, MI

Rex Satterfield’s 1956 Bel Air takes 2026 Ridler Award in Detroit

Published

4 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Rex Satterfield’s 1956 Bel Air takes 2026 Ridler Award in Detroit

Rex Satterfield hoped to see his 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible snag one of the BASF Great 8 finalist spots at this year’s Detroit Autorama. But winning the Ridler Award — one of the highest honors in the custom car business — was something he didn’t foresee.

“It’s just overwhelming right now,” said the man from Russellville, Tennessee, as he left a ballroom at downtown’s Huntington Place and made his way back to the show floor on Sunday, March 1. “We weren’t expecting this.”

Getting a car recognized as one of the BASF Great 8 vehicles is a win in and of itself as they are considered the “absolute pinnacle of custom automotive craftsmanship worldwide,” according to the show. The cars undergo an intensive judging process.

And this effort had an unexpected and emotional complication with the passing in December 2024 of the original builder, Jeff Wolfenbarger, who was battling cancer even as he continued working on the car named “Elegant Lady.”

Kevin Riffey of Kevin Riffey’s Hot Rods and Restorations in Knoxville stepped in to finish the work Wolfenbarger started. He’d had two other cars in the past make the Great 8. He said the goal with this vehicle was straightforward, calling it a “purpose-built show car.”

From its prominent spot at the front of the show floor, “Elegant Lady” sported a creamy exterior, dubbed Light Coffee. The car carries a 1,000 horsepower Don Hardy race engine. The gauges, wheels and gas tank are custom, and the dash is from a 1956 Pontiac.

Satterfield plans to show the car around some and enjoy the moment with it. He said he’s been a car guy since he was a little kid.

The Ridler Award, named in honor of Detroit Autorama’s first publicist, Don Ridler, comes with a $10,000 prize. It was awarded on the final day of this year’s Detroit Autorama, which ran Friday, Feb. 27-Sunday, March 1. This was the event’s 73rd year.

Eric D. Lawrence is the senior car culture reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Send your tips and suggestions about cool automotive stuff to elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Weather – Frosty and cold morning, sunny day ahead

Published

5 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

MILWAUKEE – Forecast from FOX6 Meteorologist Lisa Michaels

Frosty Monday morning with temps in the teens inland to low 20s near the lake.
Mostly sunny to sunny skies on Monday. Highs in the mid-40s inland, upper 30s near the lake.
A total lunar eclipse will happen Tuesday morning, total eclipse from 5-6am. It may be tough to see due to increasing clouds.
Increasing clouds on Tuesday with highs in the low 40s. Chance of rain and storms possible Wednesday through Friday with warming temperatures.

Today: 39 Lake. Mostly sunny.
High: 44°
Wind: SE 5-10

Tonight: Partly cloudy this evening, mostly clear overnight.
Low: 27°
Wind: SE 5

Tuesday: 39 Lake. Mostly cloudy.
High: 43°
Wind: E 5-10

Wednesday:41 Lake. Chance for scattered showers and t-storms.
AM Low: 32° High: 45°
Wind: E 5-10

Thursday: 39 Lake. Mostly cloudy. Chance storms.
AM Low: 37° High: 42°
Wind: NE 5-10

Friday: Chance for showers and t-storms Warmer. Warming at night.
AM Low: 37° High: 57°
Wind: SE 5-15

Saturday: Mostly cloudy with AM rain showers. Blustery with falling afternoon temperatures.
AM Low: 47° High: 53°
Wind: NE 5-10

6-day planner

FOX6 Weather Extras

Local perspective:

Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:

FOX6 Storm Center app

FOX LOCAL Mobile app

FOX Weather app

FOX Weather

Big picture view:

Maps and radar

We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.

School and business closings

When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.