Minnesota

Part of Jesse James’ gang of robbers helped put this Minnesota town on the map

Published

1 year ago

September 19, 2024

Part of Jesse James’ gang of robbers helped put this Minnesota town on the map

MADELIA, Minn. — What happened to Jesse James and his band of bank robbers after they fled Northfield? Some of them ended up near the town of Madelia.

“I go somewhere and people ask, ‘Where are you from?’ ‘Northfield.’ One of the first things that most people say? ‘Oh, the Defeat of Jesse James Days,’” said Galen Malecha of Northfield.

Sept. 7, 1876, marked the beginning of the end for Jesse James and his crew. While attempting to rob a Northfield bank, a gunfight broke out and the residents drove the raiders out of town.

“Cole Younger says, later in life, that when they were in Northfield on Division Street, it was ‘Hell’s Gallery,’” said Tim Freeleand, “Defeat of Jesse James” emcee.

Younger and his brothers fled west with Frank and Jesse James. Near Lake Crystal, Minnesota, the James brothers left the rest of the group behind, hoping to lure law enforcement away from their fellow thieves. That’s when the Youngers made their way to Madelia.

“It was reported that this was the most exciting time Madelia had ever seen,” said Pam Sandbo of the Watonwan County Historical Society.

The Youngers and their friend, Charley Pitts, were noticed by Oscar Sorbel, the son of a farmer. The teenager then made a Paul Revere-like ride into town and alerted Sheriff Glispin, who quickly formed a posse that tracked the criminals down near the Watonwan River.

“He says, ‘OK, so this is what we’re going to do. We’re going to walk in straight at them and shoot. Shoot until they are down or we are,’” said historian Adeline Yates.

The Younger brothers’ gang had a decision to make at that point: surrender or stand and fight. They chose to do the latter, and they paid the price for it.

Yates said the Younger gang shot first. The town posse, known as the Magnificent Seven, returned fire, killing Pitts and wounding Cole, Bob and Jim Younger. The revolver Jim used that fateful day can be found at the county historical society.

“My two uncles were involved in the capture out here,” said Yates.

Yates said the brothers were taken into town and temporarily jailed at the Flanders Hotel before they were transferred to Faribault, and later sentenced to life in prison in Stillwater.

“My uncles kept in touch with the Younger brothers in Stillwater, and they actually wrote letters,” said Yates.

For years, Yates and others would organize a re-enactment in September to commemorate the town’s famous capture. She says visitors even came from other countries to watch.

“This is where we did the shootout. And all our visitors got to sit on the hill and got to see all of this, all the way down across here,” said Yates on a plot of land a few miles out of town.

Glen Christensen’s dad helped get a mural about the shootout painted near downtown Madelia.

“Because that was such a big deal to the town, we thought this would be the perfect place to put it on top of the oldest building in the county,” said Christensen.

While parts of the story are tragic, Christensen believes the mural shows rural Minnesota’s resiliency: How people can put their differences aside and rise up when they’re needed most.

“There may be problems or maybe things you have to deal with, challenges you have to deal with. But the town always comes together and finds a way to solve it,” said Christensen. “Whether it’s the Younger brothers’ capture or the fire that took place in 2016. We always find a way to get together and make it happen and continue evolving forward.”

Bob Younger died in prison. Cole and Jim Younger were later paroled. The Watonwan County Historical Society in Madelia also has a display that details the events that led to the Younger brothers’ capture.

John Lauritsen

John Lauritsen is an Emmy award-winning reporter from Montevideo, Minn. He joined WCCO-TV in late-July of 2007. Two days after he started, the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed.

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Minnesota

Lawmakers demand Keith Ellison resign as Minnesota fraud grilling turns brutal

Published

2 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Lawmakers demand Keith Ellison resign as Minnesota fraud grilling turns brutal

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) called on Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to resign during the House Oversight Committee’s hearing on the widespread fraud in Minnesota.

Higgins began his line of questioning by referring to Ellison’s open statement.

“Under Minnesota law, my Office has limited jurisdiction over criminal matters. The only kind of criminal case we can prosecute on our own is Medicaid fraud; any other criminal case must be specifically referred to us by county attorneys or the Governor,” Ellison said in his opening statement.

Higgins stated Ellison said that his office only had the authority to investigate Medicaid fraud, to which Ellison nodded his head in response.

But, Higgins pointed out that was incorrect.

“Under your own law, you have authority if the county district attorney asks you to get involved, or if the governor asks you to get involved, then your office can take the lead on any criminal investigation,” Ellison said.

Ellison remained speechless after Higgins asked him if that his statement was correct.

“So you have the authority to lead your state’s effort to respond to this massive fraud at the state level, from within the health care realm, where government money has been stolen at very, very high levels, unprecedented levels, in your state,” Higgins said.

“Are you leading that effort for the state of Minnesota?”

Ellison replied but his response was not picked up by the microphone.

“You’re addressing it,” Higgins asked. “Are you leading it?”

Ellison responded, “we are leading the effort to prosecute Medicaid fraud.”

“I’m not talking about Medicaid fraud,” Higgins yelled.

“Don’t hide behind that. You have the authority to prosecute anything criminally that the governor asked you to. And this thing is big.”

“I’m giving you an opportunity, sir. Are you leading the criminal investigative effort into this massive fraud across the board in the healthcare spectrum, in the state of Minnesota or not,” Higgins continued.

Ellison replied, saying his office was “following the law,” prompting Higgins to interject.

“You are not leading,” Higgins responded. “You’re not leading. I must say, Mr. Chairman, that the Attorney General of Minnesota should resign.”

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Minnesota

Maddy Kimbrel Named Minnesota’s 2026 Ms. Hockey Winner

Published

14 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Maddy Kimbrel Named Minnesota’s 2026 Ms. Hockey Winner

Maddy Kimbrel joined an illustrious group of players as Minnesota’s 2026 Ms. Hockey winner. The award is annually given to the best high school women’s hockey player in the state of Minnesota.

The Holy Family forward scored 37 goals and 57 points this season in only 26 games for her school.

She was also an assistant captain for Team USA at the 2026 U-18 World Championships winning gold. It was her second time representing USA at the event.

Kimbrel spent four seasons playing for Orono High before moving to Holy Family this season.

The 17-year-old Mound, Minnesota product is headed to the University of Wisconsin next season.

The other four finalists for the award were Alaina Gentz (Centennial/SLP), Jasmine Hovda (Roseau), Lorelai Nelson (Edina), and Mia Miller (Northfield).

Past winners of the award include current PWHL players such as Taylor Heise (2018), Peyton Hemp (2021), Olivia Mobley (2020), Grace Zumwinkle (2017), and Hannah Brandt (2012), and 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Krissy Wendell-Pohl.

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Minnesota

Bemidji declares March as Minnesota Food Share Month; hears Project Graduate report

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Bemidji declares March as Minnesota Food Share Month; hears Project Graduate report

BEMIDJI — The city of Bemidji declared March as Minnesota Food Share Month in partnership with the

Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign

during a

city council

meeting on Monday. This campaign is the largest grassroots food and fund drive in Minnesota.

“Food insecurity affects thousands of Minnesotans, including residents of Bemidji and the greater Beltrami County area, and access to nutritious food is fundamental to the health and dignity, and well-being of every community member,” the proclamation reads. “Local food shelves depend on the generosity of community donations to meet the growing needs of our neighbors, and every contribution — whether food, funds or time — makes a direct difference in the lives of Bemidji residents.

“The city of Bemidji proudly recognizes the extraordinary contributions of the volunteers, donors and partner organizations whose compassion and dedication ensure that no neighbor goes without, and the city of Bemidji is committed to fostering a compassionate and caring community where all residents are supported and encouraged to look out for one another in times of need.”

Ward 2 Councilor Josh Peterson read the proclamation as Mayor Jorge Prince attended the meeting virtually. Peterson attempted to award the proclamation to a Bemidji Community Food Shelf representative, but no one was available to receive it.

John Eggers,

a former educator, gave a presentation to the council regarding his Project Graduate initiative, which promotes 100% graduation rates within Beltrami County during Monday’s meeting.

“It’s not an easy task to do, but we can do it,” Eggers remarked.

Eggers shared personal efforts to promote a 100% graduation rate within Beltrami County, such as promoting graduation as a teacher at Red Lake High School recently. He hopes to do more work in Red Lake in the future.

Eggers also formed an alliance of local Bemidji businesses to promote Project Graduate. Each business will find a unique way to promote higher graduation rates while working with the alliance. Additionally, Eggers has spent the last several years forming an advocacy program that has now spread to 12 states and five countries worldwide.

He then shared ideas for the council to follow to promote the initiative. This included joining the alliance, displaying posters, “relentlessly” promoting high graduation rates, starting a PSA campaign, adding the initiative to the city’s website or newsletter and signing a proclamation.

He noted that in 2025, the city signed a proclamation and other Beltrami County cities followed suit, meaning Bemidji could once again set the trend to promote higher graduation rates.

Ward 1 Councilor Gwenia Fiskevold Gould asked how the initiative addresses underlying issues that affect

declining graduation rates

within Beltrami County, such as housing instability and food insecurity.

Eggers did not have a direct answer, but noted that graduation often helps young people climb out of bad situations. He believes that all people deal with adversity and that graduation is an important tool to help improve their quality of life.

He also pointed out that graduation rates among white students have remained steady when compared to statewide trends, but that students of color and Indigenous students’ graduation rates are lower than the state average, something that needs to be addressed to help these communities.

Finally, Eggers noted that the initiative’s drop-out prevention hotline was recently discontinued, but that students or parents can reach out to Eggers directly to receive the help needed to stay in school.

Overall, council members thanked Eggers for his Project Graduate presentation. His contact information can be found on his website,

johnrogereggers.com.

The council will next meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 16, at City Hall for a regular meeting. Meetings can be viewed on

the city’s website.

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