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St. Paul Saints win on Opening Day after winter wait
“What a better way to spend a Saturday in March and in the holiday weekend here and be able to spend time, cheer on the Saints?”
ST PAUL, Minn. — Opening Day in St. Paul is finally here, after the remnants of last week’s winter weather caused delays and reschedules for the St. Paul Saints.
“We love coming to baseball games together,” Cullen Wiley, standing alongside three friends, said. “What a better way to spend a Saturday in March and in the holiday weekend here and be able to spend time, cheer on the Saints?”
The Saints home opener was originally scheduled for Friday, but remnants of snow – an oddity this winter – left the field covered and unplayable.
“Spring baseball is always a challenge in Minnesota,” Derek Sharrer, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Saints, said. “We got hit by upwards of 16 inches of snow toward the end of last week and early this week.”
If Mother Nature’s a baseball fan, then this was certainly a curveball – and it’s not the first time this has happened. Last year, Opening Day was also delayed.
RELATED: Saints cancel Friday’s home opener
“Mother Nature, two, Saints, zero over the last two years on Opening Day,” Sharrer said. “So frustrating for sure, but not unexpected.”
For fans at the game, though, the delays didn’t matter – just being back at the game did.
“I get to watch baseball, that’s the most fun of it all,” stadium attendant Jim Field said. “The baseball’s really good, and it’s just a fun place to be.”
“Jair Camargo gave me his shin guard last year, so he’s pretty cool,” James, a young fan with his friends, said.
Some, here for what’s on the concourse, not just on the field.
“I’m ready for eating any hot dog right now,” Gabriel Johnson said. “Get that grilled onion in me!”
The Saints hit multiple home runs and beat the Columbus Clippers 8-2.
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A fire at the Gay 90’s was quickly put out thanks to the sprinkler system.
MINNEAPOLIS — A fire at the Gay 90’s Thursday afternoon damaged a pool table in the game room.
The Minneapolis Fire Dept. responded to reports of a fire at the Hennepin Avenue club at about 2:30 p.m. When they arrived, there was no active fire but there was smoke.
The fire was contained to a pool table in the game room and was extinguished by sprinklers, officials said. Fire crews ventilated the smoke.
The fire happened before the club opened. Officials said there were two employees in the building but was otherwise empty and no one was hurt.
The man was bitten numerous times and had to undergo emergency surgery.
PLYMOUTH, Minn. — A Plymouth man was hospitalized after being attacked by two pit bulls outside his home earlier this week.
Police said officers were called to a home shortly after midnight in the 15300 block of 60th Ave in Plymouth for a reported dog attack on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
When officers arrived, they found a man with serious injuries. The man, identified as Emil Mammedov, was taken to North Memorial Medical Center.
Eventually, the officers found the dogs at a nearby home.
“The owner of the dogs has been identified and the dogs are currently being quarantined in a secure police facility,” according to the Plymouth PD news release.
The dogs bit Mammedov numerous times — taking off a large piece of skin underneath his right eye, according to his GoFundMe page. Mammedov had to undergo emergency surgery.
“Emil is a breadwinner for his family as a professional chef, and together with {his wife} the family ran a small catering business,” the GoFundMe page stated.
Police said the incident is under investigation but no charges have been filed yet.
“[The officer] said in order for us to make [the dealerships] abide, we’re going to start citing the customers,” Rocha recalled the officer saying.
PROSPER, Texas — Daniel Rocha walked into a Prosper car dealership to test drive a truck, only to find himself in legal trouble within minutes.
Rocha was pulled over by police shortly after beginning his test drive. The officer informed him that the reason for the stop was the absence of a license plate on the back of the vehicle.
“When he stopped me, he asked for my driver’s license and said the reason why I stopped you is because you don’t have a license plate in the back,” Rocha explained.
Rocha received a citation for “Operating a Vehicle Without License Plates,” and he claims the officer suggested that this was an ongoing issue with the dealership.
“He said this has been ongoing with these dealers,” Rocha said. “‘We’ve been getting on these guys for doing that,'” he recalled the officer saying. “He said in order for us to make [the dealerships] abide, we’re going to start citing the customers,” he recalled.
The Prosper Police Department confirmed the violation, stating: “Failure to properly display dealer tags on test-driven vehicles is a violation of Texas law and can pose safety risks, potentially resulting in enforcement action by law enforcement. Under state law, vehicle operators are held responsible for any citations if this law is ignored.”
The dealership involved is Longo Toyota of Prosper. A general manager confirmed the event and told WFAA that this was the first time it had occurred at this dealership.
“Safety is a top priority at Longo Toyota of Prosper, and we are dedicated to providing a secure environment for everyone. Our community is very important to us, and we have been active supporters since we opened nearly eight years ago. We recently became aware of an issue during a test drive, which we are actively working to address and resolve. Driver safety is a core value for us, and we proudly sponsor a driver education program in our local area. Our team is dedicated to the well-being of our guests and the community we serve,” read a statement from Longo.
It is unclear how many incidents have occurred where drivers of test-driven vehicles have been cited in the area. But, according to Rocha, the officer implied there is a history of this happening along University Drive or U-S 380.
According to Rocha, the dealership offered to reimburse him for the ticket, though he claims they earlier adjusted the vehicle estimate to account for the cost of the ticket. The dealership’s general manager denies this occurred. Rocha did not purchase the vehicle.
For Rocha, the incident adds to an already heavy emotional burden. Rocha’s need for a new vehicle stems from a personal tragedy—his son, Daniel Junior, died in a car accident on August 30th at the age of 44.
“It does upset me that I’m in the middle of this feud that’s going on,” he shared.
For now, Rocha faces a citation and a court date, all while grieving the loss of his son.
