WALKER — An autopsy of the 59-year-old Cass Lake woman who crashed a pontoon Tuesday, Aug. 26, in Leech Lake showed she suffered a medical emergency before the crash.
The Cass County Sheriff's Office provided the updated information on Thursday, Aug. 28, and identified the victim as Theresa Kay Cechini.
The sheriff's office received a report around 1:25 p.m. Tuesday of a boat crashing into the rocks and shoreline near Walker City Park.
Responders found Cechini unresponsive in a 2016 Regency Tri-Toon. She was the only occupant.
Lifesaving efforts immediately began, according to the release, and continued while the woman was transported to the Walker airport, where she was pronounced dead.
The Walker police and fire departments and North Memorial Health Ambulance and Air Care assisted in the response.
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And: A rural Orr man was arrested for allegedly shooting a firefighting plane; the Legislature passed a bonding bill; and filings open for public office Tuesday.
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In their final hours before the session ended, lawmakers passed a county hospital bailout, an infrastructure bill and small cuts to car tab fees and property taxes.
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Here’s what made it into the Legislature's infrastructure package and what lawmakers and others had to say about it May 17, 2026.
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The KAXE Music Team on new music from Jobi Riccio, Genesis Owusu, Aldous Harding, Helado Tropical, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Angine de Poitrine and Brooklyn Funk Essentials. Our Pick from '76 is Dolly Parton's "All I Can Do."
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Firefighters responded to a wildland fire between Orr and Crane Lake on Friday, May 15, 2026. After returning to the airport, it was learned a bullet appeared to have struck one of the planes.
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Evacuated homeowners will be able to return to their properties for the day, Monday, May 18, 2026. Crow Wing County declared a local emergency, the first step toward state disaster aid.
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Reaching Rural Readers sends free books to rural Minnesota high school students. This summer's list includes books by Dawn Quigley, K. Woodman-Maynard, and Kenneth Cadow.
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This is the Up North Lookback, where we’re digging into the local news archives from 50 years ago — the year KAXE was born. It’s the week of May 18.
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As next steps for a proposed data center are considered, Liz Schwab from Google addresses some of the concerns raised at a recent Hermantown City Council meeting.
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Wildland firefighters are working on containment and mopping up hot spots for a wildfire that began Saturday afternoon, May 16, 2026, southeast of Crosslake.