State briefs

A jury in North Platte, Neb., has awarded $300,000 to a woman who sued Pillsbury Co. after a bean sprout lodged in her throat from a can of Green Giant French cut style green beans.

Susan Stickney of Stapleton ate the green beans in December 1999. The federal jury awarded the money last Friday after a four-day trial.

Stickney accused Pillsbury of providing her with a product that was "unfit for human consumption and unreasonably dangerous to the consumer in that it contained a foreign substance."

Pillsbury parent company General Mills disagreed with the verdict and was considering its next step, spokeswoman Marybeth Thorsgaard said Thursday.

Stickney said she consulted a doctor after the incident and had a particle of the bean sprout removed from her throat with a scope.

Two separate surgeries later, Stickney contacted the company about her troubles.

"They offered her free coupons," attorney Terry Waite said.

Stickney filed the lawsuit two years ago, seeking damages for physical and emotional pain and suffering, travel expenses, loss of earnings, loss of the ability for intimate relations and loss of enjoyment of life.

Colorado searchers looking for DL boy who fell into culvert

Search teams in Silverton, Colo., were looking for a 6-year-old Minnesota boy Thursday after he apparently was swept into a culvert while climbing near a waterfall west of Silverton, authorities said.

Evan Johnson, of Detroit Lakes, Minn., son of Connie and Boyd Johnson, was vacationing with his family when the accident happened at the South Mineral Lake Campground.

San Juan County sheriff's dispatcher Melody Skinner said the boy fell a short distance into a deep pool at the base of the waterfall Wednesday afternoon. The boy's family saw him fall.

Former elementary principal sentenced for fondling boy

A former Detroit Lakes elementary school principal has been fined $1,000 and placed on probation for 25 years after being found guilty of fondling an 11-year-old boy.

Paul Ness, 74, was convicted of second-degree criminal sexual conduct for his actions last year during a community education class.

Ness also was ordered to undergo a sex offender evaluation and pay for the victim's counseling. He must register as a sexual predator, submit a sample of his DNA and have no contact with minors without an adult present.

Ness was sentenced Wednesday in Becker County District Court.

Minneapolis man pleads guilty in U of M hockey riot

A Minneapolis man pleaded guilty on Thursday to first-degree damage to property in the April 12 riot that began after the University of Minnesota won the NCAA men's hockey championship.

Travis John Hinck, 19, was accused of kicking out the rear doors of a police van.

Hennepin County District Judge Richard Hopper sentenced Hinck to 12 days of work-squad duty and a 1 1/2 years probation. Hopper also ordered Hinck to pay restitution of $905.

The riot followed the Gopher men's hockey team winning its second straight national championship. Authorities have estimated that damage could exceed $300,000.

Jason Niehaus, 20, pleaded guilty last month to second-degree arson for setting fire to a parking lot attendant's booth. Five others have been charged with felonies.