NEWS
--Today is the 12th Day of Caring from Little Falls Community High School. Many students, adult volunteers, community members and school faculty will be out taking part in cleaning yards for 182 residences in the school district. Motorists please watch for the workers out between 8:15-12pm today as many groups will be on foot and by bus getting to the homes. Let's all make this a safe and successful Day of Caring once again today around the area.
--One person was seriously hurt at 1:22pm Monday on Highway 10 and St. Germain Street in St. Cloud of Benton County. 20-year-old Ava Sadlo of St. Cloud was eastbound on 10 when a pedestrian walked in front of the moving vehicle through congested traffic and was struck. 25-year-old Nicole Woods of Memphis, Tennessee was taken to the hospital reportedly with life threatening injuries.
--A three vehicle accident in Stearns County near St. Augusta Monday sent four people to the hospital. The semi-truck was not able to stop in slowed traffic in time and a vehicle causing that vehicle to strike another. The semi-driver was not hurt. The second vehicle's driver, 23-year-old Sierra Jones of St. Cloud and her three young children ages 4, 1 and an infant were all injured and taken to the hospital for what the State Patrol deemed non life threatening injuries. The third driver from Litchfield was treated at the scene but not hospitalized.
--One of four suspects charged in the murder of a 25-year-old woman has been convicted. DeAnte Demond Davis was found guilty on all counts after a 13 day long trial. Davis, along with Kenneth Carter, Alicia Lewis and Angela Jones, were each charged with first and second degree murder and aiding and abetting first and second degree murder after 25-year-old Keisa Marie Lange was found shot to death and her body dumped on a road June 3rd, 2021. Authorities say the four were traveling in a car that morning with Lange when they drove to Cooper Avenue and 40th Street South. Police say Jones was in the driver’s seat. Davis allegedly shot Lange while she was in the back middle seat of the car, and Carter allegedly shot at Lange after she was taken out of the car. Authorities found Lange’s body later that morning; she was shot once in the back right-hand side of her head. Davis will be sentenced on June 30th. Carter was acquitted in the case. Lewis pled guilty in 2022 but has yet to be sentenced. Jones is due back in court later this month.
--Swanville School Superintendent Travis Hensch yesterday on KLTF wanted to thank the community for being so welcoming as his first year as superintendent. He mentioned that over the summer they will be doing some work on a new baseball field and a building that started a year earlier to help for storage of football/sports equipment to help make the area around the fields a bit more open. Graduation is scheduled on the football field on May 26th at 7pm and there will be grilling of burgers and concession before the graduation ceremony.
--Also yesterday on KLTF Upsala School Superintendent Vern Capelle spoke on the year in Upsala and said that this year was very busy with FFA, Robotics, concerts, athletics and many items. He personally wanted to thank the students Every Student Every Day is their motto and said they make it a great year every year he has been at the helm. They are looking forward to their Centennial Commencement Celebration on May 26th to mark the 100th graduation of students at the Upsala High School and hopes many former alumni can take part in looking 100 years and looking to this year's graduation class from the Upsala High School.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office announced that the outdoor warning sirens in the county are being tested today around 8am. This is only a test to see if the sirens are working properly. Again they were planning on testing the sirens this morning at 8am.
--Randall Mayor Dan Noss informed Little Falls Radio that they will have their clean up day for those who live in the city of Randall on Saturday from 8-10am by the fire hall. Also Dan said that the DAV will be collecting items on Friday night from 6-8pm at Bingo Park the DAV collection event is open to anyone (not just those in Randall) who wants to come and drop off items for the Disabled American Veterans. Dan also wanted to mention a change in their parade for the Independence Day weekend festivities in Randall that the parade on Saturday, July 1st is at 5pm this year followed by a street dance by “Diamondback” at Bingo Park and there will be fireworks this year around 10pm to enjoy this will all be on July 1st in Randall.
--The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking central Minnesota to table some of its outdoor spring cleaning. Burn restrictions go into effect for the entire region today. No permits will be issued for Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns, Wright and other nearby counties until the ban is lifted. Wildfire risk is high after the snow is gone but before plants and vegetation have greened up. Pausing open burning of brush and yard waste helps reduce the risk for something to spark out of control. The restrictions are regularly adjusted depending on conditions until they are lifted completely.
--A grass fire in central Minnesota is being investigated as an act of arson. The Todd County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to several reports of a grass/swamp fire in a rural area between Staples and Brainerd. The fire report came in shortly before 6:45pm Sunday. Authorities say the Staples Fire Department responded and quickly contained the blaze. Officials say the firefighter’s quick response prevented the fire from spreading into a nearby swap that would’ve caused the flames to rapidly spread. There were no injuries reported. Investigators at the scene say evidence recovered at the scene indicates the fire was started by an act of arson but officials did not describe what the evidence was.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--Singer Gordon Lightfoot had has died at age 84. The legendary singer of If You Could Read My Mind, Sundown and the famous “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” of the boat wreck on Lake Superior in the 1970s died Monday of natural causes. The death was unexpected as he was beginning another music tour this summer.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny and pleasant, less windy, high 68.
TONIGHT= clear skies, calm winds, low near 45.
THURSDAY= sunny and mild, high 72, clouds increase late, low 40.
FRIDAY= partly sunny, cooler, turning breezy, high 59, low 33.
SPORTS
TWINS= White Sox beat the Twins 3-2 in 10 innings last night. The Twins and White Sox game 2 tonight 5:30 on Q92 WYRQ.
WNBA= Minnesota Lynx opens preseason play on Friday night against the Washington Mystics to start up the new season.
WRAP= Listen to the Saturday Morning Sports Wrap, a look back to names and scores from the past week in high school sports, the program is Saturday at 8:30am on AM960 KLTF.