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Newsletter: Friday, April 26th, 2024
NEWS --A 63-year-old Brainerd man died Tuesday, after his vehicle went off the road on County Highway 8 in Crow Wing County. Around 6:15pm, the crash happened in Maple Grove Township, near the 10000 block of County Highway 8 in southeastern Crow Wing County. A 2002 Jeep was traveling east on the highway when it went off the road and hit an approach in the west ditch before coming to rest in the ditch. Todd Michael West's iPhone originally reported the crash, sending a crash alert to authorities. A passerby also reported the crash, finding the car in the ditch. First on scene were Zone 1 first responders, who found West responsive in the vehicle. While attempting to help him from the vehicle, the man became unresponsive and CPR was performed. West was pronounced dead at the scene when authorities arrived on scene. The man's body was sent to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s office to determine the cause of death.
--One man is dead following a single-vehicle UTV crash Wednesday in Crow Wing County. The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office said they responded to the crash at about 7:50pm in Roosevelt township near the intersection of County Road 138 and Loveland Pass. A 67-year-old-man died as a result of the crash. The man is from Garrison, according to the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office. His name will be released after the next-of-kin is notified.
--Two people were hurt in a collision between a car and a semi on Interstate 94. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened just before 5:30am. Wednesday. Both vehicles were going east near Clearwater in Wright County when they collided. The driver of the car, 28-year-old Njindo Ngami of Grand Forks, North Dakota was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A passenger in the semi, 50-year-old Khalid Amjahdi of Niles, Illinois also had non-life-threatening injuries but was not taken to the hospital. The semi-driver, a 42-year-old man from Chicago, was not hurt.
--Two people died in a head-on collision in central Minnesota. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened at about 7pm Tuesday on Highway 12 near Pennock in Kandiyohi County. The driver of a Ford Explorer, 69-year-old Joyce Nokleby of Benson, and her passenger 83-year-old Llewellyn Nokleby of Benson, both died in the crash. The other driver, 45-year-old Douglas Robinson of Waseca, was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
--A familiar scam involving someone impersonating police has popped up in Meeker County. According to the sheriff’s office, residents are getting phone calls from someone saying they’re with the department and calling due to a missed jury duty date and now owe money. They will leave a message if the call goes unanswered, saying to respond on an “urgent matter.” The phone number they leave is not the sheriff’s office number. St. Cloud police and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office have both issued warnings about similar scams in recent months. Authorities say courts or law enforcement personnel will never demand money over the phone for missed jury duty or warrants, take payments by phone, accept gift cards for fines or bail. If someone does receive a suspicious call like this, hang up immediately. Then, contact the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center directly at 320-693-5400 to report the scam.
--A reminder that there is plenty of road work and construction underway on state highways, before you head out check 511mn.org for the latest road construction delays and detours in Minnesota.
--Check out the events this weekend including the hotdish fundraiser for hospice tonight at VFW put on by Emblom Brenny, the spaghetti fundraiser and raffle tonight at St. Mary's in Upsala for the St. Edward's Church in Elmdale fire restoration, Royalton Fire Relief Association breakfast tomorrow at the Royalton Fire Hall come and see the firetrucks with the firefighters, Little Falls Community High School Prom is Saturday, grand march begins at 4:30pm, Chicken dinner at St. Stanislaus Church in Sobieski on Sunday, check details on all the events at fallsradio.com and community calendar.
--The Minnesota National Guard is holding its 2024 Best Warrior Competition this week at Camp Ripley. This year’s event features a unique twist as 16 soldiers and two airmen from Minnesota are competing alongside NATO partners. There are two each from Canada and Norway and four from Croatia. The Minnesota National Guard has an exchange program with Norway where the countries have trained together, but this is the first time all three partner nations have competed in Minnesota simultaneously. It’s a grueling four day competition meant to test physical and mental capabilities. Events include Army knowledge exams, fitness tests, weapons qualifications, medical tasks, an obstacle course, a live-fire exercise, and a special “Valor Ruck” honoring Medal of Honor recipients. One Soldier and one non-commissioned officer will advance to the Region Best Warrior Competition hosted by the Iowa National Guard in May.
--A Minnesota man who became an international polka music icon has died. Florian W. Chmielewski died on April 23rd at his home in Sturgeon Lake, surrounded by his family. He was 97 years old and had recently played accordion at his own birthday party in February. His accordion skills led him to front the Chmielewski Fun Time Band and hosted the Chmielewski Funtime TV program for 35 years. He is a member of the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame and the International Polka Association Hall of Fame and has earned nine Grammy awards from the Minnesota Music Academy. He launched the International Polka Festival, which ran for 40 years. Chmielewski served in the Minnesota State Senate for 26 years starting in 1970.
DEATH NOTICES --Nancy J. Brausen, age 90 of Little Falls. --Judith “Judy” L. Smieja, age 68 of Brainerd.
WEATHER TODAY= showers and T-storms in afternoon, breezy, high 58. TONIGHT= showers likely, some T-storms, low near 50. SATURDAY= showers in AM, then cloudy, high 50, low near 40. SUNDAY= rain likely, cooler and windy, high 44, low near 37. MONDAY= isolated rain showers, cloudy, breezy, high near 50.
SPORTS NFL= The Chicago Bears picked Caleb Williams QB of USC as the #1 pick last night in the NFL Draft. Vikings pick Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy as their first round pick at #10. Then outside linebacker from Alabama Dallas Turner with pick #17 in the first round. TWINS= Twins rally to beat the White Sox 6-3 yesterday to get the four game sweep. Twins head out west to Anaheim to take on the Los Angeles Angels tonight 8pm pregame, tomorrow 8pm pregame and Sunday Inside Twins at 2pm on Q92 WYRQ.
