NEWS --The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a fatal accident Monday afternoon on Highway 10 in Belle Prairie Township. Around 4:00pm a vehicle driven by 70-year old Lana Nornberg of Little Falls was heading south in the northbound lane on Highway 10 and sideswiped a semi-truck driven by 38-year old John Hulst of Viking which caused the Nornberg vehicle to strike a third vehicle driven by 52-year old Patricia Gerchy of Bemidji head on. Two of the drivers, Nornberg and Gerchy received non life threatening injuries. A passenger in the Gerchy vehicle, 86-year old Delores Mickow of Wabasha died at the scene. According to the report from the Minnesota State Patrol, everyone was wearing their seatbelts. The report also stated alcohol was detected in Lana Nornberg's system. Highway 10 was rerouted yesterday afternoon for quite a while as authorities worked on the accident scene.
--Authorities have ended the ground search for a missing Annandale teen. 17-year old Aaliyah Christine Kazimer was last seen Saturday at a residence on Stearns County Road 120 in St. Cloud. Her vehicle was located in a parking lot at Riverside Park. A bloodhound tracked her scent to the Mississippi River from the vehicle. According to police, air searches by drone and water searches by boat also ended Monday afternoon due to adverse weather conditions, but will most likely resume today. Kazimer was last seen wearing a black button up shirt and dark colored running shorts. She is described as Asian, five-feet-two-inches tall, and weighing 120 pounds. Police are asking anyone with information regarding Kazimer to call the St. Cloud Police Department at 320-251-1200.
--A 49-year old Buffalo man died in a Benton County accident Saturday morning around 10:30am. A semi-truck was traveling on Highway 95 in Glendorado Township when Robert Kuhn went through the intersection at County Road 7 and struck the semi which caused Kuhn's vehicle to spin a number of times into the ditch. Robert Kuhn died at the scene. The semi-driver, 80-year-old David Heim of St. Cloud was not injured.
--A 1-year old was critically injured in a two-vehicle accident Saturday around 2:30pm on Highway 23 near Cold Spring. 23-year old Joseph Walz of Cold Spring crossed the intersection of 23 and County Road 71 when he was broadsided by a semi truck driven by 61-year old Jeffrey Ditlefsen of Sartell. Walz was treated at St. Cloud Hospital. A 3-year old was not hurt but his 1 year old passenger, Colton Walz was taken to the hospital with reportedly critical life threatening injuries from the accident. Ditlefsen was not hurt.
--The names Brian Klinefelter and Tommy Decker evoke memories of two of the darkest times in Stearns County law enforcement history. Both men -- police officers in St. Joseph and Cold Spring, respectively were killed in the line of duty. Less known is the story of Edwin "Eddie" Arendt. He was a Stearns County deputy serving civil process paperwork in early November 1987 when he was killed after a head-on collision with another car on Stearns County Road 2, just north of Cold Spring. A sign recognizing Arendt's death in the line of duty was installed Thursday near the site of his fatal crash. Similar signs acknowledging the deaths of Klinefelter and Decker have been or will be placed near the locations they were killed. There was a brief ceremony Monday to honor those men on National Peace Officers Memorial Day, which kicks off National Police Week.
--A Todd County Day Care lost its license last week alleging the owner was caring for children while under prescription/narcotic medications. The order outlined by Morrison County in February showed Gretchen Hibbs was licensed to care for no more than 10 children which she had more of when the investigation occurred. She was alleged to have left children unattended, took medication in front of children, showed behavior of those on pain meds, changing diapers for children no longer wearing them, food was left for a long time out in the open, stove left on, and struggled to remember things when asked by investigators that led to the April 4th letter asking for the license to the daycare be revoked. Hibbs does have the right to appeal this ruling as she has no prior investigations or negative actions brought up against her.
--Three suspects were arrested early Sunday after police saw 15-20 people fighting outside the Centre Square parking ramp after bar close. Multiple officers had to be called in to break up the fight, which happened at about 2:15am. Police believe the fight started among acquaintances. One of these males who officers were trying to arrest tried to run, but was caught by a pursuing officer. 27-year old Lance Emmanual Buckingham of St. Cloud had multiple felony warrants out of Polk County for credit card fraud. Buckingham was taken to Stearns County Jail on the warrants and additional charges of disorderly conduct, fleeing police on foot and obstructing legal process. The two others arrested are 34-year old Denzel Lavell Nichols of Minneapolis and 34-year old Latrice La-Shaun Clark of St. Cloud. Both were taken to Stearns County Jail.
--Miss Minnesota Meridith Gould was 2nd runner up Sunday night at the Miss USA Pageant. Miss District of Columbia Kara McCullough was crowned the 66th Miss USA, Miss New Jersey Chhavi Verg was first runner up. This was the 2nd straight year Miss D.C. won the title. --Two vehicles crashed Sunday around 1:30pm at the intersection of Highways 23 and 95 in Benton County. 87-year old Jeanette Smoley of Watkins turned in front of an oncoming vehicle colliding with 22-year old Raya Myers of St. Cloud. Both drivers had one passenger in their vehicle, 90-year-old Leroy Smoley and 9-year-old Isaiah Martin. All were treated for non-life threatening injuries.
--The Pierz School District has an $18.45 million dollar bond referendum up for a vote next Monday, May 22nd. Pierz Public School Superintendant George Weber is a scheduled in studio guest on Up Front this morning at 9:05am on AM960 KLTF. Weber will have time to answer questions from callers during the program
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Justin and Amy Schumann, boy on May 12th
DEATH NOTICE --Devin Wachtel, age 32 of Little Falls
WEATHER TODAY= showers and storms in morning, cloudy, high 77. TONIGHT= storms likely, some strong, heavy rain, low 57. WEDNESDAY= storms early and late day, windy, high 63, low 48. THURSDAY= showers likely, cloudy, windy, cooler, high 55.
SPORTS TWINS= Twins host Colorado tonight 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.