NEWS
–Little Falls Radio learned through facebook there was a fire at Herbies Bar in Sobieski shortly before 7:00pm yesterday. Fire departments from Little Falls, Upsala, Flensburg and Bowlus all assisted. Little Falls Radio will get further details later today and share official information when we know more.
–A strong thunderstorm rumbled through central Minnesota Sunday morning knocking down trees and power lines. Stearns County Emergency Management says the most significant damage to trees was in the Eden Valley, Paynesville, Richmond, Sartell and St. Cloud areas. Xcel Energy reported it may be until Wednesday before power is completely restored. About 1,100 customers were still without power yesterday. The state had nearly 200,000 without power at times Sunday due to the storm. The thunderstorm warning for Stearns County was in effect for about 45 minutes but for over three hours areas of Stearns, Meeker, Wright, Benton and Morrison couties saw wind gusts 25-50 mph. Stearns and Meeker counties had wind gusts over 75 mph. Rain totals varied from only ¼ of an inch in areas to over 3 inches in others.
–Pillager firefighters battled a large house fire around 10:00am Sunday near Mount Ski Gull south of Lake Shore. When firefighters arrived the home was fully engulfed in flames. The home was not occupied at the time of the fire as the family was away at a cabin. The property is owned by Todd and Shannon Wright. It was completely destroyed. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
–A St. Cloud man was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison for his role in a November robbery in which a victim had his cell phone and cash taken. The robbery happened in the 2200 block of Division Street in St. Cloud when the victim said a man offering to sell him marijuana threatened him with a gun and robbed him. Officers were investigating another incident when they found the suspect’s vehicle in the robbery and arrested 23-year old Casey Scott Schmitz. Schmitz pleaded guilty in March to first degree aggravated robbery.
–On Saturday just after 7:00am, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office and Holdingford Fire and Rescue were dispatched to a vehicle crash southeast of Holdingford. 17-year old Lilly Sobania of Holdingford was driving southbound on County Road 151, and went through the stop sign without stopping. 50-year old Carol Hellmann of St Joseph, was westbound on County Road 52 and struck Sobania’s vehicle. Hellmann was treated at the scene and taken to St. Cloud Hospital for observation. Sobania was uninjured in the crash.
–Stearns County Sheriff’s Office received an accident call just after 8:00am Saturday in Wakefield Township. A caller reported that a vehicle struck a power pole and there were wires on the ground. When Stearns Deputies arrived, Cold Spring Police Officer had already identified the driver of the vehicle that struck the power pole. The driver, David Minnerath stated he was traveling eastbound on County Road 83 when another vehicle, driven by Harvey Eggert turned in front of him. Minnerath swerved to avoid hitting Eggert and went into the ditch striking the power pole. The top half of the power line pole came entangled with some lower lines. As a result of the power lines touching, a large number of homes and business had no power. The intersection lights for Highway 23 and County Road 71 were out and a Deputy and a State Trooper had to control traffic at that intersection. Both drivers refused to be transported to a hospital. Excel Energy arrived on scene to repair the damaged power line pole.
–A Montana man was arrested late Saturday after a vehicle chase that started north of Rice and ended in Mille Lacs County where a canine found him hiding in tall grass. 48-year old Scott Allen Lamm of Babb, Montana faces numerous charges including fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, giving a false name and driving violations. He was taken to Benton County Jail and awaiting a court appearance.
–An Indiana man was sentenced Monday to two years in prison for robbing an Albany auto repair shop. Court records accused 19-year old Walter Alexander Amaya Turcios of pointing a gun at the repair shop owner rather than pay for vehicle repairs. Turcios previously pleaded guilty to second-degree aggravated robbery with a dangerous weapon.
–A 56-year-old from Brainerd was injured Sunday when the storms blew over his semi-trailer truck when he driving on Highway 101 near Otsego. Peter Lakin sustained injuries in the accident and was treated at a hospital in Maple Grove.
–A Sauk Rapids man and a 10-year old boy were injured when a truck drifted from U.S. Highway 10 on Sunday afternoon after 5:00pm. 38-year old Jeffrey Schneider of Sauk Rapids was westbound on Highway 10 west of Clear Lake when he drifted into the right ditch, causing the truck to roll. He and his passenger, 10-year old Jonah Schneider of Sauk Rapids received non life threatening injuries.
–Due to the storms Sunday in St. Cloud, the railroad crossing work in St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids which was to end Monday has been extended to Thursday. The crossing area will remain closed with detours posted. They also remind motorists that this is also weather permitting as more storms are in the forecast the next two days.
–Motorists will encounter daytime delays on Highway 287 between Long Prairie and Grey Eagle as segments of the road are reduced to a single lane beginning next Monday. The lane closures will occur from sunrise to sunset, and will be complete by the end of June. Flaggers and a pilot car will allow one-way, alternating traffic through the daily work zone. Motorists approaching the work zone must slow down and be prepared to stop, obey the flagger, and follow the pilot car through the work zone. Motorists entering a work zone from driveways or roads that intersect Highway 287 must wait for the pilot car to pass, then follow it through the work zone. For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota, check www.511mn.org.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
–Randall and Tiffany Schneider of Little Falls, a boy born June 10th.
WEATHER
TODAY= strong storms possible, cloudy, high 81.
TONIGHT= strong storms possible, cloudy, low 63.
WEDNESDAY= morning storms, sunny, high 85, late day storms.
THURSDAY= sunny and dry, high near 80, low around 55.
SPORTS
TWINS= Seattle rocks the Twins last night 14-3 at Target Field. Twins and Seattle game 2 tonight 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ
NBA= Golden State wins NBA Championship by beating Cleveland last night 129-120. Warriors win series 4 games to 1.
NHL= Pittsburgh Penguins won the NHL Stanley Cup for the second straight year Sunday, beating Nashville 4 games to 2.