Friday, June 27, 2025
Minnesota Department of Transportation reported after the rains Wednesday and Thursday there are many roads that were flooded over mainly in southern and southeastern Minnesota but also reports of flooded areas in central and eastern Minnesota. Some county roads have flooded in areas as Little Falls Airport reported Thursday over 2 inches of rain yesterday and the 1.3 inches on Wednesday. Some areas around the fairgrounds and other spots reported heavier rainfall totals in the past two days. Please use caution and do not go around any barricades put up in areas where there are high water. For more information on the areas on state roads where high water has been an issue go to the website www.511mn.org.
Lawyers for Jenny Boelter, the wife of the man accused of shooting two lawmakers and their spouses earlier this month, released her first public statement Thursday since the fatal shootings. "On behalf of my children and myself, I want to express our deepest sympathies to the Hortman and Hoffman families. Our condolences are with all who are grieving during this unimaginable tragedy," the statement began. Boelter's husband, Vance, is charged with murdering Speaker Emerita Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and critically injuring Rep. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. The shootings took place in the early hours of June 14 inside the lawmakers' homes. Jenny Boelter continued her statement, saying their family is "shocked" by her husband's alleged actions. "We are absolutely shocked, heartbroken and completely blindsided. This violence does not at all align with our beliefs as a family. It is a betrayal of everything we hold true as tenets of our Christian faith. We are appalled and horrified by what occurred and our hearts are incredibly heavy for the victims of this unfathomable tragedy." Boelter and her children met with police at an Onamia gas station in the hours after the killings. Officers searched her vehicle and recovered a safe, the whole family's passports, $10,000 in cash and two guns, and was carrying out the family's so-called "bailout plan," as they were "preppers" who prepare for catastrophic incidents, according to court documents. She has not been charged with a crime. "From the moment we were first contacted by law enforcement, we have fully cooperated with investigators and responded to their every request," Boelter's statement continues. "On the morning of June 14, 2025, I received a call from law enforcement and immediately drove to meet agents at a nearby gas station. We were not pulled over; we parked and waited until they arrived. When they did, we voluntarily agreed to meet with them, answer their questions, provide all items they requested, and cooperate with all searches. We are grateful for the diligent and professional efforts of the authorities to fully investigate these cries. We thank law enforcement for apprehending Vance and protecting others from further harm." Boelter's lawyers added she and her children will not make any additional statements as the investigation continues. Vance Boelter is currently in custody at the Sherburne County Jail. His next court hearing is scheduled for Friday.
Todd County Sheriff's Office Thursday stated they were looking for a missing 14 year old Bryent Jones who was not seen since Wednesday afternoon in the Rogers area. Jones was located safe and has been in contact with his family since the alert was issued. Thank you for all who assisted in finding Jones.
Two people were hurt in a two vehicle accident Thursday around 7:30pm in Crow Wing County. Lillyanna Loschko, 22 of East Gull Lake was on Highway 371 and collided with a turning vehicle off of Hazelwood Drive driven by Donald Anderson, 78 of Crosslake. Both drivers were taken to the Brainerd Hospital and treated for non life threatening injuries.
A Deerwood man was injured when his motorcycle went off the road to avoid a collision with another vehicle just before 12:30pm Thursday. 37-year-old Christopher Borchers was treated for his injuries at the Brainerd Medical Center, which the state patrol deemed non life threatening.
A Sauk Rapids man faces two felony charges after a road rage incident Tuesday morning. St. Cloud Police were dispatched to an incident where a man said he was threatened with a box cutter. According to the charges, the man said he was driving on 25th Avenue just after 5:00 a.m. and was stopped at a red light to turn onto Highway 23. When the light turned green, he said a man on a scooter went through the red light, forcing him to brake suddenly. The victim said the driver of the scooter, 25-year-old Logan Vanderbeek, started yelling at him and aggressively gesturing at him. When the victim rolled down his window, Vanderbeek allegedly pulled out a box cutter and pointed it at him. The driver continued down the road and pulled into the Kwik Trip, where he saw Vanderbeek again. Court records allege Vanderbeek approached the victim and was cursing at him before throwing the utility knife at him. Vanderbeek faces two felony charges of 5th-degree assault within three years of two or more domestic violence and assault convictions. Vanderbeek has been convicted of domestic assault conviction in Mille Lacs County in 2022 and was also convicted for an assault charge from Stearns County in 2023.
Water levels are on the rise in Central Minnesota this development is changing where fish are located. The DNR was made aware of a number of voluntary high water advisories and wake zones put up in Meeker County, and also by the cities of Dassel and Hutchinson from the heavy rains. Conservation officers in the area said it is best if you are looking for fish in any runoff areas like channels, culverts, inlets, outlets, under bridges and rivers. River fishing is a great option and that includes the Mississippi, Sauk and Crow Rivers. He suggests looking for current breaks and deep holes in the river for fish. More rain has created some positive opportunities to catch fish but again high water is an issue in many areas this weekend. Please remember to use caution and have the right permits and licenses if out on the waters.
The former St. Cloud Planning Commission member who ran the nonprofit Too Much Talent pleaded guilty to illegally transferring a handgun and received a 90 day stayed jail sentence, plus one year of probation. Lenora Hunt entered her guilty plea on June 24th in Stearns County District Court. Under the plea agreement, she won’t serve jail time unless she violates probation. She paid $189 in fines and fees. The case stems from a July 2024 incident where Hunt helped Devounteno Lavance Tyson sell a handgun to an undercover informant. At the time, Tyson was under investigation for fentanyl sales in St. Cloud. Before the gun sale, investigators recorded conversations between Hunt and Tyson where she discussed running for mayor and potentially helping him and several co-defendants with their criminal cases if she won. The recordings also captured Hunt discussing a gun in her possession, how much money she wanted for it, grant funding she was receiving, and other personal details. Tyson also mentioned bonding out of jail and Hunt “having a lawyer ready to go.” According to investigators, Tyson entered Too Much Talent to meet with Hunt and returned shortly after with a loaded .9mm handgun, which he handed over to the informant. Police say Hunt did not attempt to comply with Minnesota statutes regulating firearm sales, including conducting a required background check, filling out a Private Party Transfer Form, and keeping records on file for 10 years as required by law.
It's a busy weekend of events in the area. The Morrison County Fair continues with Llama, Alpaca, Sheep, meat Goat shows, carnival rides, minnow races, "Smear Card Tournament" at 12:30, Bingo, Antiques Auto Show at 2pm, Friday Night Lights barrel racing event at 6pm. Motocross at the Grandstand at 6pm, live music and much more Friday, Saturday Hairball Concert of Arena Rock with light show and pyro has gates opening at 6pm, Sunday ball drop by United Way and Autocross all at the fairgrounds this weekend. More details at fallsradio.com on the home page. The Swanville Midsummer Carnival begins Friday at 5pm with Chicken BBQ and midway tonight and live music, more Saturday starting at 3pm and Sunday the parade kicks off at 11:30am then midway, food and lots of music this weekend in Swanville. Church Bazaars this weekend Sunday at St. Elizabeth's in Brennyville, Immaculate Conception in St. Anna, St. Mathias Catholic Church located neat Fort Ripley and St. Stanislaus Church in Sobieski with Mass at 10am, chicken dinner with all the fixings starts at 11am in church baseball, music, Polish Wheel of Fortune lots of food and drink and their large raffle at 3:30pm Sunday in Sobieski. Also this weekend Lakes Jam in Brainerd Friday and Saturday, more county fairs around the area including Cass County in Pine River and the Todd County Fair in Long Prairie going into the weekend. Check out details on events at fallsradio.com community calendar.
Death Notices- Irene Delores Fenske, age 89 of Little Falls. Mary L. Boser, age 82 of Hillman.
Weather- morning fog, mist and drizzle, then becoming sunny in afternoon, high 74. Tonight partly cloudy skies, storms develop toward morning, low 57. Saturday morning thunderstorms before 10am then sunny and hot, humid, high 87 with strong to severe storms likely Saturday night into Sunday morning, lows Saturday night around 65. Sunday morning T-storms, then sunny and humid, high 84, low around 61. Monday isolated thunderstorms, high near 82, low around 57.
Sports- Twins waited for 4+ hours of rain delay to get their game in yesterday and pounded the Mariners as Twins win 10-1 with 3 homers in the win. The Twins start a series at first place Detroit Tigers Friday with pregame at 5:30pm, Saturday is an early start with pregame at 11:30am then Sunday they are a prime time game with a 5:30pm pregame meaning that Inside Twins on Sunday will start at 5pm on Q92 WYRQ. Twins have Monday as a day off. The Lynx are in Atlanta tonight at 6:30pm and then host Connecticut at 6pm on Sunday night in the WNBA. The KLTF Victory League Game of the Week is Avon at Buckman Sunday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.