Monday, March 24, 2025

A 23-year-old from Onamia was injured Saturday morning around 8:35am on Highway 27 in Granite Township of Morrison County. Karissa Jung was on Highway 27 east near 325th Avenue when the vehicle left the roadway and rolled in the ditch coming to rest on its wheels. Jung was treated at the Onamia hospital for what the State Patrol called non life threatening injuries. 

The Brainerd Police Department has been made aware of a Level 3 Predatory Offender soon to be residing in the city of Brainerd. 52-year-old Jimmie Dale Peake is completing his sentence on April 14th and then will be residing on Gillis Avenue in Brainerd. Peake has a history of engaging in sexual contact with female children, using exploitation, manipulation, confusion to methods to maintain control. Public fact sheets are available at the Brainerd police station and on their Facebook page. The police department wants the public to be informed of the situation and that Peake has completed his prison sentence and will not be wanted but authorities. This is not to increase fear in the community only to inform the public of his release. 

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources sent out some reminders recently. One Emerald Ash Borer is on the rise after the invasive species has been detected in Aitkin and Pine County which also has cause a quarantine around some areas including Mille Lacs County. Morrison County has had issues in the past. Reminder to wood haulers to watch for the invasive species in your area. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says safety should be a top priority, as thanks to recent rain, warm temps, and strong winds, some areas in the southern half of the state had the ice to open water transition in just a few days. Just this past weekend, DNR conservation officers and public safety teams had to rescue at least three people who fell through the ice. There were also reports of trucks and other vehicles breaking through. Also in areas where the ice has melted a bit with open water, canoes and kayaks have been making the attempt to be on the water, that is also a safety risk as the water is very cold still and some areas have open water on top of the rivers and lakes but there could still be sheets of ice below the surface. For the latest information on what is being recommended by clicking here for the DNR website https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/index.html.

An arrest warrant was issued on Wednesday for a Cass County man after he stole a vehicle in February from Taco Bell in Baxter. Tyson Dale Sumner was charged with felony theft of a motor vehicle with no owner's consent. A warrant was issued by the Crow Wing County District Court after a notice of remote hearing was returned in a separate case where Sumner provided the Nisswa Police Department with a false name on February 25th. At approximately 10:44am, a female exits the Mitsubishi and walks into Taco Bell. A few seconds later, Sumner entered the victim's vehicle and left. The woman was in Taco Bell waiting because the order she was there to pick up was missing and had to be re-made. DoorDash stated the order was picked up by a female Dasher. At about 2:30pm officers were advised a woman attempted to cash the check from the vehicle at a bank in Walker and left in the stolen vehicle. Cass County later located the vehicle and arrested a man and woman. Charges are still pending against the other in the vehicle.

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith were in Brainerd Friday to see the Brainerd YMCA Child Care Center and early work on the learning center in the vacant lot the YMCA purchased thanks in part to the grant worked on by both Senators for $600,000. Both toured the facilities with the providers letting them know the latest work on the child care center and hopes of the new learning center opening in 2026. 

Vietnam Veterans from Crow Wing County are invited Tuesday at 9am to come for a special ceremony at the Crow Wing County Boardroom to recognize and honor those that served in Vietnam from the community. The ceremony will also be streamed on the Crow Wing County Utube Channel. This is for Vietnam Veterans who reside around Crow Wing County to come and attend the program on Tuesday morning. 

Congratulations to the latest members being inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame. They are Dennis Carpenter Milestone Radio inductee from Ramsey, Caroline Lowe of WCCO TV, Lou Nanne Hockey Broadcaster Legends Award, Brett Paradis of Leighton Media Alexandria, Al and Linda Quarnstrom of Q Media Group of Pine City, Red Wing and Wabasha and Terri Traen of KQRS in Twin Cities. The ceremony is September 30th in Stillwater. 

The Pierz City Council meets tonight at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS Pope Francis has been released from the hospital on Sunday after 38 days battling a severe case of pneumonia in both lungs that threatened his life on two occasions. The 88-year-old pontiff will require at least two months of rest, rehabilitation and convalescence back at the Vatican during which time he has been discouraged from meeting in big groups or exerting himself, said Dr. Sergio Alfieri, who coordinated Francis’ medical team at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. But Francis' personal doctor, Dr. Luigi Carbone, said if he continues his steady improvements and rehabilitation, he should eventually be able to resume all his normal activities. The doctors confirmed Pope Francis was released Sunday, after first offering a blessing to the faithful from his hospital suite, the first time he will have been seen by the public since he was admitted Feb. 14. They provided details on the severity of the infection, which he is still being treated for, and Alfieri noted that not all patients who develop such a severe case of double pneumonia survive, much less be released from the hospital.

DEATH NOTICES- Ashley Kay Kempenich, age 33 of Randall, James Virnig, age 88 of Pierz. 

WEATHER- Today sunny skies, less windy high around 45, partly cloudy tonight, low 23. Tuesday snow showers early then rain showers in afternoon, high 48 low around 33. Wednesday sunny skies, with a high near 50, low around 32. Thursday even warmer with highs near 60, low around 38.  

SPORTS State Boys Basketball Tournament finished on Saturday with Dawson-Boyd winning Class A, Nevis 4th Hennig 5th, Albany wins the 2A title over Waseca, Alexandria takes the 3A crown over Mankato East and Wayzata wins the 4A Championship this year. The Twins open the regular season in baseball this Thursday at St. Louis, pregame 2:30pm on Q92 WYRQ. Also High School Softball starts up Friday as Pierz will be at Little Falls at 5pm on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.