NEWS
--Around 4:25pm on Wednesday a Morrison County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a white Cadillac Escalade in Little Falls. The deputy observed a traffic violation, made the traffic stop and identified the driver of the vehicle as 51-year old Michael Stumpf of Pierz. During the course of the traffic stop, the deputy performed a search of the vehicle and approximately 3 grams of suspected cocaine was located. Additionally, a small amount of suspected methamphetamine and marijuana were located and seized. Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen states that the deputy used his training and experience in drug interdiction and as a result, illegal drugs were taken off the streets of Morrison County. Michael Stumpf is facing charges for 5th Degree Possession of a Controlled Substance.
--Morrison County Sheriff's Office Emergency Management wants everyone to know that the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Morrison County in effect from Friday afternoon through Saturday night. Heavy mixed precipitation possible. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 10 inches, and ice accumulations of a light glaze are possible. Areas impacted will be portions of central, east central and west central Minnesota. Plan on difficult travel conditions. Tree branches could fall due to heavy snow and strong winds. Winds gusting as high as 45 miles an hour could cause patchy blowing and drifting snow. Be prepared for snow covered roads and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving. If you are traveling, give yourself enough time and slow down. Let people know your travel plans. Make sure to have a full tank of gas and a charged cell phone with you. A Winter Storm Watch means there is potential for significant snow, sleet or ice accumulations that may impact travel. Continue to monitor the latest forecasts.
--A high speed chase lasting nearly 25 miles sent a vehicle into a ditch in Barrows and a man to jail. At 1:00am Monday, a Nisswa police officer stopped a vehicle after first observing a loud exhaust, followed by the driver's sudden turn onto County Road 115/Ojibwa Road. The officer recognized the suspect, 27-year old Jacob Eric Pikula from a previous traffic stop during which Pikula was cited for driving after suspension. The officer apparently told Pikula he was under arrest for continuing to drive without a license in conjunction with his history of not responding to citations. Pikula allegedly became upset and then shifted into drive and led officers on a high speed chase that reached speed of 100mph. Eventually officers stopped and arrested Pikula without incident. Pikula appeared Wednesday in Crow Wing County District Court, where he faced charges of felony fifth degree drug possession, felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and misdemeanor driving without a license. Bail was set at $10,000 with or $25,000 without conditions.
--A 31-year-old St. Cloud man charged in the rape and assault of a woman last fall pleaded not guilty Thursday afternoon. Randy Scott Bennett Jr. was charged with two counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of terroristic threats and one count of felony domestic assault by strangulation. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. Bennett has a settlement conference scheduled for May 14.
--Weekend events include Morrison County Food Shelf fundraiser “Rock Around the Clock” Saturday at Falls Ballroom, breakfast Sunday in Morrill, St. Ann's quilt or cash bingo Sunday in Randall, and Pierz Legion Auxiliary breakfast fundraiser Sunday in Buckman. More items can be found at fallsradio.com then community calendar.
--Former Rocori public schools superintendent Scott Straska was charged Wednesday with 10 counts of exposing himself in public places. The incidents occurred between November 2017 and March 2018. Staska submitted a letter of resignation on March 30, and the Rocori District School Board unanimously accepted it April 3. The complaint says Staska unzipped his pants and exposed himself in the stores, but does not say that the exposure was directed at anyone. Waite Park Police obtained surveillance footage of some of the incidents, and according to the complaint, Staska admitted that he was the person in one of the surveillance photos. At this time Staska is charged with fewer incidents than police suspected him in as only the Waite Park incidents were charged, not the ones in St. Cloud.
--A 41-year old Brainerd man who police reported was covered in blood "from his head down to his feet" faces four felonies for an alleged assault. Jason George Cockman appeared in Crow Wing County District Court, charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, third-degree assault, terroristic threats and domestic assault by strangulation. A domestic assault call from last Friday led police in arresting Cockman. They found a woman lying in bed, who upon sitting up revealed she was also covered in blood on her upper body and head. The victim said that Cockman became enraged about two hours earlier, and during an argument he threw her into a cabinet head first. Cockman then allegedly strangled the victim, causing her to black out. Bail was set at $50,000 with conditions or $100,000 without conditions.
--The Little Falls City Council meets Monday 7:30 at city hall.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Codey and Michelle Fleischhacker of Brainerd, girl on April 11th
DEATH NOTICES
--Viola Stangl, age 87 of Pierz.
--Patricia Darwin, age 85 of Long Prairie formerly Wahkon.
WEATHER
WINTER STORM WATCH 4PM TODAY TO 1AM SUNDAY
TODAY= rain/sleet/snow at times, 1 inch possible, high 36.
TONIGHT= snow likely, 1-3 inches, gusty winds, low 24.
SATURDAY= snow ending, gusty winds all day, high near 30.
SUNDAY= partly cloudy, still windy, high 37, low near 19.
MONDAY= sunny skies, high 43, low around 30.
SPORTS
TWINS= Jose Berrios 7 shutout innings, Joe Mauer 2 hits and 3 RBIs as Twins shut out White Sox 4-0. Twins are going to try and take on the White Sox at Target Field, weather will be a factor this weekend, pregame at 6:30 tonight, 12:30 on Saturday and Inside Twins starts the coverage at noon Sunday all live on Q92 WYRQ.
NHL= Wild at Winnipeg game 2 of NHL playoffs tonight at 6pm.
NBA= T-Wolves open playoffs at Houston Sunday at 8pm.
COL BB= Lindsey Whalen was announced yesterday as the new head coach of the Gopher Women's Basketball team. Whalen a former Gopher and current Minnesota Lynx player in the WNBA. She will do both as she will remain with the Lynx and coach the Gophers.
MSHSL= due to the lack of spring games, High School League allowing 5 inning double headers this spring for baseball & softball.