[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Newsletter: Friday, April 22nd 2016[/title][fusion_text]
NEWS
–Rock and Roll Legend Prince has died at age 57. Carver County reported they received a call of a medical emergency at the Paisley Park home of Prince in Chanhassen around 9:45am. Prince had been battling flu like symptoms over the past week but the official cause of death has not been released. Prince started his career in the mid to late 70’s out of Minneapolis where he was born. His fame rose in 1984 with the release of the film Purple Rain.
–The Brainerd Jaycees donated proceeds from the January 22nd kickoff party, totaling just short of $14,000, to the Brainerd Warrior Fishing Team. Without the support of the Brainerd Jaycees, the cost of joining the team would likely have to be raised. Each student who joins the fishing team pays $50, but this covers only half of the initial costs from association memberships and jerseys. This year, the team agreed to waive fees for girls who joined in an effort to encourage more gender diversity. Members of the fishing team were presented the check of $13,988.87 on Friday, April 15th.
–A St. Cloud man was injured on Tuesday around 12:50pm in Roseau County. The Minnesota State Patrol reported 26-year old Cameron Marek of St. Cloud was driving a van eastbound on Highway 11 and attempting to turn south onto Main Street in front of the westbound semi-truck. The Semi-truck driven by 43-year old Kristoffer Flesland of International Falls made contact with the passenger side of the van. Both vehicles traveled into the eastbound ditch with the van coming to rest on the driver’s side. Marek suffered non life threatening injuries while the other driver Flesland was not hurt.
–Around 10:25am Wednesday a Crow Wing County deputy attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation on Hwy #371 north by Round Lake. The vehicle turned onto Ojibwa Road and then into a residential driveway. After the vehicle continued driving attempting to flee police one passenger, 35-year old Chad Biske of Brainerd bailed and was arrested. The vehicle continued until it came to a stop on Snowshoe trail. Another passenger 41-year old Jason Young of Jenkins was arrested for probation violation and drug possession. The driver 26-year old Erick Lewandowski of Merrifield fled on foot and within 15 minutes was spotted trying to leave the area on a bicycle he stole from a neighborhood garage. Lewandowski was booked into the Crow Wing County Jail for multiple charges including Felony Fleeing a Peace Officer and 4th Degree Burglary.
–Victims of Tom Petters’ epic Ponzi scheme can count on receiving a check. In the next seven to 10 days, $172 million that has been collected by liquidating the property of Petters and his key associates will start flowing, according to trustee Doug Kelley, who oversaw the eight-year bankruptcy of Petters’ business empire. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Gregory Kishel approved Kelley’s reorganization plan late last week. The plan was backed by 94 percent of Petters’ creditors. The scam, which earned Petters a 50-year prison term, collapsed in September 2008 when federal agents launched a surprise raid on the Minnetonka headquarters of Petters’ operations. Investors pumped $1.9 billion into Petters’ long-running pyramid scheme, making it the largest financial fraud in Minnesota history. They will get back just 10 to 14 percent of their money in the first wave of payments, according to court documents. The money will initially go to about two dozen large investment groups, which will later distribute funds to individual investors. Some of the large investors also are in bankruptcy.
–The city of Little Falls has included a notice in their monthly bills of changes residents will see in their utility bill. The Little Falls Water and Sewer Treatment facilities are in need of upgrades and improvements over the next six years and the city will need additional revenue to cover those costs. The sewer base charge for everyone is going to increase from $5.35 to $10 unless you are a multi-unit residential property owner, then your sewer base charge will increase to $10 multiplied by the number of units on your property. These funds are necessary for the city to make the needed improvements to the treatment facilities and continue paying their debt obligations for past projects. If the city of Little Falls did not raise rates in the water and sewer charges, they would ultimately be responsible paying the debts out of property taxes. The city council raised these rates because they felt it is a more fair way to raise revenue for water and sewer expenses. For info call 616-5500.
–Two people from St. Cloud are facing charges of felony sex trafficking, court documents filed Thursday in Stearns County show. 37-year old Jade Orcena and 26-year old Elijah Milsap were each charged with four counts of felony sex trafficking. They were each being held at Stearns County Jail on Thursday. According to a criminal complaint, they were arrested at their home Tuesday at 123 18th Avenue North St. Cloud, where a shooting occurred last month that sent a 21-year-old man to the hospital. Police said then that 27 police “activities” had taken place at the house since April 2015.
–A Stearns County judge sentenced a man Thursday to more than 13 years in prison for sex trafficking a woman in the St. Cloud area. 39-year old Terrell Fields pleaded guilty previously to one count of engaging in the sex trafficking of an individual. As part of that plea, he agreed to be sentenced by a Stearns County District Court Judge to 165 months in prison.
–This Saturday, two local teen bands are teaming up to help the food shelf in Little Falls. Total Monroe and Disaster Area, dubbing the event “Total Disaster” are performing from 1-4pm on Saturday at Great River Arts Center in Little Falls. The cost is a donation for the local food shelf.
DEATH NOTICES
–Betty Battles, age 84 of Warroad
–Dolores M. Kippley, age 87 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 58, clear skies at night, low 40.
SATURDAY= morning sun, PM showers and storms, high 71, low 49.
SUNDAY= showers and storms likely, windy, high 52, low 34.
MONDAY= rain likely, colder and windy, high 45.
SPORTS
TWINS= Miguel Sano and Brian Dozier hit 2 home runs each as the Twins win 8-1 over Brewers to split the 4 game series with Milwaukee. Twins are in Washington against the Nationals tonight with pregame at 5:30pm. Day games Saturday and Sunday with pregame at 11:30am Saturday and 12pm Sunday on Q92 WYRQ.
HS BAB= St. Cloud Cathedral at Pierz tonight 7pm on FM94 KFML.
VL= Victory League baseball returns Sunday with Pierz Bulldogs against Lastrup from Pierz Legion Park. 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.
HS SB= Holdingford at Pierz Monday 4:30pm on FM94 KFML.
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