NEWS
--The City of Little Falls announced that as part of the construction project, water will be shut off today from approximately 8:00am to 3:00pm on 7th Street Southeast from Broadway Avenue to 2nd Avenue Southeast and on 1st Avenue Southeast from 7th Street Southeast to 9th Street Southeast.
--The name of the Deer Creek man killed when his truck rolled on icy roads near New York Mills Wednesday has been released. 50-year old John Manselle of Deer Creek died from his injuries sustained.
--A Monticello man has pleaded guilty to stealing an unlocked St. Cloud police squad car, taking it for a ride around town and returning it. 22-year old Madison Dean Pettis was charged in Stearns County with motor vehicle theft, fleeing police and using a police radio while committing a felony. He pleaded guilty Thursday to theft while the other charges were dismissed. His sentencing is scheduled June 29th.
--The Minnesota State Patrol reminds motorists heading out for weekend events, proms and other items, that they continue to have a distracted driving enforcement campaign. State Patrol, county sheriff's offices and city police departments are watching drivers for sudden movements, on their phones or doing anything but watching the roadways that could cause an accident. Hundreds of citations have been issued since the enforcement campaign began late March. The State Patrol reminds motorists that with prom, fishing openers, graduation and Memorial Day in the next 3-5 weeks they expect more traffic on roadways. Authorities remind motorists to never drink and drive, watch distracted driving, and always buckle up.
--The Heritage Walking Trail at St. Mathias Park in Crow Wing County near Fort Ripley will have a special open house Saturday from 9:00-11:00am. The 1.2 mile trail is handicap accessible that winds through gradual hills lined by century old oaks and pines, crossing several streams. The park has a playground, picnic area, baseball and soccer fields and a disc golf park. One big addition is the new bridge on the heritage walking trail in the community park. The park is located across from St. Mathias Catholic Church and there is no cost to enter the park. The trail project was funded in part by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources trails grant and through the cooperation of St. Mathias Park and Recreation along with donations made from the the residents from St. Mathias Township and the State of Minnesota.
--On Thursday, the Minnesota House of Representatives approved Representative Ron Kresha’s, R-Little Falls, foster care bill on a unanimous vote of 130-0. The bill, called McKenna’s Law, allows children who are over ten years old and in foster care to be appointed counsel in juvenile proceedings. A main driver of the legislation and inspiration for the bill’s title was 12-year-old McKenna Ahrenholz who faced a situation where she fought for a year to receive legal representation. Now that the bill has passed by the House it will now move onto the Senate for a vote.
--A St. Cloud man is hurt after rolling his truck Thursday morning. The incident happened just before 5:00am on Interstate 94. The Minnesota State Patrol says 29-year old Charles Logan was heading west on 94, when he lost control on the bridge over Highway 15 and rolled. Logan was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Authorities says icy conditions played a factor.
--The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating a stolen flatbed trailer. Between Saturday and Monday a 2015 Load Max goose neck flatbed trailer was stolen from a business near the intersection of Highway 95 and 105th Avenue NE in Benton County. The trailer was described as a 30 foot tandem axle trailer with “Load Max” in blue lettering on the tongue and a built-in tool box. Anyone with information about this crime or the suspects is asked to contact the Benton County Sheriff’s Office or Tri-County Crime Stoppers.
--A man who pleaded guilty to robbing an east St. Cloud gas station and convenience store a year ago was sentenced Thursday to four years in prison. 19-year old Jacob Swanstrom previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting first degree aggravated robbery. A second degree charge was dismissed as part of his plea.
--Cass County is investigating the shooting of a dog. Sunday afternoon the sheriff's office was called to 76th Street Southeast near Pequot Lakes and Lake Shore. The deputy said the yellow labrador was shot. No other information was released on the dog shooting but the sheriff's office is looking into possible charges in the case.
--A St. Cloud man suffered substantial injuries when he was hit by a vehicle Wednesday afternoon while in a crosswalk at University Drive and 10th Avenue South. The collision happened at 2:50pm when 47-year old Abdi Mohamed Elmi was walking south across University Drive. A vehicle traveling west in the left lane hit Elmi. The driver of the vehicle, 59-year old Mark James Helminick of St. Cloud, told officers that he did not see Elmi and that he attempted to avoid hitting him but reacted too late. Police cited Helminick for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Elmi was taken to St. Cloud Hospital via ambulance for treatment of substantial injuries.
--Check out weekend events, murder mystery dinner theater tonight, Saturday and Sunday in Staples, chicken dinner from Randall/Cushing Little Elks Lions Sunday at Randall VFW, turkey dinner Sunday at Our Lady of Lourdes in Little Falls, prescription take back event at Coborn's Saturday from 10-2, drop off any unused or unwanted prescription drugs at the take back event. There is a benefit for Javen in Sobieski Saturday, a pancake breakfast in Duelm Sunday morning and a polka praise service at Zion Lutheran Church in Little Falls on Sunday. Get details on all the events at fallsradio.com and click on the recently revamped community calendar link.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly sunny, high 47.
TONIGHT= clear skies, frost overnight, low 25.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, high 55, clouds increase late, low 30.
SUNDAY= rain develops in afternoon, high 48, rain/snow late.
MONDAY= snow likely 2-5 inches early then rain/snow, high 38.
SPORTS
HS SB= Pierz at Eden Valley Watkins in a double header of softball today starting at 4pm on FM94 KFML.
TWINS= after a day off, the Twins are in Kansas City this weekend, pregame coverage begins tonight at 6:30pm, Saturday 5:30pm and Sunday at 12:30pm. Hear the action live on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= The Vikings did not have a pick in Round 1 last night, but they do have 8 picks in rounds 2 through 7 today and tomorrow.
VL= listen to Victory League Baseball this weekend on AM960 KLTF