NEWS
--All of the meals for the free Easter meal have been spoken for as of 6:45am yesterday morning and therefore no more calls can be taken for any meals this weekend. If you ordered a free meal from Ron Kresha this week from the Little Falls Ministerial Association remember that the pickup time for the pre-made (not hot) meal is Saturday 2-6pm at the Falls Ballroom which will be chicken and ham with fixings. If you asked for the meal to prepared hot than pickup will be on Easter Sunday from 11am-1pm at the Royal Cafe in Little Falls. Volunteers helping either day should make sure to keep the time you provided to Ron Kresha or members of the orgnanizations or businesses. Kresha stated that if you are unable to help please call 320-761-6133 to let them know. Thanks to all the support for this.
--A Royalton man entered a plea of guilty to criminal vehicular homicide Thursday in Morrison County District Court in connection to the 2018 death of a 37-year old Rice woman. 48-year old Eric Brian Scholl of Royalton appeared in Morrison County District Court Thursday and entered the plea after a reported plea agreement was reached in the case. Scholl plead guilty to one of two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in connection to the case. The guilty plea was in regard to his blood alcohol content being over the legal limit of .08 at the time he was driving an all-terrain vehicle. The other count was dropped as part of the agreement. Scholl was officially charged with criminal vehicular homicide on October 12th, 2018, six days after he rolled the ATV he was driving on the Soo Line Trail in Pierz Township. The accident caused 37-year-old Karla Jean Scheel of Rice to be thrown from the vehicle. When Scholl and another passenger got the ATV upright, they found Scheel was pinned underneath. She later died from injuries sustained in the crash. As part of the plea agreement, Scholl will serve a staggered 90-day jail sentence. He will be required to serve an initial 30 days, after which he would serve 15 days each year until the 90-day sentence was fulfilled. However, the subsequent 15-day increments can be waived if he remains compliant with the conditions of his probation. He will also get credit for four days served. Scholl is also required to do 180 hours of community service, at least 60 per year, and pay a fine of $500 plus applicable court costs. He will also receive 10 years of supervised probation and will be required to attend a MADD impact panel. He is to abstain from all mood-altering drugs, including alcohol, and is not allowed to enter a bar or liquor store for the duration of the probation period.
--Brad Vold of Morrison County Public Health stated on Thursday morning on KLTF that public health is taking appointments for vaccinations of COVID-19. They are performing the vaccinations mainly on Wednesday. If you want an appointment you need to call public health at 632-6664. Please keep in mind that the appointments are open to all 16 and over as per the Governor's announcement which started March 30th but priority is give to those 65 and older, have prior health issues and were put on a high priority list by a doctor or local health official, meaning they will get the vaccine first form public health and they will set times for the appointment as long as the vaccine is available. Call and set one up at 632-6664. Vold also stated that Public Health is asking that all residents in the county please follow the safety guidelines of face coverings, social distancing and folllow guidance on gathering numbers to keep numbers low.
--Good Friday Service today at noon on AM960 KLTF from Living Hope also an Easter Sunday Mass heard Sunday 11am on KLTF
--The Royalton School Board announced they have selected six finalists to interview for the school district’s superintendent position next school year. The finalists are Kristine Wehrkamp, executive director of community education and high school activities director supervisor, Robbinsdale; Mary Morem, elementary principal, Triton; Michael Neubeck, middle school principal, Mahtomedi; Jeremy Schultz, high school principal, Isle; John Willey, superintendent and principal, Ellsworth; and Daniel Ludvigson, superintendent and elementary principal, Elgin/New Liepzig Schools, North Dakota. The School Board has scheduled interviews for the finalists beginning next Wednesday and Thursday. All interviews are open to members of the public by coming into the school or to watch on Zoom.
--The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help investigating a series of grass fires. Since March 29th, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Foley Fire Department, Sauk Rapids Fire Department, and DNR fire crews have responded to 7 grass fires burning in road ditches in Benton County. The number and frequency of these fires, along with evidence found at some of the scenes, have led investigators to believe some or all of these fires have been intentionally set. These fires occcured in Minden, Maywood, Mayhew Lake and Watab Townships. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is seeking to make the public aware of these fire incidents and as that anyone seeing suspicious vehicles report these vehicles to law enforcement immediately. Anyone with information about these fires or the suspect(s) is asked to contact the Benton County Sheriff’s Office at (320) 968-7201.
--Human remains were found in a river in Mason City, Iowa back on March 11th. The police report stated that bones of human nature were found in clothes on the riverbank and were taken to the state medical examiner but it could take weeks before a proper identification is known. Police made no mention on if any possibility that the remains could be of Long Prairie native Jodi Huisentruit who disappeared in June, 1995 and has never been found. The riverbank is near the area where Jodi apparently disappeared but again police right now stated that they are not confirming anything until the medical examiner comes back with their findings on the remains.
--Congratuations to Hailey Koch and Logan Schmidtz of Pierz Healy High Schoool nominated as the 2021 Students of Character! The annual Students of Character Celebration recognizes students for their quiet leadership. Each was selected by his or her school staff with the criteria they are “unsung heroes” of their district – behind-the-scenes students who receive little, if any, recognition. The awards presentation will be held at a virtual conference on April 14th.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny and breezy, high 60, clouds early, clear late, low 36.
SATURDAY= sunny and mild, high 70, clear night, mild, low 44.
EASTER SUNDAY= sunny and mild, high 75, rain late night, low 47.
MONDAY= showers, few thunderstorms, high 71, low around 48.
SPORTS
BHK= Little Falls vs. Dodge County today puck drop scheduled for 1pm could be a bit later hear the action live on Q92 WYRQ. If Flyers win they play for state title Saturday 6pm on FM94 KFML. You can stream the games online click on link at fallsradio.com.
TWINS= Brewers beat Twins 6-5 in 10 innings in opener yesterday, Twins are off today, 5:30pm Saturday and 12:30pm Sunday on Q92.