NEWS
--A Holdingford man who caused a fatal crash in the fall of 2020 has been sentenced. A Stearns County judge has sentenced 24-year-old Jacob Westbrock to a stayed sentence of five years and nine months in prison. In a downward dispositional departure, the judge also sentenced Westbrock to 240 days in the county jail in four staggered 60-day sentences. Court records show the 3rd and 4th segments can be served through electronic home monitoring and work release. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the 42000 block of 190th Avenue in Holding Township on August 27th, 2020. The caller reported one of the two vehicles involved was on fire, and the other vehicle was nearby with the driver unresponsive and trapped inside. Deputies determined that Westbrock was northbound on 190th Ave. in a pickup when he tried to pass another northbound vehicle and crashed head-on with a southbound car. The driver of that car, 33-year-old Russell Heitzman of Avon, died in the crash. In December 2021, Westbrock was found incompetent to face the charges against him but court records show he was restored to competency in the fall of 2022. Westbrock waived his right to a jury trial and had the judge decide his fate in a one-day bench trial in September. The judge returned the guilty verdicts on both charges against Westbrock.
--A Sauk Rapids man faces criminal charges after allegedly beating three boys and shooting them with a pepper ball gun as punishment. According to the criminal complaint filed in Benton County District Court, 35-year-old Christopher Smith is charged with three counts of malicious punishment of a child and three counts of domestic assault. Court records show authorities got a tip about child abuse at a home in the 300 block of 2nd Avenue South. The children, ages 16, 13, and 8 years old said Smith would put them in standing timeouts for hours at a time. The three also corroborated details that Smith had shot all three in the back with a pepper ball gun. The oldest child said he was also hit with a bat and an ironing board, while the middle child indicated he had been hit with a belt. All three victims told authorities that Smith drinks alcohol heavily. Smith was arrested on Monday and booked into the Benton County Jail.
--Weekend events include St Francis Orchestra Christmas Concert is tonight at 7pm at the convent chapel free of charge. Great River Arts presenting Harper's Chord Holiday show tonight at 6pm then on Saturday Holiday Postcard creations at 11am at GRA in Little Falls. The city of Burtrum invites all to their Cookies Crafts Cocos and Christmas event Sunday at the Burtrum Community Center from 11am-4pm, also from 2-4 Santa and Sleigh Rides will take place at The Caboose in Burtrum. A pipe organ concert by Bill Messerschmitt at St. Joseph's Church in Pierz Saturday at 2pm to help Labor of Love in Little Falls with a free will offering then another show of the Pipe Organ with Bill will be on Sunday at 3pm at Our Lady of Lourdes of Church in Little Falls with free will offering going to OLOL Parish and St. Francis Music Center. Details on more events can be found by going to fallsradio.com and click on community calender.
--First United Church in Little Falls will be hosting their Longest Night Blue Christmas service at 7pm on Thursday, December 21st the shortest day/longest night of the year. All are welcome to come the church across from the Convent for soft music and night of reflection for the longest night. The service will also be available via Zoom or also on their website firstunitedlf.org that night at 7pm.
--The Wreath Laying ceremony is scheduled for Saturday at 11am at the Minnesota State Veteran's Cemetery north of Little Falls. Parking is limited so if possible carpool and if you plan on volunteering on placing the wreaths best to come by 10am on Saturday. The Little Falls event is one of four around the state on Saturday as wreath laying ceremonies are also planned in Duluth, Preston and their latest State Veteran's Cemetery in Redwood Falls.
--Authorities are investigating a suspected murder just east of Princeton. The Isanti County Sheriff's Office says at about 6:30am Wednesday deputies were called to a home in Spencer Brook Township. When they arrived on scene they found a man's body inside a home. No other household members were hurt. The preliminary investigation indicates this was a targeted incident and they say there is no immediate danger to the public. The victim's body has been taken to the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. The man's name has not been released. The Sheriff's Office has not announced any arrests in the case.
--The Little Falls School Board meets Monday at 5pm at the Community Middle School Media Center.
--The Little Falls City Council meets for the final time of the year with their regular council meeting Monday at 7:30pm at City Hall. There will be a work session prior to the start of the regular meeting.
--Listen to Christmas Eve Mass sponsored by Little Falls Machine on Sunday, December 24th at 4pm from Our Lady of Lourdes Church live on Q92 WYRQ and streamed online at fallsradio.com.
--Grand Prize of Ho Ho Dough announced Tues on LF Radio.
NATIONAL NEWS
--The U.S. House on Wednesday authorized the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, with every Republican on the 221-212 party-line vote put the entire in support of an impeachment process that can lead to the ultimate penalty for a president: punishment for what the Constitution describes as “high crimes and misdemeanors,” which can lead to removal from office if convicted in a Senate trial. This will continue into 2024 as President Biden announced his plans to run for reelection in November of 2024 for President.
DEATH NOTICES
--Shirley Kuhlmey, age 81 of Royalton.
WEATHER
TODAY= cloudy skies, rain showers likely, high near 40.
TONIGHT= rain changing to snow, 1 inch possible, low near 30.
SATURDAY= AM snow showers, then rain, high 37, low near 22.
SUNDAY= partly sunny and breezy, high near 32, low near 13.
MONDAY= sunny and colder, windy, high 24, low near 7 above.
SPORTS
COL FB= the first college bowl games start on Saturday with many games to be played then through first part of January. The Gophers are in the Quick Lane Bowl on December 26th.
NFL= Vikings at Cincinnati Saturday at noon, followed by Pittsburgh and Indianapolis at 3:30pm and Detroit and Denver play Saturday night at 7:15pm all live on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.
WRAP= get the rundown on local sports from the past week and hear from local coaches on the Saturday Morning Sports Wrap tomorrow morning at 8:30am on AM960 KLTF.