NEWS
--Nineteen Little Falls High School DECA students competed at the District 5 Career Conference on February 2nd. Over 500 students from central and northern Minnesota were in attendance and competing. The following students qualified to attend the state Career Conference in March in Minneapolis: Riley Czech, Lauren Hanfler, Hayden Johnson, Brock Lutzke, Caleb Matros, Henry Moore, Laila Oloriegbe, Mason Petrowitz, Nicholas Popp, Ethan Poser, Ellie Smieja and Ana Steadman. Good Luck to those DECA Students.
--The man that was piloting the small plane that crashed south of Hutchinson Monday has died. The McLeod County Sheriff's Office says 61-year-old Dr. Richard Jolkovsky of Avon, did not survive, due to injuries sustained in the accident. The passenger, identified as 24-year-old Kyle Fiebelkorn of Saint Louis Park, is currently hospitalized, reportedly in stable condition. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are continuing their investigation of the incident.
--Two people were hurt in a two vehicle accident in Princeton Township of Mille Lacs County. At 3:57pm Wednesday, 81-year-old Robert Zimny of Cambridge west westbound on 100th Avenue crossed Highway 169 and struck by a northbound vehicle driven by 49-year old Robin Johann of Milaca. Both drivers were taken to the Princeton Hospital for their injuries.
--A third and final man involved in raping a woman at a St. Cloud park last fall has been sentenced. A Stearns County Judge has sentenced 24-year old Mohamed Hassan Abdi to just over 27-years in prison Wednesday. Abdi was found guilty on three counts of 1st degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of kidnapping back in December. 22-year old Abdirahin Omar Ali was sentenced to over 30-years in prison on similar charges. 25-year old Sahal Abdi Hassan was sentenced to 15 years in prison for aiding and abetting 1st degree criminal sexual conduct. The men kidnapped the woman in downtown St. Cloud and drove her to a park where she was raped. St. Cloud Police were called on a report of a sexual assault that occurred in the early morning hours of October 18th. The woman said she had been drinking at a downtown St. Cloud bar and left through the front door. Court records show the next thing she remembered\ was being in a car with five Somali men who were talking in their native language, drinking liquor, trying to kiss her, and threatening her. The woman said they stopped at a park and a man later identified as Hassan brought her to a slide and raped her as the other men cheered him on. The woman said she was brought back to the car and forced to perform oral sex on a man later identified as Ali. The victim was then dropped off at a location and sought help from a homeowner in the area and was brought to the hospital for a rape examination. Police say surveillance footage from the bar helped identify the vehicle and traced it to surveillance footage at a nearby gas station. All three men were seen entering the gas station at multiple time throughout the night, matching the timeframe of the assault. Court records show the victims pants were ripped, her underwear was partially off and wood chips from the park fell out of her pants. DNA testing through the exam determined profiles matching Hassan and Ali. Records show authorities also got a warrant to collect DNA from Abdi, which confirmed his DNA could not be excluded from a mixture of sperm cell fractions.
--Catholic Schools week wraps up in schools today and thanks again to Mary of Lourdes and Holy Trinity Pierz for Party Line this week.
--A Pine City woman was injured Thursday morning at 6:24am when the vehicle she was driving collided with a semi truck and trailer driven by a Royalton man east of Mora. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, 51-year-old Susan Anderson of Pine City, sustained non-life threatening injuries as a result of the two-vehicle crash in Kanabec County. The driver of the semi 61-year-old Anthony Gangl of Royalton, was not injured. Anderson was transported a hospital in Mora with what the state patrol stated were minor injuries.
--The breakfast benefit and silent auction for the family of Brian Lange of Upsala who died in December and was a firefighter, EMT and community standout in Upsala will be Sunday from 9am-12pm at the Upsala Rec Building. The breakfast is a free will offering and the silent auction has many items from across the state and locally to help the family with their needs at this time. Lange died December 11th from complications of COVID-19 leaving behind his wife, three children and one grandchild. There is a monetary set up for funds at the Stearns Bank Upsala. All are invited to Upsala this Sunday.
--The Sunny Zwilling Memorial Ice Carousel Extravaganza is next weekend on Green Prairie Fish Lake as they attempt to break the world record for largest rotating ice carousel. Chuck Zwilling stated yesterday they are in need of giveaway items for their spin it to win it promotion at the event and if you can help all Pennie at 952-457-6522 all proceeds of the spin it or win it go to the Flyer Pride backpack program at the elementary schools. This year there are a number of shuttle bus locations to take you too and from the event so you do not need to park out at the shelter site. The list and all the events next weekend 10am-6pm on February 12th and 13th can be found at the MN Icefest website which is their Facebook page. Chuck Zwilling will be the guest on Community Program on AM960 KLTF Tuesday morning at 8:30am and also online at fallsradio.com.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS
--The leader of the violent Islamic State group was killed during an overnight raid in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province, President Joe Biden said Thursday. The raid targeted Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, who took over as head of the militant group in 2019, just days after leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died during a U.S. raid in the same area. A U.S. official said he died as al-Baghdadi did, by exploding a bomb that killed himself and members of his family, including women and children, as U.S. forces approached.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Matthew and LeeAnn Nelson, of Bowlus girl on February 2nd.
WEATHER
TODAY= AM snow, afternoon sun, windy, high 11 then falling.
TONIGHT= flurries after 3am, clear skies early, low -13.
SATURDAY= cloudy, windy, snow showers, high 26, low near 0.
SUNDAY= sunny and windy, colder, high 10 above, low -10.
MONDAY= cloudy, warmer, high 23, low around 6 above.
SPORTS
HS BBB= Little Falls at St. Cloud Cathedral tonight 7:15 on Q92.
HS GBB= Royalton at Little Falls Saturday 2:15pm on Q92 WYRQ.
COL HK= Gophers take on Michigan State tonight 6:30pm and Saturday at 4:30pm on AM960 KLTF.
PRO= The AFC/NFC Pro Bowl is Sunday at 2pm on AM960 KLTF the Vikings have 5 players on team NFC including Kirk Cousins.