NEWS --A 72-year old from Sauk Centre is dead after a one vehicle accident Tuesday night near Sauk Centre in Todd County. Allen Pagel was on Highway 71 when the vehicle went off the road around 8:30pm and struck several trees. Pagel was wearing his seatbelt. He was taken to St. Cloud Hospital and pronounced dead.
--A 23-year old was injured early Thursday morning in a one vehicle accident in Todd County. Kelvin Upia (no address given) was east of Long Prairie on Highway 27 around 4:00am when a deer ran in front of the vehicle. The driver attempted to swerve to miss the deer and lost control. The vehicle struck the cable barriers on the south and north sides of the road before going through a ditch and coming to rest in a creek. The driver was ultimately transported to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment of injuries.
--A 38-year old Pequot Lakes man faces six felonies for allegedly stalking, fleeing from authorities with excess speeds of 85mph in Brainerd and then striking a county sheriff squad vehicle. A criminal complaint was filed against Craig Robert Berg Tuesday in Crow Wing County District Court in Brainerd for first-degree assault using deadly force against a peace office, second-degree assault using a dangerous weapon, stalking, domestic assault and fleeing a peace officer. It was reported that Monday evening, a Crow Wing County sheriff deputy was parked in the parking lot of the Crow Wing County Judicial Center when he observed a woman, whom the deputy knew, walk to her vehicle and begin to get in. As she was getting into her vehicle, the deputy observed a truck, driven by Berg, pull up next to her vehicle. The deputy had prior knowledge of an order for protection between the woman and Berg that prohibited contact between them. After a short time, the woman backed out of her parking spot and exit the parking lot to travel north on South Fourth Street and the truck began following her. The deputy followed both vehicles east on Front Street until both vehicles turned into the parking lot. After officer told Berg to stop, he accelerated at a high rate of speed out of the parking lot. A pursuit began. The pursuit reached speeds of 85 miles per hour through Brainerd and Baxter and eventually ended when Berg entered the ditch on the south side of Wise Road. As the deputy began to exit his patrol vehicle, Berg revved up his vehicle's engine and the vehicle came out of the ditch and struck the deputy's patrol vehicle head on. Berg then exited the vehicle and approached the deputy with his fists clenched. He refused commands to stop and had to be tased. He then attempted to get up and an officer had to hold him down and deploy mace to get him handcuffed. Berg has prior convictions for making terroristic threats and violating an OFP within the past 10 years.
--National Weather officials reported Thursday that a tornado did touch down in Bemidji early Wednesday with wind speeds around 90-100 miles an hour. The storm did damage to a number of homes and an elementary school. High winds were reported around 80-90 miles an hour in portions of Northern Cass and Northern Crow Wing counties on Wednesday as severe thunderstorms rolled through.
--Oasis Central Minnesota presents Church Ladies Revival on August 15th and 16th at 5:00pm at the Falls Ballroom. Tickets $30 each. No tickets will be sold at the door. Call the Oasis office at (320) 632-9140 or email at oasiscmedirector@outlook.com.
--Cash Cube today 12-2 at Pierz Veterinary Clinic for their big event.
--Bellevue Township is in need of township residents to be election judges for the upcoming elections. If you are interested please contact Jean Balaski at (320) 360-4044.
--Police were seeking information after a passerby found a car key and other items on a park bench near the Mississippi River in Brainerd. In a news release, the Brainerd Police Department reported a sweatshirt, towel, moccasins, eyeglasses, cigarettes and a Pontiac car key were located on the bench along a trail near Rotary Park. The passerby found the items shortly after 8:30am Thursday. The items appeared to be purposely left there and the style and size of the items found led police to believe the owner is likely a female. Police last night said the person has come forward and items were returned with no charges pending. Police stated if someone had not come forward they would have likely had to start a possible search of the Mississippi River where the items were found yesterday morning. Police stated the person went to 4th of July celebration and left the items behind. Police want to thank all who helped in the location of the person and the passerby who first called their office on items.
--A new scam is circulating the Sartell area. Police say a resident received a call from someone claiming to be from East Central Energy asking them to check to see if their meter was accessible for technicians to come out and shut off the power. The victim said they would need to check with the power company, which is when the scammer gave the victim a phone number to call. Before calling, the victim looked up East Central Energy and called them. The company told the victim they have had a number of reported scams from customers. Authorities are reminding you that this is a scam and to never give your personal information over the phone.
--Anglers, boaters and anyone who recreates on or near areas where recent rainfall has raised water levels should exercise extreme caution or stay away altogether until the water recedes, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Lakes and rivers in several counties throughout the state currently have no-wake restrictions due to high water. Boaters should stay off flooded portions of the Minnesota River and its tributaries.
DEATH NOTICES --Otto M. Dickman, age 101 of Freedhem
WEATHER TODAY= sunny skies, high 78, clear night tonight, low 61. SATURDAY= sunny and warm, high 84, winds pickup, clear 68 night. SUNDAY= storms in afternoon, severe by late day, high 84, low 62. MONDAY= sunny and less humid, high 82, low around 60.
SPORTS TWINS= Logan Morrison homered as Twins beat Baltimore 5-2 to end their losing streak. Twins continue series with Baltimore tonight, pregame at 6:30 tonight, 12:30 on Saturday and Inside Twins starts at noon with game to follow Sunday on Q92 WYRQ. LYNX= Sylvia Fowles 27 points, Rebecca Brunson 15- also became all time rebounder in WNBA- last night as Lynx beat the LA Sparks at Target Center- 83-72 over the LA Sparks. VL= Lastrup at Buckman Saturday at 1:30 on KLTF this is the final regular season weekend of the Victory League. There are games tonight and tomorrow for a busy final regular season weekend.