NEWS
--Authorities in Morrison County are investigating a recent burglary in Little Falls Township. The incident happened just before 5:30am Wednesday at a home two miles southeast of Little Falls. A press release from the Morrison County Sheriffs Office stated the homeowner saw a man run from his garage, get into a car and drive away. The suspect took a tackle box full of Rapala lures, two Abu Garcia fishing rods with Baitcaster reels and two Pflueger fishing rods with open face reels. The vehicle is described as a black Dodge Avenger with tinted windows and a Minnesota Twins sticker on the passenger side on the truck. The suspect is described as roughly 5' 11" to 6' 2" tall, thin build, wearing dark clothing. If you have information regarding the vehicle and or burglary, you are asked to call the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office 320-632-9233.
--Governor Mark Dayton announced Thursday the appointments of Antoinette C. Wetzel and Michelle L. Clark as District Court Judges in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District. Wetzel will be replacing the Honorable Douglas P. Anderson, and will be chambered at Little Falls in Morrison County. Clark will be replacing the Honorable Ann L. Carrott, and will be chambered at Alexandria in Douglas County.
--A 21-year-old Brainerd woman was killed early Thursday morning following a head on crash in foggy conditions. The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office was called to the crash at 4:31am involving three vehicles. The vehicle with the fatality caught on fire. The crash occurred at Crow Wing County Highway 2 and Thesing Road in Daggett Brook Township, southeast of Brainerd. The sheriff's office reported a third vehicle collided with one of vehicles involved in the initial crash. Witnesses of the crash reported foggy conditions, the sheriff's office reported. Authorities continue to investigate the fatal crash, but initial reports show another person involved had life-threatening injuries. No names have been released.
--Lieutenant Governor Michelle Fischbach is officially on team Pawlenty. The former Senate President announced Thursday she will be running for the Lt. Governor seat alongside former Governor Tim Pawlenty. The Republican duo held a news conference Thursday afternoon outside the Stearns County Court House.
--Stearns County Sheriff's Office and the Minneapolis Bomb Squad investigated explosives buried in the yard of a rural Kimball property on Wednesday. The call came in to the sheriff's office at about 9:50am to help a landowner with suspicious items. 46-year old Brad Donnay of Kimball had been cleaning up property on County Road 48 in Maine Prairie Township he purchased in an estate sale. Inside the shed on the property he found several boxes of dynamite blasting caps, and a plastic bag containing what at the time was believed to be an explosive compound. He moved the items from the shed to the yard, where he buried them nearby. After talking to Donnay, authorities determined the need to have the bomb squad come and properly dispose of the explosives. Excavation of the items revealed they were blasting caps and "very old dynamite." The bomb squad safely detonated the explosives in place, as they were believed to be unstable. There were no injuries or other damage.
--More clean-up days are planned for this weekend. The City of Upsala, Belle Prairie Township, Bellevue Township along with the Townships of Cushing, Darling and Parker have cleanup days Saturday. For info on cleanup events contact your township officials.
--Violinist Kendra Sobania will be performing at the St. Francis Convent this Sunday at 2:00pm. Originally from Little Falls, Kendra began taking violin lessons at the Music Center at the age of five. Kendra has played in orchestras throughout the United States and regularly performs fundraising concerts for churches throughout New York State. The concert is a fundraiser for the Music Center. Adults are a $10 donation and children under 12 are free.
--Wednesday a Stearns County Deputy working TZD seat belt enforcement stopped a vehicle on University Drive, east of the 5th Avenue roundabout and just east of the Mississippi River bridge. The deputy identified the driver, who had no driver's license. He also identified the passenger, who had an active juvenile warrant for her arrest. She was asked to step out of the car and it initially appeared she would be cooperative. Once out of the car, she took off running towards Eastmen Hall on the campus of SCSU. She ran through the construction area and towards the river. Once it was confirmed the juvenile female had entered the river, the St. Cloud Fire Department responded with boats. Officers continued to search the river bank on the west side of the river and eventually located the female. She placed her under arrest. In addition to the warrant, the juvenile will be cited for fleeing a police officer on foot and no seatbelt.
--The 2-year-old boy found unresponsive Monday in 2-3 feet of water on Rush Lake in Crosslake was identified as Sawyer Howe of Minneapolis. The sheriff's office received a report about 10:00am after family members noticed the child wasn't accounted for and immediately checked the lake. The child was located near a dock by a parent and CPR was performed. The child was airlifted to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis and is in the intensive care unit. As of late Wednesday the child remains in very serious condition.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has announced their June Employee of the Month is Jayne Cekalla at Falls Floral. Jayne has been a Lead Designer for the past 5 years at Falls Floral. Congratulations Jayne Cekalla, Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce June Employee of the Month.
DEATH NOTICE
--Marcine Marie Jaschke, age 82 of Randall.
WEATHER
TODAY= becoming sunny, breezy in PM, high 72.
TONIGHT= clouds increase, storms by morning, low 57.
SATURDAY= storms likely, some heavy early, high 67, low 49.
SUNDAY= sunny and very windy, high 68, low around 47.
MONDAY= sunny and warmer, high 76, low around 55.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins down 8-0 early come back to tie only to lose it late to the Indians 9-8. Twins and Cleveland continue series tonight at 6:30pm, Saturday at 2:30 and Sunday at 12:30 on Q92 WYRQ.
HS BAB= Alexandria wins with a walk off in the 7th to beat Little Falls last night 5-4. Little Falls will have an elimination game Tuesday.
HS BAB= Pierz beat Kimball 10-4 last night. Pierz will take on Foley today at 1pm from St. Cloud on FM94 KFML.
VL= Freeport at Buckman, game of week, Sunday 1:30pm on KLTF.
--A free Minnesota Twins Play Ball! Minnesota youth baseball and softball clinic will be at Bane Park Saturday in Brainerd from 9-12.