NEWS --A Little Falls man has been sentenced to 90 months in prison for child molestation conviction. Vernon Hintz was sentenced Wednesday in Morrison County District Court by Judge Douglas Anderson. Hintz was also ordered to register as a predatory offender and provide a DNA sample for storage and comparison. On December 11th 2015 a victim under the age of 16 reported she was sexually abused by someone with whom she has a “significant relationship” as that term is defined by law. She identified her abuser as Vernon Hintz. Hintz admitted having sexual contact with four children under the age of 16. Each of the four children has significant relationships with Hintz. Hintz will have an additional 120 months in prison hanging over his head after he is released from prison along with the predatory offender registration requirement.
--Hundreds turned out yesterday to meet Minnesota Wild players Kurtis Gabriel and Mario Lucia at the Little Falls Exchange Arena. Those players were joined by former star Wes Walz and announcer Mike Greenlay. The Wild organization signed photos to hand out to all in attendance. Most of those who attended in Little Falls were kids. The Wild Road tour continued yesterday after the Little Falls stop as that tour next went to Richmond. Thanks to all who made the Wild players feel welcome for the fun event.
--A two-vehicle accident Wednesday night in Wright County sent two to the hospital. The Minnesota State Patrol said that 64-year-old Barbara Mares of Bertha was westbound on Interstate 94 around 7:30pm when she slowed down due to heavy rain and was struck from behind by 29-year-old Matthew Capelle of Little Falls. Mares and her passenger 40-year-old Nicole Radke of Wadena were both taken to an area hospital for their injuries. Capelle was not injured.
--The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities board of trustees has named Ashish Vaidya interim president of St. Cloud State University. Vaidya will serve the school in that position for one year as is state policy giving the school time to find a permanent president. Vaidya was named acting president following the June 13th death of Earl H. Potter III from a car accident near the Twin Cities. Vaidya has been provost and vice president of academic affairs at SCSU since 2000 and before that worked at the University of Los Angeles.
--The 2016 Miss Brainerd/Baxter United States Pageant will be at 7:00pm Saturday at the Tornstrom Auditorium. Twenty-three contestants will be competing to capture six titles—Miss Jr. Teen Brainerd and Baxter, Miss Teen Brainerd and Baxter and Miss Brainerd and Baxter. Contestants will compete in interview, on stage question, evening gown and swimsuit. During the pageant there will be a silent auction, as a fundraiser for the pageant, along with a bake sale to benefit the "No Kid Hungry" organization. Doors will open at 6:00pm with doors to the auditorium opening at 6:30pm. Tickets are $15 and will be available at the door.
--The Rice Police Department is asking for information regarding a white pickup, trailer, lawnmower and female you can view on the Rice PD facebook page. The camper shown there was stolen from a local business. The pickup and female may be involved. Anyone with information is asked to contact authorities.
--A 54-year-old from Belgrade was injured Thursday morning around 9am on Highway 23. Lori Weiner was on Highway 23 near County Road 140 in Stearns County when she veered off the roadway. Weiner was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
--The Pierz Community Theater group is preparing to present Annie on August 26th and 27th at the PAC in Pierz. Auditions are on Monday and Tuesday from 6-8pm in Pierz next week. The group is looking for a range of actors from ages 5 to 90 to get involved and behind the scenes people too. Interested participants only need to attend one audition next week, not both. Any questions can be directed to the Pierz Healy High School 468-6458.
--It will remain a crime in Minnesota not to take a breath test when getting picked up for drunk driving. But the U-S Supreme Court ruled Thursday that law enforcement must obtain search warrants for what the justices called a more intrusive blood test. The justices ruled in three cases in which convictions were challenged for refusing to take alcohol tests in Minnesota and North Dakota. Drivers in all states can have their licenses revoked if they refuse O-W-I tests, but the Supreme Court ruling affects eleven states that charge drivers criminally for refusing.
--A missing 5-year-old girl who was missing after a fatal mobile home fire in Bemidji has been found alive, officials said Thursday. Brittany Rose Balcer was visiting the home on Tuesday night. No other information on her discovery was immediately available. A suspect is in custody, according to a release from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
--Events this weekend include Michael “Lody” Lodermeier Memorial softball tournament Saturday, St. Mathias Church Festival on Sunday, breakfast and raffle Sunday at St. Mary's in Little Falls and later that morning after 11:15am a farewell party for Father Jeremy Ploof who is leaving to head the tri-parish in Elbow Lake. For further details on these events visit the community calendar at fallsradio.com.
--Join Q92 live Saturday at the 4th Annual Customer Appreciation and Car Show from Rudolph's Auto Solutions broadcasting live from 8am-12pm. The car show is from 9:00am-3:00pm. Register to win prizes including a pair of tickets to Pierz Freedom Fest from Q92 this Saturday at Rudolph's Auto Solutions in Little Falls.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Christopher and Stacey Seviola of Royalton,
WEATHER TODAY= sunny skies, high near 80, storms overnight, low 67. SATURDAY= storms likely, some severe in afternoon, high 85, low 61 SUNDAY= sunny and windy, high 78, partly cloudy night, low 53. MONDAY= sunny and cooler, high 68, low around 50.
SPORTS TWINS= Phillies beat Twins 7-3 Thursday to avoid sweep. The Twins are at the Yankees tonight 5:30pm, then day games on Saturday and Sunday both at 11:30am on Q92 WYRQ. NBA= Timberwolves picked Providence point guard Kris Dunn with their first round pick #5 last night. The draft continues tonight. NHL= The NHL Draft begins today, the Wild pick #15. LYNX= President Barack Obama will recognize the Minnesota Lynx on their 2015 WNBA Championship Monday at the White House. The Lynx host Los Angeles tonight and travel to Washington DC on Sunday for a game with the Mystics. Lynx remain unbeaten at 13-0. VL= Sobieski at Buckman Sunday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF check out the entire Victory League schedule at victoryleague.org.