NEWS
--A jury Wednesday acquitted former Crosby Mayor James Hunter of felony theft by swindle. Hunter was charged with four felonies last year but the jury trial was to address only the one felony theft by swindle charge. Hunter resigned last August after charges surfaced.
--On June 21st Timothy Paul Kostal of Deerwood was acquitted of careless driving by a jury after a trial in Aitken County. On June 10th 2016 Kostal was driving southbound on Highway 47 in Aitken County when he saw 85-year old Margaret Johnson of rural Aitken County laying facedown by her mailbox on the side of the road. After seeing Johnson, Kostal stopped his vehicle to render aid. Kostal backed up closer to the scene and called 911. He remained at the scene and spoke with law enforcement. Johnson was pronounced dead a short time later. After an investigation, Kostal was charged with careless driving. The state alleged that while rendering aid to Johnson, Kostal accidentally backed over her with his vehicle causing her death. Kostal's truck was forensically tested by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. During the trial, jurors heard evidence that stated no DNA, hair follicles or blood linked Kostal's truck to Johnson's death. According to the evidence at trial, paint flecks detected on Johnson's clothing could not have come from Kostal's vehicle. Kostal maintained his innocence throughout the investigation and last week jurors rendered a not guilty verdict.
--One person was hurt in a four vehicle crash in Benton County. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened just before 4:00pm Wednesday at the intersection of Highway 23 and County Road 25, west of Foley. Two cars were traveling east on Highway 23. They were driven by 62-year old John Westra of Foley and 52-year old Anita Miller of Duluth. Meanwhile, a Ford pickup driven by 57-year old Ronny Studenski of Foley was going south on County Road 25. The State Patrol says Studenski failed to yield after going through the median, causing the other two vehicles to hit the side of his pick-up. That caused the pick-up to rollover and struck a Chevy Silverado, which was parked at the stop sign. That pick-up was driven by 36-year old Kurtis Hovde of Foley. Miller suffered non-life threatening injuries. No one else was hurt.
--More pieces of the large bog on Merrifield Bay at Legionville has been moved over the past days. Volunteers Wednesday moved more chunks away from the bay. After a long struggle, the center portion was eventually moved on June 10th and now about 7-8 sections have been placed in other parts of the bay and away from the shoreline near the American Legion camp. The hope is by summer's end to have the entire bog hundreds of feet away from any shoreline.
--The busiest weekend of the summer so far with the Swanville Mid-Summer Carnival kicking off tonight and running through Sunday with parade Sunday at 11:30am, car show today and Arts in the Park Sunday in Brainerd, Todd County Breakfast on the Farm tomorrow, classic car show in Randall Sunday, Bowlus Fun Day Sunday with parade at 11:15am, events all afternoon, water wars with area fire departments at 2:30 and fireworks at dusk, a thank you party for Father Joe Herzing of the Tri-Parish Sunday 12-3 at the Falls Ballroom-all are welcome to wish Father Joe well as he heads to the Newman Center in St. Cloud, the Little Falls Senior Center has a garage and bake sale today and a breakfast on Sunday. Then many more events get going next week for the 4th of July on Wednesday. Get full details at fallsradio.com then community calendar.
--County Fair time already beginning in areas. Cass County Fair began yesterday in Pine River and runs through Sunday. The 2nd Cass County Fair is July 12th through the 15th in Pillager. Todd County is July 12th through the 15th in Long Prairie; Stearns is July 25th-29th in Sauk Centre; Benton is July 31st through August 5th in Sauk Rapids also Crow Wing County in Brainerd is July 31st through August 4th; Mille Lacs is August 8th-12th in Princeton and the Morrison County Fair wraps things up from August 9th through 11th in Little Falls.
--A 40-year old from Freeport was injured Wednesday night on Highway 238 near Elmdale in Morrison County. The State Patrol said that Corey Pundsack struck a deer on the roadway and was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment of injuries.
--A 23-year old from St. Cloud was injured around 5:30pm yesterday afternoon in Stearns County. Hannah Melin collided with 39-year old Richard Hoke of Sartell on Highway 15 when Hoke stopped for congested traffic and was struck from behind by Melin. Melin was treated at St. Cloud Hospital for her injuries.
--A 24-year-old from Bena was killed in a head-on crash Friday afternoon just after 5:00pm on Highway 371 in Cass County. Seth Raines was on 371, crossed the center-line near Walker and struck head on with a pickup truck driven by Ricklin Schimdtke of Walker. Schimdtke was taken to the Bemidji hospital with injuries ruled non-life threatening. Raines was pronounced dead at the scene.
--A motorcycle and classic car run benefiting the Morrison County Chapter of Disabled American Veterans (DAV) will be held on Saturday, July 21st starting at 12:30pm. Registration starts at 11:30am at the West Side Bar in Little Falls. Suggested donation per rider is $10.00. The event will be held rain or shine. The DAV is dedicated to a single purpose: empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. This is accomplished by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill; and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. For more information call William Hollermann at (320) 360-0803.
--The all sports meeting for parents, athletes and coaches in Pierz has been scheduled for Monday, August 6th. This meeting is for all 7-12 graders involved in any sport in any season. The meeting will take place at Pierz Healy High School in the MAC gym. Registration will start at 6:30pm with the meeting to follow.
WEATHER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 11AM.
TODAY= strong to severe storms early, then sunny and hot, high 91.
TONIGHT= cloudy, storms after midnight, some heavy, low 70.
SATURDAY= storms early, then partly sunny, high 82, more storms late in the day and then severe storms possible by late PM, low 60.
SUNDAY= early storms, then sunny, cooler, high 78, low 56.
MONDAY= sunny skies, high near 80, storms late low around 62.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins get a bases loaded walk in the top of the 13th inning to beat the White Sox 2-1 on Thursday. The Twins are in Chicago for the weekend, but now face the Cubs today at 3:30pm, Saturday at 12:30pm and Sunday with Inside Twins at noon on Q92 WYRQ.
VL= Upsala at Swanville Sunday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.