NEWS
--The 2022 Morrison County Dairy Princess Coronation and Banquet is next Saturday night March 26th at 8pm at the Falls Ballroom. Tickets are $20 and sold at the door at the ballroom that night. The candidates are Erin Borash, 18-year-old daughter of Ann and Ronald Borash of Bowlus who plans to pursue a degree in animal science or wildlife biology. Christina Karst, 18-year-old daughter of Richard and Janelle Karst of Pierz, planning on a college degree in law and psychology and Madison Westerman, 16-year-old daughter of Landon and Michelle Westerman of Little Falls. She is the current reporter of the Little Falls FFA and plans after school to do something working with animals. The event will also feature the previous Dairy Princesses giving their crowns to the next group. The 2021 Princesses are Shelby Krebs, Teresa Karst, Kloe Kapsner and Victoria Wagner. The event is at 8pm next Saturday at the Falls Ballroom.
--The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said early Friday morning a missing 2-year-old boy who triggered an Amber Alert on Thursday has been found safe, and authorities have a suspect in custody. As of Friday morning few details have been released, but the BCA said in a post to social media that the Pope County Sheriff's Office would release more information on Friday. On Thursday afternoon, officials with the Pope County Sheriff's Office asked for the public's assistance locating a 2-year-old boy, last seen wearing a long-sleeved red t-shirt and black sweatpants with green stripes. Authorities say he was taken around 4:30 am. Thursday near the city of Westport, about 20 miles southeast of Alexandria. No suspect information was released at that time.
--A multi-vehicle crash Thursday morning on Highway 210 near the Cypress Drive intersection in Baxter led to at least one person being transported from the scene by an ambulance crew. At least four vehicles were involved, three others had minor injuries in the crash.
--Two men who admitted to robbing the Deerwood Bank in Garrison in July 2020 have been sentenced. A federal judge has sentenced 52-year-old John Paciorek II to seven-and-a-half years in prison for his role as the getaway driver. Co-defendant, 52-year-old James Ardito Jr. of Fridley, was sentenced last August to nearly five years in prison for the holdup. Court records show Paciorek waited in the car while Ardito hid in some bushes until an employee arrived to open the bank. Ardito then pointed a replica handgun at the employee and demanded they open the bank and disable the security alarm. Ardito then demanded cash from the teller drawers and was given $402 in cash. The robbery was caught on surveillance cameras and police were able to easily identify Ardito. Both men have pleaded guilty.
--A second Community Outpost House – or COP House – could be in the future for St. Cloud. United States Senator Amy Klobuchar has announced that she has secured $475,000 in federal funding for the project. The COP House would be built on St. Cloud's East Side. In addition to housing police, the COP House would provide office space for nutritional assistance services, healthcare agencies, and ambulance services. Back in 2017, the St. Cloud Police Department established its first COP House in south St. Cloud to bolster public safety. In 2018, the St. Cloud COP House received the U.S. Department of Justice's L. Anthony Sutin Civic Imagination Award.
--Pierz Minnesota Honor Society blood drive will be on April 6th. Please help give blood that day from 8am-2pm at Pierz Healy School in the MAC. For an appointment please call Jaime Strohmeier at 320-279-2015 for the blood drive scheduled for Wednesday, April 6th.
--Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced their state's revised budget yesterday. Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) showed the state's projected budget surplus will be a historic $9.25 billion, up from the $7 billion projection expected earlier this year. Governor Walz seeks to use additional funds: supporting Minnesotans and small businesses; protecting health and safety; and supporting children and families. A proposed $73 million would be infused into Minnesota's public pension plans, with another $20 million earmarked for the Main Street Economic Revitalization program.
--A Sauk Centre man has pleaded guilty to criminal sexual conduct after getting a 14-year-old girl pregnant. Court records show 26-year-old Gage McCurley had sexual intercourse with the girl twice in a parked car in Sauk Centre. McCurley pleaded guilty to one count of 3rd-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a victim between 14/15years-old. The mother of the girl contacted the police after learning the girl was pregnant and that McCurley is the father. Court records show McCurley knew the girl is 14, that she is pregnant and was the father. McCurley will be sentenced in June.
--Weekend events include many fish fries tonight, The Easter fun event tomorrow at the Bank Square Plaza on 1st Street in Little Falls with the Easter Bunny from noon to 2pm, the Morrison County Wild Gobblers Turkey Federation banquet is Saturday at the Falls Ballroom with doors opening at 5pm with fun and games for all. Historical re-enactor Joel Brown will be presetting “Bonga: A Fur Trade Family Saga” at the Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum in Little Falls Saturday at 11am, preregister still today at 632-4007. The Empty Bowls Fundraiser for Oasis Central Minnesota to feed the hungry and help the homeless is Sunday 11:30-1:30 at First Lutheran Church in Little Falls, there are 10 different soups, a silent auction, homemade bread and more for $12, tickets at the event. There is Quilt bingo and raffle Sunday starting at 1pm at St. Michaels in Buckman. Details on events at fallsradio.com community calendar.
--Musician Charlie Roth joined KLTF Party Line yesterday and stated that the Irish singing group Ring of Kerry will perform tonight at Central Lakes College campus in Brainerd and then shows in St. Cloud and St. Michael this weekend details at the King of Kerry website. Roth will be the special guest for Markets and Music on the Mississippi at LeBourget Park in Little Falls on August 25th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Harlan Moser, age 90 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy skies, high near 40, clear night, low 20.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, high 48, clear night, low 23.
SUNDAY= partly sunny skies, high 51, cloudy night, low 36.
MONDAY= rain likely, high near 50, mixed precip overnight, low 30.
SPORTS
COL HK= Gophers vs. Michigan in the Big 10 Hockey Championship Saturday night, pregame at 6:30pm on AM960 KLTF.
GBB= The State Girls Basketball Tournament wraps up Saturday. Becker in the Class AAA championship vs. Totino Grace. Fergus Falls and Albany in semi-final action later today.
WNIT= Gopher women advance 73-65 over Wisconsin-Green Bay and face South Dakota State in 2nd round on Sunday.
TWINS= more Twins spring games today through Sunday on Q92.