NEWS
--The Little Falls Kiwanis held its annual Senior Honor Program and Scholarship Night Wednesday. Erika Bassett was named the recipient of the $1,000 Kiwanis scholarship. Mitchell Schrimirs and Maria Moe were named the Boy and Girl of the Year, respectively. Overall, over $300,000 in scholarships were awarded Wednesday including 54 recipients of the Gordon Larson scholarship totaling $216,000. Congratulations to all the scholarship recipients and class of 2018
--One person is hurt after a crash involving a tractor Wednesday night. The incident happened just after 10pm along County Road 17 in Sauk Centre Township, west of Sauk Centre. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says 16-year-old Logan Gamradt, of Sauk Centre, was driving a tractor pulling a disc harrow, when he was rear ended by a car. The driver of the vehicle was 74-year-old Robert Theisen of Sauk Centre. Theisen was trapped in his vehicle and had to be extricated. He was taken to Sauk Centre hospital but later airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital with unknown injuries.
--Another indecent exposure charge has been filed against the former superintendent of ROCORI Schools. A criminal complaint filed in Stearns County District Court alleges Scott Staska exposed himself at the check out line at Mills Fleet Farm. It's the 19th indecent exposure charge against the 56-year-old. The incident happened on Feb 4th. Police looked at surveillance video and recognized the suspect as Staska. He was seen leaving the store parking lot in an SUV owned by his son. Staska faces similar charges for incidents at various convenience stores around the area and at Crossroads Center. He resigned as superintendent shortly after the first charges were filed.
--A spark from a lawnmower caused the wildfire that ultimately burned 25 acres of rural forestland back on Monday along the southern border of Pillsbury State Forest. Pillager Fire Chief Greg Ringler said difficult terrain and harsh weather conditions compounded an already volatile situation, with fire quickly spreading through deadfall left in the wake of the summer 2015 blowdown event. With winds gusting up to 25 mph and warm, dry conditions dominating Monday, it didn't take much for the fire to both engulf the lawnmower and spread to dead, dry foliage. With the rain Tuesday and Wednesday encouraging the budding of trees and greening of grasses the hope is that fire season is coming closer to an end but dry conditions this weekend will keep central Minnesota in the high danger zone so restrictions are expected to stay in place.
--The body of a missing northern Minnesota woman was found Tuesday near Babbitt, more than 2 miles from where her vehicle was located in February. 30-year-old Tawhna Jolee Pringle of Grand Rapids was last seen January 11th on a convenience store surveillance camera near Babbitt. Her ex-husband reported her missing January 27th. Loggers found Pringle’s pickup truck February 7th southeast of Babbitt in Lake County. The Lake County Sheriff’s Department and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension conducted numerous searches of the area and found tracks leading away from the vehicle, but Pringle’s body wasn’t located. Around 11am Tuesday, friends and family members found Pringle’s body about 2.2 miles from where the truck was found. Foul play is not suspected.
--Good luck to the area anglers heading out Saturday for the opening of fishing in Minnesota. Also don't forget Mom this Sunday with Mother's Day finishing out the weekend.
--The Little Falls Community High School Bands present their Spring Band Concert-The culmination of everything musical learned this school year in one summation of harmonious resplendency at the Charles D. Martin Auditorium, Monday, May 14th at 8pm, tickets are sold at the door, $3 for adults, $1 for children! This is be the final performance under band director Jonathon LaFlamme who is taking a new position with Central Lakes College in the fall of this year.
--Pierz Healy High School honored their three sports athletes at their Awards Ceremony Wednesday. They are Kelsi Stuckmayer, Taylor Kimman, Malea Boser, Brittney Boser, Avy Lease, Jesse Marshik, Benjamin Herold and Preston Rocheleau. Pierz announced the 2017-18 Athlete of the Year and Student Athlete of the year as Kelsi Stuckmayer and Preston Rocheleau.
--The Stearns County Sheriff's Office Communication Center received a call reporting a crash with injuries on County Road 159 near Achman Lake Rd in Avon Township. The caller reported that one of the drivers believed to have a broken leg, and the other stated he was having neck pain. The drivers were 31-year-old David Lemke of St. Joseph and 25-year-old Joshua Hute of St. Cloud.
--A St. Cloud man is in jail after allegedly stabbing another man during a fight involving several people. Waite Park Police say they were called to the 1400 block of 7th Street South around 10pm Wednesday. When they arrived, officers found the victim with a stab wound to their upper body. Police say it's not clear the motive for the fight. The victim was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Witnesses gave police a description of the suspect's vehicle, which was stopped near Prosper Drive. The suspect was identified as 19-year-old Anthony Contreras. He was arrested and taken into the Stearns County Jail on 2nd degree charges.
--The Pierz City Council meets Monday 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
--Check out weekend events including Smelt Fry tonight in Randall, Broken Fiddle to play tonight at Great River Arts, Carnegie Library has events on Saturday, two one act plays will be performed at 6pm at Mary of Lourdes Elementary Saturday, carnations will be sold for fundraisers this weekend at area masses for Mothers Day and many other Mom events are scheduled for many establishments. Get details on community calendar events at fallsradio.com.
DEATH NOTICES
--Barbara Storkamp, age 66 of Pierz/Buckman area.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly cloudy, spotty showers, high 56, low around 35.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, high 64, clear night low near 40.
SUNDAY= sunny and warmer, high 72, low around 48.
MONDAY= sunny and warmer yet, high near 80, low near 50.
SPORTS
HS SB= Little Falls at Pierz today 4:30pm on FM94 KFML
HS BAB= Albany at Pierz tonight 7pm on FM94 KFML both games can be streamed online also at fallsradio.com.
TWINS= Twins lose 7-4 last night to Angels though Dozier and Kepler homer. Twins continue series with Angels late tonight, pregame at 8:30pm, Saturday pregame starts at 7:30pm and Sunday it is at 2:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
VL= Pierz Brewers at Buckman Sunday 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.