NEWS --Around 5:25pm Wednesday the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a 2-year old child that was run over by a lawnmower at a residence on Great River Road in Swan River Township. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 32-year old Alex Warzecha of Little Falls was mowing the lawn with a zero-turn riding lawnmower and his 2-year old son was riding on the back of the mower. The child fell off while the father was making a turn and was accidentally run over by the lawnmower while the PTO was engaged. The child was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale with a severe leg injury.
--Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl reports that the Lakes Area Drug Investigative Division executed a search warrant on Wednesday around 1:00pm in the 400 block of 4th Avenue Northeast in Brainerd. A search of the residence revealed prescription pills, psilocybin mushrooms and 40 grams of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $3,200. $2,800 in cash was also seized from the residence. 52-year old Chad Shaw who resides at the residence was taken into custody.
--A Wyoming man is being held in the Crow Wing County Jail on multiple charges following a Tuesday night vehicle pursuit between Pine River and Pequot Lakes. Around 11:45pm, a Pequot Lakes police officer attempted to make a traffic stop on an orange 1976 Chevy Corvette south on Highway 371 for having a headlight out and crossing the fog line. After the officer activated his emergency lights, the suspect fled at a high rate of speed. The suspect traveled north into Pine River and then south towards Pequot Lakes. Speeds reached over 100 mph. At one point the driver lost control and put the car sideways into the ditch but was able to bring the vehicle back onto the road continuing the pursuit. The suspect also turned off the vehicle's headlights in an attempt to avoid capture. An officer was able to successfully remove the vehicle from the roadway via a precision immobilization technique maneuver. Once the vehicle came to a stop, the suspect was Tasered due to his non-compliance. According to the Crow Wing County Jail in-custody list, the man was booked for four felonies, including fleeing a peace officer in a vehicle, vehicle theft, fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance and fifth-degree drugs; and six misdemeanors which include traffic, drugs and alcohol charges.
--The owner of Avon Marine has pleaded guilty to felony theft and theft by swindle charges after he stole a customer’s boat motor and sold it to another customer. 54-year old Randy Pierson still faces more than a dozen theft charges after allegedly swindling customers out of thousands of dollars in cash and property at his marine business. The guilty pleas stem from an incident in 2015 where two employees alerted police that Pierson had stolen a pontoon motor from a customer before putting that boat in storage and then installed it on another customer’s boat who believed he was buying a new one. Records show that Pierson sold the old motor and never told the customer. Pierson also said the new one was being shipped, but instead made the switch from another customer’s pontoon. Pierson faces several similar charges with other customers including selling used motors as new, selling existing customers’ boats and motors without consent and taking payments but failing to deliver boats, motors and dock lifts.
--The Little Falls Community High School had their scholarship night on Wednesday. There were over 75 different types of scholarships handed out to 173 recipients. The scholarships totaled $302,300. Congratulations to each of the winners.
--Jeff Johnson is making his second run for Minnesota governor. Johnson announced his bid Wednesday morning. He was the Republican nominee in 2014, but Democrat Mark Dayton defeated him. Johnson is a Detroit Lakes native, Hennepin County commissioner and former state representative. He has also been a GOP leader.
--The new owner of Arctic Cat plans to close its Minneapolis headquarters by the end of the year and move it to St. Cloud. The 60 affected employees will be offered positions in St. Cloud, where Arctic Cat runs an engine plant and office. Arctic Cat has been expanding in the St. Cloud area for the past few years, and this move comes after the company moved its headquarters out of Plymouth to Minneapolis.
--Sears announced Wednesday that they are closing 50 automotive centers across the nation including the one in St. Cloud at the end of the month. The store itself will remain open. Employees that are eligible will receive severance and have the opportunity to apply for open positions at other areas stores.
--As in years past, Pillager Public Schools will offer a free breakfast and free lunch from June 6th through August 25th for all children 18 years of age and younger. The breakfast is 8-9:00am and lunch is 11am-12:00pm free of charge. The school decided on this so children who are in need of meals can have one that meets the needs of the nutritional standards established by the USDA. Those who come to Pillager school during those days should use door G at the school to reach the cafeteria and there will be no meals served July 3rd-5th.
--More weekend events to check out including Geranium sale by Boy Scout Troop 65 at the Middle School Parking Lot in Little Falls starting at 3:00pm today and 9:00am tomorrow, Taiko Drumming concert tonight at 7:30pm at Great Rive Arts, Randall Sportsman's Club fish and smelt fry starts at 5:00pm today at Randall VFW and more events can be found at fallsradio.com click on community calendar.
WEATHER TODAY= scattered sprinkles & showers, some sun, high 74. TONIGHT= clearing skies, low 48. SATURDAY= sunny and warm, high near 80, low near 50. SUNDAY= sunny and warm, high near 80, storms overnight, low 52. MONDAY= storms early, strong stroms late, high 73, low near 50.
SPORTS TWINS= Twins hold off White Sox 7-6 last night for the 2 game sweep. Twins open a series at Cleveland tonight, pregame at 5:30 then 2:30 Saturday and 11:30am Sunday all on Q92 WYRQ. NFL= Vikings sign wide receiver Michael Floyd to a 1 year deal Wednesday. Floyd is a Cretin-Derham Hall alum who played most of his career with Arizona. Floyd is under house arrest for a DUI that occurred earlier this year. Vikings are taking a chance on Floyd. VL= Freeport at Upsala Sunday 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.
LITTLE FALLS RADIO WISHES GOOD LUCK TO AREA ANGLERS THIS WEEKEND AND HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL THE MOMS ON SUNDAY.