NEWS --Little Falls Police are investigating the theft of an American and French flag stolen from LeBourget Park in Little Falls in the past week. An officer stated the ropes on both flag poles were cut and the flags were missing. Anyone with information please call 616-5570.
--Camp Ripley is continuing carrying armored vehicles on rail cars from the camp north of Little Falls along train tracks traveling 2,000 miles to Fort Irwin, California. More than 1,300 pieces total are being moved through this weekend which includes Humvees, howitzers, Bradley fighting vehicles and tanks. A reminder that the tracks and Highway 115 near Camp Ripley is being closed at times over the bridge as the large supply of equipment is shipped out. This is mostly being done in the 5-8pm hours but just a reminder to possibly expect delays or closures at times over the next few days.
--A Crow Wing County jury found 26-year-old Nathan David Becker not guilty yesterday on all felony charges of aiding and abetting Tyler Allan Cronquist with first-degree murder with premeditation and attempted first-degree murder with premeditation. The verdict came hours after court began at 9:00am Thursday with closing arguments in Crow Wing County District Court with Judge David Ten Eyck presiding. The jury deliberated for about two hours and came back to the courtroom with a verdict. They found Becker not guilty on four counts of aiding and abetting Cronquist for first- and second-degree murder with premeditation and attempted first- and second-degree murder with premeditation. Becker originally was facing just the first-degree felony counts, but the attorneys agreed to add the second-degree counts to Becker's case before closing arguments began. Becker had pleaded not guilty to first degree aiding and abetting Tyler Cronquist in the shooting death of Joseph Kroll and the shooting and seriously injuring Chelsey Crawford of Brainerd. Cronquist is charged with first degree premeditated murder and first degree attempted murder. Cronquist has yet to stand trial on those charges.
--A St. Cloud man was sentenced Thursday to seven years in prison after authorities say he played a role in causing an accidental fire that killed his grandmother in November 2014 at a St. Cloud home. 19-year old Dustin Ross Zablocki previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting third-degree murder. He was accused of making marijuana wax with a friend and starting a fire that killed his grandmother. Investigators believe the fire started when 20-year old Justin Edward Pick and Zablocki were making “dabs,” a potent oil extract from marijuana. The fire at 1919 First Street North in St. Cloud killed Zablocki’s grandmother, Sally Douglas. Pick previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to slightly more than seven months in jail and 25 years of probation.
--Law enforcement around Minnesota will be increasing seat belt enforcement May 23rd through June 5th. In the last five years, 527 unbelted motorists lost their lives and 1,035 people suffered life-changing injuries and of those over half were not wearing seat belts. Minnesota police, sheriff and state troopers will also be watching for child car seat laws where the law states all children must be in a child restraint until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall or at least 8 years old. The click it or ticket campaign is a component of the state's Toward Zero Deaths program promoting safe and smart driving behavior.
--A reminder that Royalton High School graduates tonight at the high school gym at 8pm. Congratulations to the graduates.
--The Pierz American Legion will have a flag raising ceremony tonight at 6:00pm at the Veterans Memorial at Billig Park near the Pierz Fire Hall. All are invited to come and watch the flag raising.
--Motorists who travel from eastbound I-94 to eastbound Stearns County Road 75 near St. Joseph and Collegeville will encounter delays beginning tomorrow at 6:00am when eastbound County Road 75 is closed between Interstate 94 and Collegeville Road. Motorists should follow the signed detour along County Road 2 or seek alternate routes. The roads will open by Saturday, May 28th. Also, the existing eastbound lanes of I-94 east of Collegeville are now closed. Much of I-94 between Collegeville and St. Cloud is now a single lane in each direction. Head to head traffic switched to the westbound side of the road with a reduced speed limit.
--Five people were taken to the hospital on Wednesday after a collision in St. Cloud. Officers were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision around 1:30pm on Northway Drive. 41-year-old Keith Krueger of Rice was southbound on Ninth Avenue North attempting to cross the intersection at Northway Drive. Krueger's vehicle collided with a van driven by 32-year-old Joshua Engel of New Munich who was attempting to turn left onto Northway Drive. Krueger reported minor injuries, but was not transported to the hospital. Engel, along with passengers; 22-year-old Ashley Marthaler, 21-year-old Shelby Marthaler, 39-year-old Tonya Anderson, three-year-old Conner Russell Wessmann and 17-year-old Carley Jean Anderson were all transported to St. Cloud Hospital for minor injuries.
--Community members are invited to a second community forum to discuss the current condition of Brainerd Public School facilities and hear the first draft of a vision to address future school needs. The forum will take place on Monday at 6:30pm at the Riverside Elementary School at 220 NW 3rd Street in Brainerd.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS --Longtime CBS Newsman and 60 Minutes co-anchor Morley Safer died Thursday at 84. He started with CBS in 1964 and joined 60 Minutes in 1970- retiring earlier this year.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Nathan Peterschick & Crystal Snyder of Little Falls, a boy May 18th
DEATH NOTICES --Charles B. Lent, age 94 of Little Falls.
WEATHER TODAY= partly sunny, high 72. TONIGHT= mostly cloudy, a stray sprinkle early, low 50. SATURDAY= sunny skies, high 75, clear night low 51. SUNDAY= sunny, high 80, storms develop at night, low 60. MONDAY= thunderstorms likely, some heavy rain, high 75.
SPORTS TWINS= Blue Jays come back to beat Twins 3-2 in 11 innings last night. The Twins continue series with Toronto tonight 6:30pm pregame, day games Saturday and Sunday with pregame coverage beginning at 12:30pm on Q92 WYRQ. SB= Pierz hosts Melrose to open up softball playoffs today, hear the game at 3pm on FM94 KFML and at MSBN site at fallsradio.com.