NEWS
--The 25th annual Morrison County Sheriff's Department Sandbox Fill will be held on Thursday, May 24th. Anyone within a three mile radius of bank square in downtown Little Falls may have a sandbox filled. All that is required is a donation to the food shelf. Donations can be given at the time of the sandbox fill or left by the sandbox if you are not home. To place your name on the list, call 632-0196 on Tuesdays May 8th and May 15th or on Wednesdays May 9th and May 16th. If no answer leave your name, address, phone number and where the sandbox is located on the answering machine.
--The Minnesota DNR and Flensburg Fire Department responded to a grass fire on Wednesday afternoon. Around 3:55pm a fire was reported near Dove Road on 135th Street West of Flensburg. About a dozen firefighters were on scene for around an hour. Thanks to a quick response time from several firefighters damage was limited to about two acres in the wetland and none of the nearby structures were damaged. The cause is under investigation. No injuries.
--Around 3:30pm Wednesday a driver was injured after falling asleep behind the wheel. 66-year old Edwin Winkelman of Baxter was traveling east on Highway 210 near 251st Avenue in Staples Township of Todd County when Winkelman fell asleep and went off road to the left hitting a sign structure. Winkelman was taken by ambulance to Staples Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
--A car fire that closed a lane of traffic on Interstate 94 Wednesday afternoon has resulted in an estimated $5,000 loss. Around 1:50pm, the St. Cloud Fire Department responded to a car fire on the interstate at mile marker 174 near Opportunity Drive. According to the critical incident report, the car was fully engulfed upon arrival. The fire department was able to keep one lane of traffic open throughout the incident. The cause of the fire is undetermined. There were no injuries.
--Two people were involved in an ATV crash that sent one to the hospital. Shortly after At 3:00pm Wednesday, the Stearns County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to a residence off Stearns County Road Nine in Munson Township. Upon arrival, officers found that 82-year old Theresa Gertken had been operating the ATV while working in the yard with 85-year old Gerald Gertken. Gerald became caught underneath the ATV and was dragged. He was found under the ATV when responders arrived at the scene. He was treated at the scene, then taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non life threatening injuries.
--A St. Cloud man was taken to the hospital Wednesday evening after he lost control of his car, rolling it on Interstate 94. According to a Minnesota State Patrol, 55-year old Ibrahim Abdi Siyat was driving a van westbound around 5:15pm in Avon Township. Siyat attempted to pass a vehicle in the right lane driven by 28-year old Danielle Denise Welle of Melrose, but struck her vehicle in moving from the left to right lane. Siyat's van then left the road and swerved into the median. The report said he tried to get back in the lane, but lost control, causing the van spin and roll approximately two times before coming to rest on its roof in the right ditch. Siyat was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Welle did not sustain any injuries. Both were wearing their seat belts.
--The Cash Cube will be out today at 3:00pm at Little Falls Radio. Stop by, listen to Smile Time Variety Hour on FM94 and win a prize.
--A three year investigation of illegal snaring in Itasca County has led to dozens of charges against two men accused of taking seven wolves, two black bears and numerous deer. 43-year old Brad Allen Dumonceaux and 60-year old Stephen Gerard Bemboom, both of Foley, each face 67 counts in State District Court in Grand Rapids. Criminal complaints issued late last week accuse the men of setting and neglecting the illegal snares which were discovered by a forester in northwestern Itasca County. Minnesota DNR conservation officers documented the kills and set up cameras in the area to capture Dumonceaux and Bemboom later removing the animals. The charges range from petty misdemeanors to gross misdemeanors, which can carry jail time, and the state is seeking $5,300 in restitution from the men. They have been summoned to appear in court on May 21st.
--A 22-year old Brainerd man was found dead Thursday in his truck following a crash in the Gull River. The Cass County Sheriff's Office was called at 5:50am to a report of a single motor vehicle crash in the Gull River on Gull Lake Dam Road in East Gull Lake. Officers and responders arrived on scene and located the pickup on its roof in the Gull River. The driver, a Brainerd man, was located deceased inside the vehicle. The initial investigation indicates the truck was traveling west on Gull Lake Dam Road and went through the intersection of Gull Lake Lane into the river. An autopsy is scheduled with the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office and the crash remains under investigation. The identity of the driver is being withheld pending notification of family members.
--Check out weekend events including free movie on Vietnam subjects tonight at Lindbergh Site, 2 Cylinder Club Field Days Saturday and Sunday at Morrison County Fairgrounds, Habitat Day at Crane Meadows Saturday, craft fair event in Holdingford Saturday, Boy Scout Troop 65 selling geraniums today and Saturday in Little Falls Community Middle School parking lot, the Cuyuna Agate and Mineral Show is Saturday and Sunday at the Crow Wing County Fairground, raffle and lunch served after mass Sunday at St. John's in Lastrup. Get more on events by going to fallsradio.com.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--James and Jolene Crosby, boy on May 1st
DEATH NOTICE
--Richard “Rick” Brausen, age 64 of Garrison
--Dolores D. Southard, age 84 of Little Falls
--Chad “Moose” Mertens, age 47 of Motley
WEATHER
RED FLAG WARNING FOR FIRES IN EFFECT 12-7PM TODAY
TODAY= sunny and mild, very windy, high 75
TONIGHT= clear skies, low 46.
SATURDAY= sunny, high 74, slight chance of evening shower, low 38
SUNDAY= sunny and cooler, high 66, low around 40.
MONDAY= sunny and warmer, high 73, rain late night, low 47.
SPORTS
TWINS= White Sox get a walk off homer in the 9th to beat Twins last night 6-5. Twins at White Sox tonight 6:30pm pregame, then Saturday pregame at 5:30 and Sunday at 12:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
VL= Sobieski at Upsala Sunday 1:30 for game of the week on KLTF.