NEWS
--Tomorrow is Tax Day. You have until tomorrow night to get your income tax return in if you don't have an extension of some sort, without facing a penalty. The reason for April 17th is that Sunday was the 15th and the 16th (today) is Emancipation Day which is a legal holiday in Washington D.C. but not in many other parts of the nation.
--With the weather this past weekend, the exhibit opening for Central Minnesota Remembers Vietnam will be postponed until Saturday, April 21st from 2-4pm at The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum in Little Falls. The exhibit was due to open April 14, but with the recent snowstorm the museum wanted to play it safe for central Minnesota residents.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office in cooperation with Little Falls Police, CHI St. Gabriel's Hospital and Stand Up For U will host a prescription take back event on April 28th at Coborn's Marketplace in Little Falls. You can turn in all your unused or unwanted prescription drugs for proper disposal at this free event from 10am to 2pm.
--A stolen vehicle crashed Thursday in Brainerd as officers pursued. Around 10:20pm a Crow Wing County deputy attempted to make a stop on a vehicle that was driving without headlights in the area of Laurel Street and South 4th Street in Brainerd. When the deputy activated his emergency lights, the vehicle fled west bound on Laurel Street at very high speeds failing to stop at several stop signs. The vehicle lost control on the 90 degree corner at Highland Scenic Drive. The vehicle left the roadway, hit a power pole and rolled several times before coming to rest in a wooded area. The driver, a juvenile female who had escaped from a treatment facility, was taken to Essentia E. R. for treatment of minor injuries and then taken into custody. The vehicle she was driving was stolen from Litchfield. The juvenile female is being held on felony charges.
--A man has been charged with two felony counts of making terroristic threats in connection with a bomb threat to St. Cloud City Hall on Wednesday. 25-year old Abdalle Ahmed Ege was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon after allegedly making a bomb threat on Facebook. St. Cloud law enforcement was advised of a bomb threat to city hall at approximately 10:13am Wednesday. A bag was located outside city hall, next to a gas can, containing personal property belonging to Ege. The bag did not contain any explosive material. Ege was questioned after being taken into custody and admitted to posting the bomb threat on Facebook and placing the duffle bag at city hall. He also denied that there were any explosives in the bag. The complaint listed a St. Cloud address for Ege, but noted that it was not his permanent address, just a residence he had been staying at. The two charges carry a combined maximum penalty of eight years in prison and a $13,000 fine. Ege is being held at the Stearns County Jail on $75,000 bail with conditions or $200,000 bail without. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 30th.
--The first of four people charged with sex trafficking crimes involving a 17-year old girl has been sentenced. A Stearns County judge sentenced 27-year old Ashley Pick-Gassama to seven and a half years in prison. She must also register as a predatory offender. Pick-Gassama pleaded guilty to a19-yiding and abetting the promotion of prostitution of someone under 18-years old last November. The charging complaint against Pick-Gassama alleged that she and co-defendants Jaemie Drum and Deandre Jones took the girl up to Fargo last summer to provide sex for money.
--It was the nastiest April snow storm since 1983 over the past few days in the Twins Cities and the southern half of the state. Over 20 inches of snow fell between Friday and Sunday in the Twin Cities, nearly 30 inches of snow in Canby. Hundreds of accidents, spinouts, 1 fatal accident and 2 serious injury accidents from the State Patrol alone. Little Falls saw snow move in Saturday night and through Sunday bringing 5-7 inches in areas, where an area from Hillman to Princeton saw 10-14 inches. Plows were out all day yesterday and again this morning trying to make an easier commute but still very slippery conditions today. Slow down and use extra time. Warmer temperatures are in the forecast with near 50 by Friday.
--Three people were hurt Friday when a car struck a horse and buggy in Platte Township of Morrison County. Around 7:40pm, 19-year old Logan Wolthuizen of Pierz was on Highway 25, south of 233rd Street when he struck the rear of a buggy, causing his vehicle and the buggy to leave the road and end up in a field. Logan was not hurt. His passenger, 14-year old Kendra Meyer of Pierz was treated at the scene for injuries but not hospitalized. The buggy driver, 47-year old Eli Miller of Pierz and passenger 47-year old Rachel Miller of Pierz reportedly were both taken to a medical facility but no other information was documented on their conditions.
--The State Patrol is investigating an accident around 6:30pm Friday on Interstate 94 at Freeport. 20-year old Jenny Thor of Brooklyn Park told the patrol that she was on I-94 and struck another vehicle due to the blowing snow. Thor was treated at the Melrose Hospital for injuries. There was no other vehicle present at the scene of the accident and the state patrol continues to investigate the accident.
--A deck fire at an apartment building on St. Cloud's east side had St. Cloud firefighters on scene early Friday morning. All units responded to the incident reported at 3:39am in the 1800 block of 15th Avenue Southeast. A fire on a third floor deck had spread up the wall and was starting to burn the eaves of the building's roof. The fire was quickly put out and no injuries were reported. Damages from the fire are estimated to be $11,000. The fire is believed to have been caused by improperly discarded smoking materials but the incident is still under investigation.
DEATH NOTICES
--Jeanette Marie Petrich, age 75 of Randall.
--Bernice Sobania, age 86 of Bowlus.
--Linda LeBlanc, age 66 of Little Falls.
--Lee A. Keehr, age 93 of Freedhem.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy, high 38, clear night tonight, low 20.
TUESDAY= sunny skies, high 44, snow late, low around 22.
WEDNESDAY= rain/sleet/snow throughout day, high 38, low 30.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins and White Sox were canceled Friday, Saturday and Sunday due to the heavy snow in the Twin Cities. The Twins travel to Puerto Rico for a series Tues/Wed with Cleveland on Q92 WYRQ.
NHL= Winnipeg beat the Wild 4-1 on Friday. Wild win at home Sunday 6-2. Jets lead series 2-1, Game 4 in St. Paul on Tuesday.
NBA= Houston beat Timberwolves 104-101 last night in the playoffs for Game 1. Game 2 in Houston Wednesday night.