NEWS
--Brainerd police responded to a shooting Sunday at 2:18pm in the cul-de-sac on 8th Street in Brainerd. A 29-year-old male victim had been shot and had non-life threatening injuries. A suspect was later identified as a 21-year-old male from Baxter was arrested. It was believed the victim was intentionally targeted and there is no threat to public safety from this case in Brainerd.
--A man died when the car he was driving was struck by a train. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened at about 2:30pm Thursday on Highway 210 near Pillager in Cass County. A Burlington Northern Santa Fe train was going east at West Gull River Road Southwest when it hit a car on the tracks. 53-year-old Lance Beacham of Moorhead was killed.
--A three vehicle accident Friday on Highway 210 in Sylvan Township of Cass County near Pillager sent three to the hospital. At 8:22am, 22-year-old Benjamin Claussen was on Highway 210 when a vehicle driven by 19-year-old, Keyona Tanner of Pillager rear-ended the Claussen vehicle causing that vehicle to be pushed into a third vehicle driven by 51-year-old Tara Wenstrand of Brainerd. Claussen and his passenger 22-year-old Haddie Claussen were both taken to an area hospital with non life threatening injuries. Wenstrand and her 9 year old passenger were checked out at the scene but not hospitalized. Teamer was reportedly taken to a hospital by private vehicle with unknown injuries from the State Patrol report.
--New data released Friday show there are two open jobs for every unemployed worker in Minnesota. The Job Vacancy Survey is taken twice a year, and today’s results, released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, show continued demand for workers. The 184,588 open jobs translate to a job vacancy rate of 6.9%, or almost seven job openings for every 100 filled jobs statewide. That’s down from 8% a year ago, but still the third-highest rate ever reported. The number of unemployed also dropped. With more than 72,500 unemployed in the state, there’s less than a half person available for every open job in Minnesota. The JVS results show the Health Care and Social Assistance industry had the most job vacancies (more than 45,000 openings) in the report.
--Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is planning a series of prescribed burns to be conducted during the spring season to help maintain the natural habitats for wildlife and reduce the chance of wildfires outside the refuge. The refuge averages around 200 acres of prescribed burning each year. Prescribed burns, fires that are carefully planned, are beneficial to native prairie and oak savanna plant communities at the refuge. The burns are conducted under a special set of guidelines for weather and safety called a "prescription." These prescriptions are planned to accomplish specific objectives for vegetation and wildlife management. Prescribed burns at Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge are planned to be conducted in April and May. Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is located southeast of Little Falls on Iris Road/County Rd 35. For questions concerning the refuge’s prescribed burns, call (763) 260-3473. Besides Crane Meadow, Camp Ripley will also be conducted controlled burns starting around the first week of May.
--Little Falls Community High School wanted to congratulate Paige Kraus and Ellis Meyer from the LFCHS Speech Team on their Section Championship!! The duo will compete at the MSHSL State Tournament at Eastview High School on Friday, April 28th.
--Morrison County Administrator Matt LeBlanc was on KLTF Friday. He mentioned that there were over 40 snow events this winter that county crews had to go out for plowing. Road projects are on hold as many crews are working on flooded roadways. More roads were closed on Friday including Inca Road and 133rd Street in Rice Creek due to high water and with the rains this weekend more is likely to happen early this week. LeBlanc on the latest for the Morrison County Auditor/Treasurer position, the petition received was a request for a referendum and then include the topic on accepting the petition to make the position remain an elected position instead of an appointed position was the voted by the County Board. The petition has been accepted and will voted on the Board for the referendum at a recent meeting. LeBlanc said the county is hiring and more info is available on their website and also they introduced their Director of Health and Human Services as Nathan Bertram and he is coming from Crow Wing with 10 years of experience into that position which he will start on May 8th. The Health and Human Services is the largest department in county with over 100 employees. If you have questions for any of county services you can call Matt at 320-632-0293.
--The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident at 4:18pm back on April 7th. According to the sheriff’s office, a plane was having engine trouble and made an emergency landing on the roadway along Highway 10 at Haven Road. No damage to the plane or any injuries to the pilot was reported. The report said the pilot was experiencing engine trouble when he landed in the roadway. A mechanic was called and checked the plane before it was flown off by another pilot. The Federal Aviation Administration was notified of the emergency landing and all information was passed along to them. Though not an everyday occurrence, Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen said it is not uncommon for his department to respond to incidents involving planes if issues arise at the airport and if any such as the following occur in their jurisdiction.
DEATH NOTICES
--Marian Sauer, age 90 of Pierz.
--Roger L. Johnson, age 81 of Northville MI formerly Minneapolis.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny and breezy, high 46.
TONIGHT= clear skies, chilly temps, low 23.
TUESDAY= sunny and less windy, high 52, rain late night, low 37.
WEDNESDAY= rain likely, high near 50, low near 35.
SPORTS
TWINS= Carlos Correa get a big 2 run hit in the 8th inning as the Twins beat the Yankees 4-3 on Friday. Yankees beat the Twins on Saturday 6-1 and Yankees then shut out the Twins 2-0 on Sunday to split the 4 game series. Twins (10-6) have today off.
NBA= Timberwolves advanced to playoffs with a 120-95 win Friday over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Then on Sunday in the opening game of the Western Conference Playoffs Denver beat the Timberwolves 109-80. Game 2 of the series is Wednesday night.
NHL= The Wild open the playoffs tonight against Dallas.
HS BAB= Wadena-Deer Creek at Pierz scheduled for today has been moved to Friday at 4:30pm, you can hear it live on AM960 KLTF. This is weather permitting with now snow in the forecast again.