NEWS
--A 62-year-old Little Falls man was involved in a two vehicle accident Friday in Benton County. Ray Schwegler was traveling north on 25th Avenue and 52-year-old Danna Bromaghin of St. Cloud was eastbound on Highway 23 when the two vehicle collided in the intersection. Bromaghin was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for non life threatening injuries while Schwegler of Little Falls was not hurt. The accident happened around 2:45pm.
--Crow Wing County Deputies report that on Saturday around 12:57pm, they responded to a two-vehicle personal injury crash at the intersection of County Road 2 and County Road 23 in Platte Lake Township. The accident started a fire and the quick action of the Pierz and Garrison Fire Departments along with the MN DNR were able to put it out before it spread into a bigger fire. Three people in the vehicle were transported to an area hospital with non life threatening injuries.
--St. Cloud's longest-serving mayor is calling it a career. Dave Kleis has announced he will not be seeking re-election this fall ending a nearly 20-year run as the city's top official. Sixty-year-old Kleis was first elected back in November of 2005. He was re-elected to four-year terms in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020.
--A Stearns County man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping a woman in January 2023. A judge found 25-year-old Romaine Reid guilty on one count of 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct by use of force in a one-day bench trial in February. The judge also granted an upward departure from the state sentencing guidelines because the woman was particularly vulnerable. According to the criminal complaint, Reid and the woman were at a home just east of St. Stephen and a confrontation broke out where the two started wrestling. Court documents show the woman was telling Reid to stop several times when she noticed blood and went to check herself in the bathroom. The woman said Reid followed her into the bathroom and then the bedroom. The woman said Reid held her down and sexually assaulted her as she screamed for him to stop. Court records show the victim recorded the assault on her Apple Watch and investigators say the recording corroborated the woman's testimony.
–A 31-year-old Brainerd man who was arrested for alleged criminal sexual conduct, now faces multiple criminal charges in Crow Wing County. Josep Chiristoper Mendez Macias was arraigned Thursday morning on six charges of criminal sexual conduct — felony first-degree criminal sexual conduct with penetration and injury while using coercion, felony first-degree criminal sexual conduct with penetration while using force, felony first-degree criminal sexual conduct with penetration where the victim was mentally impaired or physically helpless, felony third-degree criminal sexual conduct with penetration while using coercion, felony third-degree criminal sexual conduct with penetration where the victim is mentally impaired or physically helpless, and felony third-degree criminal sexual conduct with penetration while using force. Mendez Macias made his first appearance Thursday in Crow Wing County District Court and was assigned a public defender. Bond or bail was set at $500,000 with no conditions and $350,000 with conditions. As of Thursday morning, Mendez Macias was still housed in the Crow Wing County Jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 14th.
--Remember that Mn Dot will start road work today on Highway 10 around Little Falls, one lane traffic, evening ramp closures will start and got to mid July. Slow down in work zones.
--A 28-year-old Garrison man was sentenced January 8th, for shaking his 3-month-old daughter and causing near-fatal injuries. Andrew Donald Erickson pleaded guilty Nov. 8, 2023, in Crow Wing County District Court to one count of felony first-degree assault with great bodily harm. Erickson received a downward departure in sentencing and a stay of imposition which would change the conviction to a misdemeanor when probation is successfully completed. He was sentenced to 5 years of supervised probation, $50,000 restitution and to receive individual counseling with a licensed therapist.
--The Morrison County Fair is coming June 20th through 22nd and the fair guides are now available around the area at area stores. Stop in and pick one up for the fair June 20th to 22nd this year.
EARTH DAY NEWS
--Today is Earth Day. A senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson, had the idea to bring those concerned about the environment when a massive offshore oil spill sent millions of gallons onto the southern California coast in 1969. Nelson, after touring the spill site, had the idea of doing a national “teach-in” on the environment. April 22, 1970 was chosen because it fell on a weekday between spring break and final exams and the aim was to attract as many students as possible. It’s not a federal holiday but many groups use the day to put together volunteer events such as cleanups of natural areas. You can see a list of events worldwide at EarthDay.org.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Dallas Evers and Shelby Kedrowski of Little Falls, a girl on 4-15.
DEATH NOTICES
--John Strack, age 88 of Little Falls formerly of Randall.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny, PM showers develop, high 63.
TONIGHT= shower early, then clearing skies, low 40.
TUESDAY= partly sunny, breezy, few showers, high 54, low 28.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, breezy, high near 55.
SPORTS
TWINS= Detroit beats Twins 5-4 with a 9th inning run on Friday night. Twins hold off Tigers on Saturday winning 4-3. Tigers take the series on Sunday winning 6-1. The Twins open series at home tonight against the Chicago White Sox, pregame at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
NBA= Timberwolves beat Phoenix 120-95 Saturday in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs, game 2 of the best of 7 is Tuesday night.
HS BAB= Pierz at Wadena Deer Creek today 4:30pm, with the 5pm news at 4pm prior to the game today on AM960 KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1793= first circus performed in U.S. George Washington attends.
IN 1823= first roller skates are patented.
IN 1914= Babe Ruth plays first pro baseball game, pitcher in Boston.
IN 1989= Nolan Ryan strikes out number 5000 in the MLB.
IN 1991= Johnny Carson announced he will be retiring from the Tonight Show in May of next year.