NEWS
--A 55-year-old from Little Falls was injured at 6:11pm Friday on Highway 27 at 18th Street on the east end of Little Falls. Paul Ashby was eastbound on 27 went through the intersection crossing into westbound traffic left the road and struck a tree. Ashby was taken to the hospital for what the patrol deemed non life threatening injuries.
--A 70-year-old man is dead after he was hit by a car driven by a 16-year-old Friday night. According to St. Cloud police, they were called to a person who had been hit by a car just after 8:00 in the 1700 block of 6th Avenue North. When crews arrived, they found the man lying on the ground. He was on a walking path before being struck. Life-saving measures were taken at the scene, and he was rushed to the hospital, where he died. Investigators say the teen ran from the vehicle, which was determined to be stolen. He was taken into custody a few blocks away. According to a press release, shortly after stealing the vehicle, the driver said he saw someone he didn’t know walking on a path between 9th Avenue and 6th Avenue North. He allegedly admitted to driving onto the path and intentionally hitting the man. Police say they don’t know his motive for running the man down. The victim’s identity will be released at a later date. The teen has been taken to a secure detention facility where he is being held on second degree murder charges.
--The Little Falls Township would like to provide notice that both Inca Road and 133rd Street are now open. Other county roads reopened this past week but a reminder from Public Works and others that the high water around the river still has some areas flooded over along shorelines like at Maple Island Park and others. High water is still an issue in the area and more rain and warmer temps could continue that process later this week in spots. A reminder to please not go around barriers if placed in high water areas.
--Little Falls Community Schools Superintendent Greg Johnson stated Friday that after three weather-related cancellations to the school district's strategic planning meeting they are hoping to begin the process tomorrow. There is a community focus group meeting scheduled tomorrow (Tuesday) at 4:30pm in the high school choir room. Parents and community members are welcome to attend and share ideas related to helping the school district set its goals for the next 3-5 years. A community-wide survey will be released on Wednesday. The survey is another opportunity for community members to share their thoughts and ideas. The survey link can be found on the school district website at lfalls.k12.mn.us.
--The Little Falls Carnegie Library is planning for a busy week. Today the library will have library tours, crafts and storytime for all 5-7 year old home school children so they can experience the library just like those in our schools that get to go on a regular basis, this begins at 10:30am today. Then on Friday there will be a Narcan Training session with a speaker on opioid abuse, what to do in case of an overdose and how to administer the drug to those. This is from Steve's Law and Minnesota's Good Samaritan and the Naloxone Law will all be address at this free event Friday at 2pm at the library in Little Falls. Questions on the events at the library contact Cindy at 320-632-9676 during library hours.
--A sugar shack near Cold Spring was damaged by fire on Tuesday night. First responders were called to the scene at about around 10:30pm. Firefighters discovered the blaze started in an outbuilding where a person had been boiling maple syrup. Fire damage was contained to the wall and ceiling. No one was hurt.
--A member of Stearns County’s Most Wanted since 2020 has been arrested. Thursday morning, the St. Cloud Police and Stearns County Sheriff’s Office teamed up to search a home in the 22000 block of Fairmount Road in Lyndon Township. Officials located 41-year-old Jacob Schwartz and arrested him on a three-year-old active warrant for four counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the first degree, two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the second degree, and stalking. Also arrested in the search: 49-year-old Roger Thomas Leo Espelund on an outstanding warrant and probation violations as well as probable charges of aiding an offender avoid arrest. 47-year-old Carol Homme on probable cause of aiding an offender to avoid arrest. All three were taken to the Stearns County Jail.
--A suspect in a domestic assault and burglary in St. Cloud was arrested after a search found him hiding in an alley. According to officers, the suspect, 36-year-old Ramon Marshall, was seen running along 9th Street North as they arrived. Officers set up a perimeter and used a drone to find Marshall hiding in an alley in the 300 block between 8th and 9th Avenue North. Marshall was taken to jail on numerous domestic-related charges, including assault and burglary. Marshall also had a warrant for felony probation for robbery from the US Marshals Service. While officers set up a perimeter and tried to find Marshall, nearby Cathedral High School went into lockdown for about ten minutes. Police say it was the third time in as many days that they were called to the address for a disturbance or break-in.
--A fire near the old round barn in Sartell is being called arson. Firefighters were called to a pole shed a blaze around 11:15 on Wednesday night off Scout Drive and 19th Street South near the Pinecone Road Business Center. When crews arrived, the shed was fully engulfed and had collapsed. No one was hurt. The Sartell Fire Department says they suspect the fire was intentionally set.
NATIONAL NEWS
--Longtime TV and Radio Televangelist Dr. Charles Stanley has died. Dr. Stanley became the Pastor of his Church in Atlanta in the 1950s and was seen and heard on television for over 50 years including his program In Touch on AM960 KLTF. Dr. Stanley died April 18th at the age of 90. His programs will continue to remember his legacy.
DEATH NOTICES
--Elizabeth “Betty” Pasela, age 78 of Little Falls.
--Marian Veaasen, age 95 of Hillman.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly sunny, high 43, clear night, chilly, low 18.
TUESDAY= sunny skies, high near 50, low near 30.
WEDNESDAY= cloudy and breezy, high 56, rain late, low 35.
SPORTS
TWINS= Washington beat the Twins 3-2 Friday night. Washington routed the Twins Saturday 10-4. Twins win 3-1 Sunday to take one game in the series. The Twins (12-10) open series with New York Yankees at Target Field tonight, pregame at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
NBA= Timberwolves avoid elimination winning 114-108 Sunday over Denver. Nuggets lead 3-1 with game 5 on Tuesday in Denver.
NHL= Wild win Friday, Dallas wins Sunday 3-2 to tie the series at 2 games each, game 5 is Tuesday in Dallas.