NEWS
--A mother and son were killed Saturday when there vehicle was struck on Highway 10 at 113th Street in Little Falls Township at 10:49am Saturday morning. 37-year-old Luke Ahrens of Webster City, Iowa was on Highway 10 when a vehicle driven by 85-year-old Margaret "Caroline" Schmidtz of Lastrup drove eastbound from the median at 113th Street and was struck on the side by the Ahrens vehicle. Ahrens and his three passengers, 38-year-old Lea, 9-year-old Gage and 11-year-old Mavryk Ahrens all of Webster City was taken to the Little Falls Hospital with non life threatening injuries. Caroline Schmidtz and her 46-year-old son Loren Schmidtz both of Lastrup were pronounced dead at the scene by the Minnesota State Patrol.
--Sartell police are looking for a suspect following two-car chases this week. The Sartell Police Department says around 5:20pm Friday night officers located 36-year-old Jason Schweiger of Sartell on Riverside Avenue South and attempted to arrest him on charges related to a vehicle pursuit that happened on Thursday. Authorities say Schweiger then stole a white 2011 Chevrolet Suburban with Minnesota license plates 354XGY and fled officers. Police say they followed Schweiger on a nearly four-mile pursuit through Sartell during which time he attempted to hit another vehicle head-on, but instead ran it off the road. The police department says the chase was called off due to this dangerous driving. Schweiger’s current whereabouts are not known. Police say he faces charges including fleeing police in a motor vehicle, 2nd-degree assault, domestic assault, child endangerment, and theft of a motor vehicle. Authorities say Schweiger is considered dangerous and ask that anyone who sees him or the suspect vehicle call 911.
--A two vehicle accident occurred Friday at 10:19am on Highway 10 south and Centre Street in Royalton. An eastbound vehicle on Centre Street attempted to go east across Highway 10 and was struck by a semi truck. 57-year-old Tracy Anshus of Royalton was taken to Little Falls hospital and treated for her non life threatening injuries. The semi-driver 78-year-old Robert Doroff of Little Falls was not injured.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office reported there are only 7 pavers left for purchase for the memorial outside the courthouse to remember fallen officers in Morrison County. If you still want to purchase a paver you only have until the deadline which is Friday, August 20th. A donation of $200 per paver will help support this memorial. Your personalized paver will then be inscribed and laid parallel with the existing pavers. Up to 3 lines can be scribed on the paver showing your name, family names, company or organization. Call today for information at 320-632-9233.
--61-year-old Michelle Marie Backowski of Little Falls, is scheduled for a jury trial beginning Dec. 13, in Stearns County District Court on one felony count of check forgery and one felony count of theft by swindle. Backowski is accused of embezzling nearly $280,000 from her former employer between January 2012 and March 2019. According to the criminal complaint, on April 1, 2019, an investigator with the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office began investigating an employee embezzlement that occurred at Auto Max Sales and Service in Little Falls Township. The investigator received the initial report from the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office and learned that Backowski had allegedly been issuing herself $550 business checks without permission every week since approximately 2006.
--Minnesota farmers affected by the drought can expect to see relief from the state according to Governor Tim Walz and Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. The state received $17 million in drought and wildfire disaster assistance from the federal government. State agriculture officials are asked to work quickly to determine the best way to get that out to affected producers. Specifics around how that funding would roll out to farmers is still to be released by state.
--29-year-old Donald Paul Yanta of Pierz, was charged in Morrison County District Court with one felony count of fifth degree possession of heroin. According to the criminal complaint, on July 27, the Little Falls Police Department received a report of a suspicious person seated in a truck in the Lincoln Elementary School Parking lot. When officers arrived on scene and located the truck, there was a male subject; later identified as Yanta; in the driver’s seat with his head down, who appeared to be asleep. Officers could see in plain view burned foil, burned straws and a black case with other clear plastic containers that contained powder, according to the complaint. They also noted seeing a hypodermic needle on the passenger side floor.
--Five people including children were injured in a two-vehicle accident Thursday at 10:41am on Highway 71 near Hewitt in Todd County. A southbound vehicle collided with a northbound vehicle that apparantly turned into the other vehicle causing the collision. 24-year-old Kristen Anderson of Moorhead was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for her injuries. 39-year-old Jennifer Young of Bertha was ambulanced to a local ER for apparent surgery from her injuries. Three children two age 9 and one age 7 were checked out a local medical facility for injuries and later released.
DEATH NOTICES
--Ila Rahn, age 76 of Little Falls
--Pauline M. LeMay, age 99 of Little Falls.
--Thomas (Tom) Eich, age 77 of East Bethel.
--Margaret Caroline Schmidtz, age 85 of Lastrup.
--Loren Michael Schmidtz, age 46 of Lastrup.
--Irene M. Pyka, age 93 of Jordan formerly of Royalton.
--Dennis “Denny” Klosowksi, age 79 of Little Falls
WEATHER
TODAY= AM fog, then hazy and humid, high near 90.
TONIGHT= storms after midnight, hazy, humid, low 64.
TUESDAY= AM storms, then sunny, high 83, low near 60.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and less humid, high 84, low 58.
SPORTS
OLY= Gable Steveson of the University of Minnesota won the Gold Medal early Friday in Olympic Wrestling at the 125kg freestyle match. USA takes gold in men's and women's basketball to finish with 113 total medals at the summer games that wrapped up Sunday.
REGION 8C= Sobieski 7-2 over Ft. Ripley, Buckman 10-0 over Upsala, Avon walk off win 6-4 over Pierz Lakers and St. Stephen came from behind to beat Foley 6-4 on Saturday. Ft. Ripley eliminated Upsala 11-3, Sobieski routed Buckman 14-4 on Sunday. Avon 7-6 in 10 over St. Stephen and Foley shut out Pierz Lakers 7-0.
TWINS= Twins win in 11 innings Friday night 5-4 over Astros. Astros beat the Twins 4-0 Saturday. Twins win 7-5 on Sunday to take the 4 game series. Twins host White Sox tonight 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
USA= USA Patriots Junior American League Team finished 2nd place in the State Tournament in Montivideo over the weekend.