NEWS
–A large number of law enforcement and emergency personnel on Friday
afternoon converged on a residence near St. Mathias Road and Business
Highway 371 during an apparent standoff with an individual at the home.
Capt. Scott Goddard with the sheriff’s office said authorities were
called to respond to an incident about 12:15pm for an individual who
they believe may want to harm themselves. The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s
Office Tactical Team was called to negotiate with the person and the
area involved has been contained by law enforcement. Goddard said the
incident is isolated and there is no threat to the public. Deputies
negotiated with the individual who shortly after 3 and a half hours into
the standoff surrendered to police and was taken to a hospital for
evaluation.
–A two-vehicle crash near Wise Road and Sugarberry Creek in Brainerd
left one driver dead and the other driver injured. At 4:23pm Thursday a
Chevrolet pickup was westbound on Wise Road when an eastbound Chevrolet
Avalanche rounded a curve and continued to drift over the center line
into the westbound lane. The driver of the Avalanche 61-year old Daniel
Rehberger of Merrifield was pronounced dead at the scene. The other
driver, 48-year old Kevin Dumpprope of Motley was taken by ambulance to
Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd. Rehberger’s
body was taken to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office for an
autopsy.
–Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larson stated that ALICE training
took place last week at the Little Falls school district for staff
members who didn’t make the initial training. ALICE stands for Alert,
Lock-down, Inform, Counter and Evacuate. The Morrison County Sheriff’s
Office and the Little Falls Police Department is willing to help out
schools, businesses or any other organizations that would like to be
trained. If you are interested in this training, please give us a call
at (320)632-9233. The training is offered free of charge.
–A California man is charged in Stearns County District Court with
aggravated robbery after police say he attempted a St. Cloud carjacking
on November 3rd and then successfully stole a car on Monday. 19-year-old
Just Lopez is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and one
count of terroristic threats. Police were called to the 800 block of
McKinley Place Friday night when a man called to say someone had
threatened to stab him if he didn’t give up his car. On Monday, a man
called 911 to report a young man matching Lopez’ description had
approached his car in an alley, pointed a gun at him, and said he was
taking the car. The victim gave up the car and the suspect drove away.
Tuesday night, a woman called police to report a man had approached her
in a vehicle and asked for her phone and if she wanted to get into his
vehicle. She told police the man was inside a vehicle in a parking lot
in the 1100 block of 7th Avenue South. Police responded to the scene and
recognized the suspect as Lopez and he was arrested. Lopez is due in
court December 20th. He is being held in the Stearns County Jail.
–Wadena County reported a mountain lion was found dead on a county
road by Nimrod. The 142 pound lion was likely struck by a vehicle. Who
struck the large cat was not released and the DNR took the animal from
the scene. Neighbors reported that this is not uncommon as mountain lion
have been photographed in the area quite a few years in the wooded
areas and in yards of homes.
–Morrison County Commissioners meet Tuesday at 9am at city hall.
–Congratulations to the 2018-19 Pierz ExCEL winners: Katie Schaefer
and Peter Schommer. ExCEL stands for -Excellence in Community, Education
and Leadership. It is a unique recognition program sponsored by the
MSHSL designed exclusively for Minnesota high school juniors who are
active in school activities, who show Leadership qualities, and who are
model citizens. Katie is the daughter of Wally and Mary Jo Schaefer, she
is involved in Cross Country, Track, Robotics, Clay Target, Jazz Band,
Pep Band, A Capella Choir, Jazz Choir, Fall Musical, Spring Play, MHS,
Knowledge Bowl, EPIC, BPA and Spanish Club. Peter is the son of Don and
Traci Schommer. He is involved in Football, Basketball, Baseball, Choir,
MHS, EPIC, Special Olympics, Basketball, and Peer Helping.
–A Sixth District Judge Thursday imposed a mandatory life sentence
on Noah Anthony Charles King who was only 18 when he carried a wrench
during what was expected to be a relatively easy theft of drugs and cash
from William Grahek’s Duluth home in 2017. King was legally responsible
for aiding and abetting Grahek’s intentional murder. King was found and
guilty of first-degree murder for his role in Grahek’s shooting death.
King will only see the possibility of parole after 30 years behind bars.
Grahek, a 22-year-old University of Minnesota Duluth student and member
of the Army Reserve, was shot twice, reportedly when he refused to turn
over his supply of controlled substances and cash.
–A St. Cloud man has been sentenced to just over seven years in
prison for fatally punching a man in August 2017. Twenty-two-year-old
Travis Johnson had pleaded guilty to 1st-degree manslaughter in
September. The victim, 22-year-old Anthony Shriver of Waconia, was
struck in the face which knocked him unconscious.The complaint says a
surveillance video shows that Shriver was struck from the side as he was
walking away from Johnson. Hours later from the assault Shriver was
found unresponsive and later died. An autopsy by the Ramsey County
Medical Examiner’s Office, which states Shriver died of “traumatic head
injuries due to physical assault.” With good behavior, Johnson could
only serve about five years in prison with the remainder of his sentence
being served as probation.
–Charlie’s Pizza’s Charlie Peterka reported last week that due to
health reasons he will be unable to host the Christmas event at
Charlie’s Pizza this year in Little Falls.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
–Joshua Zyvoloski and Lihna Kong of Little Falls, girl on December 6th
DEATH NOTICES
–Celesta “Sally” Meyer, age 95 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 31.
TONIGHT= freeze fog late, low around 13.
TUESDAY= sunny skies, high 27, clouds and flurries late, low 14.
WEDNESDAY= cloudy and flurries, high 28.
SPORTS
NFL= The Vikings are in Seattle tonight for Monday Night Football where
playoff spots are definitely on the line as the Seahawks are 7-5 and the
Vikings are 6-5-1, pregame at 6:30 tonight on AM960 KLTF.
NFL= Bears, Packers and Lions all win for NFC North teams Sunday.