NEWS --A 30-year old Brainerd man led authorities on a short police chase just after midnight Wednesday starting at a gas station in Nisswa off of Highway 371. According to Nisswa police, the Brainerd man was known to officers for not having a driver's license and was on probation for drug violations. The Brainerd man exited the store and got into his vehicle and drove off. The officer, after confirming the information, activated his lights and the suspect fled. The suspect fled south on Highway 371 and went onto Barbeau Road, where officers used a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT stop), a technique used to stop a fleeing vehicle. The maneuver didn't work and the suspect continued to flee before he was stopped at the intersection of Highways 371 and 210 in Baxter. The suspect was taken to the hospital to be evaluated for drugs. Once released from the hospital, the man will be arrested for fleeing police, driving with no driver's license and possible drug charges.
--Police say a woman in Bena died after suffering multiple stab wounds they believe were inflicted by her adult son. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, 54-year old Joy Marie Matthews was found unresponsive early Wednesday at a residence in Bena. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s office determined the cause of death as homicide by stabbing. 34-year old Thomas Wayne Matthews of Bena, was arrested Tuesday on a separate incident before his mother’s body was found. According to the sheriff’s office, officials arrested Thomas Matthews after he allegedly assaulted several patrons at a bar in Bena on Tuesday night. Because of that, he was already booked into the Cass County Jail when his mother was found unresponsive shortly after 6:00am Wednesday.
--Shortly after 6:00pm Wednesday the Stearns County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to a single motor vehicle crash near the address of 24412 County Road 2 in Wakefield Township. The driver, 30-year old Shane William Vanheel of St. Cloud was traveling northbound on County Road 2 near the address of 24412 County Road 2 when he went off the road due to the snow and ice packed roads. Vanheel struck a large pine tree head on. He was the lone occupant in the vehicle. Vanheel was transported by ambulance to the St. Cloud Hospital for a leg injury.
--The Waite Park Police Department is asking for help locating a missing woman. The family of 29-year old Jaye Wilder say they have not had contact with her since the first week of October and are concerned for her welfare. She is described as being 5'3" with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information should contact the Waite Park police or local authorities.
--Emergency responders are being credited for rescuing a man Thursday morning after the ATV he was riding plunged through ice into the frigid waters of Big Kandiyohi Lake in central Minnesota. The man was about 200 yards from shore and was found in about 8 to 10 feet of water by sheriff's deputies. 49-year old William Wurtz of Hanska was treated at the St. Cloud Hospital for hypothermia. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources issued a statement Thursday advising anglers that ice conditions remain extremely variable – even on the same body of water. The DNR said people on foot should stay off the ice until there’s at least four inches of new, clear ice and they should check conditions at least every 150 feet.
--The Little Falls City Council meets tonight 7:30 at City Hall.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has announced their December Employee of the Month, Patricia Steinert of McDonald’s. Patricia has been a cashier for the past 5 years with McDonald’s. Congratulations to Patricia Steinert, Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce December Employee of the Month.
--Two teenagers were involved Friday night in an accident around 9:45pm on Highway 210 at Pillager. 17-year old Chastity Runge of Staples collided with 18-year old Shane Evenson of Pillager at the intersection with County Road 18. Runge was not hurt. Evenson was treated for injuries at the Brainerd hospital.
--A 37-year old man is accused of violating a no contact order, breaking into a woman's home and assaulting her. Gary Edward Roketa faces two felony charges, first-degree burglary and domestic assault by strangulation, and three misdemeanor charges. Roketa was arrested and booked into the Stearns County Jail last Tuesday night. His bail is set at $100,000.
--A 52-year old was injured Friday night when he was retrieving cargo that had fallen from his vehicle on Interstate 94 in Stearns County when another vehicle collided with his. James Chaney had minor injuries. The three people in the other vehicle were not hurt.
--A Sauk Centre man is charged with sexually abusing an 8-year old girl over the last several months. According to the charges filed in Stearns County District Court, 36-year old Elliot Hill had been having intercourse and sodomizing the girl since June. The allegations came to light when another girl told her mother that she knew about sex. The girl said a friend from school told her that a man was having sex with her. The victim was interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center and disclosed that Hill had sexually abused her.
NATIONAL NEWS --The 41st President George Herbert Walker Bush died Friday at the age of 94. As president he managed to end the Cold War and forged a global coalition to oust Iraqi forces from Kuwait. President Bush also lived to see his son George W. Bush become President in January 2001. President Bush will have a national funeral on Wednesday in DC and then a more family based one Thursday in Houston.
DEATH NOTICES --William “Bill” South, age 69 of Brainerd. --Jodi R. Bissen, age 49 of Elk River formerly of Little Falls. --Kenneth John Dombovy, age 66 of Brainerd.
WEATHER TODAY= cloudy with flurries, high 25, clearing late, low 10. TUESDAY= partly cloudy, high 25, low around 13. WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 26, snow late, low 8 above.
SPORTS NFL= New England beat the Vikings Sunday 24-10. Vikings now slip to 6-5-1 and are at Seattle next Monday night. They lost no ground in the division as Bears, Packers and Lions all lost on Sunday. NFL= Packers fired head coach Mike McCarthy on Sunday. COL FB= Gophers will face Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit, Michigan on December 26th. HS GBB= tonight's girls basketball game between St. Cloud Tech and Little Falls has been postponed until December 21st.