NEWS
--Law enforcement released the name of the 61-year-old Baxter woman who was killed after being struck by a vehicle shortly after 6am Thursday at the intersection of Woida Road and Highway 371 in Baxter. The Minnesota State Patrol identified the woman Friday as Ludivina Quiton Wirtz. According to the report, 45-year-old Anthony Sobiech of Pierz was traveling northbound on the highway when it struck Wirtz at the south end of the crosswalk.
--A suspect is now charged in connection with the stabbing of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin inside a federal prison in Tucson, Arizona. 52-year-old, John Turscak has been charged with attempted murder and assault of Chauvin, only listed a high profile inmate on November 24th. Turscak initially told guards who responded to the incident that he would have killed the inmate had it not been for their involvement, he stabbed Chauvin 22 times. Turscak told the FBI he had been contemplating attacking DC for a month before seeing an opportunity on that November day in the library. The suspect allegedly told the investigators he attacked DC on Black Friday because it was symbolic of the Black Lives Matter movement and the "Black Hand" symbol associated with the Mexican Mafia organization. Chauvin, 47, was sent to Tucson from a maximum-security Minnesota state prison in August 2022 to simultaneously serve a federal sentence for violating George Floyd’s civil rights to run concurrently with a state sentence for second-degree murder.
--A group of Minnesota National Guard members are gearing up for a deployment to the Middle East. On Saturday, more than 550 members of the 34th Infantry Division “Red Bulls” and their families will attend a Family Preparation Academy ahead of a 10-month deployment. The guard members will head to Fort Cavaso, Texas in early February for a month of post-mobilization training, head to Kuwait, and then remain overseas until December. The Arden Hills-based 34th Infantry Division runs Task Force Spartan from Kuwait and supports seven nearby countries to help increase their security and build self-reliance as part of Operation Spartan Shield. The deploying soldiers come from 216 communities across 13 states including Becker, Big Lake, Clear Lake, Cold Spring, Paynesville, Princeton, Rice, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, St. Cloud, and St. Joseph, and range in age from 19 to 57 years old. This will be the first deployment for 46 percent of the soldiers.
--Last week Thursday, the Morrison County Sheriff's Office posted that they were asking for the public's help in locating the owner of 12 head of cattle that were found on 225th Avenue near Pierz. The cattle are a mix of Holstein and beef. Some have red tags in their ears. If these cattle belong to you, or you know who the owner is, please call our office at 320-632-9233 and ask for Dispatch. Photos were posted on the sheriff's office and LF Radio Facebook page.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office is partnering up with the United States Marine Corps Reserve with the Toys for Tots program. The Drop Off Site at the sheriff's office is open during their office hours Monday through Friday, between 8am-4:30pm at the Morrison County Sheriff's Office lobby. All drop off donations stay local. Donations will accepted through December 22nd.
--Another busy week for town events at St Nick Nite in Pierz will be held on Wednesday with many events and than the next day on Thursday is the Randall Holly-Day festivities in Randall. Details on many more events can be found at fallsradio.com.
--Two Minnesota legislators want immediate action taken on mail delivery issues plaguing the state, and they’ve gone to the U.S. post master general in hopes of getting it. Congressman Pete Stauber, R-Hermantown, and U.S. Senator Tina Smith both recently sent letters to Post Master General Louis Dejoy demanding information on a variety of issues impacting post office services in Minnesota. Both legislators referenced a service agreement between the U.S. Postal Service and Amazon, which has forced postal carriers in areas like Brainerd and Bemidji to prioritize Amazon package delivery over regular mail. “The welfare of our constituents and the integrity of postal service operations are of utmost importance,” Stauber wrote in his letter. “Reports of alleged prioritization of certain third-party packages over essential mail, such as medications, bills, and paychecks, are of serious concern. Moreover, the reports of employees working without adequate benefits and fair compensation are deeply troubling. Our dedicated postal workers deserve better treatment and fair employment conditions. Brainerd residents have complained about unreliable mail service since back in 2022.
--A central Minnesota man faces a felony charge of making threats of violence after he allegedly damaged an electric utility truck with the worker inside. It happened last Monday when the Stearns County Sheriff's responded to an assault complaint in the 9100 block of Ivy Road in St. Joseph Township. A worker with an electrical company was contracted by Xcel Energy to update the gas meters in the area. The worker said a man walked up to his truck, was yelling, and began hitting the hood, mirrors, and driver's side door with a metal bar. Authorities were able to identify the man as 66-year-old Robert Alan Anderson. Through their investigation, the sheriff's office learned that Anderson had confronted a female employee of Xcel Energy who had previously been checking on the gas meters in the neighborhood and yelled at her to get off his property. Another worker said Anderson had also threatened him over the phone that if anyone else showed up, he would take a chain and whip them and also threatened to blow them up with fireworks. Deputies said that three metal crowbars and fireworks were located in his home when searched by a warrant from officers who arrested Anderson.
NATIONAL NEWS
--Last week former United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger died at age 100 and the first female on the U.S. Supreme Court Sandra Day O'Connor died at the age of 93.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Scott Ziegler and Nicole Bue of Little Falls, a boy born Nov 28th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Richard L. Bergman, age 87 formerly of Brainerd.
WEATHER
TODAY= freezing fog, then mostly cloudy, high 36.
TONIGHT= light coating of snow, then mostly cloudy, low 22.
TUES/WED= sunny Tuesday high 35, sunny and breezy Wed 45.
SPORTS
COL FB= Michigan, Alabama, Texas and Washington top 4 teams and will play in the National Semi-Finals on January 1st.