NEWS
--One of three people charged in a murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by the victim’s wife has pleaded guilty. 26-year-old Katrina Marie Hunt pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting first-degree assault on Thursday. In August, police responded to a stabbing at a house on the 1000 block of Benedict Drive in Sauk Rapids. They say the victim had been stabbed three times in the chest and once in the neck, back, and the back of his head near the base of his skull. He also had a large gash on his forearm. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment. According to the criminal complaint, in a sworn statement, Hunt’s husband, Christian David Kane, told investigators that 51-year-old Maria Foster asked him to come to her house and kill her husband because he was abusive. Kane said Foster told him after her husband was dead, he could move into the house with Hunt and a child and have all of her husband’s belongings. Hunt is facing up to 20 years in prison and a $30,000 fine when she is sentenced on April 7th. Kane was charged with attempted first degree murder and first-degree assault. He pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree attempted murder and will be sentenced on February 24th.
--A 15-year-old has been identified a suspect in the murder investigation of a St. Cloud man last month. Police arrested the St. Cloud teen on January 18th, on an unrelated case. Police say he was being held for reckless discharge of a gun, possession of a gun, and prohibited possession of a gun due to prior felony convictions. Through their investigation, police determined the teen was involved in the death of 53-year-old Craig Hortman. Hortman was shot and killed at a St. Cloud apartment in the 300 block of 14th Avenue Southeast the day before the teen was arrested. St. Cloud police say the 15-year-old is now being held on 2nd degree murder charges.
--A fire is under investigation after one person was hurt and a home damaged in St. Cloud. The fire department was called to the 300-block of Wilson Avenue Northeast around 12:45pm Wednesday. The first firefighters on the scene found smoke coming from the first-floor windows and the basement. One person was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Fire damage was contained to the basement; however, the home sustained significant smoke damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Minnesota Fire Marshal’s Office and St. Cloud Police.
--A large fire at the Sell's Reconditioning Center in South St. Cloud caused approximately $350,000 in damage. St. Cloud fire crews were called out to 1042 33rd Street South at around 5:30pm. Fire Chief Matt Love says they arrived to find heavy black smoke coming from the roof of the large commercial building. Inside, crews commenced a fire attack and noticed heavy fire conditions, and a second alarm was called. That second alarm brought over 30 firefighters from the area that included those from St. Cloud, Sartell, and St. Augusta, along with help from the St. Cloud Police Department, St. Cloud Utilities, and Mayo Ambulance. There were no injuries in the fire.
--A vehicle fire impacted traffic in southeast St. Cloud Wednesday afternoon. The St. Cloud Fire Department was called out to Highway 10 South and Minnesota Boulevard at around 2:30pm. Fire crews arrived to find the vehicle fully engulfed. Authorities had to close one lane of traffic while crews put out the flames. The damage estimate is approximately $30,000 as the truck was a total loss. There were no injuries in the fire. The lane was reopened within two hours.
--The Little Falls School Board meets today at 5pm at the Middle School Media Center. They will go over the next year school calendar.
--Congratulations to the Little Falls Jazz I. They were one of three jazz bands in the entire state selected to perform at the Minnesota Music Educators State Convention this Friday. Congratulations!
--Due to a water main break on the north end of Little Falls Community High School Friday afternoon, high school students were dismissed an hour earlier at 2pm. Work was already being worked on shortly thereafter to repair the water main break. Superintendent Greg Johnson said Saturday the break was fixed and water was returned to the high school. All events Saturday went on as scheduled at the high school. The break did not impact any of the other buildings in the school district. All on schedule again today.
--The Pierz City Council are scheduled to meet tonight at 7pm at Pierz City Hall. The applications for the Mayor position and the City Treasurer position are still being done through this Thursday, February 16th for those wishing to apply for either position. On February 21st they will conduct interviews and are scheduled to vote in the next Mayor and Treasurer likely at the February 27th meeting.
--A Princeton woman was hurt in a two-vehicle crash in Mille Lacs County. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened at about 8:30am on Thursday on Highway 95 near Princeton. An SUV driven by 34-year old Jessica Covell of Princeton was going north on 74th Avenue and tried to make a left turn onto Highway 95 when her vehicle collided with a car. Covell had non-life-threatening injuries.
--Sartell Police are dispelling rumors that an officer was assaulted by a student Thursday. Police say they were called to the middle school for a fight that broke out between two students. Authorities say the situation was handled by the school administration and the school resource officer, in a swift and timely manner. No one was hurt in the incident, including any officers. The district also sent out an email to parents informing them of the situation and to help prevent misinformation from spreading around the school district.
--The Diocese of St. Cloud officially welcomes their new Bishop tomorrow. The Mass for Bishop Patrick Neary is at 1pm tomorrow at the Cathedral of St. Mary in St. Cloud. The ordination will than follow that night with Vespers at 5:30 and a reception to follow for him.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Walter and Jessica Garrison of Little Falls, a boy born Feb. 8th.
DEATH NOTICES
--John E. Thomas, age 79 of Hillman.
--Elsie L. Hunnel, age 86 of Little Falls
--Charlene Jelinski, age 75 of Little Falls.
--Colleen Fisk, age 80 of Hartford WI, formerly of Royalton.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny and mild, high 42, clouds increase tonight, low 28.
TUESDAY= rain likely after 10am, high 37, rain to snow late night.
WEDNESDAY= snow likely early 1-3 inches, temps fall, gusty winds.
SPORTS
NFL= Kansas City comes back in the 4th quarter to overtake the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 to win the Super Bowl. Patrick Mahomes the quarterback for the Chiefs was named the game's MVP.
HS GBB= Albany at Pierz tonight at 7:15pm on 94ROCKS KFML.
SKI= Congratulations to the Flyer Boys Nordic Ski Team on their Section Championship. The Flyers will compete next at the MSHSL State Meet this Wednesday and Thursday at Giants Ridge in Biwabik.