A Holdingford man was arrested Thursday morning after a crime spree involving stolen vehicles, a burglary, and an assault. The Stearns County Dispatch Center got a call just before 7am from someone who said they confronted a man stealing tools from his garage. The victim reported the thief said he had a knife and punched the victim in the face several times before fleeing the scene in a white pickup. A responding deputy spotted the truck heading east on County Road 17 toward Holdingford and tried to make a traffic stop. The driver, later identified as 35-year-old Christopher Kleve, initially complied but then fled again, even forcing another driver off the road. Another deputy stationed in Holdingford spotted Kleve pull up to an apartment on Main Street, get out of the truck and enter the building. Authorities set up a perimeter while they waited for a search warrant. Negotiators tried to make contact with Kleve but were unsuccessful. The SWAT team was called in to make a forced entry into Kleve's apartment. He was taken into custody shortly after 11am. Authorities learned the pickup Kleve was driving was stolen from a home in Millwood Township. Another 911 call reported a snowmobile theft near where the pickup was taken. A separate truck had been left at that scene. That truck had earlier been stolen from a home in Sauk Centre. Stearns County authorities were assisted by the following agencies: Melrose PD, Sauk Centre PD, Minnesota DNR and the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office.
--A resolution calling for a May 11 vote on a proposed referendum regarding the issuing of school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $7.275 million was approved by the Upsala School Board at their recent meeting. The proposed bond would provide funds for the improvement of school sites and facilities, including the construction of secure entrances and security and safety improvements; the construction, remodeling and equipping of an early childhood classroom, elementary classrooms, career technical education classroom, administrative offices and fitness classroom facilities; upgrading accessibility, HVAC, electrical systems and roofing; the construction, remod eling and equipping of a bus/vehicle/equipment garage; and the construction and equipping of a grandstand, press box and concession areas. The amount of the bond would provide $7 million for the work and $275,000 for financing. The architect working on the project is Wendel Architecture, PC. Construction manager is R.A. Morton. The fiscal consultant is Ehlers and Associates. More details on the voting process and the actual wordage of the referendum will be worked out.
--Two people were hurt around 12:45am Sunday on Highway 27 near Osakis in Todd County. 34-year-old Alex Rodriguez of Texas was eastbound on 27 when he ran off the road and struck the ditch. He and his passenger 25-year-old Andrea Gonzalez also from Texas were taken to Long Prairie Hospital and treated for injuries.
--A two vehicle accident Saturday night in Benton County sent two people to the hospital. 34-year-old William Holthaus of Rice was on Hemlock Road and Highway 10 in Watab Township and stopped at the stop sign around 9pm, when he pulled out onto the road he was struck by a passing vehicle driven by 17-year-old Nyah Wolf of St. Stephen. Wolf and his passenger 16-year-old Ethan Mayes of Royalton were taken to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment of their injuries. Holthaus and his passenger were not injured in the crash.
--This is Catholic Schools Week, Tuesday Party Line will speak with Mary of Lourdes and Wednesday Holy Trinity in Pierz at 10:05am.
--The Little Falls Fire Department reported that they got not their average call Friday night. Camp Ripley had contacted the fire department to bring out a ladder truck in help in de-icing a C17 plane that was picking up troops from Kentucky. The Little Falls Fire Department stated it was great to help our service men and women to continue to get to and from their training for our Country.
--Morrison County Public Health is reminding residents that it is always a wise decision for homeowners to test for radon. According to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), radon is a colorless and odorless gas that comes from the soil. The gas can accumulate in the air people breathe. Radon gas decays into fine particles that are radioactive. When inhaled, these fine particles can damage the lungs. Exposure to radon over a long period of time can lead to lung cancer. Morrison County stated that in December radon levels reported in Morrison County were average, meaning high levels have not been reported on a county-wide basis. According to MDH data, between 2010 - 2018, an average of 63.1 out of 10,000 properties in Morrison County were tested for radon annually. Of the properties tested, 70.3% showed levels above 2 pCi/L, with 38.9% testing above 4 pCi/L. Those numbers were 72.9% and 43.2%, respectively, statewide during the same testing period. Morrison County Public Health has radon testing kits available at its office located in the Morrison County Government Center, which is open from 8am-4:30pm Monday through Friday. The kits are free of charge.
--Friday's report from Minnesota Department of Health showed 1,145 new cases of COVID and 28 new deaths. Morrison County had 1 new case on the report Friday. Active cases Friday from the Morrison County website showed 43 and 19 still in Little Falls Zip Code. Saturday there were 1,087 new cases and 19 new deaths. Morrison County had 5 new cases Saturday. There were only 996 cases and 13 deaths on Sunday's report. Morrison County had 3 new cases Sunday.
--Voters of the Staples-Motley School District will vote April 13th on a $64.4 Million Dollar referendum. For the second time in less than two years, the school will ask taxpayers to approve a bond referendum that would pay for upgrades and additions at both the elementary and middle/high school in Staples. The single ballot question will ask residents to approve a $64.4 million investment in the schools. That amount would equate to a $23.50 per month increase in taxes on a residential property valued at $125,000.
DEATH NOTICES
--Thomas J. Copa, age 74 of Little Falls.
--Margaret Lowe, age 95 of Ramsey
--Jon “Jack” Grosso, age 80 of Little Falls.
--Marcella M. Marsolek, age 95 of Albany.
WEATHER
TODAY= cloudy skies, high near 30.
TONIGHT= cloudy skies, low around 20.
TUESDAY= partly sunny skies, high 27, clear night, low 11.
WEDNESDAY= clouds increase, snow by late day, high 34, low 28.
SPORTS
TWINS= outfielder Eddie Rosario has signed a one year deal with the Cleveland Indians ending his career for now with the Twins.
NFL= Detroit Lions Quarterback Matthew Stafford is to be traded to the Los Angeles Rams for their QB Jared Goff and draft picks.