NEWS
--The Brainerd/Little Falls Warriors finished state runner up Saturday after a 4-3 double overtime loss to Edina. Olivia King stopped 51 of the 55 shots in the net in a remarkable showing. The Warriors took the lead in the third period before Edina tied it and then won it seconds into double-overtime this was almost the same way Friday that Brainerd/Little Falls advanced to the state title game after a 3-2 overtime win over Andover Friday night. Cheyanne Abear scored a goal 10 seconds into the overtime session to move the Warriors to their first ever state championship game. Abear, Sophie Robinson, Gabby Smith and Olivia King were all named to the Class AA all tournament team. Congratulation on a great season to the Brainerd/Little Falls Warriors Girls Hockey Team 2nd in the state.
--A bank in St. Cloud was robbed Friday afternoon. The incident happened around 1:45pm at the Wells Fargo Bank located at 200 33rd Avenue South. The St. Cloud Police Department says the suspect entered the bank, gave a note to a teller, and then demanded money. The suspect is described as a black man around six-feet-tall wearing a grey hooded zip-up jacket, a black hat under the hood, black gloves, and glasses. Authorities say the suspect indicated he had a weapon, but never displayed it. He then left with an undisclosed amount of money. No one was hurt in the robbery. The investigation is active and the FBI is assisting.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual chamber dinner this Thursday where they announce the large and small business of the year and the volunteer of the year from their chamber. It was announced that Anderson Custom Processing in the large business, Froggy's Signs Inc. is the small business and Kristine Hoheisel of Horizon Health is their volunteer of the year for 2019.
--Camp Ripley recently went into a Joint Powers Agreement, a mutual aid agreement in case of domestic unrest, natural disasters, or dangerous weather conditions. The Camp Ripley Fire Department can be used to aid other departments and agencies in the area. The Camp Ripley Fire Department has expanded so that they can support the agreement and continue to work on the base in case of burning and wildfire issues. General Lowell Kruse of Camp Ripley stated that the idea was on the books for years but just recently signed making it an official measure to let the Camp Ripley Fire Department work with other departments around the surrounding area of the facility that has portions in Morrison, Cass and Crow Wing County.
--A central Minnesota mother and son who have been missing since October have been located. Authorities say 17-year-old Morgan Styke and her 9-month-old son Bobby Spence were found around 3:30pm on Friday afternoon at a home in Waite Park. Police Chief Dave Bentrud says they are both physically fine and have been moved into safe housing. The boy's father was not located, who is believed to be who the two were with then they fled in October. Authorities stated that there no charges warranted against him at this time.
--With activities that included a mock crash at Big Lake High School, overtime traffic safety enforcement, and responsible alcohol server training for local establishments, law enforcement agencies in Sherburne County understand that it requires multiple strategies to influence driver behaviors. Their dedication to protecting Minnesotans on the road was recognized with the Toward Zero Deaths Commissioner’s Award from Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
--A Brainerd man was injured Tuesday around 4:00pm on Highway 371 north of Little Falls. William Lakin was northbound at 243rd Street when his vehicle drifted off the icy road and rolled onto its roof. Lakin was not wearing a seatbelt and had to be taken to the Brainerd hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
--A Motley woman was injured as was a Brainerd woman in an accident last week in Nokay Lake Township east of Brainerd. 70-year old Marilynn Puetz of Brainerd was on Highway 18 when she crossed the center-line and collided with 74-year old Bonnie Ann Brown of Motley. Both were taken to the Brainerd hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Both drivers had other occupants in their vehicles but none of those passengers were hurt.
--More people have been arrested and charged in a drug ring that brought large amounts of methamphetamine and heroin to central Minnesota. According to court documents, six people have been charged so far with crimes involving the distribution of the drugs from Phoenix, Arizona into Minnesota. The investigation started in the summer of 2018 and continued through the end of January 2019 when investigators say they seized more than five pounds of meth from the south St. Cloud home of 40-year-old Eric Noble. A second defendant who has been charged in the case but was at-large was found and arrested Wednesday. 21-year old Saul Ramos-Rosas was booked into the county jail on two felony drugs conspiracy charges. Authorities say during the course of the investigation they have recovered more than 47 pounds of methamphetamine and over 52-grams of heroin. Others facing charges in the case include 21-year-old Marcelino Torres, 21-year-old Brandon Hadar-Espinoza, 22-year-old Rolando Cocova, 22-year-old Luis "Jose" Padilla-Ambriz, and Noble. In previous court documents, Noble admitted to investigators to buying approximately 140 pounds of meth from out of state at $3,500 per pound and then selling it for $5,000 per pound.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Wesley Job and Courtney Wolf of Albany, a boy born Feb 21st.
DEATH NOTICES
--Irene Majerus, age 97 of Little Falls formerly of Pierz.
--Kay A. Bunde, age 70 of Little Falls.
--Ellen James, age 91 of Upsala.
WEATHER
TODAY= becoming sunny, cold, high +2, wind chills near -20.
TONIGHT= clear start, low -16, clouds increase, temps rise.
TUESDAY= snow likely, 1-3 inches, high near 7, low around -5.
WEDNESDAY= becoming sunny, high 12, low around 3 above.
SPORTS
WRE= Good Luck to the State Wrestlers competing later this week in St. Paul, it was reported that Little Falls is sending 2, Pierz 3, Holdingford 2, Foley 3 and Royalton/Upsala will send 5 to state. Team competition is Thursday, individual competition is Friday and you can hear the individual matches Friday and Saturday on Q92 WYRQ.
GBB= Little Falls at Fergus Falls open the girls basketball playoffs on Tuesday night at 7pm on Q92 WYRQ and fallsradio.com. Teams like Pierz, Upsala, Swanville, Royalton, Holdingford and Foley open the playoffs for girls on Thursday night at different sites.