NEWS
--The Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force says that in the past few days in the St. Cloud metro area there has been one death and at least eight overdose cases. These overdose cases are believed to be from fentanyl that has been mixed with other narcotics. These cases are active and are currently being investigated by the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force. If you have any information on these overdose cases, call 320-345-4238.
--The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reminding ice fishing anglers that shelter removal deadlines are nearing. Dark houses, fish houses and portables must be off the ice no later than midnight for each of the dates given by the DNR. County sheriffs may prohibit or restrict the use of motorized vehicles if dangerous ice conditions are present. If shelters are not removed, owners will be prosecuted. A conservation officer also may confiscate, remove or destroy any ice structure and its contents if not removed by the deadline. Inland waters, south of Highways 200 and 34 in northern Minnesota are March 7th, north of the line March 21st. Border waters, Minnesota-Iowa was back on February 20th Minnesota–Wisconsin border will be March 1st, Minnesota–North and South Dakota will be March 5th and Minnesota–Canada takes place on March 31st. Dates of removal are determined by an east-west line formed by U.S. Hwy. 10, east along Hwy. 34 to Minnesota Hwy. 200, east along Hwy. 200 to U.S. Hwy. 2, and east along Hwy. 2 to the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. Also today is the last date to use the 2021 fishing license. 2022 Fishing licenses went on sale earlier this month and begin on March 1st, 2022 and are good until February 28th, 2023.
--The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating a serious crash near Clearwater Friday. Sergeant Jesse Grabow says the crash happened on eastbound Interstate 94 at about 9:50 am. when a passenger vehicle and a semi collided. The patrol says one person was ejected and taken to the hospital by air ambulance. The patrol says 37-year-old Corey Anderson of St. Cloud was eastbound when he lost control of his SUV and sideswiped the rear end of a semi that was also eastbound. Authorities say Anderson was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected as his vehicle entered the ditch. He was taken to North Memorial Hospital by air ambulance. The 48-year-old truck driver from Louisiana was not hurt.
--Three people were arrested February 16th in Aitkin after officers Margefound drugs in a residence with a child present. The Aitkin Police Department reported officers executed a search warrant on the 700 block of Fourth Street resulting in the arrests of Aitkin residents Jeffrey Alvin Miles Turner, 27, Joey James Struble, 24, and Jessica Dawn Burke, 28. Officers found three glass methamphetamine pipes along with a glass bong and a marijuana pipe. They also found a toy gun with a piece of rolled-up plastic sticking out of it and found it contained about 1.3 grams of meth. In another room a marijuana bong and a metal lid with a white powdery residue, which tested positive for meth, more drugs were found in other rooms. Also located in the garage was a brown plastic container containing 234 rounds of ammunition in multiple calibers and several spent casings. Another container with 23 hypodermic needles as also found. The other people at the home were not arrested. The three arrested are scheduled for court appearances in the near future. One had a warrant for an arrest in another county and others at the scene were not arrested. The child is being cared for by social services.
--The Pierz City Council meets tonight at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
--A St. Cloud woman charged with killing her infant son has been found incompetent to face the charges against her. Twenty-seven-year-old Fardoussa Abdillahi is charged with 1st-degree premeditated murder and 2nd-degree intentional murder in the death of her three-month-old baby. The findings mean the criminal proceedings are on hold. The Stearns County Attorney's Office has filed an intent to prosecute once Abdillahi can be restored to competency. According to the Stearns County charging complaint, a man called the police on November 28th to request a welfare check on the child. Officers responded to the 2900 Block of Maine Prairie Road where the man said a baby was missing and the mother was saying she stabbed the infant several times with a knife and threw the child in a dumpster.
--The Sartell-St. Stephen School District has named their new high school principal. The district announced Thursday Shayne Kusler will take over a principal beginning July 1st. Kusler has served as the principal of Foley High School since 2014. Before that, he was an administrative dean and guidance counselor in the Sauk Rapids-Rice school district. Kusler succeeds interim Sartell High School Principal Tim Wege who was selected to serve as interim principal after Sascha Hansen resigned earlier this year.
--Sister Julien from the St. Francis Convent wants to thank everyone who made appointments for the blood drive this week at First United Church today 1-7, Tuesday 12-6, Wednesday 8:30-2:30pm. They only have very few spots left and only for Power Red blood donations. She asks if you can't make your appointment call her so they can put someone who might be on a waiting list in that spot to fill out the goals for the blood drive this week. Questions call 320-632-0663.
--Congratulations to the winners of the St. James Church Raffle on Friday. The top prize of $10,000 went to the Bermel's Gang, a group of around 10 ladies all chipped in from Bermel's and won top prize. The next four winners were Tim and Sandy Koenig $3,000, Marge Fletcher $2,000, Bill Andres and Keli Spencer each on $1,000. Again thanks to all who bought tickets in support of St. James in Randall.
DEATH NOTICES
--William Balck, age 71 of Little Falls formerly of Royalton.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny, breezy at times, high 36.
TONIGHT= snow/freezing rain overnight, low near 22.
TUESDAY= snow/freezing rain possible, high 31, colder night, low 7.
WEDNESDAY= partly sunny, high near 20, low around 0.
SPORTS
HS BBB= Sauk Rapids-Rice at Little Falls rescheduled from last Tuesday night will be tonight 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS WRE= Congratulations to Little Falls wrestler Austin Litke champion at 132 pounds Friday in sections, advances on to state. Royalton-Upsala will have their team represented on Thursday at state and 8 individuals beginning on Friday, Tucker Simmons, Alex Diederich, Will Gorecki, Jacob Leibold, Gabe Gorecki, Hunter Novitzki, Bryce Holm and Jeremy Mugg. Pierz advanced three to state, they are Carter Young, Chase Becker and Trevor Radunz. Foley has 3 wrestlers and Holdingford 4 wrestlers going to state. Listen to state tournament coverage Thursday to Saturday on Q92 WYRQ.
HS GHK= Maple Grove eliminated Brainerd/Little Falls in girls hockey at the state tournament Friday 3-0 in the consolation semi-finals.
HS BHK= Monticello eliminated Little Falls Saturday 4-3 in playoff boys hockey.