NEWS
--A 20-year-old man involved in an armed home invasion and assault late Thursday night in northern Mille Lacs County was shot and killed by a responding sheriff's deputy. According to the preliminary investigation, at 10:50pm Thursday four men broke into a home on the 17000 block of Ookweman Loop in Vineland with plans to carry out a robbery. Three of the men wore masks and one carried a sawed-off shotgun. There were more than a dozen people inside of the home at the time of the home invasion. The intruders assaulted several people and one intruder fired his weapon at least once. No one was injured by gunfire. Several people in the home fled into a back bedroom, barricaded the door and called 911. As three deputies from the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office arrived at the scene, two of the four intruders were exiting the home. Both were taken into custody. One of the deputies entered the home and located a third intruder in a bedroom with a shotgun pointed at several people. When the intruder refused to drop the shotgun, the deputy fired his weapon, fatally striking the man. The two other deputies entered the home and arrested the fourth intruder without incident. The Midwest Medical Examiner's Office has identified the deceased as 20-year old Jamison Christopher Anderson of Vineland. An autopsy is underway. The deputy who fired his weapon, Deputy Daniel Mott has been placed on standard administrative leave. The three arrested suspects were booked into the Mille Lacs County Jail on assault, burglary and robbery charges. Suspects included 21-year old Gabriel Levi Chips of Brainerd, 31-year old Tommy Thomas Corrales of Bayport and 34-year old Justin Lee Mitchell of Onamia.
--Around 10:45am Friday the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a two vehicle accident with injuries on Dove Rd, near the intersection of 330th Street in Scandia Valley Township, south of Pillager. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 52-year old Shawn Scheerle of Cushing was traveling south on Dove Road. Scheerle stated he swerved to avoid a deer in the roadway, lost control of his vehicle and collided with an oncoming vehicle driven by 63-year old Joann Beto of Motley. Beto’s passenger, 66-year old Judith Bellamy of Motley suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Staples Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained.
--Brainerd, Nisswa, Lake Shore and Pequot Lakes firefighters battled a house fire Friday morning in 30-below temperatures. The fire was called in around 8:00am on Shaefers Point Road in Lake Shore. The home was not not resided in as the homeowners had gone south for the winter. It took about 4 hours for firefighters to contain the fire. The house was ruled a total loss with over $300,000 in damages. Firefighters said the cause was not determined and the state fire marshal has been called in to investigate. The fire was not suspicious in nature. A number of firefighters were treated for frostbite and hypothermia but there were no serious injuries.
--Members of the Lakes Area Gearhead Group in Brainerd will honor 18-year-old Devin Alexander of Pillager with a special ride on January 28th. Alexander died in a two-vehicle accident last Tuesday on Highway 210 west of Brainerd and was a senior at Pillager High School. The memorial ride will be in honor of Alexander's memory at 1:00pm on the 28th in Brainerd and Baxter with a police escort through the main parts of the cities. Over 120 people have signed up for the ride on the 28th. Funeral services for Devin Alexander will be at 11:00am today at the Pillager High School Auditorium.
--Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The day which falls around King's birthday (January 15) on the 3rd Monday of January was made a federal holiday in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan but was not included as a holiday in all 50 states until 2001. All government agencies are closed today, city, county, state and federal including banks, financial institutions, post offices, some libraries and some schools are off today. Others are open so it is best to call ahead. In past years many have called today a day of service with many helping those in need and organizations in ways to communicate and work together as one nation from Dr. King's Dream.
--Stand Up 4 U Coalition along with CHI St. Gabriel's Health and area law enforcement will host Coffee With a Cop on January 17th at the Coborns' Deli at 8:30am. The main topic will be on prescription drug abuse prevention in the area and ways to help to make the community healthier and safer. All are encouraged to come and ask questions to members of the Little Falls Police Department, Morrison County Sheriff's Office, CHI and Stand Up 4 U.
--A man accused of intentionally ramming a Waite Park squad car, trying to hit a Stearns County deputy's squad and leading law enforcement on a chase made his first court appearance Thursday on three felony charges. 33-year old Kyle James Whalen is charged with second-degree assault, fleeing police in a motor vehicle and terroristic threats. Bail was set in Stearns County District Court at $150,000. Whalen was charged in late September but didn't make his first court appearance until Thursday. The incident that led to charges happened September 25th.
--One passenger was injured after a semi truck collided with a transit bus Thursday morning in Baxter. Around 11:00am, 59-year old Thomas Keep of Brainerd stopped at a red light at the intersection at Highway 371 and College Drive. Keep attempted to turn on the red light and slid on a patchy icy area and was struck by a semi driven by 66-year old Gary Hines of Baxter. Neither driver was hurt. One passenger on the bus had to be taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The other two passengers on the bus were not hurt.
--The Stearns County Sheriff's Office cited 15 drivers for texting while driving during a traffic enforcement campaign Thursday in St. Cloud and Waite Park. Deputies stopped 35 vehicles and issued 27 citations. In addition to the 15 citations for texting while driving, other citations were for driving after revocation, no seatbelt, no proof of insurance, inattentive driving and failure to update a driver's license address.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Tim and Nicole Fure of Little Falls, a boy born January 11th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Alan J. Dumpprope, age 20 of Motley.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny, high 31; partly cloudy night low 13.
TUESDAY= sunny, breezy, high 28, clear night low 15.
WEDNESDAY= sunny, high 35, partly cloudy night, low 24
SPORTS
NFL= Atlanta beat Seattle 36-20, New England advanced over Houston 34-16 Saturday. Green Bay wins with late field goal on Sunday 34-31 over Dallas. Pittsburgh beat Kansas City 18-16.