NEWS --Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larson stated Friday that his department assisted Royalton Police Thursday around 1:30am with a possible stolen vehicle at the Birch Villa Apartments. Police had received a tip of a stolen truck at the apartments and also a stolen camper trailer at a residence in rural Stearns County. Police and deputies checked the license plates on a truck and noticed they had been altered. The truck was reported stolen in Detroit Lakes. Located inside was a fake ID with a photo of 26-year-old Sheila Meyer of Royalton, and several fake check blanks. A search warrant at an apartment of Meyer found several counterfeit bills, along with methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Stearns County Deputies were called in to check the camper and found inside 28-year-old Gary Peterson from Royalton. Peterson was taken into custody and is awaiting charges. Meyer was arrested on receiving stolen property.
--Hospital officials stated Thursday that the Sauk Rapids teenager who fell from a Sartell bridge after being shocked is making a "remarkable recovery" in the Twin Cities. 16-year old Daniel Fleigle has been upgraded from critical to satisfactory condition. The Fleigle family issued a statement Thursday thanking their son's friends for the CPR effort they performed on Daniel and the recovery effort by Sartell police officers and firefighters. The family also extended their gratitude to the caregivers at HCMC and St. Cloud Hospital and the community for providing support to the them.
--The National Weather Service confirmed Thursday that at least four tornadoes touched down in central and northeastern Minnesota on Sunday June 19th including an EF2 tornado in Crow Wing County near the Bay Lake area south of Deerwood. Wind speeds from that tornado reached 120 miles per hour as it crossed Placid Lake damaging trees, power lines and structures. An EF0 tornado was also reported near Staples with wind speeds near 70 miles per hour but little damage reported from that tornado just lots of debris. This weekend more severe storms moved through central Minnesota with damaging winds and large hail. No tornadoes reported in the area.
--Brainerd firefighters were called Thursday around 4:00pm to a structure fire on Memorywood Drive in Baxter. An 18-year-old heard the smoke detector and tried to put out the fire in the living room area but it reached a hallway and expanded. The fire started from a tipped over oscillating fan. The fire was extinguished with damage to the front level. It did get into the walls. The home is still liveable after it is properly ventilated from the smoke damage.
--A 26-year-old woman was injured and a 22-year-old man charged with criminal vehicular operation and driving while intoxicated following a motorcycle accident at Brainerd International Raceway on Tuesday. Police stated that the driver 22-year-old Austin Walden of Lexington was sitting on the ground next to the cycle which was on it's side around 11:00pm. A passenger, Emily Koester of New York sustained a leg injury and was treated by medical personnel. Walden had face abrasions, was treated and then arrested by police.
--A 19-year-old Brainerd man was injured on June 20th around 4:00pm on Paradise Beach Road after leaving the roadway and striking the ditch. Ryder Vanderschaff was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries sustained.
--The Morrison County Commissioners will hold their next regular meeting on Tuesday at 9am at the government center boardroom.
--Soldiers of the Norwegian Home Guard joined personnel of the Minnesota National Guard and Law Enforcement community for an inter-agency, joint training exercise Sunday at Camp Ripley. The 43rd U.S. / Norwegian Reciprocal Troop Exchange ends on Wednesday and the training thus far has been designed to integrate Minnesota National Guard and Norwegian Home Guard Soldiers together as one fighting force. From here the units will learn, training and react with the assistance of law enforcement agencies from across the state. The exercises were in three phases, each highlighting a different aspect of Domestic Operation doctrine. Events ranging from Crisis Negotiation, Active Shooter and Hostage Rescue were offered by the Law Enforcement officers to broaden the inter-agency cooperation between Law Enforcement and the Military. The home guard will be guests on AM960 KLTF Party Line Tuesday morning to talk about their visit and working with Camp Ripley on this exchange program for over 40 years as it started on a handshake. Hear the program at 10am and online at fallsradio.com.
–A group home staff member is being recognized for saving the life of one of their residents on Lake Pillager Friday. Cass County said that 24-year-old Louis Eschenbacher of Brainerd works for the Oakwood Terrance in Staples as they were out with residents on an excursion to the beach north of Pillager. The developmentally disabled had a life vest on when swimming then about 30 seconds later noticed Eschenbacher noticed he could not be found. The man was found in the water and his lips were blue and he was not breathing. Eschenbacher and another successfully gave him CPR for over five minutes when the man started breathing again. The man was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover.
--The 4th of July Weekend is coming up fast and the Department of Public Safety is reminding motorists heading out this year for the 4th of July holiday which is next Monday that State Patrol, Sheriff and local police officials will be out watching for impaired drivers, seat belt enforcement, child passenger seat enforcement, speeding and distracted driving. Local events on July 4th include festivities in Hillman, Randall, St. Cloud and Brainerd.
DEATH NOTICES --Lorraine T. Borgstrom, age 80 of New Brighton formerly Little Falls --Elaine Cluka, age 89 of Little Falls.
WEATHER TODAY= partly sunny, cool, high 67, clear and cool night, low 48. TUESDAY= partly cloudy, high 74, clear skies at night, low 54. WEDNESDAY= chance of PM storms, high near 80, low near 60.
SPORTS TWINS= Yankees beat Twins Friday 5-3 then win again 2-1 over Twins Saturday. On Sunday, the Twins belted out 6 homeruns in winning 7-1 over Yankees to avoid the sweep. The Twins are off today and in Chicago against the White Sox tomorrow night. LYNX= after winning their first 13- the Lynx lost Friday to the LA Sparks and then lost Sunday to Washington. The Lynx today are meeting with President Obama on their 2015 championship. HS FB= The North team beat the South team 38-19 Saturday in the tackle cancer high school football all star game. Kyle Lange of Upsala/Swanville named South Defensive Player of the Game.