NEWS
--The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a woman last month at Train Bell Resort in Merrifield. Katie Westrum, 35, Merrifield, was reported missing for almost a month when her body was discovered February 2nd at the resort. She was reported missing back on January 12th. The cause and manner of death has not been released. Westrum’s body was sent to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner to determine the cause of death. Further information on Westrum’s death was unavailable as the investigation is still pending review by the Crow Wing County Attorney’s Office.
--One person was hurt in a two-vehicle crash in Todd County. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened Thursday just after 8:30am. One vehicle was going east on Highway 10 turning north on County Road 82, while the second vehicle was going west on Highway 10 when they collided. Ninety-year-old Irene Lee of Staples had non-life-threatening injuries. Twenty-three-year-old Caleb Packo of Evansville was not hurt.
--The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is releasing more details surrounding the events leading up to a fatal officer involved shooting in Wright County Saturday morning. BCA investigators say a deputy tried to stop 67-year-old Jeffrey Lynn Chapman of Albertville just before 4:45, but he did not immediately pull over and drove to the 300 block of Ivory Avenue Northeast in St. Michael. Chapman allegedly got out of his car and confronted the deputy with a knife. He also would not comply with commands before the deputy fired.
Lifesaving measures were taken at the scene, but Chapman was pronounced dead. Investigators say Chapman had altered his license plate, changing the letter C to appear to be an O. Ammunition and a pocket knife were also found during a search. What the initial traffic stop was not mentioned in the BCA report.
--Two people were arrested during the execution of a search warrant in St. Cloud. The Central Minnesota Violent Offenders Task Force used a signed knock and announce search warrant in the 1100 block of 13th Avenue South Thursday. The warrant was regarding an investigation into the distribution of heroin and fentanyl in the area. Investigators allegedly found suspected heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Arrested was 44-year-old Darold Robinson of St. Cloud. Also arrested was 26-year-old Katlynn Evenrud of St. Cloud.
--The Department of Natural Resources Fire Division responded to a lowland grass fire at 6pm Wednesday, March 6, in the area near Nelson and Crooked roads in Ironton. Craig Schultz, DNR Forestry Backus Area Fire Team lead, said fire crews from the DNR, Deerwood and Crosby had a difficult time fighting the fire as they had to walk in and string hoses a few hundred yards into the brush. Schultz said the fire was called in by a passerby and it took crews a little over an hour to extinguish the grass fire with no injuries reported. It burned an area of about 10 acres. The fire is currently under investigation.
--The Nisswa Fire Department responded to a small deck fire on Thursday afternoon around 1:40pm at Grand View Lodge resort. Nisswa Fire Chief Shawn Bailey said the fire was at an employee housing building on the 3200 block of Ronnie Road, a private road on Grand View Lodge property. The fire was extinguished with minimal damage to the housing unit and the fire didn’t spread into the main structure. Firefighters cleared in an hour and there were no injuries.
--The Pierz City Council meets tonight 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
--A 41-year-old Baxter woman facing felony marijuana possession and sale charges in Brainerd pleaded guilty on Tuesday in Crow Wing County District Court. Alexis Joy Furlong was charged with felony first-degree sale of 25 kilograms or more marijuana and felony second-degree possession of 25 kilograms or more marijuana. Furlong appeared Tuesday, who informed the court they would be entering a plea of guilty to first degree felony conspiracy drug sale. Her other charge for felony second degree drug sale and a charge from a separate case involving a felony for obtaining a firearm for a person known to be ineligible to possess a firearm would be dismissed at sentencing. Furlong posted a $100,000 bond with conditions on May 1. She is due back for sentencing May 5 in Crow Wing County District Court.
--The Minnesota Department of Transportation will end winter load increases and start spring load restrictions in the North-Central frost zone Wednesday, March 6, at 12:01am. Spring load restrictions have already begun in the South, Southeast and Metro zones. As already announced, winter load increases end and spring load restrictions will begin in the Central zone on March 1. Seasonal load limit zones and restricted routes can be found on the MnDOT load limits map. Start and end dates and other load limit information are shown at mndot.gov/loadlimits.
--The St. Francis Convent with the American Red Cross will host their next blood drive March 18th from 1-7pm, March 19th 12-6pm and March 20th from 8:30am-2:30pm in St. Francis Hall at St. Francis Convent, 116 8th Ave SE. There continues to be a great need for blood because of the increase in major surgeries, accidents and cancer treatments. We invite you to come and support this great need. Who can donate? If a person is at least 16 years of age (with written parental consent), weighs at least 110 pounds and is considered to be in god health, they may be eligible to donate blood.
Register today! Those who have made an appointment earlier and can’t keep it, are asked to cancel it so someone else can fill the time slot. Please make an appointment online at www.redcrossblood.org or call Sister Julien Dirkes at 320-632-0663.
DEATH NOTICES
--Nancy A. Kowalzek, age 65 of Fort Ripley.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly sunny, mild temps, high 62.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy skies, low 36.
TUESDAY= sunny skies, highs near 60, clouds at night, low 30.
WEDNESDAY= cloudy skies, high 53, rain showers late, low 34.
SPORTS
HS BBB= Upsala beat Braham 74-54 Saturday to advance on the Section playoffs to face East Central Wednesday night at 7pm at Hinckley live on Q92 WYRQ. The winner will face Nevis or Browerville in the championship Friday at St. Cloud State. Staples-Motley won Saturday while Pillager and Foley were beaten.
HS GBB= Albany defeated Holdingford in girls playoffs on Friday, the State Girls Basketball tournament begins on Wednesday.
BHK= St. Cloud Cathedral wins Class A Boys Hockey Championship Saturday while Edina wins Class AA Title to finish hockey season.