NEWS --Around 3:40pm Thursday the Morrison County Sheriff ‘s Office received a report of a vehicle in the ditch with the driver unconscious on 120th Avenue, north of 165th Street approximately 2 miles northwest of Little Falls, in Pike Creek Township. 47-year old Scott Novak of Little Falls was traveling down his driveway to get the mail. Novak’s vehicle continued to travel east out of the driveway crossing 120th Avenue into the ditch hitting a road sign. He was taken by ambulance to CHI St. Gabriel’s Hospital. Novak later died at the hospital. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the cause of death.
--On Thursday, Lakes Area Drug Investigation Division agents executed a search warrant at a residence on the 700 block of 9th Avenue NE in Brainerd. The warrant was in connection with an ongoing drug investigation. As a result of the warrant, several items of meth related paraphernalia were seized along with a felony amounts of methamphetamine. Arrested as a result of this investigation were: 42-year old Dustin Adam Cummings of Brainerd, 38-year old Tina Louise Hathaway of Brainerd; 38-year old Kelli Lynn Headlee of Brainerd; 52-year old Scott Truman Jackson of Brainerd; 28-year old Courtney Mae Vargo of Brainerd; 49-year old Garry Allen Goedker of Brainerd. All the arrested individuals have an extensive history with law enforcement contacts including multiple arrests for property and drug crimes. With the exception of Scott Jackson, who has multiple convictions for drug crimes, all of the individuals are currently on probation.
--Two teenagers were hurt when the car they were in collided with a semi-trailer. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at about 12:30am Friday on westbound Interstate 94 south of Clearwater in Wright County. A semi was entering the interstate from County Road 8, while a car was in the left lane of the interstate. The car then drifted into the semi-trailer. The 17-year old male driver and his 18-year old passenger, Julia Stratenberger of Fargo, were both taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The semi driver, 30-year old Benjamin Horstman of Wadena, was not hurt.
--Spring begins March 20th but already talk of Minnesota's second season (besides winter), Road Construction. In February, Cass County commissioners approved an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to allow County Highway 40 to be used as part of a detour around Highway 371 from Backus to Hackensack. MnDOT plans to do a full reclaim of pavement from Highway 87 on the north edge of Backus by Godfrey's store to the south edge of Hackensack, where County Highway 40 meets Highway 371. There will be some preliminary work along the highway beginning August 20th. Highway 371 will remain open to through traffic until after Labor Day. There may be some lane closures and flaggers in late August. There is no start date for the closure of up to five weeks yet, because a contract has yet to be awarded for the actual construction project. During the Highway 371 closure, through traffic will be routed west at the south edge of Backus (the corner where Backus Corner Store is located) to Highway 64, then north to Hubbard County Highway 19 (which becomes Cass County Highway 40). Travelers will turn east at the Highway 64 junction with County Highway 19/40 to arrive at the south end of Hackensack.
--The Pierz City Council meets tonight 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
--The second leader of a large drug ring that brought methamphetamine to Minnesota from other states has been sentenced. 39-year old Hernando Nambo-Salas was sentenced to 10 years in prison Friday. He pleaded guilty in January to Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances Across State Borders into Minnesota. Another co-defendant in the case, 35-year old Francisco Nambo-Chacon pleaded guilty to the same charge last fall. Nambo-Chacon was sentenced to just over seven years in prison in February. The charges stemmed from a three-year investigation into an ongoing conspiracy to sell large amounts of methamphetamine in central Minnesota. Investigators say they seized approximately 44 pounds of methamphetamine from drug dealers who delivered and sold "multiple pounds of methamphetamine on a routine and repeated basis." Both Nambo-Salas and Nambo-Chacon were considered to be among the ringleaders of the drug distribution network which originated in Mexico and brought meth from states like California, Colorado, Texas and Washington.
--One person is dead after emergency responders were called Friday night to a Brainerd townhome. The Brainerd Police Department reported it responded to a medical emergency at 7:04pm Friday on the 700 block of Southwest Fifth Street. Life-saving measures took place, police reported, but a death did occur. The identity of the person who died was not released late Friday night to ensure family was notified. The body was transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's office for autopsy. Brainerd police reported the investigation into the death was ongoing.
--Stearns County also is investigating the death near a walking trail at St. John's University around 4:30pm Thursday. Walkers on the trail found the body of a 31-year old woman. Stearns County stated the woman was not a student or staff member of St. John's and it is believed the manner of death was suicide but an autopsy will give the official cause of death. There is no known threat to the public.
--The Pine Grove Zoo, Zoo Gone Wild dueling pianos fundraiser is this Friday at the Falls Ballroom. Proceeds go to the Zoo for the building of a new otter exhibit. For tickets and info you can call call the Pine Grove Zoo at 616-5595 or go to info@pinegrovezoo.com.
--Due to the snow storm last Monday, the Pierz Healy High School choir concert has been rescheduled for tonight at 7pm.
DEATH NOTICES --Timothy Gudim, age 60 of Albertville. --Annice “Ann” Thelandaer, age 86 of Little Falls --Sister Donna Guyott, age 77 of St. Francis Convent in LF.
WEATHER TODAY= sunny skies, breezy, high near 35. TONIGHT= clear skies, low around 17. TUESDAY= sunny skies, high 35, partly cloudy night, low 13. WEDNESDAY= partly cloudy, high near 40, low around 20.
SPORTS BHK= Orono beat Alexandria and Minnetonka beat Duluth East Saturday to win the Boys State Hockey Tournament in St. Paul. NBA= Wolves beat Golden State Sunday 109-103, Towns 31 points, Wiggins 23- the Timberwolves are now 39-29 on the season. GBB= State Girls Basketball Tournament begins later this week.