NEWS
--A 27-year old Coon Rapids man on Friday admitted to killing 5-year old Alayna Jeanne Ertl of Watkins in the summer of 2016. Zachary Todd Anderson was scheduled to appear Friday in a Cass County District Courtroom in Walker for a pre-trial hearing. Instead he entered a plea of guilt to first-degree murder involving first-degree criminal sexual conduct with sexual penetration. Cass County Attorney Benjamin Lindstrom, who prosecuted the case, said the mandatory penalty in Minnesota for this crime is imprisonment for life without the possibility of release. Anderson was sentenced immediately after entering his guilty plea. In admitting his guilt, Anderson described the details of the crime in court as family members and authorities listened on. Anderson was indicted by a grand jury on 19 criminal counts in October 2016 for the death of Ertl. In October, Anderson pleaded not guilty to all 19 criminal charges—which include first-degree murder, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, felony kidnapping and interfering with a dead body.
--On Wednesday and Thursday the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force executed multiple search warrants following a long term investigation into the sales and distribution of methamphetamine. Eleven search warrants were executed at nine different locations in Sartell, Sauk Rapids, St. Cloud, Benton and Stearns Counties. Over eight pounds of methamphetamine and $7,500 was recovered during the search warrants. The following individuals were arrested as a result of the investigation: 36-year old Heidi Austin; 52-year old Anthony Keeney; 30-year old Justin Ginter; 35-year old Michael Stempson; 39-year old Alfredo Medina; 35-year old Cassandra Schlottman; 45-year old Susan Solomonson; 21-year old Brooklyn Streit-Applegate; 25-year old Ashley Kirckof; 57-year old David Roering; 38-year old Ricardo Medina; and 65-year old Leroy Theisen. Two additional individuals; 32-year old Heather Christensen and 22-year old Delia Thompson were arrested on outstanding warrants. Additional arrests are expected in this case.
--The Minnesota Department of Transportation will end winter load increases in the central frost zone and start spring truck weight restrictions in the south frost zone Tuesday. Road restriction maps showing the locations of weight-restricted routes and those state highways open to maximum 10-ton axle weights are listed on the MNDOT website. Ending dates for spring load restrictions are variable and based on how weather is affecting roadway strength.
--On Wednesday around 3:45pm Stearns County Sheriff's Office Dispatch Center received a call from a homeowner saying one of his buildings was on fire. The homeowner, John Eder, had been burning brush in his yard. An old abandoned house on the property caught fire from the brush fire nearby. The Kimball and Watkins Fire Departments responded and were able to put the fire out. There were no injuries reported.
--A Sartell man who was charged with impersonating a police officer and robbing a St. Cloud woman at gunpoint has been sentenced to prison. 36-year old Johnathon Herring pleaded guilty to an amended criminal complaint in September to receiving stolen property and possession of burglary tools. A Stearns County judge has sentenced Herring to one year and nine months in prison. He gets credit for just over five months in jail. Court records show Herring went to a home on Ranae Lane in St. Cloud last June and confronted a woman who was folding laundry. Records show Herring pointed a gun at the woman and told her he was a cop.
--A Winter Storm Warning is in effect until 6:00am Tuesday. Last night, rain, ice and snow started causing slow going today. Today, snow is expected throughout the day, 6-8 inches by tonight, with another 2-4 inches by Tuesday morning. Winds will be gusty up to 40mph from the east causing poor visibility, blowing and drifting snow on roadways making poor travel conditions. Many schools are delayed or closed today so listen to Little Falls Radio stations Q92, FM94 and AM960 for weather and closing details today and all three stations can be streamed online at fallsradio.com.
--Little Falls Community Schools has announced that Superintendent Steve Jones has been named the Minnesota Association of School Administrators 2018 Administrator of Excellence for Region 5. Congratulations to Superintendent Stephen Jones on this honor.
--Preliminary autopsy results for the pregnant woman whose body was found February 17th in the Chippewa National Forest showed hypothermia as the cause of death. The findings show, 27-year old Kara Blevins of Akeley, died of hypothermia due to cold weather exposure. Blevins' body was located in the wooded area of Shingobee Township in Cass County. Blevins was reported missing on the 5th. Extensive investigations, ground and air searches were done in the days following. The death investigation will continue while they wait for toxicology reports.
--Congressman Jason Metsa, a three-term state representative from Virginia, Minn., announced Thursday, March 1, that he will seek the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party endorsement for the 8th District seat. He joins four other DFL candidates trying to replace incumbent Rep. Rick Nolan, who announced his retirement in February. Other DFL candidates vying for the endorsement include Leah Phifer of Isanti, Joe Radinovich of Crosby, Michelle Lee of Moose Lake and Kirsten Hagen Kennedy of North Branch. Pete Stauber of Hermantown is so far the lone Republican candidate running for the seat. The Independence Party's Ray "Skip" Sandman, of Duluth, is also running. --The former leader of the Central Minnesota Violent Offenders Task Force, Steve Soyka announced Friday that he is running for the Stearns County Sheriff's position this November. Soyka is the current commander of the Stearns/Benton SWAT unit.
--The Little Falls City Council meets tonight at 7:30pm at City Hall.
--The Morrison County Commissioners meet Tuesday at 9am.
DEATH NOTICES
--James P. Waldvogel, age 76 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6AM TUESDAY
TODAY= snow, heavy at times, 6-8 inches, strong winds, high 32.
TONIGHT= snow, blowing and drifting, another 2-3 inches, low 22.
TUESDAY= snow early, then sunny afternoon, high 28, low 8.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and colder, high 24, low around 3 above.
SPORTS
HS WRE= Royalton-Upsala's Jason Kasella was State Runner Up for the 2nd year in a row while Jackson Held finished 4th and Marshall Meehl was 5th at the State Tournament in Wrestling. Little Falls's Simon Bryce finished 6th at the state tournament.
HS GBB= Swanville eliminated Saturday by BBE in playoffs.
HS BBB= Boys Basketball playoffs begin this, Upsala was to be in action tonight, Pierz, Little Falls and others begin play on Tuesday.
TWINS= hear Twins baseball spring training Tues at noon Q92.