NEWS --Steve Meshbesher, attorney for 68-year old Byron Smith of Little Falls, has filed an appeal to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, asking that Smith be granted a new trial. The appeal is being filed on the grounds that Morrison County District Judge Douglas Anderson violated federal law when he closed the courtroom during Smith’s murder trial in April 2014, to discuss the district court’s ruling on a pretrial evidentiary issue. Smith was convicted by a jury in Morrison County District Court of first-degree murder, in the shooting deaths of Haile Kifer and Nick Brady, who broke into his home on Thanksgiving Day of 2012. Smith is serving two concurrent life sentences, without the possibility of parole. The Minnesota Supreme Court, in issuing an opinion in March 2016, found the district court’s ruling on a pretrial evidentiary issue did not violate the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to a public trial. If the federal judge determines Anderson violated federal law, Smith would be granted a new trial.
--Area legislators are working on honoring General John Vessey, who was the leader of the Nation's military when chosen by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. The bill in the House and the Senate would give Vessey his own honorary day and a statue at the State Capitol. General Vessey died last year but had dedicated his life and service to the United States starting with volunteering for the Minnesota Army National Guard in 1939, was in World War II and Vietnam and continued to help and volunteer for military projects including helping the Minnesota Military Museum at Camp Ripley open their Vietnam War exhibit back in 2015. The bill would ask for June 29th, Vessey's birthday be designated as General John Vessey Day in Minnesota. Senator Carrie Ruud of Breezy Point introduced the bill and a companion bill was introduced by Representative Dale Lueck of Aitkin. District 9 State Senator Paul Gazelka of Nisswa, who is the Senator Majority Leader stated Thursday that he supports the bill and expects it to pass in both the House and Senate. It would be up to the Governor to sign it.
--The Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) has named Pierz Public Schools Superintendant George Weber as a 2017 Administrator of Excellence. Weber has received this award in recognition of his leadership, concern for students and active involvement in professional and community affairs. He will be honored at a statewide recognition ceremony during the MASA/MASE Spring Conference Thursday and Friday at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park.
--Meryl Tigenoah of Baxter, who is an 8th grader at Forestview Middle School in Baxter was named the winner of the Lakes Bee Regional spelling bee last Thursday in Staples. With the win Meryl will now advance to the National Spelling Bee in May in Washington DC.
--A Hastings man was injured in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 64 north of Motley just after 2:00pm Thursday afternoon. 53-year old Sherry Lynn Witzel of Coon Rapids, was northbound on Highway 64 and attempting to turn left onto 126th Street north of Motley. 69-year old Ronald Leslie Johnson of Hastings, was driving on Highway 64 and attempted to pass Witzel's vehicle causing a collision that caused Johnson's vehicle to leave the road and hit a tree. Johnson was taken to Lakewood Health System Hospital in Staples where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries. Witzel and her passenger, 47-year old Tina Marie Olson were not injured.
--On Saturday, organizers of Halfway Jam in Royalton announced that the summer rock festival will not happen this year. Organizers said they need a year to rebuild and retool the three day rock festival usually at the end of July between Royalton and Rice on Highway 10. Halfway Jam will be back in the summer of 2018.
--The Minnesota State Patrol reported a vehicle left Highway 238 near Albany around 5:15pm Friday injuring the driver and a 3-year-old passenger. 23-year-old Heather Seaver of Albany was on 238 at Upland Road when she over corrected and rolled the vehicle in the ditch. Seaver and 3-year-old Emalynne Mulherne of Albany were treated for injuries that were ruled non-life threatening.
--A semi-truck driver was injured Friday around 2:45pm on Interstate 94 in Stearns County. 59-year-old Paul Rivers of Breckinridge was on the interstate in Grove Township when he veered into the median and struck the cable barrier causing his truck to roll. Rivers was taken to the hospital with reportedly non-serious injuries.
--Stearns County responded to a motor vehicle crash Thursday around 1:50pm on County Road 2 near Island Lake Road in Wakefield Township. 59-year-old Eldon Norby of Kerhoven was southbound driving a semi-truck when 64-year old Lavonne Stang of Cold Spring was northbound and crossed the center line on a narrow curve and struck the semi-truck. Stang was treated by first responders at the scene and taken to the hospital as a precaution. Norby was not hurt.
--On Friday the Diocese of New Ulm filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. The Diocese of New Ulm is the sixteenth Catholic Diocese or Religious Order to file for bankruptcy in the United States. In 2015, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and the Diocese of Duluth filed for bankruptcy protection as well. Both cases are still pending in bankruptcy court. “The bankruptcy filing does not stop the pursuit of justice for sexual abuse survivors,” said Attorney Mike Finnegan. “Survivors will continue to seek truth and accountability in the bankruptcy process.” In March 2016, the diocese agreed to release the names of 16 priests with credible allegations of child sexual abuse.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS --Chaunse Murdock and Samantha Carwell of Little Falls, boy Mar. 3rd --Robert and Tiffany Schmidt of Little Falls, boy on March 2nd
DEATH NOTICES --Orlando Burnell “Bernie” Rekstad, age 83 of Little Falls. --Jacquelyn M. “Jackie” Ferris, age 70 of Motley. --Michael J. Fa, age 94 of Little Falls.
WEATHER TODAY= showers and T-storms possible, mild and breezy, high 66. TONIGHT= showers and T-storms, wet snow very late, low 30. TUESDAY= extreme winds of 50mph+, colder, cloudy, high near 40.
SPORTS WRE= Pierz's Brett Kapsner finished 2nd at the State Tournament Saturday. Jason Kasella of Royalton-Upsala was 3rd, Brandon Ortman was 6th. Alex Erpelding of Staples-Motley won the 170 pound class in Class A, Foley's Mitch Trigg won state title in AA Heavyweight, also for Foley, Saylor Schmitt 2nd and Nathan Garceau was 6th. GBB= Kimball eliminated Upsala 69-42 Saturday in girls playoffs.