NEWS --A Little Falls-based attorney, 49-year-old Kent Frederick Strunk, was arraigned Friday in Morrison County District Court in Little Falls on felony possession of child pornography. Morrison County Attorney Brian Middendorf appointed the Stearns County Attorney's Office as a special prosecutor on the case. The Morrison County Sheriff's Office assisted the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension with a search warrant Wednesday at Strunk's Little Falls home, where he was arrested. According to the criminal complaint filed against Strunk, a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicated "ChatStep" had an image of suspected child pornography uploaded to a user account that was later identified as Strunk's personal computer. When officials executed the search warrant, they found an HP desktop computer in the office of the home. They confiscated the computer and completed a preliminary search in the BCA mobile forensic lab. The computer contained numerous images of suspected child pornography. Among the images of suspected child pornography, the computer also contained the image that was noted by the national organization. In total, four electronic items were seized from Strunk's home. Strunk could face up to five years in prison on the felony and/or a $10,000 fine. The judge set bail at $25,000 with conditions that Strunk keep all his court hearings, remain law abiding and maintain contact with his attorney. As part of the conditions, Strunk was released on his own recognizance.
--The Fire Departments and First Responder groups of Morrison County will be conducting a search and rescue exercise on Saturday, May 12th. The drill will be conducted in and around the city of Randall. Exercises will be happening from 8:00am through mid-afternoon. Emergency responders will be responding to search and rescue scenarios in remote wooded areas of the Randall community. Medical and rescue helicopters will also be part of this exercise. Medical and rescue helicopters will be in the air in and around the city from approximately 11:00am to 2:00pm. A major component of this exercise is to integrate the specialized services provided by the use of medical and rescue helicopters. Emergency crews will be working adjacent to public roadways that day. For the safety of the exercise responders, and the general public, Randall Fire Chief Scott Hughson asks for heightened awareness of an increase in emergency vehicle traffic, both on the roadways and in the air during the midday hours of Saturday, May 12th. Emergency vehicles will not be traveling with emergency lights or sirens, but will have them flashing while working alongside roadways.
--A large grass fire in St. Cloud is being investigated as a possible arson case. Fire crews have not been able to find a natural cause for Sunday's blaze which burned about 180 acres of land near the St. Cloud Prison. Authorities believe it was human involvement that caused the fire. They are asking for the public's help by calling in tips to the Minnesota Arson Reward Project hotline at 1-800-723-2020. They can remain anonymous and rewards are up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification of persons involved. Crews battled the blaze for about six hours Sunday afternoon into the evening. One building owned by the Department of Corrections was destroyed in the fire. That building was not being used for several years. No injuries were reported.
--The Little Falls City Council meets tonight 7:30pm at City Hall.
--Local residents and motorists along Highway 371 in Fort Ripley may see smoke from roadside prescribed fires beginning today. Traffic should not be affected and all roadways will remain open. The prescribed fires are also scheduled for Highway 23 between Rockville and Richmond and I-94 near MnROAD in Albertville. Prescribed fires may also occur alongside other state roads in Central Minnesota throughout the year. Motorists approaching prescribed fire work zone should slow down, watch for crews, and navigate with caution.
--A 27-year-old man is facing two felony charges of terroristic threats and two gross misdemeanor charges of stalking on suspicion of repeatedly threatening violence against a woman and her mother. According to the complaint, law enforcement met with two adult women on Wednesday who said they were being threatened by Christopher Steven Kenne of St. Cloud. Kenne was taken into custody and held in Stearns County Jail. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance today.
--A Stearns County Jail inmate already facing a murder charge is accused of threatening to kill four correctional officers while in custody. 21-year-old Desmond Ormandy Barzey was charged with second degree unintentional murder in connection with the shooting of a 19-year-old man in December in Waite Park. He could face additional charges after an altercation while he was in custody at Stearns County Jail. At approximately 12:45pm on April 22nd, four correctional officers were attempting to remove Barzey from his cell when he became uncooperative and attempted to kick the officers. Barzey spit on one officer and threatened to kill all four. Barzey faces four felony counts of terrorist threats and one count of felony assault in the fourth degree. Combined, the new charges carry a maximum penalty of 22 years in prison and a $44,000 fine. Barzey is scheduled to appear in court today regarding the new charges.
--A special thank you to all you took part in the Cash Cube event on Friday and won prizes from participating businesses. Keep listening for more changes to win with Cash Cube on Little Falls Radio.
DEATH NOTICES --Clara Kulus, age 88 of Flensburg --Doreen Zilka, age 92 of Little Falls --Michael “Mike” Henry, age 39 of Royalton --Elizabeth “Betty” Valley, age 87 of Little Falls
WEATHER TODAY= sunny and warm, high 82. TONIGHT= partly cloudy, rain toward morn, and mild, low 56 TUESDAY= showers and storms likely, high 67, low around 50. WEDNESDAY= showers & storms continue, high 64, low around 46,
SPORTS TWINS= Twins get 3 homers in the third inning alone to hold off the White Sox 6-4 on Friday. Eddie Rosario 4 hits, 5 RBIs Saturday as Twins win 8-4 over Chicago. Escobar and Rosario come up big again on Sunday to lift Twins to a 5-3 come from behind win to take three of four from the series. Twins in St. Louis tonight 6:30 on Q92. DERBY= Justify wins the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. --The Little Falls Activities Banquet is tonight 6:30pm at the Falls Ballroom. Pierz will be hosting their Academics Awards Night on Wednesday night at 6pm at the PAC in Pierz