NEWS
--On Friday at approximately 6:48pm, the Morrison County Sheriff's Office received a call regarding an overdue/missing hunter. The location was north of Ridge Road in Scandia Valley Township east of Hwy 10 and Southeast of Motley. Members of the Morrison County Sheriff's Office, Minnesota State Patrol (including State Patrol helicopter flight), DNR, Scandia Valley Fire and Rescue and Mayo Ambulance responded to the scene. An aerial and ground search was conducted, and the hunter was later located. The hunter is a 66-year-old male from Rogers. The hunter was treated and released at the scene with no injuries. The collaborative effort of all parties involved was essential to the search and rescue efforts. The Sheriff's Office reminds everyone to always have a charged cell phone, tell someone where you will be hunting and when you plan on returning.
--Back on November 5th around 4pm, a theft occurred from a hunting property on Thunder Road just west of the city of Staples, in Staples Township. The suspect was seen on photos put on the Todd County Sheriff's Office website and also the Morrison County Sheriff's Office Facebook page. Todd County is investigating. If you have information, please call the Sheriff's Office at 320-732-2158.
--A Cass Lake woman arrested for murder following the death of her 2-year-old son was found incompetent to stand trial. The boy was injured on August 19th and died on the 24th from a cardiac arrest event. Larena Renee Jackson, 30, of Cass Lake, was arrested and charged with felony second degree attempted murder with intent but not premeditated, felony first degree assault, felony malicious punishment of a child under 4 years old, and misdemeanor fleeing a peace officer. On August 25th the charges were amended from attempted murder to murder. During a hearing on Nov. 6, the prosecuting attorney, based on the opinion of an examiner, found Jackson was incompetent to stand trial. The state deemed that Jackson is unable to fully understand the charges filed against her because of a mental illness or cognitive impairment. As the criminal case involves a murder, Lindstrom said he filed paperwork for intent to prosecute, meaning if Jackson is later found competent to stand trial the criminal proceedings would continue. According to court documents, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call on August 19 where a child was reportedly run over by a vehicle at 9:34pm on the 14000 block of White Stone Loop, south of Cass Lake. When deputies arrived, they were told the child was run over and was not breathing. They began lifesaving efforts until emergency medical personnel arrived and transported the boy by ambulance to Sanford Hospital in Bemidji. He was then flown to Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota, with numerous life-threatening injuries and later died. Jackson first stated that she believed the father of the child ran the child over after a disagreement with Jackson. Evidence later proved it was Jackson that ran the child over in a rage with the father which mental illness played a factor according to the courts.
--The Brainerd Fire Department responded to a kitchen fire at 5:51am last Tuesday on the 500 block of Northeast Eighth Avenue. Brainerd Fire Chief Tim Holmes said there was a small oil fire in the kitchen that was out when crews arrived. Fire crews checked to make sure the fire had not spread and ventilated the house. The home sustained minimal damage, mostly concentrated around the stove. No injuries were reported from the incident.
--Pierz City Council meets tonight at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
--A man learns his fate for shooting someone in the chest during a “ghost gun” sale gone wrong in Avon. A ghost gun is assembled with individually purchased parts from the internet, so the gun would not be traceable. Emmanuel “Smurf” Johnson pleaded guilty in October to first-degree aggravated robbery with a gun and had two other counts dismissed. The St. Paul man was sentenced in Stearns County District Court on Thursday by Judge Andrew Pearson to just over five and a half years in prison. He was given credit for 78 days in jail and was ordered to pay $1,800 in restitution. Johnson met the 18-year-old buyer on March 8th, 2022, in the 300 block of Char Avenue Northeast. Court records show the victim got into the backseat, and after $800 was handed over as agreed, Johnson allegedly demanded more money and shot the victim in the chest. The victim fled the car and went to a nearby home for help.
--A two-car crash in St. Michael over the noon hour Friday sent two people to the hospital. The Minnesota State Patrol says 57-year-old Patricia Bury of St. Michael was westbound on Highway 241 while a Buick Encore, driven by 87-year-old Jeanette Henke of St. Michael, was eastbound on Highway 241. Henke attempted a left-hand turn onto Larabee Avenue when the two vehicles crashed in the intersection. Henke had non-life-threatening injuries, and a passenger in the other vehicle, 91-year-old Rose Philips of Rogers, also reported to have non-life-threatening injuries.
--On the evening of November 9, 2002, Joshua Guimond went to a party with friends on the campus of St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota. After leaving the party, Joshua has not been seen since. The investigation into Joshua’s disappearance continues to be an active investigation for the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office. If anyone has information regarding Joshua’s disappearance or any other information that could be helpful, please contact Investigator Andy Struffert at 320-259-3737 or submit a tip on the Stearns County Sheriff's Office web page, or submit a tip via the QR code.
--The West Side Improvement Association invites businesses, service organizations, youth groups, schools, and churches to be part of the annual Santa Parade on Friday, November 24 in historic downtown Little Falls starting at 6pm. The annual parade is always the Friday after Thanksgiving, starts on Lindbergh Drive South at Broadway, crosses the Mississippi River to Bank Square, turns north on 1st Street NE ending at 3rd Avenue NE in front of the Fire Hall. Line up starts at 5pm. There is no entry fee to have a presence in the parade. To enter your unit in the parade, contact Mary during business hours at 320.632.5155 or email to mary@littlefallsmnchamber.com. Applications are appreciated by Tuesday, November 21.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly sunny skies, high 51.
TONIGHT= cloudy skies, few sprinkles late, low 38.
TUESDAY= sunny and mild, breezy, high 59, low around 41.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, less windy, high 54, low near 32.
SPORTS
NFL= Josh Dobbs leads the Vikings to a 5th straight win as they beat New Orleans Sunday 27-19. Vikings go to 6-4 on the year.
COL FB= Purdue thumps the Gophers 49-30 on Saturday.
VB= Congratulations to Pequot Lakes winning the Class AA State Volleyball Championship Saturday. Detroit Lakes was 4th in AAA.
HS FB= State Semi-Finals at U.S. Bank start Thursday.