NEWS
--The group that runs the online investigation website Find-Jodi-dot-com, dedicated to Mason City T-V anchor Jodi Huisentruit, who vanished in 1996, says they’ve confirmed no human remains were found in a recent search in Minnesota. The Mason City Police Department recently searched an area in Winsted, Minnesota, which is about 15 miles west of the edge of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Winsted’s police chief Justin Heldt tells the investigation group that farm animal remains were found in an unused city park that is adjacent to construction underway at an apartment complex. Heldt says it is not unusual in a rural community like Winsted to find animal bones. Mason City’s police said a tip prompted the search. Since Jodi vanished in 1995 there have been hundreds of tips called into Mason City Police, though they have investigated all of them, they still are not any closer to finding Huisentruit, the Long Prairie native.
--Fog caused a five-vehicle crash on Highway 10 in Benton County Friday morning. A 2011 Ford Fusion driven by a 52-year-old man from Crosby was trying to turn onto Highway 10 when it collided with a GMC sport utility vehicle. The Acadia was slowing down due to another crash in the area. The incident started a chain reaction involving a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander, a 2004 Chevy Silverado, and a 2019 Kenworth Tractor. Only one person was injured. A 62-year-old man from Holdingford who was behind the wheel of the pickup truck was treated by Mayo Ambulance for non-life-threatening injuries. The accident occurred at Halfway Crossing in Langola Township.
--A 19-year-old Platte, South Dakota, man died back on November 10th after he was ejected from a vehicle on County Road 139 in Wadena County. The Wadena County Sheriff’s Office responded to the crash around 3am just outside of Nimrod. According to the crash report, deputies responded to a crash after being notified by an automated crash alert system. Locating the crash and finding one person ejected from the vehicle, deputies provided first aid care until Sebeka Fire and Rescue and Astera Ambulance arrived to take over care. The driver, Izaahk Kruft, was transported by ambulance to Lakewood Health in Staples. Kruft was then transported to CentraCare-St. Cloud Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Through investigation, deputies believe the vehicle entered the west ditch of County Road 139 when it over corrected back onto the roadway, causing the vehicle to roll multiple times before coming to a rest in the east ditch. This crash remains under investigation by the sheriff’s office, but speed and no seatbelt use appear to be preliminary factors in the crash.
--A St. Cloud man formerly of Brooklyn Park has been sentenced for trafficking women in central Minnesota. A Stearns County judge has sentenced 47-year-old Terrell Fields to 23 years in prison. He gets credit for having served 274 days in the county jail. Fields pleaded guilty to one count of promoting prostitution in September. Twenty-three other counts were dismissed at sentencing. The Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force began investigating Fields in November 2023. The criminal complaint alleges Fields was trafficking as many as five women, including a pregnant woman he was in a relationship with. The charges say Fields ran part of his trafficking operation out of an apartment on West St. Germain Street but also drove the victims to other locations, including the Twin Cities.
--A pedestrian was struck Friday around 6:40pm on Highway 47 in Lewis Township of Mille Lacs County. Authorities say an SUV was on Highway 47 and 37-year-old Fawn Morse of Lewis Township was walking down the middle of the roadway and was struck. Morse was taken to the Mora Hospital with reportedly life threatening injuries. The driver and passenger in the SUV were not injured. The driver is cooperating with the state patrol.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office wanted to inform the Pierz area if you heard the tornado sirens going off Friday afternoon that was a test by emergency management on the sirens in Pierz.
--Colonel Timothy Wilhelm who was Unit Commander of the Co. F 747th Maintenance Battalion at Camp Ripley and Princeton has died. Col. Wilhelm was 74 years old ans passed away at his home back on Thursday, November 14th. The funeral will be Friday in Princeton.
--There will be an Upsala Community Thanksgiving meal at the Word of Life Church, 3328 1st Avenue West, west of Upsala on County Road 19, on Thursday, November 28, Thanksgiving Day, serving from 11:30 to 1:30. Turkey, ham and all the trimmings will be served. Meals are available to go also and this is a free community meal. If you have any questions, call 573-4450.
DEATH NOTICES
--Willard “Bill” Hecht, age 76 of Little Falls.
--Dick Eich, age 96 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= AM sunshine, rain develops late day, high 51.
TONIGHT= rain, heavy overnight 1-2 inches, low 40.
TUESDAY= rain and windy, heavy in AM, high 42 then falling temps
into Tuesday night, rain changes to snow late night, low 28.
WEDNESDAY= snow in morning, up to 1 inch, high around 32.
SPORTS
NFL= Vikings beat Tennessee 23-13 on Sunday after a fast start the defense held Titans for Vikings to go to 8-2, play Chicago Sunday. Other NFC North action Detroit routs Jacksonville 52-6, Lions 9-1 and Green Bay blocks a field goal to beat Chicago 20-19, Packers 7-3.
HS FB= Staples-Motley is heading to the Prep Bowl championship for the first time since 1988 with a 36-24 win over Chatfield on Friday night. Also Friday Jackson County Central defeated Kimball 34-26. Elk River beat Chanhassen 21-19. Totino Grace and Maple Grove won. On Saturday Minneota beat Parkers Prairie 45-0, Dassel Cokato rallied late to beat Pequot Lakes 29-26, Stewartville beat Albany 33-20 and Alexandria and Springfield also won on Saturday to head to the 2024 Prep Bowl this Friday and Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
HS SWIM= Congratulations to Brainerd swimmer Mya Tautges who finished 1st in 50 freestyle, 2nd with her 200 relay team, and 3rd in the 100 freestyle at the State Swimming Tournament on Saturday.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1865= first publications of Samuel Clemens, using the pen name, Mark Twain like “Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”.
IN 1928= “Steamboat Willie” with Mickey Mouse debuts in theaters.
IN 1963= Bell Telephone introduces push button telephones.