[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Newsletter: Monday, November 23rd 2015[/title][fusion_text]
NEWS
–Two out of state men were arrested and charges will be sought against two others after officers of the Brainerd Lakes Area Sex Trafficking Team conducted a sting at a Brainerd hotel. On Thursday undercover officers at a Brainerd hotel arrested 50-year old Scott Dinham of Winthrop, Washington and 40-year old Chadwick Schwerdtfeger of Waupaca, Wisconsin for gross misdemeanor charges of soliciting prostitution in a public place. Both are in custody at the Crow Wing County Jail awaiting formal charges. Both responded to online ads for escort services and then engaged in conversations and interaction with undercover police officers where they solicited sex in exchange for money. Officers working the sting also had contact with two other adult males and anticipate future charges on both for solicitation. This is the fifth sting conducted by the team in the area in the past seven months. Results continue to show the problem that exists.
–A former St. Cloud-area dentist pleaded guilty this week to a misdemeanor indecent exposure charge in an agreement in which the conviction will not be on his record if he completes probation. 59-year old Jeffrey Anthony Rupp pleaded guilty to a charge in which he admitted that he committed lewd or indecent behavior with a young girl. He had been accused of touching the intimate parts of the girl over her clothing. That charge was dismissed as were three other counts of indecent exposure. The conviction will not appear on his record if Rupp complies with several conditions imposed by the judge. The conduct happened when Rupp was giving the girl a massage, and Rupp didn’t deny that he gave the girl massages.
–A man convicted in the death of the 2-year-old son of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been sentenced to life in prison in South Dakota. The child, Tyrese Robert Ruffin, died in October 2013. An autopsy concluded he sustained four blows to the head that doctors said couldn’t have been accidental. A jury in September convicted 29-year-old Joseph Patterson of second-degree murder, which carries a life sentence. He was sentenced Thursday. Tyrese was the son of Patterson’s girlfriend and Peterson, who has said he found out Tyrese was his son about two months earlier. Peterson had been working with Tyrese’s mother to arrange meeting the boy when he was told Tyrese was hospitalized. Peterson said he raced to South Dakota and saw Tyrese a day before he died.
–US 8th District Democratic Representative Rick Nolan on Thursday voted in favor of a House of Representatives bill that would increase restrictions on Syrian and Iraqi refugees entering the country. The GOP-authored bill, which President Barack Obama has promised to veto, is named the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015, or “SAFE” act. It would require the heads of several federal agencies to personally confirm each refugee is not a threat.
–On Friday the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development made the broadband funding grant announcement. Two area companies received funding. The Consolidated Telecommunications Co for the Fort Ripley Phase II project received $759,525, and the West Central Telephone Association for the Highway 71 Wadena North Expansion project got $195,515.
–The Santa Parade is Friday at 6:00pm in Little Falls. Route begins on the west side at Lindbergh Drive South and then heads east on Highway 27 to Bank Square and up to the fire hall.
–The Pierz City Council meets tonight 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
–The Minnesota State Patrol reported that around 8pm last night there was a fatal accident on Highway 27 east of Lastrup in Morrison County. No other details were released.
–A pedestrian was killed Friday in Benton County after being struck by a truck. Around 7:30, 27-year-old Sabrina Rasmussen of Montrose was north on Highway 10 near Highway 23 near St. Cloud when a pedestrian was walking into the left lane of traffic and struck by the truck. The pedestrian, 55-year-old Mark Schafer of St. Cloud died at the secne. Rasmussen and her passenger had no injuries.
–A 61-year-old from Walker was injured Saturday just after midnight on Highway 200 in Cass County when another vehicle crossed the center-line and struck Kaye Schwartz head on. Schwartz was taken to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The other driver, 27-year-old Brittani Tschudi of Menahga had no apparent injuries.
–Stearns County deputies responded with the Paynesville fire department to a fire on King Bee Drive in Paynesville Township Friday night around 11:00pm. A structure was on fire that was previously being remodeled and was not being lived in at the time. An LP heater that was being used to cure freshly poured cement inside of the structure is believed to have started the fire. The residence, tools, and a skid steer inside the garage were all total losses. The building was approximately 24 feet by 30 feet and had two levels.
–An 81-year-old was injured Sunday around 3:40pm on Highway 6 near Emily in Crow Wing County. Colleen Westlin of Crystal lost control on an icy road and struck the ditch. The State Patrol reported she was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries.
–Kenny and Diana Jansen of Nashville will be performing a Nashville Country Christmas on December 26th at the Falls Ballroom in Little Falls. The event is a fundraiser for Mary of Lourdes Schools.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny, high 35, cloudy night, low 23.
TUESDAY= partly sunny, high 37, cloudy night, low 29.
WEDNESDAY= rain/freezing rain and snow, high 38, low 26.
THANKSGIVING= snow likely and windy, high near 30.
SPORTS
COL FB= Gophers hold off Illinois 32-23 Saturday. The 5-6 Gophers will host Wisconsin Saturday in regular season finale at TCF Bank.
NFL= Aaron Rodgers tossed two touchdowns and Eddie Lacy had 100 yards rushing as Green Bay beat Minnesota Vikings 30-13 Sunday. The Vikings and Packers are both 7-3 as Green Bay has Chicago Thursday night and the Vikings travel to Atlanta Sunday.
NFL= Buffalo at New England tonight 6:45pm on KLTF.
HS BHK= Alexandria at Little Falls 6:45pm Tuesday on Q92 WYRQ
HS BBB= Little Falls at ROCORI 7:30pm Tuesday on FM94 KFML.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1863= first color photographs are demonstrated.
IN 1889= first jukebox on display in San Francisco, California.
IN 1936= first issue of Life Magazine hits newstands.
IN 1963= President John F. Kennedy’s body lay in repose in the East Room of the White House after being returned from Dallas, Texas where the President was assassinated the day before.
IN 1963= Dr. Who debuted on British Television.
IN 1970= The Partridge Family had #1 song with I Think I Love You.
IN 1977= Jesus Christ Superstar debuts on Broadway.
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