NEWS --The Benton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two vehicle accident with injuries in Sauk Rapids Township around 5:45pm Tuesday at the intersection of Mayhew Lake Road NE and 35th Street NE. Investigating deputies learned Griffin Doherty age 19 of Sauk Rapids had collided with 35-year old Lindsey Kampa of Royalton. Doherty had been traveling northbound on Mayhew Lake Road and had attempted to turn left onto westbound 35th Street NE. Kampa was approaching the intersection southbound on Mayhew Lake Rd NE as Doherty initiated his left turn. Doherty turned left in front of Kampa resulting in the vehicles colliding nearly head on in the intersection. Neither Griffin Doherty nor his passenger, 14-year old Graham Doherty of Sauk Rapids were injured. Kampa suffered serious, but non-life threatening injuries while Kampa’s passenger, 12-year old Connor Hebler of Royalton suffered minor injuries in the collision. Kampa and Hebler were taken to the St. Cloud Hospital.
--A Pierz man is accused of assaulting a woman and ripping a phone off a wall. 31-year old Tony Robert Funk faces a felony domestic assault charge following an incident reported at 4:13am Tuesday at a residence in Brockway Township of Stearns County. When officers arrived, they spoke with a woman who said Funk pushed her and hit her with his coat after she asked him to stop smoking. The woman said she was afraid Funk would hit her, and that he threw several items, damaging a refrigerator, and ripped a phone off the wall.
--A pedestrian was critically hurt Thursday morning after being struck by an SUV in Benton County. Around 3:30am, 35-year-old Melissa Strand of Princeton was on Highway 23 turning onto County Road 4 in Foley when she struck a pedestrian in the lane of traffic. Stand was not hurt. The pedestrian, 34-year-old Michael Brand of St. Cloud was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with life-threatening/critical injuries.
--Two people were hurt on Highway 47 in Hillman Township Wednesday around 6:40pm when the first vehicle driven by 25-year-old Dylan Clark of Cloquet stopped for a deer and was rearended by a 17-year-old female, who the state patrol did not release the name. The 17-year-old was taken to Mora hospital for treatment of injuries, the other driver was treated at the scene.
--Two people were injured Wednesday around 5pm in Onamia at 350th Avenue and Highway 169 when one vehicle failed to yield to another. The drivers, 77-year-old Lynn Abbott of Plymouth and 64-year-old Marianne Lease of Onamia both sustained injuries. Abbott was treated in Onamia while Lease was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with more serious but considered non-life threatening injuries.
--U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Roger Wicker of Mississippi led a bipartisan letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, urging the Department of Agriculture and Department of the Interior to conduct an extensive examination of chronic wasting disease. CWD is a contagious neurological disorder affecting deer, elk and other cervids and already posing a serious threat to deer populations across the country. The frequency of CWD has grown, and the disease has been identified in as many as 25 states, including Minnesota along with also being found in three Canadian provinces.
--A Pequot Lakes man was injured Thursday in Cass County when his vehicle slid on an icy patch of road in Walden Township and struck the ditch. 32-year-old James Dalquist had non serious injuries.
--Tim Sumner wants to thank all who came and ate at the Community Thanksgiving meal was held at the Little Falls Community High School. According to Tim Sumner who helped organize the event, a little over 500 people were served. It is also worth noting close to 100 volunteers helped with the Thanksgiving meal.
--A Pillager couple is warning the public about a large sweepstakes scam that called them. The caller said they received a $2.5 million dollar win from Publisher's Clearing House. The money wasn't the end of the riches offered as the prize reportedly came with a luxury Lincoln. This time, she knew what sounded too good to be true was exactly that when the caller wanted her to send him money to deliver her the millions—$450 to be exact. The caller said if she didn't pay the money, they would be forced to call the next person on the list and the millions and the Lincoln would go to someone else. The person hung up but was afraid the next person who picks up the phone call would fall for it. A family member called Publishers Clearing House and they confirmed they would never ask for money up front to receive a prize. If you receive such calls like this and they as for any financial amount, hang up this is a scam.
--Today is the final day to get tickets for the Little Falls Community High School's Madrigal Dinner this Sunday at the Falls Ballroom. Ticket order forms are available at the Little Falls High School activities office or by calling 616-2207 before end of business hours today. The dinner is a fund raiser for the Little Falls Concert Choir for their triennial tour.
--The Pierz City Council will meet tonight at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
DEATH NOTICES --Lloyd E. Fritz, age 90 of Little Falls.
WEATHER TODAY= morning flurries, then partly sunny, high 16. TONIGHT= partly cloudy, cold, low 4 above. TUESDAY= partly sunny, high 17, clear and cold, low near 0. WEDNESDAY= snow showers develop, heavier at night, high 22.
SPORTS COL FB= The Gophers got the Axe back for the first time since 2003 as the Gophers beat Wisconsin in Madison Saturday 37-15 to finish the season at 6-6 meaning they are now bowl eligible and will find out this weekend if they get a Bowl bid for the postseason. PREP BOWL= Spring Grove won 9 man 40-18 over Mountain Lake Area, Caledonia wins the AA title over Barnesville 21-0, SMB Wolfpack wins the 4A title 44-18 over Willmar and Lakeville North knocked off Eden Prairie in 6A 28-21 all on Friday. On Saturday, Mahomen-Waubun held off BOLD 22-21 for Class A title. Rochester Lourdes takes the 3A crown 24-7 win over Fairmont and Owatonna defeated St Thomas Acadamy 14-3 to win 5A title and finish off Prep Bowl. NFL= Vikings hold off Green Bay 24-17 to win Sunday night. The Vikings are now 6-4-1 and are at New England this Sunday at 3:25.
TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1863= President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the final Thursday of November as Thanksgiving being a national holiday. In 1942 it was moved to the fourth Thursday of November, so stores had more time to sell their items for the Christmas holiday.