NEWS --Around 8:20am Friday the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a capsized hunting boat with 3 hunters including two from Morrison County in the water on Camp Lake, located in Southeastern Crow Wing County. The reporting party was one of the persons involved and was staying with the boat. One person was reported to be swimming to shore with his waders on. When deputies arrived on scene at 8:39am they observed a pontoon with the individuals on board. All 3 hunters were treated by Garrison Fire personnel for possible hypothermia. The 71-year old lake resident, John Pufahl, who rescued the hunters was in his home having coffee and observed something shiny across lake. Realizing someone was in trouble, he was able to drive his pontoon out to the victims and help them and their dogs out of the water and bring them to shore. This time of year with the cold water, the body only has minutes until it loses the use of arms and legs. The hunters in this case probably would not have lived if it weren’t for the quick action of the lake resident. Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl would like to remind all persons to wear personal floatation devices while enjoying recreation in the area lakes. The hunters are: 39-year old Jason Worlie of Bowlus, 43-year old Jayme Doucette from Becker and 30-year old Andrew LeBlanc from Little Falls.
--Morrison County Soil and Water will be conducting Nitrate testing this week. Bring a water sample to the soil and water office in a plastic baggie and they will test your nitrate quality. This is done to help protect the groundwater resources in the area. Again nitrate testing will be done today through Thursday from 7:30am to 5pm and then on Friday from 8am-12pm. Soil and water will be stopping early on Friday due to the retirement open house of Helen McClennan and Marvin Stangl who have both had over 30+ years each in the soil and water community of Morrison County from 4-7pm at Camp Ripley on Friday the 19th. For more information on the nitrate testing or the open house call Shannon at Soil and Water at 631-3551.
--A half-naked woman stole a Wright County deputy's squad car Friday morning which led to several mile police chase down Interstate 94. The incident started around 7:00am in the 2000 block of 90th Street Northeast in Monticello Township. Wright County deputies received a 911 call from a homeowner saying a woman was at her front door asking to use her phone. The caller said the woman appeared to be in physical and mental distress. Shortly later, a second 911 call came in with a homeowner on the same block saying a half-naked woman was inside her home. A deputy arrived at the scene they saw the woman standing outside of the residence. The woman then ran back inside the house and grabbed a knife. The deputy tried to calm the woman down but police say she jumped through a window of the home and climbed into the deputy's squad car. Authorities say the woman sped away in the squad car, making her way up westbound I-94. As she made her way into St. Cloud, Stearns County deputies deployed stop sticks near County Road 75, which brought an end to the chase. Deputies say the woman then got out of the squad car and tried to open the doors of several passing vehicles that were slowed down on the interstate. Officers were able to arrest the woman before she got into another vehicle. A Minnesota State Patrol trooper and the woman were taken to St. Cloud Hospital to be treated for minor injuries. Charges are pending.
--Brainerd police around 3:15pm Thursday attempted to stop 28-year old Devon Majersky, knowing he was driving with a canceled license. Officers turned on their lights to stop him and he accelerated and began to flee south on 6th Street through a road construction zone, which led to workers scattering to avoid being hit. No workers were injured. Majersky continued through the work zone at a very high rate of speed causing damage to installed traffic control devices. Majerksy continued to flee officers heading through several side streets, going through yards of many homes, then drove into the industrial park area and finally into the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds where he eventually crashed into a chain link fence causing a squad car to crash. This did extensive damage to his vehicle, the squad car and the fencing. He then fled on foot and was apprehended in a wooded-swampy area. Majerky was arrested and faces multiple charges in Crow Wing County. Police were thankful that no one was harmed.
--A freight-truck driver was injured Sunday morning around 9:25 on Highway 95 near Princeton in Mille Lacs County. 73-year-old Donavin Larson of Bagley was on 95 when the truck left Highway and rolled. Larson was treated for injuries at the Princeton hospital.
--Stearns County authorities are looking for suspects in a case of property theft and damage in St. Wendel Township. The sheriff's office says on Tuesday morning, they were called out to the 33000 block of County Road 133, the site of a Stearns Electric substation. Carr Tree Service had several vehicles and a chipper parked there overnight. When workers arrived in the morning, they noticed the smell of fuel and found damage done to some equipment and missing items. The thieves took around $241 worth of property. They also cut the fuel line of the wood chipper. Anyone with information is asked to call the Stearns County Sheriff's Office at 320-251-4240.
--The Little Falls School Board meets today at 5pm at the community middle school's media center. Agenda items include approval of the district's fitness challenge, approval of Assurance of Compliance, a high school league grant application, take action on the revised budget and the minimum food prices for adults for the next school year. They will also propose the 2019 meeting schedule.
DEATH NOTICES --Robert “Bob” Sitzman, age 57 of Little Falls.
WEATHER TODAY= early flurries, PM sunshine, high 42. TONIGHT= partly cloudy skies, low near 30. TUESDAY= sunny skies, gusty winds, high 44, low 27. WEDNESDAY= sunny, not as windy, high 45, low 33.
SPORTS NFL= Adam Thielen had his 6th 100 yard receiving game of the season as the Vikings (3-2-1) beat Arizona 27-17 Sunday. The Vikings are on the road against the New York Jets Sunday. COL FB= Ohio State beat the Gophers 30-14 Saturday. The Gophers will travel to Nebraska on Saturday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF. HS FB= Pierz is now 7-0 after 47-14 win at Paynesville, Royalton also goes to 7-0 with a 28-14 win over Upsala/Swanville, New London-Spicer beat Little Falls. The regular season finales for all area teams come on Wednesday with the shortened school week.