NEWS --On Thursday the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force in cooperation with the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search warrant at the address of 15751 Grouse Road in Green Prairie Township located north of Little Falls. The search warrant is part of an investigation into the sales of methamphetamine and prescription pills in the Morrison County area. Upon executing the search warrant several people were present including the homeowner, 60-year old William Schurr of Green Prairie Township. During the search a quantity of methamphetamine was located. Schurr was arrested and transported to the Morrison County jail on sales and possession of controlled substance charges. No one else present at the house faces any charges at this time.
--Baxter police are investigating a home invasion Thursday afternoon at a residence on Fox Road. Police were called around 12:40pm and were told by the homeowner that someone was in his home and took items. Police say he would not elaborate much more on the suspect or the items. It is believed that this was not a random act and that the public is in no apparent danger. The invesitgation continues.
--A man from Canada faces several charges after he was accused of soliciting two ten-year-old girls from St. Cloud over social media. According to the criminal complaint back in March one of the girls received a friend request on Musical.ly by a man named Tommy. He started sending one of the girls sexual messages and asked the girls to send him nude photos and videos of themselves. Investigators were able to trace Tommy’s account and identify the man as 38-year-old Bryan Pringle, of Niagara Falls, Ontario. He was arrested and taken into custody in Canada. A warrant has been issued to extradite Pringle to St. Cloud. He faces five counts of solicitation of a minor, two counts of 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct and engaging in electronic sexual communication with a minor.
--The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is sending out a reminder that lakes, rivers and many waterways are still quite swollen from the August and September rains and many are breaking October records in central and western Minnesota. Around Delano Saturday the water was still over flood stage from the Crow River. The Misssissippi River is very high through Little Falls as the river goes up and over the concrete stairs inside Maple Island Park. A reminder again to watch for the high water areas from lakes and rivers as many still use it for fishing, canoeing, kayaking and other water activities with the warmer days ahead this next week.
--A pedestrian was hurt when he was hit while walking across the highway in downtown St. Cloud. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened about 2:00am Friday at the intersection of Highway 23 and 5th Avenue. A pickup driven by 62-year old Dennis Bessa of Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin was going west when he struck the man going against the crosswalk signal. 22-year old Bill Kum of St. Cloud, was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non life threatening injuries.
--On Monday, October 30th from 3:30-4:30pm will be the SPOOKTACULAR FUN RUN. The event is FREE and open to any age. Come for the walk/run or dress up as your favorite Halloween “spook” (or hunters camouflage). The event starts and finishes at the Little Falls High School track (approximately a 2-mile loop through the wooded trail near the high school). If you are willing to volunteer, please contact Kate at Live Better Live Longer 320-630-2275.
--The Little Falls City Council meets tonight 7:30pm at City Hall.
--Little Falls Radio is saddened to learn of the passing of Morrison County Commissioner Duane Johnson. Johnson died Thursday at age 66. Johnson served as District 5 Commissioner and was a member of the Swanville Lions and many other organizations. Funeral for Johnson is Wednesday at the Catholic Church in Swanville.
--The Minnesota Department of Transportation is seeking public comment regarding mowing and haying in ditches and other rights of way along state roadways. The agency announced it will conduct a series of listening sessions across the state to hear from Minnesotans about their concerns and wishes regarding mowing and haying. Listening sessions will be held in St. Cloud at the MnDOT conference center on 12th Street North at 6:30pm on November 9th, and at the Mn Dot Baxter facility on Industrial Park Road at 6pm on November 20th. Detailed information on the listening sessions is available at the project website. Additionally, concerned individuals who cannot attend a listening session, are invited to submit a public comment via MnDOT’s website.
--Fire crews battled a machine shed fire in St. Joseph Friday afternoon. The machine shed was on farm property in the 3300 block of County Road 133. Victor Weiss with the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says crews were called to the blaze shortly after 12:30pm. The St. Joseph Fire Department says no one was hurt in the fire and the shed is a total loss. Sartell-St. Stephen and Waite Park Fire Departments assisted St. Joseph on the scene.
--Four people were hurt in a three-vehicle crash south of Foley Friday morning. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at about 7:45am at the intersection of Highway 95 and Highway 25. A pickup driven by 73-year-old Karen Nyren of South Haven was going east on Highway 95 when it failed to stop at the stop sign and hit a car. The car was driven by 19-year old Anna Mazacek of Foley. Her vehicle was then pushed into a car that was sitting on the west side of Highway 95, which was driven by 37-year old William Nichols of Princeton. Mazacek and her passenger, eight-year old Lydia Anderson of Foley, were both taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Nichols and his passenger, 63-year old William Nichols senior of Princeton, were both taken to the Princeton hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Nyren was not hurt.
DEATH NOTICES --Duane Johnson, age 66 of Swanville --Florence J. Pietrowski, age 93 of Swanville.
WEATHER TODAY= sunny, breezy afternoon, high 60, clear night low 40. TUESDAY= sunny skies, high near 70, clear night low 46. WEDNESDAY= sunny and breezy, high 66, clouds increase, low 40.
SPORTS NFL= Vikings beat Green Bay 23-10 Sunday. Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone in the game and could miss the rest of the season. The Vikings at 4-2 will take on Baltimore this Sunday. COL FB= Michigan State held off Gophers Saturday 30-27. The Gophers host Illinois for Homecoming Saturday at 1:30 on KLTF. FB= Pierz beat Paynesville Area 42-6 to go to 7-0, Royalton beat Upsala/Swanville 35-8 on Friday, Royals 6-1. New London Spicer beat Little Falls 41-6, Flyers are 2-5. Regular season ends Wednesday.