NEWS
--At 4:24pm Thursday the Morrison County Sheriff's Office received a report of an ATV accident with injuries near the intersection of 63rd Street and 210th Avenue, in Bellevue Township, approximately five miles northeast of Royalton. 24-year old Emily Bartkowicz of Little Falls was driving an ATV eastbound in the ditch along 63rd Street. Bartkowicz attempted to go over the road approach when she hit a culvert and flew off the ATV. Bartkowicz was taken by ambulance to St. Gabriel’s Hospital with a possible back injury.
--The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is seeking to identify and interview any women who may have been in a significant relationship with 29-year old James Joseph Robert Wood, the person charged in the death of a 7 month old child from Rice. The investigation into this homicide indicates that James Wood has been using on-line dating sites, including plentyoffish.com, to initiate romantic relationships with women. Detectives would like to identify and interview all women who were involved in a significant relationship with James Wood over the past 11 years. Detectives are seeking information on any past patterns of violence or abuse in these relationships. Those who have been in a significant relationship with James Wood since 2007 are asked to contact the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.
--An early morning fire burned a jet ski rental business near Nisswa Thursday. The Brainerd Fire Department received the call just after 2:00am and responded to heavy fire and smoke at Dockside Rental on the southwest side of Round Lake, in Unorganized Territory between Brainerd and Nisswa. Flames burned on the east side of the building, with heavy smoke throughout, when firefighters arrived at the scene. Crews used extensive overhaul to put the fire out as the building was originally constructed in the late 1930s and had a lot of older construction elements inside. The state fire marshal is investigating the cause. Suspicious activity is not suspected.
--The scams, known as “phishing,” targeted the Department of Human Services and happened on June 28th and July 9th. But affected individuals did not find out until this month. However, there is no evidence that compromised information has been “viewed, downloaded, or misused,” Commissioner Emily Piper stated in a letter to individuals affected by the hacks. The department told people affected by the attacks to keep an active eye on their credit card reports. It said it will release a report on the incidents. The state’s information technology department, MNIT, was able to eliminate the threat and stop the spread of phishing emails within two hours of finding out about the compromised accounts, according to Aaron Call, the state’s chief information security officer. The reason hackers will use the phishing method, MNIT stated, is because it is often easier to trick someone into giving up their password or sensitive information than hacking into an entire system.
--Mary of Lourdes Schools and their youth group will present the Harvest Moon Ball and Haunted House fundraiser this Friday at the middle school from 7-10pm. The Harvest Moon Ball, held in conjunction with the haunted house, includes a DJ with a dance, drawings for prizes, a hayride, pumpkin decorating (guests can take their pumpkin home), pumpkin bowling, cookie decorating, face painting and a coloring corner and concessions. Students must be accompanied by an adult. There is a nominal fee to attend. All proceeds go to Mary of Lourdes Schools and youth group programs.
--Foley police are seeking information regarding a recent act of vandalism. Police Chief Katie McMillin says they received a report of at least two people intentionally walking through, throwing rocks and writing in wet cement in the 100 block of Dewey Street. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Foley Police Department at 320-968-0800.
--A man who was kidnapped and sexually assaulted as a child by the same man who abducted and killed Jacob Wetterling got his day in court Friday. Jared Scheierl was 12 when Danny Heinrich assaulted him in Minnesota, nine months before 11-year old Jacob was kidnapped in October 1989. Jacob's abduction grabbed national headlines and was unsolved until 2016, when Heinrich confessed as part of a plea deal in a child pornography case. He's serving 20 years in federal prison. Heinrich also confessed to kidnapping and assaulting Scheierl but could not be charged because too much time had passed. Scheierl sued Heinrich, accusing him of sexual battery and false imprisonment and alleging Heinrich caused severe and permanent psychological injuries. The lawsuit seeks more than $50,000 in damages and the cost of psychological treatment.
--The St. Cloud Police Department is looking for a man who broke into a woman's house and exposed himself. The incident happened Friday morning in the 700 block of 7th Ave South around 6am. Police say a woman reported a naked man was in her bedroom exposing and touching himself sexually. The house is a multi-unit residence, and the man fled when the woman called 9-1-1. Police say the man was described as being of mixed race, 5'5" to 5'8", and 30 to 40 years of age with a "beer belly," short or shaved hair, facial hair along his jaw, and a hairy chest. They also say you should remember to lock your windows and doors overnight or when you are not at home.
--A Big Lake man is dead after being struck by a car on Highway 10 in Becker Friday night around 7:30pm. 23-year old Anastasia Mattson of Brainerd was on Highway 10 at Becker when 66-year-old Francis Pittman ran across the highway but was struck by the vehicle. Pittman died at the scene. Mattson was treated at the scene for some lacerations but not hospitalized.
DEATH NOTICES
--Allen Skochenski, age 78 of Pierz.
--Marvin Tretter, age 83 of Pierz.
--Scott A. Luing, age 57 of Little Falls.
--Erna M. Wetzel, age 81 of Little Falls.
--Sister Mary Annella Bieniek, age 93 of St. Francis Convent, LF.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny, turning very windy, high 51.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low around 27.
TUESDAY= sunny and cooler, high 44, low near 26.
WEDNESDAY= sunny, high 48, rain/snow mix develops late, low 35.
SPORTS
NFL= another big game for Adam Thielen and the Vikings defense as the Vikings rout the Jets 37-17 Sunday to go to 4-2-1 on the season. The Vikings host 6-1 New Orleans Sunday night on AM960 KLTF.
COL FB= Nebraska beat up Gophers 53-28 on Saturday. MN drops to 3-4 and will host Indiana Friday night at 7:00pm on AM960 KLTF.
MLB= The Red Sox and Dodgers will play each other in World Series.