--A 36-year-old from Pierz was killed Friday morning on 25 Highway at County Road 2 south of Brainerd in Crow Wing County. At 7:52am, a minivan driven by 36-year-old Kelly Schmidtbauer of Pierz was northbound on highway 25, a tractor-trailer truck driven by 59-year-old Brent Chase of Staples was eastbound on County road 2 when it failed to yield. Schmidtbauer struck the back of Chase's semi in the intersection, causing the truck to roll. The truck came to rest on the south shoulder of County road 2, the minivan came to rest northbound 25 in the intersection at County road 2. The State Patrol reported that Schmidtbauer was pronounced dead at the scene. Chase reportedly had life threatening injuries and was taken to an area hospital then airlifted to North Memorial in Robbinsdale.
--An accident injured a McGregor man Thursday night at 10:28pm on Highway 210 near 305th Avenue in Aitken County. Vaundell Kingbird was driving west on Highway 210 when he left the roadway and rolled over in the northside ditch. Kingbird was taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth. Alcohol was believed to be a factor.
--A Stearns County judge has sentenced a St. Joseph man Thursday to just over 28 years in prison for sexually assaulting a teenage girl multiple times over the last three years. 36-year-old Joseph Langner was convicted in July on two counts of 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 16-years-old and a significant relationship. St. Joseph police met with a 14-year-old girl who had been living at a home with Langner. The girl told officers she moved into the home when she was 11-years-old and that's when the sexual assaults began. According to the criminal complaint, Langner forced intercourse and other sex acts on the girl multiple times from early March 2015 until mid-August of last year. Langner received just over a year of credit for time served. He's eligible for parole after 19 years.
--A Clearwater man was hurt in a crash involving a train Thursday afternoon. The incident happened around 12:30pm on Highway 24 in Clear Lake. The Minnesota State Patrol says 57-year-old Terry Brockman drove over the railroad tracks when the arms were down, and was hit by a southbound train. Brockman was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
--State officials say more than 5,000 citations have been issued to drivers in Minnesota since a hands-free law took affect in August. The new law makes it illegal to use a cellphone while driving. Department of Public Safety says law enforcement officers don't have to determine what drivers are doing with their cellphones, just the fact they have it in their hands is a violation. The law allows a driver to use voice commands or single-touch activation to make calls, text, listen to music or podcasts and get directions. Minnesota became the 19th state with a hands-free law when it took effect August 1st. Fines are $50 for the first offense and $275 for each subsequent violation.
--There are blood drives scheduled for this week today at Shepherd of the Pines in Rice starting this afternoon from 1:30-6:45pm and St. Francis Convent in Little Falls Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, appointments for the convent can be made by calling 632-0663.
--20 area businesses seeking to fill job openings with Veterans will attend the Veterans job fair on Thursday, November 14, from 11am-1pm at the St. Cloud Veterans Affairs auditorium on Veteran's drive in St. Cloud. The job fair is open to all Veterans. No preregistration is required. Contact Brad Steele at (320) 333-0222 or Bradley.Steele@va.gov if you have questions.
--Adam Boone announced Saturday that Boone's Market in Randall is officially open for business. Boone made this post on Facebook Saturday night that Boone’s Market is officially open!! After many late nights and a lot of hard work, we are excited to finally bring a full service grocery store back to Randall. Please be patient as we work on becoming your favorite store to shop at! We look forward to seeing you all soon! Many in the Randall reported also that they are pleased to have a grocery store opened once again in Randall.
--Two people were hurt, one seriously Saturday afternoon when a Jeep struck a power-pole on Highway 371 in Baxter. 66-year-old Eugene Piccolo of St. Paul was on 371 at Woida Road and struck the pole causing his vehicle to go off the highway into the right of way. He had non life-threatening injuries. His passenger 54-year-old Thomas Degree of Lake Elmo had multiple serious lacerations that caused him to be airlifted to North Memorial in Robbindale where it was reported he had life threatening injuries.
--The Morrison County Area Foundation is presenting Michael Shynes in concert Friday night at the Falls Ballroom in Little Falls. The concert is a fundraiser for Early Childhood Education funds in Morrison County to the area schools. The cost of tickets is $20 and there will be another band performing first at 6pm then Michael Shynes at 7pm, silent auction and refreshments too. This is a family friendly event so bring the whole family. Tickets will be available at the door the night of the event with doors opening at 5:30pm on Friday.
--The Pierz City Council meets tonight at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
DEATH NOTICES
--Kelly Schmidtbauer, age 36 of Pierz.
--Terri Erbstoesser, age 62 of Little Falls.
--Phyliss Moody Werkman, age 90 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= increasing clouds, high 36.
TONIGHT= clearing skies, chilly temps, low 20.
TUESDAY= sunny skies, high 34, clear night low around 18.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 33, clear night low around 19.
SPORTS
HS FB= Pierz rolls to a 48-0 win over Minnewaska Saturday and will play Albany in the battle of unbeatens Friday night at 8pm at St. Cloud State University on FM94. Moose Lake/Willow River came back to beat Royalton Saturday 20-8 eliminating the Royals. Paynesville Area eliminated Holdingford Saturday 38-6. Other football notes, Foley, Brainerd and Staples-Motley lost playoff games on Saturday while teams like Rocori, Browerville-Eagle Valley and Pillager won.
HS VB= Little Falls and Upsala were eliminated Friday. Royalton plays Albany Tuesday night at 7pm on Q92 WYRQ.
COL FB= The Gophers roll to a 52-10 win over Maryland on Saturday to stay unbeaten at 8-0. The Gophers ranked #13 are idle this week before taking on unbeaten Penn State on November 9th.
WS= Houston wins 4-1 on Friday over Washington to take game 3 then got a grand slam to win 8-1 on Saturday to tie the series and took a 3-2 lead with a 7-1 win on Sunday in Washington DC. The World Series shifts back to Houston on Tuesday for Game 6. The Astros can wrap it up with a win. If there would be a Game 7 that would be on Wednesday night in Houston.
NFL= Miami at Pittsburgh tonight at 6:30pm on AM960 KLTF.