NEWS
--Today is September 11th in some areas called Patriot Day to remember the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center, Pentagon and in Pennsylvania which is believed to have been heading to the U.S. Capitol. The planes were hijacked by terrorists. Close to 3,000 people died in the attacks 22 years ago. Today we remember those who died and those to worked on saving others on the tragic day. A moment of silence is asked for at 7:46am central time the time of the first plane crash into one of the towers. There is a ringing of the bell for all the names today in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Locally Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen and Chaplin Gregg Valentine are holding a short service at 8am sharp at the law enforcement memorial on the southwest side of the government center. All are invited to attend.
--The City of Little Falls are continuing to ask residents to please conserve your water usage. The DNR continues to have Morrison County in an extreme drought and is asking for those to please water lawns, cars other items sparingly during these drier and cooler days this week. Limited rainfall has increased the drought conditions still in some areas and the city is just asking those to please pull back a bit when watering lawns. There are some exceptions for water usage and details are on the Minnesota DNR website to view.
--Brainerd firefighters extinguished a basement fire in south Brainerd Friday morning. Crews were called to the 2000 block of Graydon Avenue at 5:33am Friday, with a report of a fire inside the house. The caller said he thought the fire was in the basement of the house. Fire crews arrived to find heavy dark smoke coming out of the front door and eaves of the house. They entered the house and found the fire in the basement office area. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames, and crews worked on ventilation and overhaul of the fire. The fire appears to have been controlled by several waterlines that melted apart above the fire, keeping it from spreading. The waterlines acted like an automatic sprinkler system and controlled the fire until crews were able to get in and extinguish the remaining fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but is not believed to be suspicious.
--A Waite Park man accused of impregnating a 14-year-old girl has pleaded guilty. According to the criminal complaint filed in Stearns County District Court, 22-year-old Roderick Hollins and the girl had sex in August and September of 2022. A man called the police in April to report the girl was not at home, was pregnant, and was likely with Hollins. The girl admitted to police that they had intercourse and she found out she was pregnant about eight weeks later. Hollins also admitted to the sex and said the unborn child is "100% his". Hollins pleaded guilty to 3rd-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim 14-15 years old. Hollins also pleaded guilty on Wednesday to fleeing police in a motor vehicle stemming from a separate incident. He'll be sentenced on November 29th.
--One person was hurt in a three-vehicle collision in Wright County. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened around 4:45pm Thursday on Highway 101 in Otsego. All three vehicles were going north when they collided. 16-year-old Hannah Konen of Andover was taken to Health Fairview Princeton Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The other two drivers were not hurt.
--Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and West Side Improvement Association thank everyone for coming to Little Falls for the Arts and Crafts and Antiques and Collectible this past weekend. Thank You.
--On Friday, 40-year-old, Erik Adrian Blanco of Little Falls, was charged with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the death of 14-month-old Riverlynn VanNorman, in early July. The criminal complaint states that just before 9:30pm July 6, the Little Falls Police Department received a report that a 14-month-old toddler was choking on vomit and not breathing at a residence at the intersection of Third Avenue Northeast and Third Street Northeast in Little Falls. Officers from the LFPD and Morrison County Sheriff’s Office responded, and found Riverlynn motionless and not breathing. The child was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Over the next two months, interviews with those in and out of the house led authorities to continue to question Blanco who had changed his story on who was in the house and what happened to Riverlynn. Back on September 5th Blanco allegedly admitted he was in the house at the time Riverlynn was injured but still was unable to admit that he was responsible for it. The criminal complaint states Blanco has a history of violent crimes, and has previously been convicted of threats of violence, felony domestic assault, second degree assault with a dangerous weapon and first-degree assault. In the latter case, Blanco was convicted in McLeod County of assaulting a 1-year-old child who suffered a large skull fracture while in his care. Blanco had been dating the child’s mother at the time The complaint states Blanco claimed the child fell out of a crib, but he subsequently pleaded guilty to assaulting the child. If he’s convicted of the charges, Blanco faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
--One person was hospitalized Friday around 2:30pm on Highway 10 at Bison Road in Cushing Township of Morrison County. 59-year-old Mark Wettlaufer of Cushing was eastbound on Highway 10 when a vehicle was stopped a Bison Road. A third unidentified feed truck then went around the stopped vehicle crossed Highway 10 causing Wettlaufer to veer to the right and strike the vehicle driven by 61-year-old Jeffery Williams of Long Prairie. Williams was treated at the scene but did not need hospitalization. Wettlaufer was taken to the Little Falls hospital with non life threatening injuries.
DEATH NOTICES
--Raymond J. Czech, age 95 of Little Falls & Swan River Township.
--Richard R. Banick, age 66 of Ft. Ripley.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy, PM showers, high 68.
TONIGHT= showers early, then clearing, low 42.
TUESDAY= cloudy, few showers and cool, high 63, low 38.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and a bit warmer, high near 70, low 48.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins beat the Mets 5-2 Friday night. Twins win again Saturday afternoon 8-4 over Mets. Mets avoid the sweep after Pablo Lopez struck out 14 Sunday to win 2-0. The Twins (75-68) host the Tampa Bay Rays tonight, pregame at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
COL FB= Gophers win 25-6 Saturday over Eastern Michigan.
NFL= costly turnovers and penalties cost the Vikings as they lose on Sunday 20-17 to Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At Philadelphia Thursday.
HS FB= Little Falls wins 15-14 over East Grand Forks now 2-0. Pierz wins at home Friday, Upsala/Swanville also wins at home, USA 2-0, Holdingford beat Royalton and Foley and Pillager both loss in football.