NEWS
--The Pierz Police Department reported that charges have been filed against 34-year-old Joshua McGrath of South St. Paul, 25-year-old Shelby Wetch of Centerville and 39-year-old Jacob Dutton of Centerville for there involvement in a burglary and damage to property of Pierz Food's last Thursday morning. On April 7th at 5:31am the sheriff's office was notified of extensive damage inside the Pierz Foods building in a confined area to the exterior of Pierz Foods. Three suspects and a vehicle were identified from surveillance video and this led to Coon Rapids and Anoka County Authorities arrested the three in the Metro Area. All three have been charged with 2nd degree burglary. The case remains under investigation.
--The tenant of a northeast St. Cloud apartment that was found on fire Tuesday night has been charged with arson. Fire crews responded to 1212 2nd Street Northeast at around 8:45pm. Upon arrival, police officers were evacuating the building. Firefighters discovered a second-floor apartment on fire and put out the flames before they spread to other units. Police spoke with the tenant, 19-year-old Hunter Hipp, who allegedly admitted he started the fire. According to the charges filed in Benton County, Hipp said he lit the stove on fire, put a bunch of flammable stuff in the corner, and lit that on fire as well. Hipp told officers he burned a wooden painting, a large cardboard box, clothes, toilet paper, and papers that were lying around. Court records show officers asked him why he did it and Hipp said he didn't have an answer for that other than to say he wanted to be arrested and thought arson was the quickest and easiest way. Records show Hipp acknowledged what he did was dangerous and that people could have gotten hurt, but went ahead and did it anyway. The fire caused around $57,000 damage to the apartment. Firefighters were able to stop the spreading of the fire to other apartments but the building was evacuated. No one was hurt.
--There will be an event to learn about scams “The Art of Scamming, Knowledge is Power” resource fair and education will be held at the Morrison County Government Center Boardroom May 24th. More information will be released as we get closer to the date on who will be there and how to get involved with this event to educate the public on scams and the how to avoid the scamming methods.
--A man who pleaded guilty to a criminal sexual conduct charge after agreeing to exchange marijuana for sex with a 13-year-old Stearns County girl has been sentenced to a stay of imposition and probation. 23-year-old Jack Christensen, formerly of Glenwood, must also complete a sex offender program and a Men Accountable for Sexual Exploitation program. Authorities learned of a conversation between the two when a foster parent looked through the girl's phone in June. Members of the Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force then began an investigation into identifying the several men the girl was having conversations with at the time. Authorities identified one of the men as Christensen. According to the criminal complaint, the girl said she was 15-years-old and wanted to exchange sex acts for marijuana. Court records show Christensen convinced the girl to send him nude photos of herself. Christensen pleaded guilty in January.
--The Pierz Lions Annual Easter Egg Hunt which is a free event is this Saturday at 11am at the Pioneer Elementary playgrounds off Kamnic Street in Pierz. You can park on Kamnic Street, or in the Pioneer or High School parking lots. They will have 1,500 eggs with two Easter bunnies there for the kids and parents will be able to take pictures. There will be three age groups: 0-3, 4-6, and 7-10 at the event.
--The National Weather Service crews confirmed an EF2 tornado was on the ground Tuesday night near Taopi for five or six miles in Mower County while an EF1 touched down just west of Spring Valley in Fillmore County. Southern Minnesota had to deal with large hail and straight line winds of over 65mph Tuesday during the severe storms.
--On Friday, Minnesota National Guard’s Youth and Family Programs will be hosting ‘Purple Up’ day at the Mall of America in support of military kids. April is designated as the Month of The Military Child, and ‘Purple Up’ is an event to recognize the sacrifices of military youth as a result of serving parents. Purple Up! is a nationwide effort initiated by Operation Military Kids. The recognition reinforces that military-connected youth play an integral role in supporting their service member. Morrison County Veterans Service Officer Kathy Marshik is encouraging all to wear purple on Friday to show support for Military Children in the county and also nationwide on Friday.
--A 28-year-old woman faces felony assault charges after allegedly trying to stab a Waite Park man with a knife Saturday. A man told police he was cooking dinner when Awar Omot Talian entered his apartment. Court records show he told her to wait outside, but she forced her way in, grabbed a knife, and tried to stab the man in the back of the head. The victim said he tried to grab the knife away from Talian and she cut his hand in the process. Court records show Talian tried to stab the man again and he ran out the door with her chasing after him. The man said he yelled for someone to call the police because he thought she was going to kill him. The victim was found at a nearby apartment and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Talian is now charged in Stearns County District Court with 1st-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and felony domestic assault.
--Jerry and Joyce will be playing music at the Pierz Dining Center from 3:30-5pm today with a reserved dinner at 5pm. Any questions
call the Pierz Dining Center at 320-468-2160.
MAUNDY/HOLY THURSDAY HISTORY
--Today is Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday the day during Holy Week that commemorates the Washing of the Feet and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles, as described in the canonical gospels. It is the fifth day of Holy Week where in the bible it states after the supper Jesus prays in the garden until he is arrested leading to the events of Good Friday and his crucifixion.
WEATHER
WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT 7AM TO 7PM TODAY.
TODAY= rain/snow showers at times, very windy, high 36.
TONIGHT= snow showers early, cloudy and windy, low 20.
GOOD FRIDAY= cloudy and very windy, high 31, low 18.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, still breezy, high 40, low 23.
EASTER SUNDAY= rain/snow showers, high 40, low 28.
SPORTS
TWINS= Clayton Kershaw pitched a perfect game for 7 innings before being taken out by his coach, then a relief pitcher gave up the lone Twin hit on a Gary Sanchez single. The Dodgers beat up the Twins Wednesday 7-0 and take the series. Twins are off today.
Reminder that you can hear the Good Friday Service from Grace Covenant Church in Little Falls Friday at noon on AM960 KLTF and online at fallsradio.com KLTF listen online.