NEWS
--This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week. The plan is still for today at 1:45pm and tonight at 6:45pm to have statewide tornado drills. During this time the outdoor sirens should be going off for the statewide drill. The first drill at 1:45pm is for business, schools and other organizations to prepare a plan in case of an actual tornado. Little Falls Radio will also run this live at 1:45pm today. The second drill tonight at 6:45pm is for second shift workers and families to put their plan in place. This time is also to remind parents to talk to their children about severe weather, tornado safety and what to do in case of an emergency. Again these are only drills at 1:45 and 6:45pm.
--A Bowlus man accused of stealing more than $260,000 from the Bowlus Fire Relief Association over the course of 11 years had his first appearance in Morrison County District Court, Monday. 74-year-old Arnold Gregory Benusa of Bowlus, was charged with one count of felony theft by swindle, property valued at more than $35,000. Prior to the appearance, he was officially booked into Morrison County Jail and released. If convicted, Benusa faces up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $100,000. The charge was a result of an investigation by the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division of the Minnesota Department of Safety, which began in October 2022.
According to the complaint, a review of the organization’s bank statements shows that there was in excess of $260,000 unaccounted for over the past 11 years, $75,000 of that went missing just within the last three years. The date and nature of Benusa’s next court appearance has not been announced.
--A truck driver was hurt when the semi he was driving rolled on the interstate. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened at about 11:30pm Tuesday on eastbound Interstate 94 near Sauk Centre in Stearns County. 51-year-old Ronald Mitchell of Billings, Montana was driving when he went into the median and rolled. He was treated at an area hospital with non life threatening injuries.
--A woman was hurt when the vehicle she was driving hit a semi parked in a construction zone. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened just before midnight Tuesday on southbound Highway 169 and Main Street in Elk River in Sherburne County. Troopers say the semi was parked unloading in the construction zone when the Jeep ran into the rear of the semi-trailer. 44-year-old Rachel Avery of Princeton was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
--One person was hurt in a three vehicle crash near St. Joseph Tuesday morning. The incident happened just after 9:30am at the intersection of Highway 23 and County Road 6 in St. Joseph Township in Stearns County. The state patrol says 34-year-old Grant Hollerman of St. Cloud, was heading east on Stearns County Road 122, 44-year-old Lila Fischbach of Cold Spring was heading north on Highway 23, and 28-year-old Jeremy Lieser of Belgrade was heading west on County Road 6, when they collided in the intersection. Fischbach was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
--A preliminary report shows that a fractured track has been sent to a laboratory as part of the investigation into the March 30th derailment of a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Train near the town of Raymond that led to an evacuation in the early morning hours of the town in Kandioyhi County. BNSF would not elaborate any further on if that was the cause of the derailment but said the investigation is active.
--Our Lady of Lourdes Church is asking whoever took the wreath from the back of the church to please return the item as they want to put it on the cross in front of Church.
--There will be a Clean-Up Day for the Townships of Agram, Buckman, Buh, Granite, Hillman, Leigh, Mt. Morris, and Pierz Township this Saturday for township residents only, at the Rich Prairie Livestock Parking Lot from 8am to noon. Two appliances or 1 TV or computer monitor accepted for free. Ten tire units per household at no charge. A fee will be charged for over and above the free items brought in for recycling on Saturday near Pierz.
--The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has released additional details on the officer-involved shooting that killed Deputy Josh Owen. According to the BCA, Starbuck Police Officer Alex Olson responded to a domestic violence call at an apartment in Cyrus on Saturday. Deputies Josh Owen and Brody Merrill responded after him. When they arrived, they entered the home and spoke to 34-year-old Brian Nygard and a woman. After some initial investigation, they informed Nygard that he was under arrest. Nygard drew a gun and began firing. Deputies Owen and Merrill returned fire. Officer Olson was in the hallway and did not fire. In the exchange of gunfire, all three officers and Nygard were struck. Nygard died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. Deputy Owen was taken to the hospital where he later died. Authorities say Owen died after being shot three times. Merrill also went to the hospital after being struck once in the upper chest. He was treated and released. Officer Olson sustained minor injuries after being shot in the ankle and was not hospitalized. All three officers were wearing their body cameras. BCA agents are reviewing the video as part of the ongoing investigation. Merrill is on standard administrative leave.
--Officials with CentraCare say an evacuation at CentraCare Clinic in Sartell Wednesday morning was due to an inadvertently activated panic alarm. Because of the disruption, the Sartell Clinic was closed for the rest of yesterday and patients are in the process of being contacted. At no time did this incident pose a threat to anyone.
--No one was hurt, but there was a brief shelter in place order at Cathedral High School Wednesday morning. At 9:05am the order went into effect after school administration received a phone call from the St. Cloud Police Department due to a domestic incident that took place outside the school buildings but in the Cathedral neighborhood. Students continued with lessons in their classrooms, but did not move freely around the building. Roughly ten minutes later, the school received another phone call saying the incident had been resolved and it was safe to resume normal activities.
DEATH NOTICES
--Gordon “Gordy” V. Morris, age 78 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= rain, sleet and snow at times, blustery winds, high 38.
TONIGHT= snow likely, up to 1 inch, low 27.
FRIDAY= snow in morning, cloudy and windy, high 35, low 28.
SATURDAY= light snow showers, cloudy and windy, high 38, low 29.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, less windy, high near 40, low near 30.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins pound the Red Sox 10-4 last night. Twins wrap up series in Boston today, pregame begins at noon on Q92 WYRQ.
NBA= Denver goes up 2-0 on T-Wolves last night 122-113.
NHL= Dallas wins 7-3 over Wild last night to even the series 1-1.