NEWS --An announcement was made Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport a grant of $1,253,575 for infrastructure improvements. This grant will allow the airport to rehabilitate its taxiways and terminal building.
--A Holdingford man was taken to the hospital Wednesday morning with multiple fractures after he rear-ended a coach bus northwest of St. Joseph. The collision occurred about 6:45am near 31925 Stearns County Road 3. Investigators believe that heavy fog and speed were contibuting factors to the crash. 25-year old Eli Sobania of Holdingford was traveling about 60 mph when he rear-ended the coach bus, which was stopped and preparing to make a left turn. Sobania was trapped in the truck and needed to be extricated. The coach bus was driven by 44-year old Joseph Wiser of Sauk Rapids. Wiser saw Sobania coming and tried to accelerate but was unsuccessful. There were no passengers on the bus. Wiser was uninjured. County Road 3 was closed while Sobania was extricated.
--Around 3:15pm Tuesday Stearns County Sheriff’s Officials became aware of a medical emergency in Quarry Park of Waite Park. It was reported that an unnamed 17-year old female from Lake Henry was floating on a flotation device near a rock cliff when a person walking on the cliff above unintentionally caused a softball sized rock to dislodge from the cliff. The rock struck the female in the head, injuring her. Deputies and Waite Park Fire/Rescue administered aid and the female was taken by ambulance to the St. Cloud Hospital. No other information was released by officials.
--A 64-year-old Brainerd man entered an Alford plea on two of eight criminal charges he faces in a 2015 case that began with a dog killing chickens and ended in a short stand-off between the suspect and law enforcement authorities. Larry Walter Prahm, who previously pleaded not guilty to all eight charges, filed the Alford plea on August 8th in Crow Wing County District Court for the charges of felony fifth-degree assault demonstrating bodily harm or throwing bodily fluids and gross misdemeanor fourth-degree assault-physically assaulting a peace office. An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain innocence while acknowledging evidence is sufficient to support a jury's determination of guilt. If Prahm's Alford plea is accepted, the remaining six counts will be dismissed.
--One of two defendants arrested during a sex trafficking investigation in April is undergoing a mental competency evaluation. 26-year old Elijah Ahmad Milsap is charged with four counts of felony sex trafficking. A Stearns County judge signed an order authorizing the evaluation. The criminal case against Milsap is on hold until the results of that examination are presented to the judge. Milsap was arrested and charged along with 37-year old Jade Myanne Orcena who faces the same charges as Milsap.
--A Waite Park man may face multiple charges stealing two necklaces from a pawnshop on Tuesday. 54-year old Gary Michael Korsmo may face charges of felony theft and fifth degree assault. Officers were called shortly after 9:30am to an active robbery at Security Coin and Pawn Shop. It was reported Korsmo had left the store with two gold necklaces. The owner of the store chased Korsmo and tried to stop him from entering a vehicle. Korsmo pushed the store owner away and fled on foot. Officers apprehended Korsmo at Eighth Avenue and St. Germain Street and returned the necklaces to the business. Korsmo was being held at the Stearns County Jail.
--The latest round of strong to severe thunderstorms in Cass, Crow Wing and Aitkin County on Tuesday dropped golf ball size hail and heavy downpours. As of June 1st, the Brainerd Lakes area has received 25.5 inches of rain, some parts of Cass, Crow Wing and Aitkin are around 30 inches of rain since that point. Weather records at Little Falls Radio reported that in the past 2 and a half months, the radio station has received just under 18 inches of rain since June 1st. More heavy rains are forecast later today into Friday.
--A St. Cloud man may face charges after threatening another man with a stun gun. 39-year old Joshua Ford of St. Cloud, may face charges of second-degree assault. A 67-year-old man told police Tuesday morning that Ford had threatened him the prior evening with a stun gun. The victim told officers Ford pointed the stun gun at him and sparked it twice. Ford was located and was in possession of the stun gun. Ford was being held in the Stearns County Jail.
--A 21-year-old Motley woman who went missing last Friday has still not been found. Cass County stated Tuesday that Alice Whim was last seen leaving a group home facility southwest of Motley on what authorities say of her own free will. The sheriff's office said that foul play is not suspected, and there is no danger to the public. Officials are still asking for any information on Whim of her whereabouts by calling the Cass County Sheriff's Office at 218-547-1424.
--Two sets of new hearings have been planned for the man on death row for killing Dru Sjodin of Pequot Lakes back in 2003. Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. was convicted to death for the 2003 kidnapping and murder of Sjodin from Grand Forks, North Dakota. Her body was found in Crookston, Minnesota. The latest round of appeal hearing will be next March on forensic issues in the murder case and Rodriguez's mental status which according to the federal defender assigned to Rodriguez will take some time due to a number of witnesses. Rodrigeuz's recent attorneys are ending their relationship with Rodriguez in October due to moving to another venue and a federal defender will be given to him at that time to continue the appeal process. Rodriguez's last appeal was in 2011 which then was considered a last resort process before the death penalty but that was stalled due to mental status and other issues from that time.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Joseph Holm and Kayla Nelson of Pierz, girl on August 16th
DEATH NOTICES --Leona E. Kowalczyk, age 82 orginially of the Harding area. --George R. Czech, age 74 of Little Falls --Betty A. Unger, age 77 of Motley.
WEATHER TODAY= clouds increase, storms likely late day and evening, high 84. FRIDAY= storms likely early, cloudy and cooler in PM hours, high 72. SATURDAY= cloudy and breezy, cool, spotty showers, high 64, low 48 SUNDAY= sunny skies, continued cool, high 68, low around 50.
SPORTS TWINS= Kyle Gibson pitches first 9 inning complete game win of career as Twins beat Atlanta 10-3 to get a two game sweep. Twins are in Kansas City tonight 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ. OLY= U.S. rolls to more medals yesterday, now at 93 total.