NEWS
--A major blast of severe weather and winter weather last night with some areas 1-2 inches of rain, then ice then snow causing slippery roads this morning. Little Falls, Royalton, Swanville, Upsala, Pillager and Staples-Motley schools reported they are 2 hours late. Listen to Little Falls Radio for the latest weather related details. The first reported tornado in Minnesota in December since weather reports were tallied happened last night in Plainview in southern Minnesota. Please use caution today with strong winds and icy conditions.
--The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office reports that approximately 3:03pm on Tuesday, their office received a report of a one-vehicle rollover on Great River Road, south of 170th Avenue, approximately six miles southeast of Bowlus in Two Rivers Township. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 20-year-old Dylan Mckenzie from Bowlus was traveling south on Great River Road. Mckenzie’s vehicle hit some slush on the road causing him to lose control and roll the vehicle. Mckenzie was taken by ambulance to a hospital with minor injuries.
--The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a multi-vehicle crash Wednesday morning. The incident happened around 12:40am on I-94 near Avon. Minnesota State Patrol Sergeant Jesse Grabow says a semi pulling a flatbed trailer loaded with lumber was heading west on I-94, when the driver fell asleep and drifted into the concrete median barrier. The load of lumber broke loose and fell into the eastbound lanes. Grabow says a second vehicle heading east struck the debris and stopped in the roadway. That vehicle was then rear ended by a truck. Another semi, also heading east, jackknifed to avoid the debris.
--Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen announced that his office, in cooperation with all local police departments in the county, have recently completed the annual Predatory Offender Registration (POR) verification for Morrison County. Each year the sheriff’s office organizes a verification check for all predatory offenders who are on the registry and residing within the county. It is important to note that Minnesota only began registering predatory offenders in 1991 and did not assign risk level until 1997. Only those offenders who have been sentenced to prison and who were released after January 1st, 1997 have been assigned a risk level. Offenders sentenced to probation or juvenile offenders are not assigned a risk level. Level 1 offenders are those deemed by Department of Corrections officials as those least likely to re-offend while Level 3 offenders are considered most likely to re-offend. During the most recent round of checks, multiple predatory offenders were checked in Morrison County. 61 predatory offenders were checked by the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, Pierz Police Department, Motley Police Department and Royalton Police Department. Of that number; 23 were Level 1 offenders, 8 were Level 2, 3 were Level 3 and 27 offenders were not assigned a risk level. 47 predatory offenders were checked by the Little Falls Police Department, which are not part of the breakdown. All but four individuals were found to be compliant with conditions imposed upon them. 41-year-old Amanda Ann Tesch, 38-year-old Christopher James Collins, 39-year-old Michael James Whitty Sandaker, and 42-year-old Tobias Osric Smith have been charged for failing to register their current addresses, which is a felony. According to Sheriff Larsen it is important for us to keep tabs on the predatory offender registry. “I feel it is extremely important that these people remain aware that we know who they are, and our office will continue to hold them accountable.”
--Register for the grand prize Ho Ho Dough drawing next week by going to participating sponsors. List on fallsradio.com and news.
--Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin formally changed his plea from "not guilty" to "guilty" Wednesday on federal charges of depriving George Floyd of his civil rights, related to Floyd's murder in May 2020. Chauvin, who is currently serving a state prison sentence following his conviction for Floyd's murder, was charged in May 2021 with two separate federal counts of "Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law." Federal prosecutors told the judge that as part of a plea agreement, federal charges will be dismissed in a separate incident. Prosecutors said they will ask for a 300 month sentence, or about 25 years, served in a federal prison, which would run concurrently with Chauvin's state prison sentence.
--St. Cloud Police and Tri Country Crimestoppers are reporting a stolen Salvation Army red kettle. The Salvation Army red kettle was taken from the east St. Cloud Cashwise Foods store. St. Cloud police recently reported also an arrest was made in regards to vehicle break-ins in the St. Cloud area. Police believe this person was responsible for multiple vehicle thefts though since the arrest more vehicle thefts have occurred and are being investigated. The St. Cloud police department is reporting a burglary on the 1200 block of 2nd street northeast an apartment was entered and items were taken. On the 1200 block of Washington Memorial Drive there was a burglary where a red Suzuki 4-wheeler was taken. If you have any information on these crimes of other unsolved crimes in the Stearns, Benton or Sherburne County areas please contact Tri County Crimestoppers at 1-800-251-1301 or logon to their website. --Authorities responded to multiple vehicles on fire Tuesday night. The call came in around 9:15pm at 6200 Glen Carlson Drive in St. Cloud. Fire crews arrived to find one vehicle fully engulfed, and a second vehicle beginning to burn as well. The fires were contained to the two vehicles and extinguished.
--Authorities responded to a storage shed fire Tuesday night. St. Cloud fire crews were called to 3950 2nd Street South just before 6pm. Authorities say a small storage shed next to a restaurant containing patio furniture was on fire. The fire was contained to the shed and no damaged was done to the building.
DEATH NOTICES
--Karen Brausen, age 53 of Madisonville, Tennessee.
--Kalli A. Doroff, age 56 of Swanville.
--Helen A. Monnier, age 90 of Royalton.
--Kevin Barker, age 64 of Randall.
WEATHER
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10AM.
TODAY= snow early, gusty winds over 40mph at times, temps drop.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy, low around 0, wind chills near -15 early.
FRIDAY= cloudy skies, high near 20, snow at night 1-3 inches.
SATURDAY= snow early, another inch, turning sunny, high 11, low -6.
SUNDAY= partly sunny, warmer, high 23, snow again after dark.
SPORTS
NFL= Kansas City at LA Chargers tonight 7pm on AM960 KLTF.
Listen to KLTF Party Line Friday for the Dairy Bucket Giveaway from the Morrison County ADA and KLTF. Three $50 dairy buckets will be drawn from the 15 qualifers. Each qualifier wins a pound of butter which is at the radio station. Thanks again to all who entered the Dairy Recipe Contest.