NEWS --The Morrison County Sheriffs office, in cooperation with all local police departments in the county, have recently completed the annual predatory offender registration (POR) verifications 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 reoffend while Level 3 offenders are considered most likely to reoffend. During the most recent checks, 58 predatory offenders were checked by the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, Pierz, Motley and Royalton Police Departments. Of that number; 24 were Level 1 offenders, 4 were Level 2, 1 was Level 3 and 29 offenders were not assigned a risk level. 51 predatory offenders were checked by the Little Falls Police Department, which are not part of the breakdown. All individuals were found to be compliant with conditions imposed upon them. 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.”
--A 16-year old was injured when an SUV rear-ended a semi-trailer Monday afternoon on Highway 64 north of Motley. 55-year old Susan Peet of Staples was on 64 when she tried to stop fast and skidded into the back of a semi-trailer. Peet nor the semi driver, Dale Rafteseth of Albany were not hurt. 16-year-old Kaitlyn Hanson of Lakeville was a passenger in the SUV and sustained non-life threatening injuries and treated at the Staples hospital.
--A beauty shop in Nisswa was completely destroyed by fire Tuesday. The State Fire Marshal is investigating the fire that destroyed the Boberg Lumber Property just off of Highway 371 in Nisswa. The call came in around 4:10am. When firefighters arrived the building was in flames and there was a strong gas smell. Firefighters from Nisswa, Pequot Lakes and Mission worked for over 90 minutes but the building could not be saved. The lumber yard there had been closed for a few years and most of the property was empty except for one part of it that was being used as a beauty shop. There were no injuries. The cause is under investigation.
--Law enforcement arrested a man Sunday after they discovered a stolen vehicle and fish house outside Pine River. 32-year old Owen Swenson was taken into custody on outstanding warrants by officers at the scene. Additional formal charges are pending.
--Cass County deputies found a body of a juvenile female on January 12th in the city of Cass Lake. Cass County Deputies received a call around 8:15am of a deceased female. The sheriff's office said there is no threat to public safety. An autopsy is being done in Ramsey County for proper identification and cause of death.
--The Minnesota Twins Caravan is coming to Royalton High School next Tuesday the 23rd. The event is for the students of Royalton to meet and work with members of the Twins. For more information on the event, contact Al at Little Falls Radio 632-2992.
--The U.S. Senate Race in 2018 had two major names of the Republican Party this week state they are not running for that seat. On Tuesday, former Governor Tim Pawlenty reported he will not seek the Republican nomination for the Senate. Pawlenty, however, did not say no to a possible governor run again. On Wednesday, 6th District Congressman Tom Emmer stated he plans to run for reelection in District 6 in November, and not for U.S. Senate. Emmer had thought about a possible Senate run but stated that he owes the voters of District 6 who voted him office his top priority in the U.S. House.
--At 7:04am Wednesday a two vehicle crash on Highway 10 in Staples injured the two drivers. Both drivers were heading west on US Highway 10 when a car driven by 55-year old Nola Schultz of Verndale attempted a U turn in front of a vehicle driven by 58-year old Robyn Delong of Motley and the two vehicles collided. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts and each of them were taken to Staples Hospital for treatment of non life threatening injuries.
--Three people were hurt in a two-vehicle crash in Sherburne County. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at about 3:00pm. Tuesday on Highway 10 at 171st Avenue in Elk River. A car driven by 37-year old Jill Moshier of Big Lake was going east on Highway 10 when it struck another car that troopers say ran a red light. The second car was driven by 51-year old Joanne Gundersen of Nowthen. Gundersen and Moshier were both taken to Mercy Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A passenger, 15-year old Amaya Moshier of Big Lake was also treated for non-life threatening injuries.
--The Knights of Columbus #3942 are taking a bus to the March for Life in St. Paul on Monday, January 22nd. The bus leaves Little Falls at 7:30, Pierz 8am and Buckman at 8:20. The trip is free for all to attend but you do need to sign up by Friday by calling Floyd at 632-2880 or Dale at 468-6225.
WEATHER TODAY= sunny and mild, high 35. TONIGHT= increasing clouds, low around 20. FRIDAY= partly sunny, high near 40, cloudy night, low 26. SATURDAY= partly sunny, high 38, snow after midnight, low 21. SUNDAY= snow likely, some sleet, 2-3 inches, high 32, low 28.
SPORTS COL BB= Gophers at Maryland tonight 7pm on AM960 KLTF HS GBB= St. Cloud Cathedral at Pierz Friday 7:15pm FM94 KFML HS GBB= Little Falls at Sartell Saturday 2pm on Q92 WYRQ. NFL= AFC Championship- Jacksonville at New England Sunday 2pm then NFC Championship- Minnesota at Philadelphia Sunday 5:45pm both games will be heard live on AM960 KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1644= Pilgrims reported seeing the first UFO in United States. IN 1733= first polar bear exhibited in United States, Boston Zoo. IN 1896= the X-Ray machine debuts at Expo in New York. IN 1943= U.S. begins rations on bread, metal, shoes & other items. IN 1951= federal agencies begin using lie detectors on suspects. IN 1962= Chubby Checker's The Twist hit #1 for the third time, first in 1960, later that same year and again in 62 after an appearance on American Bandstand with Dick Clart that almost started a dance riot. IN 1975= The Jefferson's debut on CBS- spinoff of All in the Family.