NEWS
--A crash in Fort Ripley Township injured three. Around 11:30am Wednesday 69-year old Colleen Epeneter of Backus was westbound on Koering Road approaching Highway 371. As Epeneter entered the southbound lanes of Highway 371 she was struck by a vehicle driven by 41-year old Gabriel Rybaski of Pierz. Rybaski was taken a hospital for treatment of non life threatening injuries. Both Colleen Epeneter and her passenger 41-year old Brenda Epeneter of Bemidji were taken to a hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries.
--On Tuesday, a Morrison County District Court Jury in Little Falls deliberated for approximately ninety minutes before finding 47-year old Bruce Boyd of Randall/Enchanted Lakes guilty of Felony Possession of a Stolen Trailer. Boyd faces up to five years in prison. On April 29th a Little Falls resident reported that his utility trailer was stolen from behind his apartment on 11th Avenue. On April 30th, a citizen reported that he believed the stolen trailer was at Bruce Boyd’s residence in Enchanted Lakes. Officers from the Little Falls Police Department and the Morrison County Sheriff’s Department investigated, and they located the stolen trailer on Boyd’s property. The trailer appeared to be hidden on the property, and spray painted to disguise its appearance. Sentencing guidelines would only call for a 24-month prison sentence. However, because of Boyd’s history of felony convictions, the State has asked the Court to disregard the sentencing guidelines, and impose the maximum statutory sentence instead. For this to occur, a sentencing trial began a few hours after the jury verdict. Morrison County Attorney, Brian Middendorf, explained that the State needed to prove that Boyd had at least five prior felony convictions and show a pattern of criminal conduct. Judge Leonard Weiler will decide whether the factors required for a maximum sentence were proven. The decision will be announced shortly before or at the sentencing hearing. A sentencing date will be set in the next thirty to sixty days.
--One person was struck and killed by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway train during the early morning hours Wednesday near Southeast 13th Street in Brainerd. Railroad officials reported the fatality was about 2:35am. The fatality was confirmed in an email statement from Amy McBeth, BNSF Railway spokeswoman. "A train struck and fatally injured a person laying on the tracks. This occurred along the tracks, not at a designated crossing. BNSF officers and local emergency personnel responded to the scene," McBeth wrote. As authorities were investigating the scene, law enforcement officers were stationed to divert traffic and pedestrians on both sides of the Southeast 13th Street train crossing. Last night officers stated they know who the 38 year old man is, but are waiting for formal identification until family members are notified.
--The Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team will have an exhibition game Friday at Mills Field in Brainerd against a team of Brainerd all-stars including Joe Haag of Indianapolis Colts, Josh Archibald of Arizona Coyotes and others. No admission but donations will be accepted to the Wounded Warrior program. The evening will also feature a home run hitting contest, autograph signings, fireworks, music and more. Gates open at 6:00pm Friday in Brainerd with the first pitch of the game scheduled at 7:30pm.
--Pierz Freedom Fest is Saturday at the Genola Ballfields with gates opening at 2:00pm. The Cash Cube will be at the event.
--The Morrison County Relay for Life is this Friday at the Little Falls Community High School Track. Registration begins at 5:00pm with numerous activities and auctions starting at 5:00pm also. The Survivors Dinner picnic for people who already registered starts at 5:30pm. Opening Ceremony at 7:00pm; 5K glow run and a 1K run/walk at 9:30pm, Luminary Ceremony at 10:30pm followed by the closing ceremony.
--Todd County Sheriff's Office responded to a water accident on Sunday around 3:25pm on Fairy Lake in rural Garfield. William Euerle of rural Browerville was operating a boat with a juvenile passenger on an inner tube when they collided with a jet ski driven by Mary Mathews of Sauk Centre. Mathews and a juvenile passenger were tossed off the jet ski. Mathews and both juveniles had to be taken to the Sauk Centre Hospital for treatment of injuries.
--Four people were brought to the hospital after a semi rear-ended a car. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened just after 7:00pm Tuesday on Highway 10 at Eagle Lake Road in Big Lake. 35-year old Pearl Brugger's car was stopped at a red light when it was struck by the semi at a high rate of speed. Brugger and her two passengers, 14-year old Bode Springer and 14-year old Christian Springer both of Big Lake, were all taken to Mercy Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The semi driver, 77-year old Robert Danner of Monticello, was brought to Monticello Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
--A 53-year old Ironton woman was injured when her vehicle crashed at 10:15am Monday at Wood Land and Tatro roads in Ironton. The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office reported the vehicle driven by Sheryl Shelley left the roadway and struck a tree. She was transported to the hospital for treatment of injuries.
--The Todd County Sheriff's Office in the past two weeks have had a number of fraud and scam calls stating someone from the IRS, or medicare is calling asking for information. If you receive this type of call it is best to hang up. Never give out personal information over the phone or by email unless you initiated the contact.
DEATH NOTICES
--David Janey Sr., age 70 of Little Falls.
--Palma Johnson, age 94 of Upsala.
--Alice M. Johnson, age 98 of Ramey
WEATHER
TODAY= scattered thunderstorms early, then sunny, high 85.
TONIGHT= isolated storms possible, clearing late, low 64.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, less humid, high 82, clear night, low 61.
SATURDAY= sunny and warm, high 86, storms late night, low 65.
SUNDAY= storms likely early and late day, high near 80.
SPORTS
TWINS= Brian Dozier had 3 hits and a homer, Joe Mauer 3 hits, Logan Morrison a homerun as Twins won 8-5 over KC to take 2 out of 3 in the series. Twins host the Tampa Bay Rays tonight in the final series before All Star Break. Pregame at 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
LYNX= Lynx beat Indiana 87-65 in a morning game on Wednesday/ Fowles had 20 points and Moore added 19. Lynx are now 12-8 and will host Las Vegas on Friday night.
SOC= Croatia beat England 2-1 in extra time to advance to the World Cup finals Sunday against France.