NEWS
--A Sauk Rapids man died in a two-vehicle crash Sunday morning. Sherburne County Sheriff Joel Brott says 60-year-old Noel Ashcroft of Sauk Rapids was driving a Chevrolet pickup west on County Road 16, failed to stop at a stop sign, and pulled out in front of another Chevrolet pickup driving south on County Road 11. Ashcroft was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle was taken to the hospital and later discharged.
--An early morning fire caused $200,000 in damage to the River's Edge Convention Center roof in downtown St. Cloud. The St. Cloud Fire Department responded to the fire just after 5am Tuesday at 10 4th Avenue South. A quick extinguish by fire department personnel stopped further damage to the large structure. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the St. Cloud Fire Marshal though speculation on the area of the fire has some stating it could have been fireworks. St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis says it's too soon to know how the fire might impact events scheduled at the River's Edge.
--One person was hurt when two vehicles collided in Wright County. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened at around 1:30pm on Tuesday. Two vehicles collided at the intersection at Highway 25. A passenger in the Toyota, 27-year-old Emily Fleming of Minneapolis, was taken to North Memorial with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of that vehicle, a 28-year-old man from St. Paul, was not hurt. There were four 17-year-olds from the St. Michael and Albertville area in one vehicle and none of those were injured.
--A St. Cloud man accused of raping a preteen girl multiple times has turned himself in to authorities. Jay’Von James Boone has been charged with two felony counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. In May 2022, a child under 13 told her parents that Boone had sexually assaulted her multiple times. The 18-year-old Boone is also accused of showing the girl pornography on his cell phone. A summons was issued for him to appear in court on June 26th, but he failed to show. A warrant was issued, and he was arrested three days later. According to court records, a forensic interview was conducted with the girl at the Child Advocacy Center, where she described multiple acts committed against her stretching back to the fall of 2021. Prosecutors have filed a notice to seek an aggravated sentence. Bail was set at $100,000. Boone will be back in court for his next appearance on August 25th.
--The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is looking for the vehicle and driver involved in a hit-and-run crash that resulted in injuries. The incident happened at about 7:20am Tuesday, June 27th at the intersection of County Road 82 Northwest and West Lake Cowdry Road Northwest northwest of Alexandria. The suspect vehicle is believed to be a silver or gray 2002-2006 model Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT. It sustained damage to the rear driver's side, including broken windows and the rear bumper coming loose. It has a roof rack and the rear passenger tire has a different rim than the others, possibly a spare tire. It also appears to have a rear cargo carrier attached to the receiver hitch. The vehicle traveled south on West Lake Cowdry Road prior to the crash and then continued south on LaGrand Lane after the crash. It's believed the vehicle traveled west on Latoka Beach Road, north on Town Hall Road, west on County Road 82, and then west on County Road 56. The Sheriff's Office is asking anyone living along those roads to check their home security surveillance systems, should they have one to see if the crash is on their cameras.
--Nine hometown projects that will bring nearly $1.1 million in main street improvements to Brainerd, Cold Spring, Little Falls, Pine River and St. Cloud have been approved by the Initiative Foundation as part of the Minnesota Main Street Revitalization program. The funding is supported by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, which allocated $4.5 million to the Initiative Foundation for Central Minnesota economic development opportunities. The most recent projects to receive funding have an estimated total investment of $227,336. These projects have submitted the necessary documentation to receive funding recommended by their local economic development authority and the Initiative Foundation, they include building remodels at Brainerd Quick Wash of $15,000, JRJAJ Holdings of Cold Spring $3,000 to paint the building. Winners Bar & Grill of Cold Spring $26,373 for new siding, windows, a door and sign. Chrio Plus Rehab at 113 4th St. NE Little Falls $37,347 for a total building remodel and clinic expansion. In Pine River 218 Fitness, $4,800 to renovate rented space. Damsite Supper Club LLC, $75,000 for remodeling and equipment expenses. North Pointe Realty Advantage of $20,698 for building updates that include the façade, windows, awning, ceiling, insulation and landscaping. St. Cloud Quality Express, Inc. $30,796 to renovate and repair the existing building. Blooming Kids Child Care Center, 1209 W. St. Germain St. of St. Cloud of $14,322 for construction of two classrooms. About 30 remaining projects have been recommended for funding and are still securing bids or developing the documentation required to receive a grant.
–A man drowned in a lake in Wright County. The Sheriff's Office says they were called to Lake Pulaski in the 1700 block of Pulaski Road in the city of Buffalo at about 4:15pm on Monday. Witnesses say the man had been swimming when he went underwater. The Sheriff's Office dive team was eventually able to find the man underwater and brought him to shore where life-saving measures were initiated. He was then taken to the hospital where he died. He's been identified as 20-year-old Jair Sanchez Loya from Mexico. Witnesses say he was initially on a floatation device but became separated from it and went under the water and did not resurface.
--The next Rock Roll and Stroll event in Pierz is tonight from 5-8pm. Classic Car up and down Highway 25 in Pierz to view, poker walk and much more on tap tonight, stop out and see 5-8pm tonight in Pierz.
DEATH NOTICES
--Eunice G. Lentz, age 95 of Little Falls formerly of Swanville.
--Elmer J. Vavra Jr., age 77 of rural Long Prairie.
--Everett M. Peka, age 91 of Coon Rapids formerly of Sobieski.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, pleasant day, high 75.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low around 51.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, high 77, chance of PM storms, low 58.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, high near 80, storms late, low 56.
SUNDAY= showers & storms possible, high 82, low around 60.
SPORTS
TWINS= Pablo Lopez goes all 9 innings, strikes out 12 as the Twins shut out the Royals 5-0 to sweep the series. The Twins are off today.
VL= check out Victory League scores at fallsradio.com then sports.