NEWS
--Highway 27 will close and detour between Third Street East and Broadway East in Little Falls Monday according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The closure is necessary to allow the city of Little Falls to complete road and utility work crossing Highway 27 as part of a larger Fourth Street East city project. Motorists will follow a signed detour along First Street Southeast, Fifth Avenue Southeast, 11th Street Southeast and back to Highway 27. View detour at 511mn.org. During the work, access will be maintained to those who live, work or visit areas along Highway 27; however, expect changes. All lanes will reopen by August 4th.
--Following the story on a bear attack near Nisswa late last week that seriously injured a Nisswa woman more bear sightings are being reported. Royalton officials have spotted a black bear in the area around trash cans, they ask to watch for small pets and bird feeders when bear is out and if you spot a bear, do not approach it call law enforcement or the local DNR Conservation Officer. Bear has also been reported over the Memorial Day weekend spotted in Sartell and also in the Big Lake area. Just a reminder to watch out for bear.
--A Waite Park man is accused of raping a woman after she tried to return a necklace he had given her. According to the criminal complaint, 32-year-old Abdulkhadir Ali Mohamed met the woman at a park Monday afternoon and convinced her to get into the front seat of his car. The charges allege Mohamed grabbed the woman by the throat and forced her into the back seat. Mohamed then allegedly unzipped the victim's dress and raped her despite pleas for him to stop. According to the charges, a sexual assault examination at the hospital confirmed injuries as a result of the assault. Mohamed is charged with 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct.
--The Brainerd Fire Department responded to several small wild fires during Memorial Day weekend, including one Sunday night at the southeast corner of Cypress Drive and Highway 210 in Brainerd. The spot is in a wooded area where several homeless people have been staying. In all around 8 calls were sent out Friday through Sunday to firefighters in Crow Wing County and in all small areas of grass were scorched but no reports of structures damaged or any injuries. The State even though rain in the forecast this week remains in a high fire dangers for most of it with burning restrictions still in place.
--Charges show one of two teenagers involved in a stabbing and shots fired incident at a Minneapolis High School is from St. Cloud. Police were called to a melee on the evening of May 25th at Washburn High School. The large fight left one teenager with a stab wound to the back, leading to shots fired outside the school. Hennepin County District Court records state the 17-year-old from St. Cloud is charged with second-degree assault, and a 16-year-old from Minneapolis has been charged with possessing a weapon under 18. The St. Cloud teenager stabbed another teen and ran from police. He was arrested with a knife in his pocket a short time later. The St. Cloud teen told officers someone started a fight with his friend, and other people joined in. He claims he pulled out the knife in self-defense. Investigators say the other teen charged on Tuesday also fled from officers. He was arrested after a short chase, and a gun was nearby. Police said the gunshots injured no one, but a 15-year-old was brought to the Hennepin County Medical Center with a potentially life-threatening injury they suffered during the fight. The injury wasn’t related to the stabbing.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce June Employee of the Month is Julie Stangl who works at Wal-Mart. Julie has been a dedicated employee serving the community for 23 years in the Wal-Mart Pharmacy. She was nominated for her time there and has gotten to know most of our patients by name as well as things about them personally that make them feel welcome every time they stop in. Julie has been a great asset to pharmacy and we are lucky to have her from her co-workers at Wal-Mart. Julie says, I am so honored to be chosen as the June employee of the Month. After 23 years I still love my job, the people I work with, helping the customers and meeting new people everyday. Congratulations to Julie Stangl the June Employee of the Month from the Area Chamber of Commerce.
--Police are reminding the public to keep valuables in vehicles out of sight after three instances of windows smashed out and items stolen while parked at the St. Cloud Family YMCA. Officers were called to the Y on Friday on the report of multiple cars getting broken into. Police say in all three incidents, the victim’s bags were visible to the thieves and were the targeted items. No description of the suspects was provided. This was one of many reports of theft from vehicles recently and the recent Little Falls Police Report from the previous weeks also show theft reports of vehicles and outbuildings. With the summer season here, keep items locked up when left unattended.
--A Baxter woman and a Dalbo man were injured in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday in Baxter. The Minnesota State Patrol reported the crash at 9:42am Tuesday. According to the state patrol, 35-year-old Annika Claire O’Byrnes, of Baxter, was southbound on Mile Lake Drive in a 2019 Subaru Forester, when her vehicle made contact with a 2019 Ford Transit traveling west on Highway 210. Both O’Byrnes and the driver of the Ford, 44-year-old Terry Gene Overacker, of Dalbo, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The two passengers in O’Byrnes’ vehicle, 4-year-old Alexander John O’Byrnes and infant Ava Catherine O’Byrnes were not injured. All were wearing seat belts.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Joseph and Alyssa Czech of Little Falls, a girl born May 29th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Gerald H. Fielder, age 71 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy, storms possible, humid, high near 90.
TONIGHT= storms possible, some strong, cloudy, low 63.
FRIDAY= scattered storms possible, warm, high 88, low 64.
SATURDAY= sunny and hot, high 90, storms still possible.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, drier day, warm, high 88, low 57.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins smack out 11 hits in an 8-2 win over Astros on Wednesday. Twins open with Cleveland tonight for a big four game series at Target Field. Pregame begins at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS BAB= Little Falls at Alexandria in playoff action today at 4:30pm where win or lose they would play Saturday. Game on Q92 WYRQ.
HS SB= Pierz in the Section Championship game with Pequot Lakes today at 5pm on AM960 KLTF from Waite Park.
HS BAB= Pierz vs. Eden Valley Watkins in baseball playoffs then tonight at 7pm from St. Cloud on AM960 KLTF.