NEWS
LOCAL TOWNSHIP ELECTION RESULTS
Agram= John Boeder Supervisor, Don Tschida Clerk.
Bellevue= Duane Doble Supervisor, Patricia Kasella Clerk.
Buckman= Ralph Hanneken Supervisor, Nancy Lanners Clerk.
Darling= Randy Swan Supervisor, Tabitha Maher Clerk.
Green Prairie= Dan Maslowski Supervisor, Lois Petershick Clerk.
Lakin= Jamey Rueckert Supervisor, Jill Monson, Clerk.
Leigh= Wade Willmon- Supervisor Write In, Brenda Luberts- Clerk,
no votes for treasurer- Mel Buesseler appointed.
Little Falls= Charles Parins 3 year Supervisor, Bonnie Biniek Clerk, and Carole Doucette elected treasurer.
Parker= Randy Rutz Supervisor, Tammy Kedrowski Clerk.
Pike Creek= Darlene Kroll Supervisor, Lisa Turner Clerk.
Platte= Dara Krych Supervisor, Judy Boser Clerk.
Ripley= Darv Keehr Supervisor, Heather Brill Clerk.
Swan River= Tim Zapzalka- Supervisor, Katrina Oldakowski Clerk.
Swanville= Brian Welinski Supervisor, Sherry Welinski Clerk.
OTHER NEWS
--One person was hurt in a single-vehicle crash near Little Falls on Tuesday. A vehicle driven by 70-year-old Gary Brausen of Pierz was going North on 190th Avenue at about 9:20pm when it left the road and hit a tree. Brausen was taken to Little Falls and then to St. Cloud Hospital for injuries. Alcohol was believed a factor in the accident.
--The Minnesota State Patrol says a vehicle driven by 69-year-old Patricia Weber of Rice was going south in the northbound lanes of Highway 10 near Royalton around 5:30pm Tuesday when it collided head-on with another vehicle driven by 58-year-old Howard Smith of Pequot Lakes. Smith had minor injuries while Weber was not hurt.
--The vehicle owned by an Edina man who was driving on Highway 169 the night a popular doctor was killed by a hit-and-run driver near Mille Lacs Lake has been cleared by the Minnesota State Patrol. A social media post by the patrol announced yesterday that again investigators are asking for help in generating new leads as the case takes a new direction. Investigators have ruled out the vehicle of interest in the hit-and-run crash that killed Dr. Cathy Donovan on Highway 169 in Mille Lacs County," The BCA is still investigating leads, any new information that could help, as every detail matters and even the smallest tip could make a crucial difference in solving this case and bringing closure to Dr. Donovan’s family." Donovan was fatally struck on the shoulder of Highway 169 near her home in Onamia while walking her dogs November 13th. During interviews with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) the Edina man suggested it was possible he hit Donovan without knowing because the Tesla was in full self-driving mode. After news of the search warrants broke, local attorney Dave Risk issued a statement confirming his client was cooperating with authorities conducting the investigation into Donovan's death. The BCA said their investigation found no evidence leaking the vehicle to Donovan's death.
--Little Falls resident Mike LeMieur was elected to the Board of Directors of the Rosenmeier Center for State and Local Government at Central Lakes College. LeMieur replaces Kate Adornetto, who accepted a new position out of state. LeMieur has served in the State House, City Council, School Board and current County Commissioner.
--The 4th Annual Lindy Dancers Taco Challenge is tonight at the Falls Ballroom from 5:30-7:30pm. Enjoy tacos from 5 different businesses and pick the best one. Silent auction, raffle and meet the Lindy Dancers. Proceeds go to their next season. More information on the Taco Challenge is at fallsradio.com on community calendar.
--A Benton County man accused of shooting at police officers during a drug raid last fall has been found competent to face the charges against him. A Benton County judge ordered the exam for 64-year-old Karl Holmberg in January and determined he is able to aid in his defense. An evidentiary hearing is now scheduled for April 10th. Prosecutors added a seventh count of 1st-degree attempted murder of a peace officer and a seventh count of 1st-degree assault against a peace officer back in December. A 2nd-degree drug charge and a charge of unlawful gun possession were also added in an amended criminal complaint filed in Benton County District Court. In all, Holmberg faces 16 felony charges. Six officers were inside the house and five were struck by gunfire. All of the officers survived the ordeal.
--Investigators from the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s office are on their way to the scene of a large fire that consumed one building of a trucking company Tuesday afternoon. A call came in at 4:12pm to the St. Joseph Fire Department about a blaze at Huls Trucking. Smoke could be seen for miles as seven fire departments worked to get the flames under control. No hydrants were nearby, so water had to be trucked in from elsewhere. Crews were out until 8:45, dousing hot spots. A portion of the building collapsed and is considered a total loss. Between six and eight semis were also destroyed. The building is on a frontage road along Interstate 94. At times, smoke poured out of the building and crossed the freeway. No one was hurt.
--Anglers who fish Mille Lacs Lake won't be able to keep any walleye this summer. The Department of Natural Resources and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe have set a catch-and-release fishing season from May 11th through August 15th. The goal is to begin allowing one walleye between 21-23 inches or one over 28 inches on August 16th. The DNR says despite poor ice conditions, anglers caught a lot of walleye this past fall and winter. Officials say the bite was strong because of fewer feeder fish. This year's agreement lowers the total walleye harvest by 10% from the 2023 numbers.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny skies, high 54.
TONIGHT= cloudy skies, low around 27.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, breezy, high 49, low near 30.
SATURDAY= flurries early, then cloudy, breezy, high 41, low 23.
SUNDAY= cloudy and very breezy, high 31, low near 20.
SPORTS
BBB= East Central eliminated Upsala last night 64-56 while Nevis eliminated Browerville in boys basketball playoffs. Other winners included Albany, Annandale, Esko and Pequot Lakes in playoff action.
GBB= Central Minnesota teams like Albany, Crosby-Ironton, Alexandria and St. Michael-Albertville all won Wednesday in state quarter-finals in girls basketball. Class A quarters today with semis.
COL BB= Gophers open up Big 10 Tournament today against Michigan State at 11am, all games at Target Center.
TWINS= Twins spring training baseball today at noon on Q92 also games at 5pm Friday and noon Saturday on Q92 WYRQ.