NEWS --The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office reported a motorcycle accident Tuesday around 9:50pm on Great River Road east of Bowlus. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the driver of the motorcycle, 48-year old Daniel Lemieur of Little Falls was traveling south on Great River Road when a deer ran on the roadway. Lemieur hit the deer with his motorcycle which caused him to be thrown from the bike. Lemieur was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with unknown injuries.
--The state Fire Marshal's office is renewing a call for help in solving 13 church arsons during the past five years. That list includes a fire at the historic Darling Church on March 24th and another in March that caused millions of dollars in damage at Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. The state Department of Public Safety says churches were intentionally started on fire in eight Minnesota communities since 2012. Those with information are asked to call the Minnesota Arson Hotline.
--Motorists will encounter a detour and delays on Highway 27/Broadway Avenue in Little Falls while the road closes at the BNSF railroad crossing, just west of the Mississippi River, after 6:00am this coming Monday, May 15th. The road is scheduled to open by 8:00pm on Thursday, May 18th. A detour will direct motorists along Paul Larson Memorial Drive, 9th Avenue Northwest and Lindbergh Drive. The closure is needed while crews repair the railroad crossing.
--A hearing for 31-year-old Tyler Slagerman of Staples was on Monday in Todd County District Court. Slagerman is charged with felony second degree unintentional manslaughter in the death of a woman at a Clarissa home in February. He is also charged with child endangerment and faces over 10 years prison and/or $20,000 in fines. The police report stated theat deputies arrived in the early morning hours of February 25th to the Clarissa residence where Slagerman first told authorities a gun had fallen off a counter and discharged striking the woman. When deputies arrived Slagerman was giving chest compressions to the woman who had been shot through the upper part of the back and died at the scene. An infant child was in a crib in the same room. Later Slagerman reported under Miranda rights that he had been drinking alcohol with friends, returned home to hear dogs barking, thought they were coyotes and grabbed his 30-30 caliber rifle, when he turned toward the door the rifle went off and struck the woman. The child was not harmed. Slagerman again was charged with 2nd Degree Unintentional Manslaughter and his next court date is July 24th after the defense was granted a continuance Monday by the judge.
--A house and garage were destroyed by fire early Sunday in southern Crow Wing County in Platte Lake Township near the Morrison County Line northeast of Harding. Brainerd firefighters were called around 12:50am to the 17000 block of County Road 132. The home was completely engulfed in flames and firefighters did what they could to extinguish hot spots and a large amount of tires. The garage and house were a total loss. The cause is undetermied but believed to be electrical and not suspicious. Pierz and Garrison firefighters aided at the scene with Brainerd Firefighters.
--Reminder that if you signed up for the Morrison County Sheriff's Sandbox Fill, they will be filling those sandboxes today and they ask that a donation to the local food shelf be kept by the sandbox.
--The man accused of holding up the Knotty Pine Liquor store last December has pleaded guilty to the hold-up. 24-year-old Lavonta Lofton pleaded guilty to one count of first degree aggravated robbery and will be sentenced June 15th in Benton County District Court. Lofton walked into the east St. Cloud liquor store a few days before Christmas, pulled out a gun and demanded money. Police followed footprints in the snow which led them to Lofton, who was found with a handgun and $2,000 cash. The gun was like the one used in a December 11th robbery of a gas station at 32nd Avenue North. St. Cloud Police also noted distinct footprints left by the robber in that gas station hold-up. Investigators say Lofton ultimately admitted to the two December robberies saying he committed the crimes because he was broke and had no money to survive. According to the criminal complaint, the gun used in the hold-ups was stolen during the robbery of another gas station on 33rd Avenue August 31st. A store employee who had a permit to carry brought the gun to work and had it stolen during the hold-up. Records show Lofton admitted to that robbery as well, but has yet to be charged in the crime.
--Sauk Rapids police are asking for the public's help finding a vehicle that was involved in a hit-and-run crash Tuesday night. The crash happened at 9:38pm at the intersection of Benton Drive and First Street South. The vehicle is described as a black, four-door Ford Fusion sedan, with a model year between 2006-2009. The vehicle likely has front left side damage. The vehicle was last seen driving south past Coborn's in Sauk Rapids. Anyone with information about the vehicle is asked to call Sauk Rapids police.
--Brainerd firefighters were also called out last weekend to a vehicle fire on Highway 371 at 12:45am Saturday, assisted with a vehicle crash Sunday around 4:45pm on West College Drive, responded to a stove fire Monday 8:36am on Third Avenue Northeast which was out by the time they arrived and extinguished a grass fire Monday around 12:15pm on Country Lane, which burned about 5 acres.
--Baxter police reported two motorcycles collided Monday around 1:50pm on Highland Scenic Drive and Highway 210. Authorities said that the first driver was treated at the scene and the second had cuts to the head but refused any treatment.
--Saturday is the Minnesota Walleye Fishing Opener. This year the Governor's Fishing Opener is in St. Cloud. Join Q92 WYRQ' s Al Windsperger live from 5-9am Friday in St. Cloud from the opener.
DEATH NOTICES --Mildred “Millie” J. Chandler, age 89 of Randall --Irene Brogdon, age 94 of the Royalton-Buckman area --Rita Nayquonabe, age 63 of Onamia.
WEATHER TODAY= sunny skies, high 65. Clear night low 38. FRIDAY= sunny, high 71, slight chance of PM showers, low 45. SATURDAY= sunny and warm, high near 80, low around 50. SUNDAY= sunny and mild, high 76, storms after midnight, low 51.
SPORTS TWINS= Twins/White Sox rained out Wednesday will be made up in a double header in August. Twins and White Sox wrap up the shortened series tonight 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ. HS SB= Sauk Rapids at Little Falls today at 5pm on AM960 KLTF.