NEWS
--This week, Minnesota National Guard’s Camp Ripley hosts the Army National Guard Region IV Best Warrior Competition to find the best of the best non-commissioned officer and Soldier of the region. “Camp Ripley is a regional training center, which hosts all types of schools, events, and competitions, and every time we host, this installation always shines,” said Army Brig. Gen. Lowell Kruse, the Minnesota National Guard's Assistant Adjutant General and Camp Ripley's Senior Commander. "The Best Warrior Competition is a great way to showcase the talent and dedication of our enlisted Soldiers and Camp Ripley is proud to host the Soldiers from our partner states and provide them with the state-of-the-art training areas and facilities to perform at their highest level.” The Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition is a five-day competition that tests competitors from seven states on their Army knowledge. The competition includes written exams, essays, in-person interviews, the Army Combat Fitness Test, weapons qualifications, medical evacuation tasks, an obstacle course, a ruck march, mystery events, and more. The competition is designed to find the region’s best non-commissioned officer and Soldier. The Region IV winner will advance to compete at the Army 2022 National All Guard Best Warrior Competition in July in Tennessee. The entire event was planned and executed by enlisted service members to test and challenge our Soldiers and identify the best warriors of the Midwest. The competition starts Friday morning.
--A St. Joseph man has died from the injuries he suffered in a motorcycle crash last week. St. Cloud police were called to 9th Avenue North, just north of 15th Street North, at around 2:30am Friday for a motorcycle crash. Authorities says 27-year-old Tyler Koopmeiners was heading south on 9th Avenue when he hit a curb, lost control and crash. Authorities say Koopmeiners died Sunday from the life threatening injuries from that accident.
--Upsala School Superintendent Vern Capelle spoke on KLTF yesterday morning and said that this year was an excellent change to keep the students together. Spring has been busy with compressed schedules due to weather on their sports and other FFA and outdoor events. Their Robotics Program has a spectacular year including host a large tournament in the winter at the school that brought in teams from throughout the state and nation. Upsala will graduate their class on Friday night at 8pm at the school. They will be working on summer maintenance projects, reroofing, painting and working on the buildings. They are also planning on expanding their pre-school program going to a 2 full day programs instead of the 4 half day programs to help with parents schedules. They will have to some relocating in some of the classrooms by the fall session to bring in the preschool kids for the next school year. If you have questions for Upsala Schools reach out to them at 320-573-2174.
--The ROCORI School Board has selected a finalist for the district's open superintendent position. Donita Stepan was chosen as the lone finalist after the first round of interviews earlier this week. Stepan is the Superintendent of the Thief River Falls School District. The school said they will start the contract negotiations with Stepan and if accepted she would begin in the new position July 1st.
--Invasive jumping works have spread across several Midwestern states, including here in Minnesota. So far there has been one reported incident in Stearns County, two in Sherburne County, and one in Wright County. They move less like a worm and more like a snake and thrash around when they are disturbed.
--The following are the Little Falls Senior Activities Banquet Award winners for 2021-2022 school year from the High School which were given out on Monday night. Male Athlete of the Year is Austin Neu, Female Athlete of the Year is Mikayla Houdek. The Vern and Bunny Zehren Awards went to Taylor Swantek and David Kicker. U.S. Marines Scholastic Excellence Award winner is Emma Mikkelson and Austin Litke, U.S. Marines Distinguished Athlete Award went to Danielle Schirmers and Riley Czech. Three Sport Athlete Awards to Riley Czech, David Kicker and Austin Neu. AAA Awards to Ellie Smieja and Collin Kray. John Phillip Sousa Award winner was Lilly Curtis. The Semper Fedelis Musical Excellence Award winner was Hannah Olson and Owen Talberg. Louis Armstrong Jazz Award went to Colin Kray. The National School Choral Award winners were Jersey Weiss and Jade Walter. Fred Waring Director's Award went to Katelyn Bloom. Fine Arts Students of the Year were Maddie Ploof and Nicholas Popp.
--A Wright County man has been sentenced to just over 10 years in prison for child pornography. 34-year-old Alexander Odegaard also has to pay $65,000 in restitution. He was found in possession of nearly 35,000 images and 555 videos depicting child pornography during the execution of an FBI search warrant at his house in September 2021. Among these were depictions of sexual abuse including children being restrained, whipped, and threatened with fire. Odegaard was on supervision for child pornography possession in Wright County at the time of the arrest. In January Odegaard plead guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.
--The 133rd Airlift Wing received their first C-130 Hercules with an updated eight-bladed propeller Wednesday. The 133rd Airlift Wing currently flies eight C-130H3 Hercules model aircraft out of the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport. Last year the Wing launched a three-phase modernization process through the introduction of the electronic propeller control system (EPCS). The Wing is currently in the second phase of the modernization process, which includes transitioning the C-130s from four-bladed propellers to eight-bladed propellers. The eight-bladed Propellers will deliver more power and efficiency, while reducing maintenance. They are also helpful in cold weather and arctic operations, due to increased thrust for takeoff and climb-out. The completion of this phase is project to be the end of this fiscal year in September 2023. The third phase will introduce a T56 3.5 turbo engine and will kick off in the fall of 2023.
DEATH NOTICES
--Dianne Yvonne Roland (Pierzina), age 82 of Little Falls and CA.
WEATHER
TODAY= AM fog, partly sunny, scattered strong T-storms, high 84.
TONIGHT= strong thunderstorms before midnight, low 58.
FRIDAY= sunny, cooler and breezy, high near 70, low near 50.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, high 68, low around 46.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, cooler, yet, high 64, low near 43.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins game suspended in top of the 4th and will resume today at 12:10pm followed by the next game with Twins and Houston later this afternoon at Target Field. Hear the action on Q92 WYRQ. WILD= The Wild need to win to stay alive in the playoffs as Game 6 of the series tonight in St. Louis. Blues lead the series 3 to 2. If there is a game 7 it will be Saturday night in St. Paul.