NEWS
--39-year-old, Michael James Whitty Sandaker was charged in Morrison County District Court with being a predatory offender and knowingly failing to fulfill registration requirements. Sandaker is required to register as a Minnesota predatory offender as a result of a 2004 conviction in Stevens County. He is required to register until at least September 2029. A deputy tried to locate Sandaker in October but he was not at the residence he listed. The occupant told the deputy that Sandaker occasionally comes back to check his mail, but does not live there. His whereabouts are currently unknown and, due to the nature of the charge and the need for release conditions, the state is seeking a warrant for his arrest. If convicted, Sandaker faces a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.
--Christian Otto Ewertsen, 50, Little Falls, was taken into custody in Morrison County as a fugitive from justice on felony charges in Louisiana. According to the criminal complaint, Judge Marilyn Castle of the 15th Judicial Court of Lafayette Parish in Louisiana issued a warrant for Ewertsen’s arrest. He was convicted of illegal discharge of a firearm. The court suspended execution of the sentence and placed him on probation. The warrant alleged Ewertsen violated the conditions of his probation, and the warrant commands he be brought back to Louisiana upon arrest. On October 28th, an investigator with the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received information that Ewertsen was in custody of the jail. The investigator met with Ewertsen of being the person named in the warrant.
--Samuel Cabildo Nicolas, Jr., 42, Little Falls, was sentenced in Morrison District Court to 30 months in prison on a felony conviction for third degree burglary. On June 28, 2020, the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a burglary at a property on Great River Road. A deputy responded and met with the victim on their property, who reported someone had broken into his out-buildings “within the last couple of days.” He reported missing several items, including a gas-powered air compressor, a 100-gallon fuel truck with pump, scrap metal and more. The license plate on the vehicle that was spotted on surveillance from the victimized residence and came back to a resident of Little Falls, so the deputy went to make conduct with the owner of the vehicle. Where Nicholas was then arrested.
--Stearns County Officials are meeting with the National Institute of Corrections. Stearns County Attorney Janelle Kendall says the National Institute of Corrections is talking to people all across the Criminal Justice System about the space they use in their jails. She says 15 years ago they looked at how they use their jail and prioritized who needs to be locked up. Kendall says those they are "afraid of" deserved priority over those they are "angry with".
Kendall says out of their study 15 years ago the Domestic Violence court was born. She says when the National Institute of Corrections looked at their data it became clear that the people cycling through the jail were domestic violence offenders and repeat drunk drivers. At the time this reduced the amount of people in the jail.
--Another sign, the holidays are vastly approaching. The Salvation Army's Red Kettle campaign They are in need of volunteers:
If you want to help be bell ringers to ring bells at the kettles to collect important funds for their programs all year round where 300 kettles equates to about 50-thousand volunteers. The Red Kettle Campaign kicks off Friday across most of Minnesota. To sign up to volunteer head to salvationarmynorth.org
--Today is Veterans Day, please remember to thank a Veteran today for their service to our country. Listen to the Veterans Day program from Mary of Lourdes Middle School today at 1:30pm on KLTF.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office gave a special thank you to those who purchased the second round of pavers for the Fallen Officer Memorial. The pavers were installed this week and your contribution is greatly appreciated. Without the support of this great community, this memorial would not have been possible. Also Sheriff Larsen sent out an important reminder: If you find that you or your phone has accidentally dialed 9-1-1, DON’T HANG UP. Please stay on the line and speak with the dispatcher. Even if you are unaware that a 9-1-1 was placed, law enforcement is required to make contact with you to ensure that you don’t have an actual emergency.
--Governor Tim Walz announced a second skilled-nursing facility would act an alternative care site as part of the governor’s efforts to relieve Minnesota hospitals treating a surge of COVID-19 patients.
An additional emergency staffing team of 14 Minnesota National Guard members and nine federal nurses will treat patients at Good Samaritan Society/Bethany in Brainerd beginning yesterday. Patients eligible for transfer include those who no longer require acute emergency care but are not well enough to go home, such as those who are recovering from surgery. Hospitals usually are able to transfer these patients to long-term care settings to continue their recovery, but staffing and bed shortages have reduced capacity.
--Fire crews responded to a barn fire early Wednesday morning. Around 1:15am fire reported in the 31000 block of Riverview Road in Oak Township, about two miles northwest of New Munich. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says a deputy arrived on scene and found a portion of the empty hog barn was on fire and flames coming from the roof. Melrose and Freeport fire crews arrived and put out the blaze. The owner of the barn, 48-year-old Craig Viere of New Munich, told authorities the barn had been sprayed with formaldehyde on Monday. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
KLTF/NATIONAL NEWS
--On Tuesday, the hosts of On the House James and Morris Carey announced they will be retiring effecitve December 31, 2021 after being on the airwaves 35 years from starting out on a small radio station on the west coast to a national show for over 20 years including being on AM960 KLTF since 2009 Saturday mornings. Little Falls Radio wishes the Carey Brothers all the best in their retirement. You can still the finals shows of On the House with the Carey Brothers Saturdays at 10am-12pm Saturdays on KLTF.
DEATH NOTICES
--Agnes P. Medek, age 100 of Pierz.
--Bev Johnson, age 71 of Upsala.
WEATHER
TODAY= cloudy, windy, rain and snow at times, high 38.
TONIGHT= cloudy and windy, snow likely, 1-2 inches, low 25.
FRIDAY= snow early, then cloudy and windy, high 34, low 22.
SATURDAY= flurries possible, windy, high 30, low 20.
SUNDAY= flurries early, then sunshine, high 32, low 18.
A special Thank You to all Veterans today from Little Falls Radio for their time and sacrifice defending our country.