NEWS
--Seven children and one staff member were transported from the Brainerd Family YMCA Tuesday, October 17th after a three-vehicle crash at South Sixth and Oak streets sent a vehicle into the YMCA building. Shane Riffle, CEO of the Brainerd Family YMCA, said at the time of the crash the children and staff member were in a class in the Greenroom of the YMCA Child Care Center. Riffle said staff immediately began to evacuate the classroom and direct the children to a safe area of the building while emergency personnel were called. Upon arrival, paramedics on scene sent all the children and staff to Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center hospital as a precautionary measure. “We have been informed that some of these children and staff have been released,” Riffle said in the release. “The thoughts and prayers of everyone from the Brainerd Family YMCA are with the children and staff that were involved in today’s accident.” The Brainerd Police Department responded to the crash, which was reported about 2:39pm. Brainerd Police Chief John Davis said there was one vehicle westbound on Oak Street and one traveling south on South Sixth Street when they crashed at the intersection. After crashing, one of the vehicles was sent into a Brainerd Police Department squad car, which was northbound on South Sixth Street and waiting at the light when it was hit. That vehicle continued traveling and ended up crashing into the Greenroom of the YMCA Child Care Center. Davis said the crash is currently under investigation by the Baxter Police Department. Riffle said the Brainerd Family YMCA was closed yesterday but will reopen in some areas of the building today but not where the crash occurred.
--3M announced that Veterans are being warned about a new scam targeting those potentially covered by the multi-billion dollar 3M settlement over defective hearing protection. Scammers have seized on the opportunity to attempt to gather Social Security Numbers and personal data while posing as settlement administration firm Archer Systems, LLC, which is handling the case. The telephone number for claimants to call was posted online, and the judge in the case says scammers have spoofing software and are using it to disguise their actual caller ID information to appear legitimate. Archer Systems is not making any unsolicited contacts with claimants. They only contact those who have submitted an inquiry and do not ask for personal information such as phone numbers and Social Security Numbers. The company has its own verification questions and processes. Authorities say to never give out personal information over the phone or via email to anyone. The judge says should a claimant receive an unsolicited communication from a person or entity representing themselves as someone from Archer, hang up or delete the email. Anyone who receives a message should not call the person back. The FBI has been contacted about the scam.
--The Minnesota Office of Management and Budget says the party is still on in St. Paul. State officials released a fiscal update on Monday for the end of the 2022-23 biennium budget. The surplus is now estimated to be $820 million more than anticipated. MMB says the good news is due to a combination of higher revenue (+$739 million) and lower expenses (-$81 million). It will be rolled over to the projected surplus for the next biennium, now predicted to be over $2.4 billion. It was at $17.5 billion before the last legislative session, with the DFL taking advantage of its majorities in both chambers to ramp up spending.
--An unsealed search warrant says members of a multi-agency drug task force were looking for methamphetamine and other evidence related to suspected drug dealing when five officers were shot at a Benton County home earlier this month. The warrant, issued in Benton County, was requested by a member of the Sherburne County Drug Task so the team could search the home, outbuildings and vehicles of 64-year-old Karl Holmberg and his spouse. The warrant stated an informant had made multiple buys of methamphetamine from the Holmbergs, and that garbage collected from the home on 190th Ave. NE in Glendorado reportedly contained baggies with traces of meth, butane canisters routinely used to superheat drug paraphernalia and caps from drug syringes. Around 7:10am October 12th drug task force members and accompanying deputies were attempting to execute a "knock and announce" warrant when Holmberg allegedly opened fire, wounding five of the officers and getting shot himself in the exchange of gunfire. The suspect was taken into custody after a standoff of approximately four hours. Prosecutors say Holmberg fired on a sixth officer but did not hit him. All those shot are expected to recover. A criminal complaint filed against him details how Holmberg's wife reportedly told deputies he heard and saw law enforcement outside their home and told her it was "his day to die." Karl Holmberg is in jail, charged with six counts of attempted murder of a peace officer. His next court appearance is scheduled for next Tuesday in Benton County.
--Aaron Olson of Kinship of Morrison County spoke on KLTF yesterday and invites all to the Kinship Soup and Chili Cookoff for kids this Monday 5-7pm at the Falls Ballroom. All the proceeds go to help the mentoring program for Kinship to help kids with a mentor in Morrison County. He mentioned that donations and others have come forward so that all items at the event are paid for so that the kids get all the proceeds. Come and vote on the Soup and Chili of your choice as a People Choice along with judge's picks are made. There will be breadsticks from the bakery, ice cream will be served and more. This year the silent auction items will be put online in November for those to bid on that way to extend the proceeds for the event and open up more space for the food walkers at the event Monday. Tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for kids, those 4 and under and 80 an over are free (though a free will offering can be given). To get tickets in advance call Aaron at 320-632-8806.
DEATH NOTICES
--Joyce Marie Nelson, age 88 of Little Falls.
--Marlene Soltis, age 90 of Upsala.
WEATHER
TODAY= cloudy in morning, then sunshine, high 58.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low around 40.
FRIDAY= sunny and mild, high 65, late night rain possible, low 41.
SATURDAY= sunny and breezy, high 55, low near 35.
SUNDAY= sunny and not as breezy, high 56, low near 35.
SPORTS
HS FB= Little Falls rolls to a 35-7 win over Thief River Falls to finish the season 4-4. Pierz wins 20-0 over Howard Lake Waverly they finish the year 5-3. Upsala-Swanville rolls 40-12 over West Central Area and finish 7-1 and gets a first round bye next week. The football playoffs begin on Tuesday for some of our area teams.