NEWS
--Marnita VanHoecke of the Pine Grove Zoo announced on KLTF Wednesday they will be offering free admission to the Pine Grove Zoo today through Sunday for local community heroes, law enforcement, first responders, EMTs, correction officers, past and present military members and other heroes in our community. You will need to show proper identification proving that your are a member of the group of heroes being thanked by coming to the zoo this weekend. The Zoo is also planning a Scout Day for Boys and Girls Scouts on September 19th and a pumpkin smashing for animals on October 17th. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Zoo has had to cancel this years Zoo Fest and the Breakfast with the Animals events this year. The Zoo started fall hours this week and are only open Thursday through Sundays through October 18th and for information call 616-5595.
--A Clear Lake man was taken to the hospital after his pickup was rear-ended by a car in rural Benton County. The Minnesota State Patrol says the crash happened Monday around 11:45am at the intersection of Highway 95 and 135th Street in St. George Township, northeast of Duelm. Both vehicles were westbound on Highway 95 when the crash occurred. Officials say 53-year-old Jeffrey Brang of Clear Lake’s pickup was rear-ended by a car driven by 45-year-old Christopher Sandness of Hardwood, North Dakota. Brang was taken to St. Cloud Hospital injuries. Sandness was not hospitalized.
--A Litchfield woman was hurt when she crashed her vehicle Monday morning. The Meeker County Sheriff's Office says 27-year-old Kathleen Schenk was driving on Highway 14 in Darwin Township around 7:20am when the crash happened. Sheriff's officials say Schenk apparently fell asleep, crossed the centerline, left the roadway, struck a vehicle parked off the road, and then collided with a tree. Schenk was taken to Meeker Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
--Charges have been dropped against a St. Cloud couple accused of promoting prostitution at a Waite Park massage parlor. According to court documents, the Stearns County Attorney's Office dismissed the charges against 49-year-old Sufeng Jiang and 50-year-old Randy Wittner on September 2nd. The couple was arrested in June 2019 after the Waite Park Police Department had received information and a number of complaints about possible illicit sex acts and other suspicious activity at Oriental Massage at 125 Waite Avenue North. Investigators stopped several people leaving the business who admitted to paying for various sex acts. Court records alleged that during an inspection of the business authorities found a female worker asking for help. The victim/worker said she was being held against her will, forced to work long hours, and perform sex acts. Court records show Jiang was the owner of the business and was charged with promoting prostitution, receiving profits from prostitution, and engaging in sex trafficking. Wittner was charged with receiving profits from prostitution and aiding and abetting sex trafficking. Assistant Stearns County Attorney Ole Tvedten says the charges were dropped because a material witness was unavailable for trial and the remaining admissible evidence would no longer establish proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office continues to ask anyone with information on a missing camper/trailer taken September 2nd southwest of Randall to call their office at 632-9233. A $2,500 reward is being offered for information leading to finding the camper/trailer.
--On Wednesday at 1:06pm the Little Falls Fire Department was dispatched to 9th St NW and 1st Ave on a report of a gas line that was struck by a construction crew. Upon arrival they were told by employees they struck a gas line while boring a hole. They monitored the air in the area until Center Point Energy arrived. Once Center Point arrived, they were able to stop the flow of gas.
--A Sauk Rapids man is charged with murder in the overdose death of another man last April. Stearns County prosecutors have charged 34-year old Robert Mrozek with 3rd degree murder for providing the victim the heroin/fentanyl mixture that led to his death. Sartell Police were called April 8th to 119 LeSauk Drive to investigate a death. Officers discovered evidence of heroin use next to the man's body, whose name is not listed in the complaint. Police say they were able to identify Mrozek as the man who provided the drugs through text messages between the two and surveillance video of them meeting.
Mrozek made his first court appearance Wednesday.
--It was reported Wednesday 282 new cases of COVID-19 and 7 new deaths linked to the virus which included one person in their 80s in Stearns County. Morrison County reported 151 cases since testing began with the 1 confirmed death (41 cases in the past two weeks).
--A St. Cloud woman is charged with attacking her roommate with a knife, leaving the victim with two stab wounds. According to the criminal complaint, the victim and 23-year-old Rosecarline Stroot got into an argument at their apartment in the 1000 block of 5th Avenue South Monday. The argument was over Stroot inviting guests into the apartment without permission from other roommates. Witnesses say Stroot grabbed a saucepan and hit the roommate in the face. When the victim grabbed a pot to arm herself, others stepped in to try to separate the two. Court records show that's when Stroot grabbed a knife and stabbed the victim. The victim drove herself to the hospital for treatment. Stroot is charged with 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.
--Governor Tim Walz has called for another special session of the State Legislature on Friday of this week. The governor is again asking for an extension to peactime emergency powers due to COVID-19.
--Local author Kathy Lange will be the guest for an event Friday at Zion Lutheran Church in Little Falls at 1pm to discuss her latest book.
DEATH NOTICES
--Darrell L. Zimmerman, age 58 of Rice.
--Jeanette Ploof, age 87 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= frost and fog early, then sunny skies, high 62.
TONIGHT= clear skies, frost possible overnight, low 34.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, high 65, thunderstorms after dark, low 55.
SATURDAY= showers and storms likely, high 61, low around 52.
SUNDAY= partly cloudy skies, warmer, high near 70, low near 50.
SPORTS
NFL= The NFL is coining tonight's season opener of the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs as the Biggest Home Game Ever. Kansas City did get the OK for 22% of fan capacity tonight but most NFL fans will at their homes for the game tonight. You can listen to the game starting at 6:30pm on AM960 KLTF.
TWINS= Twins had yesterday and also have today off, they return to action tomorrow night against Cleveland on Q92 WYRQ.