NEWS
--A 28-year-old Baxter man has been sentenced to six years in prison for setting a garage on fire in Brainerd back in July. Clinton Janowiak pleaded guilty to first degree arson and the judge sentenced him to six years prison and ordered him to pay restitution and a fine. Back in July, Janowiak was seen running from the structure just before an explosion occurred. Janowiak later gave authorities permission to check the garage where gas containers and an accelerant were found confirming that the fire was arson.
--A Crosby man was injured Monday around 5:10pm when the pickup he was driving struck a vehicle on Highway 6 and Bay Drive South in Emily. 26-year old David H. Turner of Crosby, was driving southbound on Highway 6 as 34-year old Michael A. Uecker of Minneota, was driving north on Highway 6 attempting to turn westbound into a parking lot, when Uecker's vehicle was struck by Turner's truck. Turner, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported to Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Uecker had no apparent injuries.
--The city of Cold Spring is starting plans for a memorial garden and relocating the Tree of Hope in honor of Officer Tom Decker and Jacob Wetterling. After getting community feedback the city council has approved the plan for a memorial garden honoring Officer Tom Decker. The garden will still be placed in front of the Cold Spring City Offices building. The” Tree of Hope” Jacob Wetterling Memorial once stood in the same spot but the community has been talking about where to plant a new tree and it will be north of the roundabout or in Pioneer Park but finalization of this is still in the works by city officials. The tree had to be removed while crews worked on the County Road 2 construction project. Jacob Wetterling was abducted from St. Joseph in 1989, he was missing for nearly 27-years. His remains were found earlier this month near Paynesville. Danny Heinrich confessed to the kidnapping and murder of Wetterling.
Officer Tom Decker was shot and killed in Cold Spring in 2012, his murder remains unsolved. Also at Tuesday's Cold Spring City Council meeting Mayor Bob Thelen resigned unexpectedly.
--Four Brainerd High Schools students were recently named National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists. Samuel Dirks, Matthew Greatens, Adam Kleist and Nathanael Lockwood are four of approximately 16,000 semifinalists nationwide in the 62nd annual National Merit Scholarship program. These semifinalists have the chance to continue in the competition for about 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth about $33 million offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
--Friday afternoon there will be the 6th Annual Patriotic Rosary at St. Joseph's Church in Pierz. The rosary is split out into a number of groups giving certain parts for people in our country. Many organizations will take part in the rosary along with Bishop Donald Kettler who will be visiting Holy Trinity School on Friday. Students from Holy Trinity will also take part in the rosary which is open to all to attend on Friday at 12:45pm at the Catholic church in Pierz.
--Dr. Brian Kobilka will be speaking at an event for the Morrison County Historical Society on Monday. Dr. Kobilka who grew up in Little Falls and his father had the Sanitary Bakery. Kobilka won the 2012 Nobel Prize for Chemistry. He will speak at the event on Monday 7pm at the Charles D. Martin Auditorium inside Little Falls Community High School. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Morrison County Historicial Society or by calling 632-4007.
--A free two day disabled persons deer hunt is scheduled next month. On Wednesday and Thursday October 12th and 13th a disabled persons hunt is being held at Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge east of Little Falls. All that is required is a Minnesota firearms license. To sign up or get more information call 632-1575.
--A 21-year-old Brainerd man is accused of strangling a female victim September 4th after he allegedly became angry with her at a residence in northeast Brainerd. James Edward Johnson was charged September 7th in Crow Wing County District Court in Brainerd with felony domestic assault by strangulation, gross misdemeanor of endangering children and misdemeanor domestic assault with the intention to inflict bodily harm. Since being charged, Johnson has been released from the Crow Wing County Jail. Johnson appeared in court Monday for his Rule 8 hearing, where the judge denied his request to drop a no contact order and scheduled his next court hearing for November 14th.
--A 57-year-old man who spent over a decade behind bars for a Wright County murder that occurred nearly 40 years ago is out of a Faribault prison. Terry Olson was released Tuesday as part of a legal effort by his attorneys and the Minnesota Innocence Project. Olson, who faced seven more years in prison, was resentenced to time served by a Wright County judge, under an agreement with the Wright County attorney’s office. He was convicted in 2007 in the 1979 death of Jeffrey Hammill, who was found dead on the side of a road outside of Buffalo. The Innocence Project got involved following conflicting testimony in the case. Despite his release, Olson hasn't been exonerated in the case.
--The 42nd Annual Albany Pioneer Day and Threshing show is Friday through Sunday. This year featuring John Deere antique equipment, tractors, snowmobiles and gas engines. There will be a garden tractor pull Friday 6pm, flea market, sewing circle, old time music, museums to view, country school, old time pioneer shops and so much more. Parade of tractors Sunday, church services Saturday night and Sunday and join AM960 KLTF Party Line live in Albany Friday morning at 10am and it can also be heard online at fallsradio.com.
WEATHER
TODAY= becoming cloudy, showers & storms after 3pm, high 68.
TONIGHT= storms likely with heavy rains, low 61.
FRIDAY= cloudy, scattered storms early and late, high 70, low 50.
SATURDAY= gradual clearing, cooler, high 64, clear night low 44.
SUNDAY= sunny and warmer, high 76, storms develop late night.
SPORTS
TWINS= Dozier hits #41 and Suzuki homered to give Twins a 5-2 lead early only to watch Detroit come back and win 9-6 last night in Detroit. The Twins and Detroit wrap up series today, pregame from Detroit begins at 11:30am on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= Bills at Jets tonight on Thursday Night Football 7pm on KLTF