NEWS
--A single-vehicle crash in Avon Township resulted in a fire Monday. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle crash just before noon Monday. Deputies arrived at the scene on Country Road 9 in Avon Township to find a Jeep Wrangler engulfed in flames. The driver, 63-year-old Charles Bolstrom of Burtrum says he had fallen asleep behind the wheel, the Jeep left the road, and crashed into a tree. He was wearing a seatbelt and managed to crawl free of the vehicle before it caught on fire. The Albany Fire Department arrived to put the fire out, and Bolstrom was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries.
--A man faces criminal charges after allegedly leading authorities on a high-speed chase north of Sartell. A Stearns County Sheriff's deputy was following a pickup on Stearns County Road 1 just after 8pm Tuesday when they saw the pickup driver cross over the fog line several times. When the deputy tried to initiate a traffic stop the driver, 45-year-old Kevin Johnstone of Sartell, allegedly failed to stop and accelerated at speeds of up to 100 miles-per-hour. Johnstone eventually lost control near the intersection of Coneflower Lane and rolled several times. Johnstone had to be extricated from the truck and was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for evaluation of injuries. He faces charges of fleeing police and 3rd degree DWI.
--Crow Wing Power is seeking applications for the Touchstone Energy Community Award, which recognizes businesses, non-profit, and community groups that have shown a strong commitment to the community. Any organization that has helped makes our communities a better place to live and work is eligible for the $1,000 cash award. Community members may nominate an organization, association or business by completing an application form, available at www.cwpower.com. Questions may be directed to Char Kinzer or Kara Mudford at 829-2827. The application will require a description of the project, program or event and the positive impact it brought to the community. Completed applications must be received at Crow Wing Power’s office by October 31, 2023. The award recipient will be announced by November 15 and will then contend for the statewide Touchstone Energy Community Award, which offers a cash prize of $2,000. The statewide award winner will be recognized at the Minnesota Rural Electric Association annual meeting in 2024.
--The Minnesota Department of Revenue announced that the Crow Wing County Attorney’s Office recently charged Shannon Marie Steele and Russel Clair Steele, both of Pequot Lakes, each with five felony counts of filing false or fraudulent income tax returns and five felony counts of failing to pay income tax. The complaints allege that the Steeles filed fraudulent income tax returns for tax years 2017 through 2021 and failed to pay the correct amount of income tax in those years coming from a news release from the revenue department.
--Three people were injured in a two vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon on Highway 23 in Waite Park. 29-year-old Orlando Bellorinn of St. Cloud was on Highway 23 and turned into another vehicle driven by 84-year-old Bertil Johnson of Florida. Johnson and her passenger, 77-year-old Patricia Johnson of Florida both had non life threatening injuries and taken to St. Cloud Hospital. Bellorinn was not injured but his passenger 22-year-old Josseling Isaguirre was taken to the hospital and treated for her injuries.
--Minnesota Author Mary Seifert is coming to Little Falls to talk about her Cozy Mystery series which includes a math teacher attempting to solve crimes and one of the books has ties and items in Little Falls of this fictional nature. Seifert will be at the Carnegie Library in Little Falls Saturday at 11am for a book signing and Q and A with those in the audience, preregistration is encouraged at 320-632-9676.
--The invasive insect Emerald Ash Borer has been found in two more Minnesota counties. Professional tree service companies detected EAB in both Mille Lacs and Benton Counties. That brings the total number of Minnesota counties with Emerald Ash Borer to 44. The Mille Lacs infestation was discovered along a set of power lines in Milaca. The Benton County infestation was found in a St. Cloud neighborhood. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has enacted an emergency quarantine of any firewood or ash material to prevent the movement of the invasive pests. EAB was first discovered in Minnesota in 2009. The insect larvae kill ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree that moves nutrients up and down the trunk.
--A 32-year-old from Bemidji was injured Wednesday morning just before 8am on Highway 2 in Cass County. Felicia Strickland was at the intersection on Highway 2 and 371 and struck a vehicle turning off of 371 driven by a 20 year old from Cass Lake. Strickland was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
--There will be a Polka Praise Service and breakfast event on Sunday at Zion Lutheran Church in Little Falls. Music by Jerry and Joyce will begin at 9am with breakfast to follow the service for free will offering.
--Get tickets to 94ROCKS End of Summer Bash for $30 coming up September 30th at Silver Bullet in Genola at Little Falls Radio today.
DEATH NOTICES
--Irene Mary Lashinski, age 89 of Bowlus.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high near 80.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy skies, low 58.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, high 78, storms late night, low 53.
SATURDAY= showers at times and breezy, high 68, low 51.
SUNDAY= showers at times, breezy, cooler, high 63, low 47.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins rally to win 5-3 on Wednesday to take the series over Cincinnati. Twins (81-72) have today off, their magic to win the division is at 2.The Twins host the Angels Friday, then the Oakland A's next week and travel to Colorado next weekend to wrap up the regular season and look ahead to the playoffs.
WNBA= Connecticut end the Lynx season 90-75 taking the 3rd game in the best of 3 series, though Napheesa Collier of Lynx scored 31.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1784= first daily newspaper started in United States was in PA.
IN 1895= Duryea Motor-Wagon Company first to sell autos in U.S.
IN 1928= My Weekly Reader magazine debuts in schools.
IN 1937= J.R.R. Tolkien published “The Hobbit”
IN 1971= first Monday Night Football Game Browns 31, Jets 21.
IN 1981= Sandra Day O'Conner is sworn in as the first female Justice on the United States Supreme Court.
IN 1991= The United States were allowed to create a “Dream Team” of basketball players with NBA players for the 1992 Olympics.