NEWS
--A 15-year old teen, abducted and then assaulted for 29 days, escaped captivity when she ran for help, knocked on several doors and eventually swam across a lake to find someone who could help her. Law enforcement arrested three men on suspicion of kidnapping, false imprisonment and assault. The Douglas County Attorney will determine specific charges against 32-year old Thomas Barker of Carlos, 20-year old Steven Powers of Mankato, and 31-year old Joshua Holby of Carlos. A news release spelled out details of the preliminary investigation into Block’s disappearance August 8th. Barker approached Block outside of her home around 11:00pm on the pretense that he needed help. He was known to Block, so she offered to assist and entered Barker’s vehicle. Barker drove Block to his Carlos residence, where he restrained her with zip ties, repeatedly assaulted her and threatened her with weapons. According to police, Holby lives with Barker and participated in the assaults, as did Powers, who arrived at the home about two weeks following the abduction. The assaults continued over several weeks while she was being held. Late last week, the men took Block from the house to various locations including a cornfield and a foreclosed property in Grant County. On Tuesday afternoon, the three men left Block alone while they traveled to a nearby town for lunch. This was the first time in 29 days she was left alone. Police said Block ran for help, knocking on doors at several homes and eventually swimming across part of Thompson Lake to locate a residence where someone could help her. About 1:30pm on Tuesday, September 6th, Block was found running through a field in Grant County near Thompson Lake toward a farmer, who police said instantly recognized her. She identified herself as Jasmine Block and asked the man to call 911. Block told responding officers that she had been abducted.
--Little Falls gets very busy this weekend with the Little Falls Arts and Crafts Fair Saturday and Sunday, the West Little Falls Antiques and Collectibles Fair Saturday and Sunday at LeBourget Park and then the Lone Eagle Auto Club's Car Show and Swap Meet starting Sunday at 7:00am at the Morrison County Fairgrounds. Law enforcement is reminding motorists and pedestrians to watch out for each other with the crowds expected in Little Falls this weekend.
--An Iowa man is dead and another man from Iowa has been arrested after an early morning fight Tuesday in St. Cloud. Police say the incident happened just after 6:30am on the 1600 block of Oak Grove Road Southwest. Officers found the victim 22-year old Andre Reaves of Deloit, Iowa had been stabbed in the torso. Reaves died at St. Cloud Hospital about an hour later. Police say the suspect, 22-year old Robin Hanson knew the victim. Both men were staying at the house where the stabbing happened.
--The City of Pierz announced that Essentia Health will be hosting an open house at their new Pierz Clinic on Thursday, September 21st from 4:00–6:00pm at 138 Main Street in Pierz. Join the Pierz Clinic staff and your fellow community members to tour the new facility and enjoy food catered by the Brickyard, outdoor music, and fun activities for kids. The new location is where the Old Bank Restaurant used to be in Pierz. The clinic officially opens next Monday, September 11th at the new location and is double the size of the current building providing room to bring more care closer to home. Services will grow to include additional specialty care and physical therapy services.
--Becker’s longtime head football coach Dwight Lundeen will be inducted into the Minnesota State High School League Hall of Fame next month. Lundeen is Becker’s only head football coach they’ve ever had. He started coaching there in 1970. He has coached the Becker football team to 22 conference titles and 15 state tournament appearances. The Minnesota State High School League Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is on Sunday, October 22nd.
--A Sartell man convicted of felony gambling in 2014 faces voter fraud charges in Stearns County after illegally casting a ballot in 2016. In November 2014, 52-year old Jeffrey John Spanier was convicted on sports bookmaking charges. A month later, he signed a probation agreement in which he acknowledged he no longer had the right to vote until his civil rights were restored. However, Spanier registered to vote on Election Day 2016 in Sartell and cast his ballot. When investigators interviewed Spanier, he admitted to completing the Minnesota voter registration form and certifying that he was not a felon, according to the criminal complaint filed in Stearns County District Court. Spanier was charged August 29th with one count of ineligible voter knowingly votes and one count of registering to vote as an ineligible voter. His first court appearance on the charges is set for October 23rd.
--The recently concluded Minnesota State Fair has set an attendance record of nearly 2 million. Fair officials announced Tuesday this year's Great Minnesota Get Together drew a record total of 1,997,320 people over its 12 day run. That breaks the previous record of 1,943,719 set last year. The fair set three daily attendance records, on Monday, August 28th, Friday, September 1st and Sunday, September 3rd. The 2018 Minnesota State Fair will run August 23rd through Labor Day, September 3rd.
--The on-again, off-again 2017 walleye season on Mille Lacs Lake officially draws to a close on Monday. Beginning Tuesday, anglers won't be able to go after the prized state fish, although fishing for all other species remains open. There's also a ban on using live bait, except for anglers fishing from shore or a dock. It's acceptable to use a sucker minnow 8 inches or longer to fish for muskellunge or northern pike. Walleye fishing on Mille Lacs has been catch and release only all year, and was closed for more than a month earlier this summer.
DEATH NOTICES
--Benjamin F. Hatfield, age 39 of Burtrum.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high near 70.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low around 44.
FRIDAY= partly cloudy, cooler, high 64, clear night, low 48.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, high 71, low around 50.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, breezy, high 76, low around 54.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins beat Tampa Bay 10-6 on Wednesday, Dozier led off with a homer, Escobar had three hits in the win to avoid the sweep. Twins (72-67) at Kansas City tonight 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= The 2017 NFL regular season opens up tonight with the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. Pregame coverage at 6:45pm tonight on AM960 KLTF.