NEWS
--A Little Falls man has been arrested in connection with the July 2023 death of a toddler. Investigators with the Little Falls Police Department and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension arrested 40-year-old Erik Adrian Blanco this morning at his Little Falls residence for the death of 14-month-old Riverlynn VanNorman. VanNorman’s mother called 911 back on July 6th to report that her child was not breathing. Officers and medics responded to the scene and the child was taken by Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service to St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls where she was pronounced deceased. Based on its preliminary autopsy, the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office determined that VanNorman died of multiple head and neck injuries consistent with homicidal violence. Blanco had been caring for the child while the child’s mother was away from the residence. The victim and her mother had been temporarily staying with Blanco. Blanco has been booked into the Morrison County Jail on probable cause Second-Degree Intentional Murder. Formal charges are expected later this week. In a statement, Little Falls Police Chief Greg Schirmers. “After an exhaustive and thorough investigation into this case investigators have arrested Erik Blanco in connection with this heart-breaking tragedy. This case has deeply affected our community and our thoughts and condolences go out to Riverlynn’s family during this unimaginably difficult time. The pain and sorrow they are feeling is shared by the entire community. We also would like to express our gratitude to the community for their patience, understanding and support throughout the course of this long and difficult investigation”.
--The Breezy Point Police Department is investigating after finding three dead at Whitebirch Resort on Tuesday night. Officials say they were called for a situation at the resort just after 8:45pm. When officers arrived, police say they found three people dead. The victims will not be identified until after the families are notified. Police say the preliminary investigation shows that there is no threat to the public. Breezy Point Police Chief Brian Sandell said his officers were joined by investigators from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office, along with officers from three local police departments. Sandell says more information will be released when it is appropriate No word if there has been arrests.
--The Minnesota State Patrol has released the names of the people involved in a deadly crash near Freeport. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened just before 7pm Monday on Interstate 94 near Freeport. Both vehicles were traveling west when they collided. The driver of the car was 36-year-old Said Mohamed from Pelican Rapids. He had two passengers in his vehicle, 69-year-old Abdalla Gudad of Grand Island, Nebraska and 48-year-old Adan Hosh from Pelican Rapids. Mohamed and Gudad both died in the crash. Hosh suffered life-threatening injuries. The driver of a pickup was 23-year-old Scott Bunger from Albany. He was not hurt.
--Authorities are investigating the discovery of a body found in the Mississippi River Tuesday afternoon. The Wright County Sheriff's Office got a call at around 1:20pm of a man's body found near Norin Landing in Otsego. Deputies arrived to find a man dead on the shoreline of the river. The circumstances surrounding the man's death are under investigation. The victim's name and age have not been determined at this time.
--Final Rock Roll and Stroll of 2023 is tonight 5-8pm, classic car show, poker walk and more tonight in Pierz.
--Little Falls Radio was informed yesterday that Terry “Tar” Smith has died at 77. Tar with his wife Sandy owned Goldsmith Jewelers in Little Falls for many years and he had been in the jewelry business for 50 years. Tar and Sandy retired in 2013 and moved to Wheaton. Tar passed away back on Sunday, services will be in Wheaton.
--Deb Retka of the Westside Improvement Association wants to welcome all the Antique and Collectible shoppers to Little Falls this year. The 21st West Little Falls Antique and Collectibles Fair will be 8-6 Saturday and 9-4 Sunday at LeBourget Park on Paul Larson Drive. There is parking available at the event for $5 and this year they are adding re-purposed items for those to see from the vendors. Proceeds from the parking or association items stay local in Little Falls. This is all part of the busy weekend going on in Little Falls.
--Two people were hurt in a crash on Highway 10 in Benton County. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened at about 8:15pm Monday at the intersection with 105th Street Northwest in Watab Township. A vehicle driven by 71-year-old David Aldeen of Wadena was going west on the highway when it collided with a pickup driven by 27-year-old Brent Elieff of St. Cloud, who was going west on 105th Street Northwest. A passenger in Aldeen's car, 70-year-old Carol Aldeen of Wadena, was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Elieff suffered non-life-threatening injuries, but troopers say he was not transported to the hospital.
--Two brothers died when the minibikes they were driving collided in Sherburne County Saturday night. According to the sheriff's department, 28-year-old Jake A. Christen of Foley, and 30-year-old Derek D. Christen of Milaca were among a group of four riding minibikes on the 13200 block of County Road 3 when they crashed around 11:10pm. Investigators believe that the first minibike that sped up eventually turned around to come back to the group and collided head-on with the second minibike that sped up. Both Christens were pronounced dead at the scene.
--The Minnesota Department of Health is offering Minnesotans free rapid at-home COVID-19 tests once again. Orders can be placed once a month for up to eight rapid tests per household, according to MDH. The rapid antigen tests can be taken anywhere and provide results within 15 minutes. Test orders can be called or e mailed to MDH.
--All are invited Friday at 12:45pm to the Patriotic Rosary at St. Joseph's Church in Pierz as groups, organizations and students pray the rosary for the U.S. States and Government officials. All welcome.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--singer Gary Wright has died at age 80. Wright is remembered for big hits in the 1970s including the #1 “Dream Weaver”.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy skies, high near 70, clear night, low 44.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, warmer, high near 80, low near 52.
SATURDAY= sunny, high 75, PM storms possible into night, low 48.
SUNDAY= showers at times, cooler, breezy, high 70, low near 50.
SPORTS
TWINS= Guardians hold off the Twins Wednesday 2-1 in Cleveland. The Twins (73-67) have today off, host New York Mets Friday night.
HS FB= Little Falls at East Grand Forks at 6pm Friday AM960 KLTF
HS FB= Rockford at Pierz Friday night at 7pm on 94ROCKS KFML.