NEWS
--Shannon Wettstein of Morrison Soil and Water announced that the tree sale pickup date will be Friday, April 29th from 8am-4pm at the Exchange Area (Hockey Rink) in Little Falls. For those who ordered trees, you should have received notice of the pick up date and time. On Friday, April 22nd there will be a learn and burn workshop at Camp Ripley where you can learn more about prescribed burning, then in the afternoon, a bus type trip will go around some of the burns and other opportunities that all can view that the event on Friday at Camp Ripley. You will need to register for this event at Camp Ripley which is weather permitting call 320-631-3551. Shannon also mentioned a free event on Saturday starting at noon at the Rotary Park in Brainerd. There will be an Earth Day event for kids and families to enjoy games, crafts and other items. Soil and Water will also be part of that event on Saturday in Brainerd. Again more info on anything at Morrison County Soil and Water call Shannon at 320-631-3551.
--A shed was destroyed in a fire near Holdingford over the weekend. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says at around 12:20pm Saturday, they responded to a structure fire in the 41000 block of 147th Avenue in Holding Township. Authorities say 44-year-old Cyril Feia of Holdingford, had been operating a skid-steer in a shed which was filled with hay, straw and other farm equipment. Feia says he returned later to find the shed fully engulfed. Fire crews were able to put out the blaze. No one was hurt but the shed was a total loss.
--The Stearns County Sheriff’s department is reporting a stolen vehicle and a theft on the 400 block of 4th avenue southwest in Freeport. It was reported that a truck drove into a lot with about 2 to 3 white males in their 20s wearing jeans, boots and dark sweatshirts. They took several items including a trailer. They were driving a 2005 to 2010 Dodge 1500. What was taken was an AC unit, batteries, chainsaw, chains and some saw bars. Waite Park Police is reporting a stolen vehicle from Park Meadows Drive. It is a 2017 white Ford Fusion with Minnesota license plate CBL 702. The key fob was left in the vehicle. There is a blue Somalia flag sticker on the bumper. The St. Cloud Police Department is reporting a couple of theft from vehicles. One on the 10 block of 8th avenue with a computer and cell phone stolen. On the 10 block of 37th avenue south 3 chainsaws were taken from the bed of a pickup. A theft took place on the 100 block of Roosevelt Road were a vehicle was taken from a business. It is a 2019 black Ford Fusion with Minnesota license plate HSZ 383. St. Cloud Police is also reporting an arson on the 100 block of 9th avenue North where an unknown person lit a bag of garbage on fire next to a detached garage causing damage to the garage. A burglary on the 1300 block of 15th street north took place where a garage was entered by breaking sheet rock from an adjoining garage. Tools and some other items were taken. Mages says there was also a burglary on the 2400 block of county road 74 where a construction trailer was broken into and electronics were taken.
--A 33 year old woman was injured Monday morning at 6:51am in Mille Lacs County. Layna Waidelich of Princeton was on Highway 169 in Princeton near a ramp when the vehicle slid on the icy roads and went off down an embankment rolling multiple times. Waidenlich was taken to the hospital with non life threatening injuries.
--A St. Paul man was injured in Otter Tail County Monday shortly after 7am on Interstate 94 near Fergus Falls. 52-year-old Dale Ampey was driving his semi on 94 when he left the roadway and struck the ditch due to icy roads. Ampey was treated for non serious injuries.
--Kris VonBerge of Visit Little Falls (Convention & Visitors Bureau) spoke on KLTF Party Line Monday about many events this spring and summer. Little Falls and Pierz are working together again on their citywide garage sales May 18th-21st, Markets and Music on the Mississippi will be returning on the 4th Thursday in June with Levi Pelzer Band, July with Powerplant and August with Charlie Roth at LeBourget Park in Little Falls with many more items still being added. The Charm Ride will return for all to grab a charm at area businesses during the summer months stay tuned for more details. There are also many events planned at area attractions, the public library and more so go to the website littlefallsmn.com or call 320-616-4959.
--A Rockville man charged with murder after a fatal drug overdose in 2020 has pleaded guilty. Twenty-nine-year-old Travis Anderson pleaded guilty to 3rd degree murder. Anderson will be sentenced in August. According to the charges, Anderson provided a 30-year-old man heroin laced with fentanyl. Authorities were called to a home in the 9000 block of Athman Road in September of 2020 for a medical emergency. A roommate discovered the man's body and called 911. Records show the roommate removed a plate from near the victim which had a white powdery substance on it and put it in his car. Anderson then returned to the home before authorities arrived. The roommate told police that Anderson then took the victim's cell phone and removed it from the bedroom. Anderson denied to investigators that he took the phone but officers were able to call the number and find it in some bushes fully charged. A records search of the victim's phone and Anderson's phone detail several exchanges where Anderson was supplying the victim with drugs. Authorities say emails taken from the victim's phone also show Venmo transfers to Anderson for drugs. An autopsy determined the victim died of mixed drug toxicity specifically heroin and fentanyl.
--Over the past two years, the number of students enrolling in college has declined dramatically. The fall enrollment system-wide at the Minnesota State system was down about 6.5 percent. SCSU says the spring enrollment numbers at SCSU have rebounded a bit but are still down about five percent. In the past years they have worked on budget shortfalls, cuts and removing items to work on keeping the facility doing what the school feels is best for students that are on campus. One of those was removing the college football team in the past years. As they recently finalized their budget they had to cut back on faculty additions and gave current staff incentives from the college in working out the budget from lower enrollment.
WEATHER
TODAY= sun and clouds, high 43 lighter winds.
TONIGHT= rain and snow overnight, low 34.
WEDNESDAY= rain/snow early, then rain and wind, high 47, low 32.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, high near 50, low around 36.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins split the 4 game series with Boston on a 4 RBI day by Jorge Polanco to win 8-3 over Red Sox. The Twins now travel to Kansas City to open a series tonight 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
NBA= T-Wolves game 2 with Memphis in playoffs is tonight.
GOLF= A petition has been sent to the Minnesota State High School League to change the Minnesota State High School League golf season to fall instead of spring. It was made due to recent spring weather making it difficult to get the season going in the spring.
HS SB= Pierz at St. Cloud Cathedral today at 5pm on 94ROCKS.