NEWS
--Around 4:00pm Sunday the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a kayaker that was stranded in the Mississippi River, approximately one mile south of Little Falls in Pike Creek Township. According to Sheriff’s Office, 51-year-old Heidi Schmidt of Little Falls was kayaking on the Mississippi River when she fell off her kayak and became stranded in the water between sheets of ice. Responding units were able to perform an ice rescue and transported Schmidt to shore. Schmidt was transported to St. Gabriel’s Hospital and then transferred to St. Cloud Hospital by ambulance with unknown injuries. Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen stated, “This ice rescue was a dangerous situation for not only the victim, but for all responding personnel. The rescue was successful because of the collaborated efforts amongst all emergency personnel that were involved in this call”. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Little Falls Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, Little Falls Fire Department, Camp Ripley Fire & Rescue, Minnesota DNR and Mayo Clinic Ambulance.
--The prosecuting attorney in the Byron Smith murder case in Morrison County has died. Pete Orput, who served as a Washington County Attorney since his election in 2010, has died after an extended battle with stomach cancer. A release from the Washington County Attorney's Office said Orput was 66 years old when he died on Sunday in his home surrounded by his family. Before he was elected Washington County Attorney, Orput worked as an assistant to the Hennepin County Attorney in the violent crimes division. He also served as general counsel for the Minnesota Department of Corrections and as a Deputy Minnesota Attorney General. In 2021, Orput had originally been in charge of the high-profile prosecution of former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter following the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright during a traffic stop. In 2014, Orput and the Washington County Attorney's Office was asked to prosecute the Byron Smith murder case in Morrison County due to conflict of interests with Morrison County officials. Smith was convicted on both counts of murder in that case.
--Authorities say a Hutchinson woman that got out of her vehicle after a crash near Silver Lake Saturday morning was then struck by an SUV driven by a first responder. The Minnesota State Patrol says 28-year-old Rhiannon Phillippi was taken to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale for treatment of life-threatening injuries. The Patrol says Phillippi was traveling westbound on Highway 7 in Hale Township when the vehicle left the roadway, went into the ditch, striking an electrical control box and knocking down a power line. The Patrol says she was then struck by a vehicle driven by 62-year-old Dale Kosek, a first responder and Silver Lake fire Chief arriving at the scene. The crash happened at about 11:00am Saturday.
--Little Falls Radio has learned that one of the deployed soldiers to the Middle East is Stephen Burgraff. Burgraff is a Little Falls native whose parents are Kenneth and Patricia Burgraff.
--Is your home in need of repairs, but you’re unsure of affordable financing options? You may be eligible for a home repair loan or grant through USDA Rural Development. We offer very-low-income homeowners affordable financing to repair, improve or modernize their homes. Grants are available for elderly homeowners 62 years of age or older to remove health and safety hazards. For more information, contact your local USDA Rural Development management facility in your county or go to rd.usda.gov/mn.
--The Little Falls Fire Department was called at 5:30pm Monday to 1300 Hilton Road on a reported house fire. Firefighters found smoke coming from the attached garage. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the garage. There was moderate damage to the interior of the garage with some light smoke inside the residence. The cause of the fire is under investigation but is believed to be accidental. Little Falls Fire was assisted at the scene by Little Falls Police and Camp Ripley Fire Department. They were on scene until 6:45pm.
--Fire crews responded to a kitchen fire Sunday. The incident happened just before 2:30pm in the 800 block of 32nd Avenue North in St. Cloud. Authorities say the fire started in the kitchen and was quickly extinguished. The fire causes roughly $35,000 in damage. No one was hurt but four people were displaced and are being assisted by relatives. Authorities say the cause was accidental.
--The Foley School District has found their next high school principal. The board is expected to hire Joel Foss this week. Foss is currently the Assistant Principal at Milaca High School. He will succeed Shayne Kusler, who is leaving the district to become the principal at Sartell-St. Stephen High School. If all approved, Foss will begin on July 1st.
--Starting in mid-May, a major resurfacing project will get going on Highway 23 between Foley and Milaca. Crews will be repaving 12 ½ miles of roadway from east of 13th Avenue in Foley to the Rum River Bridge in Milaca. The $16.7-million project will include some intersection realignments, turn lanes, street lighting, new culverts and pipes, and upgraded guardrail. There will also be a full reconstruction on one mile of Highway 23 in Foley from Broadway Avenue to the east of 13th Avenue with new storm sewer, curb and gutter, and a roundabout at 8th Avenue/Penn Street. A multi-use trail will be built on the north side of Highway 23 with a sidewalk built on the south side. The project will require an extensive detour until it is completed in November. The detour for non-commercial vehicles will be via Broadway Avenue South in Foley, to Benton County Road 4, over to Mille Lacs County Road 12 to Highway 169 in Milaca. For more on this project, visit MnDOT's project webpage.
--Do you know any high school seniors that are interested in pursuing a career in broadcasting? The MBA and Minnesota State High School League are teaming up on an opportunity for high school seniors to apply for scholarship funds. The scholarship is setup to further the future of broadcasting throughout Minnesota. The application period is open now through April 30. Learn more here. Congratulations to 2021 MBA Scholarship Recipient Joshua Boyko! Joshua is college freshman attending Minnesota State University of Moorhead. He is actively involved with the campus news team as a writer and reporter. Josh also is doing play by play through YourLiveEvent.
--The Little Falls Carnegie Library is holding their spring book fair event this week. Wednesday for members only. Then Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday during regular library hours.
WEATHER
TODAY= rain likely, breezy, high 47.
TONIGHT= rain likely, changing to wet snow toward morning, low 33.
WEDNESDAY= rain/snow early then rain and windy, high 41, low 29.
THURSDAY= snow likely with gusty winds, high 36, low around 28.
SPORTS
NCAA= Kansas rallied with a big second half comeback to beat North Carolina and win 72-69 to take the NCAA mens championship.
GOLF= The Masters begin this week in Georgia for the Green Jacket.