NEWS
--The Minnesota Department of Transportation remind motorists that Highway 10 is closed from Sauk Rapids to St. Cloud until at least tomorrow afternoon due to taking down the older Highway 23 bridge. You are asked to please the mandated detours around the work zone.
--A 44-year-old Brainerd man who was involved in a Baxter crash in August of 2021, which claimed the life of a 78-year-old Baxter woman while seriously injuring two others, has been sentenced to prison in connection with the crash. Kevin Christensen pleaded guilty to one count of felony criminal vehicular homicide for operating a vehicle under the influence with the other charges being dismissed. On Wednesday in Crow Wing County District Court Christensen was sentenced to serve 61 months and 15 days in Minnesota Correctional Facility-St. Cloud. He also was also ordered to pay $2,476 in restitution and fees. On August 25th, 2021, officers arrived and observed two vehicles involved in the crash with a blue 2003 Chevrolet Silverado and a white 2010 White Ford Escape. Christensen was identified as the driver of the Silverado. Three people were in the Ford Escape, which had been heavily damaged on the driver's side. An officer observed the front seat passenger going in and out of consciousness and being cared for by a passerby. After interviewing Christensen it was observed he was under the influence of alcohol and/or also a controlled substance at the time of the accident.
--The Benton County Sheriff’s Office has received a donation on behalf of the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association Scholarship Fund. Jim Hovda was representing Firearms Instruction of Rice and said his group holds law enforcement in high regard and wanted to help those seeking careers in the field. Heck says donations like this one are “very important for the future of law enforcement. Today, more than ever, our profession needs bright and capable people willing to serve their communities and make a difference with their careers. I am very grateful too Mr. Hovda, Firearms Instruction, the MSA, and everyone who contributes to the MSA scholarship fund.”
--A man died in a motorcycle crash in Sherburne County. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened at about 6:45pm. Thursday on southbound Highway 169 near Zimmerman. 42-year-old Timothy Pittman from Princeton was driving a motorcycle that went into the median and crashed. He was not wearing a helmet. Alcohol was not involved in the crash. His passenger, 39-year-old Jennifer Anderson of Circle Pines, was taken to Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids with non-life-threatening injuries.
--A shed and all of its contents were destroyed in a fire over the weekend. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says the fire call came in at about 11am on Saturday for a fire at a home near Evansville. The caller told dispatchers the shed was fully engulfed and detached from their home. The Millerville, Brandon, and Evansville fire departments all responded and extinguished the fire. The Sheriff's Office says the shed and many items of value are a total loss. The cause of the fire is not known.
--A St. Cloud man was hurt in a motorcycle crash in Mille Lacs County. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened just after 8:30pm Sunday near the intersection of County Road 14 and Highway 23 near Foreston. 34-year-old Yaroslav Dmytrochenko was going east on the county road trying to navigate a curve prior to Highway 23 when his bike went off the road and struck a sign. He was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office and Swanville First Response Team will be hosting a Prescription Drug Take Back Event. The is for safe prescription drug removal, there will be law enforcement on hand you can talk too and ask questions with. This event will be on Monday, September 25th 6-8pm at the Swanville Community Center.
--The Sheriff's Office also wanted to give a thank you MN100 Club for the donation to Deputy Brady Pundsac. Special thanks to board members Jim Mortenson and Lanee Noble for presenting the donation. Pundsac and the Sheriff's Office appreciate the generosity.
--Little Falls Police in the past week responded to trespassing complaints, suspicious activity around homes and businesses, more theft and fraud reports. Little Falls Police also recently did a fingerprinting event at some of the recent kindergarten events and meet the teachers at Little Falls schools for the upcoming school year.
--A Cass County woman has been arrested in connection with the death of her child. The Cass County Sheriff's Office says a call came in on Saturday, August 19th reporting a child just under the age of two had been run over by a vehicle in the Prescott Housing Area in rural Cass Lake. Cass County Sheriff Brian Welk says law enforcement responded to the home and provided medical attention to the child, who was then air-lifted to Sanford Hospital in Fargo. Welk says the investigation uncovered evidence that the child's injuries came from blunt force trauma and suspected child abuse and not a vehicle accident. Authorities arrested the mother, 30-year-old Larena Jackson of Cass Lake on Tuesday on several charges which were amended after the child died at the hospital on Thursday. Jackson is being held at the Cass County Detention Center and faces charges of 2nd Degree Murder, First Degree Assault, Malicious Punishment of a Child, and Fleeing a Peace Officer.
--Emblom Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls is hosting the 2023 Area Cruise to Car Show from 4-7pm to see the classic cars, take a tour, food and beverages will be provided with proceeds going to the schools in Little Falls and Pierz. Door prizes and more, that is tonight.
WEATHER
TODAY= haze and smoke possible, sunny skies, high near 80.
TONIGHT= clear night, some smoke early, low 52.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 77, clear night, low near 60.
THURSDAY= sunny, breezy, warmer, high 86, rain showers at night.
SPORTS
TWINS= Royce Lewis hits his 2nd Grand Slam in 2 days as the Twins beat Cleveland last night 10-6 at Target Field. The Twins (69-63) and Guardians play game 2 tonight at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
CLASS C= Avon vs. St. Martin will be Friday at 7:30pm at Dassel and then Saturday at 4:30pm Buckman vs. Hutchinson from Dassel will both be live on AM960 KLTF. Nisswa will take on New Ulm Saturday at 4:30pm from Litchfield will be live on 94.1 KFML. If they win they play on Sunday possibly twice and the Championship Game is on Labor Day. All the remaining games will be live on KLTF. Remember you can stream the games live at fallsradio.com.
COL FB= Gophers open the 2023 College Football Season on Thursday night against Nebraska at home with a sell out crowd.
HS FB= Upsala/Swanville at Pine River Backus Thursday at 7pm, hear the action live on Q92 WYRQ.
HS FB= Pierz at Little Falls for the first time in a regular season game will be played Thursday at 7pm on AM960 KLTF.