NEWS
–The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office
released the names of the two killed in an accident Sunday north of Avon
when their horse and buggy was struck by a pickup. Authorities stated
72-year-old Robert Keppers and 66-year old Mary Joan Keppers were killed
when their buggy was struck. The horse was also killed from the
accident. The pickup driver, 23-year old Marc Knapp of Avon was not
hurt.
–The Morrison County Historical
Society is learning more about the art form of tattoo which dates back
to 4000 BC. In order to celebrate the art of tattoo as practiced in
Central Minnesota, the Morrison County Historical Society is creating an
exhibit along with several ancillary events and products. People in
Central Minnesota (centered around Morrison County) who have tattoos
they would like to share are invited to contact the Morrison County
Historical Society. Tattoo lovers tend to have multiple tattoos. The
historical society would like these individuals to choose one that has a
compelling story and they will photograph it and capture its story for
their upcoming exhibit, with an opening planned for April 2019. The
Morrison County Historical Society will be collecting photos and stories
until February 14th so until then you can give them a call at (320)
632-4007.
–The City of Sauk Rapids is reminding
residents that if you are interested in becoming a Sauk Rapids city
council member, you have until the end of this week to get your
application in. The city needs to fill a seat being vacated by Steve
Heinen. He’s resigning to become a Benton County Commissioner. So far
four people have applied to fill the position. If you want to apply you
will need to get your letter of interest in to the Sauk Rapids
Government Center by 4:30pm Friday.
–One of the two men arrested in
connection with the December 8th shooting in Alexandria has been
formally charged and bail has been set. New details have also emerged
about the events that led up to the shooting, involving allegations of
robbery, arson, a fake kidnapping, a requested exchange of meth for
stolen property and a claim of self-defense. 25-year old Jacob McCoy of
Alexandria, who was arrested Tuesday, was charged with attempted
aggravated robbery in the first degree and attempted robbery, both
felony-level crimes. Bail has been set at $400,000 for unconditional
release or $15,000 cash/$150,000 bond on specified conditions. The
second person, 29-year old Zachary Gordon of Alexandria, remains a
person of interest, but was released from jail Wednesday afternoon
pending further investigation and consideration. The man who was shot,
35-year old Michael Wells of Alexandria, remains hospitalized and is
being treated for his injuries.
–Two drivers and three passengers
suffered non-life-threatening injuries during a two-vehicle crash at
2:30pm Sunday in Kanabec County. According to the Minnesota State
Patrol, 75-year old Leslie Ernest Bartos of Montrose was driving south
on Mahogany Street in Brunswick Township south of Mora when he collided
with a westbound pickup truck driven by 48-year old Harold Leslie
Soderquist of Mora on Highway 70. Bartos and his three passengers,
75-year old Sharon Marie Bartos of Montrose; 89-year old Elaine Evelyn
Warnke of Brook Park; and 66-year old Margo Alayne Warnke of Brook Park
were taken to First Light Hospital in Mora. Soderquist was not
transported to a health care facility for his injuries.
–Listen to Q92 and FM94 today as they
will be live on location from a number of Little Falls businesses
gearing up for Christmas.
–Around 7:50am Monday the Stearns
County Sheriff’s Office responded to a crash involving a semi-tractor
trailer and an SUV. The crash happened at the intersection of County
Road 4 and County Road 133 in LeSauk Township. 46-year old Corey Planck
of Star City, Indiana, was operating a semi-tractor combination
northeast on County Road 133 towards Sartell. A 30-year old adult female
from Holdingford was driving southeast towards St. Cloud on County Road
4. The female driver stopped at the stop sign for traffic and began to
proceed through the intersection. Planck failed to stop at the
intersection and struck the passenger side of the vehicle. Planck
indicated to investigating deputies he did not see the stop sign. The
intersection is a 4-way stop. It was reported the 30-year old driver was
unconscious and not responding. She was also several months pregnant.
She was treated on scene by first responders and medics from Gold Cross
Ambulance and taken to the St. Cloud Hospital. Neither the 30-year old
driver nor her 5-month old fetus survived the injuries sustained in the
accident. Planck was not injured. This crash remains under investigation
by the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office.
–A 38-year-old Garrison woman suffered
non-life-threatening injuries during a crash around 5:00pm Saturday in
Bay Lake Township. The Minnesota State Patrol reported a car driven by
48-year old Shana Renee Petersen of Riverton, was traveling east on
Highway 18 when she read ended a vehicle driven by Shannon Lea
Collins-Stiernagle, as the 2nd vehicle slowed near Division Road for a
turning vehicle not involved in the crash. Collins-Stiernagle was
transported to Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby for her
injuries. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts. Road conditions
were dry at the time. The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Department
responded to the incident.
–A fire in a fireplace Saturday night
spread into a home’s walls and caused an estimated $10,000 in damage.
The St. Cloud Fire Department was called out at 7:10pm to a house fire
at 3623 County Road 74 in St. Cloud. The report said residents were in
the house when “a fire in a wood burning fireplace spread to the walls
surrounding the chimney.” There were no injuries. The residents were
allowed to return to their home after the fire was put out.
–Eastbound I-94 was reopened to single
lane traffic after a semi caught on fire on Monday. The Minnesota State
Patrol says just after 2:00pm they received a report of a semi on fire
about two miles west of Albertville in Wright County. The driver of the
semi, 43-year old Trinity Tague of Mantorville, was not hurt. The
Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Minnesota State Patrol
closed eastbound I-94 between Albertville and Monticello during the
incident. Authorities reopened one lane of the road Monday afternoon and
the other lane reopened later Monday night.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly cloudy, high 42.
TONIGHT= cloudy skies, low 27.
WEDNESDAY= rain in afternoon, high 40, rain/snow mix late, low 28.
THURSDAY= partly sunny and windy, colder high 30, low 15.
SPORTS
HS BBB= Braham at Pierz tonight at 7pm on FM94 KFML
COL FB= Gophers vs. Georgia Tech December 26th 3pm on KLTF.
NFL= The Vikings can clinch a playoff spot Sunday if they beat Detroit and Philadelphia and Washington both lose their games.