NEWS
--The Minnesota State Patrol stated that a 3-vehicle accident happened at 1:39pm Friday on Highway 10 near Royalton. 63-year-old Deborah Wippler of Little Falls was eastbound on Highway 10 slid on an icy patch of highway and crossed the median, then over corrected and hit a large snowbank and ended up being t-boned by a semi-truck driven by 62-year-old Daniel Lerol of Goodridge. Wippler was taken to the hospital in Little Falls for reported non life threatening injuries. The semi-driver was not injured. It was reported a vehicle parked near the snowbank was also struck but no report of injuries or damage to the vehicle.
--St. Cloud police responded to a deadly crash. On Thursday at 2:30pm officers responded to a two-vehicle crash on 20th Avenue SE, just south of the intersection with Minnesota Blvd. The initial investigation revealed that one vehicle was traveling northbound on 20th Avenue SE, as the driver approached a curve and decline in the road, lost control, and slid head-on into an oncoming vehicle, traveling southbound on 20th Avenue SE. The driver of the northbound vehicle was a 25-year-old woman from St. Cloud. She is pregnant and was taken by Mayo Ambulance to the St. Cloud Hospital with minor injuries. A 61-year-old woman from St. Cloud drove the southbound vehicle, she had minor injuries and was taken to the St. Cloud hospital by St. Cloud Officers. A passenger in that vehicle was a 68-year-old man from St. Cloud. He was taken to the St. Cloud Hospital by Mayo Ambulance with severe injuries and died a short time later at the hospital. No names have been released.
--An altercation between two groups led to the shooting death of a 19-year-old man inside the Mall of America on Friday night, according to Bloomington Police. Police said an unrelated bystander was also hit by a stray bullet in their jacket, but was not injured. A BPD officer was in the shop next to the Nordstrom's when the scuffle and shooting broke out. "Officers went into Nordstrom's and found one male who had been shot multiple times," The victim was from Minnesota, but not a resident of Bloomington, according to the chief. On Saturday five people were arrested in connection with Friday's shooting. Police said "We know the how, the where, the what and the who, we don't know the why," Three of them are juveniles while the other two are 18-years-old. The victim was 19-year-old Johntae Hudson of St. Paul. Family said he was supposed to go to the mall to find like a sweater to go with his shoes to go to his friend's birthday that night”. Police believe he was not the intended victim and may have gotten caught in the crossfire from the shooters.
--After an electrical system in a BNSF Railway locomotive caught fire Thursday Brainerd firefighters met the eastbound train at a crossing to assist. The train crew reported the fire after noticing it at 4:40pm, just east of Brainerd. The conductor stopped the train at the next crossing on County Highway 25, east of the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport near the intersection with White Pine Drive, temporarily blocking the roadway. Firefighters used fire extinguishers on the train. Around 20 Brainerd firefighters responded to the scene in the bitter cold as the temperature was 10 below zero, according to the National Weather Service, and the wind chill made it feel like 31 below. They used dry chemical fire extinguishers to dampen the flames, noting this was the preference of the train operators to avoid getting the electrical system wet.
--With Little Falls City Offices closed again Friday and next Monday for New Years holiday, next council meeting is January 3rd at 7:30pm.
--Swanville Juniors Karley Loven and Morgan Bellefeuille have been selected as this year’s High School ExCEL nominees. The ExCEL award, which stands for excellence in community, education and leadership, is a recognition program designed exclusively for Minnesota high school juniors who are active in school activities, show leadership qualities and are model citizens. Loven is the daughter of Tanya and John. Bellefeuille is the son of Molly and Kris.
--A 68-year-old Merrifield man was injured Thursday after his vehicle struck a turning vehicle on Highway 169 in Mille Lacs County. The Minnesota State Patrol responded to the crash at 1:55pm in Kathio Township near Onamia. According to the report, a 2009 Dodge Journey was southbound on the highway when it attempted to turn onto Oodena Drive and was struck by a 2022 Nissan Pickup traveling northbound. The driver of the Nissan, William Joe England, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby. The driver of the Dodge, William Pershing Potter, 42, of Brainerd, suffered no reported injuries. The state patrol reported the road was snow and ice covered at the time of the crash.
--A 44-year-old Isle man was arrested last Tuesday after selling 28 grams of methamphetamine in Wadena County. Authorities stated as officers approached the man, he became non-compliant and began reaching for a coat pocket. Law enforcement gained control of his hands as the man reached toward the pockets of his jacket. It took multiple officers to gain control of the suspect. A search of his jacket yielded a loaded Smith and Wesson 9 mm pistol in the right jacket pocket. Other items found were two loaded magazines, 28 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, multiple baggies and cash. After getting a search warrant, officers located 86 grams of methamphetamine, for a total of approximately 142 grams, and 101 rounds of ammunition in the suspect’s vehicle. The man was charged with seven felonies, including aggravated first-degree controlled substance crime and several counts of felon in possession of firearm or ammunition. If convicted, he faces a sentence of 86 months to 40 years on the controlled substance charge, and 5 to 15 years on the firearm charges, to be served consecutively.
DEATH NOTICES
--James “Jim” Palmquist, age 92 of Little Falls.
--Patricia Anderson, age 87 of Little Falls.
--Richard Ebertowski, age 80 of Temple, TX formerly Little Falls.
--Peter “Pete” Kamrowski, age 82 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= cloudy skies, breezy, high 26.
TONIGHT= cloudy skies, few flurries, steady temps in 20s.
WEDNESDAY= cloudy skies, warmer, high 35, low around 27.
THURSDAY= rain/sleet/snow possible during day, high 33, low 12.
SPORTS
NFL= Vikings win their 11th one score game, which is another record for this year in the NFL, as they beat New York Giants Saturday with a 61 yard field goal as time expired to win 27-24. The Vikings travel to cold Lambeau Field for New Years Day against Green Bay. The Vikings at 12-3 have the #2 seed in the NFC playoffs right now.
COL FB= Gophers vs. Syracuse Thursday at 12pm in Pinstripe Bowl played live at Yankees Stadium.
HS BHK= Little Falls at Northern Lakes Wednesday 7pm on Q92 and you can stream the game at fallsradio.com and live on WYRQ.