NEWS
--With the continued snowfall, maintenance crews will be out removing and pushing snow back from bridges/guardrails and intersections around Morrison County again this week. Crews will be using motor graders, tractors and skidsteers with snow blowing capabilities to clear snow away at various locations to improve sight distance and provide for additional snow storage. This work may require lane closures and flaggers at times. Please use caution when driving in work zones. With more snow forecast this week on Tuesday and Friday you can expect snowplows out clearing roads. Please stay back and give them plenty of room to work.
--A Sauk Rapids woman was hurt in a crash in Wright County on Sunday. The incident happened on Interstate 94 near Highway 241 in St. Michael just before 11:30am. The Minnesota State Patrol says a car was going east on Interstate 94 when it hit a patch of ice, went off the road, and rolled in the ditch. The driver of the car, 38-year-old Elizabeth Eidem of Sauk Rapids, was taken to Maple Grove Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Her passenger, 67-year-old Louis Begnoche of Royalton, was not hurt.
--Emergency responders airlifted a snowmobiler after a crash late Sunday afternoon on Highway 371, north of Wilderness Road between Nisswa and Pequot Lakes. The Minnesota State Patrol received notification of a crashed snowmobile and its operator lying on Highway 371 around 4:45pm Sunday. The crashed snowmobiler was discovered by an off duty state patrolman. The snowmobile was the only vehicle involved in the crash and its operator was the only person affected. It wasn't immediately clear if the crash took place on the highway, or if the snowmobile came to rest after riding up and off the main trail located in the adjoining ditch. The left lane of southbound Highway 371 was closed for a time to allow emergency vehicles to access the site.
--An Albany man is charged with criminal sexual conduct after a 13-year old girl reported that he touched her inappropriately while staying as a household guest. 19-year old Adam Wiechmann is charged with felony 4th degree criminal sexual conduct. The girl told authorities she was watching TV with her brother and Wiechmann Friday when Wiechmann showed her pictures of girls on his phone who he'd had sex with, including a 14-year-old girl. Later, Wiechmann came out of the bedroom and sat by the girl on the couch. She said Wiechmann smelled like alcohol and began touching her waist and was kissing and sucking on her ear. The girl said he put his hands down her shorts and up her shirt. The girl told Wiechmann that she was 13-years-old and that it was not okay. The victim reported the situation to the sister who then confronted Wiechmann and told him to leave. Court records show Wiechmann admitted to the girl's version of the story and knew what he did was wrong.
--Holdingford Schools announced with the days off already in February they will have to make up days on Tuesday, March 26th as a full day of school (was early release day), and Friday, May 31st will now be a full makeup day of school before end of the year.
--The Winter Wonderland skating show “Blades take me away”, Saturday at 2pm and 7pm and Sunday at 2pm at the Exchange Arena in Little Falls. Skaters range in age from 2 through 18. Tickets $6 pre sale at Coborn's or at the arena and $8 at the show either night.
--Listen for the Birthday Wheel 11:10am and 4:10pm today on FM94
--Little Falls Fire Chief Mike Nieman continues to urge residents to clear snow away from fire hydrants.
--Hundreds of anglers were stranded on Lake Mille Lacs Sunday after strong winds made ice roads disappear under feet of snow that blew around the lake. Vehicles and fish house residents had to be helped by authorities with snowmobiles and large pickups with plows to get off the lake and back to safety. Some spent over 6 hours before being rescued by others due to the time needed to shovel and plow snow.
--Two men charged in the 2018 murder of a Sauk Rapids man went on trial Monday in Benton County District Court. 27-year-old, Nokomis Jefferson and 21-year-old Willie White Jr. are charged with 1st degree premeditated murder, 2nd degree murder, arson and assault. A third suspect, 38-year old Vance Laster earlier pleaded guilty as an accomplice in the February shooting. The men are accused of shooting and killing 25-year old Joe Ditthideth and wounding 29-year old Nathan Phrachomphonh. The men were shot at 3466 Old Creek Place in Sauk Rapids last year on February 16th. The victims were taken to the hospital where Ditthideth died from multiple gunshot wounds. Phrachomphonh suffered a gunshot to his abdomen and underwent successful surgery. Jefferson and White are then accused of torching Ditthideth's car. The trial is scheduled to last two weeks.
--A 50-year old Orrock Township woman died Saturday after a fire in an attached garage spread to her house. Nikki Abfalter died in the blaze, reported about 4:30am Saturday. It is believed Abfalter was attempting to move vehicles out of the garage after she and her husband, James, noticed smoke and flames in the garage. When fire crews arrived, James Abfalter was outside the residence in the 23400 block of 182nd Street Northwest but could not locate Nikki. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and found Nikki deceased in the garage. Her cause of death was smoke inhalation and thermal injuries due to fire.
--A St. Cloud man was sentenced in connection with a multi-state drug ring. 46-year old Lamont Tyson of St. Cloud was sentenced Thursday to 8 years and 11 months for one 1st degree drug charge. Two counts of conspiracy drug charges were dismissed. Tyson was given credit for 735 days served.
--The State of Minnesota will join for now 9 other states holding Presidential Primaries on what is called “Super Tuesday”. The primary will be held on March 3rd, 2020. Absentee ballots will be started 46 days prior to the primary. Minnesota will still hold a caucus for the statewide offices on February 25th. The March 3rd date will only be for the U.S. President race. The State Primary will be August 11th, 2020.
DEATH NOTICES
--Roger Welle, age 72 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= snow likely by afternoon, 1-2 inches, high 7.
TONIGHT= snow likely before midnight, another inch, low -3.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 12, low around -6.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, high 18, low around 0- snow late night.
SPORTS
HS GBB= Little Falls at Fergus Falls, playoffs 7pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS BBB= Kimball at Pierz tonight 7pm on FM94 KFML.
HS WRE= listen to state wrestling coverage later this week on Q92.