NEWS --A woman is dead and a man is in custody on probable cause for second degree intentional murder following a stabbing Saturday in Crosby. The Crosby Police Department responded to a 911 call of a reported stabbing just after 8:00am Saturday at Heartwood Senior Living Community in Crosby. Officers located the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene. A male suspect, 37-year old David Michael Otey was arrested on site. He was booked midday Saturday in the Crow Wing County Jail. Crosby police identified the woman Sunday as 38-year old Danyele Marie Johnson of Ironton. Otey is the victims younger brother.
--Longtime Pillager Area Fire and Rescue chief Randy Lee announced he has retired effective as the first of the this year. Lee had spent over 42 years with the Pillager Fire Department, assistant chief for 10 of those and 28 as the fire chief. Lee said the decision was very hard but recent developments in his family life had him saying that now was the time to step down. Lee said his proudest accomplishment is the number of fire calls he has responded to. Since 1989, there were a total of 4,297 fire calls and Lee made 3,915, or more than 90 percent of the calls. Greg Ringler succeeded Lee as fire chief. Ringler has been with the fire department for over 30 years.
--Waite Park Police arrested a 26-year old man for allegedly pulling a knife on a bartender early Friday. Waite Park Police Chief Dave Bentrud says around 2am they received a call about a man who pulled a knife on a bartender at 1101 Divison Street in Waite Park. Authorities say the bartender was trying to lock the doors of the Ultimate Sports Bar when 26-year old Alexander Gaebel walked into the business pulled out a knife and pointed it at the bartender. Gaebel left the business moments later and officers found him hiding near a garage. Police have not said his motivation. Gaebel was taken St. Cloud Hospital. Once he was cleared Gaebel was taken to Stearns County Jail on a charge of 2nd Degree Assault.
--A 39-year old Garrison woman traveling with three children suffered life-threatening injuries Friday night following a two-vehicle crash on Highway 169. The Minnesota State Patrol reported the crash occurred at 8:07pm Friday near milepost 232 on Highway 169 in Garrison Township. Jessi Rene Nayquonabe, was transported to North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale with life-threatening injuries. Three unidentified child passengers—an 11-year old male, 6-year old female and 1-year old female—suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Mille Lacs Health System in Onamia. None were wearing seatbelts. One passenger in the other vehicle 25-year old Corey Kenneth Kohn of Rochester suffered non-life-threatening injuries, but was not transported to a medical facility. The driver and another passenger were not injured. Those three wore seat belts.
--The Stearns County Sheriff's Office received a report of a motor vehicle crash involving injuries. The 911 caller explained there was a vehicle rolled over in the ditch and the driver was trapped inside. Upon arrival, Deputies found a truck crashed in the ditch on County Road 154 near 207th Street in Albany. The pickup truck was tipped over on the driver's side and had extensive damage. The driver Gary John Harren of Avon was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash. Harren was safely removed from the vehicle. Harren suffered minor injuries during the crash. He was transported to the St. Cloud Hospital for further treatment.
--Another name has been added to the list of clergy likely to have abused minors. Bishop Donald Kettler of the Diocese of St. Cloud is now including Father Antonio Marfori. A complaint alleges Marfori sexually abused a minor in the late 1970s while he was an instructor at Cathedral High School in St. Cloud. A second complaint alleging that Marfori sexually abused a minor in the late 1970's also while he was employed at Cathedral High School, was filed in March 2016. Marfori currently lives in St. Cloud under restriction. Bishop Kettler held listening sessions in the areas Marfori served.
--Around 6:15am Monday the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office responded to a head on collision involving a semi tractor trailer and passenger car on County Road 3 north of the Mill Avenue Bridge. The driver of the car, 23-year old Keenon Weaver of Pequot Lakes, was southbound on County Road 3 when he crossed over into the northbound lane and struck the semi tractor-trailer head-on. The driver of the semi was 62-year old David Siercks of Princeton. Both were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. Weaver had to be extricated from his car and was then airlifted from the scene to an undisclosed hospital in the metro area. Siercks was not injured. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
--The Minnesota State Lottery reported Monday that a Pierz resident recently won the $120,000 Gopher 5 Jackpot. Daniel Fiecke compared his ticket for the January 10th drawing to the winning numbers posted on the lottery’s website and the numbers matched up. He bought the ticket at Pojo’s Store in Gilman. Since the inception of the Minnesota State Lottery- Minnesotans have claimed around 7-billion dollars in prize money, not including Powerball jackpots.
DEATH NOTICES --Emily Dehler, age 90 of Pierz, formerly of Buckman. --William “Bill” Kay, age 92 of Little Falls.
WEATHER TODAY= partly cloudy and cold, high 4 above, wind chills near -25. TONIGHT= clear skies, low -6, wind chills near -20 early. WEDNESDAY= sunny and warmer, high 26, clear night, low 17. THURSDAY= sunny and mild, high 33, partly cloudy night, low 20.
SPORTS HS BHK= Sartell at Little Falls tonight 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ. HS BBB= BBE at Pierz tonight 7:15pm on FM94 KFML. NFL= The New York Giants announced Monday the focus for their next head coach is highly expected to be Minnesota Vikings Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur. Shurmur is expected to have a second interview with the team next week and reports indicated he is the only one who was called back for a second interview with the Giants. The Vikings are preparing for Philadelphia this Sunday in the NFC Championship game at 5:45pm Sunday on AM960 KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1868= a fish dealer in Detroit patents the Refrigerator Car. IN 1919= Prohibition is ratified by the U.S. Congress stopping the sell and distribution of alcohol in the United States. Repealed in 1933. IN 1939= Superman debuted in U.S. Comic Strips. IN 1962= Sean Connery name first James Bond for Dr. No. IN 1973= Bonanza aired for the final time on NBC, started in 1959.