NEWS
--A very wet Monday turned into a very stormy night as tornadoes, straight line winds, heavy rains and hail pummeled central Minnesota. The damage line went from Litchfield, Watkins, Cold Spring, St. Cloud, Foley, Milaca and at one point a tornado warning was issued for the Little Falls area that triggered the sirens around 6pm though no damage reports were given by Morrison County. The National Weather Service reported many homes and structures damaged from the storms, and will be evaluating today on how many and how strong the tornadoes were on Monday. Rain totals reach major proportions as 6.6 inches fell at Little Falls Radio on Monday adding on to the over 2 inches on Sunday. Some areas of central and north central Minnesota reached over 10-12 inches of rain in two days causing many flood warnings to be issued. A much dryer day today.
--A Rice woman reported missing on Sunday has been found safe. Stearns County said they received word Sunday morning that 32-year old Rebecca Heather Sather had not been seen after walking away from her residence on Saturday afternoon. A search of Sather found she had a medical condition and was found safe and in overall good condition in a wooded area behind her residence in Brockway Township near Rice. She was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment of exposure, dehydration and a number of scratches.
--New attorneys for Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. have asked for more time to take over the case and an extension of 3 months before returning to the courtroom. Rodriguez, was found guilty back in 2006 for kidnapping, raping and murdering University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin after being abducted in Grand Forks in November, 2003 and her body was found next spring in Crookston. Rodriguez has gone through a lengthy appeals battle since his conviction and given the death penalty. Rodriguez had public defenders that were court appointed attorneys who then left their positions back in March. The official transition was to be completed by May 27th but electronic files and other hard drives on the case have not been made available so the extension was asked for by the new attorneys. Rodriguez continues to remain on death row in prison. According to the judge in the case the new attorneys have yet to meet with Rodriguez.
--The Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force over a seven day period (July 1-7) conducted five separate search warrants at residences in the St. Cloud area resulting in arrests of individuals, confiscation of controlled substances and firearms. One search led to a large quantity of Xanax pills, and synthetic marijuana. Another search led to amounts of cocaine and two arrests for outstanding warrants and a third search led to a sale and distribution of methamphetamine. Yet another search led to a short barrel illegal shotgun and control substances where a number of children were present. Overall nine arrests were made and sent to the county attorney's office for formal charges in the cases. The task force is made up of a number of Little Falls, Sauk Rapids and St. Cloud police departments along with Sheriff's offices from Morrison, Stearns, Benton, Todd and Sherburne Counties and SWAT teams.
--A 58-year-old McGregor man died Saturday morning in a one vehicle rollover in Aitkin County. Just after 6:30am Daniel Glass was eastbound on Highway 210 as he went into the ditch, vaulted and rolled over landing in a field. Glass was ejected from the vehicle. The State Patrol reported he was dead at the scene.
--The Little Falls fire department responded to a garage fire about 4:50am Sunday. 16-firefighters were on the scene for one hour to the detached garage fire located at 731 6th Street NE Little Falls. The fire was caused by a lightning strike. No damage estimate was available.
--St. Cloud police arrested two people early Monday after a man reported he was assaulted and robbed. Officers were called to the 400 block of Lake Boulevard East around 2:15am. The 19-year-old victim said he had been assaulted by a group of men, who approached him and asked for a cigarette. The victim said he was struck in the head from behind and his cell phone was stolen. He was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for non life threatening injuries. Officers chased several men running from the area and caught two suspects. Arrested were a 17-year-old boy from St. Cloud and 19-year-old Malique Hanson of St. Cloud. Investigators linked the 17-year-old to two other robberies on Thursday and Sunday in the 1100 block of Ninth Avenue South in St. Cloud. Two men reported being punched and having cash or a cell phone stolen. Both suspects were taken to Stearns County Jail pending charges.
--One person was taken to the hospital Monday after a semitrailer forced a vehicle off Minnesota Highway 23 near Cold Spring. 60-year old Allan Volkers of Albany was driving a semitrailer west near Stearns County Road 140 when he changed lanes, forcing a car driven by 35-year old Jolene Schley of Elk River, off the road through the center median. Schley was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with injuries the State Patrol did not consider life-threatening. Volkers was not injured. The crash occurred about 12:40pm.
--Three people were injured, including one seriously in a car vs. motorcycle accident Saturday in Crow Wing County. Around 2:45pm, 61-year-old Kimberly Bielke of Remer was turning left onto Highway 6 when a motorcycle attempted to pass the vehicle and they collided. Bielke had non serious injuries. Motorcycle driver, 46-year-old Shawn Duke of Pequot Lakes sustained what the state patrol called a serious head injury and was airlifted from the scene. His passenger, 33-year-old Rebecca Duke was taken to the Brainerd hospital for injuries.
--A horse was found on County Road 39 by Hillman. It is a small brown and white pony with a halter. If you are or know the owner, please call the Morrison County Sheriffs Office at 632-9233.
--Linden Hill Garden Walk today 3-8pm- call 616-5580 for info.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
--Michael Flores and Kaitlan Held of Pierz, a girl born July 6th.
--Mike and Sarah (Kahl) Mathiason of St. Joseph, a girl on July 8th.
DEATH NOTICE
--Nina Lavern, age 92 Little Falls
--Elmer Langer, age 97 of West St. Paul formerly of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly sunny and breezy, high 81.
TONIGHT= clear and breezy, low 63.
WEDNESDAY= mostly sunny, breezy, high 75, storms late, low 58.
THURSDAY= chance of rain showers, breezy, and cool, high 68.
SPORTS
ALL STAR= The Major League Baseball All Star Game is tonight in San Diego. Eduardo Nunez is the Twins lone All Star in the game.