NEWS --Weather turned severe in central Minnesota yesterday much earlier than it should have for March 6th. Severe thunderstorms moved through Morrison County causing hail and damaging winds from Little Rock, Buckman, Pierz and over Lake Mille Lacs. There were reports of farm outbuilding toppled between Milaca and Princeton due to high winds and a tornado spotted in Wright County near Buffalo. Early this morning the rain turned to snow and snow could pile up 1-3 inches in areas before noon with very gusty wind of 35 to 55 miles per hour causing poor visibilities. The winds will stick around until late Wednesday with another round of snow by Friday.
--A St. Cloud pilot suffered serious injuries when his plane went down in a field near Paynesville in Stearns County around 2:45pm Saturday. The Sheriff’s Office and the Paynesville Police responded and found a male party standing outside his crashed experimental airplane. 71-year old Michael Jude had received significant injuries. Jude was eventually taken to the St Cloud Hospital for further treatment. Jude reported that he left from the Clear Lake Airport and was headed to the Paynesville Airport. During the flight, the engine began to overheat. Jude attempted to land but aborted the landing and was coming back around to land when he experienced engine failure and attempted to land in a corn stubble field approximately a ½ mile southwest of the end of the runway. The plane landed hard, damaging the wings and collapsing the landing gear. The FAA was notified and continues to investigate the crash.
--Stearns County responded to a fatal accident Saturday around 9:45am on County Road 197 near Belgrade. When deputies arrived they found a vehicle went off the road and hit a tree. The driver, 16-year old Austin Young of Belgrade was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities believe that Young was driving southbound on County Road 197, approximately two miles south of Belgrade, when his vehicle went off the road on a curve and hit a tree. He was alone.
--Around 11:30pm Saturday, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office and Albany Fire Department responded to a house fire in Albany Township. The deputy arrived to find flames coming out of the northwest windows of the two story house. The owner of the home, Joshua Altendahl said his home’s fire alarms woke him in time to get his three sons out of the home and into a heated shed on the property. All four occupants of the home suffered smoke inhalation but were treated at the scene. The Albany Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire. The home suffered extensive damage. The cause remains under investigation.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office reported the theft of copper piping on 296th Avenue near Pierz last week. In all 300 or 400 feet of pipes were taken from outside their garage. Little Falls Police also reported last week a counterfeit $20 bill was received at Pine Country Bank. This was the second bill received in the past 10 days to the same bank. Police also arrested a 22-year-old man for obstructing the legal process and on an outstanding warrant. Police investigated a possible break-in to property on Highland Avenue where the door of the home was damaged. It appeared that no one had gotten inside.
--The Little Falls Exchange Club has announced that this year's Book of Golden Deeds Award Winner is Phil Force. Force will be honored on March 16th at the Falls Ballroom. Make reservations by calling Mark Gerbi at 632-5425 with the number of your party for the event. The cost for the dinner and award ceremony is $20.
--A planned multi use trail that would connect multiple trails in central Minnesota are hoping funds are approved at the state Legislature to start digging ground this year. State Senator Paul Gazelka and State Representative Ron Kresha are carrying companion bills at the Legislature asking for $2.5 million in bonding money for the Camp Ripley/Veterans State Trail. The money will be used to build the first phase of the trail from Little Falls to the southern portion of the Soo Line Trail north of Royalton. The Camp Ripley/Veterans State Trail officially received state trail authorization in 2009. This trail addition would link the Soo Line, Paul Bunyan, and several other trails to be one continuous recreational route. As a first in Minnesota recreational trail construction, it will be a multi-use trail for motorized and non-motorized users. If the money is approved, they are hopeful to break ground this year on the first leg of the trail. The group has about $1.4 million from the original bonding and it will take the additional $2.5 million to complete the leg from Little Falls to Royalton.
--A Sauk Rapids man has been sentenced to a stayed prison term of 7½ years after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a woman who was in a relationship with him but who told him she was leaving him. 35-year old Dustin David Bartkowicz was charged in Stearns County District Court with first- and third-degree criminal sexual conduct, third-degree assault, domestic assault and terroristic threats. He pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sexual conduct as an Alford Plea. In an Alford plea a defendant doesn't admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence that a jury could convict him.
--The Benton County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a car that had collided with a house Sunday night just before midnight on Little Rock Road. A vehicle had struck the south side of the residence. 30-year old Daniel Jay Saarela, of Brooklyn Park, claimed that he was a passenger in the vehicle involved in the accident and that a friend, who had fled from the scene, was driving prior to the crash. During the crash investigation deputies found evidence indicating that Saarela was the only occupant of the vehicle at the time of the crash. Saarela was under the influence of a controlled substance and arrested on charges of DWI and possession of a controlled substance. There were no injuries when the car hit the residence.
DEATH NOTICES --Mildred L. Borgstrom, age 94 of Little Falls formerly of Cushing --Ronda Harkin, age 54 of Little Falls.
WEATHER TODAY= morning snow, afternoon sun, windy 40-50mph, high 39. TONIGHT= clearing skies, very windy and cold, low 16. WEDNESDAY= sunny and cold, very windy, high 28, low 12.
SPORTS BBB= Little Falls at Fergus Falls to open the boys basketball playoffs tonight at 7pm on Q92 WYRQ and streamed at fallsradio.com. COL BB= Gophers got the #4 seed in the Big 10 Tournament that begins on Wednesday. The Gophers will not play until the quarter-finals match on Friday at 1:30pm. Pregame 1pm on AM960 KLTF. NFL= 34-year-old Chad Greenway who spent his entire 11 year career with the Minnesota Vikings will announce his retirement from the NFL today. Greenway, the linebacker and South Dakota native said this way he leaves the league on his own terms.