Newsletter: Tuesday, May 31st 2016
--Two people are being held in the Morrison County Jail on charges related to drug possession and obstructing the legal process. Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larson said deputies responded to a complaint of suspicious activity on Sage Road in Mount Morris Township around 9:45pm Wednesday night. Deputies said they had found a vehicle stuck in a wooded area. Two people were found near the vehicle, but were originally not cooperating with the investigation. Deputies arrested 42-year old Vicki Daufelt of Elk River on an outstanding warrant charge from Wright County for a drug-related offense. 42-year old Brandon Daufelt also of Elk River, was arrested on charges of aiding an offender and obstruction. During a search of Vicki Daufelt's purse, deputies uncovered 4.8 grams of methamphetamine. A search warrant was later issued for the vehicle where deputies discovered approximately 11.66 grams of meth. The case has been forwarded to the Morrison County Attorney's Office pending formal charges.
--Voters in the Melrose school district voted down a $29 million, two-question referendum Thursday. The first question failed with 2,350 no votes to 567 yes votes. The second question failed with totals 1,693 opposed and of 467 in favor. The first question would have funded $25 million in construction for a new pool, gym courts, classroom additions, a lobby, restrooms, remodeling, parking improvements, tennis courts and other items. The second, which was contingent on passage of the first, would have funded $3 million for more gym courts and a walking track.
--A St. Cloud pedestrian died Saturday morning in Hennepin County. A car pulled over on the right shoulder about 4:00am at eastbound Interstate Highway 94 and Nicollet. Shawna R. Anthony of St. Cloud exited and walked into the lanes of traffic. She was then struck by an SUV driven by 31-year old Nicholas D. Pederson of Lakeville in the right center lane. Pederson suffered no apparent injury. Anthony was pronounced dead when authorities arrived.
--A Brainerd man was injured in a two-vehicle crash reported at 1:08pm a week ago Monday on Highway 210 and Memorywood Drive in Baxter. 28-year old Adam Charles Walen of Baxter was turning southbound on Memorywood Drive as 58-year old Martin Dean Fraley of Brainerd was westbound on Highway 210 when the vehicles crashed. Fraley was transported by ambulance to Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
--A 61-year-old motorcyclist suffered injury Tuesday after striking a vehicle on Highway 371. Around 2:30pm Ralph Darwin Mykkanen of Baxter pulled out south onto Highway 371 from Clearwater Road when the crash occurred. The motorcycle Mykkanen was operating struck the right rear of a vehicle driven by 64-year old Judy Rene Adams of Baxter. Mykkanen was taken by ambulance to Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center with unknown injuries. Adams suffered no apparent injury.
--A fire at a well-known horse farm in Rogers not only seriously injured a man, but it killed three horses. The owner of Grace Farms Chris Leatherdale was injured while trying to save his horses from the fire. He is recovering, but there is a lot of work to be done to help his surviving horses. Communities throughout the region are coming together to support the horses in need of homes.
--The Morrison County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approved a new special needs basic care coordinator in the Social Services Department. The person in the new position will help those with special needs enroll in the South Country Health Alliance for basic care. This comes after the health insurance company Medica announced it was cutting its special needs basic care coordination in northern Minnesota earlier this year.
--A 25-year-old man died early Sunday in Aitkin County. Mason Espeseth of Aitkin was on Deer Street Saturday night around 11:45pm when he went off the road, over corrected and rolled several times. He was taken by ambulance to an area hospital where he later died. That was one of dozens of accidents over the Memorial Day weekend. Non-serious injuries accidents included two in Cass County and four in Crow Wing County Saturday and Sunday. The State Patrol reported six people hurt in Wright County and another three injured in separate accidents in Stearns County.
--The deadline for candidates who wish to run for federal, state and county offices is today. The primary election will be held Tuesday, August 9th, and the general election will be held November 8th. --Congratulations to Tim and Scarlett Feiler of Royalton named the Department of Natural Resources 2015 ATV Volunteer Instructors of the Year. They have headed up ATV classes for the Royalton area for 11 years and have hosted 20 safety classes with their instructors.
--Morrison County Breakfast on the Farm is June 11th from 7:30-11:30am at the David and Betty Czech Dairy Farm on Highway 238 near Sobieski. Breakfast served by the Sobieski/Bowlus Lions is a free will offering, park and ride from Sobieski to the farm, meet Princess Kay of the Milky Way, petting zoo, photo area, games, tours & more. Join AM960 KLTF live June 11th at 7:30am for live broadcasts.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Tim and Melanie Huls of Holdingford, girl on May 26th