NEWS --A fire destroyed an auto shop in Pillager last Wednesday night. Pillager firefighters were called out around 11:30pm to Swede's Auto Repair in Sylvan Township. The Pillager Fire Chief stated the tin building was completely engulfed in flames, two rafters had collapsed and there was heavy black smoke. The building was a total loss. Inside the building, four vehicles, heavy equipment, tires, tools, repair parts and old and new oil was also lost in the blaze. The State Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate the cause. There was no one in the building at the time of the fire and no injuries.
--A Sauk Centre woman was hurt in a crash on Sunday. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at 3:00pm on Highway 28 at 385th Avenue in Sauk Centre Township. A car driven by 39-year old Stephanie Gamradt was going south on 385th Avenue, she crossed the highway, veered into the ditch and struck a tree. Gamradt was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
--Police arrested one man in connection with a shooting after finding him and others fleeing from the scene of where more gunshots were heard. Police responded at 5:45am Sunday to the 1100 block of 14th Avenue Southeast when someone reported hearing gunshots. When authorities arrived they saw a vehicle leaving the scene that appeared to have damage from gunfire. Police stopped the vehicle that had four people in it. One of the people in the car, 19-year old Rauch Chuol of St. Cloud, was arrested in connection with the shooting on Thursday. The previous shooting was brought to police attention when another 19-year old had shown up to St. Cloud Hospital with a gun shot wound. Two other passengers in the car were also arrested Sunday. 21-year old Gak Nytuach Chandak of Faribault was arrested for being in possession of a controlled substance and a 17-year old was also arrested for being in possession of a stolen handgun. Choul was taken to Sherburne County Jail where he is awaiting charges related to the shooting on Thursday which include Second Degree Assault and Robbery charges. Chandak was also taken to Sherburne County Jail and is being held on charges relating to possession of a controlled substance. The 17-year old was taken to Lino Lakes Juvenile Detention Center for being in possession of a stolen handgun.
--Another shooting was reported in St. Cloud Saturday night. A 50-year old man was shot in north St. Cloud. Police say the incident happened at about 8:00pm in the 400 block of 9th Avenue North. Officers were sent to an apartment complex for a gunshot complaint from inside. They met with a 50-year old man from St. Cloud that had a gunshot wound to his lower back. The investigation revealed that a male acquaintance had come to the victim’s apartment with three other men and had fired several rounds, one of which struck the victim. The suspect and other men left the area on foot. The victim was taken to St. Cloud Hospital in serious but stable condition. The investigation is active and on-going. This does not appear to be related to the shooting that happened on Thursday.
--Unemployment rates in Central Minnesota are the lowest they have been in 27 years. Thirteen counties across the state had unemployment levels under 2% of their population. Morrison County in October, 2017 was at 2.8%, Crow Wing at 2.6%, Todd 2.3% and Wadena at 3%. The highest jobless rate by county rankings is Koochiching which was at 4.7%.
--A 16-year old girl was hurt while trying to get a deer off the highway. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at about 9:45pm on Friday on eastbound Highway 23 west of Milaca. The State Patrol says 16-year old Mckayla Bottelson of Milaca was in the middle of the Eastbound lane of Highway 23 near 195th Avenue Northeast removing a deer from the highway that had been struck by another motorist. The car swerved to avoid her but was unable to avoid her because of oncoming traffic in the westbound lane. Bottelson was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the car and his passenger were not hurt.
--A 42-year old Zimmerman man suffered non life-threatening injuries Wednesday in a one-vehicle crash. Jerry Dean Steffensen was driving north on Highway 169 in Kathio Township, Mille Lacs County at about 6:20 p.m. when he lost control, rolled into the right ditch, and hit a tree. Steffensen was transported to Onamia hospital for treatment.
--The 2018 Miss Minnesota USA and Miss Minnesota Teen USA Pageants took place Sunday night in Burnsville. Kalie Wright of Eagle Bend was named Miss Minnesota USA 2018 and Peyton Schroeder of Rosemount was named Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2018. Both title holders will now advance and compete next year at the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA national pageants. The competition, which is held annually, consists of three proportional segments: evening gown, swimwear/active wear and interview. Eligible young women must be between the ages of 14 and 27 and be unmarried residents of Minnesota in order to compete in the pageant.
--A teenager from Detroit Lakes resurfaced this week after having gone missing for three months. Officials located Parker Eastman in California on Friday afternoon. Eastman is 15 years old. The boy had been missing since August 21st. Police followed a number of different leads in the search for Eastman, including in Sartell. Authorities did not specify how Eastman was found or which California city he was discovered in. Eastman is considered safe now and officials are working to bring him home. Eastman's disappearance is not being investigated as a kidnapping.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Garret Kroll and Shania Kahlhammer of Pierz, girl on November 24th
DEATH NOTICES --Dorothy Doucette, age 85 of Little Falls --Marianne Karen Doble, age 63 of Little Falls --Ralph Notch, age 82 of Eagle Bend --Thomas N. Austin, age 56 of Little Falls. --Evelyn Lenz, age 97 of Little Falls.
WEATHER TODAY= becoming sunny and very windy, high 44. TONIGHT= clear skies, colder and windy, low 22. WEDNESDAY= increasing clouds, high 42, low 34 still windy. THURSDAY= sunny and still windy, high 38, low near 25.
SPORTS HS BHK= Little Falls at Alexandria tonight 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ HS GBB= Upsala at Pierz tonight 7:30pm on FM94 KFML. COL BB= #12 Minnesota will take on #10 Miami University of Florida Wednesday night in ACC/Big 10 Challenge, pregame 7:30 on KLTF.