NEWS
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office, Little Falls Police, the Department of Natural Resources and Department of Public Safety again are sending out reminders of using caution on lake ice. This past weekend even in Little Falls and around the state reports of possible close calls, someone falling through the ice, or others reporting hearing of someone slipping into or a foot or item falling through thin ice were reported. Though many lakes are starting to see ice form and some lakes have reported over 5-6 inches of ice in areas, many other area lakes and rivers may still have open water and thin ice in areas. Again please use caution on the ice.
--Emergency crews helped rescue over 100 people who were stranded on a lake in Northern Minnesota. The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office says at about 11:30am Monday they received a 911 call from people who were fishing on Upper Red Lake. The callers indicated that a large chunk of ice broke free from the main shoreline stranding an estimated 100 individuals. The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office and other first responders arrived on the scene and discovered a large portion of the ice with up to 30 yards of open water stranding the fishermen. A narrow spot of the separation was found and a temporary bridge was deployed to evacuate the stranded fishermen.
At 2:30pm it was determined that everyone requiring evacuation from the ice had been reached and emergency responders cleared the scene shortly thereafter. Again please use caution on the ice.
--A Crow Wing County woman is facing several charges including three counts of child torture. According to the criminal complaint, the sheriff's office began investigating 32-year-old Jorden Borders in May on a child maltreatment case involving three children. Around mid-March one of the children who is nine years old was seen at Children's Hospital with concern over his hemoglobin numbers dropping. Hospital staff determined the only explanation for his numbers dropping was that someone was removing blood from his body. The complaint says that on November 21st the three children disclosed that they observed Borders withdraw blood from the child frequently before doctors' visits where he was being tested. The children also allege they were directed by Borders to flush the blood down the toilet. The investigation also revealed the other two children, ages 11 and eight, were self-diagnosed by Borders as having brittle bone disease and were forced to wear casts and neck braces even though they didn't have injuries. The criminal complaint says Borders was receiving money from the state to care for the nine-year-old and has been nominated to receive several gifts and money from non-profit foundations in the area. It is believed the total amount received appears to be more than $35,000.
--Two victims and their attacker were all taken to trauma centers after a home invasion in Kanabec County. The Sheriff's Office says the incident began at about 4:40am Sunday at a rural Oglivie home. The two adult victims that lived there were taken to Welia hospital and then transferred to metro area trauma centers in critical condition from injuries suffered in the attack. A third person, who is suspected of being responsible for the attack, was also critically hurt and flown to a metro area trauma center. The Sheriff says that person is not from that immediate area and no longer poses a threat to the community. The Sheriff says this was not a random assault. Further details will be released when their investigation is completed.
--A reminder that the Christmas Tours continue this week at the attractions in Little Falls, details at littlefallsmn.com through Dec 4th.
--A one-vehicle crash Sunday night claimed the life of a Palmer Township man. Sherburne County Sheriff Joel Brott says 41-year old James Neumann failed to make a turn at the T-intersection at 17th Street Southeast and 110th Avenue, Northwest of Rice Lake. His vehicle went through the intersection, left the road, and crashed into the ditch. According to the sheriff's office, Neumann was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene.
--Three people suffered minor injuries in a two-vehicle crash last Wednesday. It happened just before 1pm in Wakefield Township southwest of Cold Spring. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says 71-year-old Virginia Sharples was making a left turn from her driveway to head north on County Road 49 and collided with a vehicle heading south. The sheriff's office says both vehicles veered off into the ditch. Sharples was taken by ambulance to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the other vehicle, 45-year-old Kelly Breuchel of Cold Spring, and her passenger were treated at the scene but did not require hospitalization.
--A North Dakota man faces several charges after an incident in St. Cloud on Thanksgiving Day. According to the charging complaint, 49-year-old Leroy Schmidt of West Fargo approached a group of people in his vehicle and was making racial slurs and sexual comments to them. The incident happened just before 12:30pm in the 500 block of 5th Avenue North. Police arrived on the scene and tried multiple times to make a traffic stop, but they say Schmidt would drive away. Officers tried to box Schmidt's vehicle in, but records show he backed into a marked squad car and drove at a uniformed officer, nearly striking him before he was able to sidestep the vehicle. Officers gave chase and spun out the rear end of Schmidt's vehicle and boxed him in. Records show Schmidt continued to rev the engine and tried to flee. Officers broke the window, tased Schmidt, and pulled him from the vehicle. Schmidt continued to fight officers who ultimately put him in a WRAP restraint device. Police say Schmidt was acting erratically, so they brought him to the hospital for a chemical evaluation. A woman inside Schmidt's vehicle admitted to officers that Schmidt occasionally used methamphetamine but believed he had not used it over the last few days. Records show an open bottle of vodka was found inside the vehicle and a bag of White Thai Kratom powder was found under the driver's seat. The powder is considered a medicinal herb that can be an energy booster but also have side effects with larger doses. Schmidt is charged with 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, fleeing police, and obstruction. Court records show at least one officer was hurt.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Randy Marx Jr. and Stephanie Marx of Randall, a girl on 11-27.
WEATHER
TODAY= snow showers possible, less than 1 inch, high 26.
TONIGHT= mostly cloudy, flurries, windy, low near 17.
WEDNESDAY= partial sun, temps steady at 17 and falling, cold winds
WED NITE= blustery conditions, clearing, low 7 wind chills below 0.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, a bit warmer, high 27, low near 21.
SPORTS
GBB= Swanville at Pierz Thursday at 7pm on 94ROCKS 94.1FM.
HS= Check out the Winter Broadcast Schedule for Little Falls Radio by going to fallsradio.com and click on news and then sports tab.
NFL= Pittsburgh holds off the Colts 24-17 last night on MNF.