NEWS --Coffee with a cop today at 8:30am at Pete and Joys Bakery in Little Falls. Main topic on prescription drug abuse in the county. All are welcome to come and discuss the issue and ask other questions to law enforcement, CHI and Stand Up 4 U. Yesterday Sheriff Shawn Larsen spoke on Little Falls Radio about the epidemic of prescription drug abuse and how the problem gets worse and he stated brings an uptick of large drug problems including heroin abuse which leads to serious issues and even death. Sheila Funk stated that members of the coalition will be at the state capitol addressing the issue to legislators. There will be a nationwide prescription take back event on October 28th at Coborns from 10am-2pm. A reminder that you can drop off unused or outdated prescription drugs at the drop boxes at the Morrison County Sheriff's Office and Little Falls Police Department. There are also drop off sites at city halls in Randall and Pierz that house their local city police departments.
--On Monday afternoon Pierz crowned their Homecoming King Alex Funk and Homecoming Queen Kelsi Stuckmayer. Over the weekend Royalton, Upsala and Swanville schools each crowned their King and Queens. In Royalton Brock Snyder was named King and Emily Prokott Queen. In Swanville Lawrence Mettler is King and Crystal Kaun is queen. In Upsala Bennett Westrich and Anna Woidyla were crowned Homecoming King and Queen. Congratulations to each.
--The Minnesota State Court of Appeals Monday upheld the 2014 Morrison County conviction of Edward Lapenotiere for a Controlled Substance Crime in the Second Degree (Selling Narcotics in a School Zone). Lapenotiere was found guilty as charged after a two day jury trial in October, 2014. Lapenotiere was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison for the 2nd Degree school zone offense. The case stemmed from an August, 2013 controlled buy of Vicodin and Heroin conducted by the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office. The buy was made at Lapenotiere’s residence located within one city block of Lindbergh Elementary and Community Middle School properties. Lapenotiere appealed his conviction claiming that the evidence was insufficient to prove that his residence was within one city block of the school property, arguing that only sales directly across the street from the school could be considered “school zones.” The Court of Appeals ruled that the law defined a school zone as “the area surrounding the school property to a distance of 300 feet or one city block, whichever distance is greater.” The appellate court concluded that “By using the word ‘surround,’ the legislature indicated its intent to establish a drug free perimeter extending at least one city block beyond the school property in all directions.” The court ruled that the state’s evidence at trial was sufficient to prove that “Lapenotiere’s home is both within the one block distance measurement from the school property and within the city block area measurement.”
--Pillager is the latest central Minnesota city to dedicate a Veterans Memorial. The Pillager American Legion and Pillager Area Lions dedicated the memorial last Saturday at the Pillager City Park at the corner of Highways 1 and 210.
--The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office stated that a vulnerable adult missing for more than two hours Saturday was found safe. The man from Maple Grove Township was reported missing around 3:40pm. A state patrol helicopter was used and found the man in a wooded area with use of an infrared camera. The man did not sustain any injuries.
--Douglas County authorities say a 16-year old boy was hurt in a duck hunting accident on the opening day of Minnesota's waterfowl season. The boy and a 17-year old hunting partner were in a boat on North Union Lake Saturday when the 17-year old believed his shotgun was empty and put it in a case. He later leaned over the side of the boat to retrieve a duck and accidentally discharged the gun when his knee touched the case. The 16-year old was struck in the right leg. He was treated at a hospital for the gunshot wound.
--Three people were killed Saturday morning in a plane crash near Thief River Falls in northwestern Minnesota. The three were employees of Mountain West Motors Inc. of Rawlins, Wyoming. The men were identified as Moy Wing, Brian Duke and Zach Ostertag all from Wyoming. The plane crashed around 8:00am in a wheat field outside of the city limits. The FAA is investigating the crash's cause.
--A pickup driver under the influence of alcohol remained jailed Sunday after he crashed into the back of an Amish buggy in northwestern Minnesota and killed a rider. The collision occurred about 7:35pm Saturday on Highway 92 in the Clearwater County community of Leon Township. 23-year old Elsie Yoder, of nearby Clearbrook, was hospitalized Saturday night in Fargo and later died. Another person from Clearbrook in the horse drawn buggy, 27-year old Mervin Yoder, was treated for less serious injuries at a hospital in Bagley. 27-year old Christopher K. Baumann of Nevis was heading south when he hit the buggy from behind. Baumann, suspected of having been drinking before the crash, remained jailed late Sunday.
--A 12-year-old boy suffered life-threatening injuries when he was hit by a car in Elk River. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened just after 9:00pm Sunday on Highway 169 at Main Street. The car driven by 36-year old Christopher Tatu of Osseo was going north when it struck Ian Kniseley of Elk River. Kniseley was taken to HCMC.
--The 18-year old killed in a Pine River crash Friday afternoon has been identified as Brenden Fenstermaker. The accident happened around 3:30pm on Cass County Road 42 in rural Pine River. Fenstermaker was pronounced dead at the scene. A second occupant, 19-year old Zachary Munsch of Pine River was treated on scene and then taken to a Twin Cities hospital with serious injuries.
DEATH NOTICES --Donald K. Dahl, age 67 of Pierz --Doris E. Stromberg, age 96 of Little Falls.
WEATHER TODAY= rain showers likely, clearing late afternoon, high 57. TONIGHT= clearing skies, cooler, low near 40. WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 63, clear night low 44. THURSDAY= partly cloudy, high 66, chance of late day shower.
SPORTS TWINS= after a day off the Twins (82-74) are at Cleveland (98-58) tonight with a 5:30pm pregame on Q92 WYRQ LYNX= Lynx host Sparks in Game 2 of the WNBA finals tonight, Sparks up 1-0 in the best of 5 series. Game 3 is Thursday in LA. NFL= The Vikings announced Monday that Teddy Bridgewater will be ready to rejoin the team with a full practice schedule in three weeks after he is taken off the unable to perform list with hopes of starting again as quarterback before the end of October.