NEWS
--A 32-year old Maplewood woman was convicted of third degree murder and a third degree drug crime for selling fentanyl to a St. Cloud man who overdosed and died in 2016. Sherburne County District Court Judge Walter Kaminsky issued his ruling Monday, finding Beverly Nicole Burrell guilty. This is Burrell's third murder conviction. She is in prison at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Shakopee after previously being sentenced for committing similar crimes in Hennepin County. Burrell was charged in December 2016, accused of selling fentanyl to Dustin Peltier of St. Cloud, who thought he was buying heroin and who later died using the drugs. Burrell waived her right to a jury trial and chose to have a court trial that occurred Feb. 13-14. She is scheduled to be sentenced June 14th.
--Crow Wing County fire departments were very busy the past few days with multiple wildfires due to warm temperatures and drying out vegetation due to the receding snow pack. Around 2:45pm Monday along Crow Wing County Highway 4, a fire burned close to 20 acres in Lake Edward Township east of Nisswa. Firefighters from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Nisswa, Mission, Pequot Lakes and Crosslake fire departments worked together to extinguish the fire. It was contained shortly after firefighters' arrival. Authorities closed down a portion of County Highway 4 from Resort Road and County Road 118 to give firefighters space to work as the fire was close to the highway. The fire burned about 15-20 acres on the 25000 block of County Highway 4, which included some grasses and debris on an agricultural property. The property contained animals, such as horses, ducks, turkeys, chickens and domestic pets but none were injured. Other fires were reported Monday a few miles north of Merrifield, one fire west of Baxter and another near Pequot Lakes which did burn acreage of land and some trees but no structures were endangered. The fire danger Monday in Crow Wing County was listed as high, with fires expected to start easily and spread at a fast rate. Burning permits are currently required throughout the state. Prescribed burns are planned across the state, including in Camp Ripley.
--Even though the temperatures have been a lot warmer, the early April cold and snow has delayed ice-outs on Minnesota lakes and many are likely to still have ice on it during the Minnesota Fishing Opener for walleye on May 12th. There are approximately 3,000 public water access sites statewide, and the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division manages about half of them. With many of those lakes the ice out dates are expected around May 8th right before the fishing opener weekend. Southern Minnesota and some north central and east central lakes may be later than that and closer to Memorial Day unless evening and overnight temperatures stay above the freezing temperatures. Every year, repairs are needed at hundreds of sites, because freezing temperatures and ice cause concrete to crack and buckle on the ramps. In some years, crews can get a head start on that work, even before ice-out, but this year the snow has prevented them from assessing damage, and the ramps can’t be re-leveled until the ground thaws. In the meantime, crews are busy rehabbing docks. A map showing ice out on lakes is available on the DNR website.
--Ripley Township will be holding a Clean-Up Day for residents living outside city limits but within Ripley Township on Saturday at the Ripley Town Hall from 8:00am to noon.
--A reminder that the deployment ceremony for the soldiers based out of Camp Ripley heading on deployment to Kuwait will be tonight at 6pm at the Little Falls Community High School. All are welcome.
--A ceremony honoring Vietnam-era veterans living in the Brainerd lakes area and a veterans town hall meeting focused on improving VA health care services and programs are scheduled starting at 5:00pm next Tuesday at the Brainerd VA Clinic. The Vietnam veteran recognition ceremony is the first item on the agenda and the town hall meeting will take place immediately afterward.
--Work on the $5.7 million Business Highway 371/South Sixth Street reconstruction project between Highway 210/Washington Street and Joseph Street in Brainerd begins on Monday. Motorists and residents should plan for the following: from April 30th to mid-July Highway 371B/South Sixth Street will close from Joseph Street to Oak Street. A signed detour will be in place. Highway 371B/South Sixth Street will remain open to cross street traffic at Willow Street or Vine Street. Also starting Monday for the duration of the project motorists may experience periodic lane, access or sidewalk closures. Access to businesses and residents to be maintained and open at all times. However, expect access changes and gravel surfaces when navigating in work areas. When complete in mid-October the project will reconstruct and redesign the roadway, upgrade city underground utilities and infrastructure, improve pedestrian accessibility, upgrade signal systems and replace road signs throughout the corridor. For real-time travel information visit www.511mn.org or dial 5-1-1.
--St. Joseph's City Council decided to uphold the paid suspension of Police Chief Joel Klein after a closed session Monday night. The council made the decision after over an hour of closed deliberation about the investigation over allegations made against Klein, who was placed on paid administrative leave last Thursday. Sergeant Dwight Pfannenstein took over and remains acting police chief.
--Green Prairie Township will be holding a clean up day for residents within the Township on Saturday 8-11am at Green Prairie Town Hall.
--Pierz native Adam Kroll was named State Treasurer for the Minnesota FFA association.
DEATH NOTICES
--Richard “Dick” Jex, age 90 of Motley
--Kenneth Richardson, age 88 of Staples.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 63.
TONIGHT= increasing clouds, rain after midnight, low 44.
THURSDAY= showers in morning, then cloudy & windy, high 57.
THURS NIGHT= clearing skies, low around 40.
FRIDAY= sunny and breezy, high 65, low around 40.
SPORTS
NBA= Timberwolves at Houston tonight for Game 5 of NBA playoffs, Rockets lead 3-1 and could wrap up the series with a win tonight.
TWINS= Yankees beat Twins Tuesday 8-3. The Twins continue their series with the Yankees tonight, pregame starts at 5pm today and they wrap up the series 11:30am tomorrow on 92.1FM WYRQ.
WRAP= the spring sports season is finally beginning for baseball, softball and others. Get a recap Saturday at 9am on the Saturday Morning Sports Wrap with Al Windsperger on AM960 KLTF.