NEWS
--The 25-year-old Coon Rapids man arrested in connection with the abduction and death of 5-year-old Alayna Jeanne Ertl was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of kidnapping and theft. The suspect, Zachary Todd Anderson, made his first court appearance on the criminal charges, all felonies, late Tuesday morning in Cass County District Court in Walker before Judge David Harrington. Harrington set unconditional bond at $2 million. 5-year-old Alayna Ertl of Watkins was taken from her home early Saturday morning in Meeker County and found later that afternoon near Motley in a wooded area near a residence owned by Anderson's family. Anderson was known to the parents, as a coworker of Ertl's father and had spent nights in their home before. At the court hearing on Tuesday, the medical examiner ruled the cause of death of homicidal violence, stated there were signs of strangulation, blunt force trauma to the head, and the that the girl had been sexually assaulted. Anderson will appear again in Cass County District Court in Walker on October 10th.
--Around 2:00pm Monday the Minnesota State Patrol responded to a report of an overturned vehicle in a ravine which was spotted by MNDOT. When Troopers arrived they found a deceased male party in the vehicle. Todd County responded and assisted in the investigation. With further investigation it shows the vehicle, 2008 Toyota Scion, was traveling Westbound I-94 at about Milepost 121 when it veered off the road to the right and overturned and landed upside down in a ravine. It is believed that the Toyota and occupant have been there for a long period of time. The investigation is still ongoing. The occupant has been taken to Midwest Medical for positive identification. The Medical Examiner confirmed the body to be that of missing 47-year-old Alan Michael Thomas of Osakis who was reported missing earlier this month. The accident is under investigation.
--Due to the fire a week ago Wednesday set at the St. Cloud Library, the library announced this past Monday, they will likley be closed until September 12th. The books on the 2nd level total over 2 million dollars and one book and a chair were destroyed by the fire and a window was broken. The library stated that over one hundred books must be assessed before the library can open again to the public. The man accused of setting the fire 47-year-old Jorge Ozorina was charged in Stearns County District Court with first degree arson.
--A fire Monday morning in Waite Park forced residents to have to evacuate from a third story window with aid from firefighters. Fire crews arrived around 11:15am to the Sundial Apartments and upon arrival found that the fire started in a hallway and reportedly did extensive damage to the east side of the bulding. Firefighters then had to rescue several people from the upper level apartments. Thick smoke could be seen from the apartment complex. The state fire marshal has been called in to investigate the cause of the fire. Five people were taken by ambulance for medical treatment and another three were treated at the scene. None of the injuries were serious.
--Two people were injured Monday night around 6pm on Highway 23 in Benton County. 35-year-old Mathias Junger of Duluth was eastbound on 23 when whe struck a vehicle at County Road 8 at the intersection. The other driver 48-year-old Kelly Prom of St. Cloud along with Junger were taken to the hospital and treated for the what the state patrol called non-life threatening injuries.
--The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development released county unemployment rates on Tuesday. Morrison County registered at 4.3% unemployment in July, down from 4.6% in June but up from 4.2% July last year. Here is how our other area counties fared: Aitken 5.4%, Benton 3.8%, Cass 5.5%, Crow Wing 4.2%, Mille Lacs 4.6%, Todd 4%, Sherburne 3.7%, Stearns 3.5%, and Wadena 4.9%. The city of St. Cloud registered at 3.9% and Brainerd was at 4.1% unemployment in July.
--A St. Cloud man faces criminal sexual conduct charges after an encounter with a minor in a convenience store. 47-year old Roger Riedeman faces one charge of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and another of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. Both are felonies. Riedeman was charged Monday. He is being held in Stearns County Jail on a $200,000 bond.
--St. Cloud State University released a statement that university police cited 107 people during move in weekend at the university this year. Most were for underage consumption, open alcohol containers and noise violations. They also reported receiving false identification, littering, disorderly conduct and expired licenses and registrations. This citations are down from previous years where last year there were 137 in first weekend, with over 225 in 2014.
--Three men have been arrested and charged for selling drugs at a residence in southeast Brainerd. 19-year old Deionte Parker, 20-year old Tyler Tipton and 19-year old Hunter Stanton, each from Brainerd, appeared Friday in Crow Wing County District Court. The men were charged with two felonies of fifth-degree sale of a marijuana mix and conspiracy of fifth-degree sale marijuana mixture.
--Little Falls Community Middle School open house will be held on Wednesday, August 31st from 6:30-8pm. All 6th graders and new students to the Little Falls Community Middle School and their parents/guardians are encouraged to attend. All are welcome.
NATIONAL NEWS
--The National Weather Service stated Monday that lightning fatalities this year are the highest they have been since 2010. The latest lightning related death occurred in Colorado and Michigan bringing the total for the year to 29, which is more than the 27 total for all of last year. Also August has had 8 people die from lightning the most in the month since 2007. The odds of being struck by lightning is 1 in 12,000, and there is about one death for every 10 people struck.
DEATH NOTICES
--Kathy Jo Carter, age 52 of Little Falls.
--Bernadette A. Stangl, age 73 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= morning sprinkles, clearing in afternoon, high 78.
TONIGHT= clear and cooler, low 53.
THURSDAY= partly cloudy, breezy and cool, high 68, low 46.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, high 75, storms develop Friday night.
SPORTS
TWINS= Tigers beat Twins Tuesday 8-3 at Target Fifeld. Detroit and the Twins have game 2 tonight 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ
WILD= The Minnesota Wild announced Tuesday they will be changing their goal song to Prince's Let's Go Crazy this year.