NEWS
--Authorities have arrested four people in connection with a murder in Isanti County. The Isanti County Sheriff's Office has arrested 43-year-old Jesse Rodriques, 40-year-old Fredy Olivar, and 41-year-old Abraham Houle. The three have been charged with 2nd-degree murder with intent, 2nd-degree murder without intent, and two counts of burglary in the shooting death of Jose Fernandez. A fourth person is in custody in another jurisdiction for a different offense and is awaiting extradition, and will be identified after formally being charged. On December 13th, the Isanti County Sheriff’s Office was called to the 7800 block of 309th Avenue Northwest in Spencer Brook Township near Princeton. When they arrived they found Fernandez's body inside the house. The arrests were made in cooperation with numerous other law enforcement agencies.
--An investigation is underway after an ATV rider was found dead in a Becker County lake early Saturday morning. According to a news release, the Becker County Sheriff's Office received a report around 2:05am that a local man had failed to return home from fishing near his home on Big Toad Lake, which is about 18 miles east of Detroit Lakes. The man was last seen Friday afternoon driving an ATV to his fish house on Big Lake. The man's wife contacted his brother for help finding him and noticed a large crack in the lake, where the body was later found under the water with the ATV that had fallen through.
--One person was hurt in an ATV crash on Friday. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says at about 4:30pm they received a call about an ATV crash west of St. Stephen. Family members told deputies they were unable to get a hold of 58-year-old Bernard Omann of Sartell but knew he was clearing trails on his four-wheeler. They later found Omann on the trail he was working on pinned underneath the ATV and called 911. Omann said he was not able to get at his cell phone due to being pinned under the vehicle, and estimates he was trapped for about three hours. He was taken to St. Cloud Hospital.
--One person was hurt in a two-vehicle crash in Le Sauk Township. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says the incident happened on Friday just after 10am at the intersection of 50th Avenue and Scout Drive in Le Sauk Township. Deputies learned from witnesses on the scene a vehicle being driven by 18-year-old Ismail Hassan of Waite Park failed to yield for the flashing stop sign as he was traveling westbound on Scout Drive. Hassan went into the intersection and struck a vehicle driven by 40-year-old Naimah Abdinuur of St. Cloud as she traveled southbound on 50th Avenue. Hassan was treated on scene by first responders and transported to the Saint Cloud Hospital.
--The Brainerd Jaycees announced over the weekend they have been receiving a number of emails and calls on the event because of the wet conditions and plenty of open water on the lakes from the warmer Minnesota start of the winter. The Jaycees stated on Tuesday that the Ice Fishing Extravaganza right now is still ON and moved a week later to Saturday, February 3rd, 2024 in the Brainerd/Baxter area. Raffle tickets are already sold and going fast, the event is a large fundraiser for the Brainerd/Baxter area. The Jaycees said over the next 2 weeks they will monitor the ice situation and report back if there are any changes. But for now the event is planned Feb 3rd. Last week Chuck Zwilling also announced that the plan is still for the Sunny Zwilling Memorial Ice Fest on Green Prairie Fish Lake northwest of Little Falls for February 17th and 18th and will continue to monitor ice conditions in the weeks leading up to both events.
--The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says the report of a fire outside a home in the 200 block of 222nd Street East in Lynden Township came in shortly before 3am Sunday. Authorities say the homeowner, 41-year-old Robert Emslander, was working on his pop-up camper when the inside of the trailer caught on fire. The sheriff's office says the smoke and flames spread rapidly and Emslander was not able to put it out by himself. The Clearwater Fire Department responded to the scene and was able to put out the fire. No one was hurt in the incident. Authorities say the camper is considered a total loss.
--Authorities are asking for the public's help identifying a suspect in a break-in that took place at a central Minnesota business over the weekend. The Alexandria Police Department says Brothers Market was burglarized around 8:20pm Sunday. Officers responded to the scene and later reviewed security footage with the business owner. Police say the videos show the suspect walking up to the front door with what they say appears to be a firearm. Authorities say the business was closed and locked and the suspect used a brick to smash through the windows on the front door and enter. Police say the suspect stole several items and then left. Alexandria Police say the suspect was wearing a distinctive quilted silver jacket with an orange scorpion on the back. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the police department at 320-763-6631.
--Swanville High School announced that Juniors Lily Peterson and Ethan Wimmer have been selected as this years Swanville High School ExCEL nominees. The ExCEL award, which stands for excellence in community, education and leadership, is a recognition program designed exclusively for Minnesota high school juniors who are active in school and also work on giving back to their community.
--Pierz Healy High School congratulates Britney Schommer and Logan Gross as the Triple A Award Recipients for Pierz Healy High School. Also Pierz announced their ExCEL award winners as Brooke Athman and Aiden Jones both high school juniors in Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= snow showers, rain and fog possible, high 35.
TONIGHT= flurries early, mostly cloudy, low near 25.
THURSDAY= partly sunny, high 38, clearing at night, low 24.
FRIDAY= sunny and mild, high 41, clear night, low near 28.
SPORTS
GOPHERS= Cole Kramer tosses two touchdowns and the Gopher defense holds off a late surge to beat Bowling Green Tuesday in the Detroit Quick Lane Bowl 30-24. Gophers finish year at 6-7.
VIKINGS= A series of tests revealed that Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson tore both the ACL and MCL ligaments in his right knee during the team's 30-24 loss Sunday to the Detroit Lions. Hockenson will be placed on injured reserve and surgery will be scheduled soon. He will miss the rest of this season for Vikings. The Vikings host Green Bay on Sunday night at 7:20pm while first place Detroit is at Dallas in a big NFL match on Saturday night with kickoff at 7:15pm. Catch both games live on AM960 KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1932= Radio City Music Hall opens in New York City.
IN 1937= Mae Young banned from radio for Adam & Eve skit.
IN 1947= “Howdy Doody Show” debuts on television.