[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Newsletter: Wednesday, January 6th 2016[/title][fusion_text]
NEWS
–A 44-year-old Wadena man who thought he would spend New Year’s Eve having sex with a 13-year-old Jenkins girl now faces a felony for soliciting a child. The Pequot Lakes Police Department arrested 44-year old David Lee Hendershot around 9:00pm Thursday outside a gas station. The Wadena man, who had recently resided in Jenkins, arrived at the gas station with alleged intentions of taking a juvenile home with him for the weekend after more than a week of exchanging explicitly sexual text messages with an undercover officer. Hendershot appeared Monday in Crow Wing County District Court and faces one count of soliciting a child or what was believed to be a child through electronic communication to engage in sexual conduct, a felony carrying a maximum penalty of three years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine. He was released from jail after posting a $5,000 bail.
–Sentencing was scheduled for a Brainerd woman accused of burning down a house she rented during the summer of 2014 in Brainerd. 33-year old Tami Jo Pendegayosh will be sentenced February 29th at 9:00am in Crow Wing County District Court. Pendegayosh was charged September 30th, 2014 with two counts of first-degree arson of a dwelling. Each felony carries a maximum 20-year sentence and/or a $20,000 fine. On October 22nd, 2015 her attorney entered an Alford guilty plea to one count of first-degree arson. An Alford Plea allows a defendant to maintain innocence while acknowledging evidence is sufficient to support a jury’s determination of guilt. The Alford Plea was filed after the court conducted mental evaluations to determine if Pendegayosh would be competent to proceed in her criminal case. Pendegayosh underwent a Rule 20.01 competency proceeding and Rule 20.02 mental examination as she suffers from a number of mental and neurological disorders.
–The AgStar Fund for Rural America, the corporate giving program of AgStar Financial Services, is now accepting applications for it’s high school senior scholarship program, which awards up to 42 students with $1,000 scholarships. The AgStar High School Scholarship Program is designed for students who are pursuing an ag-related degree or those with an ag or rural background. Scholarships are available for students attending a four-year college or university or a two-year program. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA and live in AgStar’s local service area. Applicants are selected based on academic achievement, leadership characteristics and ag-related community involvement. 14 winners will be chosen from each of AgStar’s three regions. To apply for the scholarship, students should visit AgStar.com to download the application form. Applications must be postmarked by April 1st to be considered.
–A 17-year-old Crosslake teen was injured Sunday around 4:00pm on Perkins Road in Crosslake when his snowmobile’s throttle got stuck and tried to prevent it from tipping over or striking a tree. There were two passengers on the snowmobile with the driver, Anthony M. Popehn. Popehn had a broken leg from the accident. The two passengers had no apparent injuries.
–Longtime Stearns County Administrator George Rindelaub is retiring after nearly 28 years. Rindelaub announced his retirement, effective March 31, at Tuesday’s county board meeting. He has held the county’s top administrative position since 1988. The board will consider a plan to replace Rindelaub at a future meeting.
–The Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site will show “Minnesota: A History of the Land, learn about the northern forest” on Tuesday at 7:00pm at the Lindbergh Site. Free admission for the movie.
–The first baby born in Morrison County for 2016 has been announced as a baby girl born to Mark and Heather Kimman of Pierz. The baby was born at 9:18pm Monday in Little Falls.
–Police are searching for a missing woman after finding a dead body in a St. Cloud residence on Monday afternoon. Officers responded to a welfare check complaint in the 300 block of 21st Avenue North around 3:00pm Monday. Officers found a dead person in the residence and are investigating the death as suspicious. Police say no evidence indicates a danger to the public. Tuesday morning, police asked for the public’s help in locating 38-year old Lisa May Kearney. Kearney was described as 5-foot-8, weighing around 140 pounds. Police said her relationship to the incident is “missing,” but did not immediately say whether she was a suspect. Police are also searching for a blue 2002 Chevy Silverado truck, with a license plate number of 812 ENW. Anyone with information is asked to call St. Cloud police.
–The Brainerd City Council Monday night extended a conditional job offer to the top candidate for the fire marshal/deputy chief position. The council offered the job to David Cox, who was the top scorer out of the seven people interviewed for the position. Cox’s anticipated hire date is January 25th. His job offer is subject to successful completion of pre-employment physical, drug, psychological and background checks. Cox is a battalion chief in the department.
–According to the early numbers, there were 152 DWI arrests in Minnesota on New Year’s Eve–down from 174 last year. State Patrol Lt. Tiffani Nielson says there were 374 DWI arrests through the weekend into Monday morning, whereas on a typical weekend there are around 250 arrests. She says Sunday’s Viking-Packer game may have had something to do with the increase.
ENTERTAINMENT
–MMA female fighter Ronda Rousey is leaving the ring for the comedy circuit as she will host Saturday Night Live on January 23rd. This will be the first time on nationwide television for Rousey since being knocked out by Holly Holm late last year.
DEATH NOTICES
–Dorothy A. Allen, age 93 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= patchy drizzle early, light snow in afternoon, high 33.
TONIGHT= snow likely, around 1 inch, low 27.
THURSDAY= light snow or drizzle at times, high 33, low 30.
FRIDAY= turning windy, snow showers, high 30, colder night, low 9
SPORTS
GBB= Mora at Little Falls Thursday 7:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
WNBA= Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve reportedly has agreed to a contract extension. The only detail being stated is it is a multi-year deal to keep her in Minnesota. Reeve has won three WNBA titles in six seasons with the Lynx.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1838= Samuel Morse gives first public demonstration of the telegraph using “What Hath God Wrought” in Morse code.
IN 1973= first Schoolhouse Rock episodes start on ABC TV.
IN 1975= Wheel of Fortune debuted on NBC morning television starring Chuck Woolery as host and Susan Stafford as letter turner. Pat Sajak took over in 1980, Vanna White in 1982 still on today.
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