NEWS --Formal charges are pending against 36-year old, Blaine Beaulieu from Onamia and 21-year old Simone Boyd-Evans from Onamia for their involvement in a felony theft of a motor vehicle from a residence and felony damage to property at a business in Bellevue Township. According to the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, on June 18th deputies responded to a residential burglary north of Royalton. When deputies arrived, they discovered a pickup was left at the scene that did not belong to the owners. Deputies contacted the registered owner and discovered that the pickup had been stolen. On June 19th the Sheriff’s Office received a report of damage to property at a business in Bellevue Township, north of Royalton. Someone drove through the metal gate at the business causing severe damage. Investigators obtained a video surveillance recording from the business that shows the vehicle that caused the damage was the stolen pickup taken from the residence in Bellevue Township. The video also shows an accomplice vehicle involved. Investigators identified the male driver of the pickup as Beaulieu and the female driver of the accomplice vehicle as Boyd-Evans. Investigators are also investigating two additional residential burglaries in Royalton and Bellevue Township that were reported around the same time frame. There is an ongoing investigation involving these same suspects. Beaulieu and Boyd-Evans are currently being held in the Mille Lacs County Jail on unrelated charges. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office has forwarded their reports to the Morrison County Attorney’s Office for review of charges.
--Waite Park police have released more information on the deadly wrong way crash on Division Street Monday night. The driver of the wrong way vehicle was 28-year old Charlie Barnett of St. Cloud. He was driving a car westbound in the eastbound lane when he hit the victims vehicle head on killing both people in the second vehicle. Barnett remains hospitalized and is being guarded by police. He will be taken to the Stearns County Jail once he is released from the hospital. Charges could include Criminal Vehicular Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Reckless Driving, and an Order for Protection Violation. Additional charges are also possible. The two victims are 61-year old Richard Tomlinson of Grantsburg, Wisconsin and his passenger 77-year old Roger Nelson of Clearwater. Tomlinson was eastbound on Division Street near 4th Avenue South when he was struck head-on. The crash happened at about 7:15pm Monday. Tomlinson died at the scene and Nelson died at St. Cloud Hospital.
--A 28-year old from Cold Spring was injured shortly after 8:00am Tuesday on Highway 23 near Rockville when her vehicle left the roadway and hit the embankment. Rachel Erkins was treated at St. Cloud Hospital for her injuries.
--The Minnesota State Patrol has released the name of a Lakeville woman killed in a crash just west of Kimball on Highway 55 in Maine Prairie Township Monday. Around 1:00pm 56-year old Sheri Tilley was driving her motorcycle west on Highway 55, at the same time a pickup towing a trailer was heading east. Tilley hit the pickup head-on and she died at the scene. The driver of the pickup, 25-year old Matthew Diwi of Ramsey was treated for injuries.
--There will be a Coffee with a Cop event July 18th at 8:30am at Countryside in Motley. The event will address drug abuse prevention with members from the local police, sheriff's office and health organizations. All are welcome to come and address the issues.
--Pierz Freedom Fest is this Saturday with gates opening at the Genola Ballfield at 2pm. General admission tickets can be purchased for $50 at Little Falls Radio. See Montgomery Gentry, Lonestar, Confederate Railroad, Fabulous Armadillos, Brothers Tone and more all day and night. The Little Falls Radio Cash Cube will be on hand to register that afternoon and get a chance to win prizes from a number of participating business and Little Falls Radio.
--A 41-year old St. Cloud man is facing charges for reportedly punching a woman in the face during an argument over the weekend. Billy Henry Quirk was charged Tuesday with one felony count of third degree assault and two gross misdemeanor counts of domestic assault. Quirk's next court date is scheduled for July 19th.
--Crow Wing County has identified the man who drowned in Adney Lake southeast of Crosslake Sunday as 60-year old William James Murray of St. Paul. His body was recovered Monday afternoon.
--A two-vehicle accident Tuesday morning sent two people to the hospital on Highway 210 west of Pillager in Cass County. 66-year-old Vincent Moe of Fort Ripley was operating a tractor around 9:30am when he was struck from behind by 21-year old Deion Anderson of Randall, causing his vehicle to leave the highway and strike the ditch. Both drivers were not hurt. Two of Anderson's passenger, 15-year-old Dominic Anderson and 42-year old Samara Nelson were both injured and taken to the hospital. Another passenger was not hurt.
—A 15-year old teen wake boarding behind a boat injured her ankle after she fell and got tangled in the tow rope back on July 3rd shortly after 2:00pm on Big Trout Lake near Manhattan Beach. The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office reported Alexandra J. Egan of Bloomington was transported by private vehicle to Essential Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. The operator of the boat was 66-year old Frederick Plessner of St. Paul.
--The Morrison County Relay for Life is this Friday from 5:00-11:00pm at the Little Falls Community High School Track.
WEATHER TODAY= partly sunny, warm and humid, high 90, storms after 5pm. TONIGHT= storms likely, some severe, heavy rains, low 72. THURSDAY= storms before 9am, then sunny, high 85, low around 60. FRIDAY= sunny skies, high near 86, low around 65.
SPORTS TWINS= Royals end Twins winning streak with a 9-4 win last night in Minneapolis. The Twins wrap up series with the Royals today, pregame at 11:30am on Q92 WYRQ. LYNX= Lynx have a morning game today at Indiana at 11am. VL= playoffs begin Friday night in Pierz and also in Nisswa then Saturday games in all 4 divisions of the Victory League. After Saturday's action winners and losers will meet on Sunday and there will be a game of the week Sunday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1859= A Tale of Two Cities is published by Charles Dickens. IN 1914= Babe Ruth makes his major league baseball debut. He had played exhibition games with Baltimore earlier that year, but first major league game with Boston as a pitcher came on this date. IN 1967= singer Kenny Rogers forms the First Edition. IN 1969= David Bowie released “Space Oddity”.