NEWS
--A 79-year-old from Eagle Bend was killed in a two-vehicle accident yesterday at 12:08pm on Highway 27 west of Highway 238 in Pike Creek Township west of Little Falls. The head-on crash ended up closing Highway 27 in both directions for hours in the afternoon as traffic was detoured around the accident site. The woman's name has not been released by the State Patrol. The other driver, 33-year-old Logan Klooster of Iowa had non life threatening injuries and was taken to the Little Falls hospital for treatment. The Morrison County Sheriff's Office and Little Falls Fire Department assisted at the scene.
--Nearly $100,000 has been raised to support residents affected by a June 23-24 storm that dropped up to 12.3 inches of rain on the Randall area, causing widespread flooding. Continued support is needed, however, in what will be a months-long recovery effort. An estimated 40 homes and several businesses were inundated with floodwaters from the Little Elk River. The Initiative Foundation is partnering with Randall-area community leaders to drive relief and recovery efforts. Fundraising is approaching $100,000 through individual online donations, local fundraising events and grants from Compeer Financial (for affected businesses) and The Funders Network and its Philanthropic Preparedness, Resiliency and Emergency Partnership program. Much more is needed to make a meaningful difference. Appraisers from the state of Minnesota and the Small Business Administration are conducting damage assessments and expect to have an estimated financial figure soon. With 40 homes affected, plus several business, the costs could easily and conservatively exceed $2 million. To support Randall-area residents, visit givemn.org/Randall-Flood. This fundraising effort is supported by the Morrison County Area Foundation, a Partner Fund hosted by the Initiative Foundation. Cleanup crews organized by Minnesota Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster will be onsite in the Randall area on Saturday to help out homes that are continuing to be cleaned from the flooding. The effort will include mold scraping and sanitation, including heating and cooling systems, plus dry-out operations to make homes livable again. Questions 320-631-2008.
--22-year-old, Shayna Evans of Oak Grove, was taken into custody in Morrison County as a fugitive from justice in Wisconsin. A Circuit Court Judge from St. Croix County in Wisconsin issued a warrant for the arrest of Evans on a complaint issued for felony theft and various other lesser theft charges. The warrant authorized extradition from surrounding states. According to the criminal complaint, on July 1, an investigator with the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office was advised that Evans was in custody at the Morrison County Jail. He obtained a copy of the St. Croix County warrant and met with Evans at the jail. Evans allegedly confirmed her full name and date of birth, acknowledging that she is the person named in the warrant. Evans said she was willing to go back to Wisconsin to answer for her charges. She will be extradited back to St. Croix County.
--A St. Cloud man accused of trying to burn down is apartment has now been found competent to face the charges against him. Nineteen-year-old Hunter Hipp was charged with one count of 1st-degree arson back in April, after he allegedly admitted to police he started a fire inside northeast St. Cloud apartment. According to the charges filed in Benton County, Hipp said he lit the stove on fire, put a bunch of flammable stuff in the corner, and lit that on fire as well.
Court records show officers asked him why he did it and Hipp said he wanted to be arrested and thought arson was the quickest way.
--A 26-year-old Garrison man was criminally charged Monday in connection with shaking his 3-month-old daughter and causing near-fatal injuries. Law enforcement responded to July 4 communication from Children's Minnesota Hospital in Minneapolis of an infant admitted with significant injuries not consistent with a report of the child falling during a diaper change. According to the criminal complaint, the medical provider stated the child suffered a near-fatal abusive head injury. Law enforcement reported the child is still being treated at Children's Minnesota Hospital, is believed to be on life support and is unlikely to survive her injuries. After law enforcement learned the injuries were not consistent with the trauma history provided, they interviewed the father, Andrew Donald Erickson, about the inconsistencies in his story. Erickson told hospital staff the child fell about 3.5 feet onto a very thin carpet overlying wood after he changed her. During the July 5 interview, Erickson admitted when trying to calm the baby, he bounced her harder than he thought, according to the complaint. Later in the interview, Erickson allegedly admitted when he was bouncing her, her head snapped back and he dropped her. He said he scooped her up quickly and did not support her neck, which also could have led to injury. Erickson told hospital staff the child fell about 3.5 feet onto a very thin carpet overlying wood after he changed her. During a later reenactment with Erickson and law enforcement, he admitted to between five and six head shakes before dropping the child the later admitted it was estimated to be more like nine or 10 times. Erickson was charged with two felonies: one count of first-degree assault with great bodily harm, with a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine of $30,000; and one count of malicious punishment of a child with great bodily harm, with a maximum penalty of 10 years and fine of $20,000. Erickson was on probation for a gross misdemeanor stalking offense from 2021 and is due in Crow Wing County District Court for a probation violation on those charges later this week on July 14th.
--Another road reconstruction project is underway in Stearns County. The Stearns County Highway Department says tree removal and erosion control devices are planned to be installed this week in the area of County Road 1 just west of the Rice Bridge. A detour has been put in place and will be in place until likely October.
--The Friends of Linden Hill is having a community garden walk on the grounds at Linden Hill and three other Little Falls locations today from 3-8pm. Tickets are at all the sites for $10.
WEATHER
TODAY= AM fog, then sunny skies, high 78.
TONIGHT= clear skies, cool night, low 53.
THURSDAY= sunny and warmer, high 82, storms overnight, low 68.
FRIDAY= storms early, sunny then more storms, high 86, low 65.
SPORTS
TWINS= Brewers beat the Twins 6-3 last night after many rain delays during the game at Target Field. Twins and Milwaukee wrap up their short series today, pregame at 11:30am on Q92 WYRQ.
LYNX= Lynx needed overtime to beat Phoenix 118-107 last night.
The 94ROCKS Rockin' Road Trip begins today as Whitney is heading to Rockfest in Wisconsin this week and then next week heading to Mid Summer Music Fest in Menagha. Listen in to 94ROCKS for details on what is happening, sponsored by Pizza Ranch, Lloyd's Liquor and Boone's Market.