NEWS
--Authorities have provided more information regarding an officer-involved shooting that took place in St. Joseph last week. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has identified the two people involved as 38-year-old Jason Cully of St. Joseph and Stearns County Deputy Tyler Thunstedt. According to the BCA, officers from the St. Joseph Police Department responded to a report of Cully making threats of violence on Tuesday. Police say when the officers tried talking to Cully he pointed a gun at them and ran away. Authorities were unable to find Cully, but say he continued to call the police department and make threats that night. In response to those threats, the Stearns County Sheriff's Office issued a warrant for Cully's arrest. The sheriff's office says the Stearns/Benton County SWAT Team tried to serve the warrant at Cully's home in the 200 block of Able Street East around 5pm Wednesday night. Authorities say Deputy Thunstedt saw Cully run across his yard to the house next door. The sheriff's office says Cully ignored commands to stop and drop his weapon and pointed his gun in the deputy's direction. Authorities say Thunstedt fired three times, hitting Cully once. Cully was taken to St. Cloud Hospital and is in stable condition. No one else was hurt. Thunstedt has worked in law enforcement for eight years and is on standard administrative leave. The BCA is still investigating the incident and reviewing evidence that includes a handgun found at the scene and body camera footage.
--June 27th marked 28 years since Jodi Huisentruit disappeared without a trace while on her way to work at KIMT TV in Mason City, Iowa. On June 27th, 1995, a producer at the station called Huisentruit at 4am, when she didn’t show up to work. She answered the phone and said she was on her way, but by 6am, she still wasn’t there. An hour later, the police were called. Investigators reportedly found Huisentruit’s belongings, including a shoe and a hairdryer, near her car in the parking lot of her apartment complex. Neighbors reported seeing a white Ford Econoline van in the lot and heard screams around when she would have been leaving. Detectives, private investigators, and a group called FindJodi.com have been searching for her ever since. Her case has been featured in several news magazines and TV shows, such as Unsolved Mysteries. Huisentruit was 27 at the time she disappeared. She was declared legally dead in May 2001. Huisentruit was born and raised in Long Prairie. Anyone with information is asked to contact the tip line at 641-999-1109 or email team@findjodi.com. Anonymous tips can also be sent via FindJodi or please contact law enforcement with info.
--The man accused of striking and killing Katie Marie Yaunick with his vehicle as she walked with her horse on Thompson Road pleaded guilty to reckless driving. Appearing Monday in Crow Wing County District Court, 45-year-old, Matthew Richard Dircks of Brainerd, pleaded guilty to gross misdemeanor reckless driving-driving consciously disregarding a substantial or unjustifiable risk. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 364 days jail, a $3,000 fine or both. Sentencing is scheduled for August 22nd. Other charges of felony criminal vehicular homicide and misdemeanor traffic regulation-failure to use due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian were dismissed. The charges stem from a June 13, 2022, collision in which Dircks was driving on Thompson Road southeast of Brainerd and struck Yaunick and her horse as they were walking along the road. Both Yaunick and her horse died at the scene of the crash.
--Dan Noss of Randall was on KLTF yesterday and said the parade is set for 5pm Saturday in Randall, the fire hall will have an open house after the parade, a bounce house for kids, Diamondback performs at the pavilion at 8pm and fireworks are a go at 10pm on Saturday night in Randall. Sunday from 11-3 is the 10th Annual Car Show on Pacific Avenue in Randall for all to come and see the classic cars, trucks, ratrods and motorcycles at the event on Sunday. Noss also mentioned the DAV clothing drop off is open Fridays fro 9am-12pm in Little Falls at 609 4th Avenue Northeast and the DAV motorcycle ride is scheduled for July 22nd call Dan for details on events at 232-9412.
--The Sauk Rapids-Rice School District has hired a new Director of Teaching and Learning. Dr. Karrie Boser is the principal at Healy High School in Pierz but will start her new role at Sauk Rapids-Rice on July 8th. Boser has been a business and technology teacher and dean of students. The Director of Teaching and Learning works on curriculum development to meet or exceed standards and creates and implements faculty development programs. The director works with staff and faculty to tweak the curriculum and stay up to date on cutting edge research backed delivery methods. Dr. Boser was one of four finalists for the position and unanimously chosen by the board.
--Morrison County Public Works wanted to correct an earlier release from them that County State Aid Highway 5 is not closed this week. Only County State Aid Highway 26 of that project. However, all other closures mentioned yesterday are happening this week.
--A Baxter homeowner lost his house and garage to a fire Monday morning, June 26. The Brainerd Fire Department responded to the call just before 10am Monday on the 5300 block of Clearwater Road.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Deputy Fire Chief Dave Cox said it started just outside of the garage when the homeowner was fueling a lawnmower. The owner did not have a phone on him at the time but flagged down a passerby to call 911. He was not injured. Crews were met on arrival with large flames and ammunition going off in the garage as a result of the fire, creating dangerous conditions.
--St. Stanislaus Church announced their winners in Sobieski to their grand raffle on Sunday were M. Sanoski won the $2,500 cash reportedly from Monticello and the quilt winner was Joan Silbernick.
DEATH NOTICES
--Phyllis I. Kedrowski, age 94 of Little Falls.
--Demain Koscielniak, age 92 of Foley.
WEATHER
TODAY= showers & t-storms, some strong late, high 76.
TONIGHT= showers & t-storms early, then cloudy, low 60.
THURSDAY= sunny and warm, isolated PM storm, high 85, low 55.
FRIDAY= sunny and less humid, high 83, low around 54.
SPORTS
TWINS= Atlanta beats the Twins 6-2 last night. The Twins wrap up series today with an early game with Atlanta Braves, pregame coverage starts at 10:30am on Q92 WYRQ.
LEGION= Pierz scored 5 runs in the top of the 7th inning to hold of Little Falls last night, Pierz wins in legion ball 10-8.
NHL= The NHL Entry-Draft is tonight and Thursday, the Minnesota Wild currently hold the 21st overall pick.