NEWS
--Police arrested a man Friday night after a north St. Cloud resident reported a burglary in progress. 38-year old Ray Allen Johnson of St. Cloud is in Stearns County Jail and faces a felony first-degree burglary charge. At about 9:40pm Friday officers responded to a burglary in progress in the 100 block of 24th Avenue North St. Coud. According to a criminal complaint, a man told officers he was inside and heard a crash from the southwest door of a house. He said he saw Johnson holding a baseball bat and trying to unlock a broken glass door. The complaint said Johnson kept trying to unlock the door while using the baseball bat to poke at the man inside. Johnson threw the bat, hitting the man on the forehead. He then fled on foot. Officers apprehended Johnson less than an hour later in the area. Johnson faces up to 20 years in prison, and or a $35,000 fine. His next court appearance is on July 22nd.
--One person was killed Monday in a rollover on Highway 64 north of Motley. Around 6:00pm Monday, the state patrol reported that a vehicle left the highway, struck the west ditch and rolled multiple times. The driver 27-year old Terrance Peterson of Robbinsdale died at the scene. A passenger, 23-year-old Rayvon Whitfield of Robbinsdale had non-life threatening injuries.
--The Bemidji man accused of kidnapping a 5-year-old has been formally charged in Beltrami County. 32-year-old Jacob Kinn is accused of taking the girl from a home that was destroyed by fire the night before and she was found in a pop up camper near Bigfork on property belonging to Kinn's brother. Authorities found the body of Melissa Norby inside the burning home. She had died from homicidal means and not from the fire. The girl told authorities that a friend of the person she was staying with that night came to the home and said he was taking her to another home. She said the friend put tape on her mouth and taped her legs and hands while they drove to the camper she was found in. If convicted Kinn faces up to 40 years in prison and or $50,000 in fines. Authorities are still investigating the homicide of Norby and the intentionally set fire. Kinn is considered a person of interest in those crimes, however he has not been charged.
--Around 3:20pm Sunday authorities responded to a motorcycle crash on County Road 27 at 295th Street in North Fork Township north of Brooten. 65-year old Allen Berg of Starbuck was traveling south on County Road #27 driving his motorcycle when he struck a deer. Berg lost control and crashed the motorcycle in the ditch. Berg was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital by Life Link helicopter where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries. Berg was alone on the motorcycle at the time of the crash and was not wearing a helmet.
--An Eagan woman was injured with her passenger when her vehicle drifted off of Interstate 94 near Clearwater around 5:45pm Sunday in Stearns County. 36-year-old Amy L. Guinn and her passenger 25-year-old Ohitika Ironelk were treated for non-life threatening injuries.
--A Backus man was injured Sunday morning in an accident in Cass County. 54-year-old Brian Scott left Highway 200 east of Walker and struck two trees. Scott was taken to the hospital for his injuries.
--Check out 4th of July weekend event details including a parade Sunday in Bowlus with fireworks at dusk, Sunday and Monday events with car show, music and fireworks Sunday and parade on Monday in Randall, also events and parades Monday in Hillman, Pillsbury and Brainerd by going to the community calendar page at fallsradio.com.
--Motorists who travel Highway 371 between Highway 210 in Baxter and County Road 48, south of Fort Ripley, will encounter lane closures, heavy equipment, crews and potential delays beginning Tuesday, July 5th. The lane closures and work will occur from sunrise to sunset on different segments of the road while crews resurface the roadway. The work and closures will be complete by August 6th. When complete, the project will improve ride quality and safety along 15 miles of Highway 371. Beginning Thursday, all lanes of I-94 near St. Cloud and Collegeville will open to help accommodate increased holiday traffic. Road work in those areas will continue July 6th. For travel information anywhere in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org.
--A Becker man has been charged with 23 felonies that accuse him of numerous tax-related crimes. 33-year old Jared Neil Brigmon is charged in Sherburne County District Court with 13 counts of making sales from his tree-trimming business after his permit to do so had been revoked. He's also charged with five counts each of failing to file income tax returns and failing to pay income taxes.
--Governor Mark Dayton announced his appointment of the Honorable Anne K. McKeig as Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Judge McKeig will replace Associate Justice Christopher J. Dietzen, who will be retiring at the end of August. Judge McKeig has served as a District Court Judge in the Fourth Judicial District since her appointment in 2008 by Governor Pawlenty, and is the current Presiding Judge in Family Court. Previously, she worked as an Assistant Hennepin County Attorney in the Child Protection Division for over 16 years, where she specialized in Indian Child Welfare cases.
--Three finalists in the contest to design a Minnesota state parks and trails license plate were revealed Monday, and online voting to select a winner has begun. People can see the finalists and cast a vote for the winning plate now until 5:00pm July 4th, on the DNR's website. The winner will be announced July 6th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Father Raymond Joseph Cossette, age 86 of Brainerd.
--Marcella M. Kelzer, age 56 of Randall.
--Peter Lahr, age 72 of Lincoln.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy, high 78, storms after dark, low 57.
THURSDAY= storms in morning, clearing late, high 74, low 48.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, breezy, high 72, low 52.
SPORTS
TWINS= Kyle Gibson pitches 7 strong innings in shutting out the White Sox Tuesday 4-0. All four runs for the Twins come on two Brian Dozier homeruns. Game 2 tonight at 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ
DIED= two legendary coaches passed away Tuesday as Tennessee Volunteer woman's basketball coach Pat Summitt died at 64. Summitt in 38 seasons never had a losing season. Summitt also was a player in 1976 Olympics and coached the U.S. to the gold medal in 1984. Also longtime NFL coach and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan died on Tuesday at the age 85. Ryan was with the Vikings and Bud Grant in the 1970s, won Super Bowls for his defense with the Jets and Bears and was head coach of Eagles and Cardinals. Ryan also is the father of Rob and Rex Ryan who continue to work for NFL teams.