NEWS
–The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office released information on an accident last Friday around 4:20pm on Dove Road near Bear Road in Cushing Township. 16-year old Anda Peteu of Little Falls was south on Dove Road when her vehicle went off the road and became submerged in a pond. Peteu was taken to an area hospital and treated for minor injuries. Randall Fire and Rescue assisted and helping to get Peteu out of the water. The vehicle was a total loss.
–The lawsuit filed Friday by Jerry and Patty Wetterling to keep private certain data in the investigative file into their son’s disappearance means the release of any case documents could be months away. Doug Kelley, who represents the Wetterlings, submitted a “sampling” of documents to the Stearns County Attorney’s Office that the family wanted excluded from the public release. There were about 200 pages in that sample, said County Attorney Janelle Kendall. She said that Kelley’s office is still reviewing the investigative file and could add more documents to their disputed list. The lawsuit named the Stearns County Attorney’s Office, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Don Gudmundson as defendants. The Wetterlings contend that there is personal information about their marriage, their children and the inner workings of their family that should be kept private. The Wetterlings were allowed to review the redacted investigative file before it was released to the public because they are victims under state law. They have two weeks to submit to the county the disputed documents. The county then will review those and determine with Kelley what documents to submit to the judge. Douglas County District Court Judge Ann Carrott will then review the documents and decide if any must be withheld from the public. Carrott was assigned the case after Stearns County’s judges recused themselves from hearing the case.
–A Waite Park woman was hurt in a crash in Wright County. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened just after 9:30pm Monday on Highway 24 at County Road 75 in Clearwater. An SUV driven by 82-year old Shirley Francis of Clear Lake collided with a motorcycle driven by 33-year old Cameron Taylor of Waite Park heading west on the county road going through a green light when the SUV turned in front of the bike. Taylor’s passenger, 25-year old Destiny Taylor of Waite Park, was brought to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Cameron Taylor was not hurt. Francis and her passenger were not hurt.
–A Princeton woman was hurt in a two vehicle crash in Elk River. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened just after 8:30am Monday at the intersection of Highway 169 and 197th Avenue. A car driven by 22-year-old Danielle Peterson of Princeton proceeded across the north bound lanes of Highway 169 when the State Patrol says a pickup driven by 31-year old Christeen Ninow of Zimmerman struck Peterson’s car. Peterson was taken to Princeton Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Ninow was not hurt.
–A fire in a duplex May 31st caused several thousand dollars in damages. The St. Cloud Fire Department said that the fire started around 6:30pm on 9th Avenue North by what is believed to be an unattended candle. The fire caused an estimated $5,500 in damage, according to the fire department. There was no one home at the time of the fire, which resulted in no injuries. The occupant of the second story unit in the building was displaced due to the fire.
–Little Falls Radio has learned that Crowder’s Gas Station on the west side of Little Falls has closed. The station was reportedly the oldest gas station in Little Falls.
–The following is an addition/correction to a story on Monday. County Recorder Eileen Holtberg was originally appointed to the position of County Recorder in Morrison County to fill a remainder of a term. However, Holtberg was elected in 2014 where she ran unopposed on the ballot that November.
–More than 200 Soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard’s Mankato-based 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment will return home today following a nine-month peacekeeping mission to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. While deployed in support of the Multinational Force and Observers mission, the southern Minnesota “Red Bull” units provided force protection, served as a quick reaction force and contributed to enforcing the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.
–The Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) on June 2nd honored innovative programs and outstanding leaders in health care at their 33rd annual awards ceremony. Seventeen awards were given for extraordinary achievement in categories ranging from advocacy on behalf of hospitals and volunteerism to innovation and improvement in patient care and patient safety. CHI St. Gabriel’s Health in Little Falls was one of two winners in the category of “Innovation of the Year in Patient Care”. Congratulations to each of the winners.
–A Bemidji man who murdered his sex partner before kidnapping and raping a child in her care pleaded guilty to three felonies Tuesday. While entering his pleas to one count of second-degree unintentional murder, one count of kidnapping and one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person younger than 13. 33-year old Jacob William Kinn testified that he strangled Melissa Sue Norby with a belt during a sexual encounter. Once Norby was dead and her body was covered, Kinn took the child from the bedroom and carried her out of the home. Kinn brought the child to his home in Bemidji, restrained her, then returned to Norby’s home with a gas can. He poured the gas around her home and on her body and set the trailer on fire. Kinn later admitted to sexually assaulting the child. He is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing June 26th.
DEATH NOTICES
–Michael Gerling, age 72 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= scattered showers T-storms afternoon, high 81.
TONIGHT= shower or storm early, clearing, low 53.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, high near 80, low around 50.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, high 84, low around 55.
SPORTS
HS BAB= Pierz defeated Milaca 10-0 in 5 innings last night to advance to Section Finals Thursday against Foley. Pierz would have to beat Foley twice to advance to state. First game in St. Cloud is Thursday at 5pm with second to follow that night on FM94 KFML.
HS BAB= Sartell eliminated Little Falls in baseball playoffs on Tuesday 11-7 at St. John’s University.
TWINS= Seattle routs Twins 12-3 on Tuesday. The Twins are at Seattle for game 2 tonight 8:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.