NEWS
--Little Falls Community Schools is thrilled to announce the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Little Flyers Childcare Center, a collaborative initiative between the City of Little Falls and the school district. The groundbreaking ceremony will take place on Monday, March 25th at 10am at the early childhood center in Little Falls. This exciting milestone represents a significant partnership between the City of Little Falls and the school district to address the growing need for accessible and high-quality childcare services in our community. The Little Flyers Childcare Center will provide a nurturing and enriching environment for young learners, supporting families and working parents in our area. Superintendent Greg Johnson was quoted as saying "We are excited to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Little Flyers Childcare Center, which represents the culmination of dedicated efforts and collaboration between the City of Little Falls and our school district, This facility will not only provide essential childcare services but will also foster early childhood development, preparing our youngest learners for future success." The location is 300 6th Street Southwest in Little Falls then please use Door 11 on the northwest corner of the building.
--The death of a woman last month at Cozy Cabin Camp in Merrifield was determined to be alcohol and drug use with hypothermia as a contributing factor. The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office investigated the incident and the county attorney’s office released the cause of death on 35 year old Katie Westrum of Merrifield as that Westrum was intoxicated and possibly under the influence of narcotics at the time of her death and that her body showed heavy signs of hypothermia. Westrum was known to be transient in Crow Wing County and a neighbor of Cozy Cabin Camp said that it was likely that not a lot of people were going onto the bay to ice fish this year and that could have been a reason for the length in time to find her until, the resort owner on February 2nd found her body in a cabin.
--A 63-year-old Brooklyn Park man died Friday, March 15, after he was found pinned under a trailer on the 12000 block of Red Oak Circle in Crosslake. The man was identified as Thomas Smude.
The Crosslake Police Department responded to the incident at just before 5pm and, according to a news release from the department, an unresponsive adult male was found pinned underneath a snowmobile trailer he had been working on. Life-saving measures were attempted but Smude was ultimately pronounced deceased.
--A St. Cloud man has pleaded guilty to raping a teenager in a bathroom at Apollo High School in 2019. According to the criminal complaint, the girl was just 15 years old at the time when she reported to a therapist that Robert Shannon Epps Jr., then 18, raped her in a bathroom in December of 2019. The girl says she tried to resist but was overpowered. She says the two went to the same school, and he had been harassing her. Epps was interviewed in May 2020 and denied sexually assaulting the girl. He said the two met in the bathroom and kissed. He was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct and was supposed to go on trial starting on Monday, but Epps now entered a guilty plea. Sentencing is set for May 21st.
--The Brainerd Veterans of Foreign Wars Post invites all Vietnam veterans and their significant others, member or not, to the annual Vietnam Veteran Gathering from 4-7pm on Friday. The event is free for all to come and take part on Friday at the Brainerd VFW.
--An Albany man faces criminal charges after allegedly sexually abusing two girls recently. According to the charges filed in Stearns County District Court, 48-year-old Billy Wolbeck abused the girls who were younger than 14 years old. The criminal complaint alleges the girls were visiting Wolbeck earlier this month when the assaults happened. Records show one of the girls told her mother about the sexual abuse when they returned home. The girl said she didn't know why Wolbeck was doing those things to her and that Wolbeck told her to keep it a secret. The charges state the mother then talked to the other girl who said Wolbeck did similar things to her. Wolbeck faces felony charges of 1st-degree and 2nd-degree criminal sexual conduct and will be back in court May 1st.
--Little Falls Community High School Principal Tim Bjorge stated yesterday on KLTF that the wrong sign up information was released this past week in the local paper. If you need the corrected sign up sheets for Day of Caring they can be picked up at the public library, courthouse, some businesses or at the High School 320-616-2200.
DEATH NOTICES
--Darlene Kruzel, age 83 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly sunny and chilly, high 28.
TONIGHT= increasing clouds, low near 20.
THURSDAY= cloudy skies, high 32, snow after 1pm, heavy at night.
FRIDAY= snow in AM hours, 3-7 total, then cloudy, high near 30.
SPORTS
TWINS= The Twins shared their plans for the 2024 Home Opener which on April 4th at Target Field. The day starts with drive-thru breakfast on the plaza, where fans are invited to drive, bike or walk down 7th Street between 6am-9am. When the gates open at 1pm come and meet Twins legends Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek, Justin Morneau, Tom Kelly and Dan Gladden who will greet the fans.
The first 10,000 fans will receive a Twins beanie. The Twins will celebrate the longtime broadcaster, Dick Bremer at the game after 40 years of broadcasting Twins games by letting him throw out the first pitch. The Twins will recognize and celebrate police officers, deputies and firefighters from Burnsville and Dakota County with a special tribute to the three first responders who died in a February shootout. There will also A C-130 Hercules from the Minnesota National Guard's 133rd Airlift Wing will thunder over Target Field before the Twins take on Cleveland with first pitch at 3:10pm heard live on Q92 WYRQ.
COL BB= Gopher men beat Butler last night 73-72 to move in the NIT Tournament and play a second round game on Sunday.
LOVEN= Swanville basketball player Karley Loven, daughter of John and Tanya Loven has signed her National Letter of Intent to continue her academics and athletics at the University of Northwestern in St Paul. Karley plans to play basketball while majoring in Psychology while attending UNW. The Letter of Intent was signed on Monday.
Ladies Night Out Pierz Style is Thursday starting at Noon. Stop into Pierz sponsors and then head to the Red Rooster for prizes that night at 7:30pm. Full details at fallsradio.com.