NEWS --Pine Country Bank has received an Alert from FinCen (Financial Crimes Investigation Network) of a Nationwide Surge in Mail Theft-Related Check Fraud Schemes Targeting the U.S. Mail. Criminals steal checks from the mail and then alter or “wash” the checks, replacing the payee and changing the amount. In some cases victim checks are also counterfeited using routing and account information of the original stolen check. Business checks are more commonly used in the fraud than personal checks. Locally they have seen an increase in counterfeit checks being presented for payment from Pine Country Bank checking accounts. Please be diligent in reviewing your account activity and reporting any unauthorized items to the bank.
--A fatal car-semi crash was reported on U.S. Highway 71 near Wadena on Monday. A semi-truck was traveling north on Highway 71, and another vehicle was traveling east on Leaf River Road when the vehicles collided at the intersection. Two women from Motley, ages 58 and 67 were in the one vehicle. At least one of the women were killed and another reportedly seriously injured. The State Patrol said more information on their names in the fatal accident will be released tomorrow. The driver of the semi, Roman Polusmak, 27, of Olympia, Washington, was not injured in the accident.
--A St. Cloud woman has severe injuries after crashing her car in Sauk Rapids. Just after 8pm Monday, the Sauk Rapids Police Department was advised by St. Cloud Police that a suspect involved in a possible domestic abuse no-contact order violation had left the scene and was last seen heading toward Sauk Rapids. A Sauk Rapids police officer who was driving a fully marked squad car spotted the suspect's vehicle and was in the process of confirming the license plate when the vehicle took off at a high rate of speed before the officer could turn any emergency lights on. The officer did not chase the vehicle which was heading north on Benton Drive. The officer traveled down Benton Drive without lights or sirens activated and found the suspect's vehicle crashed near Benton Drive and 1st Street South. The officer did not witness the crash but found the driver lying in the southbound lane. Sauk Rapids police say that during the investigation it was learned that the woman was suspected of having consumed a large amount of alcohol. A blood sample was taken and will be analyzed. The woman is in serious but stable condition. The Minnesota State Patrol is helping with the investigation. They have identified the driver as 22-year-old Tatyana Depratto of St. Cloud. She was not wearing her seatbelt.
--A street in downtown St. Cloud is closed after a water main break. Crews say 1st Street South between 5th and 6th Avenue South will be closed due to an emergency repair. Drivers will need to use an alternate route. This closure is expected to last until Friday, weather permitting or if any other issues on the repairs arise.
--Effective April 3, Morrison County Health and Human Services is implementing the use of a new main telephone number, 320-632-7800, to complete the merging of their Public Health (632-6664) and Social Services (632-2951) departments. To ensure a smooth transition, their old numbers will still be available until the end of 2023 at which time they will be retired.
--The Morrison County United Way is hosting a Bunny Bingo this Saturday from 10am-2pm at the Falls Ballroom. The event will have bingo games for the kids at 25-cents, silent auction, food to purchase and the Easter Bunny. A fundraiser for United Way projects.
--Members of St. Francis of Assisi Church near Freeport were on the KLTF Party Line Monday and want to welcome all to their church for Journey with Jesus to Calvary. The performances of the play showing Jesus's life from Palm Sunday to Easter will be performed starting tonight at 7pm they stated all are welcome but this one is used for religion classes and youth groups to come and see tonight also. Friday is at 7:30pm and Saturday at 7:30pm and then Sunday at 1pm with cookies and refreshments after the Sunday show. The shows are all at the church. When asked about handicap accessibility they said the performers will be more than glad to help those with wheelchairs get into the church but they are an older church and do not have elevator. There is no charge for any of the programs as Jesus already paid the price.
--A St. Cloud man is charged with two counts of felony 2nd-degree assault after allegedly stabbing his roommate Saturday. According to the criminal complaint filed in Benton County District Court, 43-year-old Momodu Sherman stabbed the man during a physical fight. St. Cloud Police were called to the Target East store at around 10:15am where they found the victim with a stab wound to his upper chest or shoulder area. The man told police that he was in a physical fight with Sherman and they exchanged punches before Sherman charged at him with a knife and stabbed him. The victim said it happened at a home in the 600 block of 1st Street Southeast before he ran from the scene and ended up at the Target store. Sherman was found walking away from the residence and arrested. Court records show he admitted to being in a fight with the victim and mentioned something about a knife but denied stabbing the man. Police say Sherman had fresh bruises on his face and smelled of alcohol. A female witness at the scene told authorities the two were fighting and when she tried to intervene, Sherman turned his aggression toward her and swung the knife toward her neck. Records show that she also saw the victim running away as she ran from the scene. The victim was taken to St. Cloud Hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
--The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reminding people that the season for grant-in-aid snowmobile trails is required by law to end on March 31st. The program began in the 1970’s and now covers about 21,000 miles of the state’s snowmobile routes. It relies on permits with private landowners, which expire at the end of the month. After then, it becomes trespassing unless the individual land owners all have agreed to extend the season. Trail networks on public lands will remain open as long as possible. The DNR warns the public to be wary of quickly changing trail conditions, including rocks and other obstructions that peek out from the receding snow.
WEATHER TODAY= sunny and chilly, high 22, wind chills around zero. TONIGHT= clear and cold, low around 0. THURSDAY= cloudy skies, snow after 4pm, winds pick up, high 32. THURS NIGHT= snow likely with freezing rain, low around 26. FRIDAY= snow and freezing rain, gusty winds, temps around 30, total accumulation Thurs/Friday could be 1-3 slushy inches.
SPORTS TWINS= The Twins season opener is tomorrow at Kansas City against the Royals, pregame at 2:30pm on Q92 WYRQ. Twins announced that Pablo Lopez who they got in a trade over the winter for Luis Arreaz will be the opening day start for Minnesota.