NEWS
--The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office received an Apple Watch crash detection alert just before 1:30 Sunday morning and dispatched authorities to a rural area in the 35000 block of County Road 17 in Melrose Township Northeast of Sauk Centre. Authorities found a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado pickup crashed in the South ditch of County Road 17. Officials believe the driver, 38-year-old Jeron Theiler of Sauk Centre, was Westbound on County Road 17, entered the South ditch, struck an electrical pole, and then a field approach. Theiler and a passenger, 47-year-old John Holig of Randall, were taken to Melrose Hospital for treatment of injuries. The crash remains under investigation. Alcohol is believed to be a factor.
--An 18-year-old Brainerd man was arrested for allegedly pointing a gun in another man's face. Jordan Michael Gulstad is charged with felony second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and gross misdemeanor carrying a pistol in a public place without a permit. The maximum penalty for the felony is seven years confinement and/or a $14,000 fine. The gross misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of 364 days confinement and/or a $3,000 fine. The report stated last Thursday an argument over money led the pointing of the gun.
--A 42-year-old man was arrested Sunday after he fled from law enforcement while allegedly driving a stolen vehicle in Crosslake. The driver of the vehicle was wanted for burglary, felony assault and vehicle theft. An alert was posted to look for the vehicle, after they spotted the vehicle traveling north on County Highway 3 and initiated a high-risk traffic stop. The vehicle initially stopped, then fled north out of Crosslake then east on County Highway 1 into the city of Emily. A Crow Wing County Sheriff’s deputy and Minnesota State Patrol trooper successfully deployed spike strips flattening the left-side tires. The vehicle continued eastbound on County Highway 1 into Aitkin County but eventually was stopped without any injuries. The driver was then taken into custody and was booked into the Crow Wing County Jail on charges of felony fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of stolen property. The man is currently in Crow Wing County Jail.
--A Stearns County judge has sentenced a man for having sexual intercourse with a girl younger than 14-years-old. Forty-two-year-old Tim Henke formerly of Isanti has been given a stayed sentence of 14 years and six months in prison. However, he must serve 364 days in the county jail. Henke pleaded guilty to one count of 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct in November. According to the criminal complaint, St. Cloud Police met with the girl last December after she reported meeting a man she believed to be 30-years-old. The girl indicated the two connected on a dating app and continued communicating on the Snapchat app. Court records show Henke came to the St. Cloud area on three separate occasions and picked up the girl in various business parking lots. The girl told investigators that all three meetings led to sex acts. Henke admitted he knew the girl through the apps, but thought she was 19-years-old and denied meeting her in person. However, according to the charges, police used a search warrant to look into Henke's Snapchat account and the GPS function showed Henke at the locations and during the times when the girl said the two had met. According to the charges, after the second meeting, the girl admitted her real age and Henke said he wanted to continue the relationship.
--A reminder from Little Falls Community High School Principal Tim Bjorge on the Day of Caring items mentioned yesterday on the newsletter that students will be calling homeowners who participated last year between 5-7pm on Monday March 18th and Tuesday March 19th, homeowners must answer the phone when they call, they have to talk to the homeowner if you let it go to voice mail or not answer it they will assume you do not want to sign up again this year. Please make sure to answer the line if you get the call on March 18th and 19th from the high school. Also the applications will be out at community businesses, organizations, libraries, in the newspaper and at the school by the 18th of March. Call for info at 320-616-2200.
--A company owned by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has announced plans to build a 50,000-square-foot cannabis cultivation facility in Onamia. According to a press release, Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures has already started construction and expects the facility to be completed this fall. The facility will be located directly behind the Grand Casino Mille Lacs, and according to the release from MLCV, profits generated will be reinvested into the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe to support essential government programs and services for its members. MLCV says for now it will stick with the growing and manufacturing side of the cannabis industry, but they are exploring adding retail options in the future.
--The Little Falls Community School District has their 45th annual Massed Band Concert on Monday, March 11 at 7pm in the High School Gymnasium. Featuring over 375 students from 5th grade to 12th grade in the Little Falls Community Schools Band Program. Highlights include the American Heritage March that features tunes like Battle Hymn of the Republic, Yankee Doodle, and America the Beautiful; a medley from the famous musical, Phantom of the Opera; selections from John Williams Jurassic Park and songs from Taylor Swift. Admission is FREE for all attendees. In support of the Morrison County Food Shelf, we will collect food shelf donations at the entrance to the gym. Please bring any and all donations you can share. Come out and support the Little Falls Band Program.
SUPER TUESDAY
--As expected, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump dominated the Super Tuesday Primaries across the Nation on Tuesday. Biden received over 70% of the DFL votes in Minnesota while Trump just behind at over 69% of the GOP votes Tuesday.
WEATHER
TODAY= cloudy skies, breezy, PM rain showers, high 50.
TONIGHT= rain showers, mixing with snow overnight, low 27.
THURSDAY= morning flurries, then clearing skies, high 39, low 22.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, turning breezy, high 37, low near 30.
SPORTS
BBB= St. Cloud Tech beat Little Falls in playoffs last night 82-54 ending the Flyer season. Upsala, Swanville, Royalton, Foley and Holdingford are in boys basketball playoffs on Thursday night.
BHK= State Boys Hockey playoffs begin today for Class A including teams like Alexandria, St Cloud Cathedral, Warroad & Hermantown.
TWINS= catch Twins spring training baseball along with all the regular season games on Q92 WYRQ all season long.