NEWS
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office along with the Motley Police Department and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, continue to investigate an incident that was reported to the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday at 9:40am. The Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 transfer from an individual stating that he received a phone call from his friend, who indicated that he killed his girlfriend. The Sheriff’s Office and the Motley Police Department responded to the address of 689 Highway 10 South, in the city of Motley. Once at the residence, law enforcement authorities were able to make contact with a male subject. The subject was detained while authorities searched the residence. While searching the residence, law enforcement authorities discovered a deceased female inside. The male subject was taken into custody and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was called to assist with the death investigation. The deceased female located inside the residence was transported to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. The Sheriff’s Office has been notified by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office that the cause of death was blunt head and chest trauma and the manner of death has been ruled a homicide. The deceased party was identified as 66-year-old Christine Nygard. The male suspect arrested has been identified as 60-year-old Harold Wassather. Nygard and Wassather were in a relationship and resided together at the residence. The Morrison County Attorney’s Office has formally charged Harold Wassather with 2nd degree murder. Even though formal charges have been made, authorities are continuing to investigate the incident. Authorities want to remind the public that they believe this was an isolated incident and there is no known threat to the public.
--At 10:36pm Monday on the Little Falls Fire Department was dispatched to 23523 165th Avenue in Ripley Township on a reported house fire. The caller said they had everyone out of the residence. Morrison County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived prior to the fire department and reported they could see visible flames from the residence. When firefighters arrived on scene, they found heavy smoke and fire venting from the house. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and had to conduct extensive overhaul due to the fire spreading into the attic. There was extensive damage to the residence. There were no injuries to the residents or firefighters. Little Falls Fire Department was assisted on scene by Camp Ripley and Pierz Fire Departments, Mayo Clinic Ambulance, and the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the MN State Fire Marshal’s Office but is believed to be accidental. The fire department was on scene about six hours.
--The field of possible candidates for this year’s Minnesota Teacher of the Year honor has been narrowed to 25. An independent selection panel of 22 community leaders chose the semifinalists from an initial field of 77 candidates from across the state. They include Erin Karlgaard of Brainerd Public Schools, Lowell Elementary School, elementary education, teaches 3rd grade and Sarah Lancaster, Onamia Public Schools, Onamia Elementary School, elementary education, teaches 1st grade. From the 25 semi-finalists they will be narrowed to 10 in the upcoming weeks and the Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be announced on May 1st.
--Join Kinship of Morrison County for their fish fry (formerly Kiwanis Fish Fry) Friday from 4:30-7pm at the Little Falls VFW. All the proceeds go to help the mentoring programs for Kinship of Morrison County. For more info call Aaron Olson at 320-632-8806.
--Little Falls School Board Chair Sharon Ballou has issued the following statement: "Superintendent Stephen Jones has informed the Little Falls Community Schools Board of Education that he will not be returning as Superintendent for the 2022-2023 school year. Superintendent Jones has served the District for the past 10 years with passion and conviction to do what is best for students. His accomplishments as Superintendent will benefit the District for years to come. We thank Superintendent Jones for his service to the District and wish him the very best."
--Authorities are investigating a shooting that happened in Avon Tuesday morning. Shortly before 9:30am Stearns County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a man who said he had been shot in the chest. The Avon Police Department responded to the 300 block of Char Avenue Northeast and found an 18-year-old who had been shot but was conscious and breathing. He was air-lifted to North Memorial Hospital. His name has not been released. The sheriff’s office says they do not believe it was a random incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the public. The investigation remains active.
--Two people were hurt in a crash in St. Cloud Monday evening. The St. Cloud Fire Department said they were called to a report of a single-vehicle crash with a fire at the intersection of Highway 15 and 2nd Street South at 6:25pm. Two people in the vehicle were helped out before the fire department got there. They were able to get the fire out quickly. The two were taken to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment. Names were not released in the report.
--Fire crews responded to a commercial building fire in Sauk Centre Monday. The call came in just after 6pm at Messer Repair and Fabrications iin Sauk Centre Township. Authorities arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the building. Several employees were attempting to put out the fire on an air circulator system inside the shop area. The Sauk Centre Fire Department arrived and began pulling the source of the fire out of the mechanism to be extinguished outside. Roughly six large air filters were removed and extinguished. Some of the employees sustained smoke inhalation and fire extinguisher powders and treated at the scene.
--Township Election Results will be on Thursday's Newsletter.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Brock and Katie Cichon of Holdingford, a boy born March 6th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Donald J. Duscher Jr., age 50 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy skies, breezy, high 15, wind chills near 0.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low around -10, winds die down overnight.
THURSDAY= partly sunny, high 14, low around 3 not as windy.
FRIDAY= sunny and very windy, high 10 above, low -16, WC -30.
SPORTS
HS GBB= Pierz vs. Esko tonight in the Section 7AA semi-finals from Hermantown at 7pm on 94ROCKS KFML, winner plays on Friday. Holdingford, Albany, Sauk Centre & Pequot Lakes girls in action too.
HS BBB= Alexandria eliminated Little Falls 76-53 last night in boys.
COL BB= Gophers vs. Penn State tonight in opening round of the Big 10 Tournament, pregame 6:45pm on AM960 KLTF. If the
NFL= Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers have agreed to a large 4 year deal worth $200-million deal to keep him with the team.