NEWS --The results from the Little Falls Community School District two question bond referendum vote on Tuesday are as follows- Question one for maintenance to the schools passed with 2484 YES and 2384 NO. Meanwhile the 2nd question which included the sports complex for Little Falls failed by the vote 2838 NO to 2012 YES. 4,868 votes were cast on question one and 4,850 votes on question two. Again question one passed while the second question failed.
--Brainerd police Monday stated that drowning caused the death of 23-year-old Brandon Rich of Brainerd, whose body was recovered from Boom Lake in Kiwanis Park Saturday. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office positively identified Rich and determined the cause of death as drowning following an autopsy. There is no foul play suspected.
--A three-year-old was one of two people injured in a sideswipe collision Tuesday morning in Todd County. The accident happened near Sauk Centre around 11:30am on Highway 71. 56-year old Jo Reh of St. Paul was heading north on Highway 71 when the vehicle he was driving crossed the center line. Reh's vehicle sideswiped a southbound semi-trailer driven by 64-year-old Kenneth Stefanick of Otsego. Both Reh and his passenger, 3-year old David Reh of St. Paul, received non-life threatening injuries. Stefanick was not injured.
--The Sartell City Council approved the final plat for the community center site in a 3 to 2 vote Monday. The center will be on the two lots designated on the south side of Sartell. The lot will be accessed by a new addition after the future extension of Scout Drive is assessed and will all be done by the developers according to city documents. Also at the meeting the council unanimously passed a one year moratorium on the development of the zoned properties along the Mississippi River to allow a task force to evaluate current and future land uses of those properties. AIM Development which owns the former Verso Paper Mill which a fire in 2012 later caused the plant to close and then later to be sold, stated that the moratorium is not necessary. AIM told the council it was put in place because the city was displeased with the time it has taken to do demolition of the paper mill and that AIM would like to be involved in the task force. It was informed that the names of the task force would be presented to the council for approval at the June meeting.
--A 60-year-old Onamia man was transported to the hospital Monday after his vehicle was rear-ended in Milaca. 60-year-old Joseph V. Pewaush of Onamia, was traveling west on Highway 23 around 3:45pm when his vehicle was rear-ended by 16-year-old Kendra Steele of Milaca. She and passenger 18-year old Mariah L. Perich suffered no apparent injury. Pewaush was transported to the hospital with injuries that appeared to be non-life-threatening.
--A St. Cloud woman was injured Monday afternoon when a semitrailer hit the vehicle she was driving in Wright County. The collision happened around 3pm at the intersection of Minnesota Highway 241 and Wright County Road 19. 47-year old Stephanie Al-Rifai was driving north on County Road 19 when her vehicle was hit by a semi traveling west on Highway 241. A power outage caused the stop lights to fail, and the semi driver failed to yield, causing the collision. 50-year old William H. Schaefer of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was driving the semi. He was not injured. Al-Rifai was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment of her injuries.
--A Crosier priest who has served as an associate pastor or co-pastor in the Diocese of St. Cloud has been suspended from functioning as a priest after the diocese received a report that he sexually abused a minor. Father Gregory Poser is accused of sexually abusing a minor in the 1970s, when Poser was serving at St. Odilia Church in Shoreview. The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis reported the allegation to the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office. Poser was assigned to parishes in Onamia (Holy Cross), Hillman (St. Rita), Wahkon (Sacred Heart) and Vineland (St. Therese) at the time the diocese received the allegation. Bishop Donald Kettler suspended Poser's priestly faculties in the Diocese of St. Cloud, meaning that Poser can no longer function or present himself as a priest, while the allegation is investigated. The Crosiers have been notified of the allegation; that religious order placed Poser on immediate administrative leave from his current assignments. Poser was assigned to St. Odilia from 1974 to 1978 and from 1984 to 1985. According to the diocese there are no reports of alleged sexual misconduct against Poser in the Diocese of Saint Cloud.
--The Alexandria Police Department is seeking the public's help in identifying a bank robbery suspect. The robbery was reported at US Bank, 701 Broadway, in Alexandria at about 10:50am Monday morning. No one was injured. The Alexandria police department, FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are requesting the public’s help in identifying the person. The robber in photos on the bank and police websites entered US Bank and passed a note to the teller. There were no weapons displayed during the brief exchange between the suspect and the teller. After receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, the robber left the bank. Anyone with information should contact the FBI office at 1-800-225-5324.
--The Stearns County board has chosen St. Cloud City Administrator Mike Williams to fill the job of county administrator. County commissioners met Monday evening and directed staff to offer Williams the position, which has been vacant since longtime Administrator George Rindelaub retired in March. Williams has worked for the city of St. Cloud for the last 13 years. The other finalists were Scott Arneson, Goodhue County administrator; Steve Hammes, Stearns County assistant to the county administrator; and Timothy Houle, current Crow Wing and former Morrison County administrator.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Chris Hirsch and Michelle Charpenter of Little Falls, a girl May 7th
DEATH NOTICES
--Mary Frey, age 58 of Randall.
WEATHER TODAY= showers afternoon and evening, high 60, low 45. THURSDAY= partly sunny, windy, high 58, low around 35. FRIDAY= sunny and very windy, high 48, low 30 with some frost.
SPORTS TWINS= Twins blow it in the 9th as Baltimore wins 5-3 over Minnesota. Twins wrap up series with Baltimore today 11:30am pregame, they announced the makeup game from Monday will be on July 28th against the Orioles. Today's game live on Q92 WYRQ.