A Pierz man died Friday, April 30, as a result of a boating accident on Leech Lake. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, the drowning victim was identified as 68-year-old Gregory Alan Tetrault, of Pierz. Cass County Sheriff Tom Burch said Monday in a written statement that his office received a report of a water emergency near the Sucker Bay area of Leech Lake at about 2:50pm. Deputies and responders arrived on scene and learned that two adult males had been in a boat off the Sucker Bay landing when the victim, was working on the boat’s drain plug, had fallen from the boat into the water. According to the report, the other man in the boat jumped into the water and was able to float to shore with Tetrault and the boat. There, lifesaving efforts were attempted, but were unsuccessful.
--28-year old Michael Ervin Stegura of Bowlus, was charged in Morrison County District Court with one felony count of being a fugitive from justice. According to the criminal complaint, a felony complaint was filed in Vilas County, Wisconsin, charging Stegura with two felonies — one for uttering a forgery and the other for theft - false representation. Circuit Court Judge Neal A. Nielson III issued a warrant for his arrest on April 19. On April 26, an investigator with the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a request for assistance from Vilas County in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin investigator believed Stegura might be at his father’s residence in Morrison County. When the local investigator spoke with Stegura’s father, he allegedly confirmed his son was staying at his residence. When deputies arrived at the residence to arrest Stegura, he appeared to have fled prior to their arrival, according to the complaint. After an extensive search, law enforcement was able to locate him hiding “along a river bank” on Great River Road. Stegura confirmed his identity and date of birth, which matched the information on the arrest warrant, the complaint said. Stegura will be remanded to the state of Wisconsin, where he will face the two felony charges.
--An Onamia woman charged with third-degree murder was booked in the Stearns County Jail early Sunday morning after a warrant was issued for her by Mille Lacs County. 32-year old Jessica Jane Miller is suspected of selling someone a half-gram of heroin that led to that person's overdose death in November 2019. Miller is in the midst of court proceedings in Mille Lacs County and pleaded not guilty to the charge in December. A new warrant was issued for her in March. The victim in the case was a 23-year-old woman who died from the "toxic effects of multiple drugs (fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, heroin)," according to the criminal complaint. A bag near her contained fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl and her phone had a text-message exchange about a recent heroin transaction with Miller. A new warrant was issued for Miller in early March for failing to comply with the conditions of her release, according to public court documents. She had been released in February with conditions that included random testing, no use of alcohol or controlled substances and a requirement to make all future court appearances and stay in touch with an attorney, according to court documents. Miller was booked in the Stearns County Jail around 1:00am Sunday. The date of her next hearing has not been posted on the online court record.
--The next Coffee with the Cop event will be Tuesday, May 25th at 8:30am at The Falls Ballroom. The discussion will be on substance use in our community and ways that and community and law enforcement can work together on stopping the spread of it. There is plenty of room to socially distance, no need to RSVP.
--Please remember to watch for the Day of Caring walkers out working on yards today from 8:30am-12pm as the Little Falls Community High School has there 10th Day of Caring today so that the event is a safe and successful one.
--After telling Minnesotans last week that the state was close to a full reopening, Governor Tim Walz is planning to announce an updated timeline Thursday. During a press conference Tuesday afternoon calling for the legislature to pass his summer education funding package, Walz referred multiple times to an announcement he will make Thursday on rolling back restrictions, which will come as the May 17 deadline for a state budget looms. The Governor would not elaborate on how much easing on restrictions will take place but said he does continue to move the dial forward. No time of when his announcement would take place as of Tuesday's press conference.
--A 1-year-old child was killed by a vehicle in a rural Minnesota driveway over the weekend. Cass County Sheriff Tom Burch said in a news release that just before 5pm on Sunday, deputies received a report of a child who had been struck by a vehicle in rural Walker. When deputies arrived they found out that a young girl had been hit by a vehicle in the driveway of a home. The vehicle had already left the scene. Deputies immediately began first aid, and the girl was brought to a nearby location where lifesaving attempts were continued. However, she was pronounced dead. The suspect vehicle returned to the area while deputies were still there. The man, a 28-year-old from Walker, was arrested. He has not yet been charged. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office will do an autopsy.
--Police in St. Paul say a St. Cloud man was killed in a crash early Monday morning. At about 1am a passerby called 911 to report that a 2005 Mercury Mariner being driven at a high rate of speed rolled near the intersection of Johnson Parkway and Maryland Avenue.
The driver was ejected from the vehicle. Officers arrived and found 23-year-old Anthony Bryant from St. Cloud lying in the street. He was unconscious and didn’t have a pulse. An officer began chest compressions while St. Paul Fire medics were en route. He eventually switched off with another officer, who took over the life-saving measures. That officer was then relieved by another officer. Medics arrived and pronounced the man at the scene.
DEATH NOTICES
--Mark Thomas, age 69 of Foreston.
--Richard “Dick” Wayne Staab, age 88 formerly of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= increasing clouds, PM showers possible, high 51.
TONIGHT= early shower, then clearing, overnight frost, low 30.
THURSDAY= sunny, turning very breezy at times, high 58, low 33.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, less windy, high 57, low around 30.
SPORTS
TWINS= another late inning loss for the Twins as the Twins blow an early lead to watch Texas score 2 in the 9th to tie the game and 3 in the 10th to beat the Twins 6-3 last night in 10 innings. The Twins and Texas play game 3 of 4 tonight starting at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS BAB= Cathedral at Little Falls Thursday at 5pm on AM960 KLTF
HS BAB= Pierz at Foley Thursday at 5pm on 94ROCKS KFML.
HS SB= Little Falls at Pierz Friday at 5pm on 94ROCKS KFML.
VL= Pierz Lakers at Buckman Sunday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.