NEWS --In Class AAA Football State Semifinal Pierz plays St. Croix Lutheran at 4:30pm Saturday at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Tickets are general admission and available at the game. Tickets are $14 for adults and $9 for students. The lower level on both sides of the field will be used for seating. The game will be broadcast on 94.1FM KFML and on the MSBN site with James Hershey on the call.
--A St. Cloud man was sentenced Monday to 21 years in prison for sex trafficking, the same day a female acquaintance also pleaded guilty to sex trafficking. 27-year old Elijah Milsap pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking. Three other sex trafficking charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. Milsap also pleaded guilty to assaulting jail correctional officers, indecent exposure and making threats of violence, all from incidents that happened while Milsap was in jail. 37-year old Jade Orcena pleaded guilty Monday to one count of sex trafficking. She also had been charged with four counts. Orcena is scheduled to be sentenced in February.
--The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents to another scam that is circulating around the area. Residents are reporting callers who claim they are with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and are demanding payment and threatening arrest if the payment is not made. Sheriff Troy Heck reminds everyone that they do not call citizens and demand payment for debt, warrants, or any other matter. You should hang up, regardless of how convincing they sound and call the sheriff’s office at 968-7201. This allows you to report the scam and ensure the sheriff’s office is not behind the calls.
--Five adults and six youth escaped a burning house on Green Forest Circile in Merrifield Sunday night around 9:35pm. Around 40 firefighters from Mission, Nisswa, Crosslake and many neighbors all helped with the blaze. The rambler house owned by David and Valerie Trimble was destroyed. The 11 in the home were not injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation and the state fire marshall has been called in to help.
--About 3:15pm on Monday the Benton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a personal injury accident at the intersection of Benton County Road 29 and Highway 15. A Benton County Sheriff’s deputy observed a truck with a wooden box approaching the intersection on Highway 15 from the south travelling at highway speeds, suddenly attempt to make a right-hand turn onto eastbound Benton County Road 29. When the truck made this turn, the truck rolled over, spilling its load of broken concrete onto Benton County 29. The truck then slid across the center of Benton County Road 29 and collided with a Dodge Caravan driven by 36-year old Christine Jacobs of St. Cloud which was stationary in the westbound lane of Benton County 29. Two other stationary vehicles waiting on Benton County 29 were damaged by the broken concrete that spilled out of the truck bed. The driver of the truck, 56-year old Donald Kuklok of Waite Park was partially ejected as a result of the accident. Kuklok told investigating deputies that as he approached the intersection he attempted to stop in order to avoid hitting traffic on Highway 15. Kuklok told deputies that the brakes on the truck failed so he attempted to make the right-hand turn in order to avoid running into the traffic on Highway 15. Kuklok suffered non-life threatening injuries and refused medical transport from the scene of the accident. None of the other drivers suffered any injury.
--The latest guidance of a potential winter storm still features a wide range of possible storm locations and tracks. Confidence has increased slightly in portions of Minnesota and Wisconsin seeing some snow from this system. The spread in possible storm locations by Thursday evening stretches nearly 800 miles from the northern Texas Panhandle to central Minnesota. The exact track and speed of this system will figure heavily in the location and amount of snow and rain. Some weather experts are predicting Morrison County may receive 4-8 inches of snow by Saturday night with larger amounts in the Brainerd Lakes area and less near St. Cloud. Meteorologists recommend to check back to monitor the latest forecast if you have travel plans later this week into the weekend.
--Two vehicles collided at about 11:15am Tuesday at Minnesota Highway 15 and Stearns County Road 1. The broadside collision left an SUV on its roof. The Minnesota State Patrol described those involved suffered injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. The accident was the third to happen within a short stretch of Highway 15 in the last few days. Other accidents happened near 18th Street in Sauk Rapids and near Benton County Road 29. The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating the collision.
--The Pierz City Council met on Monday. During the meeting Pierz Police Chief Eric Hanneken received a life saving award while assisting the Pierz Fire Department on a fire call in September.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Samuel Boody and Jackie Panek of Little Falls, girl on November 12th
DEATH NOTICES --Michael J. Flahave, age 63 of Little Falls. --Rosella “Sally” Waddell, age 77 of Royalton.
WEATHER TODAY= sunny skies, turning breezy, high 55. TONIGHT= cloudy skies, low around 40. THURSDAY= cloudy skies, rain starts in afternoon, high 50. THURS NITE= rain, some wet snow late, gusty winds, low 34. WINTER STORM WATCH ALL DAY FRIDAY FRIDAY= rain/snow mix, then all snow 4-8 inches possible, high 35.
SPORTS VIKINGS= The Blair Walsh era is over. The Vikings officially cut the kicker yesterday after missing another extra point and field goal in their loss Sunday at Washington. The Vikings have signed kicker Kai Forbath to replace Walsh. Forbath has played with 5 NFL teams in his career and last season split with Washington and New Orleans. The Vikings also announced that they have had to put offensive lineman Jake Long on injured reserve and signed tackle Rashod Hill who had played for Jacksonville in the preseason before not making the team. The Vikings host Arizona this Sunday at noon before heading to Detroit for a Thanksgiving Day matchup next week.
TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1864= General Sherman begins famous march to the sea causing what is considered a turning point for the north in the U.S. Civil War. IN 1955= Johnny Cash had first charted hit with “Cry Cry Cry”. IN 1977= Twins Rod Carew wins American League MVP Award.