[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Newsletter: Wednesday, October 21st 2015[/title][fusion_text]
NEWS
–A friend of William Lee Blake, who was discovered in the Mississippi River near Little Falls on Sunday, has gone missing. Police said that they were unable to locate 36-year old Michael Robert Arndt, who Blake was supposed to meet with before he went missing on the evening of October 14th. Blake was dropped off near the Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge. Blake was supposed to meet Arndt near the bridge. Blake was reported missing on Friday, and was found in the Mississippi River on Sunday. Arndt has also been reported as missing. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Little Falls Police Department.
–Local unemployment rates have been released for September 2015. Morrison County had 3.8% unemployment which was down from the previous month and also September of last year that were both at 4.2%. Here is how our other area counties fared for September unemployment rates: Aitken 4.2%, Benton 3.4%, Cass 4.6%, Crow Wing 3.9%, Mille Lacs 4.2%, Sherburne 3.3%, Stearns 3%, Todd 3.2% and Wadena county 4.4%. The city of Brainerd was at 6.6% and the city of St. Cloud at 3.5%. The Minnesota unemployment rate in September was 3.2% and the national rate was 4.9%.
–The Department of Natural Resources announced Monday their decision that there will be ice fishing for walleye this winter on Lake Mille Lacs. This is a dose of good news for area resorts, restaurants and other fishing-dependent businesses that suffered from the early end to the open-water walleye season. The DNR said state and American Indian tribal biologists agreed on a 5,000-pound winter walleye harvest, which is up from the 3,100 pounds a year ago. The per-angler quotas and other aspects of the season will be announced the last week of October.
–Authorities have reiterated their call for the public’s help to locate a missing 18-year-old woman who was last seen on October 14th. According to Pope County officials, Laura Schwendemann was last seen Wednesday evening in Alexandria. They say she may have traveled to an unknown location in rural Pope or Douglas County. Authorities are asking hunters, farmers and property owners in these areas to keep an eye out for any signs of someone seeking shelter or anything suspicious. Investigators are also requesting help in finding a blue-colored house with a statue described as having blue clothing and a red hat, about three feet tall, near the end of the driveway. The house is being sought as an area where Schwendemann may have been seen. Police ask for anyone who has had contact with Schwendemann or those who may know of her whereabouts to contact the Pope or Douglas County Sheriff’s Office immediately.
–The Minnesota Military Museum at Camp Ripley has recently received full museum certification by the National Museum of the United States Air Force and is now eligible to receive Air Force Equipment and Aircraft. Camp Ripley and the Minnesota National Guard have a rich aviation history and over the years a number of different aircraft have either been stationed at or utilized the Camp Ripley Airfield. The Museum will develop strategies and explore fundraising opportunities over the next few months to support this certification and secure appropriate equipment representative of equipment utilized by Minnesota Guard and Reserve units over the years. During Winter months the museum is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 9:00am to 4:00pm and by appointment for tours.
–A hearing will continue now next year for Tyler Cronquist, who was indicted in February in conection with the shooting of two people January 4th in a Brainerd residence where one of the two shot, Joseph Kroll died. Cronquist has been charged with first-degree murder with premeditation and attempted first-degree murder with premeditation. Both sides agreed to a contested hearing continuance to January 6, 2016 in Brainerd. 27-year-ol Nathan Becker was charged with aiding and abetting but filed a Rule 20 meaning the court must deem Becker competent to stand trial on grounds he is suffering from mental illness.
–A Princeton man died Monday evening after hitting a deer on his motorcycle and then being hit by a van. 44-year old Roger Claassen was driving his motorcycle west on Sherburne County Road 2 around 7:30pm near 124th Street when he struck a deer and was thrown from the motorcycle. Witnesses approached Claassen to help him, and a van driving west on County Road 2 swerved to avoid the witnesses and hit Claassen. Emergency personnel performed CPR but Claassen was pronounced dead. The incident remains under investigation. The name of the van’s driver has not been released.
–Two men were arrested at a Breezy Point area hotel for soliciting prostitution in a public place as a result of a law enforcement operation. Working in coordination with the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office and the Brainerd, Baxter and Pequot Lakes police departments, the operation was conducted Tuesday, October 13th and involved a fictional advertisement for escort services on an online classified advertising website. Reports are being forwarded to the Crow Wing County Attorney’s Office for possible gross misdemeanor charges and names have not been released, pending formal criminal complaints. This is the fourth sex trafficking operation conducted by area law enforcement in Crow Wing County since May, and the first outside of Baxter. The two men arrested in the latest sting join 14 others charged in the other three operations.
DEATH NOTICES
–Sister Mary Minette Beutz, age 93 of St. Scholastica, St. Cloud.
–William “Billy” Blake, age 34 of Little Falls
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy, breezy, high 56.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low 35.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, high near 60, rain after midnight, low 41
FRIDAY= rain likely, some heavy, high around 50, low near 40.
SPORTS
HS FB= Pierz remains unbeaten 42-6 win over Foley Tuesday while Montivideo beat Holdingford 20-14 and Mayer Lutheran ended Upsala/Swanville’s season 35-6. Annandale beat Mora 40-9 last night meaning Pierz will face Annandale for the Section title on Saturday at St. Cloud State University, kickoff at 4pm on FM94 KFML.
SOC= Apollo girls eliminated Little Falls from playoffs 1-0 Tuesday.
COL FB= Gopher football is idle this weekend to gear up for a game Halloween night against Michigan. The game time was moved back an hour from the original start time and has a 6pm kickoff with a 5pm pregame on October 31st live on AM960 KLTF.
Don’t forget FM94 Ladies Night Out tomorrow in Little Falls
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