NEWS --The Morrison County Sheriff's Office wants the public to be aware of their Drug Tip Line. The local phone number is (320) 632-0377 and the toll free number is 888-378-4847. All tips are confidential and you may remain anonymous if you wish. However, if you want a call back, please leave your phone number. The Drug Tip Line can be used for any drug information within Morrison County.
--25-year old Tyler Allen Cronquist, the Brainerd man who admitted guilt to shooting two victims in the head, killing one, was sentenced Wednesday to over 38 years in prison for the crimes. The sentencing came after last week's plea hearing where Cronquist admitted guilt to second-degree murder with intent of shooting and killing Joseph Kroll; and second-degree attempted murder with intent, where he shot and seriously injured Chelsey Crawford. Cronquist admitted he intended to shoot both victims with the intent to kill. The original charges of felony first-degree murder with premeditation, attempted first-degree murder with premeditation and two assault charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. Cronquiist was sentenced to 306 months in prison for killing Kroll and 153 months for the attempted murder charge, for a total of 459 months—or just over 38 years in prison. The prison sentence was compliant with the Minnesota sentencing guidelines for Cronquist, which took into account his criminal history score and the nature of the crime.
--A Foley man was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital Monday afternoon after a construction accident left him pinned in his tractor. 65-year old Kenneth Abfalter was operating a tractor that was pulling a trailer used to compress dirt when he lost control of the tractor at approximately 1:24pm at a road construction site near the intersection of 300th Avenue and Crest Ridge Road in Paynesville Township. The tractor tipped into the steep south ditch, striking several trees. Abfalter was partially pinned in the tractor and had to be extricated by Paynesville Fire and Rescue. He was transported by Paynesville Ambulance to Paynesville Hospital, where a Lifelink helicopter airlifted him to St. Cloud Hospital. He was in fair condition Tuesday morning.
--It is homecoming week in Royalton. On Sunday Michael Petron and Jordan Bzdok were crowned homecoming King and Queen. A parade is planned in Royalton on Friday starting at 5:30pm. The parade route will begin at Holy Trinity Catholic Church Parking Lot and head to the northeast parking lot at the Royalton school. A tailgate party follows the parade will be held at the Royalton school.
--Stearns County reported an accident early Sunday just after midnight near Paynesville. Deputies arrived to find a vehicle had left the roadway on 253rd Avenue and struck the ditch striking several trees before becoming stuck in a ravine. Both occupants were wearing seatbelts and got out of the vehicle before it became engulfed in flames. The driver was identified as 17-year-old Eric Hansen and the passenger as 18-year-old Jacob Lundquist both of Paynesville. They both sustained injuries and were transported to an area hospital. Authorities stated that speed was a factor in the crash.
--Tune in today for the KLTF Up Front forum with District 9B State Representative Ron Kresha and challenger Dustin Simmonds. The program is 9:05 to 10am on AM960 KLTF and streamed online at fallsradio.com. No calls during the programs. The questions should have been sent to upfront@fallsradio.com before 8am today.
--There was a tailgate party on Friday night at Little Falls Homecoming that Little Falls Radio helped with. Around $800 was raised with all proceeds going to Flyer athletics. Additional funds were raised in the concession stands during the game.
--A motorcyclist narrowly avoided a collision with a semitrailer on Veterans Drive Monday morning in St. Cloud. The semitrailer driver, 38-year old Byron Navas-Herrarte of Roseville, was making a right turn to go east on Veterans Drive, when he failed to see the motorcycle. The motorcycle driver, 21-year old Lance Berg of St. Cloud was also headed east. Berg laid the motorcycle down to avoid a collision. The vehicles did not strike each other. Berg sustained minor injuries and refused medical attention at the scene. Navas-Herrarte was cited for a right of way violation and Berg was cited for no motorcycle endorsement.
--Residents from about ten homes northwest of downtown St. Cloud had to evacuate for more than an hour Tuesday morning because of a natural gas leak. Crews were digging to install cable television around 10:30am near Second Street North and 12th Avenue North when the high-pressure gas line was struck. Shortly after 11:30am Xcel Energy crews had shut off the gas line and residents were allowed to return home. The majority of roads in the area were reopened to traffic by noon.
--A Lakeville woman convicted of hiding her two teen daughters from their father will serve probation after all. A Dakota County judge denied Sandra Grazzini-Rucki's request Monday to face eight months in prison. She now must honor the original sentence of six years of probation, ten thousand dollars of restitution and two fines of $944.
WEATHER TODAY= becoming mainly sunny, breezy, high 61. TONIGHT= clear skies, calm winds, low 40. THURSDAY= increasing clouds, PM showers, high 55, low 36. FRIDAY= sunny, windy and colder, high 46, low 33 with frost.
SPORTS HS FB= Upsala/Swanville at Royalton Friday 7pm on Q92 WYRQ HS FB= Paynesville Area at Pierz Friday 7pm on FM94 KFML HS FB= Little Falls at St. Cloud Cathedral Friday 7:45pm on KLTF. WNBA= LA Sparks eliminated Chicago last night 95-75 to win the best of 5 series 3-1. Los Angeles will now face the Minnesota Lynx in Game 1 of the WNBA finals Sunday at 2pm at the Target Center. The game on Sunday moved the U.S. Gymnastics Team show at the Target Center to Saturday night to make room from the WNBA finals. COL FB= Gophers host Iowa Saturday 10am on AM960 KLTF. NFL= Vikings host Houston on Sunday at noon.
TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1921= first World Series broadcast on radio-Yankees beat Giants. IN 1924= Little Orphan Annie comic strip debuts. IN 1945= Meet the Press debuts on Radio, the show would move to television in 1948 and is still on today making it the longest running weekly show on network television of all time. IN 1947= President Harry Truman gives first TV Presidental Address. IN 1968= Steppenwolf released “Magic Carpet Ride”. IN 1969= Monty Python Flying Circus debuts on BBC Television. IN 1975= Harry Chapin released Cat's in the Cradle.