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July 23rd, 2008 NEWS --Two men are dead after separate crashes involving ultra light aircrafts. The first was reported shortly after 7:30pm Monday near --A phone scam has cost a --The two suspects arrested following last week’s beating of a 35-year old Brainerd man have both been charged with several assault charges including assault with a dangerous weapon. 30-year old Ronald Robinson and 26-year old Andrea Fitch, both from Brainerd were charged in connection with the beating of Cameron Quickbear. Quickbear was taken to the --A St. Cloud man showed up for a court hearing related to charges dealing with providing false information and driving after revocation and when officers searched him they found eight packages of LSD and 12 hundred dollars in cash. The man was 26-year old Michael Buersken, and he is currently being held in the Stearns County Jail. --A daylight robbery near Zimmerman over the weekend ended with two --The Food and Drug Administration now says that tomatoes are fine to eat but to stay away from jalapeno peppers. More than 1,200 cases of salmonella have been reported since May caused by raw jalapenos. The strain has been found in a MORE NEWS --The Morrison County Fair begins this evening at 6 at the fairgrounds east of Little Falls. Parking is $2 for night or $5 for the whole weekend. Tonight’s events include all Midway rides are $1. Tomorrow through Saturday there are events scheduled throughout the entire day. For information on all the events go to fallsradio.com and click on the Morrison County Fair link. --Some good --Wildlife officials are trying to get to the bottom of a major bird die-off on two --A teacher in DEATH NOTICES --George Melby, age 92 of Little Falls. WEATHER TODAY= mostly sunny, highs around 80. TONIGHT= partly cloudy, overnight showers & storms, low 63. THURSDAY= mostly cloudy, showers and thunderstorms in the morning then again developing late in the day, high near 85. FRIDAY= partly cloudy, a possible thunderstorm, high 85. SPORTS TWINS= another tough loss for the Twins losing to TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1829= William Burt patented the first typewriter. IN 1903= Ford Motor Company sold its first automobile. IN 1904= Charles Minches of IN 1982= Coca Cola introduced Diet Coke IN 1986= IN 2000= Tiger Woods won British Open to win the Grand Slam at 24 IN 2007= Drew Carey announced he was new host of Price is Right. “Hot Hits” has the music Wednesday through Saturday at WS Bar July 22nd, 2008 NEWS --Organizers for the Morrison County Relay for Life last weekend in Little Falls raised around $171,000 for cancer research. They say the books won’t be closed until the end of August and you can still make monetary donations to the cause. Contact Linda Paycer at Bank of the west to make the donation. Also congratulations to the top teams at last weekends relay in Little Falls. They were Pat’s Patriots and Bookin’ It as many others joined in on the evening’s events. --A 12-year-old girl is on an ambitious quest to raise a lot of money to help our men and women in uniform. Eliese Madgett Manrique left --A --A Long Prairie man was jailed after he attempted to out run police after being stopped in --Some apparent cattle rustling has been reported in Long Prairie as a farmer reported there was 10 Holstein steers taken from his residence. He says he thinks they were taken from his farm between July 3rd and the 15th. The steers which weighed about 850-900 pounds are valued at about 600-dollars each. If you have information you’re asked to call the Todd County Sheriff’s Office. --A --EXCEL Energy has joined Center-Point Energy in telling their customers to brace for some huge increases in their heating costs this winter. Both utilities say those bills could go up as much as 50% or more by this fall with price increases already in hand for those on budget plans. One -- MORE NEWS --The Morrison County Fair begins tomorrow evening at 6 at the fairgrounds east of Little Falls. For information on all the events go to fallsradio.com and click on the Morrison County Fair link. --Former State Representative Mark Olson of Big Lake has filed for State Senate in District 16 for the special election in November to replace the vacancy left by Representative Betsy Wergin of Princeton. Olson joined Baldwin Township Supervisor Jeff Holm and --A 19-year-old --Two teenagers have been charged and police have now released the name of a man stabbed to death early Sunday morning in --Four people were hurt in a two-vehicle accident Saturday night in BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Josh and Shari Villeneuve of Little Falls, a boy born July 18th WEATHER TODAY=Sunshine, High of 80 TONIGHT=Clear skies with a low of 58 WEDNESDAY=Sunshine becomes partly cloudy high of 83, chance of evening storms low of 62 THURSDAY=Possible early day storms, high of 84 SPORTS TWINS= MONDAY GAME: The Twins fell to the Yankees last night 12-4. Twins and Yankees play game 2 tonight at 5:35 on Q92 WYRQ. REGION 8C= The Tournament field is set for this weekend at “Hot Hits” has the music Wednesday through Saturday at WS Bar NEWS --The upper --A 21-year-old St. Anthony man is charged with murder in Thursday’s shooting death of a -- --Two --Two men appeared in --The MORE NEWS --Morrison County Commissioner Jeff Schiling will have no opponent in November on the ballot in District 2. Not so for Tom Wenzel in District 1 who has 4 other candidates vying for his seat. A primary will be held on September 9th for the top 2 to vie for the seat in November. Up against Wenzel is Sharon Ballou, Brian-Paul Crowder, Kevin Maurer and Ian Newkirk. In District 3, where Gene Young has announced he will not seek reelection, there are 3 running and again a primary will be held on September 9th for the top 2 from Richard Collins, Perry Nouis and Charles “Chuck” Parins. --Two hundred and seventy-eight Soldiers, from the St. Paul-based 2nd Battalion, 147th Assault Helicopter Battalion are expected to arrive at --Four people were hurt when the vehicle that 42-year-old Maria John of --The Morrison County Commissioners will meet Tuesday at 9am at the government center. They will hear many reports from county authorities including Social Services, Public Health, Planning and Zoning, Treasurer Deb Gruber and Sheriff Michel Wetzel. --Since the inception of the ZAP (Zero Alcohol Provider) Program, three individuals have been charged with providing alcohol to underage consumers and 14 underage consumers have also been charged. The program was put together by a grant applied for by Todd County Public Health. The program was used successfully on May 9th in DEATH NOTICES --Donald Pipehagen, age 87 of --Robert Seurer, age 77 of Upsala. --Evangeline Block, age 75 of Lastrup. --Orpha Faust, age 66 of --Elaine Hager, age 85 of Cushing. --John Hopkins, age 76 of Onamia WEATHER TODAY= partly cloudy, high in the low 80’s TONIGHT= mostly clear skies, low near 60. TUESDAY= partly cloudy, high near 80. WEDNESDAY= late day thunderstorms develop, high 85. SPORTS TWINS= Twins win 6-0 Friday, 14-2 Saturday over REGION 8C= The Region 8C tournament begin Saturday in Pierz. Catch all 8 games this weekend live on AM960 KLTF and also online at www.fallsradio.com. “Hot Hits” has the music beginning Wednesday at West Side Bar
--A
July 21st, 2008
July 18th, 2008
NEWS
--Five people have filed for the 3 seats up for election in November for Little Falls School Board. Those vying for the seats are Robert Stoltman and Greg Zylka, whose seats are up for re-election. The other three are Leslie Russell-Martin, Marge Brutcher and former school board member Jay Spillum. Because only 5 filed, no primary election is needed and the 5 will vie for the 3 positions at the November general election. Other schools like Pierz, Crosby-Ironton and Wadena will have elections later this year. Their filing dates are later this month into early August.
--The Pierz City Council has formally hired the city’s new police chief. Kyle Hoehne, who is currently the police chief in Wabasso, is expected to be on the job next month. In June, the council said Hoehne was their choice but the formal hiring was delayed until a number of examinations had been completed. Hoehne is a 14-year veteran of law enforcement.
--Another suspect has been arrested in connection with the beating of a Brainerd man Tuesday night. 30-year-old Ronald Robinson of Brainerd was taken into custody late Wednesday and a third suspect identified as 31-year-old Cord Thomas Robinson is still being sought. Early Wednesday, police arrested 26-year-old Andrea Fitch and later in the afternoon another suspect turned himself in to authorities and is cooperating to locate the other man involved. The victim remains at North Memorial Medical Center and is improving from this brutal assault. Brainerd police say sticks and bats were used in the attack and recovered from the scene.
--Area judges in central Minnesota will be on the ballot without challengers in November. Sitting judges in district courts up for election include Frank Kundrat, Frederick Grunke and Thomas Knapp in Stearns County, Michael Jesse in Benton County and Conrad Freeberg in Morrison County all vying for another term in the 7th Judicial District seats.
--Child pornography charges are pending against a St. Cloud man. 42-year-old Dennis Lemke was indicted by a grand jury this week accusing him of taking movies and photographs of young children. A federal complaint had been filed last month after St. Cloud police, armed with a search warrant, found a camera at his home that contained several hundred images of child pornography and he was identified in several of the pictures. A complaint last fall accused Lemke of touching a girl at day care center run by his wife. That led to the search warrant followed by this week’s grand jury indictment.
--Benton County Commissioners and department heads met yesterday to discuss security in light of a June 24th shooting in Little Falls. Like many counties Benton’s court building has numerous security measures but like Morrison County the least secure area is the boardroom area where meetings are held. Employee training on how to handle confrontations could help de-escalate a situation and emergency management recommended that county employees receive training such as many area schools. Other suggestions included the panic buttons and more cameras to be monitored. A committee will look at all of the options and report back to the Benton County Board in about six months.
--The Morrison County Relay for Life is tonight at the Middle School Track. Survivors Dinner at 5pm, Opening Ceremony at 7 and the Luminary ceremony begins at 10pm. The Relay for Life continues to help to try to find a cure for cancer.
MORE NEWS
--The “boyfriend defense” stands in the case of the Guatemalan woman accused of driving the van that collided with a school bus in Cottonwood that killed four and injured many others. A judge says Olga Franco’s attorney can argue that her boyfriend, Francisco Mendoza was driving at the time of the crash and fled the scene afterward. Mendoza is still missing. Franco’s trial starts July 28th.
--The latest economic news for Minnesota is good as unemployment dropped a tenth-of-a-point in June to 5.3% and employees added 3,400 new jobs. An economic update released last week takes some of the shine off yesterday numbers. That report says the current “economic weakness” will likely extend into early 2009. Analysts point to energy prices well beyond what was previously projected, plus they note housing markets remain severely depressed. The state’s economic forecasting service predicts oil prices will peak at $160 a barrel late this year before dropping slightly in 2009.
--A U.S. House report shows Minnesota spent only 51% of its available federal highway bridge program funds on bridges while some other states spending was significantly higher. Congressman Tim Walz says much of the problem may be alleviated by matching funds in a new transportation bill. MN DOT’s Abigail McKenzie says the state transportation department uses more than just one source of funding. She says in addition to bridge program funds, they use interstate maintenance funds, national highway system funds and surface transportation money, plus those from state highway funds.
DEATH NOTICES
--Eugene S. Long, age 69 of Rice.
--Clarence F. Hines, age 91 of Randall.
--Lenin Leaf, age 71 of Onamia.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy, highs around 80.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy, low of 57.
SATURDAY= partly cloudy, 40% chance of PM storms, high 80.
SUNDAY= partly cloudy, 30% chance of thunderstorms, high 85.
MONDAY= partly cloudy, highs in the 80’s.
SPORTS
GOLF= Pierz’s Robert Bell won in a playoff yesterday to win his third state championship since June and his second in two weeks.
TWINS= Twins are back in action tonight after the All Star Break as they host Texas for a 3-game set. Games are tonight at 7:10, tomorrow at 6:10 and Sunday at 1:10. Catch them on Q92 WYRQ
VL= catch the Victory League game of the week Saturday at 1:30 for a region qualifying match then the final Victory League Roundup Sunday night at 6:30 on AM960 KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1914= 6 U.S. Army planes formed Signal Corps Aviation Division.
IN 1927= Tiger’s Ty Cobb hit #4000, first player to reach the mark.
IN 1936= first Oscar Mayer “Wienermobile” was completed.
IN 1976= Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci earned a perfect score of 10 on the uneven parallel bars. It was 1st 10 ever given in event.
IN 1983= Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel began a 19-city tour. It was their first tour together since their breakup in 1970.
“Hot Hits” tonight and tomorrow at West Side Bar
July 17th, 2008 NEWS --Wednesday brought morning rains to some areas of central Minnesota and the National Weather Service says unsettled air continues today for central and southern Minnesota with still a good chance of heavy rains and some severe thunderstorms through tonight. Drier and less humid air is predicted for Friday. --Brainerd police say two men are wanted for their involvement in the beating of a 35-year-old Brainerd man late Tuesday. Police were called to a fight between the victim, Cameron Quickbear and four to six individuals. Quickbear was taken to North Memorial Medical Center in critical condition but was upgraded to fair condition late yesterday. 26-year-old Andrea Fitch of Brainerd, who is believed to know the suspects and has been charged with several crimes in Crow Wing County in the past, was arrested and is being held in the Crow Wing County Jail. Brainerd Police Chief John Bolduc also said one of the suspects turned himself into police and after talking to him stated they have previous contact with the other suspects in the assault. --A young girl from Eagle Valley Township in Todd County was injured when she was run over by an ATV. The girl was riding on the front of an ATV driven by another young girl when she fell off and the tires ran over her chest. The ATV then rolled, throwing the driver into the ditch. The driver was not hurt. The girl was treated at the Wadena Hospital. The accident is still under investigation. --A 16-year-old Monticello boy was critically injured Wednesday afternoon when his bicycle he was riding was struck by a car in Wright County. The driver of the car, 51-year-old, Jonathan Laudert of Monticello, was southbound on Highway 25 in Monticello when the bicycle came across School Boulevard into the line of traffic. Laudert was not hurt. The boy, whose name was not released, was taken to an area hospital and last listed in critical condition. --A head-on collision in Meeker County between a car and a tractor has left one man dead. According to the State Patrol, the accident occurred on Highway 15 near Kingston yesterday morning when 21-year-old Brett Thompson of Annandale apparently crossed the center-line and collided with a tractor driven by 51-year-old Sally Jaeger of Richmond. Jaeger was not injured. Thompson was taken to a hospital but later died from his injuries. --The Minnesota National Guard has found the helicopter door that came off during a flight Tuesday just north of St. Paul. The door was found late yesterday morning by guard searchers near Lower Afton Road in Maplewood. The Guard says they found in a grassy field and luckily no one was hurt on the copter or on the ground where the door fell. They’re working with the Army to try and figure out what went wrong with the door falling off after the copter was in the air. --Another milestone for the new 35-W Bridge. Crews last night poured a seven-foot piece of concrete that joins the northbound lanes of the new bridge. MN DOT Project Manager John Chiglo says two cantilevers that stretch 250 feet over the Mississippi are connected to complete the structural span. Chiglo says the southbound section of the bridge will be joined next week. MN DOT officials anticipate the new bridge will be open to traffic between mid-September and mid-October. That’s just over a year after the original span collapsed into the Mississippi on August 1, 2007. --The man pulled from Lake Minnetonka has been identified. 41-year old Vincent Erickson of Edina jumped into the water Sunday morning and did not surface. Authorities found the body early yesterday. MORE NEWS --More information is coming to light on the Pequot Lakes Marine who is one of two charged with the murder of a North Carolina woman. The burned and dismembered body of Fort Bragg Soldier Second Lieutenant Holley Wimunc was discovered in a shallow grave not far from Camp LeJeune. Wimunc’s husband is charged in the murder along with 22-year-old Lance Corporal Kyle Alden from Pequot Lakes. An arrest warrant accused Alden of assisting in the destruction of evidence, burying Holley Wimunc’s body and attempting to establish a false alibi. Wimunc was reported missing last Thursday after she didn’t show up for her nursing shift. --A Bloomington man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for swindling investors out of more than $6-million dollars. Federal prosecutors say 58-year-old Gregory Hewitt used investors’ money for his own personal use rather than investing the money in stocks on their behalf. Besides serving prison time, Hewitt must compensate the 150 investors he defrauded. --Investigators now say drugs were involved in the mysterious deaths of two brothers in the western-Wisconsin town of Burkhardt. The bodies of 44-year-old Gregory Knoll and his 41-year-old brother Jeffrey were found in their apartment in late May. The sheriff calls the case “complicated” and says they are waiting for the results of toxicology tests to determine the exact cause of death. He says it’s not certain if a crime is connected to the case. He says the brothers had a history of alcohol and drug problems. DEATH NOTICES --Agnes M. Houn, age 92 of Pierz. WEATHER TODAY= 50% chance of thunderstorms, some strong, high 80. TONIGHT= early storms, then partly cloudy, low around 60. FRIDAY= partly cloudy, less humid, high near 80. SATURDAY= partly cloudy, chance of late day storm, high 80. SUNDAY= partly cloudy, early and late day storms, high 80. SPORTS TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1862= National cemeteries were authorized by U.S. Government IN 1867= Harvard School of Dental Medicine began, 1st dental school IN 1917= British Royal family took the surname Windsor. IN 1920= author Sinclair Lewis finished his novel “Main Street”. IN 1941= Yankee slugger Joe DiMaggio went hitless in a game against Cleveland and ended his 56 game hitting streak. IN 1955= Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California. IN 1959= jazz legend Billie Holliday died at age 44. IN 1961= baseball legend Ty Cobb died at age 74. “Hot Hits” has the music now through Saturday at West Side Bar NEWS --A former --A 13-year-old --One day after former Governor Jesse Ventura announced he would not run for U.S. Senate, his former advisor and confidante is. Dean Barkley filed papers Tuesday afternoon at the Secretary’s of State’s Office to run as the candidate for the Independence Party. Six Independence Party candidates will compete in September at the primary, which now includes Dean Barkley and also endorsed candidate Stephen Williams. --A --The Benton County Board ruled Tuesday that for the first time there will be minimum construction standards for homes built in rural areas. The board voted to adopt the state’s building code that is already enforced in -- --Again a reminder that the Morrison County Landfill will have extended hours for brush and limbs to be dropped off from 4:30 to 8:30pm today to help out with cleanup from last Friday’s storm. --Little Falls residents and businesses north of Highway 10, Riverwood, MORE NEWS --The latest U.S. Navy Attach Submarine will be named the U.S.S. Minnesota. The Navy says it honors the state’s residents for their continued support of the military and long tradition of honoring its Veterans. This will be the third ship in naval history to bear the name --State Representative Mark Olson, who was convicted of causing his wife fear of bodily harm, has decided not to run for re-election. The Big Lake Republican says he will not run to avoid his and his families suffering that nearly destroyed his family while he was in office. Olson not running for re-election in District 16A removes one big barrier for the Republican-endorsed candidate former Secretary of State and Pierz native Mary Kiffmeyer, who now resides in --Some advice from the Internal Revenue Service: don’t reply to any e-mails claiming to be from the IRS. Scammers are now using e-mails and faxes to try to get people to give out personal and financial information. IRS spokeswoman Carrie Resch says the most common scams involve tax refunds, and this year, economic stimulus payments. She says the IRS will never ask for person information. BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Shane Hoskins and Careena Jacobs of Randall, a girl born July 14th DEATH NOTICES --Darlene M. Okroi, age 76 of Little Falls. WEATHER TODAY= showers and thunderstorms likely, some severe, high 83. TONIGHT= showers and storms likely, some with heavy rain, low 62 THURSDAY= mostly cloudy, showers and storms likely, high near 80 FRIDAY= partly cloudy, less humid and dry, high near 80. SPORTS TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1790= IN 1912= Bradley Fiske patented the airplane torpedo. IN 1926= “National Geographic” had first underwater color photos. IN 1981= singer Harry Chapin died in a car crash in New York at age 38, he was best know for songs “Taxi” and “Cat’s in the Cradle”. IN 1985= The Major League All-Star Game was from the Metrodome in Minneapolis and the first game broadcasted in stereo on NBC TV. IN 1999= John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn and her sister Lauren Bessette, died when the plane Kennedy was piloting crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. “Hot Hits” tonight through Saturday at West Side Bar NEWS --Former Governor Jesse Ventura says he will not run for U.S. Senate in --The Morrison County Public Works Department says it will have extended hours at the county landfill today and tomorrow for people who need to clean up and get rid of brush and limbs from Friday night’s storms. The landfill’s extended hours will be from 4:30 to 8:30pm for brush only through Wednesday. --A one car accident near --Despite the fatalities on central --Benton County Commissioners will talk about what security changes should be made, if any, in county buildings following the recent shooting at the --Statewide public meetings start next week on proposed changes to feedlot permits in --Governor Pawlenty has called for a special election to fill the State Senate vacancies in Districts 16 and 63. The District 16 vacancy was created by the resignation of Senator Betsy Wergin of --A MORE NEWS --Street construction work continues in parts of Little Falls and that means shutting off the water to some residents again. Water will be shut off today from 9 to 5 on --The 6th District Congressional seat continues to be a hot commodity. On Monday, Woodbury resident Bob Anderson filed to run under the Independence Party. Delegates from the Independence Party endorsed Democratic candidate Elwyn Tinklenberg for the seat over --The daughter of former Federal Judge Miles Lord is challenging Al Franken in the DFL primary for U.S. Senate. Priscilla Lord Faris says she doesn’t know if Franken is the best choice for Senate. Lord Faris is currently a managing partner in a --Pope Benedict has named Reverend John Levoir as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of New Ulm. Levior is a native of BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS --Joseph Parker and Andrea Schuett of Little Falls, a girl on July 12th --Ryan and Stacy Przybilla of Pierz, twin boys born July 11th. WEATHER TODAY= partly cloudy, 20% chance of afternoon storms, high 90. TONIGHT= partly cloudy, showers & storms develop, low of 65. WEDNESDAY= mostly cloudy, showers and storms likely throughout the day, severe storms are possible, high of 85. THURSDAY= 40% chance of showers & storms, highs around 80. SPORTS MLB= Justin Morneau won the home run derby last night in New York beating Josh Hamilton in the finals 5 to 3. The Twins first-baseman was overshadowed by TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1815= Napoleon Bonaparte captured and exiled in IN 1830= 3 Indian Tribes, the Sioux, Sauk and Fox sign treaties giving the IN 1876= baseball’s first recorded no-hitter pitched as George W. Bradley of St. Louis no-hit “Hot Hits” Wednesday through Saturday has the music at WS Bar.
--Mary Maurer, age 59 of Foley.
VL= Catch Victory League Playoff action Saturday at 1:30 on AM960. You can even pick the game Rick does by going to www.fallsradio.com then clicking on the Victory League icon and then go to the Sobieski Ski website and write in what game either the east, south or west region seeding game for Saturday’s game on KLTF. The final victory league roundup of the season is Sunday at 6:30pm. The Region Tournament begins July 26th.
July 16th, 2008
--The civil defense siren on the north end of Little Falls is up and running again. The siren malfunctioned last month and the city had to wait for the repair parts to fix it. Little Falls Fire Chief Mike Niemann said crews were out Tuesday and repaired it. The siren was sounded a few times yesterday morning to test out the new parts.
--Timothy L. Scepaniak, age 50 of
ALL STAR GAME= Justin Morneau scored the winning run in the bottom of the 15th inning on a sacrifice fly by Texas Ranger Michael Young. Joe Mauer had an infield single and a walk in the game, and Joe Nathan also pitched. 49 Hall-of-Fame Baseball legends were honored before the game that was all at Yankee Stadium. But the American League prevailed in the late innings winning 4-3 in 15 to win home field for the 2008 World Series once again.
July 15th, 2008