Thursday, April 24, 2025
The Little Falls Police Department reported that on Tuesday at 7:05pm they responded to a two-vehicle accident with possible injuries on Broadway Avenue and Wood Street in Little Falls. Upon arrival officers observed a Ford F-150 partially blocking the westbound lanes of Broadway Avenue. There was also GMC Jimmy that appeared to have crashed into the side of Lin Furniture. The driver of the Ford F-150 was identified as a 17 year old male from Little Falls and the driver of the GMC Jimmy as a 17 year old female also from Little Falls. Based on information gathered on scene it appeared that the GMC Jimmy was turning left on to Broadway Avenue from Wood Street to go West on Broadway Avenue and the Ford-150 was traveling East on Broadway Avenue approaching the intersection with Wood Street. The Ford F-150 struck the GMC Jimmy at the intersection of Broadway Avenue and Wood Street. The Ford F-150 ended up partially blocking the westbound lanes of Broadway Avenue. The GMC Jimmy ended up crashing into the front of Lin Furniture. A juvenile passenger in the Ford F-150 was transported to the hospital for unknown injuries. A passenger in the GMC was assessed at the scene but not transported to the hospital. The driver of the GMC had minor cuts and was treated at the scene and not transported to the hospital. The accident remains under investigation with the Little Falls Police Department.
A Royalton woman was hurt in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday. The incident happened at the intersection of County Road 133 and 322nd Street at 4:20 p.m. The intersection is located northeast of St. Joseph in St. Wendel Township. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says an SUV driven by 28-year-old Stephanie Schmitz of Melrose was stopped at the stop sign on 322nd Street with cars waiting in the turn lane. When Schmitz advanced through the stop sign, her vehicle was hit by a northbound car on County Road 133. The driver of the car, 54-year-old Verona Otten of Royalton, was taken from the scene by ambulance. The extent of Otten's injuries is unknown.
The Minnesota State Patrol says a Milaca man struck a black bear around 5:30am on Highway 23 in Maywood Township east of Foley. Wednesday morning Forty-five-year-old Douglas Cramlet of Milaca was traveling south when he struck the bear. Cramlet was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with what the state patrol deemed as non-life-threatening injuries
This week, the Minnesota National Guard hosts the annual Best Warrior Competition at Camp Ripley, where enlisted members of the Army, Air Force, and two NATO partner nations will compete in a grueling four-day competition testing their physical and technical warfighting skills. “This year we are welcoming four international service members from Croatia and Canada to compete in the Minnesota Best Warrior Competition, which bolsters the caliber of competition and camaraderie we can expect to see among the competitors,” said Command Chief Master Sgt. Lisa Erikson, the Minnesota National Guard’s command senior enlisted leader. “The international element of this event leaves a lasting impact on our service members and organization as it encourages interoperability, friendship and partnership with every challenge.” This year’s competition has been completely redesigned with several new events and significant modifications that will test each service member’s warrior ethos, discipline, and capabilities. Each competitor will traverse more than 30 miles, with no knowledge of the 18 tasks they will face. All 25 competitors have competed against their peers and have been selected to represent their units at this level. “These competitors are the ideal representation of the finest junior enlisted and noncommissioned officers the Minnesota National Guard has to offer,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Rost, the Minnesota National Guard’s Army senior enlisted advisor. “These service members are competing one last time to see who will be Minnesota’s next best warrior.” Also this Friday, the Minnesota National Guard’s Child & Youth Program will host Purple Up at Mall of America to recognize the contributions and sacrifices of military youth for the nation. There are also other activities that have been going on throughout April, including contests in art, photography, backpack design, and recipe creation. Families can request a letter from Governor Tim Walz thanking military youth at minnesotaveteran.org/militarychild. For more details, visit the Minnesota National Guard Child & Youth Program on Facebook or Instagram. Earlier this month Morrison County Veteran Service Officer Kris VonBerge reported on KLTF there are many businesses that are giving free items to Veterans and their family and stop by her office for more information and finding many ways to help the Military family.
Eight Minnesotans face racketeering charges after investigators say they stole more than $200,000 in pulltab cash from bars and restaurants throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area and beyond. According to the criminal complaints filed on the eight defendants, the burglaries followed a careful plan that included scoping out targets, wearing ski masks and carrying sledgehammers or other “prying tools” to gain access to the safes where charitable gaming proceeds were kept. Court documents further describe how the group's alleged leader Aaron King Sr. of St. Paul orchestrated the 44 burglaries that occurred between March 6, 2023, and February 22, 2024 through Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington, Wright and Sherburne Counties. One defendant reportedly told investigators that King Sr. would direct surveillance, hold planning meetings, and handle splitting the proceeds from all the burglaries. Prosecutors say the thieves walked away with plenty of money, including: $21,741 from the Wild Boar in Hopkins, $17,781 from Cowboy Jack’s in Otsego and $11,853 from the American Legion in Howard Lake. Businesses were targeted in communities from Eagan to Monticello, Howard Lake to Stillwater. Another target was the Chanhassen American Legion Post 580, burglarized on April 6, 2023, just hours after the bar had closed. Despite having the usual tools and masks, the thieves couldn’t crack the safe that was bolted to the floor of the establishment. Despite only being inside the Legion for seconds, Anderson said the thieves caused $3,500 in damage. Despite that, everyone at Post 580 was grateful the burglars bolted before getting their hands on money the Legion regularly donates to community organizations - everything from the Chanhassen Fire Department to veterans’ nursing homes and youth sports. The 8 are currently in custody on many formal charges.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) update its guidance for eating fish from a handful of Minnesota lakes Wednesday, reporting contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. According to MDH, bodies of water in the Twin Cities metro, as well as Douglas, McLeod, Martin and St. Louis Counties, including Lake Superior, have yielded fish samples containing PFAS, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls. While MDH said it could take years of regularly eating fish to accumulate unhealthy levels of PFAS in one's body, it recommends eating fish from affected lakes in small amounts or not at all. This is especially true for more sensitive populations, which MDH describes as people who are or may become pregnant; people who are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed; and children under the age of 15. For those who still plan to consume fish from lakes and rivers in an affected county, they're encouraged to keep an eye on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Lake Finder which shows places where fish consumption guidelines are currently in effect.
NATIONAL/STATE NEWS The U.S. Air Force is seeking a 27-year-old man wanted for desertion and fleeing to avoid prosecution, and investigators say technology suggests he could be in the Twin Cities. In a press release Wednesday, the Air Force stated it is looking for Branden Cecil Standifer, who fled prosecution Friday for possession and distribution of child sexual materials. Standifer was last seen at the Bozeman Yellowstone Airport in Montana on Saturday, but his phone later pinged in Inver Grove Heights. Standifer is 6 feet tall, 160 pounds with a slim build, brown hair and blue eyes. He has expressed suicidal ideation. If you see Standifer in public, do not approach him. Call 911 about his whereabouts.
Death Notices- Christopher "Chris" Todd Mueller, age 59 from the Hubbard area, formerly Little Falls. William Rickman, age 81 of Randall.
Weather morning sunshine today then PM showers possible, high 58, showers at night, low near 40. Friday sunny skies, high 62, clear night, low near 40. Sunny Saturday high 65, increasing clouds showers after midnight Saturday night, low 43. Sunday rain showers with isolated T-storms possible, high 66, low 45. Showers and strong thunderstorms on Monday, warmer high 75, low around 48.
Sports Buxton and Larnach come up big as Twins win 6-3 last night over White Sox. The Twins will attempt to get their first sweep of the season today with Chicago 11:30am pregame on Q92 WYRQ. The Twins reported yesterday that Twins legends Tony Olivia and Kent Hrbek have both suffered strokes. The 86 year old Olivia has been battling a series of mini strokes over the past months and his latest had him hospitalized earlier this month but he is expected to recover. The 64-year-old Hrbek suffered what doctors said was a minor stroke after knee surgery recently and at this time is recovering as his home in Bloomington. In other sports, the Minnesota Wild play game 3 of the NHL Playoffs with Las Vegas tonight at 8pm at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The Timberwolves return to action in the NBA playoffs tomorrow night.