News

Six vehicles were involved in an multi vehicle accident on Highway 25 Saturday morning in Monticello. All six vehicles were southbound on Highway 25 around 11:20am when the first vehicle stopped at the light and caused all others to run into each other at the intersection. A 46-year-old from Big Lake was taken to the hospital with injuries, all others including 2 from Little Falls were not injured in the accident. 

A Harley Davidson motorcycle crashed on Saturday afternoon around 12:50pm on Highway 23 at Highway 95 in Benton County. 41-year-old Christopher Crosno of Waite Park was taken to St. Cloud Hospital reportedly by the State Patrol with non life threatening injuries. 

A St. Cloud man has been charged after breaking into a home and threatening residents with a gun. 32-year-old Cortney Turney has been charged with one felony count of threats to violence – reckless disregard risk. Police were initially called around 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, to the 400 block of 10th Avenue North. Upon arrival, officers learned from multiple witnesses that Turney had threatened multiple people in the area with a gun. An investigation revealed that Turney had entered a home on the block, prompting officers to set up a perimeter around the residence and communicate with Turney to get him to come outside. The St. Cloud Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) later arrived and executed a search warrant on the residence. Turney exited the home a short while later and was arrested without incident. He was transported to Stearns County Jail and is set to make his first court appearance on Monday, June 1. The case is under investigation by the St. Cloud Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU). Residents in the area are encouraged to check their exterior cameras and contact the department at 320-251-1200 with any footage related to the incident. 

A St. Cloud man with a history of hiring prostitutes is facing a felony charge after investigators say he was busted in an online sting operation. According to the criminal complaint, the Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force posted an advertisement on a website known to be used for soliciting prostitution in the St. Cloud area. Investigators say Michael William Huth responded to the ad on April 29th and exchanged messages with an undercover investigator over the following days, eventually agreeing to pay for sexual services. The complaint says the 45-year-old arrived at the location in a black Chevrolet Suburban on May 1st. When an officer activated his emergency lights and identified himself, Huth then ran from the vehicle and got away. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was located by the St. Joseph Police Department on Tuesday, May 26th. The patron prostitution count was charged as a felony because of two prior convictions for the same offense in Stearns County, both sentenced in December of 2023. That charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He was also charged with fleeing a peace officer. His next court hearing is set for June 18th.

Some Central Minnesota kids will get to take part in the Minnesota State Fair thanks to a grant. The Minnesota State Fair announced its winners for the 2026 Beginning Exhibitor Livestock Learning Experience (BELLE) program. Jacob Lutgen of Avon, Mary McAndrews of Sauk Centre, and Hazel Aubart of Milaca are three of the 15 grant winners. The BELLE program awards $500 each to large animal exhibitors and $250 each to small animal exhibitors to help offset the costs of taking part in the fair, like travel, lodging, and show supplies. The grant program also provides mentors to youth livestock exhibitors who are first-time participants at the fair. Applicants must be Minnesota residents between the ages of 10 and 18 in order to be eligible. The other 12 getting grants are Willow Bartlet - Owatonna, Lily Beissel - Hampton, Kathleen Bendickson - Pennock, William Deyle -Browerville, Madelyn Donnelly - Hastings, Axel Gruber - Glencoe Hannah Hanks - Northome, Briceyn Kurth - Cosmos, Brooks Marthaler - Hastings, Cale Pease - Chatfield Mason Quzm - Kenyon, Abby Winger - Dover.

A teenage driver was hurt when the car she was driving collided with a semi. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened on Thursday at about 4:30 p.m. on Highway 10 in Elk River.  A car was traveling west on Highway 10, while a semi was attempting to cross westbound Highway 10 when they collided. The 16-year-old girl from Ramsey driving the car was taken to Allina Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  The driver of the semi, 68-year-old Anthony Hanf of Becker, was not hurt.

Two people were hurt in a crash in Starbuck on Friday afternoon. The crash occurred at the intersection of Highway 29 and Pope County Road 18 at about 12:45 p.m. The Minnesota State Patrol says an SUV being driven by 78-year-old Linda Smith of Benson was going south on Highway 29, and another SUV being driven by 19-year-old Nathan Brown of Long Prairie was going east on County Road 18 when they collided in the intersection. Smith and a passenger in her SUV, 75-year-old Terrance Smith of Benson, were both taken to the Glenwood Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Brown was not hurt in the crash.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources stated there has been a number of bear sightings in more urban areas than usual. Thursday a bear was sighted in Roseville, Friday a bear was spotted in Burnsville. There have been bear sightings around Morrison County but the local DNR Conservation officers stated there has been a lot fewer reports than previous years meaning the bear could be heading more south. If you spot a bear do not hesitate to contact the local DNR Conservation Officer or the sheriff's office at 320-632-9233. 

The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the June 2026 Employee of the Month, Mary Sitzman, Little Falls Community Schools. “This is a wonderful surprise! I have enjoyed my years of working at the high school office. Meeting the students, co-workers, and parents over the years has been a great experience that I will always remember.” Mary Sitzman. “Mary represents the heart and spirit of LCHS as she celebrates an incredible 50 years of dedicated service as a high school secretary. For five decades, Mary has been the welcoming face of the high school!! Greeting students, staff, parents, and visitors with
warmth and professionalism while expertly managing her office duties is unprecedented in today's society. She has made a lasting impact on generations of Flyers and is the epitome of Flyer pride in an employee! Congratulations!” – Supervisor, Tim Bjorge. Sitzman announced her retirement at the end of the school year but was nominated before the end of the school year. Congratulations to Mary Sitzman the June Employee of the Month from the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. 

The Little Falls City Council meet Monday at 7:30pm on City Hall Council Chambers. 

Weather: Saturday mostly cloudy skies, few sprinkles, high 82, Saturday night cloudy skies, low 56. Sunday partly sunny skies, high 81, isolated PM showers possible. Sunday night showers and thunderstorms after midnight, low 58. Cloudy skies Monday, chance of thunderstorms afternoon and evening, high 82, becoming partly cloudy Monday night low near 50. Tuesday sunny and warmer, high 86, partly cloudy Tuesday night low around 54. Showers and storms are likely Wednesday and Thursday, high in 80s, low in 50s. 

Sports: Pittsburgh beat the Twins on a walk-off hit Friday night 6-5. Twins host Chicago White Sox Monday night at 6:40pm. Lynx beat Chicago 79-58 Friday night to go to 6-2. On Saturday Little Falls gets one run on a sacrifice bunt and that was all they needed to win 1-0 over Sartell to advance in the playoffs, Little Falls will play at 12:30pm Tuesday at the MAC in St. Cloud on AM960 KLTF. Heritage Christian Academy beat Upsala-Swanville in baseball 11-4 ending the Patriots season this year.