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Monday, May 18, 2026
An 18-year-old Little Falls man has been charged after authorities allege he assaulted school staff and students at Little Falls Community High School, Thursday, May 14. Mitchell James Erlacher Jr. is charged in Morrison County District Court with one felony count of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and two misdemeanor counts of fifth-degree assault. The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and/or a $14,000 fine. According to the criminal complaint, the Little Falls Police Department received a report May 14 that an 18-year-old student was assaulting staff and students at the high school. Witnesses told police Erlacher allegedly approached a teacher, placed her in a headlock, pulled her hair and shoved her against a wall. A student then intervened and separated the two, according to the complaint. Authorities allege Erlacher then became physically aggressive toward the student, took him to the floor, pulled the student’s sweatshirt over his head, restricted his ability to breathe and attempted to strike him in the face. The student told police Erlacher bit both of his arms while the student was holding Erlacher’s arms to prevent being punched. The complaint states another school official intervened and removed Erlacher from the student. Authorities allege Erlacher then went to a teacher’s desk, grabbed a pair of scissors and advanced toward the school official while holding them. The school official told police he repeatedly ordered Erlacher to drop the scissors while retreating into an adjoining room and closing the door. According to the complaint, Erlacher allegedly forced the door partially open and stabbed the school official in the hand with the scissors through the doorway. The school official told police he believed he was stabbed a second time near the shoulder area during the struggle before he was able to force the door shut. Multiple law enforcement officers arrived and attempted to get Erlacher to leave the room. When he did not comply with commands, officers were able to subdue him, according to the complaint.
The DNR on Saturday responded to around 40 wildfires across Minnesota from the critical high fire danger. A large wildfire that started by Flanders Lake in Mission Township sent a massive smoke plume into a cloudless sky Saturday afternoon, May 16, with seven area fire departments and the DNR working in an area around County Highway 11. Local fire departments were protecting homes and evacuating people while the DNR planes came in a line to drop water on the fire. Crow Wing County reported just after 5pm that fire crews and law enforcement were currently working to evacuate areas East of East Horseshoe Lake Road and South of County Road 11. The Crosslake Community Center at 14126 Daggett Pine Road transitioned to a shelter for those affected and evacuated by the Flanders wildfires. The public can stop by for assistance and to spend the night. The county reported that fire crews and law enforcement will continue to monitor the wildfire through the night. Residents in affected areas should remain alert and prepared for possible evacuation notifications if conditions change. Residents who have already been evacuated will not be allowed back into the area until emergency personnel determine it is safe to return. This is to protect the public and responding crews as fire conditions remain unpredictable. People were advised to avoid the area entirely and follow all instructions from emergency responders. Two other fires were also reported after noon on Saturday in Crow Wing County, one near Emily and another near Merrifield on County Road 3 near the larger fire in Crosslake which has already burned over 2,500 acres by Saturday night. As of Saturday afternoon, Yeager said there were no reports of injuries and he hadn’t heard of any loss of buildings at that point. A large fire was reported in the Eveleth Gilbert area, another affected the Hibbing area where a DNR plane that was dropping water on the fire, was actually shot at and one bullet struck the plane luckily it was able to land and there were no injuries. Police are investigating that incident. Rain is in the forecast the next few days but it is unclear if it will be enough to aid in the fires that were still burning.
Governor Tim Walz Sunday declared a peacetime emergency and authorizes assistance from the National Guard in response to wildfires in northern Minnesota. The Governor's Office notes that dry, windy, and hot conditions have put most of Minnesota at risk of dangerous wildfires. “Unpredictable and fast-moving wildfires are putting Minnesota communities at risk,” Governor Walz said in a statement. “This emergency declaration ensures we can fully mobilize the resources needed to protect lives, support evacuations, and help communities respond and recover." Multiple fires have broken out and spread across portions of Lake, Crow Wing, and St. Louis Counties, the statement reads. According to the Governor's Office, the Stewart Trail Fire near Two Harbors and the Flanders Fire in Crow Wing County remain active at this time. Authorities say that current weather conditions could fuel rapid fire growth and spread. According to the statement, the peacetime emergency will remain in effect until conditions improve or until June 7, 2026.
A 22-year-old from Mora has died in an two-vehicle accident Friday around 3:15pm on Highway 23 of Kanabec County. Kevin McGruder was westbound and crossed the center line into the eastbound lane and struck a vehicle head on. McGruder was not wearing a seat belt and died at the scene. The other driver from Brook Park was not injured.
A 54-year-old from New Brighton was injured early Saturday morning on Interstate 94 in Douglas County when his box truck swerved to avoid a deer, left the road and rolled. Rasimo Yadeta was taken to the Alexandria Hospital and treated for non life threatening injuries.
An outside woodburner is believed to be the cause of a fire in Zion Township on Thursday morning. Just before 10:00, a 911 call came in for a fire at a home on the 22000 block of 293rd Avenue. The caller said their attached garage was on fire with heavy smoke and flames coming from the house. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, Paynesville Fire Department, Lake Henry Fire Department, St. Martin Fire Department, Chain of Lakes Fire Department, Richmond Fire Department, Belgrade Fire Department, and Paynesville Ambulance all responded to the scene. No injuries were reported. The garage was a total loss.
The Little Falls City Council meets Monday night 7:30pm at City Hall Council Chambers.
There will be a legislative dialog at the Morrison County Government Center on Thursday May 21st from 10am-12pm, all are invited to hear from the State Representatives and State Senator. Purva Watten from the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is the guest on KLTF Community Program Monday at 8:35am on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com. Questions for the forum can be directed to Purva at 320-632-5155.
Weather: Mostly Cloudy skies Monday, slight chance of showers during the day, high 61, showers and thunderstorms with some heavy rains Monday night low near 40. Tuesday mostly cloudy scattered sprinkles, cool and breezy, high 52, low around 34. Sunny skies Wednesday high 61, clear Wednesday night low 39. Thursday sunny skies, high 67, showers and storms Thursday night low around 45.
Sports: San Antonio routed Timberwolves 139-109 Friday night to end the Wolves season. Spurs win the series 4-2 and advance in NBA Playoffs. Milwaukee held off Twins 3-2 Friday then beat the Twins 2-1 on Saturday at Target Field. Twins got key hits from Martin and Clemens to win 5-4 on Sunday to get 1 of the 3 games. Twins (21-26) host Houston on Monday night at 6:40pm. Minnesota Lynx host Chicago Sunday at 6pm. Holdingford finished 1st Saturday at State True Team Track Meet in both Class A boys and girls, Pierz finished 4th in Class A boys and girls Saturday with Brayden Faust first for Pierz in the 100 and 200 meters and the boys were 1st in 4x800 relay. Victory League Saturday Noah Boser had 2 homeruns as Buckman beat Pierz Lakers 5-4 in Game of the Week. High School Softball playoffs begin Monday for some area teams including Paynesville Area at Pierz now at 4pm on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com. Staples-Motley is at Holdingford, Pillager at Foley in first round matches. Upsala and Little Falls will open playoffs Tuesday, while Flyers are at Sauk Rapids-Rice at 4:30pm also on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.
Friday, May 15, 2026
A message from Little Falls Community High School: Thursday around 12:22pm the Little Falls Community High School was placed in a Hold due to a student behavioral issue that required...
Thursday, May 14, 2026
A notice from Little Falls Township that 180th Avenue will be closed to traffic between the intersection of State Highway 27, south to the intersection County Road 256, starting today...
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
The Pierz Fire Department responded to a golf cart fire at about 4:15pm on Monday, May 11 on Park Avenue over the Skunk River near the Pierz Golf Course. Firefighters...
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
One person was killed Monday morning in an accident in South Harbor Township of Mille Lacs County. Just after 8am, 74-year-old Lynn Stalker of Wahkon was westbound on Stevens Roads...
