Monday, December 8, 2025

The recent Little Falls Police Report stated they received a number of parking ordinance issues last Monday when snow removal was done in Little Falls, a reminder to motorists to follow signs of no parking or citations, and towing will take place in the future. Officers were called last Tuesday to the high school hockey game due to unruly fans and police were asked to stay until the game let out for safety reasons, no arrests were made. They also received more reports of cars in the ditch, and those locked out of vehicles. If you need assistance you can contact the police department at 320-616-5570. 

One person was hurt after a hit-and-run crash near Willmar Saturday evening. The crash happened at around 6:30 p.m., about 3 miles east of Willmar. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a car being driven by 41-year-old Asanett Hernandez of Windom was going east on Highway 12 when he was hit by a Chevy pickup truck that then fled east. A passenger in Hernandez's car, 43-year-old Esteban Ortiz, was hurt and taken to the Willmar Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Hernandez was not hurt, no other information has been released, and the crash remains under investigation.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has identified the man who was shot by a Wright County Sheriff’s deputy on November 25th. The agency says deputies found Dwayne Trunnell walking in the middle of the 900 block of Golf Course Road in Monticello with a knife in his hand. Deputies repeatedly told Trunnell to drop the weapon, but he instead rushed at them with the knife up. The BCA alleges one deputy fired his Taser while the other used his handgun. Trunnell fell to a knee before getting up and charged again. A second shot came from the deputy with his handgun. Trunnell again dropped to the ground. He got up, ran a short distance, then collapsed. Trunnell was taken to the hospital. The BCA forensics team found a knife, spent Taser cartridge, and multiple bullet casings at the scene. The deputies were wearing body cameras. The investigation is still ongoing and the BCA will present its findings to the Wright County Attorney’s Office when it’s finished.

 A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support a Paynesville farmer who remains hospitalized following a severe accident that left him with life-threatening injuries. On November 30th, Jerrod Quade was demonstrating how to start a Case International 4230 tractor for a neighbor. According to the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, the 30-year-old had positioned the tractor inside a pole shed and was standing near the back right tire when the tractor unexpectedly started while still in gear, lurching forward and running him over. Quade was initially transported by ambulance to Paynesville Hospital before being airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, where he underwent emergency surgeries lasting several hours. The father and husband suffered severe injuries, including massive pelvic damage, seven broken ribs, a broken right humerus, a compromised femoral artery in his left leg, internal bleeding, bladder lacerations, and facial trauma. Blood flow to his left leg had been absent for approximately five hours before surgeons could restore circulation. According to the family, despite the severity of the accident, Quade remarkably suffered no head or spinal injuries and was awake and breathing on his own during the helicopter transport. The GoFundMe campaign was created to help the Quade family manage mounting medical expenses, the long commute to Minneapolis, and Jerrod’s extended recovery ahead. So far, the campaign has raised more than $20,000.

The Little Falls School Board meets at 5pm Monday at the District Office on Riverview Drive. There will be presentations and the Superintendent's report in the first hour then at 6pm the Truth and Taxation Public Comment Period will take place with then the certifying the tax levy for the next year. 

The Pierz City Council meets Monday at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.

Death Notices: Francis Joseph Januschka, age 94 of St. Joseph. Christina "Chris" Wochnick, age 87 of St. Cloud. 

Weather: light snow Monday, warmer high 26, with around 1 inch of snow by Monday night steady temps in the low 20s. Tuesday snow likely 1-3 during the day with high 31, some snow could be a wintry mix, more snow Tuesday night another 1-3 inches low around 12. Wednesday becoming sunny steady temps around 14 falling to -2 Wednesday night. Cold Thursday and Friday highs barely above zero, lows around -15. 

Sports: J. J. McCarthy tossed 3 touchdowns and the Vikings defense pitches their first shutout since 2023 as the Vikings roll 31-0 over Washington Sunday. Vikings (5-8) will travel to Dallas on December 14th. The University of Minnesota has accepted the bowl bid to take on New Mexico at the Rate Bowl. The bowl game will be on December 26th at 2:30pm central time at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. This is the second time for the Gophers to play in his bowl, they also did in 2021. Dawson Hofer scored 49 points in Holdingford's win over Upsala in boys basketball Saturday the Holdingford girls also won over Upsala. Little Falls boys basketball won over Grand Rapids Friday but lost to Zimmerman in the tip off classic on Saturday. Jake Leners of Royalton-Upsala wrestling got his 50th varsity pin on Friday and won his weight class as champion at Coon Rapids invite on Saturday in wrestling. Monday Night Football is Philadelphia at Los Angeles Chargers both teams 8-4 at 6pm on AM960 KLTF.