Monday, October 6, 2025

The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a number of accidents on Saturday. Around 8:45am one person was injured in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 10 in Otter Tail County taken to a local hospital for treatment. A Big Lake woman was injured around 10 on Highway 23 in Mille Lacs County in a two-vehicle accident. Just after 10am, a man in his 80s was injured as a passenger in an accident on Highway 23 in Benton County east of St. Cloud and treated at the hospital. Three people were hurt in an accident around 5pm in Sartell of Benton County at Highway 29, all three were taken to St. Cloud hospital for treatment of their injuries. There were dozens of accidents around the state on Saturday according to the state patrol website none were fatal.

Three people were arrested early Friday morning as they were caught in the act while stealing a vehicle in north St. Cloud. Officials say a person called it in just after 1:30 and was able to give a very detailed description of the suspects, along with the Kia Soul they had broken into. Officers arrived just as the group was fleeing the area in the stolen car. A brief chase ensued before the suspects crashed into the garage of a home on the 1100 block of 27th Avenue North. The 17-year-old driver was taken to CentraCare St. Cloud Hospital for minor injuries before being booked. An 18-year-old from St. Cloud and a 16-year-old from Waite Park were also arrested. The St. Cloud Police Department says Friday’s incident was part of an increasing trend in the area. They are asking for the community’s help in getting the problem under control, describing vehicle thefts as a crime with a meaningful impact that leaves people with a reduced sense of safety.

 A Stearns County grand jury has indicted a man on first-degree murder charges after he allegedly poisoned his roommate earlier this year. According to court documents, Stuart William Hanmer and Cody Ernst were living together at a halfway house starting May 3rd. Medical records say on May 16th, Ernst went to CentraCare St. Cloud Hospital after he had been vomiting and having “seizure-like activity” along with chest and abdominal pain. He was released that same day but returned May 17th, reporting he had been dealing with numbness, burning, and tingling in his extremities. He left the hospital two days later against the advice of medical staff, but only made it a short distance before he collapsed from severe pain in his hips and legs. Ernst was discharged May 22nd and ended up at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids before being transferred to the University of Minnesota Fairview Hospital one day later. On June 15th, a screening was conducted, turning up a lethal presence of thallium. University of Minnesota police contacted the St. Cloud Police Department about the potential poisoning after a heavy metals screening showed a likely fatal dose of the substance in Ernst’s system. On July 7th, investigators met with Hanmer, who explained the two would often smoke marijuana and have coffee together in the mornings. He said he was at home but not nearby when Ernst had a seizure and that “he wasn’t aware of what thallium poisoning was” until after hearing he died. Police executed a search warrant at Hanmer’s home on August 1st. According to the criminal complaint, Hanmer said he was using methamphetamine at the time he lived with Ernst but couldn’t remember if he ever searched the internet for thallium and denied poisoning him. Officers seized two of Hanmer’s cell phones, which turned up a search history from early April about thallium’s toxicity, how much it takes to kill someone with it, how long it takes to poison someone with it, and how to buy it. Searches from mid-May, just before Ernst went to the hospital, asked how to melt thallium, how long it stays in the body, and whether it stays in the system even if someone vomits. Videos were also discovered showing how to create thallium sulfate, with one showing it takes just a few hours to produce a powder form “that’s like, enough crystallized thallium sulfate to kill 15 grown men.” PayPal transactions turned up several purchases of thallium and screenshots of the orders, which investigators say were delivered to a P.O. box belonging to Hanmer. Hanmer was initially charged with second-degree murder last month, but a grand jury handed down the first-degree murder indictment Thursday. Following Thursday’s decision, a judge raised Hanmer’s bail to $5 million unconditional or $2.5 million with conditions.

Police are warning people after two incidents were reported on the multi-use trail of Lake Wobegon. The St. Joseph Police Department says at about 4pm Thursday, a white male exposed himself and groped a passing female on the Lake Wobegon Trail. The man is described as being 30-40 years old with brown hair, a brown beard, glasses, average height, weight, and build. The suspect was described as wearing athletic clothing. Late Friday another was received about a second woman calling say a man tried to touch her while she was walking on the trail reaching at the front of her shirt. She ran and did not get a good look at the man. The St. Joseph Police asks anyone with any information regarding the incidents to contact them, and say if anyone experiences anything similar, they should call 911 immediately. 

Visitors to the Weyerhaeuser Museum in the next few weeks will notice quite a bit of activity on our building and grounds. While official dates are not yet set, work on our roof and grounds will begin within the upcoming days There will be space crunches in our parking lot as dumpsters and equipment comes in and out, along with potential traffic delays on Lindbergh Drive near the museum's entrance. The Museum will be open during this time and we only ask that patrons be mindful as parts of our parking lot will be blocked off to accommodate work vehicles and equipment. Mike from the Museum mentioned this last week on KLTF and said if you have any questions, call 320-632-4007 or email: mocohistory@gmail.com.

This week is Fire Prevention Week. Little Falls Fire Chief Craig Seelen reported this year they are focusing on lithium battery use as there has been fires reported from those type of batteries this year. Seelen is expected to call in on the KLTF Community Program today in the 8am hour on AM960 KLTF. 

The Little Falls City Council meets tonight at 7:30pm at City Hall Council Chambers. 

Death Notices: Olivia Margaret Maciej, age 96 of Little Falls formerly of Bowlus. Ava Rudnicki, age 72 of Edina formerly of Little Falls. Stanley "Stan" Wielinski Jr. age 85 of Little Falls. 

Weather: partly cloudy today skies, much cooler, high 61, tonight clear skies low 36 some patchy frost by morning. Tuesday sunny skies, high near 60, low around 33 frost possible into Wednesday. Sunny Wednesday, a bit warmer, high 66, low around 45. Thursday showers possible high around 70, low 48.  

Sports: High School Football Friday: Upsala-Swanville 52-8 over Maple Lake, Pierz 76-6 over Apollo, Albany 55-0 over Little Falls, Osakis 42-6 over Royalton. Pillager, Staples-Motley and Foley won on Friday. Little Falls Tennis players Olivia and Brooke Litke advanced to section semi-finals Saturday in Sartell now two wins away from State Tournament. Pierz tennis team continues in sections at Pequot Lakes Tuesday. Ohio State beat Gophers 42-3 on Saturday night. Carson Wentz tossed a touchdown to Jordan Addison with 25 seconds left in the game yesterday and the Vikings win 21-17 over Cleveland in London to go to 3-2. Vikings are off this coming weekend for their bye week, and return to action October 19th vs. the Eagles with a noon kickoff live on AM960 KLTF. Las Vegas beat Phoenix both Friday and Sunday to lead the WNBA finals 2 games to 0. Wild open the regular season Thursday and you can hear Wild Hockey on weekends starting Saturday night on Q92 WYRQ and fallsradio.com.