Saturday, April 4, 2026
The National Weather Service has downgraded the warning in central Minnesota to a Winter Weather Advisory until 7pm tonight. Light snow is still possible through 7pm tonight with 1-3 inches of new snow. Winds out of the Northwest at 10-20mph will still cause visibility and travel issues through the rest of the day. Heavier snow is forecast in northern and northwestern Minnesota until 10pm tonight. The advisory area goes up to Duluth. While the Winter Storm Warning remains in effect north of Detroit Lakes to the northwestern border and the northern tier of the state.
The Little Falls Police Department is looking for the public's assistance in identifying the vehicle(s) and suspect(s) responsible for several damaged mailboxes, street signs, and personal property in the area of Riverwood Drive, Carter Lane, Edmund Street, and Madison Street. LFPD is asking residents to check their cameras for videos captured in the early morning hours of April 3rd, 2026. If you find your own property damaged and you've not made a report yet, you are encouraged to report it as soon as possible. If anyone from the public has information or video to share, please call the Little Falls Police Department at 320-616-5570.
The Little Falls Police Department and Morrison County Sheriff’s Office recently conducted training exercises at Little Falls Lindbergh Elementary School on Friday April 3rd and will again be using the facility on Monday, April 6. There will be an increased presence of law enforcement personnel and emergency vehicles in the area. This is only a training exercise, there is no threat to public safety.
One person was hurt after a crash near Paynesville on Friday afternoon. The Minnesota State Patrol says the crash happened at about 12:45 p.m. in Lake Henry Township. A car being driven by 76-year-old Warren Theel of Paynesville was going south on Highway 4, and an SUV being driven by 17-year-old Connor Olmscheid of Richmond was going west on County Road 32 when they crashed. Theel was taken to the Paynesville Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Olmscheid was not hurt.
One person was critically hurt after a crash on Highway 10 early Wednesday morning. The crash happened on Highway 10 near 60th Street NW, north of Sauk Rapids, at around 2:30 a.m. The Minnesota State Patrol says 61-year-old Paul Boeckermann of Pequot Lakes was eastbound on Highway 10 when he hit a deer. The collision disabled his car. A short time later, a car driven by 38-year-old Thomas Schultz of St. Cloud, possibly hit a deer and then collided with Boeckermann's car. Boeckermann was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Schultz was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
A 34-year-old man is facing charges after being caught with drugs three times over the course of two days in December. According to the criminal complaint, staff at the Sherburne County Jail said they saw 34-year-old Percy Edward Jackson trying to flush drugs down the toilet in his cell. They removed him and found two packets of fentanyl. He was later taken to Mercy Hospital for an unrelated matter when two more packets were found stashed in his hair. One tested positive as a medication to treat opioid addiction. The other tested positive for fentanyl. The next day, Jackson asked to talk to an officer regarding the drugs found on him and then handed over a baggie he pulled out of his sock. The drugs inside tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl. Jackson is charged with second-degree drug possession, fifth-degree drug possession, and introducing contraband into a jail. His next court date is set for May 13th.
Death Notices: Gary E. Alrichter, age 75 of Pillager.
Weather: Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 7pm tonight. Snow likely 1-3 inches Saturday high 33. Snow ending partly cloudy Saturday night low near 23. Sunday sunny skies, high 42 few afternoon rain showers, Sunday night cloudy low around 20. Monday sunny and windy, high 30, low near 7 above. Tuesday cloudy skies, high 37, rain and snow develops Tuesday night, low 29 early rising overnight, then warmer Wednesday with a few rain showers, high 54, low around 35.
Sports: On the Saturday Morning Sports Alex spoke with Chris Backhaus who announced he is resigning as the Little Falls boys soccer coach in Little Falls, and also Joey Hanowski who announced he is resigning as the Little Falls boys hockey coach. Little Falls Community High School will have a transition of new coaches as earlier this year it was announced that Joe Bartos has stepped away as the Flyer Football coach and Kevin Jordan is retiring as the Little Falls Community High School Activities Director. All of these positions will be filled in the coming days and weeks ahead. Twins win 10-4 Friday over Rays in home opener while Philadelphia beat the Timberwolves 115-103 on Friday night.