Sunday, May 17, 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 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.
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.
Weekend events, St. Mary's is having coffee and rolls after Mass Sunday morning in honor of the graduates. St. James in Randall Sunday is having a coffee and cake social in honor of the graduates after Mass all are invited. Sunday 125th Anniversary worship service at 9am at Zion Lutheran Church in Little Falls then a German dinner is prepared at 10:15am for a free will offering. St. Francis of Assisi Church south of Upsala, north of Albany on Highway 238 has a breakfast from 9-12:30pm Sunday with many items on the menus and proceeds going to Steubenville trip of Religious Ed students for a free will offering, also drive up available for those not wanting to leave their car. Call the church on Sunday morning if you want a take-out at 573-2203. More events can be found at fallsradio.com.
Weather: Sunday, cloudy skies, few rain showers in the afternoon, high near 64, Showers and thunderstorms tonight some with heavy rains, low 48. Cloudy, breezy and cool Monday with isolated rain showers during day, high 58, rain likely some heavy Monday night low around 40. Tuesday cloudy skies, breezy and cool, high 51 light rain is possible, clearing Tuesday night patchy frost low 34. Wednesday sunny and cool, high 57, low around 36. Thursday partly sunny PM showers possible, high 61, low around 44. Friday warmer, high near 70 with isolated showers and T-storms possible, each day of Memorial Day Weekend has a chance of T-storms highs in the 70s.
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 wrap up series with Milwaukee Sunday at 1:10pm then host Houston on Monday night. 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. More games are scheduled Sunday in the Victory League. Softball playoffs begin Monday for some area teams including Paynesville Area at Pierz now at 4pm on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com. Little Falls will open playoffs Tuesday at Sauk Rapids-Rice at 4:30pm also on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.