Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Township Election Results received Tuesday night at Little Falls Radio: Agram- David Meyer Supervisor, Galen Stump Treasurer. Bellevue- Timothy Poirer Supervisor, Christina Noyes Treasurer. Buckman- Gary Solinger- Supervisor. Culdrum- Jeremy Mrozik Supervisor, Lakin- Ben Novak Supervisor, Mae Bialke Treasurer. Leigh Ricky Monson Supervisor, Lauren O'Tanen Treasurer. Parker- Michael Fritz Supervisor, Stephanie Scepurek Treasurer. Pike Creek- Jerry Drelleck Supervisor, Chris Boros Treasurer. Swan River Gerard Oldakowski, Paul Rudolph Treasurer. Swanville John Fruechte Supervisor, Michelle Kurowski Treasurer. 

--The Little Falls Fire Department was called to a vehicle fire around 4pm yesterday, but were cancelled on route as the car was overheating but was taken care on scene by local authorities. No injuries reported. 

--Tri-County Crime Stoppers says it is offering a $1,000 reward for anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of a wanted murder suspect. A warrant has been issued for Bernard Dwayne Bowens, aka Buddy, for second and third degree murder in connection to the February 2nd shooting death of 17-year-old Layson Davis. It happened inside an apartment building on the 200 block of 2nd Street Northeast. Police say Davis and another man were standing in the building when Bowens came in and pulled a wad of cash out of his coat pocket before putting it back. About five minutes later, the three are seen on surveillance video struggling over a gun. Then, Bowens ended up with the gun and ran down the hallway. About a minute after the scuffle, Davis is then seen running on the second floor with a gun when Bowens appears to ambush Davis as he is coming down the stairs. The two each drew their guns, and Bowens fired several rounds at Davis and ran. Davis was pronounced dead at the scene. Bowens has been at large since the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to contact Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-255-1301 by filling out the secure online form by clicking here or via the P3 mobile tip app on Google Play or the iPhone App Store. Emails can also be sent to the lead detective, Celeste.Walz@ci.stcloud.mn.us Tipsters can remain anonymous.

--At least one person is dead after a crash on Highway 10 near Becker late Monday night. The Minnesota State Patrol says just after 11:15, the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office was trying to stop the driver of a motorcycle for a traffic violation on eastbound Highway 10 when the driver crashed into a Chevy Silverado pickup truck at 165th Avenue. The crash remains under investigation. The motorcyclist was fleeing police at the time, and the crash’s impact sent the pickup into the ditch. The motorcyclist was reportedly pronounced dead at the scene. Highway 10 was closed for several hours for investigation and reconstruction. No names have been released.

--A teenage boy was seriously hurt in a single car crash on Sunday. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says they received a call around 12:50 p.m. about a car crash on County Road 29 near Sauk Centre. Authorities say a car driven by 16-year-old Isaac Hokanson of Sauk Centre was going south on County Road 29 near 375th Avenue when he left the road, struck an approach and vaulted 350 feet before coming to rest in a field. Hokanson was treated at the scene and then airlifted to a Twin Cities hospital with significant injuries. The crash is under investigation.

--Starting Monday, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is severely cutting back the daily and possession limit for yellow perch on Mille Lacs Lake. The limit will be reduced from 20 to five and remain in place through November 30th. The DNR says the adjustment is to “help maintain a good perch population for the future,” according to a news release. It will have a trickle down effect as yellow perch are a main food source for walleye, so authorities say the move will maintain an abundance of older fish, which will result in more young being produced this spring and preserve fishing opportunities for next year. State-licensed anglers share the perch harvest on Mille Lacs with Ojibwe Tribes that retain fishing rights by treaty. Each party then sets fishing regulations to stay within their share of the harvest. As of February 23rd, the state has harvested 43,000 pounds of perch, exceeding its share by 6,500 pounds. Brad Parsons, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fisheries section manager says with annual perch harvest never more than 7,000 pounds since 2012, “this year’s rebound is a positive sign for the health of the lake. The state and our Tribal partners will intensify efforts to evaluate the Mille Lacs perch population and future sustainable harvest plans. The response we see in the perch population to this year’s higher harvest will be an important part of that.” Complete Mille Lacs Lake fishing regulations and regularly updated data on state-licensed angler catches of walleye, northern pike and yellow perch are available on the DNR website. 

--A 20-year-old unlicensed driver was cited after he drove into the front entrance of his apartment building Monday afternoon. According to the St. Cloud Police Department, they were called to the 2000 block of 27th Street Southeast around 2:25 for a vehicle that had crashed into the building. The St. Cloud Fire Department was also dispatched for a fire alarm at that same time. When authorities arrived, they found the vehicle had gone through the building’s front door, through the front lobby, and lodged in the wall between two elevator shafts. There was no fire, but there was damage to the sprinkler system, which the fire department addressed. The driver was identified as Abdikafi Ismail Mohamoud, who was a resident of the complex. Police say he was driving without a valid license. He was ticketed for that and for failing to drive with due care. No one was injured. The St. Cloud Building Inspector was called in to assess any structural damage. All residents were allowed to remain inside.

--The Isle Police Department is requesting the public's help in finding 16-year-old Brody Schwarzbauer, who was last seen on March 3rd at his residence in the early evening hours on West Isle Street in Isle. He was last seen wearing a grey sweatshirt with "Mille Lacs Lake" on it, blue jeans and white tennis shoes. Anyone who has seen Schwarzbauer should call 911 or the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office at 320-983-8257. 

WEATHER today- partly sunny and warmer, high 54, cloudy skies at night low near 30, Thursday sunny and warmer, high 62, warm night with clouds increasing low near 45, Friday rain likely, heavy after 4pm some thunderstorms into the night then turning breezy with high near 70. Rain to change to snow late Friday night into Saturday, snow all day Saturday 1-3 inches with very gusty winds, by Sunday highs are only in the 20s. 

SPORTS- High School Boys Basketball tonight Pierz vs. Esko in Duluth at 5:30pm on 94ROCKS KFML and fallsradio.com. During the game tonight there will be updates from Upsala vs. Braham tonight 7pm in Foley and Albany vs. Holdingford at 6pm tonight at St. John's. Winners play on Friday where Pierz and Esko winner will play either Pequot Lakes or Staples-Motley on Friday night in Duluth. Upsala vs. Braham winner takes on Nevis or Browerville Friday in St. Cloud and Albany vs. Holdingford has Spectrum or Sauk Centre on Friday night for section championship. 

The State Girls Basketball Tournament begins today in Minneapolis. Class 4A has Brainerd in action, Class 3A has Alexandria and Class 2A quarterfinals include Crosby-Ironton and Sauk Centre. The Class A quarter-finals are Thursday with semi-finals to start at Williams Arena. Good luck to the area girls team at state.