News, weather, sports, music and a bunch of other stuff.
Grab a cup of coffee and tune in.

28-Nov-2025

Sauks Rapids Man Sentenced For Murder

A Sauk Rapids man has been sentenced to more than 27 in prison for fatally strangling a woman he met at a bar. On Tuesday, 46 year old Christopher Neal, of Sauk Rapids was sentenced to 326 months in prison for the Aug. 12, 2024 murder of 38-year-old Victoria Gamble. Neal previously entered a Norgaard plea for second-degree murder in connection with the case, meaning he claims he does not recall the events but acknowledges the prosecution could prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was prosecuted by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office. Neal went to a Sauk Rapids bar on Aug. 11, 2024, where he met Gamble. Security cameras showed Neal getting into Gamble’s vehicle and leaving the bar. The two were later seen on a security camera entering Gamble's apartment building at around 1:15 a.m. on Aug. 12. Neal left the apartment building a few hours later, fleeing in Gamble’s vehicle. Gamble was found dead in the apartment later that day. An autopsy determined her cause of death was strangulation, and Neal’s DNA was found on her neck. Neal was arrested in Louisiana a week later.

 

 

 

 

 

27-Nov-2025

Shed Fire

A shed and a lot of farm equipment have been destroyed in a fire.  The Meeker County Sheriff's Office says the incident happened at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in Collinwood Township, near Dassel. There was a 60-foot by 136-foot shed fully engulfed. The property is owned by 74-year-old Galen Carlson. The shed was filled with a number of pieces of farm equipment, including a semi-tractor and trailer loaded with corn. Cokato Fire, Litchfield Fire, Hutchinson Fire, and Silver Lake Fire helped the Dassel Fire Department put out the flames. There were no injuries. The cause is not known and is being investigated by the Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office.

 

 

 

 

27-Nov-2025

Tree Falls On Man Killing Him

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says a man was killed when a tree fell on him while he was snow blowing his property. Deputies were called to the 7400 block of Laine Road in Alden Township just before 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday after a woman discovered her husband under a large, downed tree. The woman told authorities that she left their home while her husband was snow blowing their property, and she returned about 45 minutes later to find him dead. Authorities have identified the man as 69-year-old Brian Pelander. No foul play is suspected in his death. Investigators believe high winds and heavy, wet snow caused the tree to fall while Pelander was snow blowing near it. The Duluth area got more than 10 inches of snow between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning.

24-Nov-2025

Three Homes Destroyed By Fire

Three unoccupied homes were destroyed in a fire early Saturday morning on November 22nd in Otter Tail County. The Otter Tail County Dispatch received reports of multiple residences on fire in the 28000 block of Augustana Trail in Amor Township at 2:53 a.m., according to a report from Deputy Colton Odash. All three homes involved in the fire appear to be a complete loss. No injuries were reported from the incident. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. Fire departments from Battle Lake, Ottertail, Underwood, Fergus Falls and Perham responded to assist with the fire. The State Fire Marshal’s Office also responded to the scene. The Sheriff’s Office assisted with the response.