JP Cola

(Olivia MN-) Senator Andrew Lang of Olivia Thursday announced the disbursement of $1.5 million in aid to ambulance service providers serving Senate District 16 by The Minnesota Department of Revenue. Lang, who is an air ambulance pilot for Lifelink Three, says the funds are the result of the bipartisan $30M rural EMS aid package passed in 2024 which was championed by Lang, who said smaller town ambulance services have been under great financial strain...

(Grove City MN-) A Marshall man is behind bars, accused of engaging in sexual activity with a 12-year-old he met on line in Grove City. The Meeker County Sheriff's Department says on Friday detectives arrested 20-year-old Jonah Nauman. They say the arrest is the result of an active criminal sexual conduct investigation. Detectives learned Nauman had contacted a twelve-year-old girl on social media. After making contact, Nauman traveled to meet with the victim on two separate occasions, once in Paynesville, and once in Grove City and engaged in sexual activity with the victim.

(Willmar MN-) The Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office is warning residents of another scam that's going around. They say people in the community are being targeted by phone callers pretending to be staff from the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff's office says residents are getting calls from someone claiming to be a deputy, stating various things including you’ve missed a court date and have a warrant, calling about an ‘urgent’ civil matter, etc. This is an attempted fraud, usually followed-up with a demand that a fine needs to be paid or something similar.

(Willmar MN-) The City of Willmar is moving forward with an outdoor ice rink and pavilion outside The Willmar Civic Center. City Administrator Leslie Valiant says they have a base

(Willmar MN-) The Minnesota Legislature recently passed a House resolution commending Ridgewater and its award-winning Meat Cutting program for demonstrating educational innovation and excellence.

(Willmar MN-) Phone scammers picked the wrong victim in Kandiyohi County recently. Sheriff Eric Tollefson says he got a phone call from someone claiming to be from his office, making false demands...

(Willmar MN-) Representative Dave Baker says he wasn't surprised a judge has ruled Curtis Johnson did not live in House District 40B when he was elected last month. The court ruling gives the GOP a one-seat majority in The House for the first time in four years...

(Montevideo MN-) Two people were hurt in a three-vehicle crash in Montevideo Monday. The state patrol says it was reported at 6 a.m. at Highway 212 and Carlton Drive. A car driven by a 39-year-old Montevideo man and a Jeep driven by a 33-year-old Montevideo woman were eastbound on 212, and a semi was westbound when they collided near Carlton Drive, just southeast of Montevideo. The car and Jeep drivers were taken to the Chippewa County Montevideo Hospital and their names and current conditions have not been released. The truck driver, 55-year-old David Morrison from New Brighton was not injured.

(Willmar MN-) Pending approval by The Willmar City Council, the city has a new utilities general manager. Shawn Mueske, Chair of the Willmar Municipal Utilities Commission, says a contract has been signed with Jeron Smith, and if it is approved by the city council at their January 13th meeting, Smith will take the reins at Willmar Municipal Utilities January 20th. The road to hiring a new GM has been a rocky one...John Harren retired September 20th, and the first choice for a replacement, Joel Lemke of Stevens Point Wisconsin, was later rejected after he said he wanted to work for the first two years from home. Their second choice, Rick Wicklund of Sun Prairie Wisconsin, decided not to accept the utility's contract offer. Jeron Smith is currently WMU Electrical Engineer and was the utility commission's third choice. WMU Administrator Janelle Johnson, who also applied for the job, has been interim manager since Harren's retirement.

(Waite Park MN-) Two people were hurt in a traffic crash in Stearns County Christmas Eve. The state patrol says it was reported at 6 a.m. Tuesday on Highway 23 in Waite Park. A pickup and an SUV were both northbound when they collided. The driver of the SUV, 48-year-old Jason Elmore of Hawick and his passenger, 33-year-old Maria Elmore of Hawick, were taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The pickup driver, 23-year-old Lue Her of St. Paul, and Her's two passengers were not injured.