In this afternoon’s WJON News headlines:

– Big Lake man arrested for sexually assaulting girl
– Sartell Police releases photos of gas station robber
– MnDOT to study I-94 corridor near fatal crash for cable barrier
– Waite Park man pleads guilty to trying to kill wife

WJON News.
On the Air. Online. On Charter Cable Channel 20. On Demand.

Sherburne County Jail photo

ELK RIVER — Sherburne County authorities have arrested a Big Lake man on suspicion of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Sheriff Joel Brott says 41-year-old Rodney Barfknecht sexually assaulted a pre-teenage girl on more than one occasion.

Barfknecht was arrested today and taken to the Sherburne County Jail where he is being held until he can be arraigned on the charges.

BP surveillance photo

SARTELL — The Sartell Police Department has released photos of the man who robbed the BP Gas & Goods store on Pinecone Road Friday night.

Police say he walked into the gas station just after 9:00 p.m., said he had a weapon and demanded money.

No one was hurt.

If you have information about this man, call the Sartell Police Department.

BP surveillance photo

BP surveillance photo

MnDOT photo

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Transportation has been working in recent years to install more cable barriers in the medians of highways and interstate where cross-median crashes tend to occur. Unfortunately, there was no cable median barrier along I-94 where four college students crossed through the median and were hit by oncoming traffic Monday.

State Traffic Engineer Sue Groth says that area hadn’t been a top priority before the crash because of relatively low traffic counts compared to the Twin Cities and few cross-median crashes.

Groth says they will now look at that stretch of interstate to determine its priority level.

So far, Minnesota has almost 260 miles of cable barriers at a cost of $150,000 per mile. Groth says there are some maintenance costs with the cable barriers, but it is still less costly than concrete barriers.

Tri-County Humane Society

Melina is a 4 month old, spayed, Shepherd Mix who was transferred to TCHS from another rescue organization. Melina has an energetic, sweet personality and is looking for an indoor home where she can be spoiled! Since Melina is still a puppy, she is working on her house training skills. Melina came in with her brother, Miguel, and they get along famously. If you can provide this lovable puppy with the home she deserves, stop into the shelter and meet with her today.

– Tri-County Humane Society Executive Director Vicki Davis

Tri-County Humane Society

Meet Foxy. She is 5 months old and already spayed. She has a medium- length coat that is soft to the touch. In her previous home, Foxy lived with many other cats and loved to rough house and play with them. Sometimes she is shy around new people at first but warms up quickly. When Foxy is snuggled up on your lap receiving a good head scratch, her purr-box never quits! She would love an indoor home and will make a lovable pet.

– Tri-County Humane Society Executive Director Vicki Davis

Check out all the animals available for adoption by going to the Tri-County Humane Society’s website or Facebook page. Or visit them at 735 8th Street Northeast in St. Cloud. They’re open Monday through Thursdays Noon to 6; Fridays noon to 8; Saturdays 11 to 5; and Sundays Noon to 5.

The ice on the lake has been deemed unsafe by the order of the Park and Recreation Director.  Ice Skating, hockey, and public access are no longer allowed.

The recent snow melt and stormwater runoff has created holes in the ice, leading to open water.

Getty Images

The Gopher men’s basketball team hosts 6th ranked Michigan State at 7:30 tonight, pregame on AM 1390-the Fan at 7:00.  Minnesota is 5-9 in the Big Ten and needing a win while Michigan State is 11-3 in the Big Ten and in contention for a #1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.  The Gophers are barely on the bubble for a NCAA tournament berth with a 17-10 overall record.

The day’s top stories from WJON News:

–Barn fire near Paynesville destroys $60,000 of rabbits
–Foley getting closer to reestablishing law enforcement
–New report shows declining home foreclosures in MN
–Library study results to be released during public presentation

WJON News
On The Air. Online. On Charter Channel 20. On Demand.

Stearns County Jail photo

ST. CLOUD — A Waite Park man has admitted to trying to kill his wife. 43-year-old Joseph Benson pleaded guilty to first degree attempted murder stemming from the August 2011 incident.

Court records show the couple was having marital problems when Benson used a knife to attack his wife. She was eventually able to escape but suffered stab wounds to her neck, back, chest and hands.

Benson admitted in court he and his wife were having marital problems, that he used multiple knives to try to kill her and that the only reason she is still alive is because she was able to escape.

The plea agreement calls for Benson to be sentenced to 14-years and three months in prison.

Assistant Stearns County Attorney Joshua Kannegieter says Benson will be sentenced May 3, but has already been taken to prison to start serving his sentence.

Laura Lezza, Getty Images

ROME (AP) – Divers searching the capsized Costa Concordia have found what appears to be four more bodies on the cruise ship.

The civil protection agency, which is monitoring the operation, said the bodies were found Wednesday but it will take some time before they are recovered.

The Concordia struck a reef near the Tuscan island of Giglio on Jan. 13 and capsized. Seventeen bodies from the ship have been found, but 15 people are still listed as missing.
Italian news reports said the body of a 5-year-old Italian girl was among those found.

Dayana Arlotti was on the cruise with her father and his girlfriend. They survived the tragedy.

The reports cited unidentified members of the search team. The civil protection agency said it would neither confirm nor deny the reports.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved)

subzeroconsciousness, Flickr

PAYNESVILLE – A barn near Paynesville burned to the ground early this (Wednesday) morning.

The Stearns County Sheriff’s Department says a neighbor spotted the fire and woke-up the homeowner Scott Klehr.

There was about $60,000 worth of rabbits, $8,000 worth of horse saddles and harnesses, a $2,500 manure spreader, and an unknown amount of tools and equipment in the barn.

The cause of the fire is not known.

The fire was reported at about 1:40 a.m. on County Road 33, five miles north of Paynesville in Zion Township.

Tim Lyon

FOLEY – The Foley city council has taken a step toward re-establishing their own police department.

During last (Tuesday) night’s council meeting they voted 4-1 to hire an interim police chief.  Mayor Gary Gruba voted against the plan.  Hal Henning will work 20 hours a week, beginning next Friday.  He’ll be paid a total of $10,400.

The city still needs to work out other details like how many staff members to hire, and buying equipment like a squad car.

Foley has been without policing services since the first of the year.  They had contracted the services out through the Benton County Sheriff’s Department for the past several years.

Joe Sexton and Gary Posch (Jim Maurice)

The St. Cloud Northwoods League baseball team, formally known as the River Bats, will reveal its new team name, logo and colors Tuesday February 28 at 7pm at Legends Bar and Grill in the St. Cloud Holiday Inn.  The event is free and open to the public.  Merchandise and season ticket options will be available at the event.

St. Cloud Vice President Scott Schreiner says they received “1,200 suggestions for a team name”.  The Northwoods League season begins for St. Cloud on May 30.  The home opener for St. Cloud is June 2 against Mankato at 7:05.

Sartell-St. Stephen 3, Apollo 0
(Michael Whitson scored 2 goals and 1 assist and Christian Murray had a goal and 2 assists for the Sabres.  Taylor Shaw had 29 saves to earn the shutout in net for Sartell.  Reese Gregory had 32 saves for the Eagles.  Sartell-St. Stephen will play Little Falls at 6pm at the MAC Saturday)

Section 8AA Quarterfinals

Brainerd 4, Tech 1
Bemidji 6, River Lakes 0

Adapted Hockey:

St. Cloud Slapshots 18, Wayzata 3 (St. Cloud is 8-1)

Melissa Ullmann

Sauk Rapids-Rice 49, Tech 47
(Zack Haffner led the Storm with 13 points.  Bryant Bohlig and Andy Foley each scored 13 points for Tech.  The Tigers are 8-5 in the CLC and 13-10 overall)

Little Falls 75, Rocori 65
(Nate Meyer led the Spartans with 25 points)

Brainerd 75, Apollo 65 (overtime)
(Brett Maslonkowski led the Eagles with 16 points)

Fergus Falls 69, Sartell-St. Stephen 58
(Tim Immelman led the Sabres with 21 points)

Cathedral 74, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 67
(Bjorn Bjorklund led the Crusaders with 25 points.  Cathedral is 17-5)

Providence 70, St. John’s Prep 60
Dassel-Cokato 58, Kimball 56

Sartell-St. Stephen 68, Albany 50
(Abby Whitney led the Sabres with 18 points and 9 rebounds)

Monticello 68, Apollo 58
(Abby Notch led the Eagles with 16 points)

gojohnnies.com

St. John’s 2, Valley City State 0
Valley City State 2, St. John’s 1
(St. John’s is 1-1.  Games were played at the Metrodome)

Here’s this morning’s headlines on WJON:

- Vehicle runs into Traut Wells building
- Albany man ticketed after crash
- 21-year-old attacked early Sunday morning
- Foreclosures fell in 2011
- Drought continues for much of Minnesota

WJON News
On The Air. Online. On Charter Channel 20. On Demand.

Getty Images

DULUTH  (AP) – Students who own season tickets to the University of Minnesota-Duluth’s men’s hockey games are being warned to shape up after the school received reports they used offensive chants to taunt the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux.

Athletic Director Bob Nielson recently sent students a letter that said inappropriate comments directed at officials or other teams could get them tossed from the arena or cost them their tickets.

Students began chanting “smallpox blankets” and other phases during the Feb. 10-11 series against North Dakota.

North Dakota has tried to drop the Fighting Sioux name, but supporters of the mascot recently gathered enough petition signatures to temporarily restore a state law that had required its use.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved)

Getty Images

ST. CLOUD – A library in any community is a source of pride.  But is there a way to measure the value that library has on the community?

The results of a new study on that topic will be released tomorrow (Thursday) at St. Cloud Public Library.  It’s titled “Minnesota Public Libraries Return on Investment” report.

One of it’s findings is that 69% of respondents to a state-wide survey feel that libraries are important to have in every community.  It also places the number of public library employees at nearly 3,700.  And it estimates the total financial impact of public library services at more than $366 million.

The study was conducted over two years by the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Tomorrow’s presentation is open to everyone.  It begins at 10:00 a.m. in the library’s Mississippi Community Room.