The students at St. Philip’s Catholic School have been busy in April and the month is only half over. The 5th graders are enjoying some time up at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center this week.
Principal Andrea Dietrich says the second graders will have their first communion later this month, spring testing will begin at the end of April, and the singers will have a concert for grandparent’s day early in May. She says registration is open for any child that would like to enroll in their K-through-5 school in the next year.
Dietrich says they recently received good news as they had a goal of raising $70,000 from their annual marathon last October, and they finally reached their goal so the students will be rewarded with a field trip. She says there was a rummage and bake sale at St. Philip’s Church April 4th and 5th which was a huge success – raising more money for student scholarships.
From April 12th to April 14th, the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office received 12 calls related to damage to property, break-ins, suspicious people walking in town and a burglary alarm related to the property damage reports in the City of Dassel. Many businesses in the downtown are were damaged along with a vehicle on the south end of town. Businesses suffered broken windows and damage to doors from attempted break-ins. Deputies gathered evidence at several locations and are searching for surveillance footage. Anyone with information or video footage of any of these incidents is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office dispatch at 320-693-5400. Information can also be left anonymously on our confidentail tip-line at 320-693-5411.
On April 12th, 2025, at approximately 7:10 p.m., the Stearns County Emergency Communications Center received a report of a crash with injuries near the intersection of County Road 9 and 440th Street, in Holding Township. This location is approximately 2 miles north of the City of Holdingford. The caller reported a single motorcycle crash and reported the driver was injured in the ditch. Stearns County Deputies arrived on scene to find a 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle in the northwest corner of the ditch. Through investigation, it was learned that the motorcycle, driven by Jason Klein, 47, of Holdingford, was southbound on County Road 9 negotiating the curve just north of 440th Street when it entered the west ditch and lost control. Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be a contributing factor. Klein was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Klein was transported to the St. Cloud Hospital with serious injuries. The crash remains under investigation. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Avon Police Department, Holdingford Fire Department, Mayo Ambulance Service, and North Memorial Air Ambulance.
On April 13, 2025, at 5:47 P.M., the Stearns County Emergency Communications Center received a report regarding a two-vehicle crash, with injuries, at the intersection of County Road 16 and County Road 130 in Zion Township. A 2008 Dodge Avenger, driven by John Weber, 67, of Hawick, was southbound on Co. Rd. 16 and failed to stop for the stop sign. A 2013 Dodge Durango driven by Lisa Bagley, 55, of St. Cloud, was eastbound on Co. Rd. 130 and was struck by Weber. Weber, Bagley, and Bagley’s passenger, Joyanna Hellen, 21, of St. Cloud, were transported to the Paynesville Hospital for treatment of their injuries. The crash is still under investigation by the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Paynesville Police Department, Paynesville Fire Department, and