Local Interest

On 02/15/2025 at approximately 9:34 a.m., Stearns County Deputies were dispatched to a domestic at the address of 25327 County Road 34 in Paynesville Township. Deputies were able to contact the victim and determined there was probable cause to arrest Nicholas Kaufenberg, 58, of Paynesville Township. Phone contact was made with Kaufenberg, who refused to come out and meet with … [Read more...] about Paynesville Township Call

On February 5, 2025, at approximately 12:40 p.m., the Stearns County Emergency Communications Center received a report of a possible building fire at Centre Pallet and Lumber located at 37622 395th Avenue in Getty Township. The caller Alan Lawinger, 57, of Sauk Centre, reported that there was smoke coming out of the boiler room attached to a 50x120 foot building. There had been … [Read more...] about Building Fire

On February 4, 2025, at approximately 6:09 p.m., the Stearns County Emergency Communications Center received a report of a crash with injuries near the intersection of County Road 10 and 360th Street, in Albany Township. Initial Dispatch information was that there had been a T-Bone crash at this intersection and one of the vehicles was smoking. It was also reported that one of … [Read more...] about Crash with Injuries

On February 1, 2025, at approximately 3:20 p.m. the Stearns County Emergency Communications Center received a call of a residential fire at the address of 21453 430th Street in Krain Township. The caller reported smoke on the main floor and flames coming through the windows of the second floor. The caller and sole resident, Irene Schmitz, 81, Freeport, also reported everyone … [Read more...] about Stearns County House Fire

On January 28, 2025, between approximately 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office received two burglary complaints and a suspicious person complaint in Melrose Township and neighboring Millwood Township just outside the city of Melrose. Stearns County Sheriff’s Deputies and Investigators from the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office responded to the … [Read more...] about Melrose Area Burglary Arrest