NEWS --On Friday, the display of World War I “Into the Fight, Minnesota and the First World War” opened. Original artifacts, audio-video displays, uniforms named to Minnesota Veterans, a walk-thru a World War I trench, weapons and reinactments of soldiers during the Great War. A lot of families, with family members who were in World War I are the ones who donated the uniforms and artifacts, along with a number of photos so today's generations and others and look back 100 years. The Military Museum is on their summer hours meaning they are open every day (7 days a week) 10-5. Admission is $5, and you do need an ID to enter Camp Ripley to stop into the museum.
--Minnesota Power reported late Friday that they have had to call in additional resources to aid in restoring power to northern and central Minnesota from last Thursday's storms. The damage in Duluth, Cloquet, Itasca County around the state park and other areas was much more extensive than previously thought. Over 220 line workers and electiricians have been called in to help with the progress of getting the power back on. As of Friday night nearly 46,000 were still without power and over 100 power poles were destroyed from the storms. One area, the Woodland Neighborhood in Rice Lake, has the entire area without power and trees fell on many houses causing extensive damage. Another round of flooding rains Saturday hampered more efforts in the restoring of power and the excessive heat of 90+ degrees and high humidity has also caused problems. Minnesota Power hopes to have power restored by later this week.
--A reminder from Emergency Management and law enforcement that with the recent storms again a number of calls to Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office on scams have risen again. A number of reports of people losing money when dealing with those claiming they will assist with cleanup but then disappear. Last July after the super cell went through Brainerd dozens of people reported losing thousands of dollars from these type of scams. The Crow Wing County Commissioners are working on a permitting system that would aid in finding licensed contractors, tree services and others in cleanup needs. For now a reminder to homeowners to throughly check out each person that you hire to help with any cleanup and make sure they are licensed professionals in their fields.
--U. S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger on Wednesday announced the sentencing of 53-year-old Rex Lee Furman of Federal Dam to life in prison for preying on children both online and in-person. Following a three-day trial before Senior U.S. District Judge David S. Doty, a jury found Furman guilty of all the charges against him, including 13 counts of production of child pornography; one count of possession of child pornography, one count of receiving child pornography; and one count of committing a sex offense while being required to register as a sex offender. As proven at trial, while residing in Federal Dam, Furman photographed and sexually abused two young girls who were then in his care. He also collected images and videos of child pornography, including videos of girls as young as 3 years old being sexually violated. After a search of his residence, more than 500 such videos and images, including of the two girls who had been in his care. Furman had equipped his room with tools to enable the abuse of children. Furman has two prior convictions for sexually abusing prepubescent girls and again was sentenced to life in prison.
--The Pierz City Council meets tonight 7pm at the Pierz City Hall.
--The Morrison County Fair is August 11-14th and the final day is Senior Day where not only is the Morrison County Outstanding Senior Citizen Award handed out but also a number of sixth graders from across Morrison County will give their award winning essays on their favorite older person in their life. Many wrote about a beloved grandparent, while others chose a neighbor or family friend. One girl and boy were selected as winners from each school and advanced to the county competition. Horizon Health has announced the students who wrote the winning essays. First place winners are Emma Mikkelsen and Jeremy Hintz from Little Falls Community Middle School; second place winners are Mackenzie Morris from Swanville Public Schools and Daniel Ruiz Martinez from Pierz Pioneer Elementary; and third place winners are Graci Stangl from Pierz Pioneer Elementary and Kaleb Primus from Swanville Public Schools.
–A Paynesville man was injured in a motorcycle accident Saturday morning around 12:45 east of Avon. 22-year-old Joshua Schmitt was riding on Norway Road when he missed a curve and left the roadway, struck a road sign throwing him from the cycle. Schmitt was transported to the St. Cloud Hospital with serious injuries.
--The Royalton area is getting ready to rock as Halfway Jam XIII kicks off Thursday. Gates open at 4pm Thursday with acts this year includeing Theory of a Deaman, Skillet, Sether, Gin Blossoms and Sugar Ray along with many more as the bands play from early evening to well after midnight each night. You can save money on Halfway Jam three day passes by going to halfwayjam.com then when ordering tickets put in promo code FM94 to save 20 bucks on 3 day general admission tickets or $30 on 3 day with camping.
--The Morrison County Commissioners are scheduled to meet Tuesday morning at 9am at the government center.
NATIONAL NEWS --DFL Endorsed Candidate for President Hillary Clinton announced Friday night she has picked Virginia Senator Tim Kaine as her Vice Presidential candidate. The DFL National Convention begins today.
DEATH NOTICES --Thomas Schyma, age 80 of Foley. --Vernon Bujarski, age 71 of Hillman.
WEATHER TODAY= mostly sunny, high 85. TONIGHT= increasing clouds, low 63. TUESDAY= partly sunny, afternoon storms, high 82. TUES NITE= storms likely, some heavy rain, low 64. WEDNESDAY= cloudy, showers and storms likely, high 77.
SPORTS GREEN= former Minnesota Vikings and Arizona head coach Dennis Green died on Friday of cardiac arrest. He was 67. TWINS= Twins win 2-1 Friday, Kyle Gibson 2 hits over 8 innings. Twins battle back to beat Boston in a wild one Saturday 11-9. Boston takes Sunday's game 8-7 over Twins to split series. Twins off today. LYNX= Lynx win 79-72 Friday over Seattle to go into Olympic Break at 21-4. The Minnesota Lynx announced that due to the large renovation project next summer at Target Center they will be moving to St. Paul for their 2017 home games at the Xcel Energy Center.