NEWS --The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office reported at 11:03pm Wednesday they received a report of storm damage at Laurie’s Lakeside Resort, southwest of Camp Ripley, in Darling Township. According to the Sheriff’s Office there was storm damage in this area to include large trees overturned, a 5th wheel camper that was flipped on its side, structural damage to homes located off Fish Lake Drive on the north side of Green Prairie Fish Lake and vehicle damage caused by overturned trees. Additionally, there were docks on the lake that were damaged as well as pontoon and boats that were loose and capsized. The storm assessment determined that the path of the storm moved east-northeast from 100th Avenue approximately ½ north of Highway 10 and continued through Camp Ripley ending approximately ¼ to ½ mile north of 233rd Street on 165th Avenue. The storm impacted the townships of Darling, Green Prairie and Ripley. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management has been working with personnel from the National Weather Service and Camp Ripley in assessing the storm damage. As of late afternoon on Thursday, the National Weather Service determined the storm intensified rapidly producing an EF1 tornado which touched down in Morrison County. An EF1 tornado is capable of producing wind speeds anywhere from 86-110 miles per hour. Sheriff Larsen advised that their office was never given any indication or warning of the tornado. According to witnesses on scene the storm developed quickly and was fast moving. Morrison County Sheriff’s Office did not receive any reports of serious injury or death.
--A fatal motorcycle rollover occurred Friday morning on Highway 27 west of Isle. The Minnesota State Patrol reported a motorcycle was traveling west on Highway 27 when it went off the curve to the right and rolled. The crash occurred shortly after 7:00am near 45th Avenue. The driver of the motorcycle, identified as 61-year old John G. Troyer of St. Paul, was dead at the scene. The road was dry at the time of the crash, the state patrol reported. Troyer was wearing a helmet.
--One person was hurt in a three vehicle crash in Sartell Thursday night. The Minnesota State Patrol says a van driven by 26-year-old Rachel Borgen of St. Cloud was going north on Highway 15 in the left turn lane when it struck two other vehicles. The other two drivers were 26-year-old Holly Winter of St. Cloud, and 43-year-old Mary Ojullo of Sartell. Ojullo was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non life-threatening injuries. The other two drivers were not hurt.
--Crews fought a building fire in downtown Melrose Thursday. The Melrose Police Department says crews were called to a building at the corner of Main Street and 4th Avenue shortly after 12:30pm. Several businesses were on the ground level of the building with apartments above. The intense heat caused the roof on one of the buildings to collapse. Thick smoke and a few flames could be seen coming from the buildings hours later. A number of people needed to be rescued from the upper level via ladder, but authorities believe no one was hurt. Additional fire crews from Freeport and Sauk Centre were called in to assist. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
--The Little Falls School Board will meet Tuesday at 5pm at the government center boardroom. A presentation will be done by Jody Waltman on the 2018 trip to France and the board will certify the maximum 2017 Property Tax Levy and authory signatory for same.
--The Pierz City Council meets tonight at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
--Congratulations to Director of Little Falls Community Services, Steve Larsen who has been named the Minnesota Community Education Association Region 9 Educator of the Year. Little Falls Community Schools Superintendent Stepen Jones surprised Steve Larsen with the news Friday afternoon.
--The Sheriff's Office reported that 62-year-old James Psick of Little Falls Friday fell off his Farmall tractor in Swan River Township south of Little Falls around 3:00pm. The tractor rolled back and pinned his head between the tire and the roadway. Psick was transported to the hospital with unknown injuries. Bowlus fire and first responders aided at the scene of the accident.
--A bicyclist from Randall was injured on Friday afternoon. Around 12:25pm Kelly Prozinski who was riding a bike on Highway 115 four miles east of Randall collided with a 1929 Ford “Model A” car driven by 67-year old Gerald Ryan of Cushing. Prozinski was taken to St. Gabriels Hospital for treatment of minor injories while Ryan did not sustain any apparent injuries according to the state patrol report.
--Investigators in the Jacob Wetterling announced Friday search warrant information released on three possible suspects, including Danny Heinrich were released and unsealed to the public. The search warrants detailed that in 2009 using listening devices on Patty Wetterling to try and get information from possible suspects in the case to find the 11-year-old boy taken in 1989. Last week Heinrich one of the persons of interest in the case confessed to abducting, molesting and murdering Wetterling in a Paynesville field. Heinrich did this as part of a plea deal for 20 years prison on child pornography charges in federal court. No charges will be filed in federal court against Heinrich in the Wetterling case. A memorial service for Jacob Wetterling will be held at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph on Sunday, September 25th at 10:00am.
DEATH NOTICES --Art Leikvoll, age 71 of Little Falls. --Erik K. Mathison, age 42 of Little Falls. --Charles C. Bohlig, age 87 of Little Falls.
WEATHER TODAY= increasing clouds, PM storms develop, high 70. TONIGHT= evening showers, then cloudy, low 48. TUESDAY= cloudy, windy and cool, high 60, clear nigh low 37. WEDNESDAY= partly cloudy, high 65.
SPORTS NFL= Vikings get two defensive touchdowns to beat Tennessee on Sunday 25-16. Vikings host Packers Sunday. Green Bay held off Jacksonville in the final seconds 27-23 on Sunday, both teams 1-0. A double header tonight of NFL action begins at 5:30pm on KLTF. TWINS= Cleveland beat Twins Friday 5-4. Joe Mauer hits the game winner in the bottom of 12th to beat Indians Saturday 2-1. Indians beat Twins Sunday 7-1 to take series. The Twins (53-90) are at Detroit tonight with pregame at 5:30pm on Q92 WYRQ. HS FB= Maple Lake beat Pierz 20-6 Friday while New London Spicer won in overtime 42-41 over Becker as two state champions fall Friday. Little Falls beat Milaca for first win of season 30-12. Royalton and USA win to go to 2-0, Foley and Holdingford both lost Friday. COL FB= Gophers rout Indiana State 58-28 on Saturday.