NEWS
--The Soo Line Trail will be closed between Hillton Road and Great River Road from today through Thursday in order to conduct soil borings. Anyone with questions may call the Morrison County Public Works Department at (320) 632-0121.
--The remains of one of the first Minnesotans killed during World War II will be buried with full military honors Saturday, July 29th in Holdingford. Navy Fireman First Class Elmer Kerestes was killed in action on December 7th, 1941, when he was aboard the USS Oklahoma during the attack on Pearl Harbor. His remains were identified in March 2017 with the help of DNA analysis and circumstantial evidence. Kerestes will be buried at 10:30am this Saturday, July 29th at Highland Cemetery near Holdingford.
--Since the end of 2016, law enforcement partners have been conducting extra patrol efforts with the goal of reducing fatal crashes along the Highway 23 corridor between St. Cloud and Milaca. Halfway through the year, these agencies have made a total of 685 traffic stops and reduced crashes by 44% as compared to this same time last year. Injury crashes during this period have dropped 55%, including no serious injuries or fatal crashes. Multi-agency saturations, as well as frequent additional patrol efforts, will be continued in 2017 focusing on reducing fatal crashes. The partners involved in this project would like to thank the public for the support they have received in this effort. The success of this project, and other traffic safety projects, depends upon drivers making good decisions every time they get behind the wheel. It is their hope that drivers will continue to make the good decisions that increase traffic safety and encourage others to do the same.
--The Minnesota DNR announced Friday that walleye fishing on Mille Lacs Lake will remain closed until August 11th. The agency said the decision is intended to protect the walleye fishery's long-term health. New DNR data shows the total "safe harvest" allocation for walleyes on Mille Lacs — 44,800 pounds — already has been exceeded this season. Catch and release walleye fishing will run from August 11th through September 4th.
--About 14,000 mink released from an Eden Valley farm this week are still unaccounted for as of Friday. Lang Fur Farms reported Friday about 11,000 mink were rounded up and are still alive, and that about 15,000 mink have died. Investigators believe more than one person dismantled the exterior fence at Lang Farm between 10:30pm Sunday and 5:30am Monday. Investigators believe the vandals parked about a half-mile away from the farm on a township road, then released all the mink from their cages. Because of the effort required to dismantle the fence, authorities believe it was more than one person who committed the crime. Fur Commission USA is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case. Tri-County Crimestoppers is also offering a $1,000 reward.
--It is County Fair time in Minnesota as many counties gear up for the county fair. This year the Stearns County Fair is July 26th through 29th in Sauk Centre; Crow Wing County is August 1st through the 5th in Brainerd; Benton County Fair is August 1st through the 6th in Sauk Rapids; Mille Lacs County is August 9th through the 13th in Princeton; and the Morrison County Fair is August 10th through the 13th. Get full details on the Morrison County Fair at fallsradio.com.
--When Royalton has their Platte River Day Event on August 5th the Royalton Public Schools will host an open house to showcase its new facilities. From noon-2:00pm on Saturday August 5th, guests may enter on the south end of the high school/middle school at the Early Childhood Center. Tours guided by educators and members of the School Board, will allow the public to see the kindergarten area and the new early childhood development center, the district office, the new gymnasium and fitness center. If they choose, parents can sign their children up for kindergarten or early childhood development that evening. Refreshments will be served and guests will be able to meet the new superintendent, John Phelps.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office last week responded to a parked vehicle with the engine running on Aztec Road Wednesday where it was found to be a stolen vehicle from Minneapolis. Fire reports of a shed that was a total loss last Wednesday night on 268th Street in Pierz, and a hay bale on fire a week ago Monday night on 243rd Street in Pierz. Deputies also made two arrests for DWI.
--Two people were hurt Friday afternoon in Benton County in a two vehicle accident. Justin Fletcher of Eden Prairie turned left off of Highway 10 at Rice and collided with Nicholas Remley of Appleton. Fletcher was not hurt. Remley and his passenger Renee Plemmons were both treated for non-life threatening injuries.
--It was reported that due to the thunderstorms last Monday night the Long Prairie Drive In Theater movie screen was destroyed and the theatre will be closed indefinately until repairs can be done.
--The Pierz city council meets tonight at 7:00pm at Pierz City Hall.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Kevin and Lynelle Vetch of Upsala, boy on July 20th
--Jace and Elisabeth Ruby of Little Falls, a girl born July 20th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Rochelle L. Erickson, age 71 of Morris formerly of Little Falls.
--Shirley Ann Happke, age 76 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, pleasant, high 76.
TONIGHT= clouds increase, storms toward morning, low 65.
TUESDAY= storms early, hazy/humid, storms again late, high 85.
WEDNESDAY= storms early, then sunny skies, high near 80.
SPORTS
TWINS= Tigers beat Twins Friday 6-3. Twins hold off Tigers on Saturday 6-5 after leading 6-0. Brandon Kinzler gets a big save. Kinzler blows the 9th inning Sunday as Detroit rallies to beat Twins 9-6 and win the series. Twins at Dodgers in LA tonight 8:30pm on Q92.
WNBA= Maya Moore MVP as the West beat the East in the WNBA All Star Game Saturday 130-121 in Seattle. Moore scored 23 points.
REGION 8C= the teams in the Region 8C tournament are set as it will be Buckman and Lastrup in the east, Avon and St. Stephen in south, Upsala and Sobieski in the west and Fort Ripley and Nisswa in the north. The Region Tournament begins Saturday 11:00am in Pierz.
LEGION= Pierz beat Albany 12-2 Friday to advance to District Championship Saturday then beat Albany again 7-3 to win the District 6 title for a 2nd straight year. Pierz advances to the State Tournament this week in New London and Spicer. First game would be Friday.