NEWS
--The Pierz Fire Department responded to a house fire on Friday around 6:30pm. The address of the home owned by John Pawlu is at 18068 Highway 25. About 12 firefighters were on scene for around 4 hours. No one was at home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries. The fire did severe damage to the home. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
--The Morrison County Sheriff‘s Office reported an ATV accident with injuries Saturday around 2:30am on 400th Avenue in Lakin Township south of Hillman. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 19-year old Matthew Daleiden of Little Falls and 20-year old Ryley Rhoda of Foley were driving separate ATV’s along 48th Street when they collided with each other. Both Daleiden and Rhoda suffered unknown injuries along with a 16-year old passenger, Camille Kolding of Foley. Rhoda was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale. Daleiden and Kolding were transported to St Cloud Hospital. The crash is still under investigation though alcohol is believed to be a factor.
--One person was seriously injured Sunday morning in an accident in Wakefield Township of Stearns County. Just after 2:30am, 23-year old Ashley Gray of Richmond was southbound on County Road 49 when she crossed the centerline, struck the road approach, went airborne landing on the vehicle's side. Gray was not wearing a seatbelt and sustained serious injuries. Cold Spring Fire was called in to extricate her from the vehicle. She was taken to the St. Cloud Hospital for treatment. Alcohol and controlled substances are believed factors.
--A 17-year old was injured Sunday afternoon when the ATV she was driving struck a car. Brandy Klasen, no address given, was south on the shoulder of Highway 169 in Garrison Township of Crow Wing County when she struck a vehicle pulling out of a parking lot. The driver of the car, 77-year old Miles Webb of Plymouth had no injuries. Klasen was taken to the Onamia Hospital. Her injuries were reported to be non-life threatening by the State Patrol.
--A St. Cloud man is being held on possible charges of second degree murder after he punched another man in the face on Saturday. 21-year old Travis Johnson turned himself in late Sunday after St. Cloud police had started looking for him. The victim, 22-year old Anthony Shriver of Waconia, died hours after the punch. Police initially cited Johnson for fifth-degree assault after a confrontation with Shriver. Police say Johnson punched Shriver in the face early Saturday morning after a short verbal dispute at the intersection of Ninth Avenue and Seventh Street South. Shriver complained of a headache but didn't show other signs of injury. Midday Saturday, paramedics went to a home on 10th Avenue South and tried to save Shriver's life, but he died there. An autopsy by the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office on Sunday revealed Shriver "died of trauma consistent with the assault". Johnson turned himself in to police around 11:00pm Sunday. He is in the Stearns County Jail.
--The City of Upsala celebrates 100 years this weekend during their Heritage Days event. Events include concert in the park Friday, then on Saturday a 5K Run, parade at 10:30am, lunch, music, tours, car show, pie eating contest, waterfights, party at the rec building at night and fireworks. Sunday there is a Belgian waffle breakfast, worship service and a disc golf tournament. There is much more going on this weekend to celebrate 100 years in the town of Upsala.
--The Morrison County Commissioners meet this morning at 9:00am.
--59 Minnesota school districts and charter schools including the Swanville School District are receiving new, one-time funding for school based pre-kindergarten and school readiness. The Swanville School District will receive $99,816 for an estimated 25 pre-k students. This fall, 6,100 4-year olds will be attending free, school based preKindergarten programs across Minnesota, thanks to funding secured by Governor Dayton and the Legislature since 2016.
--Two St. Cloud men who pleaded guilty to drug charges are now going to prison. 24-year old Jesse Drum and 25-year old Robert Leake were sentenced Thursday in Stearns County District Court. Both defendants were arrested after authorities executed search warrants at separate addresses last October. Drum and Leake will each serve 75 months behind bars.
--A Sauk Rapids man was arrested after a search warrant was executed Thursday by the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force. Investigators had received complaints and had information that controlled substances were being sold at 422 Second Street South Apartment 1 in Sauk Rapids. At the time of the search, the resident, 52-year old Joel Martin Lovitz, and a boy were there. During the search, investigators found methamphetamine in plain view in the house and in an unattached garage. Approximately 3 ounces of methamphetamine was found in total. Lovitz was arrested and taken to the Benton County Jail. He was charged with first degree possession of a controlled substance and child endangerment, due to the child being present in the area of controlled substances. The boy was released to the custody of relatives.
--Three were injured Thursday when their vehicles collided near the golf course in Baxter. Around 1:30pm a chain reaction of vehicles rear ending each other occurred causing four vehicles to be involved in the accident. In all 7 people were in the vehicles involved, and three were taken to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
--Work on a southeast St. Cloud railroad crossing will close the intersection for a few days. Crews will be making repairs to the 15th Avenue Southeast today and tomorrow as work started Monday. An alternate route will be required and detours will be posted.
--An early morning car fire Sunday in east St. Cloud has been ruled arson. The fire was called in at 4:00am near Eighth Street Southeast and Fifth Avenue. The car was parked outside but the fire still caused minor damage to a garage. Damages are estimated to be about $3,000. The department's news release stated "The fire started due to arson. Fire Marshals are investigating."
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Kevin and Jessy Waldock of Little Falls, a boy born August 4th
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 80, clear night, low around 60.
WEDNESDAY= storms likely afternoon, some strong, high 74, low 57
THURSDAY= cloudy, showers & storms possible, high near 70.
SPORTS
TWINS= Dozier and Rosario go deep and Twins win with a balk by the Brewers 5-4 Monday. Game 2 of series tonight 6:30 on Q92. TWINS= former 1987 Twins player Don Baylor died Monday at the age of 68. Baylor hit 338 career homeruns, was a 19 year veteran of the major leagues and won his only World Series with the '87 Twins.