NEWS
--The Little Falls Fire Department and Minnesota DNR were dispatched to the Fletcher Creek Boat Landing in Green Prairie Township last night at 6:26pm on a report of a grass fire burning through the woods. When they arrived, it was to be found a large area of slow burning fire in the woods. Firefighters and the DNR extinguished the fire and remaining hot spots. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the MN DNR and Little Falls Fire Department. There have been several grass/brush fires on the west side of Little Falls and in Green Prairie Township the past four days. The fires may have been intentionally set. If you have information about any of the fires or have seen any suspicious activity that may be related, please call the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office at (320) 632-9233 or the Arson Hotline at 1-800-723-2020. A reward may be offered for information that leads to the identification of persons responsible for the fires. Little Falls Fire Chief Craig Seelen also recently stated they did a variety of training in April. It started the month with Ice/Water Rescue techniques on the Mississippi River. Then the week of April 20th firefighters trained on various search and rescue techniques. Thank you to Goldsmith Jewelers for providing a location for the Ice Rescue training and to the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls for allowing them to utilize Hurley Hall for search and rescue training.
--The Swanville School District is pleased to announce Travis Hensch as its new superintendent/elementary principal replacing Gene Harthan who is retiring at end of this school year. Travis is currently the activities director/community education director at Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Schools. He has also been a K-12 principal at South Koochiching/Rainy River Public School District in Northome, Minnesota where he filled in for the superintendent for three months while the superintendent was on a leave of absence. He has also been an athletic director and dean of students at New York Mills Public Schools and a high school English teacher at Park Rapids and Wadena-Deer Creek Schools. Travis will begin his official duties as the new superintendent and principal on July 1st.
--There was a report of a Mn Dot truck with a plow along Highway 10 between Royalton and Rice on fire yesterday between 4-4:30pm. The State Patrol reported that no injuries from the incident and the fire did cause some traffic delays along Highway 10 during that time.
--The St. Cloud Fire Department was called to a house fire Wednesday night. Just after 8:00pm, they were called to Six Clover Court for a fire at a single-family home. Fire crews rescued two pets and quickly put out the fire. Everyone was able to get out safely. The damage is estimated at $84,000. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the St. Cloud Fire Marshal's Office.
--The man who died in the Anoka County Jail last week had been identified. The Midwest Medical Examiner says it was 20-year-old Riley Domeier of Andover. The medical examiner did not find any signs of trauma. They are awaiting the results of toxicology test before determining the cause of death. That can take six to eight weeks. Back on April 28th at about 1am. detention deputies noticed Domeier unresponsive in his cell. Staff immediately requested help from EMS but he died at the jail.
--Cleanup days are scheduled tomorrow for the townships of Elmdale, Swan River, Swanville, Two Rivers and Morrill on Saturday. Check with your township official for times and sites on Saturday.
--Both Little Falls and Royalton have musical productions tonight and Saturday check details at the schools website or social media pages.
--Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen was on KLTF yesterday morning and addressed numerous topics. Sheriff Larsen reminded us of the 28th annual Morrison County Sheriffs Office Sandbox Fill on May 26th. Anyone within three miles of bank square in Little Falls may register by calling (320) 631-2880. Leave your name, address, phone number and where the sandbox is located on the answering machine. They ask anyone who signs up to donate at least one item to the Morrison County Food Shelf. Donations can be left at the sandbox on the day of the fill. Sheriff Larsen also informed us about other upcoming events including Coffee with a Cop event Thursday, May 26th at Little Falls City Hall and a Morrison County Chaplaincy Golf Tournament at Eagles Landing on June 3rd. Sheriff Larsen talked about the importance of safe driving techniques, especially when approaching farm vehicles including increase following distances, watch for turn signals, stay alert and slow down. Overall, Sheriff Larsen reminds all to buckle up, stay away from distracted driving and stay away from driving under the influence.
--A St. Cloud man who pleaded guilty to a drive-by shooting charge will serve additional prison time. 20-year-old Jeremiah Torke was sentenced to three years in prison for shooting at two houses in St. Cloud in October of 2020. Torke is currently serving an eight-year sentence for shooting another man in the stomach in Kandiyohi County months earlier. A Stearns County judge ruled Torke should serve the three years consecutive to his Kandiyohi sentence rather than at the same time. Court records show Torke and another man were robbed in a drug deal at the 2nd Street North residence. A witness indicated Torke said he'd return and shoot up his place and his mother's place. Records show the witness said Torke shot at both homes to send a message. As part of the guilty plea, three other charges were dismissed.
--American Veteran Memorial Park announced Thursday the organization has closed on the purchase of 95-acres just south of Cannon Falls in Goodhue County. The land will be developed into one of the largest Veterans Memorial Parks in the United States. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow with construction slated to begin this summer.
--Pierz City Council meets Monday night at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
DEATH NOTICES
--Leo Marshik, age 91 of Pierz/Buckman area.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy skies, high 68.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy night, low around 40.
SATURDAY= sunny skies and windy, high 72, storms late night 54.
SUNDAY= showers and storms likely, high near 60, low around 40.
MONDAY= more showers and storms likely, high near 70, low 50.
SPORTS
TWINS= Baltimore scores 2 in the 8th to beat the Twins 5-3 last night to take the series. Twins are home tonight against Oakland, pregame at 6:30, 12:30pm Saturday and Sunday on Q92 WYRQ.
KENTUCKY DERBY= Saturday's Post time is at 5:57pm. The horse Zandon is the odds on favorite to win with 3 to 1 odds. Zandon is owned by Jeff Drown and Jill Vouk-Drown from Clearwater.
WILD= Minnesota at St. Louis tonight and Sunday. The best of seven series is tied at a game apiece.
WRAP= wrap on high school sports Saturday 8:30am on KLTF.