Monday, July 28, 2025

Another severe weather weekend in Minnesota. Little Falls area was pretty unscathed with storms to the north yesterday morning with hail and wind from Nisswa to Aitkin, then strong storms yesterday afternoon from Morris to Montevideo across south central Minnesota in Meeker, southern Stearns and toward the Twin Cities with heavy rains, wind, hail and possible tornadoes being investigating today. Xcel Energy reports thousands still without power as of this morning. Another round of storms in the forecast tonight. 

A three vehicle accident Saturday around 11am sent two people to the hospital near Lastrup. The State Patrol said one vehicle as rear-ended at the intersection of Highway 27 and 285th Avenue causing the second vehicle to go through the intersection and struck a Harley Davidson motorcycle. The motorcycle driver and passenger had non life threatening injuries. The other two driver and any of their passengers reportedly had no injuries in the accident. Another accident was reported at 7pm Saturday night on Highway 71 in Round Prairie Township south of Long Prairie in Todd County. Two vehicles collided both with children as passengers. It was reported that one passenger between the six total was checked out for injuries. The State Patrol reported none of the others had any apparent injuries. 

A message from Brainerd police that a coordinated ground search for missing person Cory Degeest will be conducted on Monday, July 28, 2025. The search efforts will primarily focus on undeveloped land parcels in southeast Brainerd. Cory Degeest, 61, was reported missing on Sunday, July 13, 2025. She is described as a white female, 5 feet 1 inch tall, weighing approximately 190 pounds, with sandy brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen walking on Beech Street in Brainerd about two weeks prior to her reported disappearance. Authorities remain concerned for her well-being partially due to pre-existing chronic medical conditions. Please avoid Self-Initiated Searches: While the Brainerd Police Department appreciates the public's concern and willingness to help, we strongly advise against independent, self-initiated search efforts in the designated search areas on July 28th. This is crucial to ensure the safety of all individuals involved and to prevent interference with the coordinated search operation. Report New Information: If you have any new information regarding Ms. Degeest's whereabouts, or if you discover anything relevant to her disappearance (such as clothing or personal effects, particularly a blue windbreaker), please do not touch or disturb the items. Immediately contact the Brainerd Police Department at 218-829-2805. The Brainerd Police Department extends its gratitude to the community for their ongoing support and assistance in this critical search. 

Around 10:30pm Thursday the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of the 6700 block of County Road 13 in Lake Edward Township for a report of a single vehicle motorcycle crash with injuries. The initial investigation revealed the motorcycle left the roadway, crossed multiple driveways and struck an E911 address sign before coming to rest in a yard. The driver, identified as 18-year-old Ty Michael Lee Wilson, was transported by ambulance to Essentia Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd to be treated for apparent severe injuries. The crash is under investigation by the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office.

On Friday the State Patrol responded to a two vehicle by St. Joseph in Stearns County around 5:15pm at the intersection of Interstate 94 and Highway 23. The drivers a 46-year-old from St. Joseph and a 16-year-old Chaska were both treated for non-life threatening injuries. There was one passenger in the first vehicle and another five juvenile passengers in the other vehicle who were all treated for injuries. Then around 3:30 Friday afternoon a motorcycle left the roadway on Highway 28 in Todd County seriously injuring the driver. 61-year-old Kevin Baumann of Alexandria was taken to St. Cloud for life threatening injuries. Another accident happened around 12:20pm on Highway 27 in Mille Lacs County. A couple from Miltona were turning into a driveway and when struck by an oncoming vehicle. The couple from Miltona were taken to the Onamia hospital for treatment of injuries. The other driver and passenger were not hurt. That was just a few of the accident reports from Friday as there were also a fatal accident in Isanti County, serious injury accident in St. Louis and two separate injury accidents in Otter Tail County on Friday alone.

A Meeker County Sheriff’s deputy was hurt chasing after a fleeing suspect in Watkins on Wednesday evening, but made the bust anyway. According to the sheriff’s office, around 6:15, a dispatcher took a report of a drunk man in the area of 2nd Street and Western Avenue. When the deputy arrived, the 61-year-old suspect ran to a nearby home where a 46-year-old woman was, and the two are under a court order barring them from having contact. When the deputy tried to talk with the suspect, he took off running. The deputy was able to catch up and take the man into custody, but fractured their shoulder in the process. They were taken to the hospital, where they were treated and released. The suspect was booked into the Meeker County Jail on multiple charges, including violating an order for protection, fleeing while causing injury to a peace officer, and obstruction of justice. The woman was also arrested on suspicion of violating an order for protection. Both Watkins residents are in jail pending their first court appearances.

On Friday, the Stearns County Sheriff's Office reintroduced No Wake Warnings and Ordinance to most county lakes around Avon, Freeport to Holdingford and west of St. Cloud due to high water from the heavy rains that fell last week in spots. Many other counties have issued No Wake Warnings from the rains.

The Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls are initiating a thoughtful and collaborative future planning process to ensure their mission and values continue to contribute to and enrich the local community for generations to come. Since 1891, the Franciscan Sisters have had a deep and long-standing relationship with the community of Little Falls and surrounding area. Over the years, the Sisters have consistently listened to the needs of the local community and responded with compassionate care. Whether through health care, education, pastoral care, or social outreach, the Sisters have served out of love and commitment to their Franciscan Gospel values. Today, as their numbers change and needs shift, the Sisters are discerning how their facilities, land, and legacy can continue to carry out Franciscan values, while serving the common good of the surrounding community. A central part of this process involves collaborating with community members and local partners to ensure that their properties and resources continue to be a blessing to the region. The Sisters are taking an intentional approach to this process, engaging the community and evaluating needs. This intentional process will take time. We expect the planning to take place over the next three years, and the implementation of plans to occur in the future. It is the Sisters’ intention that their legacy will reflect the Franciscan way of life: prayer, loving action, and nurturing the common good in kinship with all. As part of this process, the Sisters are inviting people of the area to a Community Town Hall on Wednesday, July 30, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Town Hall to be held in St. Francis Hall at St. Francis Convent, 116 8th Avenue SE, Little Falls, MN. Cookies and punch will be served. This event will offer an opportunity to meet the Sisters, tour the historic campus, and share ideas for how their properties and land might best serve the evolving needs of the community. The Community Open House is one of multiple ways that the Sisters will be gathering information and listening to the needs of community. The Sisters hope this process will foster creative partnerships and spark new ideas about how the sacredness of this space can be sustained and shared with the wider community. For more information, please visit www.fslf.org or contact the Community Relations Office at (320) 632-2981.

Death Notices- Daryl D. Legler, age 77 of Little Falls. Michael "Mike" R. Lucking, age 69 of Pierz. Leonard "Lenny" J. Maciej Jr., age 66 of Little Falls. Eileen Evelyn (Welle) Braton, age 75 of Mesa, Arizona formerly of the Little Falls/Belle Prairie area. 

Weather- sunny skies today, warm, high 86 with another round of strong to severe thunderstorms with heavy rains tonight into early Tuesday, low around 63. Morning showers then sunny Tuesday, high near 80 cooler night Tuesday low around 51. Sunny and pleasant Wednesday high 77, low around 53.  

Sports- Twins win 1-0 Friday night over Washington. Washington wins 9-3 Saturday night over Twins. Nationals beat the Twins Sunday 7-2 to take the series. The Twins (50-55) host Boston tonight at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ. Lynx rout Las Vegas 109-78 Friday night in WNBA action then lost to Atlanta last night 90-86 taking their first regular season loss at Target Center this year. The Lynx are 22-5 on the season. Lynx host New York in a finals rematch from last year on Wednesday night. Pierz beat Cold Spring 5-4 Friday, beat Sauk Rapids 8-7 in game 1 of 2 Saturday but lost the championship game 10-0 to Sauk Rapids in the Sub State Title Game Saturday night finishing Sub State Runner Up in District 11 for American Legion Baseball. Royalton and St. Mathias split the games Saturday in the Victory Leagues Games of the Week 5-3 Royalton in game 1, 2-0 St. Mathias wins game 2. The Region 9C Amateur Baseball Tournament and the Region 4B Amateur Baseball start on Friday night in Pierz for 9C and Avon for 4B, listen in to Little Falls Radio for more details on the games and times. Also congratulations to the Swanville American Legion Softball Team for winning the sub-district tournament and advanced to state later this week.