Monday, October 27, 2025
Morrison County Historical Society Executive Director Mike Worcester spoke on KLTF Friday to give an update on the Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Museum in Little Falls that is currently undergoing riverbank restoration work to prevent erosion from the Mississippi River that could affect the structural integrity of the building. The museum, located within Charles A. Lindbergh State Park, sits directly on the Mississippi River. Twice within the last 10 years, the museum has experienced dramatic rain storms that put the banks which the building sits on in an unsafe state, leading to the renovations currently underway. Worcester said “We’re hoping it’s very long-term because we went through several plan ideas before we got to this proposal. Our hope is to just continue the stability of the riverbank because Mother Nature wins in the end, and our goal is to make sure that that winning doesn’t take quite as long as it has seemed like the last couple of years.” The museum will remain open during construction Wednesday through Saturday. For construction updates and pictures go the link https://morrisoncountyhistory.org/?p=10746 or contact Mike at 320-632-4007.
One person was hurt Friday morning at 8:30am at Halfway Crossing near Rice. The Minnesota State Patrol says both the SUV and the tractor were eastbound on Highway 10 when they collided. The SUV then left the road and rolled before coming to rest in the ditch. The driver, 39-year-old Mindy Severtson, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment. The driver of the tractor, 29-year-old Austin Schmitt of Royalton, was not hurt.
A garage in the 4000 block of Loehrer Drive in St. Augusta is a total loss after a fire Thursday morning. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says a neighbor called in the blaze at about 8:45. A deputy was first on scene, but by then the garage was fully engulfed and threatening to spread to nearby homes and other structures. Crews from the St. Augusta and Rockville Fire Departments worked quickly to contain the flames, keeping the worst from happening. The garage has been deemed a total loss, including a number of vehicles, tractors, ATVs, and equipment that were stored inside. No one was injured. The property owner was not home at the time of the fire.
Part of Rockville County Park was closed on Friday for a prescribed burn. The Stearns County Parks Department says the northwestern portion of the park is off-limits until the work is complete. Officials use controlled fires every 1 to 5 years to maintain native prairie habitats. The burns provide several benefits including reducing invasive plants, speed up decomposition, and return nutrients to the soil. The fire also warms the soil, helping native seeds germinate. After the burn, native flowers and grasses quickly fill in the charred areas. These plants provide nectar for pollinators, habitat for wildlife, and deep root systems that prevent erosion.
A teen was killed in a two-vehicle crash in Chisago County on Saturday. Authorities said they received an automated phone crash notification around 2:00 a.m. on Saturday. Responding officers located a two-vehicle crash near the intersection of Stacy Trail and Ivywood Trail, roughly three miles east of Stacy. The two cars involved were a 2014 Toyota Camry and a 2000 Toyota 4-Runner. Five juveniles occupied the cars at the time of the crash. The Lakes Area Police Department reports that a 14-year-old driver and two 15-year-old passengers were in the Camry. One of the passengers died on the scene from their injuries. The other occupants of that vehicle sustained serious injuries and were transported to the hospital. Two more juveniles were located in the 4-Runner. Authorities say a 17-year-old driver sustained life-threatening injuries. Both the driver and an 18-year-old passenger were brought to the hospital. Police also report that alcohol was found at the scene. At this time, authorities are withholding the identities of the involved individuals until their families are notified.
A 54-year-old Brainerd man suffering a mental health crisis was arrested Friday for multiple charges including destruction of property at Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd. Brainerd Police Chief John Davis said officers responded to a report of a man having a mental health crisis at 8:49pm Thursday on the 1000 block of Cora Street. The man was then transported to Essentia Health for a medical evaluation. A second call around 1:30am Friday stated man had to be detained and was later placed under arrest. The police department said one person had minor injuries but no others were injured in either incident with the male suspect.
The Pierz City Council meets Monday night at 7pm at Pierz City Hall
There is a blood drive Monday through Wednesday at the St. Francis Convent. Call for appointments, Sister Julien reported Friday there are quite a few openings Tuesday and Wednesday still, at 320-632-0663 or go to the link https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=56345.
International News: Police have arrested suspects as part of the investigation into the theft of jewels worth tens of millions of dollars from the Louvre museum, the Paris prosecutor’s office said. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said “one of the men arrested was preparing to leave the territory from Roissy airport,” also known as Charles de Gaulle airport, a facility near Paris. French media has been reporting that two suspects were arrested and placed in custody on Saturday evening, around 10pm local time. One of the men was preparing to board a flight for Algeria. The suspects are around thirty years old, and were already known to police, per BFMTV. Thieves targeted the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery on the upper floor last weekend, which houses the French Crown Jewels. In the course of a seven-minute heist, they broke into two high-security display cases and stole nine items, according to France’s culture ministry.
Entertainment News: Actress June Lockhart has died at age 100. Lockhart's career spanned from the 1930s through the 1990s in movies like the 1938 Christmas Carol she was in at age 12, Meet Me in St. Louis, TV shows like Lassie, Lost in Space and Petticoat Junction and many more items in entertainment.
Death Notices: Ronald Carl Berg, age 90 of Little Falls formerly of Williams, MN. Loren Sandman, age 85 of Little Falls.
Weather: partly sunny skies, high 57 Monday, rain after 5pm, rain likely Monday night, breezy, low 42. Rain could be heavy at times Tuesday, breezy, high 48 low around 38. Wednesday through Saturday in the forecast is looking dry with highs each day in the upper 40s to 50 degrees, lows in the lower 30s.
Sports: High School Football Saturday: Pierz 42-6 over Esko takes on Pequot Lakes 7pm Friday night in Brainerd. Upsala-Swanville 42-0 over Browerville Eagle-Valley takes on BBE Friday at 10am in Fargo. Osakis 30-22 over Pillager, Holdingford 41-0 over Staples-Motley winners play each other at Fargo Friday. Foley won 35-0 over Spectrum takes on Annandale Friday. Volleyball playoffs Friday Swanville won over Oglivie takes on Pine River Backus Tuesday in Crosby. Foley won over Pequot Lakes, Royalton was eliminated by Sauk Centre Friday night in volleyball. World Series Toronto won game 1 Friday night 11-4 over the Dodgers, LA wins game 2 on Saturday 5-1 to tied the series at 1. Game 3 is Monday night. Utah beat the Wild 6-2 on Saturday. Iowa keeps the pig as they rout the Gophers 41-3 in college football, while St. John's and Bemidji won in football Saturday.