NEWS
--Dr. Kristine Wehrkamp is the new superintendent of Royalton Schools and yesterday stated on KLTF that they recently updated their back to school plan. Royalton is trying to get back to normal and will not require masks in any of the school building and are not mandating vaccination status to enter buildings. As other superintendents stated the school buses have a federal mandate still and all students, staff and bus drivers too and from school and too and from any sports or activities will be required to wear a mask. There willl be different times for students to use the Royalton Cafetorium as all are in the same building for the public school following the expansion work a few years back. There are apps for transportation and other programs that Royalton will provide this year and their website is updated with information on meetings and each of the school programs. For more information you call also reach out to the Royalton School District at 584-4000 and listen for the options.
--Today on KLTF Community Program is Swanville School Superintendent Gene Harthan to talk about Swanville Schools. Also thanks to all the school Superintendents who joined KLTF this week from Upsala, Little Falls, Pierz, Royalton and Swanville, if you missed the interviews parts of each interview will be reran tomorrow morning between 8:30-9am on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.
--On Thursday at 4:50pm the Little Falls Fire Department and MN DNR were dispatched to Iris Road near 180th Avenue in Little Falls Township on a reported hay field fire. Upon arrival we found a large hay field burning. The fire was actively spreading and eventually spread into a wooded area. MN DNR requested air resources to assist with extinguishing the fire. Firefighters were on scene until approximately 2020 hours. The cause of the fire is believed to be from a spark from equipment cutting hay.
--An Emily man was killed Wednesday just after noon at 12:09pm on Highway 6 south of Remer in Cass County. 36-year-old Matthew Turner of Pine River was northbound on Highway 6 when 77-year old Harold Cook of Emily crossed into the northbound lane from the south and collided head-on with Turner. Turner was taken to the Crosby Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Cook was reportedly airlifted from the scene to Duluth but was pronounced dead on arrival at the Duluth hospital.
--One person was killed Wednesday afternoon at 5:43pm in Aitkin County. 56-year-old Brian Glasbrenner of Brooklyn Center was northbound on 333rd Street in Farm Island Township when he drifted off the road and struck several trees. He was dead at the scene.
--Three teens were hurt in a rollover crash in Stearns County Tuesday afternoon. The incident happened around 2:10pm near the intersection of 101st Avenue and 167th Street near Kimball. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says a truck was heading south on 101st Avenue when it lost control on the gravel and rolled multiple times before coming to a stop on the roof in the ditch. The driver, 17-year-old Jordan Rossman of Kimball, and passengers, 18-year-old Hunter Larson of Star Prairie, Wisconsin, and 14-year-old Lynn Rossman of Kimball, were treated by Watkins Ambulance at the scene for minor injuries and then taken to the hospital by a private party. Authorities say the crash is still under investigation.
--Natalia Benjamin, an English learner and ethnic studies teacher at Century High School in Rochester, was named this year's Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Benjamin is the first teacher from Rochester to win the award, as well as the first Latin American.
--The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has again put Morrison and Todd County in the high fire risk through the weekend with dry conditions, lower humidity levels and winds from the northwest that could spark wildfires in many areas where adequate moisture has not happened. Areas in north central and western Minnesota are in the very high risk and northwestern Minnesota is extreme risk of fires where many have already sparked north of Bemidji. The DNR reports that burning bans are in effect for far northern Minnesota where the Brainerd Lakes Area, Morrison, Todd, Cass, Stearns, Benton and many others have burning restrictions still in place with agency approved permits only being issued and campfires allowed but in the smaller sized fire rings.
--The Brainerd Police Department is investigating a death from Thursday night. A spokesperson with the police department confirmed late Thursday a death investigation occurred near the intersection of Southwest Sixth and May streets. The police department would not elaborate on if the death was suspicious.
--A Kimball man was taken to the hospital after crashing his motorcycle Thursday morning. The incident happened just after 11:00am on County Road 3, north of 124th Avenue in St. Wendel Township. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says 58-year old Robert French was heading north on County Road 3, when he overcompensated on a curve, lost control and went into the ditch. French was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment. Authorities say he was not wearing a helmet.
--Events this weekend include Upsala Heritage Days with events all day Saturday and a few more on Sunday. Parade Saturday at 10:30am in Upsala. Living Hope Church has their fun day on Sunday beginning with their 10:30am service then events to follow outside the church north of Little Falls. The Brainerd Ski Loons have another free show Sunday at 5pm at Lum Park in Brainerd. Get details on events by going to fallsradio.com then community calendar.
DEATH NOTICES
--Betty Pflepsen, age 80 of Pequot Lakes
--Joyce M. Pearson, age 74 of Little Falls
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies and very pleasant, high 75.
TONIGHT= clear skies and cool, low around 48.
SATURDAY= sunny and warmer, high 85, low around 60.
SUNDAY= sunny and humid, high near 90, low near 65.
MONDAY= sunny and little cooler, high 83, low near 57.
SPORTS
TWINS= after Thursday off, Twins host the Rays tonight at Target Field as they celebrate the 1991 World Series team and reunion this weekend. Pregame tonight at 6:30pm, Saturday at 5:30pm and Sunday pregame at 12:30pm all live on Q92 WYRQ.
REGION 8C= The Region 8C Tournament continues tomorrow and now from Upsala. State Qualifying/elimination games Saturday with Ft. Ripley vs. St. Stephen at 1pm then Buckman and Foley at 4pm, winners play at 3pm Sunday for 3 and 4 seeds at state. The Region Championship game is Sunday at noon between Sobieski and Avon with winner getting a first round bye in state tournament which begins next week. All the games will be live on AM960 KLTF.
NFL= Vikings host Denver in the first preseason game of the season Saturday at 3pm, Kirk Cousins will start at QB for the Vikings.