NEWS
--Little Falls Radio would like to thank Habitat for Humanity of Morrison County for presenting us with a “Certificate of Appreciation” plaque for our years of helping promote Habitat for Humanity of Morrison County at last night's 20th Anniversary Picnic. Little Falls Radio is glad to partner with this and other local organizations who add so much value to Central Minnesota. We look to forward to continuing this partnership and others like it that support our area.
--According to the Minnesota Secretary of State website, the following school districts have local contested elections. In Pierz voters can select three of the following five candidates: Erik Hanneken, Matthew J. Hoheisel, Colleen Seelen, Patty Stangl, and Marvin E. Thomas. In the Royalton school district voters can elect three of the following six candidates: Russ Gerads, Randy Hackett, Rian Hofstad, Mary C. Lange, Tyler Struffert, and Doug Wagner. In the Upsala School District voters can elect three of the following four candidates: Jennifer Brockway-Servatius, Dean Wayne Peterson, Trevor Soltis, and Ryan Thomas. In Little Falls and Swanville three candidates filed for the three open seats. We were informed Thursday by the Morrison County Auditor Treasurers Office that the Secretary of State's website may not include all names of those who met the deadline to file this past Tuesday. This is the most current information available.
--The Little Falls School Board meets Monday at 5pm at the Community Middle School Band Room. Agenda items include financial transactions, receiving donations, get the superintendents report and reports from other board members and approval of the 2018-19 handbooks. The board will also make a resolution relating to the election of school board members and calling for the school district general election on November 6th.
--A lawsuit has been filed against the city of St. Cloud over the land where a Costco store is being built. A group called "Citizens for Government Accountability", who describe themselves as St. Cloud taxpayers, filed the lawsuit in Stearns County Court Thursday morning. The group claims the city sold the nearly 19 acres of land at Heritage Park well below market value, therefore constituting an illegal business subsidy to the buyer. The city and the developers for Costco closed on the property last month at a price of just over $3.5 million, and the city also agreed to provide the buyer with nearly $1.3 million in additional improvements. The court complaint says an independent certified appraisal of the Heritage Park Property sets the fair market value at more than double the sale price at nearly $8.7 million. The complaint goes on to say that the city's own appraiser valued the land at over $5 million. The group is asking the court to rule that a subsidy in excess of $6 million was given to Costco. Citizens for Government Accountability spokesman John Austin says the people behind the lawsuit want to remain anonymous, at least for now, out of a fear of retaliation.
--A Melrose man was injured when his motorcycle had a tire come off on Interstate 94 in Ashley Township of Stearns County. Shaun Insley was near County Road 91 around 9:40pm Wednesday went the accident happened. He was taken to a local hospital for his injuries.
--Weekend events include Pixar night tonight at the Pine Grove Zoo, Ride for Eyes Saturday in Sobieski, Farmers Picnic by COACT Sunday in Pierz and starting Monday the Pierz Oktoberfest clues will be read just after 6am on Little Falls Radio for the Oktoberfest medallion.
--A flag valued over $1,000 was stolen from the Rice American Legion Post 473 sometime in the last two weeks. Rice Police say their officers took a report of a theft from members of the legion Tuesday. Members said their American Legion flag was stolen from inside the building sometime between August 4th and August 11th. The flag is described as a four foot by six foot dark blue flag with a large American Legion emblem and the phrase "Hasso Briese Post 473, Rice MN" embroidered on it. The flag's value is over $1,000. Anyone with information on the theft is asked to call the Rice Police Department at (320) 393-3280.
--A Monticello man is dead and a woman from Otsego has life-threatening injuries after a serious crash involving a semi on I-94 near Rogers Wednesday morning. The Minnesota State Patrol says a semi driven by 53-year old John Houdyshell of St. Louis Park was westbound on I-94 at 6:30am when he crossed through the median and into oncoming traffic. Five other vehicles were involved in the crash that shut down eastbound I-94 for several hours. The patrol says the driver of a Chevy pickup, 40-year old Kevin Parker of Monticello was killed in the crash. A passenger in another car, 38-year old Robyn Grebinoski of Otsego was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver of that car, 40-year old Darrin Grebinoski and the semi driver Houdyshell suffered non-life threatening injuries. Five others involved were not hurt in the crash.
--The Brainerd office of the Department of Natural Resources has had to deal with bear and beaver killed on the roadway and two naked jet skiers in the past week. In the naked jet skiers case, both men were issued citations and told that this was a very dangerous act.
--Listen to all three LF Radio stations online at fallsradio.com.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--Music's “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin died Thursday at her home in Detroit at age 76. Franklin recorded “Respect” in 1967.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Darin Becker and Jennifer Orth of Long Prairie, a girl on Aug. 14th.
WEATHER
TODAY= patchy smoke, sunny and warm, high 88.
TONIGHT= patchy smoke and fog overnight, clear, low 58.
SATURDAY= sunny and warm, high 86, clear night, low 62.
SUNDAY= partly sunny, high 80, storms likely PM hours, low 57.
MONDAY= storms possible, partial sun, cooler, high near 70.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins get 8 runs in first 2 innings and a 7 run sixth to win 15-8 over Detroit Thursday. Twins continue series with Detroit tonight at 6:30, Saturday at 5:30 and Sunday at 12:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
LYNX= Lynx wrap up the regular season with games tonight in Connecticut and Sunday at home against Washington. The playoffs begin next week. Lynx still waiting to see who they play first round.
CLASS C= The Class C State Baseball Tournament begins today. Region 8C teams start play Saturday with Buckman vs. Waconia tomorrow at 11am. Fort Ripley vs. Pelican Rapids at 5pm Saturday both of those games in New Prague. Lastrup will take on Waterville Sunday at noon in Shakopee. All Games live on AM960 KLTF. Sobieski is off until August 26th with a first round bye.