NEWS
--The Todd County Board of Commissioners approved a small business relief grant program funded through the CARES Act. The grant program is for small businesses directly affected by the Governor's Executive Orders designed to reimburse the costs of business interruption caused by the required closures. Grants will be awarded up to $5,000 for eligible businesses who meet criteria of the application and provide supporting documentation. Applications are available on the Todd County website and will be accepted through August 28th. This is similar to what Morrison County is offering. Applications for businesses in Morrison County can also be accepted through August 28th through Community Development 632-5466 or through the Morrison County Government Center website.
--The surrounding communities should be aware that throughout the next few weeks there will be training on Camp Ripley that the public may be able to hear during both the day and night. Additionally there may be the opportunity to see illumination flares above Camp Ripley while this training takes place. Camp Ripley thanks you for your support during this required training period which will help the men and women of our Armed Forces meet federal, state and community mission readiness goals. "Always Ready, Always There!"
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce’s 15th annual Sporting Clays event was held on Tuesday at LeBlanc’s Rice Creek Hunting & Recreation with 40 shooters participating. The Competitive Division winner was Kampa Gerbi & Associates breaking 157 targets with the team comprised of Bill Backowski, Jack Faufau, Mark Gerbi and Bob Stack. High Score Casual Division winner was Edward Jones Investments – Kyle Hoggarth breaking 154 targets with team members Mike Czech, Kyle Hoggarth, Tom Hoggarth, Brent Schulte. There was a tie in the flurry shoot between Kampa Gerbi & Associates and Ron Kresha Team. The Kampa Gerbi & Associates team won the shoot off by breaking all 40 targets. The Annie Oakley top shooter was Torston Roscoe shooting on the Thrivent Financial – Alicia Kapus team. Kayla Bates of Central MN Credit Union was the top female shooter breaking 30 of the 50 targets; the best individual male shooter was Mike Czech, Edward Jones Investments – Kyle Hoggarth team, breaking 47 out of the 50 targets.
--A 60-year-old man was seriously injured after witnesses say he was run over by a vehicle Wednesday afternoon in rural Walker. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says they received reports that someone had been run over by a vehicle at the Orton’s Y Mart Convenience Store in Turtle Lake Township. When authorities arrived on the scene they found several people providing medical aid to a 60-year-old man from Walker. Witnesses to the incident told deputies that the man had been hit by a vehicle in the parking lot and the vehicle left the scene after running the man over. The male was transported to a hospital in Fargo with serious life-threatening injuries. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says the vehicle was quickly located by deputies and the 48-year-old male driver was arrested and transported to the Cass County Detention Center. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the incident.
--The Father Pierz Memorial High School 1959 Class Reunion this year has been canceled. This comes as many Class Reunions have canceled this year for Little Falls, Pierz and other class years.
--Pierz Oktoberfest will be August 30th with the Lions Parade at noon through Pierz. There is no events in the park this year due to the restrictions of COVID-19 but there is a medallion hunt, where the clues will start on Little Falls Radio just after 6am on Monday.
--According to the latest report from the Minnesota Department of Health on COVID-19 tracking there were 698 new positive tests and 7 new deaths linked to the vius. Morrison County had one new positive test and a cumulative total of 104. Over the past two weeks Morrison County has had 19 positive tests, down two from the day before.
--An Elk River man has drowned in a lake by Annandale. The Wright County Sheriff's Office says they responded to a call on Granite Lake at about 3:20 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. Eighty-three-year-old Robert Jacobson was pulled from the water onto a boat and lifesaving efforts began immediately, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Deputies learned that Jacobson was a passenger in a boat driven by 76-year-old David Gunderson of Annandale. Gunderson had put the boat motor in reverse to remove weeds from the propeller and when he shifted it to go forward Jacobson fell off the front of the boat.
--An invasive aquatic species has been found in another Stearns County lake. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says zebra mussels have been found in Big Watab Lake near Avon. The DNR was notified after kids who were swimming found a zebra mussel. Invasive species specialists then conducted a follow-up survey and found two-dozen along a stretch of shoreline. The range of sizes and ages of the mussels indicates a reproducing population. Zebra mussels compete with native species for food and habitat, can cut the feet of swimmers and plug up boat motors and intake pipes. Minnesota state law says all boaters need to clean weeds and other invasive species off trailers and watercraft, remove drain plugs and dispose of unwanted bait in the trash. Nearly two dozen lakes and rivers in Stearns County have been confirmed to have zebra mussels as an invasive species.
--Minnesota's unemployment rate dropped to 7.7 percent in July. That's down from 8.6 percent in June. Nationally the unemployment rate is at 10.2 percent.
--The Little Falls FFA is having their 90th Anniversary Open House Sunday afternoon 1-4pm at the Little Falls Community High School Ag Department, please park in the hockey parking lot behind the school.
--The Pierz City Council meets Monday night at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
DEATH NOTICE
--Milo Hartwig, age 86 of Swanville.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny, high 86, chance of late afternoon thunderstorms.
TONIGHT= showers and storms likely, some strong, low 63.
SATURDAY= storm early, then sunny and warm, high 84, low near 60
SUNDAY= sunny and less humid, high near 80, low around 57.
MONDAY= sunny skies, high near 85, low around 60.
SPORTS
CLASS C= Class C State Baseball Tournament starts tonight with Randall vs. Hadley at 7:30pm, Saturday at 11am Avon vs. Union Hill followed by Ft. Ripley and Buffalo at 2pm, all games for Region 8C teams are in Milroy and heard live on AM960 KLTF. Winners move on to next weekend, Buckman plays August 30th at 11am on KLTF.
TWINS= Twins win 7-1 as 8 of 9 batters for the Twins pick up hits and Nelson Cruz another homer. The Twins open a series at Kansas City against the Royals tonight with pregame at 6:30pm, Saturday at 5:30pm and Sunday game time 1:10 with Inside Twins starting at noon, all live on Q92 WYRQ.