NEWS
--Eight people were injured when two tour buses including an Andy's Charter bus from Little Falls carrying a bus load of individuals from Little Falls Community Services to the state fair collided near the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Thursday morning around 10:20am. A Lorenz bus was only the driver in it was turning left onto Highway 280 when it went off the ramp and crashed into the median divider where it was hit by the Andy's Charter Bus of Little Falls. Little Falls Community Schools Superintendent Stephen Jones stated that the driver of the Andy's bus 50-year-old Carrie Ann Gasperlin of Cushing. Both bus drivers were injured and needed to be extricated from their buses. Six passengers were also taken to the hospital, Jones stated that the injuries were not life threatening but some were more serious in nature. He also stated that of the 50 passengers on the bus only one was under 18. Andy's Charter Service worked with another bus company to transport riders to Clearwater, where the Little Falls company would pick them up, Jones said. The State Patrol is currently investigating the incident.
--Authorities in Todd County are investigating a suspected double homicide in Long Prairie. The Sheriff's Office says they received a call of a man found dead at his home around 4:30pm Wednesday. The caller told authorities they went to the home to check on the man who had not returned phone calls. When deputies arrived they found two adult victims dead inside. The Todd County Sheriff's Office says the deaths are suspicious in nature. Deputies say the suspect in the deaths is believed to be 23-year-old Dylan Bennett, who authorities are currently looking for. Bennett is believed to be driving a blue 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe with Minnesota license plate BCK 487. Authorities says there is no threat to public safety at this time. The Sheriff's Office says the names of the two adults are expected to be released sometime today after family members have been notified.
--U.S. Congressman Jason Lewis announced Thursday at the Minnesota State Fair that he will seek the Republican endorsement for U.S. Senate in 2020 to vie against current Senator Tina Smith.
--A truck driver from Michigan is in jail after being charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl, most recently in St. Cloud. 34-year-old Kenneth Zehnder of Lexington, Michigan has been charged in Stearns County District court with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. A Minnesota State Trooper stopped Zehnder's westbound semi on I-94 on Monday afternoon after the girl sent a text to Otter Tail County dispatchers, saying she had been sexually assaulted. The girl later told investigators she had been riding with Zehnder for about a week, and reports being sexually assaulted by Zehnder on multiple occasions, including most recently at a St Cloud area truck stop. Zehnder was transferred from Otter Tail to Stearns County. He is currently jailed on $100,000 bond.
--A boil order has been lifted at St. John's University after tests of its water supply were returned as negative for E. coli. The Minnesota Department of Health granted permission to immediately lift the order on Wednesday, according to an email from the university. The directive was issued last week after E. coli bacteria were discovered in a building inside of the university's water distribution system. The source of the contamination has still not been identified. Chlorination of the campus water system will continue through November 1st. St. John's University will begin fall classes on Monday.
--Little Falls Radio received word from Howie Schommer of the Pierz Oktoberfest Committee last night just before 9pm that the Pierz Oktoberfest Medallion was found by Debbie and Mark Fuhrman last night on Centennial Drive near Pierz. Listen to Little Falls Radio today for more details. Debbie & Mark wins $500 in Pierz Bucks. More events for Pierz Oktoberfest include Wacky Hacker Golf Tournament today, Run for Hospice Saturday morning, gospel bluegrass free concert Saturday at 6pm in front of the catholic church, parade Sunday at 11am and events in Pierz Park 12:30-5pm on Sunday.
--A Brainerd man accused of poisoning a 4-month-old baby in an attempt to kill her was sentenced to more than 12 years in state prison. Jeffrey Ryan Thomas also known as Jeffrey Ryan Shanks added ethylene glycol to the baby girl’s bottle during her feeding in an attempt to kill her and then tried to pin the crime on the baby’s mother, according to court documents charging him with the crime. Thomas entered an Alford plea to first-degree premeditated attempted murder. An Alford plea allows Thomas to maintain his innocence while acknowledging the state prosecution office has strong enough evidence against him to support a jury’s determination of guilt. He was given an executed sentence of 12 years, nine months in a Minnesota Correctional Facility. He was given credit of 545 days of days already served.
--A bicyclist was killed after being hit by a car in Wright County Wednesday night. The incident happened just before 10:00pm at Highway 25 and Kjellberg Court in Monticello Township. The Minnesota State Patrol reported 17-year old Ian Rogers of Monticello was riding his bike northbound on Highway 25 near Kjellberg Court in the left lane, when he was hit by a vehicle also traveling north on the highway in the left lane. The driver of the vehicle was 25-year-old Carla Hemminger of St. Cloud.
--St. Francis Convent will host a blood drive for the American Red Cross on Monday and Tuesday of next week. Call Sister Julien for an appointment at 632-0663 to help give blood.
--The Pierz City Council meets Monday night at 7pm at city hall.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Randy Lee Marx Jr. & Stephanie Rakow of Cushing, boy Aug 21st.
DEATH NOTICES
--Edward R. “Ed” Hendrickson, age 72 of Cushing.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 75, clear night low around 55.
SATURDAY= partly cloudy, warmer, high near 80, slight chance of overnight storms, low around 60.
SUNDAY= AM storm, then partial sun, high 73, storms develop later in the evening with heavy rains at night, low 58.
MONDAY= storms likely with heavy rains, high near 70, low near 50.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins start a series at home against Detroit tonight with pregame at 6:30pm, Saturday starts at 5:30pm and Sunday begins at 12:30pm all live on Q92 WYRQ. Twins have Monday off.
CLASS C= Nisswa plays Saturday at 11am, Avon plays Sunday at 11am, Buckman is at Sunday at 1:30pm all in Maple Lake this weekend in the Class C State Tournament, all games on KLTF.
NFL= Vikings host Arizona in preseason Saturday at noon.