NEWS
--The Pierz Oktoberfest is this weekend, Wacky Hacker Golf Tournament today, Run for Hospice 5K Saturday morning, free concert Saturday night in front of the catholic church, parade Sunday at 11am, events in the Pierz Park 12:30-5pm, plus weather permitting the Little Falls Radio Cash Cube will be at Pierz Park after the parade. This is one of many events this weekend as local 4H members are at the Minnesota State Fair, St. Francis of Assisi Church south of Upsala has fall festival Sunday, Railroad Days this weekend in Staples, KC's chicken and corn feed tonight at Lions Park in Little Falls, benefit for Cheryl (Zylka) Tripplet tonight at Little Falls VFW, benefit for Brenda Rueckert Sunday at Morrill Parish Hall, Grace Methodist in St. Cloud blessing of the backpacks Sunday, Living Hope Church north of Little Falls has family fun day Sunday and there is a blood drive next week at the convent. Get details at fallsradio.com.
--The 219,000 Minnesotans paid minimum wage will get a raise January 1st. State officials announced Thursday that employees of large businesses will be paid at least $9.86 an hour, up from $9.65 that is required today. Those who work for smaller businesses will be paid a minimum of $8.04, compared to the current $7.87. The state Department of Labor and Industry says that the minimum wage law covers full- and part-time workers whether paid hourly rates, commissions, salaries or piece rates. Employees who receive tips also are covered, and tips are not counted as wages. Those not required to receive minimum wage include those specifically exempted such as babysitters, cab drivers, volunteers of nonprofit organizations and people who provide police and fire protection. Elected officials and those who serve on government boards also are not subject to the minimum wage.
--Swanville Dollars for Scholars announced that local volunteer Roxanne “Rocky” Thompson has been selected by Scholarship America as the 2018 Ralph “Cy” Seifert National Volunteer of the Year. The Volunteer of the Year award honors and recognizes individual Dollars for Scholars volunteers who are instrumental in successfully guiding the course of Dollars for Scholars, a program of Scholarship America, in a significant and beneficial way. Thompson will receive $2,000 for Swanville Dollars for Scholars and be recognized at Scholarship America’s 2019 Dreams to Success National Education Dinner and Partner Summit May 15th, 2019 in Washington, D.C. All are welcome to congratulate and celebrate Thompson with cake at the Swanville School open house on Tuesday August 28th, from 5:00pm – 7:00pm. In 31 years the Swanville Dollars for Scholars has awarded over $630,000 to 641 graduates. Every student who has ever applied has received a scholarship.
--A 22-year old East Gull Lake woman was injured last week when her vehicle crashed and became submerged in the Gull River. The crash occurred near the intersection of Gull Lake Dam Road and Gull Lane. The Cass County Sheriff's Office received the crash report at 5:37am August 16th. The investigation indicated the crash occurred about 11:30pm the previous night. The driver was able to exit the vehicle and walk home. She was taken by private vehicle to Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd for minor injuries.
--Princess Kay of the Milky Way Rebekka Paskewitz from Browerville is scheduled to be a guest today on the midday farm report today just after 12:30pm on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.
--Benton County is considering whether to join several other Minnesota cities and counties in adopting a local option sales tax to help pay for road construction projects. County Administrator Monty Headley says the board of commissioners wants to explore whether adding the county wide sales tax to help pay for unfunded road projects would allow them to reduce property taxes and possibly the wheelage tax. Benton County currently collects a $20 wheelage tax when motorists renew their license tabs but do not have a local option sales tax in place. Currently, only 16 of Minnesota's 87 counties don't have either a wheelage tax or a local option sales tax, while 29 others have a wheelage tax, 25 have a combination of both and 17 others have either a half-percent or quarter-percent sales tax only. Headley says of Benton County's 450 miles of roads, half don't qualify for state funding.
--A 22-year-old Sandstone man faces three felony murder charges in connection with the stabbing death of a 45-year old Onamia man. Matthew Scott Smith appeared Wednesday in Mille Lacs County District Court. Bail was set at $600,000 without conditions and $300,000 with conditions. He faces second degree intentional murder, second degree murder without intent and third degree murder while perpetrating an eminently dangerous act with a depraved mind. Smith was arrested after a 911 call Monday about what was deemed a medical emergency turned out to be an assault. The suspect was identified as Smith and deputies located him walking a short distance away on Twilight Road. Lindgren reported another person of interest in the death investigation, a 26-year old Hinckley woman had outstanding warrants in Pine, Chisago and Stearns counties. No word yet if she has been charged with the recent death case.
--The Brainerd Police Department responded to a two vehicle crash at 12:28pm on August 16th on the 200 block of Washington Street in Brainerd. 16-year olds Meghan McConville and Emmalyn McConville, both of Brainerd, were passengers in a vehicle driven by 18-year old Kiernan McFadden of Brainerd. McFadden was not injured. Meghan McConville and Emmalyn McConville were treated at the scene of the crash but not hospitalized. The other driver 36-year old Misty Sturm of Brainerd was not injured.
--The Pierz City Council meets Monday 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
WEATHER
TODAY= cloudy, isolated T-storms possible, high 73.
TONIGHT= storms early, some heavy rains, low 63.
SATURDAY= partly sunny, humid, high 81, storms late, low 61.
SUNDAY= storms early, then sunny, high 81, storms late, low 64.
MONDAY= storms likely, morning and night, high near 84.
SPORTS
CLASS C= The Class C State Baseball Tournament continues for our 4 region teams, On Saturday Buckman vs. Hadley at 5pm, Sobieski vs. Jackson 11am Sunday and Lastrup vs. Hutchinson Sunday at 5pm, all 3 games from Shakopee are live on AM960 KLTF. Also Sunday at 11am it's Ft. Ripley vs. New Market from New Prague. That game on FM94 KFML and all streamed at fallsradio.com.
TWINS=Twins hold off A's last night to win 6-4. The Twins continue series with Oakland tonight, pregame at 6:30pm, Saturday at 5:30 and Sunday 12:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= Vikings host Seattle tonight in preseason, kickoff at 7pm.