NEWS
--One person was hurt in a three-vehicle crash in Morrison County. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened just before 5:00pm Wednesday on Highway 27 west of Pierz. A car was going east when it rear-ended a pickup that was stopped waiting for a vehicle to turn left. The pickup then rear-ended a third vehicle that was also stopped. The driver of the car, 25-year old Cynthia Lee of Pierz, was taken to St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls with non-life-threatening injuries. The State Patrol reported no other injuries in the accident.
--The National Weather Service reports a powerful tornado has damaged farms and injured at least two people in western Minnesota. One person is dead. The man killed was working in a shop when the twister hit. The tornado struck at 5:30pm Wednesday near Dalton. The weather service says three farmsteads were hit, and one of those farmhouses was flattened. Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office reported two people were taken to a hospital. Their conditions were unknown. The tornado crossed Interstate 94 but no vehicles were affected. A National Weather Service staffer stated late Wednesday that the tornado is believed to be at least in the EF-3 category, with winds of 136-165 mph.
--A St. Cloud man has been charged with attempted arson in connection to a fire at the Community Outpost last month. According to the criminal complaint, 22-year-old Deantae Davis was seen on video lighting and throwing a "Molotov Cocktail" at the Community Outpost then fleeing the scene on June 16th. Police say they found the device in an alley and that it did not start the fire. Records show Davis and his brother were arrested a few days later in connection to an aggravated robbery in Benton County. Authorities say Davis' brother said Davis admitted to throwing the Molotov Cocktail at the COP House and he had practiced making the devices in the backyard. At around 3:00am on June 17th a witness called 9-1-1 to report and ongoing arson at the COP House. Police say two suspects, one carrying a gas can, were also video-recorded pouring a flammable liquid onto the building and lighting it on fire. Authorities say those suspects have not been identified. Davis is currently being held in the Benton County Jail on unrelated charges. Police say the arson incident remains under investigation and authorities are reviewing any involvement by Davis in that incident.
--A St. Cloud priest was sentenced Wednesday to prison for illegally engaging in sexual conduct with a parishioner. The Reverend 54-year old Anthony Oelrich was sentenced to three years and five months in prison for one felony conviction of third degree criminal sexual conduct. Oelrich was accused of initiating sex with a woman who went to him for spiritual guidance, an act he himself described in court Wednesday as "criminal." She had disclosed to him that she had previously been sexually abused. Because of the potential for coercion and exploitation, Minnesota law bars clergy members from engaging in sexual relationships with anyone they are counseling spiritually or religiously. Consent is not a defense.
--Steve Meyer of Hands of Hope Resource Center announced that due to the gathering restrictions still in place the Hope Rocks Concert with Matt Vee and his band singing Neil Diamond songs which was first scheduled for March then rescheduled for August 21st has been rescheduled again. The concert will not take place this year and has been moved to March 27th of 2021. All tickets purchased for this years concert can be used for the concert next March.
--A thunderstorm that dropped minimal rain in Little Falls early Thursday reportedly did quite a bit of damage in the city of Lastrup. A line throught the town toppled large trees blocking some residential roadways, and a number of trees and debris down in the Catholic Church parking lot. Lots of chainsaws and tree trimmers working through the day Thursday to clean up the town.
--The Pierz outdoor warning sirens will be tested today around 1PM. This is only a test to ensure the sirens are working properly. If this were a real event, please remember to take the following precautions for safety: Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
--The Little Falls Police Department recently had a number of suspicious activity calls, theft calls which were turned over juvenile court, accidents including a vehicle striking someone on a bicycle- police stated when they arrived a witness said that the driver and bicyclist talked to each other and both left the scene without serious injury, there were also of number of accidents, stalled vehicles and other calls from a week ago Monday night in Little Falls due to the heavy rain storms. They area also investigating a burglary report on Haven Road where items were stolen from a vehicle where the victim's car window was broken to get to her valuables.
--The latest numbers from the Minnesota Department of Health Thursday are 589 new cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota and 5 new deaths. Stearns had 21 new cases, Wadena had 1 new case and Benton had 6 new cases. No new cases in Morrison, Todd, Crow Wing or Cass Counties on Thursday. Morrison 61 cases, 1 confirmed death.
--A South Haven woman was hurt after a three-vehicle crash near Richmond Thursday morning. The Minnesota State Patrol says 30-year-old Samantha Jo Raymond was heading north on Stearns County Road 43 around 11:45am when she went to cross Highway 23 and collided with an eastbound car and then struck a westbound car slowing to turn onto the county road. Raymond was taken to Paynesville Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The other two drivers and their passengers were not hurt.
--The Pierz City Council meets Monday at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, less humid conditions, high 82.
TONIGHT= thunderstorms toward morning, clouds increase, low 62.
SATURDAY= AM storms, then partial sun, high near 80, low near 60.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, high 83, storms after midnight, low 64.
MONDAY= storms likely, heavy rains possible, high 77, low near 60.
SPORTS
VL= Pierz Bulldogs at Buckman Saturday 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.
VL= Nisswa at Ft. Ripley Sunday at 1:30 on KLTF/fallsradio.com.
TWINS= hear Game 7 of the 1987 World Series (reliving the first World Series title from the Minnesota Twins) this Sunday at noon live on Q92 WYRQ. Regular season games for 2020 start July 24th.
BIG 10= The Big Ten on Thursday announced it will be going to a conference-only season for all fall sports, including football, amid "unprecedented times" during the coronavirus pandemic. By limiting competition to other Big Ten institutions, the Conference will have the greatest flexibility to adjust its own operations throughout the season and make quick decisions in real-time in changes need to be made.