NEWS
--Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen reminds motorists as many head out of the 4th of July Holiday weekend to plan ahead for delays on roadways, wear your seatbelt, follow the laws that are place, watch your speed and buckle up to get to your destination safely and return home the same way. Make sure children are properly restrained in vehicles and also safety measures need to be in place for driving ATV's, UTV's and other off road vehicles, boats and all items on the water and never drink alcohol and then drive any vehicle what so ever. If you plan on camping, make sure campfires are out completely before leaving, don't leave food or trash remnants around which could attract animals in the area. If you use fireworks, make sure they are done safely and especially if used around children for the 4th of July. Sheriff Larsen hopes all will get a chance to enjoy the weekend either at events this weekend in Randall, Bowlus and Hillman around the county or wherever you wish to be and hopes that all have a happy and safe 4th of July Holiday. He also asks that you take a moment to remember those who worked on getting our Independence Day and the men and women over the past 246 years keeping us free. The Sheriff also reminds those if you notice suspicious activity this weekend call their office at 320-632-9233.
--Kate Bjorge of the Initiative Foundation and Nancy Berg of the Morrison County Area Foundation stated Thursday on KLTF that the two groups are working together with many banks and financial companies to help with an emergency disaster relief fund and Compeer Financial helped with a large donation specifically to the businesses in the Randall area. The Initiative Foundation then created a givemn.org page for Randall relief and matching $10,000 in funding to help residents in Randall dealing with flood recovery. There is details on the Morrison County Area Foundation website and facebook, fliers around Randall and the surrounding area with a QRF code that you can scan or if you want to drop off monetary donations or checks for the Randall Relief Fund they can be dropped at Randall State Bank or the Initiative Foundation in Little Falls. As of noon on Thursday the total was over $5,500 for the flood relief in Randall.
--Today is July 1st the start of the new fiscal year and also the start of new laws in Minnesota. New laws for agriculture including drought relief and broadband internet, on commerce where debt collectors must give lists to commerce department about all debtors. A number of new education laws start today, environment laws including the Minnesota State Lottery needing to show legislators where the funds from lottery sales are going too. Foster care laws and other laws about the welfare of children are also enhances with the latest laws starting today. Log on to the house.mn/NewLaws for full details.
--A two vehicle accident on Highway 210 in Crow Wing County at 11:51 Friday morning sent a 60-year-old Albany man to the hospital. A vehicle towing a trailer had items becomes dislodged causing it to strike and go through the windshield of another vehicle in the opposite lane. Ross Peterson was taken to the hospital with injuries. The other driver was not injured in the incident.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the July Employee of the Month is Melanie Tate. Tate is assistant manager at Subway. The nomination for Melanie included how over the years she has helped other employee grow into their jobs by showing them the ropes. She learned to delegate and manage co-workers, often working with new employees, all while having a smile on her face. Melanie has worked for Subway for 16+ years.
--Monday is July 4th a federal holiday commemorating Independence Day of July 4, 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was ratified making the United States of America and independent nation from Great Britain. Most federal, state, county and city offices are closed, banks, post offices, libraries and many businesses are closed Monday for the 4th of July holiday. There are a number of parades and events scheduled this week to honor the holiday and the summer. Randall will host their Independence Weekend Celebration with a parade at 11am, music, food and fun through the afternoon and evening Saturday in Randall. Bowlus has their Bowlus Fun Day on Sunday with 5K run, polka Mass, parade at 11:15am, water wars with firefighters at 2:30pm, plenty of music, food and fun all afternoon into the night with fireworks at dark on Sunday in Bowlus. Monday there are events in Hillman including a parade at 11am, Brainerd will host their “Salute to Heroes” Parade which will this year start at 6pm followed by events, music and relay races at the high school stadium leading to fireworks at dark Monday in Brainerd.
--St. Cloud police responded to a crash on Highway 23 Thursday afternoon. The incident happened just before 1:30pm at the train bridge that crosses Highway 23, just east of Wilson Avenue. Authorities say a garbage truck had not lowered its rear assembly and struck the bridge as the truck passed underneath. The impact stopped the truck and caused the street sign on the bridge to fall and land on two other vehicles causing them to collide with each other. Another passing truck also sustained some damage from falling debris. St. Cloud police say the driver of the garbage truck, a 58-year-old man from Milaca, was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. No one else was hurt.
--A man died after getting pinned under a tractor near Willmar. The Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office says they were called just before 6:00pm Wednesday to Dovre Township, just north of Willmar. Deputies found the 67-year-old Willmar man pinned underneath a utility tractor which appeared to tip over on the side of a creek embankment. The man's name has not been released.
--Due to 4th of July holiday, Little Falls City Council meets Tuesday night at 7:30pm at City Hall Council Chambers.
DEATH NOTICES
--Raymond “Ray” Poepping, age 91 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, breezy, high 77, clear night, low 53.
SATURDAY= partly cloudy skies, isolated showers, high 79, low 61
SUNDAY= sunny and warm, high 83, storms overnight, low 64.
4th OF JULY= showers and storms early and late, high 80, low 60
TUESDAY= AM showers, then partly sunny, high 77, low near 60.
SPORTS
TWINS= Cleveland walks off the Twins yesterday 5-3 to take the series. Twins open series at home with Baltimore this weekend, pregame tonight at 6:30pm, Saturday at 12:30pm and Sunday also begins at 12:30pm, Inside Twins at noon Sunday on Q92 WYRQ. Then Monday Twins travel to Chicago to open a series with the White Sox for the 4th of July, pregame at 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
A Reminder that their will be no newsletter on Monday for the 4th of July Holiday as Little Falls Radio offices will be closed on Monday. Happy 4th of July from Little Falls Radio.