NEWS --Executive Director of the Pine Grove Zoo Marnita Van Hoecke spoke on Little Falls Radio yesterday about the work at the zoo and upcoming events. Van Hoecke said early construction is starting on the otter exhibit and will continue into late fall. The kangaroos have moved outside and have their own exhibit with special kangaroo encounters for those to come and see, they have also added critter encounters and a porcupine exhibit to the zoo this summer. There will be yoga, art, zookeeper training days and more through the summer and fall and the annual Zoo Fest scheduled for October 6th. For more information on the Pine Grove Zoo call 616-5595.
--A Long Prairie woman was hurt in a crash in Todd County. The Sheriff's Office says it happened at about 1:30pm Tuesday on 220th Street on the south edge of Lake Charlotte. 53-year old Veronica Monti needed to be extricated from her vehicle and then was brought to Long Prairie Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
--Three people were brought to the hospital after a two vehicle crash. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened just after 9:00pm Wednesday at the intersection of Highway 15 and County Road 1 in LeSauk Township. A vehicle driven by 39-year old Jenifer Kipka of Foley was going east on County Road 1 crossing Highway 15 when her vehicle collided with a car driven by 22-year old Ryan Luitjens of Sartell, which was turning to go south on Highway 15. Kipka, Luitjens and a passenger, 16-year old Jadeilynn Revermann of Sauk Rapids, were all taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
--A 76-year old Nisswa woman was injured in a two vehicle crash at 3:49pm last Friday in the parking lot at Culver's in Baxter. The Baxter Police Department reported a Lexus driven by Mary E. Oberle of Nisswa and a Dodge Ram driven by 78-year old Terry L. Cosgrove of Fort Ripley, collided in the parking lot. Oberle was transported by North Memorial Ambulance to Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. Cosgrove was not injured.
--The Brainerd Fire Department was called at 6:17pm Tuesday to a small grass fire on the 18000 block of Green Flag Trail near an electrical transformer. The fire was extinguished.
--Road construction will force the closure of a major Mississippi River crossing for several days. Benton County Road 29, also known as 1st Street Northeast in Sartell will be closed from essentially the bridge on the Stearns County side of the river to Benton Drive on the east side. Depending on the weather, the closure was to begin last night at 6pm or early this morning. It's expected to reopen on Tuesday. The closure is necessary to allow for reconstruction of the roadway between the end of the bridge and Benton Drive. Benton Drive will remain open and eastbound on County Road 29 east of Benton Drive.
--Some of the best BMX bike racers will be in St. Cloud this weekend for the Land O Lakes Nationals at Pineview Park in St. Cloud the event runs Friday through Sunday.
--Weekend events include Cushing Days- movie in the park tonight with swap meet, volleyball tournament, car show, tractor show on Saturday at the Cushing Community Park. DAV motorcycle and classic car ride Saturday starting on west side of Little Falls, Upsala Upstage Players present Wizard Oz tonight, Saturday and Monday night and Sunday afternoon at Upsala High School, Lincoln Scandia Valley Lions have a fundraiser golf tournament Saturday, St. Rita's Church Bazaar is Sunday in Hillman. Get details on events at fallsradio.com.
--The 31-year old Orono man who died Saturday after a tree he was cutting down fell on him at a property near Kimble Shores Drive in Ideal Township has been identified as Graham Merry. The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office released the name Wednesday. The sheriff's office received a report at 1:27pm Saturday of an injury from a fallen tree. Responders arrived and found the man died from the injuries he suffered. The sheriff's office was assisted by the Pequot Lakes and Breezy Point police departments and the Ideal Fire Department.
--The Minnesota DNR stated that on August 1st water control gates on the Sartell Dam will be opened to lower the water level there by 3 feet, a process expected to take about 30 hours. Water levels upstream of the dam in the Sartell pool and in Little Rock Lake are expected to be about 3 to 5 feet lower than normal. The drawdown will remain in effect until mid September when water levels will be brought back up over the course of two days. Lowering the water levels for six weeks will expose some 700 acres of shoreline, allowing it to dry out so that native plants can take root and grow there. The plants will stabilize the shoreline and help to prevent erosion. Water quality and water clarity are expected to be significantly improved following the drawdown. Property owners are reminded that all shoreland rules remain in effect during the drawdown. It is illegal to drive a motorized vehicle below the ordinary high water level and some other projects, may require a permit. A slow no-wake restriction also is in place on Little Rock Lake to minimize disturbance to plants as they’re starting to grow.
--The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources confirmed zebra mussels have been found in Bay Lake near Deerwood in Crow Wing County. Zebra mussels are transported over land by human activity and lake users can prevent their spread by cleaning watercraft after leaving lakes and rivers, drain all water from the boat, dispose unwanted bait and use a pressure washer on the boat before the next fishing trip to the lake.
DEATH NOTICES --Fern Hanson, age 58 of Swanville. --Nancy Lou Nelson Starr, age 83 of Little Falls. --Victor Albert Zellgert, age 71 of Little Falls
WEATHER TODAY= showers likely, isolated T-storm possible, high 74. TONIGHT= showers early, then cloudy, low 59. SATURDAY= partly sunny, high 78, clear night, low 57. SUNDAY= sunny and warmer, high 82, low around 62. MONDAY= PM storms develop, high near 80, low around 60.
SPORTS TWINS= Twins at Kansas City tonight 6:30, Saturday at 5:30 and Sunday at 12:30pm for pregames on Q92 WYRQ. VL= Victory League playoffs resume tonight and tomorrow with region qualifying games and seeding games on Sunday. Randall at Upsala is the KLTF Game of the Week Saturday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.
TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1927= Charles Lindbergh began an 80 city flight leaving New York. This occurred two months after his historic flight to Paris.