NEWS
--At 10:13am the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a fire at the Trails Edge Food Fuel and Liquor located on Highway 25 just south of Buckman. When deputies arrived, there was smoke and fire coming out of the north and west sides of the building. The Pierz Fire Department responded and was assisted by the Royalton Fire Department. According to the Sheriff’s Office, people were inside the building when the fire started, and everyone was able to escape without injury. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined. The State Fire Marshal’s office was notified and will be conducting an investigation. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Pierz Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, Pierz Fire Department and Royalton Fire Department.
--A missing Waite Park woman was found safely. The Waite Park police were asking for the public's help in finding a missing woman, 35-year old Melissa Andrle who was last seen July 5th. Andrle was found safely in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Authorities thank the public for their help in the search for the missing woman.
--A fugitive wanted by the Minnesota Department of Corrections was taken into custody in Waite Park Thursday. Members of the St. Cloud Police Department's Community Response Team, with the help of Waite Park Police, found 39-year-old Johnathon Herring in the 1100 block of 7th Street South just after 1pm. Police say Herring resisted arrest, tried to get into a vehicle to escape, and was tased. As officers tried to complete the arrest, they say Herring continued to resist and kicked one of the officers multiple times. Herring was ultimately put into a "WRAP" device to control his combative behavior. During the arrest, police say they found a handgun on Herring. Herring was taken to the hospital to be medically cleared from being tased and booked into the Stearns County Jail on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a gun, 4th-degree assault on a police officer, and outstanding warrants for a felony aggravated robbery parole violation. Three St. Cloud Police officers received minor injuries during the arrest.
--A California man is charged in Stearns County with felony sex crimes involving a minor. Twenty-one-year-old Lance Davenport Jr. of Tracy, California is charged with the use of a minor in a sexual performance, possessing pornographic work while being a registered sex offender, and soliciting a child to engage in sexual conduct. The Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force began an investigation in May involving a 13-year-old girl. Officers learned that Davenport convinced the girl to send nude photos and videos of herself to him, was soliciting her to engage in sex acts, and sent a nude photo of himself to her. Davenport, who was convicted in May of 2019 for possession of obscene matter in California, was booked into the Stearns County Jail Tuesday.
--Two people were hurt Tuesday night at 10:12pm on Highway 169 in Dailey Township of Mille Lacs County. 23-year-old Lucas Yost of Milaca was traveling southbound in the northbound lane of Highway 169 the wrong way and collided head on with 29-year-old Trina Wybierala of Sauk Centre. Both drivers were taken to the hospital in Onamia with non life threatening injuries. The State Patrol stated that alcohol was detected on Yost at the time of the accident.
--The Pierz City Council meets Monday at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
--The Morrison County Commissioners are scheduled to meet Tuesday morning at 9am at the government center boardroom.
--A busy weekend of events include Pierz Freedom Fest with Morgan Evans, David Naill, Little Texas and more Saturday at the Genola ballfields with gates opening at 2pm, there will be busing available from Little Falls and Pierz too and from the event for those wishing not to park at the site. Your invited to a Meet the Artists event outside Great River Arts Saturday 2-4pm the event is free to view with plenty of items to view in front of the Great River Arts building with music and refreshments. The band Strange Days plays at the Castaway Bar in Cushing Saturday come and meet Whitney and Paladin from 94ROCKS that night. There will be a summer cook out after the 4:30pm Mass Saturday at St. Mary's Church in Little Falls for a free will offering in the new parking lot. Cass County Fair in Pillager, Iconic Fest in Brainerd are this weekend. Holdingford Daze also starts tonight with the parade in Holdingford at 7pm Saturday. Swanville Mid-Summer Carnival starts tonight with food at 5 and midway a 6 with music to follow, more events Saturday starting after 3pm and Sunday with the parade at 11:30am and then midway and events through the afternoon and evening in Swanville. There are details on many eventst his weekend at fallsradio.com then click on the community calendar icon for details. You can also find details on the Morrison County Fair at the end of the month at fallsradio.com.
--All are invited Tuesday night to come on down to the Linden Hill lower grounds barn to experience an evening of live music. The LogJam 5 is a free, family friendly event is in its fifth year of showcasing the talents of local musicians in a casual, comfortable atmosphere. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket for the event that starts at 6pm Tuesday and goes for around 90 minutes. Come and enjoy.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 77.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low 53.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, high 81, clear night, low 56.
SUNDAY= sunny and warmer, high 85, clear night, low 55.
MONDAY= sunny skies, high 83, storm late night, low 61.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins rally for 3 runs in the 7th to beat the Tigers last night at Target Field 5-3. The Twins continue series with Detroit tonight at 6:30pm, Saturday at 12:30pm and Sunday Inside Twins starts at noon, hear all the games live on Q92 WYRQ. Then Twins off for All Star Break except Nelson Cruz on the AL Team Tuesday night.
OLY= The Summer Olympics will be held without spectators when they begin July 23rd. Japan early Thursday declared a COVID emergency and therefore made the official announcement that the games will be done with no spectators of any kind in Tokyo.
VL= Pierz Lakers at St. Stephen Steves Sunday 1:30pm on KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1776 = The Declaration of Independence in read to George Washington and his troops, days after it was ratified by Congress.
IN 1877= the first Wimbledon tennis championships are held.
IN 1953= first helicopter passenger service begins operations.
IN 1956= Dick Clark becomes the regular host on American Bandstand. Clark had guest hosted a few times for the show.
IN 1968= MLB All Star Game played indoors for 1st time at the Houston Astrodome. The Metrodome hosted the game in 1985.
IN 1980= Walt Disney's “The Fox and The Hound” debuts in theaters.