NEWS --A 63-year old man died Wednesday in a motorcycle accident north of the U.S. Highway 10 overpass in Sauk Rapids. Police say Donald Peter Schreifels, a Benton County resident, died at the scene after being thrown from his southbound motorcycle as it hit the end of the median in the 1100 block of Benton Drive South. The accident was reported at 10:23pm Wednesday.
--A 30-year old St. Cloud man was arrested after a search early Thursday turned up cocaine, cash and a small amount of marijuana. Members of the Central Minnesota Violent Offenders Task Force and the St. Cloud Police SWAT team searched a home at 345 19th Avenue North in St. Cloud. They found a small amount of marijuana and they had reason to believe Antoine Lemar Dodd was concealing additional controlled substances in his body cavity. Dodd was taken to the Stearns County Jail and searched, revealing about 36.5 grams of cocaine and $1,500 cash. Dodd was jailed and is expected to be charged with second-degree possession of a controlled substance.
--A gas line rupture late Wednesday morning near the intersection of Third Street and Second Avenue South affected traffic in Sauk Rapids. Firefighters responded and police blocked traffic in the area. Streets were reopened before noon.
--Former Little Falls Community Schools Superintendant and current Superintendant of Eden Prairie Schools Curt L. Tryggestad has been named executive director of Perpich Center for Arts Education. This is a 32-year old state agency that includes a public residential arts high school for 11th and 12th graders, a professional development and resource group and an arts resource library serving both the high school and members of the public. Tryggestad was one of two finalists presenting to the Perpich Board Wednesday evening. Tryggestad currently serves as president of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators and represents Minnesota on the American Association of School Administrators’ governing board. Tryggestad will begin at Perpich Center for Arts Education in late August.
--Eight people applied for the Royalton Schools superintendent position, but only four will have a chance to interview. The names of the candidates have not been released. The interviews will begin at 8:00am Monday in the Community Education classroom in the Early Childhood Center. Each is expected to last about an hour and are open to the public. In the afternoon, the Board plans to go over the interviews and make a choice. If that person accepts the position, negotiations for salary/benefits will be held next week on Wednesday at 9:00am. The names of the four will be released as soon as Board Chair has called them and received confirmation that they will come for an interview.
--The Morrison County Historical Society is offering a walking tour from 10:00am-noon on Saturday, July 8th. The tour will reveal signs of a ravine that once crossed through the eastern side of Little Falls, splitting parts of the downtown area. It ran parallel to the Mississippi River, two or three blocks to the east. The Little Falls Ravine Walking Tour will include stories of the ravine’s role in the city’s history. In case of rain, the alternate date for the tour is July 15th at the same time. The tour will start at the corner of Second Avenue and Second Street Northeast in Little Falls. The cost of the tour is $20 plus tax, or free for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased at The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum. Reservations are due by July 7th, with a limit of 20 reservations.
--Reports of counterfeit money in Minnesota are on the rise. Minneapolis Secret Service Field Office Special Agent Mark Johnson says they are receiving more counterfeit cash than normal from local police departments and banks across the state. He added that the numbers are up this year but not at their highest ever. Authorities urge anyone who believes they have come across phony money to call the police.
--A male body has been found on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Cloud. At 1:34pm Thursday officers responded to a call from pedestrians on the south side of the Granite City Crossing Bridge reporting the body. The victim's identification is being withheld until next of kin can be notified. According to the Police Department, foul play is not suspected and there is not believed to be imminent danger to the public. The case is active and being investigated by the St. Cloud Police Department Criminal Investigative Unit. Anyone with information should call the St. Cloud Police Department.
--The Staples Fire Department has received a new pumper truck. Firefighters were training on the truck last week.
--Check out weekend events like the Michael “Lody” Lodermeier softball tournament in Little Falls Saturday, St. Mary's Church in Little Falls breakfast and raffle Sunday morning, St. Mathias Church has their bazaar on Sunday. Check out these and many other events this weekend at fallsradio.com and then community calendar.
DEATH NOTICES --Agnes Doucette, age 83 of Cushing --Clara Cichon, age 97 of Little Falls --John Knosalla, age 70 of Staples
WEATHER TODAY= increasing clouds, wind gusts 35mph in afternoon, high 66. TONIGHT= mostly cloudy, low around 44 and breezy. SATURDAY= partly sunny, cool, windy, high 62- late day showers. SATURDAY NIGHT= few showers/T-storms early, then clearing low 47 SUNDAY= sunny early, PM showers possbile, high 66, low around 45. MONDAY= sunny and a bit warmer, high 72, low around 48.
SPORTS TWINS= Twins finally started yesterday after a 5 hour rain delay against the White Sox and it did not go well. White Sox routed the Twins 9-0 to avoid the sweep. Twins are at Cleveland this weekend starting tonight 5:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and Sunday starts with Inside Twins at 11am. Hear all the games live on Q92 WYRQ. LYNX= Lynx host Washington tonight 7pm in St. Paul. Lynx then will host San Antonio on Sunday. Lynx are 9-1 on the WNBA season. VL= Randall at Sobieski Sunday 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1868= Christopher Sholes of Wisconsin patented the typewriter. IN 1931= Wiley Post started his around the world balloon flight. IN 1955= Walt Disney released “Lady and the Tramp” in theaters. IN 1979= The Knack recorded their biggest hit “My Sharona” IN 1979= The Charlie Daniels Band released what would become the signature hit for the group- “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”. IN 1982= Entertainment Tonight debuted, the show first starred John Tesh and Mary Hart the program is still seen on TV today.