NEWS
–The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce their June Employee of the Month is Mary Beth Grams of Little Falls Community Schools. For the past nine years, Mary Beth has been the Lead Network Desktop Technician. Congratulations to Mary Beth Grams, Little Falls Chamber of Commerce employee of the month.
–Three more men have been charged in Stearns County and are accused of being part of a multi-state methamphetamine distribution conspiracy that brought the drug from Mexico to Central Minnesota. 45-year old Jonathan Woods, 45-year old Lamont Tyson and 41-year old David Tyson are the last of 10 men charged who are named in court records as participants in a drug probe that lasted nearly three years. Investigators with the Violent Offender Task Force purchased or seized nearly 60 pounds of meth during the investigation. Multiple couriers in multiple states brought the drugs into Minnesota. The investigation led to several search warrants, including one executed in late March that targeted what is believed to have been a main hub of the drug operation.
–The Minnesota legislature is preparing to sue the governor. A legislative committee plans today to consider hiring a lawyer after the governor vetoed legislative funding for the next two years. The legislature said that the veto was unconstitutional. The governor said that the provision the state legislature wanted would have held the revenue department with 1,300 employees hostage and intrudes the authoity to manage the executive branch of government in the state.
–A northern Minnesota judge has ruled that investigators improperly questioned the man accused of kidnapping and killing 5-year old Alayna Ertl of Watkins, whose body was found near Motley. 26-year old Zachary Anderson has been indicted on murder charges along with kidnapping and sexual assault. A judge stated that Anderson’s statement to police is inadmissible at any trial he might face. Anderson repeatedly told officers that he did not want to answer questions after he was found in rural Cass County northeast of Motley where it is believed he was trying to take his own life. The judge did however, uphold the charges against Anderson and denied the motion of the defense to dismiss the 19 court indictments against him. Defense has made another motion to try and block from the trial evidence that investigators gained from the comments made from Anderson which will now not be allowed in court.
–The Minnesota Department of Health reported Wednesday that the total number of measles cases in the state had risen from 68 to 70, after nearly two weeks of no new positive tests. The updated total counts 61 measles cases in Hennepin County, four in Crow Wing County, three in Ramsey County, and two in Le Sueur County. Only four of the patients are known to have received one or both doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Prior to the latest report, the number of new measles cases had not risen in 13 days, giving health officials hope that the outbreak could be nearing its end. The state would have to go two full incubation periods at 21 days each without a single positive case before the outbreak is declared over.
–Brainerd firefighters were called to a vehicle fire Tuesday night just before 11:30pm on Maple Street. The vehicle was extinguished within minutes of arrival, with minimal damage to the vehicle. Then only a few minutes later another vehicle fire call was made from Mill Avenue. When firefighters arrived the fire had already been put out.
–The Little Falls City Council meets Monday 7:30 at City Hall. Agenda items include land discussions and city code ordinances.
–Nearly 200 firefighters will be in Brainerd next week (June 7th-10th) for the Minnesota State Fire Department Association Conference. This year is the 142nd annual event that also helps Brainerd Fire Department celebrate 145 years of service. During the conference, there will be top notch training and discussion, along with getting to view the city of choice with their spouses and guests. The public is invited to a community parade and car show at Brainerd High School on June 10th at 1:30pm to show the city’s appreciation to the fire department for 145 years and the conference being held in Brainerd.
–Pierz native Frank Weber, author of “Murder Book” will appear at the Pierz Library Saturday from 10-1 with a book talk at 11am. Weber’s adult fiction novel captures much of his real-life professional experiences interwoven with personal details of his childhood growing up in a family of twelve in the small rural town of Pierz, Minnesota. “Murder Book”, a law enforcement term for homicide case, is packed with authentic investigative details based on his own work and his own life experiences. Check out other weekend events which include the plant sale at Linden Hill on Saturday and a benefit for Rob Schmidtz of Pierz who is battling cancer, Sunday in Lastrup by checking out the details at fallsradio.com then community calendar.
DEATH NOTICES
–Ronald Shodeen, age 77 of Upsala.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny and warm, high 87.
TONIGHT= storms after 8pm, partly cloudy, low near 60.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, afternoon stroms develop, high 85, low 55.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, PM storms again possible, high 80, low 50.
MONDAY= sunny and a bit cooler, high 72, low around 45.
SPORTS
HS SB= Albany eliminated Pierz 8-4 on Thursday ending season.
HS BAB= Little Falls beat Thief River Falls 7-3 Thursday and advance to St. John’s University next Tuesday. Pierz wins 1-0 again this time over St. Cloud Cathedral last night to advance to Monday’s action against Foley who defeated Sauk Centre 7-0 yesterday.
TWINS= Twins rally to score 3 runs in the 9th to beat Anaheim last night 4-2. Twins continue series at Anaheim this weekend. Tonight the pregame at 8:30pm, Saturday also at 8:30pm and then on Sunday the pregame at 2pm, all games live on Q92 WYRQ.
NBA= Golden State takes game 1 of NBA Finals over Cleveland last night 113-91. Game 2 is Sunday night.
LYNX= The 6-0 Lynx are at Seattle Saturday.
VL= Freeport at Flensburg Sunday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1835= P.T. Barnum began his first U.S. Circus Tour.
IN 1886= President Grover Cleveland married Frances Folsom- first sitting U.S. President to be married while in office.
IN 1935= Babe Ruth retired from professional baseball.
IN 1964= The Rollings Stones arrived in the United States.
IN 1988= Ken Griffey Jr. called up for first game as Seattle Mariner.
IN 1989= Dead Poets Society with Robin Williams debuts in theater.