NEWS
--The Randall City Council voted 4-1 Wednesday to inactivate the part time city Police Department and contract with the Morrison County Sheriff's Office effective June 1st. In 2017 the city of Randall spent slightly over $49,000 for the Randall part time Police Department. With the Morrison County Sheriff's Office contracted the total cost of the new agreement is $24,000 annually. In recent years the Randall Police Department primarily patrolled evenings and weekends. The Sheriff's Office will continue to offer immediate emergency response. The Morrison County Sheriff's Office will be available to respond and patrol 24 hours per day (although not continuously patrolling the city of Randall during that time). The first contract runs from June 1st, 2018 through October 1st, 2019. The contract will be reviewed, if necessary adjusted and can be renewed annually on October 1st.
--CentraCare Health is rolling out its Telestroke/Vascular Neurology Clinic to eight new sites, organizing a collaborative network of 16 different locations that will blanket much of rural Minnesota with coverage for people who suffer a stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack). With the help of a three-year federal grant totaling more than $560,000, patients across a 12-county area will be able to access specialists such as neurologists via telemedicine equipment. The grant, which comes from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program, will provide for telestroke outreach and navigation efforts at CHI St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, CentraCare Health-Monticello, Appleton Area Healthcare Services, Douglas County Hospital (Alexandria), Madison Healthcare Services, Renville County Hospitals and Clinics (Olivia), Rice Memorial Hospital (Willmar) and Riverwood Healthcare (Aitkin). The expansion of the sites is expected to take about two years. The expansion covers Morrison, Wright, Douglas, Renville, Kandiyohi, Aitkin and Lac qui Parle counties.
--The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children along with the Camden Police Department in South Carolina are asking for the public's assistance to locate a missing 2 year-old child. Dakota Ray was taken on April 15th, 2018 by her parents William and Jessica Ray. According to law enforcement both William and Jessica are believed to be heavy methamphetamine users and law enforcement is concerned for the child’s well being. The child and her parents were captured in surveillance images on Monday at a hospital in Iowa. Law enforcement then received information that they may now be in Minnesota. The child and companions are traveling in a 1996 gold Ford Aerostar van and may be frequently changing the license plate on the vehicle. According to Camden Police Department, it is possible that they may be begging or asking strangers for money. The child and companions are also believed to be sleeping in their vehicle. Dakota is 2 years old. She is 2 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 25 pounds and has blonde hair and blue eyes. Jessica is 36 years old. She is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 112 pounds and has long light brown hair and blue eyes. William is 44 years old. He is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weighs 340 pounds and has light brown hair and brown eyes. If anyone has seen Dakota, William or Jessica Ray contact the Camden Police Department at 1-888-CRIMESC (1-888-274-6372) or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
--Be listening for the next Cash Cube event with Little Falls Radio.
--Governor Mark Dayton, as expected, vetoed the Republican Tax Bill with a number of Elementary Kids Thursday morning. Dayton said he is urging lawmakers to put kids first with emergency school aid.
--Minnesota’s unemployment rate remained at 3.2 percent in April despite there being 3,200 fewer jobs, according to latest figures released Thursday. The job losses are based on seasonally adjusted numbers, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Meanwhile, March’s 2,900 job gain was revised downward to 400 jobs gained for that month. Over the past 12 months, the state added 11,659 jobs, a 0.4 percent increase. Nationally the increase was 1.7 percent over the same 12 months. The national unemployment rate in April was 3.9 percent.
--A man is dead after he crashed his car in southeastern North Dakota and then was struck by a semitrailer while walking on the highway. The Highway Patrol says the 35-year old man crashed his car on Interstate 94 west of Casselton early Thursday. A semitrailer came upon him shortly after 3:00am and the driver from St. Cloud, Minnesota, was unable to take evasive action. The pedestrian died at the scene after being hit. He wasn't immediately identified. The semi driver wasn't hurt but was shaken up emotionally and taken to a Fargo hospital. He was treated and released. He was not charged.
--After attempts to move the large bog on North Long Lake at Legionville Wednesday, plan B has started the process of getting it away from the shoreline by the School Patrol camp for the Legion. Wednesday night they started to cut the bog in half with attempts to try and move it out on Thursday.
--Events this weekend include the Rock 'N Run with Live Better Live Longer. Registration is today and tomorrow morning with the runs scheduled to start at 8:30am at the Belle Prairie athletic complex on Pine Avenue north of Little Falls. There is also a free will offering French Toast Breakfast Sunday starting at 11:30am at St. James Church in Randall with proceeds going to help the youth group.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
--Eyes will be on Britain this Saturday for the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The Wedding is scheduled for 2:30pm England time, which would be 7:30am central daylight time here.
DEATH NOTICES
--Edmund Brisk, age 91 of Little Falls.
--Jane F. Plante, age 89 of Little Falls
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny and warm, high 82.
TONIGHT= showers after dark, low 52.
SATURDAY= showers at times, cloudy & windy, high 62, low 40.
SUNDAY= sunny, high 68, clear night low around 45.
MONDAY= sunny and warmer, high 73, isolated showers late.
SPORTS
TWINS= Brewers and Twins battle at Target Field this weekend, pregame tonight 6:30pm, Saturday 5:30pm and Sunday starts with Inside Twins at noon followed by the game live on Q92 WYRQ.
VL= Nisswa at Ft. Ripley at an earlier time this Sunday, listen to the Victory League at 12:30pm on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.
Softball playoffs begin next week, coverage on LF Radio.