NEWS
--Michael Lowell Munger was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday, in Crow Wing County District Court for the murder of Lynnie Ann Loucks in 2022. The 54-year-old Munger showed little outward emotion as he followed along during the court hearing where he was sentenced. He flipped through the pages of the victim impact statements as they were read aloud in court. The judge allowed many statements to be read from family members of the victim before the sentencing then sentenced Munger to life in prison for first degree-premeditated murder. He was also ordered to pay around $30,000 in restitution and any other fines.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office reported an ATV accident Wednesday at 7:04pm on Bear Road north of Cushing in Cushing Township. 27-year-old David Klingele of Austin, Texas was driving on private property when the ATV rolled on top of him injuring his leg. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment of injuries.
--A Foley woman has been officially charged with murder after a drug overdose killed another woman in March. According to the charges filed in Benton County District Court, 26-year-old Christine Grove sold fentanyl to the victim in the early morning hours of March 22nd. The woman was found dead later that morning by her grandfather. Court records show drugs and drug paraphernalia were found near the victim's body. Cell phone records also uncovered a conversation between the victim and Grove related to a drug deal prior to the victim's death. Authorities also listened to a recorded phone call between Grove and her boyfriend who was in the Benton County jail at the time. The charges allege Grove told the man that she was the last person to see the victim alive and that she assumed the woman died of a drug overdose. The Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force served a search warrant in St. Cloud Monday and Grove was found inside, along with methamphetamine and fentanyl. An autopsy of the victim determined she died of drug toxicity related to fentanyl and methamphetamine. Grove is charged with 3rd degree murder and will make her next court appearance on May 30th.
--Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has signed a comprehensive veterans and military affairs bill into law. The bill is a mix of service and retention bonuses for members of the Minnesota National Guard, funding for veterans homes and other veteran homelessness issues, and funding for National Guard readiness. The bill includes an additional $15 million for service bonuses for post-9/11 era veterans and Gold Star Families and $3 million for reenlistment bonuses for members of the Minnesota National Guard. Millions in new funding to effectively end and prevent veteran homelessness, including funds to construct dozens of permanent supportive housing rental units and facilitate the Homeless Veteran Registry, a tool that identifies veterans experiencing homelessness and connects them to services. Veterans Homes The bill includes $47 million to start up and operate three new veterans homes to support aging veterans in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston, Minnesota. The bill includes $1.5 million to adopt a health and fitness program for the Minnesota National Guard, which has been shown to reduce substance abuse and suicide rates and improve overall health, fitness, and health-promoting behaviors.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office would like to thank all who made their sandbox fill a success on Tuesday. In all 37 families had their sandbox filled, 240 pounds of food and $70 cash were donated for the local area food shelf.
--County Dairy Princesses from across the state gathered for the Dairy Promotion and Leadership event last weekend in Minneapolis. Of the participants, the 10 finalists were named and will go on to compete for the title of Minnesota's 70th Princess Kay of the Milky Way in August. This year’s finalists include: Makenzie Alberts; Pine Island; daughter of Eric and Angie Alberts; and representing Dodge County; Gracie Ash; Milaca; daughter of Mike and Shelly Ash; and representing Mille Lacs County; Jalyssa Beaudry; Otsego; daughter of Brian and Theresa Beaudry; and representing Wright County; Katherine Hills; Monticello; daughter of Nicole Hills; and representing Wright County; Montana Krueger; Arlington; daughter of Scott and Stephanie Krueger; representing Sibley County; Emma Kuball; Waterville; daughter of Nate and Shannon Kuball; representing Rice County; Megan Ratka; Cold Spring; daughter of Kevin and Kathy Ratka; representing Stearns County; Anne Simpson; Pine Island; daughter of Jeff and Cheryl Simpson; representing Olmsted County; Josephine Sutherland; Flandreau, SD; daughter of David and Dawn Sutherland; representing Pipestone County.
--The Initiative Foundation in Little Falls announced that Zach Tabatt is its new community philanthropy manager to support and grow Partner Funds. Tabatt will provide value-added training and services while helping individuals and families meet their charitable goals.
--The Local DAV Chapter 12 for Morrison County announced they will be starting their DAV Clothing drop off again on June 2nd and then Fridays from June 2nd until September 29th at 609 4th Avenue Northeast in Little Falls from 9am-12pm. You can drop off clean clothes, shoes, ties, belts, bedding, pillows, purses at the site. No electronics or larger items will be allowed to be dropped off only the clothing items and smaller accessories Fridays 9-12 starting June 2nd.
--Zion Lutheran Church in Little Falls has a fundraiser sale today from 7am-3pm everything is half price. Half the proceeds go to the Morrison County Chaplaincy Program other half to the church funds.
DEATH NOTICES
--Karen Stumpf, age 79 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy, cooler and breezy, high 58.
TONIGHT= clear and cooler night, low 38.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, high near 70, low near 45.
SUNDAY= sunny and warmer, high 76 low around 52.
MONDAY= sunny and even warmer, high 81, low near 60.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins take on the LA Angels of Anaheim in a series starting tonight, pregame at 8pm, tomorrow at 8:30pm and Sunday Inside Twins begins at 2pm, hear the action live on Q92 WYRQ.
WNBA= Lynx open the regular season tonight with Chicago Sky.
HORSE= second leg of Triple Crown, the Preakness raced Saturday.
WWE= former World Champion “Superstar” Billy Graham who trained with Verne Gagne in Minnesota during his early days of Wrestling the 1970s has died. Graham died Wednesday at age 79.
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