NEWS
--More than ten years ago World War II veteran Gordon Gerling approached local artist Charles Kapsner with the idea of creating a monument at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery to be installed at the Committal Hall in honor of those who served in the US Military. As the idea developed, a vision was shared to create a series of paintings representing each of the five major branches of the US Military. Now that all five paintings for the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines and Air Force are complete there will be the dedication of the Veteran's Art Memorial at the Minnesota State Veteran's Cemetery this Sunday at 2:00pm. Charles Kapsner mentioned part of this event is for the over 800 entities who have supported this project. All are invited to come and view the paintings during the event Sunday at the committal hall is north of Little Falls at the State Veteran's Cemetery located off of Highway 115 which is off Highway 371.
--Agricultural producers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019, can apply through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) program. Sign-up for this U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program began September 11th. WHIP+ will be available for eligible producers who have suffered eligible losses of certain crops, trees, bushes or vines in counties with a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration or a Secretarial Disaster Designation (primary counties only). Disaster losses must have been a result of, floods, tornadoes, or snowstorms that occurred in 2018 or 2019. Also, producers in counties that did not receive a disaster declaration or designation may still apply for WHIP+ but must provide supporting documentation to establish that the crops were directly affected by a qualifying disaster loss. The Milk Loss Program will provide payments to eligible dairy operations for milk that was dumped or removed without compensation from the commercial milk market because of a qualifying 2018 and 2019 natural disaster. Producers who suffered losses of harvested commodities, including hay, stored in on-farm structures in 2018 and 2019 will receive assistance through the On-Farm Storage Loss Program. Producers who reported prevented plant acres in 2018 due to an eligible loss condition are eligible for WHIP+ and can now apply for assistance at their local FSA office. Additional information about these programs and eligibility can be obtained by contacting your local USDA Service Center.
--A Central Minnesota man is accused of breaking into a woman's St. Cloud apartment and attempting to kidnap her early Saturday morning. 43-year-old Edwin Cintron is facing one felony count of kidnapping, two counts of first-degree burglary, one count of interfering with an emergency call, two counts of fifth-degree assault and one count of fourth-degree criminal property damage. According to the complaint against him, on Saturday, Cintron knocked on a woman's bedroom window in the 1000 block of East St. German Street then broke into the apartment through a patio window. Cintron pulled the woman out of the apartment to his van. A second man, whose identity is unknown, helped Cintron get the woman into the van, according to the complaint. As Cintron began backing the vehicle up, the woman kicked the second man in the face and and ran from the scene. Authorities did not state if the second man in this incident is still at large or not.
--The Pierz City Council holds their next meeting on Monday night with workshop at 5pm, public hearing at 6:30 and meeting at 7pm. They council will give their annual preliminary budget/levy for 2020.
--As part of the Morrison County Safe Roads Coalition, an event at Morrison County Public Health will be on Thursday, September 26th from 10am to 3pm. There will be a table in front of the Public Health Department at the Government Center with Public Health Staff, Safe Roads Coalition Members, and Traffic Safety resources for community members. Through discussion and hands on activities, community members will have an opportunity to learn about the Safe Roads Coalition, Traffic Safety goals for Morrison County, the importance of traffic safety, and making safe choices. Topics will include "hands-free cell phone" law, speed laws, distracted driving prevention, impaired driving awareness, and any other traffic-safety related questions.
--A teenager was arrested after leading police on a short chase in a stolen vehicle. Sartell Police say they noticed a vehicle driving down Riverside Avenue without its headlights on just before 5:00am Thursday morning. Police say when they attempted to stop the vehicle, which was reported stolen out of St. Cloud, the driver sped away, heading north until it turned onto County Road 17 toward Holdingford. Authorities say the vehicle tried to cut through a field and got stuck in the mud, and the suspect fled on foot. Police located the suspect a short time later at a nearby home after the owner reported a man in his driveway asking for a ride. The 17-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene and taken to Stearns County Jail before being moved to a juvenile detention facility. His name has not been released. The teen faces charges of fleeing police in a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, driving after revocation, and supplying a false name to police.
--Another busy weekend of events including a fundraiser tractor ride Saturday by 2 Cylinder Club to help a camp for kids, a number of benefits are planned fro this weekend across the area, there is a fall festival in Nisswa Saturday with many events during the day and night, a pancake breakfast north of Hillman on Sunday, Polka Praise Service event Sunday at Zion Lutheran Church in Little Falls and Sobieski has their Catholic church bazaar Sunday with Polka Mass at 10:30, dinner at 11am, events all after and an all cash raffle on Sunday in Sobieski. Get details on the events by going to fallsradio.com and click on community calendar.
DEATH NOTICES
--Kimberly “Kim” Lind, age 67 of Little Falls.
--Yvonne M. Jackson, age 76 of Swanville.
--Stephanie Fyten-Malinowski, age 43 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= increasing clouds, afternoon thunderstorms, high 80.
TONIGHT= storms overnight, some heavy rains, low 66.
SATURDAY= storms likely, some severe possible, high 76, low 52.
SUNDAY= sunny and breezy, cooler, high 66, low near 50.
MONDAY= sunny skies, high near 70, clear night, low near 54.
SPORTS
HS FB= Pierz at Holdingford tonight 7pm on FM94 KFML.
HS FB= Annandale at Little Falls tonight 7pm on AM960 KLTF.
TWINS= Nelson Cruz homers twice as the Twins beat the Royals last night 8-5. Twins (94-59) continue series with Kansas City this weekend, pregame tonight at 6:30, Saturday at 5:30pm and Sunday starts with Inside Twins at noon on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= Vikings host Oakland Sunday at noon, hear it live on KLTF.