NEWS
--With no rain in the forecast of substance through the middle of next week, September 2024 will go into the record books as one of the driest Septembers on record. The National Weather Service says St. Cloud had 0.35 inches of rain in September, Little Falls airport around .52 inches of rain and most of central Minnesota had less than ½ inch. If no rain falls by October 1st the state will finish in most areas less than 2 inches of moisture for the month. The weekly update from the U.S. Drought Monitor days 80 percent of the state is now abnormally dry, up from 50 percent last week. September has been dry before as records show that lowest amount of moisture in September of central Minnesota was back in 1952 when the entire state is less than ¼ of inch and St. Cloud had .07 for the month.
--The St. Cloud Police Department are reporting a stolen vehicle on the 1800 block of 16th Street Southeast. The license plate is EFH 106. The St. Cloud Police Department are also reporting a burglary on the 100 of 21st Avenue North where a window screen was cut at a residence, entry was gained and valuables were taken. St. Cloud Police are also reporting a burglary on 100 block of Highway 10 North where a trailer was entered and valuables were taken. Waite Park Police are reporting a vandalism to a vehicle on the 10 block of 1st Avenue South where holes were drilled into a vehicle and gas spilled out onto a parking lot. If you have information on any unsolved crimes in the Stearns, Benton or Sherburne County area please report information by calling Crimestoppers at 1-800-255-1301.
--A 77-year-old Aitkin man was injured Tuesday after his vehicle was struck on Highway 47 in Aitkin County. The Minnesota State Patrol responded to the crash at 12:08pm in Spencer Township, just east of Aitkin. According to the crash report, a 2020 Ford Escape was attempting to turn southbound on Highway 47 from 400th Avenue when it collided with a 2021 Buick Enclave traveling northbound on the highway. The driver of the Buick, Fred Thomas Lane, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin. Ford driver Gabrialla Mary Rono, 23, of Aitkin, suffered no reported injuries. The State Patrol reported the road was dry at the time of the crash.
--The first weekend of waterfowl season was down compared to last year's opening weekend. He says northern Minnesota Wildlife management indicated participation was 40% to 70% down from last year. The one thing also is that DNR officials reported a number of violations. The most common violation is not having the correct stamps. He says most guys have the state stamp and forget about the Federal. Unplugged shotguns is another common violation along with possession of lead shot and going over the harvest limit for specific species. The duck, goose and bear season continues this weekend and the turkey season opens on Saturday.
--Former Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka has written a new book “Behind the Veil,” provides a view of the daily battles he fought with Governor Tim Walz, now running on the national ticket of the Democratic Party for U.S. Vice President. Some of the passages in the book detail the conversations Gazelka had via text with Walz during the Minneapolis riots, the COVID 19 decisions in 2020 and more. The book called “Behind the Veil” is available on online at Amazon or check with local book stores for ordering.
--The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says they've confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in Cedar Lake, near Upsala. The Pine-Cedar Lake Association contacted the DNR after finding zebra mussels on settlement samplers at multiple locations around the lake. Settlement samplers are solid surfaces that are temporarily placed in water and monitored to aid in detecting zebra mussels.
--An 87-year-old Nisswa woman died Tuesday after her vehicle was struck at Highways 371 and County Highway 77 in Crow Wing County. Jenna Anderson, 39, of Pequot Lakes, was traveling north on Highway 371 when she slowed down due to the flashing yellow lights indicating the traffic light was red. As she approached the intersection, the light changed green and she sped up. At the same time a southbound Janis Gustafson attempted to make the light and turned in front of Anderson. Both women were transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries. Gustafson later died.
--This is a very busy weekend of events, Saturday is Genola Days Fall Fest with parade at noon, live music all day and night in Genola. Draft Horse Event on Forest Road of Little Falls Saturday full day of horses, mules and events, parade at 3:30pm and raffle to follow, directions info at community calendar site at fallsradio.com. Book talk and signing at the library at 10am in Little Falls, wine and chocolate walk at Linden Hill in Little Falls at 1pm Saturday, Holy Family school fall festival starts at 3pm Saturday in Albany, 18th Annual Hog Roast at Grey Eagle United Methodist Church Saturday at 4:30pm free will offering, Jason Schommer Comedy Show at 7pm, doors open at 6pm Saturday night at Great River Arts in Little Falls. Breakfast event on Sunday at St. Joseph's Church in Morrill. More details on events can be found at fallsradio.com and community calendar.
DEATH NOTICES
--Donald “Don” Fiedler, age 79 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny and warm, high 83, clear night, mild, low around 52.
SATURDAY= sunny and mild, high 86, low around 48.
SUNDAY= sunny and mild, high 83, low around 50.
MONDAY= sunny and mild, high 83, cooler overnight, low 44.
SPORTS
TWINS= Marlins beat the Twins 8-6 in 13 innings last night at Target Field. The Twins (82-77) wrap up the regular season with games against Baltimore at home tonight at 6:30pm pregame, Saturday pregame is at 5:30pm and Sunday all games in the major leagues are at 2:10pm with Inside Twins at 1pm for the Twins on Q92 WYRQ. Detroit and Kansas City need 1 win each or a Twins loss tonight to wrap up the last 2 playoff spots in the AL and thus eliminate the Twins from postseason. The MLB wild card games begin Tuesday.
GOPHERS= Gophers take on Michigan in Ann Arbor Saturday 11am.
VIKINGS= Vikings (3-0) are at Green Bay (2-1) Sunday at noon.
HS FB= Little Falls at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton tonight 7pm on KLTF.
HS FB= Melrose at Pierz for homecoming tonight 7pm 94ROCKS.
HS FB= Royalton has homecoming tonight, parade at 5:30pm, tailgate party and game at 7pm vs. Eden Valley Watkins. Also tonight Upsala-Swanville at BBE and Holdingford is at Osakis all at 7pm