NEWS
--The City of Pierz announced Friday that the incumbent Mayor Dave Fischer has filed for relection. You have until the end of the business day tomorrow to file for city council, school board and township official elections up for this years general election in November.
--The Primary Election is tomorrow polls are open from 7am to 8pm. When you go to the polls Tuesday, your ballot will ask to pick a candidate from the same party on the federal and state side, U.S. President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representative for your district, Minnesota House of Representative in your District and State Senator also in your district. Then local races that are contested in your area for County Commissioners in districts with more than 2 candidates (in Morrison District 3) and some city elections that vote in primaries would also ask for you to pick 1 or 2 candidates on the ballot. Polling places can be found at the Secretary of State's website. Top vote getters in the primary move on to the general election later this year on November 3rd, again do your part and get out in Vote Tuesday.
--The Little Falls Police Department responded to theft and scam reports in the past week, reminding residents to watch their valuables and belongings and not to leave then unattended and also on scams not to give out any personal information over the phone or by email unless you made the call or contact with the person. A number of scams have been reported by law enforcement in the previous weeks and most have a way to show a local number on caller ID to confuse the victim into answering and talking on the other line. Be aware.
--A St. Cloud woman died in a crash Friday morning. The incident happened around 7:15am at the intersection of County Road 136 and 40th Street South in St. Cloud. The St. Cloud Police Department says a dump truck driven by a Becker man was going north on County Road 136, a vehicle driven by a St. Cloud woman was going west on 40th Street South, and the two vehicles collided in the intersection.
Police say the woman died at the scene. The names of those involved in the accident has not been released.
--Approximately 150 Soldiers from the 34th Military Police Company will deploy to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in support of Joint Task Force Guantanamo to provide base security. The unit deployment ceremony was streamed live on Facebook at facebook.com/MinnesotaNationalGuard at 1pm on Sunday. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, members of the public were asked to view the ceremony virtually.The Soldiers will travel to Fort Bliss, Texas, for additional training prior to their arrival at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. Earlier this summer, the 34th Military Police Company was presented the Major General Harry H. Bandholtz Award recognizing the top military police units in the U.S. Army. The 34th Military Police Company was instrumental in the response to civil unrest in the Twin Cities metro area at the end of May, as one of the first Minnesota National Guard units to respond.
--The Morrison County Commissioners meet Tuesday at 9am at the government center boardroom, agenda items include the sherif's report and his asking for a dispatcher replacement position, other reports from social services, public health, land services, veterans affairs, auditor/treasurer and administration on Tuesday morning.
--The Pierz City Council meets tonight at 7pm at City Hall. Agenda items include building permits, Pierz Foods loading dock relocation, street improvement projects, appraisal quotes to projects and reports from police, fire and city administrator on Monday night in Pierz.
--The numbers were hefty this weekend of COVID-19 in Minnesota 924 cases Saturday and 806 on Sunday, 17 new deaths between the two days linked to the virus. Morrison County had 4 new cases on Saturday (after 3 days of no new cases), and another 3 new cases on Sunday making 92 positive cases in Morrison County. Morrison County in the past 14 days has had 17 new cases of COVID-19.
--Sheriff Shawn Larsen of Morrison County announced the commencement of the Law Enforcement Scholarship Program for 2020. Sheriff Larsen proudly announced that the MSA Board of Directors has established a scholarship fund for the awarding of up to 15- $600 scholarships for this year. These scholarships are due to the coordinated efforts of the 87 Sheriffs of the State of Minnesota. The Members of MSA gives special recognition to the financial needs of students attending the peace officer skills course, or one of the two, or four-year law enforcement degree colleges. “The Board of Directors feel peace officers in our democratic society have complex duties to perform” said Sheriff Larsen. MSA recognizes the importance of pre-entry training for people considering law enforcement as their career choice. MSA recognizes some students need outside help in meeting the costs of such training, even though they excel academically. The Scholarship Committee, in making its selection of awards, intends on achieving representation from all geographical areas of the state. Scholarship awards will be announced by December 28th of the same year. Application forms and a statement of procedures are available at the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office. Scholarships are only available to students currently enrolled in one of the following three categories: Mandated POST Skills Program. In their second year of a two-year law enforcement program. In their third or fourth year of a four-year college criminal justice program. In order to qualify, students must have completed at least one year of the two-year program or two years of a four-year program. Students meeting these criteria are invited to obtain a scholarship application form from their local sheriff’s office or online at www.mnsheriffs.org.
--Governor Tim Walz has ordered another special session of the legislature on Wednesday to extend peacetime emergency orders.
--Staples-Motley is the latest school district to announce they are planning on all students returning to class this fall. Little Falls, Pierz, Royalton, Upsala and Swanville are planning on the same scenario as long as the numbers stay low on COVID-19 cases in Morrison County.
--Horizon Health Services announced Friday they have now had to cancel their purse bingo on October 2nd in Little Falls due to COVID restrictions and will now have a raffle for the purses which they plan to get going sometime soon, more details in days ahead.
WEATHER
TODAY= becoming sunny, high 77, clear night low 53.
TUESDAY= sunny and warmer, high 84, low around 62.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies early, PM storms develop, high 82.
SPORTS
TWINS= Royals sweep the Twins 3-2 Friday 9-6 Saturday and 4-2 on Sunday. The Twins are at Milwaukee tonight 6:30 on Q92 WYRQ.
REGION 8C= Buckman, Upsala, Nisswa and Avon won Day 1 of the region tournament. Buckman and Avon qualified for State Sunday while St. Stephen and Pierz Brewers eliminated by Randall and Ft. Ripley. One game Friday, three games Saturday to wrap up in Pierz.