NEWS
--As of 11:30am Friday Highway 27 east of the Mississippi River bridge to 9th Street East reopened to traffic. That part of the 27 project was to be completed by today and opened earlier than projected. The west side of Little Falls detour will remain intact for a bit longer into September with infrastructure work going on through September and final road work on the west side to be completed in October. The Big Dig committee and City officials will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled Thursday, September 5th at 10am on the east 27 reopening just before Arts and Crafts Weekend in Little Falls.
--The Two bus drivers from the charter bus accident by the State Fairgrounds on Thursday morning have been listed in "satisfactory condition" at HCMC on Friday afternoon after their buses collided near the Minnesota State Fair on Thursday morning. The other passengers injured on Thursday were no longer listed as patients at Regions Hospital in St. Paul according to the State Patrol.
--Authorities in Todd County said the bodies of Barry Bennett and his wife Carol, both age 63 were found Wednesday at their home on Ginseng Road in Long Prairie, after a friend went to their home in Long Prairie for a welfare check. Bennett played 11 seasons in the NFL including 1988 in Minnesota. Todd County Sheriff Steve Och says that formal charges and a warrant had been issued for the suspect, 22-year-old Dylan Bennett, their son who lived with them. Bennett was last seen around noon on August 19th driving a blue vehicle which was reported to be Carol's. A gun was found in Dylan's vehicle outside the 9mm is considered to be the weapon that killed the two inside the home. The complaint also says that Carol's debit and credit cards were used in Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio and a large sum of cash was withdrawn from Barry and Carol's account by Dylan Bennett and a plane ticket for Dylan Bennett was purchased and used to go to Cancun, Mexico. On Saturday the FBI informed the Todd County Sheriff's Office that Bennett was arrested after he called authorities to turn himself in in Mexico. Bennett has been charged with 2nd degree murder and will be returned to Minnesota to face charges.
--Congratulations to the Dalquist Family who own Little Elk Dairy in Randall being named the 2019 Morrison County “Farm Family of the Year” by the University of Minnesota Extension. The Dalquists operate a 240 acre farm and the farm has been in the Dalquist family since they came from Sweden and homesteaded the property in 1897.
--A reminder to the community that the Morrison County (MC) Solid Waste Management Facility (SWMF), the “Landfill”, will be reverting back to “winter” hours for 2019. The Landfill facility is open year-round, however, the Saturday Summer Hours from Memorial Day to Labor day will be coming to an end, returning to the 8:00 am to noon schedule. Persons with questions may call the Morrison County Landfill at 320-632-1944 or the Solid Waste Office at 320-631-2862.
--More information on the finding of the Pierz Oktoberfest Medallion last Thursday by Debbie Fuhrman. She stated on Friday that she found the medallion due to the north end stop ahead sign in the grass inside a sock where the wooden medallion was hidden on Centennial Drive west of Pierz. Debbie and her grandson rode in the parade on Sunday and they received $500 in Pierz Bucks.
--The St. Francis Convent is hosting a blood drive today and tomorrow 1-7pm today and 12-6pm Tuesday. Call 632-0663 to set up an appointment as spots for today are filling up fast.
--The Pierz City Council meets tonight at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
--The Minnesota State Fair's ninth annual Military Appreciation Day will take place Tuesday, August 27, and provide an educational opportunity for all fairgoers to learn about Minnesota's military community. This year's theme is honoring Minnesota's Military Families. A program at 9:45am at the bandshell will feature the official Welcome Home Ceremony of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division. The program will conclude with a flyover from the Air National Guard. There are events scheduled throughout the entire day at the fairgrounds. The State Fair is offering discounted tickets ($10 rate) for military members, veterans and their families on August 27 with documentation at the gate.
--The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office and the St. Cloud Police Department have been invited to apply for a 2019 Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program grant in the amount of $30, 224.00. The funds will be evenly divided between the two agencies. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office intends on utilizing the funds to purchase five NOPTIC NV3 LED Spotlight Mounted Thermal Imaging Units to mount on patrol squads, NIBIRS compliance related training and crime prevention and education materials. The St. Cloud Police Department plans to purchase equipment used to support their crime prevention programs and activities. The Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU) will purchase two pole camera surveillance systems, the Community Engagement Division will purchase materials and supplies to expand the Neighborhood Watch program and general crime prevention educational materials, supplies and equipment, and NIBRS compliance training. The community is invited to provide input during this process by going to sheriffinfo@co.stearns.mn.us.
--Two people are dead, including a man from Holdingford, after a two-vehicle crash in rural Redwood County. The State Patrol says the crash Thursday just before 3pm was at the intersection of Highway 68 and County Road 13 near Clements. A car driven by 18-year-old Kaden Reusch of Holdingford was northbound on County Road 13 when it crashed with a semi, westbound on Highway 68, driven by 38-year-old Erik Welter of Morgan. Both men were killed in the crash.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Tim and Amber King of Little Falls, a boy born August 23rd.
DEATH NOTICES
--James “Jim” Loe, age 66 of Royalton.
WEATHER
TODAY= rain showers all day, some heavier rain, high 68.
TONIGHT= showers ending, cloudy late, low 54.
TUESDAY= partial sun early, PM showers & storms, high 70, low 51.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and cooler, high 66, low around 46.
SPORTS
TWINS= Detroit gets a grand slam and holds on to a 9-6 win over the Twins Friday night. Twins score 5 in the 5th Saturday to beat Detroit 8-5. Twins get homers from Cron and Schoop Sunday to win 7-4 and take the series over Tigers. The Twins are off today.
CLASS C= Cologne ousted Nisswa Saturday 2-0 eliminating the Region 8C Champions from the tournament. Red Wing eliminated Avon on Sunday 3-1. Buckman survived a 4-1 win over New Ulm and advanced to play Saturday night at 7pm on AM960 KLTF.
VIKINGS= late touchdowns win it for Vikings 20-9 over Arizona.