NEWS
--The Morrison County Geneology Society will host a program tonight at 5:30pm at the Rural Schoolhouse at the Morrison County Fairgrounds east of Little Falls. Dorothy Lindquist will be on hand to tell the public about the school, document the history of rural schoolhouses, talk about the one school house that is still in use today while others have shut down since the 1970s, and about the group in Unity Minnesota in western Stearns County that is restoring one of the last buildings to mint condition. There are stories, pictures of the early 1900's of rural schoolhouses around the area, transcripts and of course tours of the facility at the fairgounds and the back shed turned into a museum starting at 5:30pm today. All is free of charge.
--A Deerwood man was charged last week following the death of an Aitkin County woman from 2016. 61-year old Timothy Kostal was charged with careless driving on June 10th, 2016 when he struck and killed 85-year old Margaret Johnson on the shoulder of Highway 47 east of Aitkin when she was getting mail from her mailbox. If convicted on the count, Kostal faces 90 days jail and a $1,000 fine. Kostal is scheduled for arraignment today at 10:00am in Aitkin.
--State Representative Ron Kresha,, R-Little Falls, joined more than three dozen legislators, including District 9 State Senator Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa, urging DFL Governor Mark Dayton to instruct the Minnesota Department of Commerce and the Public Utilities Commission to move forward with the proposed Enbridge Line 3 Replacement project. The aging pipeline was ordered replaced by the federal government during the Obama administration, and has been subject to unprecedented public review and comment. The letter notes that the Minnesota Department of Commerce and Public Utilities Commission have consistently exceeded statutory and regulatory timeframes which has added unnecessary delays to the critical project. Replacement of the Line 3 pipeline will mean more than $3 billion in private investment and create thousands of paying jobs along the route. The letter also raised concerns over the risk to the environment if the line is not replaced. With the Environmental Impact Statement now complete, the project has now cleared all relevant procedural hurdles including the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). A final decision, to be made by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commissioner, is expected next spring.
--Authorities are trying to catch two men believed to be on a hotel robbing spree in Minnesota. The robbers are believed to have targeted five hotels since July, most recently the Woodbury Hampton Inn last Thursday. Other robberies the past two months have occurred in Hastings, Red Wing, Inver Grove Heights and North Branch. In each case, the robbers entered the hotel during early morning hours, asked for a room, then pulled a gun or implied they had a gun in a pocket. Police stated that the holdups have become increasingly violent, with the men charging the clerk in the Woodbury case and forcing their way behind the counter.
--A St. Joseph man was hurt after colliding with a piece of construction equipment. The incident happened Wednesday on County Road 2, south of St. Stephen. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says Jerome Kowitz was driving his pickup through a construction zone and attempted to pass a road scraper that ended up making a U-turn when Kowitz came up on the ride side of the vehicle and the two collided. The crash peeled off the driver’s door of the pickup. Kowitz suffered minor injuries.
--The 57th Annual Orphan Train Conference will be held from 9am-2:30pm on Saturday September 23rd at the St. Francis Convent in Little Falls. From 1854-1929 more than 250,000 children were placed on orphan trains from the East Coast venturing into unknown territory. This was known as the first child welfare system. Descendants, interested persons, guests and others are welcome to come celebrate the orphan trains at the event. For more information or to register for the event itself contact Kim at 218-330-8108.
--A woman from St. Cloud was hurt in a two vehicle crash on Highway 15. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened around 10:00am Friday on Northbound Highway 15 in St. Cloud. A pickup driven by 27-year old Nicholas Marklowitz was slowing for traffic when he was rear ended by a vehicle driven by 31-year old Michael Schlegel of Crystal. Marklowitz and Schlegel were not hurt. Schlegel’s passenger, 42-year old Tia Williams of St. Cloud was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
--The Benton County elected official in charge of elections, taxes and driver's licenses has resigned before the end of her term for a position with Foley public schools. Auditor-Treasurer Karri Thorsten will leave her post at the end of August to become the director of finance and operations for the Foley school district. Thorsten told the county board of her resignation in a July 31st email. Thorsten's new job allows her to work in accounting, which is her passion. She is excited to have a position in Foley that allows her to support the district, where her three children attend or attended school.
--The St. Francis Convent is hosting a blood drive today and tomorrow from 1-7pm at the Convent. Blood is in high demand right now heading back into the school year. Appointments are preferred but not required by calling Sister Julien at 632-0663.
DEATH NOTICES
--Margaret Patricia Senlycki, age 93 of Little Falls formerly Cushing.
--Elsie E. Clear, age 92 of Upsala.
--Sister Alice Doll, age 96 of Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls.
--Allen “Corky” Cornell, age 82 of Swanville.
WEATHER
TODAY= patchy fog early, then sunny skies, high 72.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy, fog late, low 52.
TUESDAY= fog early, then sunny skies high 76, low 55.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 76, clear night low near 50.
SPORTS
TWINS= Polanco, Buxton and Mauer have 3 hits each and Twins beat Toronto Friday 6-1. Twins have today off. Twins come up short Saturday losing 10-9 in a wild one with Blue Jays. Byron Buxton hit three homeruns in a 7-2 Twins win on Sunday. Twins off today.
LYNX= Maya Moore 24 and Lynx beat San Antonio Friday 89-70. Los Angeles beat Lynx Sunday 78-67 in LA. Lynx are 24-7. LA is 24-8.
CLASS C= Sobieski beat Plato 5-0 Saturday to advance on to play Saturday at 7:30pm in Green Isle. Raymond eliminated Buckman on Saturday 7-0, thus making the Ski's the last Region 8C team left.
COL FB= Gopher football vs. Buffalo Thursday 5pm AM960 KLTF
NFL= Vikings down 14-0 early come back to win 32-31 last night over San Francisco in preseason football.
BOX= Mayweather beat McGregor Saturday night by 10th round TKO