NEWS --The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office has received several complaints of flower vases being taken from the local cemeteries. The flower vases are copper and are attached to the tombstones. These thefts have been reported from three different cemeteries around the Little Falls area and Upsala. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in this matter. If you see anything suspicious or have any information regarding these thefts please call the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office at (320) 632-9233.
--A St. Cloud man is facing criminal charges for killing two people in a car crash after driving the wrong way on Division Street on Monday, July 9th. 28-year old Charlie Ray Barnett has been charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide and one count of violating a domestic abuse no contact order. The charges stem from a crash on July 9 that killed both 77-year old Roger Nelson of Clearwater and 61-year old Richard Tomlinson of Grantsburg Wisconsin. Each vehicular homicide charge carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and $20,000. The maximum sentence for a misdemeanor no contact order violation is 90 days in jail and $1,000. Barnett is scheduled to appear in court on July 23rd.
--A man accused of trying to kill his now ex-wife in 2014 appeared in Stearns County District Court on Friday, where his lawyer asked to have his charges dismissed. 70-year old Gary Dennis Vogt is charged with two counts of first-degree attempted murder. In 2015 Vogt was found incompetent to stand trial; he was committed in 2016. Vogt is accused of trying to run his now ex-wife's vehicle off the road and shooting her in the head and back in October of 2014. The woman survived and later filed for divorce. On Friday, an attorney asked the Judge to dismiss the charges against Vogt and reduce his bail citing court documents that said Vogt "likely cannot be restored to competency" to stand trial. A prosecutor for the state argued that there is still a chance Vogt could become competent and stand trial in the future, and that Vogt still posed a public safety threat. The prosecution earlier filed notice that it plans to prosecute Vogt if and when he is found competent. The Judge denied the motions to dismiss charges and reduce bail.
--The Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) program was launched in 2003 by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Transportation and Health. It is the state’s cornerstone traffic safety program geared toward to reducing traffic crashes, injuries, and deaths on Minnesota roads. Over the past 15 years, traffic fatalities have decreased by 45% and seat belt use has increased to 92% statewide. The Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths program applies the “5 E's”: Education; Enforcement; Engineering; Emergency Medical and Trauma Services; Everyone. Morrison County is part of the East Central Regional Partnership with 12 counties. Of these 6 counties, including Morrison, have active Safe Road/Safe Communities Coalition. Morrison County established a strong Safe Roads Coalition 3 years ago. 2018 will be the 4th consecutive year Morrison County has applied for and received this grant.
--A Merrifield man was hurt after a crash involving a semi on I-94 east of Highway 24 near Clearwater. 42-year old Vaughn Gentry was navigating through slowed traffic due to an unrelated crash in the area. As traffic was slowing, the semi driven by 42-year old Alan Stone of Bruce, Wisconsin hit Gentry. Gentry was not seriously hurt.
--Police in Brainerd have identified the man killed by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train Wednesday morning as 38-year old Michael Todd Koering of Brainerd. Police stated around 2:35am, Koering was walking east of the crossing at Southeast 13th Street in Brainerd when he walked right in front of the oncoming train. The trains' operator applied the brakes but struck Koering, killing him on impact.
--The Habitat 500 Bike Ride this year will route through Morrison County this week. The Ride will stop overnight in Royalton tonight and then Pierz on Friday night. Host affiliates provide dinner, breakfast, showering and sleeping facilities. These dedicated riders spend a week biking through Minnesota on a 500 mile route. Bea Winkler, a seasoned biker and supporter of Habitat along with being a former Little Falls Veterinarian will be riding in the Habitat 500 and will be collecting donations in support of Habitat for Humanity of Morrison County. You can root Bea and other riders on during their stops again tonight in Royalton and in Pierz on Friday.
--The Stearns County Sheriff's Office received a report of a two vehicle crash involving injuries around 7:00am Saturday near Raymond. Upon arrival, Deputies found a truck crashed in the ditch on County Road 26 near the intersection of county road 192. The driver was identified as William Anderson of Vining. A second vehicle was found on county road 26 across the southbound lane driven by Lisa Lenarz of Elrosa. Anderson was driving his truck southbound on county road 26 and did not stop for the posted stop sign. The truck hit the van and rolled over in the west ditch of county road 26. The truck was loaded with 17,100 baby turkey's in crates. Anderson and Lenarz both suffered non life threatening injuries during the crash.
--One person was injured in a two vehicle accident Saturday on Highway 18 east of Brainerd. Around 3:45pm, 51-year old Phillip Abramson of Champlin was on a motorcycle when an SUV driven by Ralph Smude of Brainerd attempted to turn and clipped the cycle. Abramson was treated for injuries at a nearby hospital.
--The Little Falls School Board meets today at 5:00pm in the community middle school band room. They board will check out the 2018-19 handbooks, take action on a long term maintenance ten year plan, lease agreement with custodians and use agreement with the Little Falls Sports Arena Inc.
--The Little Falls City Council meets tonight 7:30pm at City Hall.
DEATH NOTICES --William Miers, age 69 of Onamia. --Gerlyn “Gerry” Nuehring, age 89 of Little Falls.
WEATHER TODAY= sunny and cooler, high 76. TONIGHT= clear skies, cool night, low near 50. TUESDAY= sunny skies, high 76, clear night, low 53. WEDNESDAY= sunny
SPORTS TWINS= Joe Mauer homerun and 4 RBIs as the Twins outlsug the Rays 11-8 to win Friday. Rays score 15 runs in final 3 innings Saturday to rout Twins 19-6. Brian Dozier hit a walk off grand slam to beat the Rays Sunday 11-7. Twins go into All Star Break at 44-50. LYNX= Las Vegas beat the Lynx 85-77 Friday then Connecticut beat the Lynx Sunday as Sun win 83-64. Lynx fall to 12-10 on season.