NEWS
--The city of Little Falls is exploring the option of a local ½ percent sales tax. Earlier this month there was an informational meeting to gather public input on this issue. In order for this tax to be put in place, a ballot question would need to be approved by the council to be put on the November 6th general election ballot. The tax question would then need a majority vote in the election by city residents in order for this to pass. This type of tax would not be applied to basic foods or clothing. The Little Falls City Council has scheduled a special city council meeting on Monday, July 30th at 6:30pm at Little Falls City Hall. The purpose of this special council meeting is to decide the language of what would be included in the ballot question. The council is expected to vote on if this ballot question should be put on a ballot in their regular August 6th City Council meeting.
--Around 8:30pm Thursday the Morrison County Sheriff ‘s Office received a report of a vehicle leaving the Wal-Mart parking lot at a high rate of speed. The caller was able to get the license plate and description of the vehicle involved. While deputies were in route, they received information that there was a one vehicle accident with possible injuries on Hawthorne Road, approximately four miles east of Little Falls, in Belle Prairie Township. When deputies arrived at the accident scene they observed the vehicle involved was the one they received the driving complaint on. 48-year old Jason Uebelacker of Little Falls was traveling east on Hawthorne Road. Uebelacker’s vehicle went off the road near a curve and rolled. Uebelacker was transported to CHI St. Gabriel’s Hospital by ambulance for unknown injuries. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash. This case is still under investigation.
--Minnesota officials unveiled a new design for its driver’s licenses Monday, featuring a canoeist floating in front of a horizon filled with pine trees instead of the state seal. The state will begin using the newly designed IDs starting August 6th. The redesign was prompted by a need to make them easier to read and harder to duplicate. They will be available in time for the roll out of Real ID upgrades on October 1st. In 2005, the Federal government passed a law forcing states to create Real IDs to make domestic air travel and entrance into federally regulated buildings more secure. In May of 2017, the Minnesota Legislature passed the Real ID bill so that Minnesota could comply with federal ID regulations. Beginning in October of 2020, Minnesotans seeking to enter a federal building or board a flight will be required to have a federal government-compliant Real ID. Residents will need to swap out their current cards for Real ID ones by October 1st, 2020, if they want to board an airplane. Those who opt not to get Real ID cards, could still use a passport or an enhanced driver’s license to fly. The cost of the Real ID will be the same: $25.25 for a Minnesota license, $19.25 for an ID card.
--Around 5:50pm Thursday the Stearns County Sheriff's office responded to an old abandoned granary on fire at 11892 County Road 3 in St. Wendel Township about four miles north of St. Joseph. The granary was located on the Southeast corner of the property. When Stearns County Deputies arrived the fire was almost out and the granary was destroyed. Deputies requested assistance from the St. Joseph Fire Department to extinguish the fire. The granary owners are Ramona and Duane Hanauer. The cause of the fire is unknown and still under investigation.
--A bicyclist was injured after being struck by a car in Little Falls. Around 1:20pm Friday a car driven by 72-year old Judith Borg of Staples was on Lemieur street and made a right turn onto westbound Highway 27 and collided with the bicycle. The bicyclist, 59-year old Rex Bachman of Little Falls was taken to CHI St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls for treatment of non life threatening injuries.
--The Crow Wing County Dive Team recovered the body of a 13-year old Minneapolis boy Saturday from the bottom of Armour No. 2 mine pit lake in Crosby. The boy, whose identity was withheld pending autopsy results, was staying with family, including relatives local to the Brainerd lakes area, at a cabin at True North Base Camp. Responders were called out Friday around 7:30pm but called off the search after dark due to hazardous conditions. Responders resumed the search Saturday at 7am and shortly after found the boy. He was swept away from the current of the river into 92 feet of water.
--Motorists who travel along Business Highway 371/S Sixth Street in Brainerd should plan their travel as a new temporary traffic configuration begins, and the road is closed between Highway 210/Washington Street and Willow Street, beginning Wednesday. The change is needed while crews reconstruct the final segment road as part of the 2018 Highway 371B/S Sixth Street reconstruction project. All businesses and local residences will remain accessible, though routes may change. When complete in mid-October 2018, the project will reconstruct and redesign the roadway, upgrade city underground utilities and infrastructure, improve pedestrian accessibility, upgrade signal systems and replace road signs throughout the corridor.
--ALICE training took place last week at the Morrison County Historic Courthouse. ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evaluate. Staff from Morrison County Hands of Hope, Kinship and Guardian Ad Litem took part in the exercise. The Sheriff's Office is willing to help out schools, businesses or organizations. Please call 632-9233 and speak with Deputy Al Yoder if you have questions.
--The Pierz City Council meets tonight 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Eric Gradin and Amber Tidgwell, boy on July 18th
DEATH NOTICES
--James “Jim” Yourczek, age 78 of Inver Grove Heights.
--Sylvia Ann Hengemuhle, age 89 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= morning shower, partly cloudy in PM, high 81.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low 56.
TUESDAY= sunny skies, high near 80, storms late, low 60.
WEDNESDAY= storms early, then storms late PM, high 74.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins fell just short losing to the Royals 6-5 in KC Friday. Royals win 4-2 on Saturday. Royals complete the sweep Sunday winning 5-3. Twins at Blue Jays tonight at 5:30 on Q92 WYRQ.
LYNX= Maya Moore scores 38 as Lynx beat Phoenix Saturday 80-75.
REGION= The Region 8C Baseball Tournament begins on Saturday with 4 games Saturday and 4 games on Sunday. Teams include Sobieski, Upsala, Fort Ripley, Nisswa, Avon, St. Stephen, Lastrup and Buckman. Games start at 11am Saturday on AM960 KLTF.