NEWS --Severe storms struck Morrison County and the surrounding areas this weekend. Starting early Saturday just after 1:00am, large hail and straight line winds over 75 miles per hour did damage to power lines as over 1,000 Minnesota Power customers were without power through the day Saturday. Roofs damaged including the roof of both Community Services buildings north of Little Falls by the new baseball complex. Many homes cleaning up Saturday from trees and debris down in their yards. About 1 and 1/3 inches of rain fell on Saturday.
--Longtime coach and teacher for Pierz Healy High School, John Hellie known as H died Friday at his home at age 72. Hellie taught in Pierz from 1968-2001, head baseball coach for 29 seasons. He started the American Legion Baseball Team in Pierz in 1972, and the baseball field in Pierz was renamed Hellie Field for John and Karen Hellie. Karen died in 2016. The funeral for John Hellie will be tomorrow at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pierz.
--Around 6:25pm Thursday the Morrison County Sheriffs Office received a report of a one vehicle accident with injuries on 370th Avenue south of Skyview Road, approximately six miles north of Hillman in Richardson Township. 33-year old Allan Buckalew of Duluth was travelling north on 370th Avenue as he lost control of his vehicle, went in the ditch and rolled. Buckalew was taken by ambulance to the Onamia hospital with unknown injuries.
--The Randall Medallion was found in a tree at Veterans Memorial Park Friday morning. Searching for the medallion was Stacy Jensen, her daughter Ellie, along with Cassandra Jensen and Cassandra's son 9-years old Benjamin Tschida. Benjamin was the one who found it shortly before 10:00am Friday. The prize for the Randall Medallion is $300 in Randall business bucks. Congratulations to the winners! The events in Randall continue Tuesday night with a street dance and fireworks and then Wednesday with parade at 11am, bed and duck races to follow and check out the Little Falls Radio Cash Cube after the Randall parade Wednesday from 12:30-2pm.
--A 31-year old Avon woman was killed Friday near Clear Lake. The State Patrol and Sherburne County stated that one driver on Highway 10 collided broadside with a vehicle at 100th Avenue Southeast. The other driver from St. Cloud was taken to the hospital with injuries.
--Motorists who travel Highway 169 between Garrison and Crow Wing County Highway 26, located south of Garrison, may encounter additional delays during peak travel times after the four lane segment of the road is reduced to a single lane in each direction beginning July 9th. The traffic change is needed while crews repair a historical bridge on the existing northbound side of the road. All lanes of Highway 169 are scheduled to open in late October.
--A fire did extensive smoke damage to the Pineberry Plaza in Crosslake Friday just after midnight. Crosslake Fire Chief Chip Lohmiller said the fire started in the lower level of the building that sits on County Road 66. No one was injured, but Lohmiller said all building units have smoke damage. Lohmiller said the fire is under investigation by the state fire marshal.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has announced their July Employee of the Month is Danna Potter of St. Otto’s Care Center. Danna has been the Director of Social Services for the past 6 years at St. Otto’s Care Center. Congratulations to Danna Potter, Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce July Employee of the Month.
--Saturday night around 8:30pm Stearns County responded to a crash with injuries in Grove Township west of Melrose. The caller reported a tractor trailer had rolled and the driver was trapped inside. When Deputies arrived on scene they started investigating the crash. The tractor trailer was traveling westbound on County Road 186. The truck left the roadway and began going in the ditch. The truck rolled over while going down the ditch and lost most of the load of milk it was hauling. Melrose Fire Department was able to free the driver from the crushed tractor cab. The driver, 22-year old Jesse Martin of Sauk Centre was flown to St. Cloud Hospital with serious injuries.
--The Morrison County Historical Society will be hosting a walking tour of the Little Falls Ravine on Saturday, July 14th. The ravine walking tour, which is about 5 blocks long, will allow attendees to explore the Little Falls ravine that once ran through the east side of town and has been mostly erased from the landscape. Look for remnants of this landmark while listening to stories of the ravine’s role in the city’s history. The tour begins at 10am and runs until noon. It will start at the corner of Second Avenue and Second Street Northeast in Little Falls (near the former site of the old Central Office building). The cost of the tour is $20 for general admission. Children 12 and under may attend for free. Reservations are due by July 13th, with a limit of 15 reservations for this event. Call (320) 632-4007 for more information.
--The Little Falls City Council meets tonight 7:30pm at City Hall.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Brandon Virnig and Fayanna Gangl of Little Falls, boy on June 28th
DEATH NOTICES --Lucille Brummer, age 89 of Hillman. --John E. Hellie, age 72 of Pierz.
WEATHER TODAY= sunny skies, and warmer, high 83. TONIGHT= storms after dark, some strong, low 66. TUESDAY= storms early, hazy sun, high 86, storms again at night. 4th of JULY= storms early, hot, high 91, strong storms at night.
SPORTS TWINS= Cubs beat Twins 10-6 on Friday, though Joe Mauer and Eddie Rosario had a big game. Rosario homered, Joe Mauer another big RBI game but Cubs still manage to come back and win 14-9 on Saturday. Twins scored 5 in the 8th but not enough as Cubs get the sweep Sunday 11-10 in Chicago. The Twins keep with inter-league play tonight when they are at Milwaukee against the Brewers, 6:30pm pregame on Q92 WYRQ. LYNX= Lynx win 6th in a row 85-74 over Atlanta Friday. Maya Moore led with 24 points. The Lynx made it 7 in a row Sunday with a hard fought 76-72 win over Dallas. Moore led again with 26 points.
TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1776= The Continental Congress resolves "these United Colonies are and of right ought to be Free and Independent States" and announces the Declaration of Independence. However, due to some changes in language it was not ratified by Congress until July 4th. IN 1863= The Battle of Gettysburg began in U.S. Civil War.