NEWS
--The Little Falls Business Association has dissolved coming from a vote at their June 1st meeting to dissolve their group. Little Falls Chamber President Deb Boelz stated in their weekly update that the LFBA will be consolidating with the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce to create a new Community Promotions Committee through the Chamber. Prior to the formation of the Association in 2003 they were before a member of the Chamber's Retail Committee.
--An update on a story last week, City Administrator of Little Falls Jon Radermacher stated that the 11th Street project was to be finished last week and 11th Street Northeast in Little Falls did reopen on Friday for all through traffic. There will some work on the street still but it will not need to cause any closures while that is being done.
--A Clear Lake man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. 42-year-old Jonathon Isaacson was charged in Beltrami County after the girl was assaulted on an ice fishing trip on Upper Red Lake. Isaacson pleaded guilty to 1st degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim between 13-15 years old. Court records allege Isaacson admitted to the crime during an interview with an investigator. Isaacson will be sentenced on August 2nd.
--A Motley woman was injured Friday, after her vehicle collided with a vehicle on highways 210 and 10 in Morrison County. The Minnesota State Patrol responded to the crash, reported at 9:17am in Motley. According to the report, a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan was westbound on Highway 210 when it collided with a 2020 Honda Pilot heading south on Highway 10. The driver of the Dodge, 23-year old Carly Jane Smith of Motley suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Lakewood Health System in Staples. The Honda driver 28-year old Sara Louise Curry of Solway and passenger 58-year old Jacquenette Rae Richter of Bemidji were both treated at the scene by medical personnel but were not hospitalized.
--A 20-year-old man is behind bars after a stabbing Thursday in St. Cloud. Police were dispatched to the 1200 block of 6th Avenue South on reports of a stabbing. St. Cloud Police say a man was stabbed in the leg, and taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A short time later, police located the suspect, 20-year-old Aden Abdi Keynan, and arrested him without incident. Keynan is in the Stearns County Jail awaiting charges related to the stabbing and possession of controlled substances. St. Cloud Police stress this was not a random incident and there is no threat to the public.
--A pilot was airlifted to North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale following a plane crash around 7:00am Friday just east of the Granite Falls Airport. 67-year old Steven Lindquist of Granite Falls, was flying a small 1971 American Aviation AA-1A two-seat plane when it crashed in a field. Lindquist exited the plane and was walking when someone called to report the crash. He was treated at the scene before being airlifted by North Memorial Air Care. His medical status is unknown. The FAA is investigating the crash.
--Water levels throughout Stearns County have continued to drop, however, Stearns County Ordinance 534 for Grass Lake, Clearwater Lake, Augusta Lake, and Caroline Lake is still in effect, as determined by the most recent gauge reading last week. Water levels have to be below the prescribed level for three days before the restrictions are lifted and as of last Thursday that was not the case. No wake suggestions remain on a number of lakes and the Sauk River as the water has receded some but is still considered high on their gauge.
--The Pierz City Council meets tonight at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
--Early voting for the upcoming state primary begins June 24th and goes through August 9th the day of the Primary. With redistricting having taken place following the 2020 Census, candidates have filed for seats in Senate District 10, which encompasses all of Morrison County, and those for House 10A and House 10B, Congressional District 7, as well as the seats for the Morrison County Board of Commissioners, as well as other county offices that are up from primary elections. Candidates who have filed include: Congressional District 7: Republican Michelle Fischbach of Litchfield; Democrats Jill Abahsain of Sauk Centre and Alycia R. Gruenhagen of Glencoe; and Travis Johnson, Legal Marijuana Now. Senate District 10: Jim Newberger of Milaca; Steve Wenzel of Little Falls; and Nathan Wesenberg of Little Falls have all filed for the Republican Party while Democrat Susanne M. Cekalla in the only listed candidate on that side. In House District 10A: Republicans Ron Kresha and Chuck Parins, both of Little Falls. At this time there is no candidate that filed for House District 10A on the DFL side, the one candidate who filed then withdrew. There were extra days provided for a candidate to file after that withdrawal. In House District 10B: Republicans Blake Paulson of Foley; Isaac Schultz of Upsala; and John Ulrick of Hillman; and Democrat Hunter Froelich of Rice. County Commissioner District 1: Todd Krajsa of Cushing and Mike LeMieur of Little Falls. County Commissioner District 2: Jeffrey J. Jelinski is the only to file. County Commissioner District 3: Jeremy J. Pekula of Little Falls and Randy H. Winscher of Royalton. County Commissioner District 4: Robert Kasper and Mike Wilson, both of Pierz. County Commissioner District 5: Greg Blaine of Little Falls and Rene Krousey of Swanville. County Auditor/Treasurer: Chelsey Robinson of Little Falls. County Recorder: Jennifer Sanders of Little Falls. County Sheriff: Shawn Larsen. County Attorney: Brian Middendorf. Soil and Water Supervisor District 3: Scott Saehr of Pierz. Soil and Water Supervisor District 4: Dale Scholl of Royalton. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor will also be on the primary ballot. After the primary early voting for the general election begins September 23rd. Candidates for cities, townships and school boards can start filing on August 2nd through August 16th as they have no primaries.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--Country star Toby Keith revealed on Sunday that he has been battling cancer for several months. Keith said in a statement posted online that he was diagnosed with stomach cancer and has spent the last six months receiving chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
WEATHER
TODAY= showers & storms early, then cloudy, high 78, low 67.
TUESDAY= sunny and hot, high 92 with possible storms, low 57.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and cooler, showers at times, high 78, low 58.
SPORTS
TWINS= Byron Buxton had 2 homers Friday in a 9-4 win over Rays, Luis Arreaz had first career grand slam on Saturday as Twins win 6-5. Tampa Bay won Sunday 6-0 to avoid sweep. Twins are in Seattle to start a West Coast road trip tonight at 8pm on Q92 WYRQ.
TRACK= Great Job by the athletes at the State Track Meet last week. Ashley Kimman of Pierz was 2nd in the High Jump, and 2nd in the 100M hurdles. Danielle Schirmers of Little Falls was 4th in 100 meter hurdles, Connor Carlson of Royalton 7th in 800 meter and Mya Yourczek of Royalton was 8th in Triple Jump. USA's Alyssa Young was 9th in the Triple Jump and Nick Mettler was 10th in the discus. Others finished from the area outside the top 10.