NEWS
--Sauk Rapids Police are looking for two men who entered a residence in the 700 block of Broadway Avenue South and shot one of the occupants in an attempted robbery. The call came in shortly before 5am Friday morning. Police say two suspects entered the home in an apparent attempt to rob those who lived there. The men are described as young adult black men. Police say one of the men had a handgun and shot one of the victims in the leg. The suspects then fled the scene. The victim was taken to St. Cloud Hospital where they were treated and released. Police do not believe this was a random incident and don't believe the general public is in danger. If you have any information on the crime, you're asked to call the Sauk Rapids Police Department.
--Authorities have released the name of the man who died Wednesday after fleeing law enforcement in Waite Park. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office says 19-year old Noah Johnson of St. Cloud died of suicide due to a gunshot wound. The incident began when police responded to a report of an assault at a store in Crossroads Center Wednesday around 11:45am. A short time later, Johnson led police on a foot chase, ending at a shed in the 10 Block of Cherry Street in Waite Park. As officers approached, they heard what sounded like a gunshot coming from inside the shed. Officers cleared the shed and found a handgun and Johnson with an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound. Johnson was taken to St. Cloud Hospital by Mayo Ambulance where he later died. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the incident.
--The Little Falls School Board meets at 5pm today at the Community Middle School Media Room. The board will discuss building construction budget revisions, student activities, high tech workforce funding and federal programs in the district. They board wil also expected to approvel the budget for the next school year.
--Extra Speed Enforcement is on Minnesota roads through July 19th. With reduced traffic the last several months, it would seem the risk on Minnesota roads would be reduced. Unfortunately, many drivers have chosen to use the open roads as a license to speed. Preliminary reports show speed has already contributed to 36 motorists dying on Minnesota roads in 2020, compared with 27 at this time last year. To help put the brakes on speed related deaths and educate motorists, officers, deputies and troopers will work overtime shifts through July 19th. Law enforcement agencies across the state will participate in the campaign coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety. Authorities remind all to drive smart, slow down and obey the speed limit.
--Minnesota Military Radio and the Minnesota Military Family Foundation have organized a statewide 4th of July Radiothon to benefit Minnesota Military Families with their financial needs to provide emegency essentials to families with deployed soldiers which includes active duty, national guard and reserve components. During this week Little Falls Radio will be running announcements from Tom Lyons from Minnesota Military Radio and the foundation on where you can help military families. The reason for the radiothon this week is because all other charity events this year were cancelled due to the restrictions of COVID-19. To help please donate to during this week please go to www.minnesotamilitaryfamilyfoundation.org and a page will pop up on how to donate to help military families.
--Congratulations to Coborn's Marketplace in Little Falls, named a location of the year recently by the State of Minnesota.
--Pierz Oktoberfest committee met last week. This year's event will look a bit different. First and foremost there will be a parade starting at noon on Sunday, August 30th. However, there will be no festivities in the Pierz Park afterwards. They do hope to have from 2-4pm somewhere in town a spot for a Kids Pedal Tractor Pull, free inflatables and one or more food stands. Events during the week will be the same, with the Medallion Hunt beginning on August 23rd, and with numbers in area businesses where you can win a prize if your button number matches theirs. They will still sell buttons starting in August and have 3 drawings from them ($300, $200 & $100 prizes). Parade registratons are now being taken at Farmers & Merchants State Bank, (320) 468-6422.
--The recent numbers of COVID-19 from Minnesota Deaparment of Health on Sunday 523 new cases, 8 new deaths, 35,549 total cases, 30,809 no longer in isolation, 1,425 deaths of those 1,270 are 65 and older though the largest number of cases over 14,500 are between the ages of 21-45 years of age. Morrison County still at 57 cases with 1 confirmed death. Stearns 2,200 cases with 19 deaths. Todd 397 with 2 deaths, Benton 208 with 3 deaths, Crow Wing 102 cases with 12 deaths. Cass 12 cases 2 deaths, Mille Lacs 32 cases with 1 death.
--37-year-old Thomas Frank Steiner of Little Falls was charged with theft in Morrison County District Court. The charge stems from a May 10 incident, when a pastor at a church reported the theft of a security camera from a shed on the church property. The value of the camera is reportedly about $1,000 and the wall where it was removed from also had damage. Other security footage allegedly shows a white male subject was on the property and stole the camera. Neighboring businesses also allegedly had footage of the suspect, who entered a convenience store about 10 minutes after the theft. From the footage, law enforcement identified the suspect as Steiner. In questioning, Steiner allegedly admitted to stealing the camera If convicted, Steiner could face up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
--A Clearwater man died in a crash Friday night. The incident happened shortly before 11:30pm on Highway 24 near Clear Lake. The Minnesota State Patrol says a car was going north on Highway 24 towards Highway 10. Authorities say the car drifted off the road to the right and hit a railroad crossing post at a high rate of speed. The driver of the car, 77-year-old Brian Johnson, died at the scene.
--A woman was hurt in a crash on Interstate 94 in Sauk Centre. The incident happened shortly after 1pm Friday. The Minnesota State Patrol says an SUV was going west on Interstate 94 when it veered off the road and into the median where it hit the cable barrier and the bridge barrier. The driver of the SUV, 71-year-old Patricia Ross of Glenwood, was treated with non-life threatening injuries.
WEATHER
TODAY= AM thunderstorms, then hazy and humid, high near 90.
TONIGHT= chance of T-storms before midnight, humid, low 72.
TUESDAY= sunny and hot, high 91, isolated late day storm possible.
WEDNESDAY= showers and storms likely, high 85, low near 65.
SPORTS
--Major League Baseball said that the 60 games this year will be 40 games within a teams own divison so the Twins will play Tigers, Royals, Indians and White Sox. Then 20 games with the National League Central Division. Games start July 23rd and 24th.