NEWS --The victim in Thursday's three-vehicle fatal crash in southern Crow Wing County has been identified as 21-year-old Rebecca Schlegel of Brainerd, a former Pierz resident. The crash that claimed Schlegel's life happened about 4:30am Thursday on Crow Wing County Road 2 near its intersection with Thesing Road in Daggett Brook Township. A second driver, 68-year-old Bruce Kerkhoff of Brainerd, suffered critical injuries and was transported to a hospital. The third driver, 70-year-old Jean Nesheim of Brainerd, was treated at the scene of the crash and released. The three vehicles collided in heavy fog with limited visibility. The sheriff's office reported that Schlegel's vehicle caught fire as a result of the crash and Pierz firefighters were called in to extinguish it.
--St. Cloud Police are investigating a shooting incident Thursday night which left a man injured. Officers responded to the 100 block alley of 25th Avenue North just before midnight. Police made contact with a 54-year-old Waite Park man who had been shot in the leg. Officers learned the man got into an argument with three people over a vehicle that had not been returned on time. The argument turned into a physical fight and the victim was shot once in the leg with a handgun. The suspect and two other men left the scene before police arrived. The victim was taken to the hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries. The other men involved in the incident haven't been found yet and no gun has been recovered.
--The Little Falls Community High School pep band will have an opportunity to be in an upcoming film. The film is titled “The Brother's Keeper” is scheduled to be released later this year. It is based on a true story of the 2009 Abilene High School football team. The movie stars the son of Mel Gibson- Milo Gibson and Lawrence Fischburne from the Matrix fame. Graduates from 2016 and 2017 are also invited to attend. Filming will be this week on Wednesday in Owatonna. Band members should check emails for further details.
--Tomorrow is the final day to file for state and federal elections to be added on the ballot for Primary Day August 14th. Already, have filed for U.S. Senator- the special election for the seat that was given up by Senator Al Franken and Senator Tina Smith was appointed to the seat. There are five candidates registered to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Senator Amy Klobuchar, she is one that filed for reelection. Others have filed for Governor in Minnesota and state representative, along with county seats. Again filing will be completed at 5pm Tuesday, with those needing primaries to be held August 14th.
--Overnight and early morning commuters who use Highway 24 between Clearwater and Clear Lake will start experiencing lane closures. Overnight delays should be expected between the hours of 8:00pm and 5:30am which started Sunday night and will continue through June 19th. Traffic will be reduced to a single lane at times during these hours. The lane closures are needed while crews resurface the road between Clearwater and Clear Lake. It's part of a larger project which includes sidewalk improvements in both towns, signal upgrades in Clearwater and pedestrian accessibility. Another Stearns County road construction project is scheduled to get underway in Holdingford today. County Highway 17 will undergo repairs between County Highway 9 and the east city limits. Access to local businesses and homes in Holdingford will be maintained, but all other traffic will be required to detour around the work zone. The detour is expected to be in place until the end of July.
--The Morrison County Commissioners meet Tuesday at 9am at the Little Falls City Hall. Agenda items include public hearings on fee schedules and tax increment financing. They will hear from Veterans Service Office Kathy Marshik and discuss and take action on items from Public Health, Land Services, Social Services and from the Auditor/Treasurer at their meeting Tuesday.
--Four more deaths, two in Minnesota and one each in Arkansas and New York, have been linked to a national food poisoning outbreak blamed on tainted Arizona-grown romaine lettuce, bringing the total to five. The Arizona growing season is long over and it's unlikely any tainted lettuce is still in stores or people's homes. But there can be a lag in reporting, and reports of illnesses have continued to come in. In an update Friday, health officials said 25 more cases raised the total to 197 illnesses in 35 states. At least 89 were hospitalized. Coborn's Incorporated confirmed the lettuce they were selling in their stores was not coming from the Yuma, Arizona region. Health officials have tied the outbreak to romaine lettuce grown in Yuma, Arizona.
--DFL and Republican Conventions were held over the weekend, for Governor GOP endorsed Jeff Johnson, DFL endorsed Erin Murphy, for Senate the DFL endorsed Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar who were already in the U.S. Senate. GOP endorsed Jim Newberger of Becker and Karin Housley for their U.S. Senate candidates in November.
--There will be a color run scheduled for later today in Pierz. This will raise funds to benefit the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) which grants funds to support students at Pioneer Elementary School in Pierz. Registration starts at 5pm on the Pioneer Campus, at a cost of $30 per person. The run begins at 6pm.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Jeffrey Winter and Candace Welinski of Little Falls, boy on May 30th
DEATH NOTICES --Eileen L. Olson, age 93 of Little Falls. --Rebecca “Becca” Schlegel, age 21 of Brainerd. --Dean F. Fearing, age 92 of Staples. --Joseph P. Stockdale, age 84 of Little Falls formerly Flensburg.
WEATHER TODAY= sunny and warmer, high near 80. TONIGHT= clear skies, low around 50. TUESDAY= sunny skies, high 77. Storms late night, low 58. WEDNESDAY= storms likely in morning, cloudy in PM, high 78.
SPORTS TWINS= Twins hold off Indians thanks to two Escobar homers to win 7-4 on Friday, then Twins get big hits from Dozier & Rosario Saturday to win 7-1 over Cleveland. Eddie Rosario goes deep 3 times, including the walk off homer in the 9th to beat Cleveland 7-5 on Sunday. The Twins (25-30) have today off. HS BAB= Foley beat Pierz on the last play of the game 1-0 Friday, Pierz will take on Royalton at 5pm today in an elimination game from St. Cloud on FM94 KFML and online at fallsradio.com. HS BAB= Little Falls will face the winner of Bemidji and Fergus Falls Tuesday around noon at St. John's University on AM960 KLTF. WNBA= Diana Taurasi scores 29 and Phoenix holds off the Lynx Friday 95-85 then Lynx lose 77-69 Sunday to LA Sparks. Lynx 2-5.