NEWS
--Graduation ceremonies begin this week for area high schools. Friday night Pierz, Royalton and Swanville graduate their seniors, Upsala is on Saturday afternoon and Little Falls is on Sunday afternoon before Memorial Day. Other schools like Holdingford and Foley graduate their class of 2017 on Friday, June 2nd.
--Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl reports a 15-year-old male from Brainerd was injured in an ATV crash Thursday around 7:20pm on the roadway of the 16000 block of Gilbert Lake Road. The boy was taken to a hospital then airlifted to North Memorial in Robbinsdale with serious injuries. His current condition is unknown. The name of the operator of the ATV was not released by the sheriff's office. The investigation continues.
--Shepherd of the Pines Lutheran Church in Rice will be hosting a free focus on drugs in the community event today. Meal at 4:30 and program with speakers from Benton County Sheriff's Office, health, church and other officials along with a impov performance from the Little Falls Community High School Improv Troupe at 5:30pm. The event is free to all, a free will offering will be taken for the food only, to come and take in the program this afternoon in Rice.
--Four deer in Central Minnesota have tested positive for chronic wasting disease. The Minnesota Board of Animal Health says the deer that tested positive for the deadly neurological infection are from a herd of 14 white-tailed deer in Meeker County that were euthanized last month. The herd was a part of an investigation linked to a 2016 case of the disease in Crow Wing County. Authorities this week quarantined a Wright County farm where two of the infected animals from Meeker County lived as fawns in 2014. The farm where the animals were found is empty and won’t host captive deer or elk for five years. Department of Natural Resources officials say 11 wild deer have been tested positive for chronic wasting disease since 2016. The disease is spread to other animals through close contact and is fatal to elk and deer. Authorities say the infection isn’t known to harm people, but they advise against eating meat from infected animals.
--A Crow Wing County jury recently found a 46-year-old Brainerd man guilty for theft of a motor vehicle. Thomas Jeffrey Young was convicted of a felony offense stemming from a March incident there three men allegedly stole a vehicle from a Brainerd residence. Young is scheduled for sentencing July 27.
--A 30-year-old Brainerd man, who appeared before a Crow Wing County jury, was found guilty earlier this month. Randall Bernard Williams was convicted of felony theft by swindle after he continued to ask the victim for money, promising he would pay her back after cashing cashier's checks. After a jury trial, Williams was found guilty of the felony charge. A judge will sentence Williams and determine appropriate restitution for the victim.
--Extra enforcement on roadways and waterways begins today from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. The enforcement campaign is to have over 400 members of law enforcement watching for impaired and distracted drivers on the roadways. The campaign runs through June 4th to make this a safe start to the summer vacation season which many feel begins with Memorial Day.
--Today is the Pierz School Referendum Vote. Voting booths are open from 12-8pm at the Pierz, Lastrup & Buckman city halls and at the Harding Community Center. Questions on voting- call 468-6458.
--The twelve finalists vying for the title of 64th Princess Kay of the Milky Way were named yesterday at a lucheon. The finalists include two young women from central Minnesota, Rebecca Schubert of Rice representing Benton County and Gina Holdvogt of Freeport representing Stearns County. Each finalist will have her likeness carved into a 90lb block of butter over the course of the Minnesota State Fair. The 2017/18 Princess Kay of the Milky Way will be announced on Wednesday, August 23rd, the night before the opening of the Minnesota State Fair.
--Two people were hurt Friday afternoon around 2:45pm, in a two-vehicle accident on Interstate 94 near Albany. 75-year-old Margaret Kelly of Fargo was on 94 when a vehicle shifted lanes and struck Kelly's vehicle. Kelly and her passenger, 77-year-old John Kelly were both taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries. The other driver, 56-year-old Gary Perarek of Foley was not hurt.
--Motorists who travel Highway 238 and County Road 10 in Albany may encounter delays as the Highway 238/County Road 10 intersection is closed starting this morning. The Highway 238/County Road 10 intersection and approaching lanes will remain closed for 2 weeks while crews replace drainage pipes located beneath Highway 238, just south of County Road 10. Motorists may follow the signed detour along County Road 53, or seek their own alternate routes. Also, lane and road closures continue on other segments of Highway 238 between Albany and Upsala. Motorists should plan additional time for travel, and plan for lane and road closures.
--Motorists who travel Highway 24 in Clearwater should plan for overnight delays as the road closes between County Road 75 and County Road 8 for up to two nights beginning Wednesday. All lanes of Highway 24 in Clearwater will open by 5am Thursday.
DEATH NOTICES
--DeAnne E. Seifert, age 60 of Wisconsin Rapids,
--Leonard Posch, age 96 of Little Falls.
--Darlene Sam, age 76 of Isle.
--Florence G. Stanley, age 93 of Rice
--Kermit R. Dahlke, age 84 of Deerwood.
--Kevin A. Kramer, age 53 of Freeport.
--Frances Pribbenow, age 95 of Watkins formerly Scandia Valley.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy early, showers in afternoon, high near 60.
TONIGHT= showers early, cloudy, low near 40.
TUESDAY= showers at times, cloudy, breezy, high 56, low 42.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and warmer, high 67, low around 48.
SPORTS
TWINS= Kennys Vergas 2 run homer tied the game in the 9th Friday with the Royals and Joe Mauer scored in the 10th on a sacrifice to win it for the Twins 4-3. Twins and Royals rained out Saturday and played a double-header Sunday. Royals win game 1 Sunday 6-4, Twins win the second game 8-4 yesterday against KC to take 2 of 3 in series. Twins travel to Baltimore tonight, 5:30pm pregame on Q92 WYRQ.
LYNX= Lynx hold on Saturday 89-87 over Dallas to start 3-0 on year.
HORSE= Cloud Computing wins Preakness Saturday in Maryland, there will be no Triple Crown Winner this year.
SB= Pierz vs. Cathedral in playoffs, Tuesday 5pm on FM94 KFML.