NEWS
--A safety message from Minnesota Power. Attention all boaters near the Blanchard, Little Falls, Sylvan and Pillager Dams, please use extreme caution when boating upstream of theses dams now and through the upcoming Memorial Day weekend on the Mississippi River and Crow Wing Rivers as safety buoys have NOT been installed due to the recent high flows of water from recent storms. Unseen hazards, fast currents and dangerous conditions may exist. Please put safety first when enjoying the lakes and rivers this weekend. For more information the on river safety go to mnpower.com.
--On Friday, Swanville School Superintendent Gene Harthan spoke on the AM960 KLTF morning show on the past year. Harthan said that the struggle last year was staffing their school and getting substitutes when a staff member was out ill but overall a great 2021-2022 for the students in activities, athletics and other school items. Harthan stated that the celebration of life for former football coach Con Natvig was well attended on the football field and thanks all who helped make that a great night to remember the longtime Swanville coach and educator. Harthan also is retiring from Swanville Schools as the superintendent this year. He started teaching in Swanville in 1977 and stated that after 45 years it is time to move on and is looking forward to transitioning in Travis Hensch who was named the new Superintendent and Elementary Principal of Swanville schools starting on July 1st where he has been with the Walker/Hackensack/Akeley school district and before that in Wadena and Park Rapids. Graduation for Swanville will be Friday 7pm on the football field if the weather cooperates with concessions and bleachers set up for those to come and see the graduation ceremony.
--45 Soldiers of the Duluth, Minnesota based 1st Battalion, 94th Cavalry Regiment are responding to a request for assistance in
Northeast Minnesota. These Soldiers will be providing flood response in the Rainy River Basin in support of efforts by St. Louis and Koochiching County civil authorities. On May 19th, 2022, the Minnesota National Guard received the request to provide flood response support in Northeast Minnesota in response to the Governor's peacetime emergency announcement. The Duluth, Minnesota based Soldiers were tasked with supporting flood mitigation activities due to concerning water levels and the projected precipitation for the region within the coming days. The Minnesota National Guard previously supported flooding response in that same region of the state back in 2014.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office in the past few weeks continue to get calls such as a stolen truck in Swanville, mailbox stolen in Hillman, a number of scam and theft reports in Little Falls, Bowlus, Motley and Cushing. A resident on Great River Road in Bowlus reported the possible burglary in an abandoned home and the sheriff's office investigated a fraud report near Cushing all in the past two weeks. Continue to call in suspicious activity at 320-632-9233.
--Central Minnesota donated over 7 tons of food to "Stamp Out Hunger" the weekend of May 14-15th. The National Association of Letter Carriers’ "Stamp Out Hunger" event is the largest one-day food drive in the nation, feeding millions of Americans. Sandra Miller, food drive coordinator, says last Saturday's event produced 15,677 pounds of food to be distributed between Catholic Charities Food Shelf and the Salvation Army in St. Cloud. The food drive is held the second Saturday in May every year.
--Graduation for High School seniors in the area begin this Friday.
--Survivors of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church will have the opportunity to share their experiences and receive support at several listening sessions in central Minnesota this week. The Diocese of St. Cloud will be holding two listening sessions on Tuesday regarding Father Arthur Hoppe. Following an allegation of sexual misconduct involving Hoppe, Bishop Donald Kettler added his name to the list of more than 40 clergy members who have been identified by the diocese as likely to have abused minors. This list includes Anthony Canu who was in Belle Prairie was one time, Harold Dimmerling who was in St. Mary's Little Falls in the late 1960s, John Eccleston who had been at the St. Francis Convent, Sylvester Gall who was a priest in Pierz, Lastrup, Motley and Swanville, Stanislaus Goryczka was in Harding, Elmdale and Our Lady of Lourdes Little Falls, Arthur Hoppe who served in Lastrup in the 1960s, Val Klimek at Holy Trinity in Royalton, James Mohm was in Pierz, Donald Rieder was in Randall and Sobieski and the Chaplin at St. Gabriel's Hospital, Robert Smith was in Belle Prairie, North Prairie and Sobieski, Peter Snyers was in Holdingford and Rice, James Thoennes Foley and the Chaplin for the Villa in Pierz and Francis Zilkowski was in Flensburg and Our Lady of Lourdes in Little Falls. Again may of these former priests and religious figures have already passed away. This list is alleged incidents of misconduct against minors. The sessions start at 6:30 pm. at St. Louis Parish in Paynesville and St. Mary Parish in Alexandria.
--A 34-year-old Minneapolis man faces charges of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter in the stabbing death of a 19-year-old at a home in Pike Bay Township, north of Cass Lake. Floyd Robert Desjarlais is accused of stabbing Makhoa Martin on May 14, apparently while the two argued and physically fought. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a medical situation at 9:35pm on the 16000 block of Waboose Trail. Deputies arrived on the scene and learned Martin suffered a stab wound. They immediately initiated first aid and lifesaving efforts, according to the sheriff’s office. The victim was transported via ambulance to Cass Lake Indian Health Services, where additional lifesaving efforts were performed. Martin was pronounced dead.
--The Morrison County Commissioners will meet at 9am Tuesday at the county boardroom. There will be employee recognition from an ice water rescue and employee retirement.
DEATH NOTICES
--Mary Rivetts, age 86 of Little Falls.
--Eileen Delores (Feia-Pilarski) Fussy, age 93 of Bowlus & Holdingford
WEATHER
TODAY= few sprinkles at times, partly sunny, high 62.
TONIGHT= cloudy early, clearing late, low near 40.
TUESDAY= sunny skies, high 65, low around 40.
WEDNESDAY= rain likely, cooler and breezy, high 57, low 38.
SPORTS
TWINS=Twins win 6-4 Friday over Kansas City. Twins win again on Saturday 9-2 over the Royals and Twins get the sweep Sunday scoring 7 runs in the last 2 innings to win 7-6 over KC to take all three games. Twins host Detroit tonight at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ. PREAK= Early Voting own the Preakness Saturday, the winner of Kentucky Derby did not compete so no Triple Crown winner this year.
HS SB= Osakis at Pierz at 3pm today on 94ROCKS KFML.
HS SB= Little Falls will wait until Thursday at 4pm to open playoffs.