NEWS
--Today is Columbus Day, still a federal holiday though many states including Minnesota have named it Indigenous Peoples day. Federal agencies, and some state, city and county offices may be closed today. Many agencies around central Minnesota have opted to work today and close the day after Thanksgiving so best to call ahead. Post offices will have no regular mail delivery today, however priority mail and one day delivery will still run today. Banks are closed today, some other businesses my be closed for Columbus Day but again many others like the government center are open today.
--The Morrison County Board approved a 3.95% increase in its preliminary levy on 2024. That amount can be decreased, but it may not increase before the final levy is approved. The preliminary 2024 levy was set at $21.98 million, whereas the preliminary 2024 budget was set at $58.39 million, a 2.9% increase from 2023’s budget. County Administrator Matt LeBlanc stated at the meeting that a 3% Cost of Living Adjustment applied for 2024, a 4% increase for all those that have less than nine years of service with the county, a 2% increase if you have between seven and 11 years with the county, as well as nationally, there’s a historical increase in our health care. And the increase Morrison County was provided was in the ballpark of $300,000 which is why the increase in the levy for next year. LeBlanc said every percent of the levy is equal to about $210,000, so the increase in health care contributed to about 1.5% of the increase. He said salary is more difficult to calculate, but the increase due to the COLA and step increases was about $400,000, equal to about a 2% increase. It will be voted on by the board following the public hearing which is December 7th at 6pm.
--The Hiawatha Beach Resort Lodge in Walker has been deemed a total loss after a fire broke out early Friday morning. According to a release from Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk at 2:47am Friday a fire call was reported at the Hiawatha Beach Resort Lodge building located on Steamboat Loop on Leech Lake in rural Walker. First responders arrived and found the main lodge building to be engulfed in fire. No injuries were reported. The structure has been deemed a total loss. The fire at this time remains under investigation.
--Two Minnesota National Guard Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters were grounded at the Wadena Municipal Airport on Thursday, as one of them was experiencing mechanical issues. The 682nd Engineer Battalion is the Minnesota Army National Guard Battalion headquartered in St. Cloud provides combatant commanders with a "trained and ready combat force. This was only a repairs issue and no threat of any kind to the public so repairs could be fixed.
--A Twin Cities man is the latest to be caught in an undercover child solicitation sting in Stearns County. Members of the Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force were acting as a 14-year-old girl in an online chatroom known for the solicitation of children. According to the charges, 66-year-old Mark Johanek began chatting with the undercover officer in the fall of 2022. Over the course of several months court records allege Johanek's conversations were sexually explicit and very graphic. Officers say the crimes were committed between October of last year and August 24 of this year. Johanek was arrested on October 4th at his Columbia Heights home. Johanek is due in Stearns County District Court on October 16th on charges of engaging online to describe sexual conduct with a child.
--This is Fire Prevention Week, families should prepare just in case.
--A construction worker was taken to the hospital after he was struck by a driver allegedly under the influence of alcohol. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened Friday just after 11:30am on Interstate 35 in Pine County near Hinckley. Sixty-four-year-old James Carey of Edina was driving north in a construction zone when he struck the construction worker who was on the right-hand shoulder.
The vehicle did not stop at the scene but was found a short time later on the interstate near Moose Lake where he stopped and was taken into custody. The construction worker who was hurt is 27-year-old Joseph Flanagan of Duluth. He was taken to Essentia Health in Sandstone with non-life-threatening injuries.
--The National Weather Service is confirming Friday that there was a brief tornado touchdown in Wright County during all that lightning and rain on September 29th. They say shortly before 10pm the tornado touched down just south of the intersection of County Road 14 and 30th Street Southeast in the southeast part of Wright County.
There were also several areas of non-tornadic wind in the nearby area. The tornado tracked northeast and uprooted or broke about 100 trees, mostly on one farmstead.
--The Randall Cushing Little Elk Lions meet and greet will be held on October 16th, 2023 at 6:30pm at the Randall Bingo Park building. Food, refreshments and learn and connect with members of the Randall Cushing Little Elk Lions. The hope of this event is to get new members who might be interested in joining the club.
ENTERTAINMENT/SPORTS NEWS
--Legendary Chicago Bear's player Dick Butkus has died at age 80. Butkus after his NFL career did commercials, TV shows and movies.
DEATH NOTICES
--Bailey James Mendez, infant son of Misty Skaggs & Jason Mendez
--Marcella Boser, age 104 of Lastrup.
--Kenneth J. LeBlanc, age 75 of rural Pierz.
--Keith “Tom” Bjorge, age 80 of Little Falls.
--Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Vanselow, age 100 formerly of Swanville.
WEATHER
TODAY= AM frost possible, then sunny with high 53.
TONIGHT= clear skies, frost likely, low near 29.
TUESDAY= AM frost, then sunny, high 54, low near 32.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high near 56, low near 36.
SPORTS
TWINS= Houston beat the Twins 6-4 Saturday in game 1 of the ALDS though Polanco and Lewis hit homeruns. Carlos Correa Sunday had 3 RBIs and Pablo Lopez shut down Houston as the Twins tie the series with a 6-2 win. The Twins continues series with Houston on Tuesday afternoon with pregame at 2pm and first pitch at 3:07pm. There will be a Game 4 on Wednesday also at Target Field. Hear all the Twins playoff games live on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= Kansas City holds off Vikings 27-20 Sunday, Vikings 1-4.
COL FB= Michigan pounds the Gophers 52-10 Saturday to keep jug.
HS FB= Little Falls scores late to beat Fergus Falls 21-14, Pierz wins in overtime 18-12 over Sauk Centre, Upsala/Swanville wins homecoming 20-14 over KMS Friday. Foley, Staples-Motley and Pillager were winners Friday while Royalton and Holdingford lost.