NEWS
--The Upsala School District voted on their two question referendum Tuesday. It was reported that Question 1 which was to the school to be authorized to issue its general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $4,675,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including including improvements and upgrades to HVAC, electrical systems and roofing, the installation of dehumidification improvements, and the acquisition and installation of replacement boilers passed Tuesday with 397 yes votes to 289 no votes. This meant that the second question could be address on the referendum vote. The 2nd question was for the school to be authorized to issue its general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed $4,060,000 to provide funds for the acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities, including the construction, remodeling and equipping of early childhood classroom spaces and a career and technical education classroom (shop) addition; the construction and equipping of fitness classrooms, storage facilities, and district support spaces; and the completion of accessibility improvements. Question 2 failed on their vote on Tuesday with 307 no votes to 203 yes votes. Again the voting was held Tuesday for the Upsala school district.
--St. Cloud asks residents to conserve water as Minnesota’s relentless drought continues. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced the Mississippi River watershed has dried up to the point the state has enacted its drought warning response phase. St. Cloud gets its drinking water from the river. Starting back on Tuesday, the city encourages users to limit lawn irrigation to once or twice a week. Turn off any automatic watering controls. Mulch your trees and plants to help prevent water evaporation and weed growth. Leave grass clippings in place to provide shade for the soil. Let the grass grow longer to prevent premature dying. St. Cloud and all other water suppliers in the state are partnering with the DNR for guidance throughout the drought. The drought warning phase restricts water usage to 50% above January levels. It is the second stage of a four-tier system. The latest readings show flow remains well above the trigger point in Brainerd but falls below acceptable levels from Royalton south to St. Cloud and the Twin Cities.
--Stearns County held a public hearing on banning the use of marijuana products anywhere in public but will take more time before making a decision. Commissioners decided to leave the public hearing open and will continue their discussion later this month. The county is considering prohibiting the use of cannabis flower, products, edibles and “other hemp-derived products in a public place or a place of public accommodation “unless the premises is an establishment or an event licensed to permit onsite consumption of adult-use cannabis flower and adult-use cannabis products.” It would cover the whole county except for “cities of the first class, and those cities or townships that have adopted their own ordinance establishing standards for public use of cannabis.” The next Stearns County Commissioners meeting is August 22nd.
--Pastor Keith Thompson of Living Hope Church invites all to their Family Fun Day on Sunday at Living Hope on Haven Road north of Little Falls. Service at 10am, then inflatables, lunch with plenty of good food, cornhole tournament, bingo and giveaways and everything and he means everything is FREE. The event is Sunday from 10am-2pm at Living Hope Church and all are welcome.
--Authorities say a body discovered this week in east-central Minnesota has been identified as a man who went missing earlier this month. A news release issued Tuesday by the Isanti County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to a rural property in the North Branch area Monday evening. The person who alerted law enforcement to the discovery led authorities to a tree near a cornfield where a deceased man was found with a firearm next to him. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office identified the body as that of 64-year-old David Sorn of North Branch. He was last seen in the area of the body discovery on August 2 and was believed to have been in possession of a handgun. Sorn was reported missing on August 3 and was described by law enforcement as a vulnerable adult with medical conditions. Although the circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation, officials say foul play is not suspected.
--A Freeport woman was hurt in a two-vehicle crash Saturday. The crash happened just before 1pm at the intersection of County Road 167 and Long Lake Road northwest of Freeport. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says a pickup driven by 34-year-old Brian Nightingale of Holdingford was stopped on Lake Road, then entered the intersection and collided with a car heading south on County Road 167. The driver of the car, 80-year-old Dorothy Austing of Freeport was taken to Melrose Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Nightingale was not hurt.
--A Stearns County deputy has been honored for his work busting an international drug ring that brought narcotics to central Minnesota. The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Certificate of Appreciation was given to Deputy Joel Schmidt for his role in a case involving numerous arrests, including ties to Mexican cartels. He was honored at this week’s county commissioner meeting. Schmidt was one of the people looking into the activities of Macalla “Kayla” Knot. The 30-year-old St. Cloud woman lived in Mexico and was trafficking large amounts of meth and fentanyl to various organization members in the country, including Minnesota and North Dakota. Knot is scheduled to be sentenced later this month. Two others have already learned their fates for their involvement. Twenty-eight-year-old Melanie Quick of St. Cloud was sentenced to nine years. Mary Thompson, age 29, from Moorhead, will spend eight years in prison.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny, isolated showers & t-storms, high near 80.
TONIGHT= showers & t-storms overnight, low around 58.
FRIDAY= showers and storms, strong at times, some sun, high 84.
FRIDAY NIGHT= showers and storms, some strong early, low 60.
SATURDAY= sunny and cooler, high 77, clear night, low 52.
SUNDAY= sunny start, afternoon rain possible, high 79, low 55.
SPORTS
TWINS= Detroit beats the Twins last night 9-5. The Twins wrap up series at Detroit today, pregame at 11:30am on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= The Vikings open their preseason games tonight at Seattle against the Seahawks, 9pm is the kickoff on the west coast.
REGION= The Region 8C Baseball Championship game is on Friday night at 7:30pm in Pierz between Buckman and Nisswa. Then Saturday at 1pm Foley vs. Avon, 4pm Freeport vs. St. Stephen with winners playing for 3rd place Saturday night all in Pierz. Hear all the games Friday and Saturday live on AM960 KLTF & fallsradio.com.