NEWS
--On Monday around 9:20am Little Falls Police responded to an incident where a vehicle crashed into a business. A vehicle drove into the north side of Little Falls Eye Care Center. According to the police report, 72-year old Judith Swanson of Little Falls said she had pulled into the parking stall, her foot slipped off the brake, and onto the accelerator causing her to drive into the brick wall of the building. No one was injured. The business did inform us that one of the exam rooms was closed off due to damage however the business remained open and their hours were not affected.
--A Crosslake man died last Friday in a tree cutting accident. Around noon Friday police responded to an incident and stated that 76-year-old Richard Becker was dead when authorities arrived on scene. The police department stated that there was no indication that he was cut by the chainsaw or that a tree fell on him. Becker was found with a number of contusions to the head and stomach area and a broken ankle, likely from a fall of some sort.
--A grand reopening of the Royalton school buildings after extensive construction will be on Tuesday, September 6th, from 6:00-8:30pm. It will start at the middle-high school. A short presentation will be made, followed by self guided tours at both school buildings.
--CommunityGiving and it's partner foundations have awarded over $186,000 in academic scholarships for the coming school year to 194 students from across the region. Alexandria Area Community Foundation, Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation, Central Minnesota Community Foundation and Willmar Area Community Foundation are all affiliates of CommunityGiving. Students locally from Pierz, Royalton, St. Cloud, Brainerd, Sauk Rapids, St. Joseph, Foley and many other areas claimed numerous different scholarships. The value of the scholarships ranged from $500 to $10,000.
--Dr. Brian Kobilka who grew up in Little Falls and won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2012 with Dr. Robert Lefkowitz based on their work involving the study of G protein-coupled receptors will return to Little Falls as a guest speaker. Advances in this area are critical to the development of pharmaceuticals for medical conditions related to numerous human organ systems. Dr. Kobilka, who runs Kobilka Lab and is a professor of molecular and cellular physiology at Stanford University in California, will be the guest speaker for the Morrison County Historical Society’s annual meeting event on Monday, September 19th. During the program, which starts at 7:00pm, Dr. Kobilka will make a presentation on his research, after which he will be interviewed regarding how growing up in Morrison County influenced his work. Questions will be taken from the audience following the interview. An informal reception will round out the event, which will take place at the Charles D. Martin Auditorium at the Little Falls Community High School. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students or MCHS members. Tickets may be purchased online from the Morrison County Historical Society website or they can be purchased at The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum. The event is free for children 5 and younger, but contact MCHS if a seat needs to be reserved. For more information, call (320) 632-4007.
--A pair of 14-year olds Jaden Hennen and Alex Gottwaldt found the Pierz Oktoberfest medallion Wednesday morning. Jaden and Alex found the specially marked button by the pine trees near centerfield of Pierz Legion Park. Both Jaden and Alex split $500 in Pierz bucks as their grand prize for finding the medallion.
--A 21-year-old from Sauk Centre was seriously injured Tuesday night around 10:40pm on Highway 71 near Sauk Centre in Todd County. Alex Marthaler was riding a motorcycle north on 71 following a car, when he attempted to pass a vehicle which turned into the left lane making impact with the motorcycle which caused it roll onto its side where Marthaler was thrown from the cycle. Marthaler was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the other vehicle and the three passengers ages 13, 12 and 12 were all uninjured.
--The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Department announced Tuesday they will be closing the walleye fishing season on Lake Mille Lacs September 6th. The DNR stated that they surveyed data showing that over 45,000 pounds of walleye had been killed this year, well over the state's 28,600 pound allocation. Because anglers exceeded the limit established through negotiations with the American Indian tribes, the DNR had to make an announcement to stop fishing walleye on the lake after the Labor Day holiday weekend. The governor just over a week ago stated that the season would remain open but after talking with the fisheries decided with them on the closing believing the lake would have a decrease in angler population after Labor Day.
--Governor Mark Dayton ordered all United States flags and Minnesota flags to be flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in the State of Minnesota, from sunrise until sunset Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, the day of his interment, in honor and remembrance of General John William Vessey, Jr., former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. General John William Vessey, Jr. passed away August 18th at the age of 94. General Vessey' career spanned 46 years, including serving as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
--The Minnesota Military Museum inside Camp Ripley will be honoring WW ll Veteran Carl Thomas Peterson from Delano, Minnesota as their Featured Veteran for the Month for September. Carl Thomas Peterson was born on a farm in 1911 near Hartington, Nebraska. Carl joined the U.S. Navy on August 20, 1942. Carl became a member of the 26th Naval Construction Battalion and saw active service on the island of Guadalcanal after arriving on December 10, 1944. While on Guadalcanal, Carl contracted malaria, a mosquito-borne illness that incapacitated thousands of servicemen in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged in October 1945, having attained the rank of Carpenter’s Mate First Class. Carl and his wife Irene moved to Delano. Carl passed away in 1993.
--Congratulations to Haley Hinrichs, 19 year old from Goodhue County crowned the 63rd Princess Kay of the Milky Way last night at the fairgrounds. The Minnesota State Fair officially opened today.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny and cooler, high 68, clear, cool night low 48.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, high 73, storms after midnight, low 55.
SATURDAY= showers likely, some heavy rains, high 70, low 58.
SUNDAY= morning storm, then sunny and warmer, high near 80.
SPORTS
TWINS= Tigers pound Twins again winning 9-4 on Wednesday. The Twins wrap up with Tigers, 11:30am on Q92 WYRQ.
CLASS C= Sobieski plays 11am Saturday on FM94, Nisswa Saturday 11am, Lastrup Sunday 1:30, Ft. Ripley Sunday 7:30pm all on KLTF.