NEWS
--An officer involved lethal shooting incident near Bowlus earlier this year has been ruled justified by authorities. On April 28th, Trooper Megan Boser of the Minnesota State Patrol and Deputy Dale Haberer of the Otter Tail County Sheriffs Office were placed in a situation which necessitated the use of lethal force. The incident resulted in the death of Charles Francis Bangs. The incident was investigated by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). Per BCA protocol, the file was submitted to Morrison County Attorney Brian Middendorf to determine whether the actions of law enforcement were justified, and therefore legal, under Minnesota Statute. Following that review, the use of lethal force was determined to be justified. Authorities say around 3:00pm April 28th, the Minnesota State Patrol stopped a car driven by 59-year old Charles Bangs of Fergus Falls. He had three passengers inside, 51-year old Michael Johnson of Fergus Falls, 32-year-old Bryant Guida from Moorhead and another man. The trooper asked Johnson to get out of the vehicle but he refused. Johnson then pushed the trooper and a scuffle ensued. Bangs drove away and a short chase began. During the pursuit, authorities saw something being thrown from the window, which was later identified as meth. At around 6:00pm, Bangs was found near Bowlus and again took off. Officers were able to stop the vehicle, and at one point, two officers fired their guns, striking Bangs and Johnson. Bangs died at the scene. Johnson was taken to the hospital for his injuries and later arrested. The BCA says a handgun was recovered at the scene. The trooper involved was wearing a body camera which did capture portions of the incident.
--The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office is once again recruiting youth ages 15 to 21 to join our Law Enforcement Explorer program. Flyers with details have been sent out to schools around the county recently and there is info on their social media sites where you can scan the QR code for more information. You can also email your information or questions to sheriff@co.stearns.mn.us and one of our deputies assigned to the program will get back to you. You can attend an informational meeting at the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday, September 11th beginning at 6 pm. Just come to the lobby and staff will direct you to the correct room.
--The 66th St. Francis Fall Festival is this Sunday with mass at 10am, chicken and ham dinner serving from 11am until about 1:30-2pm (come early as in some years 2,000 people have come for the meal and it goes quick). After the meal enjoy kids games, bingo, silent auction, live music and many events through the day with the grand raffle at 7:30pm which includes three $500 cash prizes. That is Sunday at St. Francis of Assisi Church located on Highway 238 about 10 miles north of Albany and 4 miles south of Upsala.
--Today is the final Markets and Music on the Mississippi at LeBourget Park on the west side of Little Falls. Markets start at 3pm and the music by Charlie Roth and the Range Wheelers at 6pm at the park. Food trucks, farmers markets, and beverages to purchase otherwise all kids events, events by attractions and the concert is free to enjoy tonight. There will be games and many items to enjoy. Get more details today at 8:30am on AM960 KLTF and tune in this afternoon at 3:30pm as Charlie Roth and some band members will be live with on Q92 WYRQ with Al Windsperger. Q92 is sponsoring the music part of the event tonight with Charlie Roth at the park.
--Keep listening through the day for Oktoberfest Medallion Hunt Clues until it is found for $400 in Pierz Bucks on Little Falls Radio.
--The Minnesota State Fair opens today and runs through Labor Day. After no fair in 2020 and different rules in 2021 the fair is back at full strength this year. Plenty of things to see, hear, eat and do at the fair. Grandstand shows for all ages including tonight the rock show with Alice in Chains and Bush which has winners from 94ROCKS and JZ heading down to enjoy the show at the fair. Some entities around the area do have bus trips going to the fair so check with them for details. There are some different hours for the fair as gates will not open until 7am each day and many buildings at the fair will not open until after 9am. Princess Kay of the Milky Way was crowned last night at the fairgrounds. Rachel Rynda, a 19-year-old college student from Montgomery representing Le Sueur County, was crowned the 69th Princess Kay of the Milky Way Rynda will serve as the official goodwill ambassador for nearly 2,100 Minnesota dairy farm families. She is the daughter of Francis and Theresa Rynda and attends University of Wisconsin River Falls Ten county dairy princesses from throughout Minnesota competed for the Princess Kay of the Milky Way title. Aly Dieball of Green Isle, representing Sibley County, and Kiley Lickfelt of Hutchinson, representing McLeod County, were selected as runners-up. Briana Maus of Freeport representing Stearns County, along with Lickfelt and Rynda were named scholarship winners. Rynda was also named Miss Congeniality. Rynda’s first official duty as Princess Kay will be to sit in a rotating cooler in the Dairy Building (located at the corner of Judson Avenue and Underwood Street) for nearly eight hours to have her likeness sculpted in a 90-pound block of butter the first two days of the Minnesota State Fair. This year will mark the first year butter sculptor and Minnesota native Gerry Kulzer will be carving Princess Kay and the finalists in a solo capacity. Throughout the fair, Princess Kay and the other finalists will make appearances near the Butter Sculpture Booth in the Dairy Building and at the Moo Booth in the Dairy Barn. The State Fair runs through Labor Day Sept. 5th.
--Sister Julien thanked all who gave blood the past 2 days at the Convent where they received around 140 units in the 2 days. The next blood drive is October 25-27th. You can already call for appointments with Sister Julien at 320-632-0663.
NATIONAL NEWS
--President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced his plan to deliver on a campaign promise to provide $10,000 in student debt cancellation for millions of Americans and up to $10,000 more for those with the greatest financial need along with new measures to lower the burden of repayment for their remaining federal student debt. Borrowers who earn less than $125,000 a year, or families earning less than $250,000, would be eligible for loan forgiveness.
DEATH NOTICES
--Gerald Kroll, age 64 of Little Falls.
--Karen C. Hoheisel, age 79 of Little Falls formerly of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= becoming sunny, high 74, clear night cooler, low 51.
FRIDAY= sunny and warmer, high near 80, low near 60.
SATURDAY= showers and storms likely, high 77, low 65.
SUNDAY= sunny and humid, PM storms, high 85, low 64.
SPORTS
TWINS= Houston beats the Twins again last night 5-3. The Twins wrap up with Houston tonight pregame at 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.