NEWS
--The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office reports that Tuesday at approximately 5:41pm their office received a report of a fire at the St. Edwards Catholic Church located on Hwy 238 in Elmdale. When deputies arrived, there was smoke coming from the back corner of the church. Upsala Fire Department along with mutual aid from Bowlus Fire Department responded and was able to keep the fire from spreading throughout the church. According to the Sheriff’s Office, a 12-year-old juvenile male from Bowlus is being investigated regarding the fire. Nick Johnson, Upsala Fire Chief said that the main part of the church was intact with smoke damage, while the sacristy and the sanctuary part of the church sustained significant damage. A cost estimate is still pending and the State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting with this active investigation.
--Little Falls will be home to the North Central Plains and USDA Regional Food Business Center. USDA spokeswoman Jenny Lester-Moffitt said the center will help develop agriculture and food businesses across Minnesota and the Dakotas. “Bolstering local economies, building more, new, and better markets for producers, so that producers have more opportunities to tap into more markets that have a diverse and resilient food supply chain that they can sell into,” Lester-Moffitt said. State Ag Commissioner Thom Peterson said the centers will also help new farmers grow their operations. “When we travel and we look, we can see there are questions and things that our farmers need,” Peterson said. “This type of program is going to do this. It’s going to result in more opportunities for our farmers, which is going to result in more farmers and we need that.” A total of 12 regional food business centers are planned to be spread across the country, with the North Central Plains center set to serve food businesses across Minnesota and the Dakotas.
--Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday morning at Pequot Lakes High School for Fargo police officer and Minnesota native Jake Wallin. The public memorial service at 10:30am will be followed by a private graveside service at Greenwood Cemetery in Nisswa. Twenty-three-year-old Wallin just completing field training with the Fargo Police Department, died after a man opened fire on police and fire personnel responding to a car crash. Two other officers were critically wounded and a female civilian was also injured. Governor Tim Walz has ordered flags to fly at half-staff over all state buildings Saturday in honor and remembrance of Wallin. The governor says he was a dedicated member of the Minnesota National Guard and the Fargo Police Department, respected by family, friends and colleagues.
--The Mille Lacs County Courthouse had to be evacuated Tuesday after authorities received a bomb threat. The sheriff says they received a 911 call at about 3:30pm. Deputies then evacuated the campus and swept the buildings using a K-9 team from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and a bomb squad from the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office. They didn't find anything. The sheriff says the incident remains under investigation as they look for the source of the threat. It was business as usual there on Wednesday.
--A driver was sent to the hospital Tuesday morning after a rock went through her window. The Minnesota Highway Patrol says 36-year-old Christine Morris of Andover was driving a Nissan Rogue westbound on Highway 10 in Sherburne County when a rock was thrown up from another vehicle and went through her windshield. The damage was reported at 10:36 am near mile marker 182 in Haven Township.
--The Culpepper and Merriweather Circus is coming to Pierz on Tuesday with shows at 5pm and 7:30pm. The circus is sponsored by the Pierz Area Commercial Club. The day begins with the tent raising at 9:30am where the circus will set up at the Pierz Schools parking area. The Midway begins at 4pm with pony rides, bounce house, giant slide, face painting and concessions. Advance tickets are $13 at area Pierz businesses and $8 for kids and senior citizens. The cost of the tickets are higher at the gate on Tuesday before the event. Also listen to AM960 KLTF Friday for a chance to win kids tickets to the circus next week during the morning show.
--A 22-year-old Annandale man is jailed after allegedly running over a man in rural Wright County Saturday morning and fleeing the scene.
According to the criminal complaint, emergency responders went to the scene of an injury crash at about 1:30 and were told a man had fallen out of a pickup truck before the driver hit him and drove away. Officers found the victim, identified in court papers as 24-year-old Alexander Jack Hilsgen, lying in the westbound traffic lane near the main parking lot for Camp Friendship. Despite life saving measures, Hilsgen was pronounced dead. The complaint says a group of camp counselors had been drinking at a bar in Annandale when a guy in a pickup truck gave them a ride. Hilsgen was not a counselor but tagged along. Hilsgen’s hat blew out of the truck, and he wanted to get it. Someone in the truck’s bed tried to stop him but was unsuccessful. A witness said they felt a big bump after Hilsgen jumped out. One person in the truck’s cab said the driver, Joseph Schneider, said he thought he hit someone but never stopped to check on it. Schneider is charged in Wright County District Court with failing to stop after a collision causing injury or death and failing to notify police of a collision causing injury or death.
--The American Legion Riders will be providing a "Free Will" offering Breakfast at the American Legion Post #46 in Little Falls, prior to the DAV Motorcycle and Classic Car Run on Saturday. The Breakfast will go from 8-11am allowing for time to register for the Run. The Breakfast will consist of Eggs, Sausage, Pancakes, Juice and Coffee. For more information, feel free to call (320) 232-9554.
WEATHER
TODAY= becoming mostly sunny, breezy, high 77.
TONIGHT= clear night, low 53.
FRIDAY= partly cloudy, high 81, PM storms possible, low 58.
SATURDAY= sunny and warm, high 84, storms likely in afternoon.
SUNDAY= sunny and warm, high 88, low around 64.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins score 3 runs late to beat the Mariners last night 6-3 in Seattle. Twins wrap up series today with Seattle, pregame coverage starts at 2pm on Q92 WYRQ. Home Friday with Chicago.
BOWL= Little Falls will be having a high school bowling league. All students grades 7-12 are eligible starting September 1st. This is for students in Little Falls, Royalton, Pierz, Swanville, Randall, Upsala and Fort Ripley. An Organizational meeting will be August 10th at 5pm and then practices will begin August 14th on Monday's and Thursday's at the local bowling alley. Meets will be on Saturdays in September at different locations each week. There is no fee to join. For information on the set up for the league call 320-632-3165.
VL= Victory League playoffs begin this weekend with the Region 8C Tournament scheduled to be August 5th. Details at fallsradio.com.