NEWS
--Governor Tim Walz yesterday signed Executive Order 20-81, which requires Minnesotans to wear a face covering in indoor businesses and indoor public settings beginning at 12:01am Saturday morning. Researchers have advocated for masking, calling it a simple and effective step to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. To date, 30 states across the country, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico have issued similar mandates. DEED and MDH will be working together to distribute masks to underserved communities and businesses across the state. Over the past several weeks, business owners and medical professionals have been showing their support for a mask mandate, saying it takes the burden off them to enforce people’s behaviors. Individuals with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that makes it unreasonable for the individual to maintain a face covering are exempt from the order. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals who have a medical condition that compromises their ability to breathe, and individuals who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance. These individuals should consider using alternatives to face coverings, including clear face shields, and staying at home as much as possible. Children who are five-years old and under are also exempt. Those who are under two-years old should never wear a face covering due to the risk of suffocation. While the goal of this Executive Order is voluntary compliance, not enforcement, any individual who willfully violates this Executive Order is guilty of a petty misdemeanor and upon conviction can be punished by a fine not to exceed $100. Businesses willfully violating this Executive Order are guilty of a misdemeanor and can be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or up to 90 days in jail. The Attorney General, as well as city and county attorneys, may also seek civil penalties from businesses who are in violation of this Executive Order. The mandate will have the full force and effect of law upon the approval of the Executive Council, which is made up of Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan, Attorney General Ellison, Secretary of State Simon, and State Auditor Blaha.
--To assist businesses with the compliance of the mandatory face mask order that goes effect Saturday, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has provided regional Chambers of Commerce with 4 million disposable masks to distribute to businesses at no charge. The purpose of the free masks is to help businesses provide masks to customers who might forget to bring one to their businesses. Businesses are encouraged to comply with the order to avoid additional shutdowns, restrictions or fines. Whether or not you believe in the effectiveness of masks or the right to incur personal risk, you are strongly urged to do whatever it takes to make sure our local businesses aren’t shut down again. Starting on Monday, July 27th, free masks will be available to both chamber members and non-members in Morrison County by stopping by the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, located in the historic Cass Gilbert Train Depot weekdays from 8 am – 4 pm. There will be a limit to the number of free masks that can be received.
--The latest numbers of COVID-19 in Minnesota reported on Wednesday were 507 new positive cases confirmed by the Minnesota Department of Health and 4 new deaths, 1 of the deaths was a person in their 20s in Mille Lacs County. Morrison County had no new cases of COVID-19 reported, still at 74 positive cases, 1 death.
--Today is FM94's Ladies Night Out Pierz Style. The theme this year is “Roaring 20s”. Starting at noon until 7pm stop into the participating sponsors in Pierz, see the specials and items they have in store and get your Ladies Night Out brochure stamped by all of the participating businesses. Then after that go to the Red Rooster in Genola and drop off your cards between 5-7:30pm, also those in the best dressed Roaring 20s will be eligible for tickets to the Chanhassen Dinner Theater (when they reopen the main theater, tickets good for about a year because of that). Due to restrictions this year the drawing event will be heard live on FM94 KFML on Friday morning at 9am and streamed at fallsradio.com. When you turn in your cards a registration slip will be filled out that will give you a chance to win. Get full details at fallsradio.com on Ladies Night Out today in Pierz.
--An Avon man is injured after he hits deer while riding his motorcycle. Stearns County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the intersection of Pelican Lake Road and 360th Street in Avon Township around 8:20pm Monday. 61-year-old Brad Becker of Avon was driving his 2002 Harley Davidson motorcycle northbound on Pelican Lake Road when he struck a deer in the roadway. He was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non life threatening injuries.
--A Juvenile male was injured after firework goes off in his hand. Just before 3pm Monday Stearns County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 300 block of 3rd Avenue Northeast in St. Stephen for a medical emergency. Upon arrival, deputies learned a 12-year-old juvenile male was inside his garage when an unknown firework went off in his hand. North Air helicopter transported the juvenile male to North Memorial Hospital for treatment of a serious hand injury.
--Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Little Falls will have their raffle on Sunday at 4pm live streamed from the church. There are no other events this year for the bazaar. You can purchases raffle tickets at the church tonight and Friday 5-7pm, Saturday 10am-12pm and Sunday after the 10:30am Mass until 3pm for the drawing Sunday at 4pm.
--The Rock Roll and Stroll committee announced recently they will have a classic car show on August 6th from 5-8pm in Pierz. They are going to go with the same style they did this month with cars parked on the west side of Highway 25. Walkers all walk the same direction around the cars. As of now they are not ready to have poker walks, registration, prizes or any outside food and drink. They ask you take in the establishments in Pierz during that time period for that.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high around 80.
TONIGHT= party cloudy skies, more humid, low 66.
FRIDAY= isolated T-storms early, then sunny and hot, high 91.
FRIDAY NIGHT= storms likely some severe overnight, low 70.
SATURDAY= showers and storms likely, high near 90, low 65.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, isolated T-storms possible, high 84.
SPORTS
MLB= Cubs beat the Twins 4-3 last night exhibition. The Twins open the 60 game regular season Friday night, pregame at 6:30 and first pitch 7:10pm at Chicago White Sox live on Q92 WYRQ.
NBA= Glenn Taylor is reportedly thinking of sell the Minnesota Timberwolves at a price tag around 1.2-billion dollars. Former Wolves player Kevin Garnett is one of the interested parties part of a four person team, it was also reported the Wilf family (who owns the Minnesota Vikings) is also interested in buying the NBA franchise.