NEWS
--Five people were arrested (none from Minnesota) due to the Embridge Line 3 project which was the second large arrest reported this past week. This one happened last Friday. The Wadena County Sheriff’s Office, along with several other law enforcement agencies, responded around 4am to the project site due to several individuals attempting to breach the fencing around the construction site. By the time the deputies got to the individuals, several had already climbed over the fence and made their way into the construction area. Four of the individuals were able to lock themselves to equipment on site, while a fifth was apprehended and arrested by deputies on scene. Several others fled the scene from deputies into the nearby wooded area. A specially trained extrication team was called to the scene and removed all individuals from the equipment. The five individuals taken into custody were from Utah, New York, Ohio, Oregon and California respectively. The four who secured themselves to equipment were charged with Felony Theft, Gross Misdemeanor Trespass, Misdemeanor Unlawful Assembly, and Misdemeanor Obstructing Legal Process. All individuals were seen in Wadena District Court Monday morning where conditions and bail/bond were set. Those charged with felonies received conditions and were ordered to post $1,000 bond by the court prior to release. All had their bail/bond amounts posted and were released from custody.
--Platte River Day is Saturday which is Royalton's annual community gathering sponsored by the Royalton Lions Club offers a full day of activities the event begins with the annual Platte River 5K run/walk at 8:30 am, a 11:00 am parade, food court and beer garden. The afternoon includes live auction at 12:30pm, minnow races, duck races, egg toss, pork chop dinner and raffle for $5,000 as the grand prize which is at 5:30pm, then at 8pm the Fabulous Armadillos take the stage. Details online at fallsradio.com on community calendar.
--A fire last Friday morning in St. Cloud displaced one person and resulted in $50,000 worth of damage to a house. The fire took place on the 1000 block of Second Street North and damaged most of the house. No one was hurt and the cause of the fire is under investigation. Deputy Chief Steve Wunderlich reported the fire resulted in an estimated $45,000 property loss and $5,000 worth of contents inside the home.
--A California man who pleaded guilty to felony drug possession has received a stayed sentence of four years. 58-year old Guy Gibeau was charged with 2nd degree drug possession back in December 2019. Gibeau will be on supervised probation for up to five years. According to the criminal complaint, Waite Park police made a traffic stop in November 2019 when the driver failed to make a complete stop. Records show the officer immediately smelled an overwhelming odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Police say a search of the vehicle uncovered 91 one-pound bags of marijuana.
--A reminder that Osasis Share a Meal is at 5:30pm today at First Lutheran Church in Little Falls, drive thru only and you must be present to receive a free meal at the event tonight. Also St. Gabriel's Hospital Advocates are hosting their blings and things fundraiser today at the hospital from 9-4 to help with their organization.
--The Little Falls Summer Musicial “Darling” on the 1905 murder of Annie Kintop, which is a new true-crime play by Taryn Verley, will be August 5th through the 8th at the Charles D. Martin Auditorium stage in Little Falls. Advance tickets sold at lfsummermusical.com
--The Morrison County Fair kicks off today. There is a $3 fee for parking per vehicle per day or $5 for the three days as a whole. The Fair will officially open with the national anthem at noon today but some 4-H and other ag/barn events get going even earlier. Join KLTF Party Line live at 10:05am today from the fair on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com. Other exhibits includes ones from the Minnesota Deer Hunters, Morrison County Historical Society, Ag Learning Center, rural school house, animals, food and more today. Gopher State Midway of rides with airband times 12-5 and 5-10pm today. Antique Tractor Display from 12-7pm by the Greater Minnesota 2-Cylinder Club, music from Sailor Jeri from 1-3, Hillbilly Science Spectatular Kids Show at 4, Sues Country Sunshine variety show from 5-8pm, Zack Grandahl music from 9pm to midnight. Kids pedal pull at 6pm, Bingo tonight and the Tuff Truck and Car competition at the Grandstand tonight at 7pm all for day 1 of the Morrison County Fair. Details at fallsradio.com and click on the fair logo.
--Randall Dietriech of the Minnesota Military Museum at Camp Ripley announced that work is planned to begin next fall for the new museum site off of Highway 371 and Highway 115 with plans to open the new site in the spring of 2024. Right now the Museum at Camp Ripley is open 7 Days a week from 10am-5pm. There will also be a free event Saturday at noon called Up Close where visitors will get an up close look at the tanks and explanations and stories about them from a special guest to talk on the subject. Also there will be book sale at the Museum Saturday from 12-3pm. When at the Museum for a tour there is an admission fee but the event Saturday is free. For more information on the museum log on to their website mnmilitarymuseum.org or call them at 320-616-6050.
DEATH NOTICES
--Arthur E. Allerman, age 84 of Little Falls.
--Nathan A. Ficek, age 40 of Sobieski.
--Francis M. Kasper, age 57 of Pierz.
WEATHER
AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT THROUGH 3PM FRIDAY.
TODAY= partly cloudy, smoke and haze, high 82.
TONIGHT= clear skies, hazy with smoke, low 57.
FRIDAY= sunny, smoke and haze in morning, high 83, low 56.
SATURDAY= sunny skies and pleasant, high near 80, low 53.
SUNDAY= sunny and pleasant, high 77, low around 53.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins hit 7 homeruns and the Tigers hit no homeruns but still the Tigers beat the Twins 17-14 in an offensive battle to take the three game series. The Twins (43-59) have today off.
VFW= Cold Spring eliminated Little Falls 10-2 on Wednesday.
OLY= United States has 37 total medals leading medal count today.
VL= The Victory League playoffs are set this weekend. Friday night at 7:30pm Pierz Lakers at Pierz Brewers, Saturday at noon Nisswa at Fort Ripley in elimination games, winners to play Sunday. The championship in the North/East Division is Foley at Buckman Saturday at 1:30pm. In the South/West Division the championship is Avon at Sobieski at 3:30pm Saturday, elimination games Saturday are both at 1:30pm with St. Stephen at Randall and Freeport at Upsala. The Freeport at Upsala game will be the Game of the Week Saturday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.