NEWS
--A wet and stormy Wednesday with early morning storms dropping heavy rain, lots of lightning and gusty winds causing trees down in some areas of Little Falls, including a large pine tree that snapped a power pole. Power outages were reported Wednesday morning all over Morrison County and for some out for more than 2 hours. Rain totals varied with smaller amounts in eastern Morrison to over 1.25 to 1.75 inches around Little Falls. Last night round 2 moved a bit north of Little Falls with warnings along northern Morrison with strong winds and hail in portions of Cass, Crow Wing, Wadena, Morrison and Aitkin Counties. Funnel clouds were reported in Otter Tail County around 4pm then funnel clouds were reported near Garrison around 7pm last night with damage reported in fields and farmsteads and along Mille Lacs Lake. The National Weather Service will be investigating possible tornado damaged in both of those counties today. Thunderstorms continued through the overnight with drier conditions forecast for today and less humid weather on Friday.
--The University of Minnesota is preparing to honor 82 families as 2020 Farm Families of the Year including one family from Morrison County. Though COVID-19 has forced cancellation of the annual Minnesota Farmfest, where the awards are presented each August, this year’s honorees will be celebrated in an online video tribute. The recognition, led by University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel, will be available at 1pm on August 6th at mnfarmfamilies.CFANS.umn.edu. Honored families are chosen, one per county, by local University of Minnesota Extension committees based on their demonstrated commitment to their communities and to enhancing and supporting agriculture. Robert and Colleen Doucette's farm was homesteaded by Colleen’s grandparents. In 1958, Robert’s parents purchased the farm from them. Robert’s father continued dairy and crop farming until 1969. It was then that he put up his first turkey barn. He continued to milk cows and raise turkeys over the next four years and then sold his dairy cows and switched to beef cows. Robert’s father put up a second set of turkey barns in 1973. In 1983, Robert and Colleen were married and became part of the operation. Three years later, the families built a third set of turkey barns. Robert’s father retired in 1997. Robert and Colleen currently raise turkeys for Ferndale Market in Cannon Falls. The Doucettes receive about 20,000 male turkeys at a time. The birds are raised to 19 weeks and marketed. Robert runs the farm operation and Colleen provides valuable help with the birds, books and equipment. She also provides meals to the farm’s workers. Their son and his wife help on weekends. Robert has been a member of the Flensburg Volunteer Fire Department for 36 years, serving as the department’s secretary for most of that time. He has been part of the Culdrum Town Board for three decades. Robert serves on the Swanville First Response Team and for 24 years served part-time for the county ambulance service. Congratulations to the Doucette's. The U of M Extension has the full list on their website.
--St. Cloud may become the next city in Minnesota to implement an ordinance mandating face masks as an effort to stifle spread of the virus. St. Cloud City Council member George Hontos asked staff during the meeting Monday night to draft an emergency ordinance requiring people wear masks in public places. The council then voted 5-2 to place the topic on the agenda of the next meeting, which is scheduled for July 20th. If the motion passes the council on the 20th St Cloud may start a mask mandate almost immediately thereafter.
--Hunters who want to participate in the archery deer hunts at Camp Ripley near Little Falls will be able to purchase permits without entering their names in a lottery. Hunt permits will go on sale starting at noon on Friday, August 28th. The dates for this year’s event at Camp Ripley are October 15th and 16th and October 31st-November 1st. For 2020, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has changed the process and timeline to apply to the hunts due to the ongoing uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not having a lottery allows the hunt to be quickly canceled in the event such a decision would be necessary. In August, hunters will be able to find hunt rules and details about how to participate in the hunt on the DNR website. The DNR coordinates the hunt in collaboration with Central Lakes College Natural Resources Department, and the Department of Military Affairs, which manages the training area.
--There were no reports of any new deaths of COVID-19 in central Minnesota on Wednesday's latest report though there were 8 new deaths around the state and 463 new cases in Minnesota. Morrison, Todd, Mille Lacs, Cass. Benton, Crow Wing and Stearns reported 21 new cases (15 in Stearns alone) but no new deaths of COVID-19.
--Around 11:15am Tuesday a Semi-truck pulling a feed trailer overturned into the ditch at 185th Street and County Road 43 in Eden Lake Township of Stearns County. 37-year old Brian Luebke of New Germany was westbound on 185th Street driving a Mack semi-truck pulling a feed trailer. Luebke attempted to pull to the side of the road to conduct a walk around vehicle inspection when the rear of the trailer started going into the ditch. The semi-truck overturned into the ditch and landed on the driver’s side. Mr. Luebke was able to get himself out of the vehicle by climbing through the passenger window. Luebke was wearing his seat belt and sustained a few scrapes on his hands. He declined medical treatment.
--The Franciscan Sisters invite the public to stop over at the St. Francis Campus grounds on Wednesday, July 22nd from 5:30-6:30pm for a Parade of Blessings. The public is invited to drive through the campus, wave and greet the sisters and receive a special Franciscan blessing from the sisters. Participants should enter the parking lot on the northwest corner near Health & Wellness and follow the signs. Those who participate are expected to stay in their cars. There will be no interaction with the Sisters due to COVID-19 restrictions but this in an opportunity for the Sisters and the public to see each other in a parade style fashion that evening.
DEATH NOTICES
--Richard Atkinson, age 90 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= becoming mostly sunny, warm, high 86.
TONIGHT= clear night, cooler, low 59.
FRIDAY= sunny and less humid, high 81, low near 60.
SATURDAY= early morning storms, then sunny, high 82, low 64.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, high 83, low near 65 storms after midnight.
SPORTS
TWINS= listen to Game 6 of the 1987 World Series today following the noon news on Q92 WYRQ and online at fallsradio.com.
VL= Saturday listen to Buckman hosting the Pierz Bulldogs at 1:30 and then on Sunday another game Ft. Ripley hosts Nisswa. Two games this weekend both live on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.