NEWS
--Governor Tim Walz signed H.F. 5 into law, a bipartisan bill that will aid Minnesota’s economic recovery by providing $62.5 million in grants for small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Eligible businesses with 50 or fewer employees can apply for grants of up to $10,000. Half of the funding will go to Greater Minnesota businesses, at least $10 million to go to minority-owned businesses, $2.5 million will go to veteran-owned businesses, $2.5 million will go to women-owned businesses, and $2.5 million will support cultural malls. The bill includes $60 million from the federal CARES Act, and $2.5 million from DEED’s Emergency Loan Program. More information, including grant applications, will be available in the coming weeks at https://mn.gov/deed/. Area cities have been working on grants/loans for their respected cities over the past 2 months to help small businesses that were closed up at the time and for most are reopening for public consumers once again.
--A 20-year-old St. Cloud woman is charged in the break-in and looting of the Southtown Liquor store early Tuesday morning. Police officers responded to the area of 9th Avenue South and University Drive South around 10:00pm on reports of gunshots. When officers arrived, the liquor store had been broken into and was being looted. Court records show two officers saw Ca'Laya Smith leaving the south St. Cloud store with alcohol. Police say several people were running in and out of the store when they arrived and more arrests are possible. Smith is charged in Stearns County District Court with one felony count of 3rd degree burglary.
--The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) anticipates awarding up to $124,000 through two new Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) mini-grants to respond to the disruptions COVID-19 has caused in traditional Farm to School markets. Grants are intended for school districts to begin, diversify, and expand purchasing from Minnesota producers during the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily during the summer and fall 2020. School districts may apply for $1,000 to $5,000 and there is no match required. AGRI Farm to School Rapid Response for Food Vendors – Grants are intended to support equipment purchases for food vendors that will help them to meet the product needs of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Agricultural producers (farmers, ranchers, agricultural cooperatives), restaurants, processors, food hubs, food distributors, and food service management companies are eligible to apply. Food vendors may apply for $1,000 to $5,000 and there is a 1:1 match requirement. School closures due to COVID-19 have led to many changes for food service departments and the farmers who sell into wholesale markets, while also highlighting the value of strong local food connections. Applications for both mini-grants will be reviewed twice monthly through August 12, 2020, or until funds run out. Funding will be prioritized to support Minnesota’s Emerging Farmers, including Black, Indigenous, Farmers of Color, beginning farmers, women, and veterans. To apply as a school, visit www.mda.state.mn.us and click on the f2srapidresponseschools link.
--Pierz Grad Bash is hosting an alcohol/drug free event for the Pierz Class of 2020 on June 24 from 5-9pm at the Genola Horseshoe Arena. Which will include a hypnotist at 7pm.
--A reminder from the Little Falls Dam Festival committee that even though all the events are cancelled this year, they will have the Dam Festival Raffle drawing on Saturday at 6pm at Maple Island Park.
--On the Morrison County Sheriffs Office page Wednesday an update from an earlier theft showed the dump trailer reportedly stolen was located behind the Orthopedic Center in Little Falls, however the Ditch Witch is still missing. If you have any information regarding the missing Ditch Witch please call the Morrison County Sheriff's Office at (320) 632-9233. The Sheriff's Office wants to thank everyone involved in locating the dump trailer.
--Latest numbers from Minnesota Department of Health, 412 new cases yesterday with 12 more deaths linked to COVID-19. Of the 31,296 cases, over 27,000 are no longer in isolation. Those by age the numbers are highest between the ages of 30-50 through over 1,100 of the 1,325 reported deaths linked to COVID-19 are over the age of 70. Morrison County remains at 54 positive cases, 1 death.
--Summer starts Saturday but the season really is in full swing already for outdoor fun events across the state and locally even with COVID-19 restrictions. The Department of Natural Resources is seeing a large uptick on boating, camping, ATV's and other off road vehicles being used and remind those to be watchful for others, follow the laws when operating boats and vehicles, follow guidelines and restrictions that were placed by the Department of Health and other boards at campsites, be aware of using campfires where vegetation is dry so not to start wildfires (some counties may still have some items of burning restrictions), watch for animals as local enforcement has stated, bear has been spotted in many parts of Morrison, Crow Wing, Benton and Stearns County in the previous week, deer have also been moving and there has been a number of car/deer accidents in the previous days also. For the latest information from the DNR on what you can do to enjoy this time of year with your family go to the DNR website for info.
--Central Lakes College in Brainerd is the latest college to announce they plan to reopen to students for the fall semester. Classes will resume at CLC beginning on August 24th.
--The Pierz Area Commercial Club announced that plans are in place for the Rock Roll and Stroll event Thursday July 2nd from 5-8pm. They had to cancel the June event but stated that the July, August and September events are scheduled the first Thursday of the month.
--The City of Pierz has moved their mosquito spraying to tonight. It was scheduled for Wednesday but now will be tonight in Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= showers and thunderstorms likely, high near 80.
TONIGHT= showers & storms before midnight, clearing, low 55.
FRIDAY= sunny, less humid, high 76, clear night, low 53.
SATURDAY= partly sunny, PM storms develop, high 80, low 60.
SUNDAY= cloudy with thunderstorms possible, high 76, low 57.
SPORTS
TWINS= there will be a classic Twins game from 2015 today starting after the noon news on Q92 WYRQ and fallsradio.com.
VL= Victory League Baseball is back with games scheduled Friday, Saturday and Sunday at fields across the area. The AM960 KLTF Game of the Week returns this Sunday with a double-header from Pierz Legion Park. The first game is Royalton at Pierz Bulldogs at 1:30pm followed by the Buckman Billygoats at the Pierz Lakers scheduled for 4pm Sunday (or 30 minutes after the first game) both played in Pierz. Paul Froncak is back to call the action of the Victory League live this Sunday on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.