NEWS
--Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen reports that charges are pending against 39-year-old Dustin Watkins of Little Falls for his involvement in an armed robbery at The Cave Bar and Grill located at the intersection of Highway 27 and 370th Avenue, approximately four miles north of Hillman in Richardson Township. At 12:18am Tuesday the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an armed robbery at the bar. The suspect entered the business wearing a scarf around his neck, holding what appeared to be a black rifle. He demanded money from E-tabs and the cash register, then left in a silver Ford truck. Deputies responded and learned that the suspect vehicle left east on Highway 27 towards Onamia. Mille Lacs County deputies located the vehicle and detained Watkins. Watkins was placed under arrest for the armed robbery and evidence associated to the robbery was located. Watkins was transported to the Morrison County Jail where he is awaiting formal charges. This case is still being investigated and the public is asked to contact the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office at 320-632-9233 with any information.
--The last day of the candidate filing period for those that have a primary in August saw a number of last minute filers for seats. Republican Harry Robb Welty filed Tuesday to challenge incumbent GOP Congressman Pete Stauber in the 8th Congressional District, meaning a primary election will occur on both sides of the aisle. In the US 7th District House seat Michelle Fischbach is running unopposed on the Republican side while Jill Abahsain and Alicia Gruenhagen are running on the DFL side. Two DFLers Suzanne M. Cekalla and Brent Krist filed in Senate District 10 which now will include Morrison County. Nancy Fetzek filed as a DFL candidate in House District 10A which includes Little Falls and areas north and east while Hunter Froelich seeks the House District 10B seat as a DFLer which will be southern Morrsion County and areas south and east. Robert “Bobby” Kasper filed Tuesday to run against incumbent Mike Wilson in Morrison County Commissioner District 4. Again Tuesday was the final day for filings of seats with primaries. Non primary seats including local city councils and school boards around Morrison County begin filings August 2nd.
--The National Weather Service has confirmed a number of tornadoes touched down in Minnesota on Memorial Day. They say the tornado in Forada was an EF-2 with wind speeds of 120 miles an hour. It was also at least a half-mile wide. In Eagle Bend in Todd County that was an EF-1 tornado with 95 mile an hour winds. They have also confirmed a long track of tornado damage between Appleton and Glenwood stretching four counties with maximum wind speeds of 100 miles an hour. In Plato in McLeod County that was an EF-1 tornado with 90 mile an hour winds. The storm damage assessment teams from the National Weather Service will be out again Wednesday as they continue to survey the storm damage.
--County Fairs will be back in full force this year for the summer. In Central Minnesota there will be Motley June Fest (at the Motley Fairgrounds) June 17-19. Others then will include fairs in Cass County in Pine River June 23-26, Cass County Fair in Pillager July 7-9, Todd County will be July 14-17, Morrison County July 21-23, Stearns County will be July 27-31, Crow Wing County Fair will be August 2-6, Benton County will be August 2-7, Mille Lacs will be August 10-13 and Minnesota State Fair begins August 25th through Labor Day.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce June Employee of the Month is Kim Tretter with the Franscican Sisters of Little Falls.
--The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and local emergency responders responded to several ATV crash incidents resulting in serious injuries over the Memorial Day Weekend. On Sunday at 6:11pm the sheriff’s office received a report of an ATV crash with injury in Bull Moose Township, rural Backus. Deputies and first responders arrived on scene and learned that a male, 56, of Sleepy Eye, was operating a 2011 Polaris ATV when he lost control leaving the roadway and rolling the machine into a ditch, where it partially filled with water. The man was treated on scene and transferred to a helicopter and transported to a Fargo hospital with serious injuries. On Sunday at 6:05pm the sheriff’s office received a report of an ATV crash with injuries in Woodrow Township, rural Hackensack. Deputies and first responders arrived on scene and learned that a female, 42, of Shakopee, was operating a 2005 Bombardier ATV in a yard at a residence with a 3-year-old male passenger. When the operator accelerated the ATV, it struck a tree and and bounced off other trees, causing both the operator and passenger to be thrown from the machine. Both riders, whose names were not released, were treated on scene for serious injuries and transported via helicopters to Twin Cities area hospitals. On Saturday at 10:09am the sheriff’s office received a report of an ATV crash with serious injury in Rogers Township, rural Boy River. Deputies and first responders arrived on scene and learned that a juvenile male, 15, of Little Canada, was operating a 2000 Honda TRX ATV when he lost control and left a roadway striking multiple trees. Medical care was provided on scene and the boy, whose name was not released, was later transported via ambulance to a medical helicopter and transported to a Twin Cities area hospital for serious injuries. Sheriff Burch reports that the patient was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash and speed does appear to be a factor.
--Little Falls Community High School wants to congratulate Malae Nolan, Jonah Olson and Korrin Gwost who were selected into the Minnesota All-State Symphonic Band and Minnesota All-State Orchestra. These three students will attend a summer camp in August at St. Ben's or at Concordia, Moorhead.
DEATH NOTICES
--Raymond Waddell, age 82 of Park Rapids.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, windy, high 70, clear night, cool, low near 40.
FRIDAY= partly cloudy, high 67, rain after midnight, low 47.
SATURDAY= rain in morning, then partial sun, high 70, low near 50.
SUNDAY= partly sunny, breezy, isolated showers, high 67, low 47.
SPORTS
TWINS= Detroit beat Twins 5-0 Wednesday. The Twins finish series with Tigers today, pregame is at 11:30am on Q92 WYRQ.
HS SB= Little Falls vs. Rocori for the Section 8AAA Championship from St. Benedict's College today at 4pm after Twins on Q92 WYRQ.
HS SB= Pierz eliminated Holdingford 10-9 last night but then Pequot Lakes eliminated Pierz in softball playoffs 3-1.
HS BAB= Little Falls vs. Detroit Lakes in elimination baseball game is at 2:30pm on AM960 KLTF. Pierz beat Melrose 10-9 last night and will continue in baseball playoffs tonight at 7pm against Wadena-Deer Creek on 94ROCKS KFML. Win or lose Pierz plays again Monday.
HS= Upsala softball is one win again from the state tournament in action today, USA baseball also in playoff action today against BBE.
94ROCKS Kickoff to Summer Bash is Saturday at Silver Bullet in Genola, listen to 94ROCKS for more details.