NEWS
--Governor Tim Walz last night announced that the Stay at Home order will expire at 11:59pm Sunday then a Stay Safe order will go into effect on Monday May 18th. This means non critical businesses (small retail shops and stores, offices and other facilities may open with safety guidelines in place). However, bars, restaurants, hair salons, barber shops are asked not to reopen until June 1st and must have safety plans in place for their opening of business. The governor also stated he has signed an executive order stating that employees for those not feeling well have to give the right to stay home or work at home during the stay safe order and that businesses must give employees sick time or isolation time if they have been tested for COVID-19. Small gatherings of 10 people or less are again allowed beginning next week but large gatherings like graduations and church services are still being asked not to take place if they have more than 10 people and would have issues with social distancing guidelines.
--Morrison County Public Health reported between Tuesday and Wednesday another five residents have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Ages range from the 30s to the 60s and the number in Morrison County is now at 21 as of last night.
--Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen stated “In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Morrison County is fortunate to have men and women who protect and serve our residents 24/7. Our agency is thankful for our Deputies who wear the badge and encounter danger on a daily basis. National Police week is a time to honor and recognize our law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Morrison County will honor and always remember Sheriff John Stack and Chief Deputy Andrew Herlitz, who were shot and killed in the line of duty October 1965. Both paid the ultimate sacrifice for the residents of Morrison County. Thank you to all the men and women who wear the badge and protect our freedoms”.
--The Pierz City Council Monday night approved their progress and local income plan approval that allows for funds from the Small Cities Development fund grant to be utilized for Covid-19 relief. The council also passed their Covid-19 Business Assistance Program and Covid-19 Consumer Protection-Electric. Four different residential building permit applications were approved. Liquor Licenses were also approved for Lloyd's Discount Liquor, Bootleggers Bar, Patrick's Bar and Grill, Pierz Legion Ballpark and Pierz Golf Course. The 2019 Audit was approved as presented.
--A clarification from a story earlier this week. Steve Smith of St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls recently announced they have started drive up testing of COVID-19. The purpose of the testing is for symptomatic patients and to clear asymptomatic patients for surgeries. They are asking if you have symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, shakes or chills, headaches and fever first see your physician. The physician would then schedule your testing to stop through the drive up and you will be tested on site without leaving your vehicle. This is also a high safety feature to the keep the illness from staff and others in the facility. They continue to expand their testing at the hospital to meet the guidelines from the governor.
--Swanville School Principal Sheryl Johnson stated on KLTF Wednesday that their school will have a drive up style Graduation event on May 22nd at 8pm in the Swanville school parking lot.
--Minnesota Power reported a large outage in Little Falls and also one in near Rice this morning just before 2am this morning, power was out for hours in some areas. Minnesota Power reported at 5:15am that there were still some Little Falls residents without power and they should have the problems restored mid-morning at latest.
--The Minnesota Department of Health has released new modeling data related to COVID-19. Their projections include two scenarios, one having the Governor's Stay At Home order ending on May 18th and the other having it extended through May 31st. In both scenarios, the modeling numbers don't change a whole lot. Under the May 18th modeling they project the peak of the virus to hit by June 29th, with the estimated number of deaths by the end of May at about 1,441, and the number of deaths over a 12 month period at about 29,000. The top ICU period would have about 3,400 patients. Under the May 31st modeling they project the peak of the virus to hit by July 6th, with the estimated number of deaths by the end of May at about 1,388, and the number of deaths over a 12 month period at about 28,000. The top ICU period would have about 3,000 patients. As of the Minnesota Department of Health is reporting 638 deaths in the state due to coronavirus related illnesses. To hit those projections, Minnesota would have to average about 44 deaths a day through the end of May. Our largest one day total so far has been 30 deaths back on May 6th.
--A Sauk Centre man accused of shoplifting merchandise from a gas station now faces a felony charge of assaulting a Minnesota State Patrol Trooper. Sauk Centre Police were called to the Holiday store Sunday on a report of a shoplifter. The Minnesota State Patrol assisted and found 22-year-old Tristin Lene-Johnson just blocks away from the store. As troopers went to confront Lene-Johnson, court records show he began rummaging in his right jacket pocket before turning and advancing toward one of the officers. Three troopers went to restrain Lene-Johnson and he began flailing his arms in an effort to avoid being handcuffed. Court records show the troopers thought he may have a weapon and forcibly brought Lene-Johnson to the ground. He refused to give up his arms and was tased. Police say they found a knife in the jacket pocket. One of the officers suffered injuries to her knees and hands. Lene-Johnson is currently on probation for 4th-degree assault after threatening officers with a replica handgun last year.
--Two people from Paynesville were hurt in a rear-end crash Monday afternoon. The Minnesota State Patrol says the crash happened just before 1:30 p.m. on Highway 4 northwest of Paynesville. 60-year-old Theresa Herding was heading north on Highway 4 in Regal when she slowed to turn into a driveway. The patrol says an SUV driven by 17-year-old Amber Loch was also northbound and rear-ended Herding's vehicle. Both drivers were treated for non life threatening injuries. --Lakes Jam in Brainerd/Baxter announced Wednesday they are moving their country/rock event to August 6th through the 8th due to the recent restrictions on large gatherings, same lineup is expected.
WEATHER
TODAY= isolated showers & PM storms, some sun, warmer, high 71.
TONIGHT= shower or storm early, then clear, low 42.
FRIDAY= partly cloudy, breezy in PM hours, high 67, low 41.
SATURDAY= rain likely, high 64, rain likely at night, low 48.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, high 66, low around 38.
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