NEWS
--Camp Ripley Post Commander Colonel Scott St. Sauver reported in his annual and last briefing on Camp Ripley that residents will hear and see elements of training exercises with dense summer activity in June, July and August with heavy military traffic along Highway 371. St. Sauver stated that soldiers are deploying to Europe, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden this year after training is completed at Camp Ripley. Camp Ripley still continues to rebuild after last September's tornado tore through the facility damaging buildings which continue to be repaired. Camp Ripley is excited to host the The National Guard Best Warrior competition in July with national guard soldiers from all across the nation. September 17th is the date of the bienniel open house event at Camp Ripley from 10:00am-2:00pm. It will have a special meaning this year as St. Sauver announced he is retiring as Post Commander this year and there will be the official military change of command ceremony at 1:30pm that afternoon for the new post commander to take the reins. Also during the event there will be a Korean War Tribute. Camp Ripley covers nearly 53,000 acres. It is about 80 square miles and opened to the National Guard in 1931.
--Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen stated Wednesday that his office is happy to report that because of our local media outlets and the public’s help, they were able to identify the driver and vehicle in question from a break in at the 2 Tall Tavern in Scandia Valley Township Tuesday morning. Larsen states that this case is still under investigation and appreciate everyone’s help. If you did notice any suspicious activity in that area Tuesday morning, call 632-9233.
--Over 500 participants and volunteers will be on hand at the 2017 Walk to Cure Arthritis Saturday at the Paul Bunyan Trailhead in Baxter to help support the Arthritis Foundation and its mission to cure arthritis and make it easier for people living with the disease to achieve everyday victories. As the Arthritis Foundation’s signature, national fundraising event, the Walk to Cure Arthritis brings together communities to fight arthritis, the nation’s leading cause of disability, and is a great way to experience the power of giving back to your community. In the United States, more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children live with arthritis including 819,000 adults and 5,000 children in Minnesota. Costing the U.S. economy $156 billion dollars a year, arthritis affects one in five Americans and causes more activity limitation than heart disease, cancer or diabetes. The Northern Lakes Walk to Cure Arthritis will help those living with arthritis by supporting programs, research and advocacy initiatives as well as fund crucial research aimed at finding a cure for the disease. Register by calling (651) 229-5368.
--A school bus and car collided on 25th Avenue North of St. Cloud Tuesday afternoon just after 3:00pm. 30-year old Holli Henderson of St. Cloud was going east on 5th Street North when she failed to yield for the oncoming bus. There were 18 students on the bus along with the driver who all were not injured. Henderson was treated for minor injuries at the scene.
--A 16-year old from Garrison was injured Monday in Crow Wing County. Around 2:30pm, a pickup driven by 20-year old William Waytashek of Pierz collided with a passenger car driven by the 16 year old girl (whose name was not released), at the intersections of County Highways 8 and 26. Waytashek was not injured. The teen was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
--American flags will again be flying in Little Falls this summer and fall. The city crew will begin placing over 100 flags next week on the streets that serve the main entrance into the city of Little Falls before the Memorial Day weekend. The flags will remain up until Patriot Day on September 11th and weather permitting up again for Veterans Day on November 11th. This years flag theme is "Proud, Brave and Free". The city flag project is sponsored by the Sons of The American Legion, Squadron #46.
--St. Cloud police say their investigation is continuing into the whereabouts of an Annandale teen last seen Saturday at a home on Stearns County Road 120 in St. Cloud. A vehicle used by 17-year old Aaliyah Christine Kazimer was found in a Riverside Park parking lot. A bloodhound tracked her scent to the Mississippi River from the vehicle. On Tuesday afternoon the department issued a statement saying investigators are continuing to follow up on any leads regarding her location or her disappearance. The Sherburne County Sheriff's Office is helping with a search of the river. United Legacy, nonprofit search management organization based in Minnesota, has been helping the family with coordinating ground searches. Kazimer was last seen wearing a black button-up shirt and dark colored running shorts. She is described as Asian, 5-feet-2-inches tall, and weighing 120 pounds.
--Firefighters battled a house fire Wednesday in Merrifield. The fire was called in around 3:15pm. The homeowner was found by neighbors, on his back and side and was pulled from the burning home to safety. He was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries. The house was completely destroyed and it is believed there was an explosion which led to the fire but an official cause of the fire has not been determined and an investigation is ongoing.
--Shoppers at the Wadena Wal Mart got a shock Tuesday night when a deer was walking throught the aisles. Around 7:30pm, authorities were called about the deer in the store. A man was able to catch the deer and wrestle it to the ground by the dog food section. The deer was brought back outside and set free. No one, including the deer, was injured from the incident.
DEATH NOTICES
--Darlene C. Smieja, age 74 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= rain ending, becoming sunny, high 55.
TONIGHT= clear and cool, patchy frost toward morning, low 34.
FRIDAY= sunny early, PM showers develop, high 58, low 40.
SATURDAY= showers likley, 1 inch+ of rain, high 50, low 40.
SUNDAY= showers early, then sunny in afternoon, high near 60.
SPORTS
HS BAB= Albany at Little Falls today at 5pm on AM960 KLTF.
HS SB= softball playoffs begin Friday as Pierz will take on Sauk Centre in the first round, game at 4:30pm on FM94 KFML.
TWINS= Twins and Rockies rained out last night and will play 2 today. First game 11:30am pregame the second game has a 5:30pm pregame. Hear them both today on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= wide receiver Michael Floyd had his house arrest moved from Arizona to Minnesota so he can begin practicing with his new team. Floyd was signed by the Vikings last week to play this season.