NEWS
--The Crow Wing County Board of Commissioners voted to allow the sale of beer year round at fairgrounds. The Crow Wing County Fair will offer beer for consumption after the county's long standing prohibition of alcohol sales did not make it an easy decision on the commissioners to vote it in on May 28th. The first county fair was in Brainerd on Oct. 5, 1872, and was periodically in Brainerd, Pequot Lakes and Crosby before settling in Lum Park in Brainerd in 1937 and later moving to land along 13th Street in Crow Wing Township in 1962. The board voted last year to restrict beer sales during the fair—keeping it one of the last dry fairs in the state—and for the fourth time in four years the county board rejected the fair board's plea to permit the sale of 3.2 percent beer on fairgrounds during the week of the county fair. The fair is hoping that with the sell of alcohol it will help in the uptick in revenue. Sheriff Scott Goddard said he was concerned about the volume of traffic, pedestrian and motor vehicles in front of the fairgrounds and how that might be impacted by those who are impaired. Goddard stated that his office and local police will monitor the fairgrounds during the county fair that begins July 30th and runs through August 3rd.
--More than 30 mailboxes vandalized Monday night in Luxemburg & Eden Lake Townships. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office has taken numerous reports of damaged mailboxes in the Eden Valley area. While deputies were responding to these reports, they located more damaged mailboxes that have not been reported. Citizens reported a truck with loud exhaust was in the area when the vandalism occurred. If you have any information about who may be responsible for the damage, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 320-251-4240. If your mailbox has been recently damaged again contact their office.
--A car versus deer results in one being injured. Stearns County deputies responded to a car versus deer crash on Saturday evening on County Road 17 near the intersection or 443rd Street in Sauk Centre Township. Steven Twist, 60, of Long Prairie was driving a 2018 Ford Escape southbound on County Road 17 when he struck a deer. The Escape’s airbags deployed injuring his passenger, Doralee Twist, 57, of Long Prairie. Doralee was transported to the Sauk Centre Hospital for treatment of her non-life-threatening injuries.
--A Minneapolis man faces aggravated robbery and weapons charges after a St. Cloud man said he was robbed of his cell phone. The robbery happened back on May 21st. The victim told police he was sitting in his car in the parking lot behind New York Gyro at 850 University Drive when a man pulled his car up behind him and blocked him in. According to the criminal complaint, 22-year-old Abdimalik Hassan Abi walked up to the driver's side window with brass knuckles in hand and a handgun in his waistband. The victim said Abi demanded his cellphone and the code to unlock it. After the man turned over the phone, Abi left the scene. Police spotted Abi's car the following afternoon and made a traffic stop. Inside Abi's car, police say they found the victim's cellphone, brass knuckles, and 9mm ammunition. Abi is charged with 1st and 2nd-degree aggravated robbery and two counts of illegally having a gun or ammunition. Abi is prohibited from having any weapons or ammunition as a result of a 2017 conviction for a crime of violence in Hennepin County.
--Little Falls Dam Festival June 14th-15th details at fallsradio.com.
--Cities and counties in Minnesota will be getting more money from the state next year, thanks to an increase in funding for Local Government Aid. The LGA funding levels have been returned to what they were 18 years ago. The legislature that just finished did finally take the total amount of LGA statewide back to what it was in 2002. Local city councils and county board will look over what they will receive and put it into their budgets and general funds for 2020.
--Governor Tim Walz sent a letter to the President requesting a Presidential Disaster Declaration for 51 counties and four tribal governments in Minnesota. From March 12 to April 28, major flooding, blizzard conditions and gale force winds combined to cause nearly $40 million dollars in infrastructure damage across the state. If granted by the President, the federal disaster declaration requested by Governor Walz would provide needed public assistance to reimburse communities for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and repair and replacement of damaged infrastructure. The damages, as assessed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, in partnership with tribal and county emergency managers, totaled $39,257,773 – well above the $8 million threshold required for a federal declaration. If the President declares a major disaster, FEMA would fund 75 percent of approved costs, and the State of Minnesota would pay the remaining 25 percent.
--Little Falls Community Schools announced they will be offering free breakfast and lunch this summer. All students ages 18 and under can enjoy free breakfast 7:30-8:30am at the Community Middle School and a free lunch from 11-12:30 Monday through Thursdays at the middle school, Lincoln and Dr. S.G. Knight Elementary. No registration is required and again the breakfast and lunch are free of charge.
--The Great River Regional Library system has announced a major policy change when it comes to collecting overdue fines. Beginning Monday children's and young adult materials will no longer collect overdue late fees. This includes books, DVDs, CDs, and more. The library says they still want you to bring the materials back, so overdue notices will still be sent after 10 days. Permanently lost or damaged items will still be your responsibility.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
--Farentine Smith and Alexandra Tyler of Brainerd, a boy born 5-27.
--Aaron Lodermeier and Emily Kroll of Little Falls, a girl born 5-28.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly sunny skies, high 82.
TONIGHT= isolated shower early, otherwise clearing skies, low 56.
FRIDAY= sunny and warm, thunderstorms by late day, high 84.
SATURDAY= sunny and cooler, high near 70, low 48.
SUNDAY= partly sunny and breezy, high 66, low 44.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins (37-17) travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Rays tonight with pregame at 5:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS BAB= Little Falls beat Bemidji, Pierz came from behind to beat Annandale. Little Falls, Pierz, Royalton, Foley and Upsala/Swanville are all still in action today in playoffs. Little Falls plays Alexandria scheduled for 6pm on AM960 KLTF and Pierz plays St. Cloud Cathedral at around 7pm tonight on FM94 KFML.