NEWS
--Upsala Area Schools have announced their candidates for homecoming king and queen. King candidates are Carver McDermond, Michael Lange, Nathan Graves, Collin Prom and Raymond Kokett. Queen candidates include Laura Lange, Abby Ripplinger, Amber Biniek, Peyton Guthrie and Alison Harren. The Upsala Coronation will be at 2:00pm Sunday, September 22nd in the high school auditorium. The USA Patriots will face Parkers Prairie in their homecoming game on Friday, September 27th at 7:00pm in Swanville. Swanville has not yet announced their royalty.
--According to data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Morrison County had a 3.7% unemployment rate in July 2019. Here is how our other area counties fared for July unemployment rates: Benton 3.2%, Cass 4%, Crow Wing 3.3%, Mille Lacs 4%, Sherburne 3.1%, Stearns 3%, Todd 3.7%, Wadena 6.7%. The city of Brainerd was at 4% and St. Cloud was at 3.5%. The seasonally adjusted rates in July for the state unemployment average was 3.3% and the national rate was 3.7%.
--The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed what caused several deer to die in Stearns County. Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease or EHD has been found in wild white-tailed deer. It is a viral disease that is spread by a biting insect called a midge. Wildlife Research Manager Lou Cornicelli says all of our neighboring states have been dealing with EHD for years. The DNR suspects several deer in the St. Stephen area have recently died of EHD. Tests from two deer were positive while other deer were too decomposed to test. The disease first appeared in Minnesota captive deer in Houston county in October of last year. EHD is not a threat to humans or animals outside the deer family. Even so, you should not eat deer that appear to be sick. If you find a dead deer you should report it the nearest DNR area wildlife office.
--Two people face charges after authorities say they found a loaded handgun and alcohol inside a stolen vehicle following a traffic stop in Melrose. The incident happened just after 10:00pm Sunday at the intersection of Third Avenue Northwest and First Street Northwest. According to the criminal complaint Melrose police pulled the vehicle over after it drove over a curb and was missing the rear license plate. Officers approached the vehicle and found two people inside, the driver 20-year old Kayla Sibila and her passenger 24-year old Jose Rendon-Serrano both of Minneapolis. Officers say both appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. Sibila was asked to take a sobriety test, at which time she handed officers a vaping pen she said contained marijuana. The breathalyzer showed Sibila's blood-alcohol level at 0.19. Records show a second officer noticed Rendon-Serrano had an open container of Cognac by his seat and an empty beer can by his feet. A search of the vehicle also revealed a loaded 9mm handgun with the serial number removed, 55 live rounds of ammunition and the missing license plate, which officers say had been reported stolen from Brooklyn Park back in July. Both suspects were arrested at the scene. Rendon-Serrano's criminal history shows he's been convicted of a felony and can't have a gun or ammunition. He faces two felony counts of being a felon in possession of a gun. Sibila faces two gross misdemeanor charges of DWI.
--The Little Falls City Council meets Monday at 7:30pm at City Hall.
--Find out about the End of Summer Bash at Great River Arts this Saturday by checking out the Dark weeknights at 9pm on FM94.
--A Stearns County judge has sentenced a Cold Spring man to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to shooting and wounding a man who he believed stole money from him, beating another man with a crowbar and selling methamphetamine. 36-year old Timothy Prince pleaded guilty to 1st degree assault with a dangerous weapon, 2nd degree assault with a dangerous weapon and 1st degree drug sales in June. According to the criminal complaint, a man and his fiancee were in their vehicle in a St. Cloud parking lot March 11th when the shooting happened. Records show a car pulled up and Prince got out of the passenger side and approached the victim's vehicle with a gun. As Prince raised the gun and pulled the trigger, the victim said he raised his arm to block the bullet. The victim told police he was shot through the arm and the bullet went into his chest. He said Prince then said they better not tell anyone and left the scene. The victim was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery and doctors determined the bullet was too close to his heart to risk removing it. Once the man's condition was stabilized, he shared his story with police. The victim said he was at Prince's home when Prince was arrested for using a 2x4 board and a crowbar in a March 7th assault. Shortly after Prince's arrest, a large amount of cash went missing from Prince's home and Prince believed the victim took it. The shooting took place just 10 hours after Prince was released on bond for that March 7th assault.
--A tornado struck Sioux Falls, South Dakota early Wednesday morning causing heavy debris in the city limits. Classes were delayed, street crews were asking residents and motorists to stay away from the downtown until debris could be cleared. Sioux Falls Fire Chief Brad Goodroad said at an early morning news conference Wednesday that at least 37 structures in the city either collapsed or have structural issues. There are some reports of injuries but no fatalities.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Peter and Michaela Pfeffer of Randall, a girl born September 10th.
WEATHER
TODAY= showers and storms likely, windy, high 61.
TONIGHT= showers and storms likely 1-2 inches total by end, low 50
FRIDAY= cloudy and breezy, scattered showers, high 58, low 44.
SATURDAY= sunny AM, high 71, PM storms develop into the night.
SUNDAY= sunny and warmer, high 77, clear night, low 58.
SPORTS
TWINS= Washington get 5 runs early and hold on to beat Twins last night 6-2. Indians win so Twins lead is now 4 games in AL Central. The Twins will try (weather an issue) to wrap up series with Washington tonight at 6pm then travel to Cleveland for now an even more important 3 game series starting on Friday on Q92 WYRQ.
LYNX= Seattle eliminated the Minnesota Lynx in one game from the playoffs last night winning 84-74. The Lynx season is over while Seattle moves on to face Los Angeles in the next round of playoffs.
HS FB= Little Falls at Milaca Friday at 7pm on AM960 KLTF
HS FB= Rockford at Pierz tonight at 7pm on FM94 KFML.
NFL= Carolina vs. Tampa Bay tonight at 7pm on AM960 KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1959= TV's Bonanza aired their first episode on NBC TV.
IN 1966= TV's The Monkee's debuted on NBC TV.