NEWS
--The city of Motley will continue to have a police department. The Motley City Council voted 4-0 Monday to offer the position of interim police chief to former mayor and current Morrison County Sheriff’s Deputy Al Yoder at a rate of $37 an hour for 10 to 20 hours a week. Council member Brenda Borash abstained from voting on the matter. On Tuesday morning, Motley Mayor Mike Schmidt said that Yoder had accepted the position and plans to start by September 23rd. At the end of August, a special session of the Motley City Council accepted Motley Police Chief Jason Borash’s resignation effective September 22nd after the council accepted the resignation of Officer Cody Holtz during its June 12 meeting. On Monday, Holtz told the council he had resigned because of pay. The council voted to approve a one-time pay step increase along with a 4% cost of living increase for city employees. Though an interim chief has accepted the position, the city will still be continuing its search for a full-time chief and officer to fill the department, while also looking to fill the others. During Monday’s meeting, the council also accepted the resignation of Schmidt as mayor; Sarah Lenzen, the administrative and accounting assistant; and Darci Odden, the clerk and treasurer. Schmidt said he would no longer be legally allowed to be mayor as he would be moving out of city limits to be with family after his wife's passing in March due to cancer. It was not clear during Monday’s meeting why Lenzen or Odden had resigned. Council will now begin the steps of replacing those position at their coming meetings.
--The 38-year-old Sauk Centre man that is facing first-degree murder conspiracy charges in Todd County is now likely working to strike a deal in Todd County District Court. Robert Charles Thomas Sr. was arrested in April after allegedly trying twice to hire a hit man to kill a family member, and possibly going through with a payment two years ago. According to a criminal complaint filed against him in Todd County, Thomas had repeatedly expressed an interest in killing a family member, from whom he believed he might inherit substantial property and who allegedly had a romantic relationship with Thomas’ wife. The target was not identified in any other detail. An agent from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension met with Thomas in a grocery store parking lot in Long Prairie identifying himself as a potential killer-for-hire. The complaint says Thomas laid out his plan in detail, that was recorded on video as the two sat together in a vehicle. The undercover agent and Thomas shook hands on the deal and agreed to have the crime take place after Easter weekend. Thomas said he would sell off his inherited assets and give the killer $50,000. He was arrested days later at his work, after telling the agent there was no need to wait to carry out the killing and that he was sure he wanted it done. After his arrest, Thomas admitted to the plot. There is no details yet on the reported plea deal that was asked for September 6th only that the judge will take it under advisement.
--One person was injured in a two-vehicle accident Wednesday morning at 5:58am on Highway 23 at 60th Avenue in Mille Lacs County. 60-year-old Terry Paulsen and 63-year-old Ralph Orcutt were the drivers of the vehicles, no address were given on either. Paulsen was taken to Princeton Hospital for treatment of injuries.
--Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen wanted to congratulate retired Sentence to Serve Crew Leader Kim Lillemoe who was recognized Tuesday night by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as the Volunteer of the Year for her work at Crane Meadows.
--Camp Ripley will host its open house and groundbreaking for a new military museum Sunday. The camp will be opening its doors to the public from 10am to 2pm Sunday with a display of weapons and equipment, Humvee rides, a car show and vendors serving food and drinks. This year’s theme is “The sound of freedom.” Following the open house, a groundbreaking event for a new Minnesota Military Museum will be 2pm at Highway 115 and Haven Road, near the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery. The program will include featured speakers, special music, a Civil War-era cannon salute, and a working World War II bulldozer. Guided walking tours of the site will be available after the ceremony. The site is located on more than 30 acres just off Highway 371 and will offer easy access to the museum by the public, as it will not be located in the camp. Construction is set to begin in the spring of 2024, with completion expected in late 2025 and a grand opening in 2026. The state of Minnesota provided $32 million for the design and construction of the 40,000-square-foot facility. The museum's board of directors continues to raise private funds to outfit the facility with the galleries, classrooms and collections spaces befitting the service of our veterans.
--A bicyclist was struck by a motor vehicle Tuesday in Crosslake and flown to CentraCare-St. Cloud Hospital Emergency Trauma Center with life-threatening injuries. Crosslake police responded to the accident at 12:55pm on the 34000 block of County Road 3 after receiving a 911 call. First Responders and ambulance crew administered life-saving measures on the female bicyclist. The driver of the vehicle that struck the bicyclist remained on scene and cooperated with the investigation. The Crosslake Police Department was assisted by the Crosslake Fire Department, North Memorial Ambulance Service and the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office.
--The Friends of Linden Hill as hosting a Wine and Chocolate Walk fundraiser on September 23rd at Linden Hill from 1-4pm. Come enjoy the afternoon on the grounds of Linden Hill and taken in wines from different counties and gourmet chocolates. Tickets are $40 and available from any Friends of Linden Hill Board Member or at Linden Hill at 320-616-5580. Tickets are asked to be purchased for the event by September 18th.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny start, showers late in the day, high near 80.
TONIGHT= showers and thunderstorms, some storms could produce heavy rainfall in areas, low near 55.
FRIDAY= partly cloudy, shower & t-storm possible, high 75, low 51.
SATURDAY= cloudy, breezy and cooler, high 67, low near 46.
SUNDAY= sunny and pleasant, high near 70, low near 45.
SPORTS
TWINS= Rays score late to beat the Twins 5-4 on Wednesday afternoon, the Twins open a series at Chicago tonight against the White Sox, pregame at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= Vikings are at Philadelphia tonight on Thursday night Football, hear the action at 6:30pm on AM960 KLTF.
WNBA= Connecticut blows out the Lynx 90-60 in game 1 of playoffs last night, game 2 is Sunday afternoon in best of 3 series.
HS FB= Morris Area at Little Falls Friday 7pm on AM960 KLTF.
HS FB= Pierz at Minnewaska Area Friday 7pm on 94ROCKS.
WRAP= Saturday morning sports wrap 8:30am Saturday on KLTF.