NEWS
--Pierz City Council met on Monday night. At the meeting the council approved the preliminary budget. The council in Pierz separates the revenues from expenditures. Revenues for next year were set at $3,956,122 while preliminary expenditures for 2023 were set at $3,685,038 up $38,546 from 2022 expenditures. The preliminary levy had an increase of 3% ($10,390) for a total of $356,734. Half of the increase goes to the general fund and half to the fire fund. The Truth in Taxation meeting in Pierz where the budget and levy are finalized will be on December 12th. Remember, preliminary numbers can be lowered but never raised on finalized numbers. Also at the meeting Monday in Pierz the council approved the engineer to design and create bidding documents for 2024 street and utility improvements. Before the engineer begins his work Rich Prairie Sewer and Water District will need to approve the project to go to design too. Projects the city is looking at include: Vincent Street from 3rd Ave North to 1st Avenue North; and all of Cassie Alley; Summer Street South; 1st Avenue SW; 1st Avenue NE and Peter Avenue. Work is continuing with shaping fairways and irrigation installation will begin this fall for Pierz Park Complex Expansion (Golf Course). The Pierz Fire Department is looking to hire firefighters. If interested you can call Pierz City Hall at 468-6471 or applications are available online and at Pierz City Hall. There was no one that filed for the Pierz City Treasurer Position so it will be on the November ballot as a write in position. Anther note to the resident of Pierz, at Monday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Dave Fischer said he had been approached by a resident and City Administrator Bob Otremba had also received a call about a text survey going around. The text says a company is conducting a short survey on issues for Pierz and then has a link for the receiver to click.
Fischer said it is nothing the city has authorized and is probably a scam. He recommended not clicking on the link and thanks residents for bringing it to the city’s attention. If residents have questions, they may call City Hall at (320) 468-6471.
--Friends and family of Conner Erickson took to social media with thoughts and prayers for him following a head injury during Brainerd High School’s football game Friday night against Moorhead. Conner Erickson is a senior linebacker and captain on the Brainerd High School football team. There was not one specific play or hit that seemed to cause the injury. Conner Erickson was on the sideline during the second half of the game when the incident occurred. Play stopped for about five or 10 minutes, during which he was wheeled on a stretcher into the back of a waiting ambulance parked on the sidelines of the field. There are a lot of unknown factors about what caused Erickson’s injury, but his family set up a GoFundMe and a Caring Bridge page for updates and donations. An update on the high school senior’s Caring Bridge page also mentioned that in order to relieve the pressure on his brain, he had a piece of his skull, about the size of a hand, removed from the left side of his head.
--A Cass County man wanted on several felony charges was arrested in St. Cloud last week. On September 6th, authorities with the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task force were informed 30-year-old Jacob Andrew Young was in St. Cloud. Young was wanted for 20 felony level charges ranging from weapons charges to drug violations. St. Cloud police stopped Young's vehicle and arrested him. Authorities used a search warrant on the vehicle Young was driving and found a loaded handgun. Young is prohibited from having a gun due to previous convictions.
--A Royalton man was one of two people injured Tuesday, in a three-vehicle accident in southeastern Minnesota. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, 46-year-old Jeremiah Peter Dingmann of Royalton, sustained non-life threatening injuries in a crash that occurred in Olmsted County. The State Patrol said about 8:38am Tuesday, the accident occurred near the intersection of U.S. Highway 14 and Olmsted County Road 3, on the eastern edge of Byron about three miles west of Rochester. According to the report, David Michael Gerber, 45, Decorah, Iowa, was westbound on Highway 14 in a 2022 Ford pickup truck. Ryan James Biesemeier, 29, Faribault, was turning south onto Olmsted County Road 3 in a 2019 Dodge Ram pickup. The two trucks collided at the intersection. Dingmann, who was driving a 2023 Kenworth Semi Truck and Trailer, did not have his involvement in the crash listed in the narrative portion of the report. Dingmann sustained non-life threatening injuries, as a result of the crash, according to the State Patrol. Gerber also had minor injuries, while Biesemeier was not hurt. All three drivers were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash, and the airbags deployed in the two pickups, but not in Dingmann’s semi.
--The Royalton Lions Club, Royalton Education Minnesota and Royalton Community Education invite you to a Meet the Candidates Forum on October 17th at 7pm at the Royalton High School/Middle School Cafetorium. Each candidate will have a time limit and questions will be taken from the audience. If you wish to take part in the event as a candidate or as an audience member with questions, you can reach out to moderator Doug Luepke at 320-584-5957. Candidates are ask to verify your attendance by October 7th.
--Albany Pioneer Days and Threshing Show has their 48th event starting today and going through Sunday. Again this year it is a four day event. Featuring Ford Tractors and memorabilia. Flea Market, Wild West Show, Garden Tractor Pull, music all four days, church services, contests, raffles and much more all four days. Listen to AM960 KLTF Party Line that will be live today at 10:05am from Albany for start of the Pioneer Days and Threshing Show for 2022.
DEATH NOTICES
--Arthur Sylvester Lucking, age 75 of Big Lake originally of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= isolated AM shower, then sunny and warm, high 85, later in the day showers & storms redevelop into the evening.
TONIGHT= showers & storms likely, some heavy, low 62.
FRIDAY= showers & storms likely, some heavy early, high 72, low 57.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, PM showers, high 73, low around 50.
SUNDAY= AM showers then sunny, high 74, low around 55.
SPORTS
TWINS= Sonny Gray shuts down the Royals last night as the Twins win 4-0. The Twins wrap up with Kansas City tonight at 6pm, then open a five games in four day series with first place Cleveland in Ohio. Pregame tonight is at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1620= The Mayflower with Pilgrims leaves England for new world.
IN 1904= Orville and Wilbur Wright make first airplane flight.
IN 1949= “The Lone Ranger” debuts on ABC TV.
IN 1985= first Farm Aid Concert is held by Willie Nelson and John Cougar Mellencamp to help donate to American Farmers.