NEWS
--Another area school reported Wednesday that they are closely watching the COVID-19 numbers in their school district. Superintendent of Royalton Schools Jon Phelps said that the numbers will play the major factor on if in class learning can continue. Right now the numbers that Phelps has heard are still low enough on the average to continue with in person learning, though some parents/students have decided to go with hybrid learning for now. Phelps said that busing and lunches have changed a bit to have less coming and going at the same time or lunch period, athletics and activities are more enclosed from other parts of the school due to state guidelines. Phelps is very grateful for all who helped get the school year going and is hoping that students/faculty and parents work together to keep safety first and keep the school year in classes this year in Royalton. If you have questions contact Superintendent Phelps at 584-4000.
--The State Patrol reported that a teenage driver was injured in Todd County Tuesday night around 7:45pm on Highway 71. A car driven by 17-year old Angel Tzerembo was going north when a pickup driven by 18-year old Christian Bearson of Melrose was traveling south when it tried to pass another vehicle and collided with Tzerembo's vehicle near Long Prairie. Tzerembo was taken to Long Prairie Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Bearson was not hurt.
--The Minnesota State Patrol reported a Wadena woman was injured in a two vehicle accident Wednesday in Otter Tail County. At 6:58am Kristian Poplin of Wadena was heading north on County Road 75 turning west onto Highway 10 when the vehicle was struck by a vehicle travelling east on Highway 10. The second vehicle was driven by 31-year old Aaron Burgener who was not hurt. Poplin suffered non life threatening injuries and was treated at Tri County Hospital.
--A Waite Park man is accused of providing methamphetamine to two 14-year old girls and sexually assaulting one of them. Stearns County prosecutors have charged 49-year old Dale Lehman with felony 4th degree criminal sexual conduct. According to the criminal complaint, Lehman went over to the girls' Waite Park home one day last week and asked them if they wanted to smoke marijuana with him. The girls went to Lehman's home nearby and were allegedly presented with a tray of methamphetamine. Court records show the girls ingested the drugs at Lehman's home and again when they went back to the girls' residence. Lehman and one of the girls allegedly then went into a bedroom where Lehman is accused of running his hands up the girl's leg and over her private parts. The other girl told police she also witnessed the sexual contact.
--You may have noticed a wheel chair riding through Little Falls Wednesday afternoon. Little Falls Radio was notified that between 2-3pm yesterday Kevin Richard Shores is riding his wheelchair from Moorhead where he started September 9th to the State Captiol in St. Paul to raise awareness about Gulf War Illness Syndrome which he lives with. His original ride was to be in May but due to an accident he started this month after going through rehabilitation. He is asking the government to work more on solutions to the health of thousands of veterans like himself that are dealing with serious illness and issues and feel they are being left out of adequate compenstation and healthcare for their service. If you wish to find out more about his ride to St. Paul and how you help get the word on his overall vision on things, go to the website www.roll4.us.com.
--According to the State Department of Health website on COVID-19 tracking there were 513 new positive tests and 7 new deaths linked to the virus. There were four new cases in Morrison County with a cumulative total of 181 since testing began. There were 60 new cases in Morrison County in the past 14 days of data on the website.
--A person connected with Pleasantview Elementary in the Sauk Rapids-Rice school district has tested positive for COVID-19. Superintendent Brad Bergstrom Wednesday confirmed the positive case. Bergstrom wouldn’t comment on whether the infected individual is a student or staff member. “We can’t get very specific with that information due to (the individual’s) privacy,” he explained. “Part of that is just to make sure people are being protected. COVID-19 has a lot of emotions for people, and everyone wants to make sure that we’re doing things to make sure peoples’ rights are being protected.” Pleasantview will remain open and no changes will be made to daily operations at this time, Bergstrom said. The Sauk Rapids-Rice district will continue to take direction from county and state health officials on how to communicate information on any future positive COVID-19 cases.
--The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment on two draft Compatibility Determinations (CD) for renewal of external research by third parties and timber harvest at Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Research, scientific collecting and surveys by third parties typically involves surveys and inventories of plant, wildlife or cultural resources. Timber harvest includes both commercial and non-commercial harvest, which typically involves the removal of standing or fallen trees for the purposes of hazard fuel reduction for wildfires and habitat management. These are not wildlife-dependent uses and were previously evaluated and are considered continuing uses on the refuge. For more information, reference the draft Compatibility Determinations. Copies of the draft Compatibility Determination are available on the refuge website at fws.gov/refuge/crane_meadows, or copies can be obtained by emailing cranemeadows@fws.gov or calling 763-244-0208 to request a digital or mailed copy. Written comments on the draft Compatibility Determinations will be accepted through September 30, 2020.
DEATH NOTICES
--Lois Novotny, age 72 of Freedhem.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny and cool today, high 57, cloudy skies tonight, low 40.
FRIDAY= becoming partly cloudy, high 61, clear night, low near 40.
SATURDAY= sunny and warmer, high 68, clear night, low near 48.
SUNDAY= sunny and windy, high 75, storms late night, low 51.
SPORTS
BIG 10= The Big 10 voted to approve an 8 game schedule for Big 10 football this year starting on Saturday, October 24th. Daily testing for practices will begin on September 30th. If they test positive they would not be able to play or practice with the team for 21 days after the positive test is announced. The season will then end with the Big 10 Championship game slated for around December 19th. Which means for right now Gopher Football back next month.
TWINS= Twins get 3 homers Wednesday and beat the White Sox last night 5-1. Twins at Chicago White Sox for the final of the 4 game series today, pregame at 12:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.