NEWS
--A reminder to residential households in the community that the household Hazardous Waste Facility located at the Morrison County Solid Waste Management Facility will be closing on Monday, September 30th. Residents with household hazardous waste that they would like to dispose of this year should deliver it to the facility prior to that closing date. For more information please call the Morrison County Landfill at 632-1944.
--There will be a four day collection next week Monday-Thursday of Waste Pesticides from farmers other pesticide applicators, conducted by MC in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Properly dispose of your unwanted or unusable weed killers/ herbicides, insecticides, mice and rat poisons, fungicides and other pesticides. The first 300 pounds is free of charge. No crop oil, adjuvants, stickers, rinsate or other business waste will be accepted. Those wishing to participate in this collection must schedule an appointment for Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm during the collection week to deliver their unwanted pesticides by calling 320-632-1944.
--Nearly 700 soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard's St. Paul-based 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade will deploy in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. A departure ceremony will be held at 11:00am Friday at Grace Church, 9301 Eden Prairie Road in Eden Prairie. "Our soldiers are ready to deploy, well-trained, fully-equipped and highly-motivated," said Col. Gregory Fix, the brigade commander. "Several soldiers re-enlisted or extended to go on this deployment." The 34th ECAB will provide Army helicopter, Unmanned Aerial System, and fixed wing support to United States Armed Forces and Coalition Forces. They will fly UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache helicopters, Grey Eagle unmanned aircraft, and the fixed-wing C-12 Huron. The brigade is deploying as a multi state Army National Guard Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade including soldiers from units in Iowa, Ohio, Oklahoma, Nevada, New Hampshire, Michigan, Mississippi, and Montana. While deployed, the brigade will standup as an aviation task force comprised of Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve soldiers along with Coalition forces from Spain and Italy. Minnesota National Guard aviation units have had a total of 18 deployments over the past 18 years. The 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade was last deployed in 2014 to Kuwait.
--Deputies responded to a possible house fire early Wednesday at 3:19am a few miles north of Kimball. Occupants of the home, 54-year old Charles Nystrom and 55-year old Vickie Fosjord were asleep inside the residence when they heard a loud boom noise outside. They could smell smoke and believed the residence was struck by lightning. Kimball Fire and Rescue arrived on scene and did not locate any fires or hazards. It appeared the electrical box on the northeast corner of the residence was struck by lightning. There was a large hole blown through the siding on the north side of the residence. There were no injuries.
--Those interested in Girls Scouts are invited to a session at Lindbergh Elementary Tuesday at 5:30pm to learn how Girl Scouts offers the best leadership experience for girls, one that is designed with, by, and for girls. Girl Scout activities reach far beyond cookies, arts and crafts. Cub Scout Registration is scheduled for tonight at 6:30pm at the Mary of Lourdes School gym. Details beascout.org.
--On Monday the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force concluded an investigation where individuals were suspected of transporting controlled substances from Chicago IL, to St. Cloud metro area for distribution purposes. Investigators started purchasing methamphetamine and crack cocaine from 40-year old Tito Marquel Smith of Waite Park and 58-year old Wendell NMN Jones of St. Cloud. The investigation identified Smith, Jones and several other people that were suspected of driving to Chicago IL, purchasing controlled substances, and bringing them back to the St. Cloud metro area. Once back in the St. Cloud metro area, this group of individuals were suspected of distributing the controlled substances. On Monday investigators from the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task
Force located Smith and Jones driving in a vehicle in the St. Cloud area. Investigators stopped the vehicle and arrested both Jones and Smith. Investigators executed a search warrant on the vehicle they were driving and located 403 ecstasy pills, 29.5 grams of heroin, 70 grams of suspected fentanyl, which is a synthetic opioid, and a loaded 9mm hand gun. Investigators then executed 3 search warrants in St. Cloud and Waite Park relating to this investigation. During the search warrants two more handguns were located, one of which was stolen, along methamphetamine packaged for distribution. Both Jones and Smith were transported to Stearns County jail where they are being held on 1st degree sale of controlled substance and aggravated 1st degree possession of controlled substances with a firearm. This investigation continues and more arrests are expected.
--A North Dakota State University freshman from Sartell who was killed five years ago died of asphyxia. Authorities have said little about the September 2014 death of 18-year old Thomas Bearson, other than it was a homicide. Bearson's death certificate, which says he died of asphyxia meaning he was deprived of oxygen. Besides alcohol, two prescription medications were in Bearson's system, alprazolam, an anti-anxiety drug also known as Xanax, and temazepam, a sedative used to treat insomnia. Bearson was last seen at a party in Fargo. His body was later found at an RV dealership in Moorhead, Minnesota. Despite hundreds of tips, no arrests have been made. Moorhead Deputy Police Chief Tory Jacobson says the investigation remains active.
--The Greater MN two cylinder club will be hosting a tractor drive fund raiser for True Friends a camp for special needs kids and adults. The event will be leaving Anderson Custom processing at 10am this Saturday morning with registration starting at 9am. They will be going to Jordies Café in Bowlus for lunch via the river road. Cost is $20 per tractor and $5 per rider (people wagons provided for those who do not have tractors). For more info call Garrett at 360-7059.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, pleasant day, high near 80.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy skies, low near 60.
FRIDAY= becoming cloudy, PM storms develop, high 75, low 58.
SATURDAY= storms likely with heavy rains and wind, high 72, low 47.
SUNDAY= sunny and cooler, high 65, low around 45.
SPORTS
TWINS= White Sox beat Twins last night 3-1. Twins open final home season of regular season vs KC tonight at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS VB= Pierz at Little Falls in volleyball tonight 7pm on FM94 KFML
NFL= Jacksonville at Tennessee tonight at 7pm on AM960 KLTF.