NEWS
--There is a special event happening this Saturday at the Charles Lindbergh House and Museum in Little Falls. They are celebrating their 50th anniversary on Saturday from 10am-4pm. Site Manager Kayla Stielow says Charles Lindbergh's parents married and settled on the land along the Mississippi River in 1901. Their first home was destroyed in a fire and the one that exists today is their second family home built in 1906. Charles lived there until the age of 19. Charles then became one of the most famous men in the world in 1927 after his successful first solo transatlantic flight. Stielow says the vacant home then started getting a lot of attention. Because he was such a big celebrity, and the house was sitting empty, people started to come to the site to see it and they also started to destroy the house and steal things out of it. She says the city of Little Falls petitioned for the property to become a park. In 1931 the Lindbergh family granted that wish and donated the 110 acres to the state which was run by the Department of Natural Resources. Then in 1973 they opened the museum and home for visitors.
--The Brainerd Fire Department conducted annual aircraft rescue firefighting training Monday at the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport. A few dozen Brainerd and airport firefighters went through the annual recertification training. The Brainerd Fire Department is the backup department to the six aircraft rescue and firefighting firefighters who work at the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport. The airport is in Brainerd's coverage area but has its own fire department. The training included put out a large fire on an aircraft so if you noticed the flames and fire department at the airport on Monday that was a training exercise for the Brainerd Fire Department.
--The DNR and Conservation officers reported that many had fantastic success for waterfowl hunters on last Saturday’s opening day of duck season. Some of the biggest areas for ducks caught were from Grand Rapids into Aitkin and Mille Lacs County with nearly everyone getting at least three ducks on opener morning. The wet conditions did cause duck hunting to be down in the Duluth and Northeast region. Statewide, some areas saw some of their best duck hunting over the past 20 years.
--More than 200 Minnesota schools and thousands of students are expected to participate in Walk and Bike to School Day on Wednesday, October 4th according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The annual event, sponsored by Minnesota Safe Routes to School, encourages students and parents to try out a new, healthy habit that increases their physical activity, reduces traffic congestion and strengthens connections between families, schools and communities. Schools can join in Minnesota’s Walk and Bike to School Day photo contest by submitting photos on the MnSRTS Facebook page with the hashtag #mnwalks. Even families who live far from school and typically ride the school bus or take a family vehicle, can participate through a “bus stop and walk” event. Participating schools designate a drop-off location within a half-mile from the school and volunteers help supervise the walk and assist with crossing streets. Walk and Bike to School Day also encourages parents and community members to begin thinking about assessing and improving the walkability and bikeability of their neighborhoods, because children often walk to community destinations.
--The Little Falls City Council will hold their next meeting on Monday, October 2nd at 7:30pm at City Hall Council Chambers.
--Come join us and volunteer for the Camp Ripley Environmental Habitat Day this Saturday, September 30th. The Camp Ripley environmental team will be working together with GreatRiver Greening to plant native shrubs to improve wildlife habitats and they're looking for volunteers of all ages and backgrounds to help out to come and plant native shrubs in a meadow to enhance habitat, learn more on planting, mulching, watering and placing cages to protect from deer. Volunteers of all ages on hand, very family friendly event, 9am-12pm at the Ruffed Grouse Management Center this is on Dove Road near Randall. Details on Camp Ripley Facebook page.
--St. Cloud Police are investigating the discovery of a man's body in a parking lot. Officers got a call at 8:30 Monday morning about a person who was found in a parking lot at 4161 2nd Street South. Police arrived on the scene where they identified the man as a 68-year-old Rice resident. There were no signs of trauma and the initial investigation does not indicate any foul play. The man's cause of death remains under investigation and his name has not been released at this time as the investigation continues.
--Two Kent Precision Food Groups facilities, one in Foley and another in Sauk Rapids, are closing their doors. More than 60 employees will lose their jobs. The State Rapid Response Team received a letter from the company informing the organization of permanent closures and the layoff of approximately 62 staff members in those locations, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. The company is considering options for the facility not limited to a sale of the physical property. No additional closures of other locations are planned.
DEATH NOTICES
--Robert Valesano, age 70 of Brainerd.
--Lealand (Lee) Neil Siegler Sr., age 85 of Royalton.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly cloudy skies, high near 70.
TONIGHT= cloudy skies, thunderstorms overnight, low 58.
FRIDAY= morning and evening storms, some sun, high 76, low 58.
SATURDAY= morning storms, then sunny, high near 80, low 61.
SUNDAY= sunny and warm, high 83, low near 62.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins comeback to beat A's last night 6-4 with a 2 run 8th inning. Twins wrap up series with Oakland today, pregame begins at 11:30am, then Twins travel to Colorado to wrap up the regular season this weekend. Hear the games live on Q92 WYRQ. Twins will open the playoffs next week, if in the wild card round they would start on Tuesday, October 3rd on Q92 WYRQ.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1941= Ted Williams finishes MLB season with .406 batting average with the Red Sox last time that a batter hit 400 for the season.
IN 1961= new shows debut Dr. Kildare, Hazel, Millionaire all on NBC.
IN 1963= children's shows like King Leonardo, Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends and the Shari Lewis show were dropped by network TV.
IN 1980= Carl Sagan begins a 13 part series on PBS called Cosmos.
IN 1986= Janet Jackson releases first solo album, first hit Control