NEWS
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office has posted pictures of a pickup truck which appears to be a 2001-2003 Ford Crew Cab with rust on the driver side door and a dent on driver side fender. A trail camera caught the vehicle's driver trying to steal a catalytic converter at a residence in Swan River Township. The vehicle was on camera both September 1st and also the 2nd. Anyone with information on the vehicle in question posted on the Sheriff's Office Facebook page is asked to contact their office at 320-632-9233.
--A decision by the Morrison County Commissioners stated that they will wait until after the November election before it makes any permanent decisions regarding the County Auditor/Treasurer. Last month, current Auditor/Treasurer Chelsey Robinson announced her resignation which will take effect a week from tomorrow, September 16th. Also she was the only person who filed for election in this November's general election. County Administrator Matt LeBlanc told the Board of Commissioners after discussing with the county attorney and other county administrators in the state who have dealt with this type of issue, after that they will work on an interim auditor/treasurer but a permanent replacement will be decided after the November election. He mentioned that right now there is a deputy auditor/treasurer in the county who will help fill the void with employees from the office until an interim is named.
--A Florida woman is dead after an ATV crash in Cass County Monday afternoon just after 3pm. The Cass County Sheriff's Office says a group of riders came upon an overturned side-by-side ATV along the Emily-Outing Trail with the driver trapped inside. The group was able to free the 56-year-old Fort Meyers woman and start CPR. Ambulance crews continued life-saving efforts but were unable to save the woman. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff's office says the driver was traveling alone and an autopsy is being performed to determine the woman's cause of death. The victim's name has not been released.
--A St. Cloud man is accused of stabbing a fast food worker after a fight broke out inside the restaurant. 19-year-old Arieon Smith is charged with 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. Police were called to the McDonald's at 2120 Division Street West on Saturday. Officers arrived to find a male manager who had been stabbed one time in the chest. Witnesses at the scene say several people were involved in a fight when the manager was stabbed. Police used surveillance video to determine Smith was the stabbing suspect. Court records show Smith provided police a statement and admitted to getting into a fight with McDonald's staff and stabbing one person. Court records do not address the victim's condition.
--Crow Wing County Sheriff Scott Goddard reported that the 58-year-old Las Vegas man who died in an August 28th plane crash near Emily was in the area to spread his father’s ashes. Lee Cemensky booked a 10-minute flight through 61-year-old pilot Douglas Johnson’s company, Fly the Swan, to go from Minnie Lake to Wood Lake to spread his father's ashes over Wood Lake. The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office said Lee Cemensky was in the area for a family gathering after the passing of his father, Leo John Cemensky on August 7th. The flight left Minnie Lake around 6pm but did not return. The sheriff’s office and the drone team began searching the area. The plane was located in a wooded area near Minne Lake Drive. Johnson and Lee Cemensky were found deceased at the site. The crash is under investigation by the FAA helped by local authorities.
--Yesterday Holy Trinity Catholic School Principal Michelle Litke spoke on KLTF and wanted to thank her staff as 100% of staff members from last school year return for this school year with no staffing changes. Students all returned Tuesday with smiling faces to see and enjoy again. They are continuing to work on upgrading their playground equipment by the school in the future and fundraising efforts with that. Events include participating in the Patriotic Rosary Friday at 12:45pm at St. Joseph's Church in Pierz, their marathon is September 23rd, students are working on donations and pledges starting this week for the event and Bishop Donald Kettler will be in attendance this year at the marathon. Also tickets are now available for the Steak and Wine fundraiser on October 8th at the school office and tickets go very fast for this event which has become the largest fundraiser of the year for Holy Trinity. For ticket information or any questions on Holy Trinity for the school year, if you can volunteer in the kitchen they could use some help there also, call Michelle Litke at (320) 468-6446 or go to holytrinitypierz.org.
--Pointing to a reduction in traffic fatalities and an uptick in stops for dangerous driving infractions, the Minnesota State Patrol is extending its HEAT (Highway Enforcement for Aggressive Traffic) program through the end of 2022. The announcement means motorists across Minnesota will continue to see a significant trooper presence on highways and freeways as they focus on excessive speed, while also keeping an eye open for aggressive driving and DWIs. Troopers from neighboring districts will work in teams to saturate specific enforcement areas. They will be supported by the State Patrol aviation unit, to insure drivers attempting to flee law enforcement will be located and held accountable. In the past 6 months of the project they had over 20-thousand traffic stops, over 9,100 citations, speeding citations were just under 6,400 and DWI arrests 91, and other arrests not DWI related at 191 from HEAT project which will now continue through the end of the year.
--The annual Morrison County Historical Society business meeting will be September 20th at 6pm at Camp Ripley Town Hall. You will need a present valid ID to enter the military base. The event is free and open to the public. Donations accepted, call 632-4007 for info.
--The Friends of the Library used book sale begins today in Little Falls and runs today, Friday, Saturday and next Monday at 10am each day.
DEATH NOTICES
--Gordon J. Brixius, age 81 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny and warm, windy, high near 90.
TONIGHT= thunderstorms after dark, some strong, low 59.
FRIDAY= showers and storms early, then cloudy and cooler, high 62.
FRI NITE= isolated showers early, then clearing, low 48.
SATURDAY= partly sunny and cool, high 68, low near 42.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, pleasant, high near 70, low near 50.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins get swept yesterday in a double header by the Yankees in New York. Yankees win 5-4 in 12 innings in game 1 with a walk of hit by Oswaldo Cabrera. Gerrit Cole beat the Twins in game 2 last night 7-1. Twins are now 2 games behind Cleveland in the AL Central. The Twins (68-67) finish series in New York with the Yankees tonight, pregame begins at 5:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= Buffalo at Los Angeles Rams to kickoff the NFL Season tonight.