NEWS
--After stepping down from his leadership position in the Minnesota Senate last week, Republican Senator Paul Gazelka announced yesterday morning his candidacy for governor of Minnesota. The District 9 Senator from Nisswa that covers Morrison, Crow Wing and Cass Counties said yesterday at the Minnesota State Capitol that he is concerned about the direction in which the state is headed and wants to become governor to change that direction. The election of Governor of Minnesota is not until November of 2022.
--Following the announcement by Senator Gazelka Wednesday, John Poston, a Republican from Lake Shore plans to run for Minnesota Senate in District 9. Paul Gazelka is the current Senator for District 9, representing portions of Cass, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena Counties in Central Minnesota. John Poston is putting his name forth to take Paul's seat in the Senate. Poston is currently the State Representative for District 9A, covering Cass, Todd and Wadena counties. Poston has held that position since winning the election in 2016. He is currently serving his third term in the House.
--Three people were hurt in a two-vehicle crash in Morrison County. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened just after 1pm Tuesday on Highway 10 at 270th Street near Cushing. A vehicle driven by 33-year-old Kristen Jones of Onamia was making a U-turn from the westbound lanes of Highway 10 to go east when it struck a vehicle driven by 39-year-old Denise Mechels of Motley. Jones, Mechels, and a passenger 83-year-old Dennis McNelis of Lakeville were all taken to St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls with non-life-threatening injuries.
--Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen announced Wednesday the commencement of the Law Enforcement Scholarship Program for 2021. Sheriff Larsen proudly announced that the MSA Board of Directors has established a scholarship fund for the awarding of up to 15- $2,000 scholarships for this year. These scholarships are due to the coordinated efforts of the 87 Sheriffs of the State of Minnesota. The Members of MSA gives special recognition to the financial needs of students attending the peace officer skills course, or one of the two, or four-year law enforcement degree colleges. “The Board of Directors feel peace officers in our democratic society have complex duties to perform” said Sheriff Larsen. MSA recognizes the importance of pre-entry training for people considering law enforcement as their career choice. MSA recognizes some students need outside help in meeting the costs of such training, even though they excel academically. The Scholarship Committee, in making its selection of awards, intends on achieving representation from all geographical areas of the state. Scholarship awards will be announced by December 28th of the same year. Application forms and a statement of procedures are available at the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office. Scholarships are only available to students currently enrolled in one of the following three categories: 1. Mandated POST Skills Program 2. In their second year of a two-year law enforcement program. 3. In their third or fourth year of a four-year college criminal justice program. In order to qualify, students must have completed at least one year of the two-year program or two years of a four-year program. Students meeting these criteria are invited to obtain a scholarship application form from their local sheriff’s office or online at www.mnsheriffs.org .
--The Pine Grove Zoo in Little Falls is offering free admission (with proper ID) for all law enforcement, firefighters and military starting today and running through Sunday. For info call 616-5595.
--Karen Winscher, who is the first cook at Little Falls Community Middle School was recognized on the first day of school this week as the Outstanding Employee of the Month by the Little Falls Chamber of Commerce. Karen has been with the district for 21 years.
--The Friends of the Carnegie Library in Little Falls have their book sale today and Friday 10-5, Saturday 10-2 with $1 for hardcovers and 50-cents for paperbacks to help the friends continue to upkeep at our local library so help them out starting today through Saturday.
--Sartell Police have released more details about what led up to a standoff with officers and a suspect being arrested. On Tuesday at about 12:30pm the Sartell Police Department received information that there was an ongoing violation of a Domestic Abuse No Contact Order in the 200 block of 10th Avenue North. Thirty-six-year-old Jason Schwieger has previous domestic assault incidents with the same victim, along with a recent history of fleeing police in a motor vehicle and on foot. Officers responded and were able to safely remove the victim away from Schwieger. Schwieger did not comply with officers’ commands to surrender. Schwieger instead began barricading himself inside and displayed a weapon to officers. A perimeter was set up around the home and additional officers were called from surrounding agencies. Negotiators from the St. Cloud Police Department spoke with Schwieger for several hours attempting to de-escalate and get him to surrender peacefully. Schwieger continued to refuse to comply. Less lethal tools were used by officers, and St. Cloud Police SWAT made entry into the residence and took Schwieger into custody.
--A Wisconsin man was arrested following an incident at a local gas station Tuesday morning. The St. Joseph Police Department says officers responded to a report of a man with two handguns inside the Casey's General Store on 4th Avenue Northeast around 10:30am. Authorities say officers arrived and were able to deescalate the situation and arrest the 21-year-old man.
--The Upsala Fire Department is hosting a large fundraiser event on Saturday starting at 3pm at Bullfrogs Bar and Grill in Upsala. There will be a bean bag touranment at 3pm, then a hog rost for a free will donation, DJ music, meat raffle and cash raffle with all proceeds to go towards new equipment for the Upsala Fire Department.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy skies, not as windy, high 72.
TONIGHT= clear skies, cool night, low 47.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, warmer, high near 80, low near 60.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, high 77, clear night, low near 50.
SUNDAY= sunny and cooler, breezy, high 67, low near 46.
SPORTS
TWINS= the Twins win for the 2nd day in the row with a 3-0 score over the Indians. The Twins have won the first 3 of the 4 games and moved out of the cellar with the win last night. The Twins wrap up their series at Cleveland today at 4:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
WNBA= Las Vegas routed the Lynx last night 102-81, the Aces have one of the best records in WNBA at 21-8, the Lynx fall to 18-10.
NFL= Dallas at Tampa Bay tonight 6:45pm on AM960 KLTF.
HS FB= Dassel-Cokato at Little Falls 7pm Friday on KLTF.
HS FB= Minnewaska Area at Pierz 7pm Friday on 94ROCKS.
WRAP= the Saturday Morning Sports Wrap recaps the week in high school sports- Saturday at 8:30am on AM960 KLTF.