NEWS
--Morrison County Administrator Deb Gruber spoke on KLTF Monday and said that Morrison County Public Health is looking for masks and donations right now to help with prevention of the spread of COVID-19 after first positive test in the county on Saturday. If you wish to donate items or have questions on COVID-19 call Public Health at 632-6664. She also mentioned that motor vehicle business has started again (not driver's license or driver's training), but if you need registration or tabs renewed you can call ahead and they can process those by email or over the phone. The County Commissioners are to discuss today more on the helping of small businesses in the county and what can be done and also talk about property taxes after Morrison County Auditor/Treasurer Chelea Robinson said that with property taxes due May 15, counties are waiting to see if the state Legislature will decide what penalties or relief efforts, if any, they will be required to enforce. Robinson said that any taxes collected on or before May 15 will be settled out to schools, cities and other entities on May 24, June 5 and July 5. Any late payments are not settled until the following October, November and December, a standard procedure, she said. In May of 2019, the county collected around $22 million in property taxes. Again extensions will have to be decided on by a state mandate otherwise the county will enforce the deadlines. The County can not change the deadline but may be able to reduce penalities for late taxes by a board ruling. Gruber said the offices are staffed if you have questions on any items in Morrison County at the government center but call, as closed to visitor, call the information line at 632-2941 and they will transfer you to the office needed.
--The 22nd Share Sunday event this Sunday has been cancelled due to the restrictions of the Stay at Home order by Governor Walz. The event was a large fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Morrison County and the Morrison County Food Shelf. Laverne Bzdok stated on KLTF Friday that though the event and talent show this Sunday is not going to happen they will still be doing their large cash drawing where the top prize is $700 cash. The drawing will be done this coming weekend with the winners being announced on KLTF Polka World Today with Gene Retka Sunday at 10am, and then also on the next day's KLTF Party Line at 10:05am on Monday the 27th.
--A four-year-old sustained significant head injuries after an ATV crash Saturday at 2:45pm in St. Augusta. Deputies arrived and found a 4-year-old male with a head injury. After speaking to his parents, it was determined the 4-year-old hopped onto their small 50cc ATV after his siblings had gotten off. The 4-year-old drove over a dirt mound, which dropped about 4-5 feet. He was wearing a helmet, but still sustained a significant head injury. He was airlifted to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis.
–A baler started on fire in a field in Eden Lake Township Friday afternoon around 12:36pm. Authorities stated 27-year old Tyler Magedanz of Cold Spring was bailing corn stalks when he noticed his New Holland baler was fully engulfed in flames. Magedanz unhitched the baler from the tractor. He attempted to extinguish the fire with a portable fire extinguisher but was unable to put the fire out. The baler was a complete loss, firefighters extinguished the baler as well as some smaller fires in the field. No one was injured.
--Listen to KLTF Community Focus today Deb Boelz from LF Chamber of Commerce on business focusing, Wednesday Earth Day with the Franscican Sisters. Weekdays at 8:35am on KLTF.
--Mondays numbers from Department of Health is 143 deaths related to COVID-19, 2,470 positive tests, 1,202 no longer in isolation. Morrison County 1 confirmed case, Crow Wing 20, Stearns 17, Benton and Cass at 4, Todd now at 3, Mille Lacs had 1 confirmed case which resulted in one of the confirmed deaths in Minnesota.
--Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan have launched a week long statewide homemade mask drive to encourage Minnesotans to create homemade masks for donation and highlight the importance of workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Minnesotans can deliver homemade masks to their local fire department on Saturday, from 10:00am to 2:00pm. The Little Falls Fire Department will have a drop off site from 10:00am-2:00pm this Saturday. Fire departments will then deliver the masks to local congregate living facilities for their employees and residents to wear. Face mask design patterns and instructions can be found online.
--At 11:07am Sunday the Stearns County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a two-vehicle t-bone crash with non life threatening injuries at County Road 17 and 165th Avenue in Holding Township just to the east of Holdingford. 43-year old Andrew Gray of Holdingford, was driving westbound on County Road 17 as 75-year old Ronald Czajkowski of Avon was eastbound on County Road 17. Czajkowski made a left turn to go northbound on 165th Avenue and crashed with Gray’s vehicle. Andrew Gray and his 14-year old son who was with, were treated at the scene. Czajkowski was transported by ambulance for treatment of his injuries. All parties were wearing their seat belts.
--Two people were taken to the hospital after a two-vehicle crash in rural Stearns County. The State Patrol says the crash happened Friday just before 12:30pm at the intersection of Highway 15 and County Road 147 in Maine Prairie Township near Kimball. According to the patrol report, 20-year-old Tyler Johnson of Watkins was heading north on Highway 15 when he swerved into the left lane to avoid a stopped vehicle. Johnson’s car crashed head-on into a southbound truck driven by 58-year-old Mark Hansen of New Ulm.
--A Kimball man severs fingers while using table saw. Stearns County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a medical at 8290 137th Street in Maine Prairie Township around 1:00pm Thursday. 53-year-old Eugene Gohmann of Kimball, was working alone in his shed. Mr. Gohmann was cutting a sheet of plastic on a table saw and accidentally amputated three of his fingers. He was treated at a local hospital.
DEATH NOTICES
--Rollie Joseph Trettel, age 56 of Bowlus.
--Ethel Erickson, age 97 of Onamia formerly of Isle.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny AM, sprinkles in afternoon, high 46.
TONIGHT= sprinkles/showers early then clearing, low 30.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and mild, high 66, low around 38.
THURSDAY= AM sun, afternoon thunderstorms, high 58.
SPORTS
WNBA= The Minnesota Lynx picked up Mikiah Herbert Harrigan a forward from South Carolina in Round 1 with the 6th pick in the WNBA Draft. In the 2nd Round the Lynx picked Crystal Dangerfield a guard from Connecticut. The Lynx had traded to get another pick later in the draft trading recently acquired Stephanie Talbot from Phoenix to the New York Liberty for Rice guard Erica Ogwumike.