NEWS
--There will be a prescription drug take back event on Saturday from 10:00am-2:00pm in front of the Wal-Mart in Little Falls. The event put together by Stand Up for U from Little Falls Community Schools, area law enforcement and CHI St. Gabriel's Health is an opportunity for you to remove unwanted or unused prescription drugs properly so they do not get into the wrong hands. Again, you can drop off the unwanted prescription drugs Saturday at Wal-Mart from 10am-2pm. If this Saturday does not work for you there are permanent drop off sites for unwanted drugs daily at the Little Falls Police Department, Morrison County Sheriff's Office, Pierz and Motley city halls.
--Authorities say a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officer died after being thrown from a boat while responding to a call about a possible body in a lake near Pine City. The officer has been identified as Eugene Wynn. He had been a conservation officer since 2001. Wynn was responding with Pine County Sheriff's deputies Friday night to a report from anglers that there might be a body in Cross Lake. The sheriff's office said Wynn and a deputy were thrown from their boat within a minute of launching into the lake. Authorities said rescuers were able to reach the deputy but Wynn slipped beneath the surface of the lake before he could be reached. The sheriff's office said they have not found the object that prompted the initial call.
--The warm weather Friday and Saturday prompted dozens of grass fires over the past few days as the fire danger was high until the rains on Sunday and Monday. Brainerd, Pillager, Pine River, Todd and Stearns County along with DNR conservation members were called out numerous times this weekend. Some reports included large grass fires Friday on Clearwater Road in Baxter, County Road 123, Heron Street, Home Place Drive. On Saturday more fires on County Road 144, Ravenswood Road and Thompson Road in the Brainerd/Baxter area. Pillager reported fires on Squaw Point Road Friday as that fire burned 2-3 acres and needed DNR aircraft to help put it out. The DNR stated that already this year through Saturday there have been over 7,000 wildfires nationwide and over 1,100 of those were in Minnesota which is higher than last year at the same time period.
--The Morrison County Commissioners meet this morning at 9am at the Little Falls City Hall inside the council chambers.
--A Silver Lake man died in a single-vehicle crash in Wright County on Saturday morning. The incident happened just after 11:00am on Highway 55 near South Haven. The Minnesota State Patrol says a Jeep was going west on Highway 55 when it left the road, entered the ditch, vaulted off of a driveway approach, and came to a stop at a local business. The driver of the Jeep, 47-year-old Chad Rannow of Silver Lake, died in the crash. Authorities say he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time.
--Minnesotans who want to travel this spring and summer will be paying more at the pump than last year. GasBuddy.com released it's weekly update on gasoline prices Monday morning, noting that the cost of a gallon of unleaded inched up 1.4 cents in the past week, averaging $2.75 a gallon in Minnesota. That is 18-cents higher than a month ago and nearly 25-cents higher than last year. With U.S. Sanctions again some oil producing countries to start in May again that will be likely higher prices on crude oil and early predictions are gas prices to range between $2.65 to $3.15 a gallon this summer.
--Maintenance crews will continue crack sealing this week on various roads around Morrison County. Crews will work in one lane, and control traffic with flaggers. Please use caution around work crews. Crews will also be out sweeping streets and intersections on various roads. Maintenance workers will continue patching potholes including County State Aid Highways 19, 26 and County Road 204. They will also be out blading gravel roads this week as weather permits. Public Works would like to remind you that seasonal load limit weight restrictions are in effect and all roads are posted.
--Around 3:30pm Friday the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a report of male pinned between two pieces of farm implement at the 34000 block of 260th Street in Lake Henry Township. 31-year old Ryan Klassen of Belgrade found 42-year old James Logan of Belgrade pinned between a backhoe bucket and a utility trailer. Logan was unresponsive and lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful. Logan was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident remains under investigation.
--The St. Cloud Police Department is investigating after a dead body was found in the woods behind a mobile home park in east St. Cloud. The discovery of a dead body in the woods north of Clover Leaf Trailer Park off of U.S. Highway 10 was reported at 2:32pm Sunday. A person walking through the woods discovered the body and called police. Police found the body of a 41-year old man in woods. The death does not appear suspicious and police said the man may have been living in the wooded area. The body was taken to the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. The man's identity was not released pending notification of next of kin.
--Yesterday was Earth Day and in honor of that, Great River Arts in Little Falls is featuring four artists this week from central Minnesota who use various materials to create art. Each artist is using different garbage, debris, metals, wood, aged hardware, old toys and other items to create works of art. The exhibit will be open during Great River Arts regular hours this week on the front and main galleries for all to view. The exhibit will stay up through Saturday.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
--Edward and Kristina Witt of Cushing, a girl born April 20th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Joan Batters, age 88 of Little Falls
--John Paul Lutz, age 55 of Auburn, CA formerly Little Falls.
--Harry Florian Cimenski, age 90 of Little Falls.
--Alfred “Al” Gross, age 87 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 64.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low around 40.
WEDNESDAY= partly cloudy, warmer and breezy, high 72, low 51.
THURSDAY= AM shower, then mostly sunny, high 65, low 48.
SPORTS
TWINS= Jorge Polanco has 4 hits and 4 RBIs to lead the Twins to a big 9-5 win last night in Houston. The Twins (13-7) continue the series at Houston today with pregame at 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS BAB= Alexandria at Little Falls Friday at 5pm on AM960 KLTF.
HS BAB= Pierz vs. Cathedral Friday at 7pm at the MAC FM94 KFML