NEWS
--Little Falls Police reported last week more calls of suspicious activity including calls on March 31st of garages tampered with on the 7th Street Northeast area where one had their overhead doors of the garage tampered with, another said their door had been allegedly opened by force. In both cases nothing was reported stolen. Police assisted with a fire call at 3:52pm March 30th to an oven that had flames in it, the self cleaned oven was able to put the flame out and police stated that there was no danger. They have also been citing illegal burning in the city. A reminder again that one burning restrictions are in place and also the city has ordinances that only recreational burning (campfires) are allowed larger brush and debris fires are not prohibited by city law.
--There was a two-vehicle crash near Long Prairie in Todd County. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened just before 5pm Sunday on Highway 27 in Little Sauk Township. A car driven by 45-year-old Benjamin Coupe of Bemidji was going north on County Road 11 when troopers say he ran a stop sign and t-boned another vehicle. Coupe was taken to CentraCare Health in Long Prairie with non-life threatening injuries. The State Patrol says alcohol was involved. The driver of the second vehicle, 65-year-old Nancy Henke of Detroit Lakes, had non-life threatening injuries and was not hospitalized.
--Summer fun is the latest items to be closed up this year, Minneapolis announced that all public beaches, pools, water parks and other sites will be closed for the entire summer. Many feel this is only the beginning on items to be changed, postponed or suspended throughout the summer months with the COVID-19 issues. There are already many of the local summer events monitoring the situation very closely on what might have to be done later this year.
--The Morrison County Commissioners meet today at 9am at the government center boardroom. Due to the current pandemic, the government center is closed to all walk-in traffic. The meeting will be live streamed through the county website this morning. If you have questions for any county office, call 632-2941.
--Road Work began Monday on Interstate 94 from Maple Grove to Clearwater, expect delays and lane closures during the project.
--Bishop Donald Kettler of the St. Cloud Diocese stated this past weekend that “Although we cannot be physically together, this is a way for us to gather as a diocesan church and pray together during these challenging times,” Bishop Kettler said. “The Lenten season is always a time to reorient our lives to Christ, and we’ve been called to make extra sacrifices this year as we await the promise and hope of Easter. Thank you for your faithfulness in these days. I am praying for you, and I ask you to join me in praying for our world.” Public Masses in the Diocese of St. Cloud have been suspended through April 13 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The diocese has created a special webpage for the latest virus-related messages from the diocese: www.stcdio.org/coronavirus-update. It includes spiritual resources, including for Holy Week, for individuals and families. Local Masses and services are being live streamed including the Diocese masses this week so check with your local churches. Little Falls Radio will have a Good Friday Service via web chat with area Pastors Friday in the noon hour on AM960 KLTF then on Easter Sunday a live Mass at 9am from St. Mary's Catholic Church on AM960 KLTF and a live Easter morning service from Grace Convenant Church in Little Falls at 10:30am on FM94 KFML and fallsradio.com.
--Every spring Camp Ripley begins its annual controlled burn program to help reduce the risk of wild fire during training. This year, despite training events being rescheduled due to COVID-19 concerns, the Camp Ripley team will continue as planned. Unlike this previous year where Camp Ripley conducted controlled burns on approximately 17,000 acres of the 53,000-acre military reservation, the team will conduct hazard mitigation burns for potential risk areas only, reducing the size of many of the burns. All considerations are being taken into account such as how the smoke is lifting from the fire, to prevent health risks like smoke inhalation for those working the burn as well as those in the surrounding areas. Residents of the Little Falls, Randall, Pillager, Baxter, Brainerd and Fort Ripley areas may notice or smell smoke originating from Camp Ripley. These periodic controlled burns will be conducted throughout the spring season to mitigate the risk of wildfires that may potentially endanger training.
--A fire Monday morning at the Ultimate Sports Bar and Grill in Waite Park left the establishment in shambles, with the roof collapsed and most windows broken out. Fire crews tore down the building before noon yesterday. The Ultimate Sports Bar was located at 1101 Division Street in Waite Park. Firefighters arrived shortly before 9:00am to thick smoke coming from the business. It was reported by the worker on site that no one was in the business at the time. The official cause of the fire is under investigation. The State Fire Marshal has been contacted to help investigate. There was no report of any injuries.
--The latest numbers from Minnesota Department of Health Monday was 986 positive cases in Minnesota of COVID-19. That is of 28,128 cases, patients no longer isolated 470, 30 deaths, 57 in ICU and 115 hospitalized total. Still no positive cases in Morrison, Todd, Mille Lacs and Wadena counties. Crow Wing and Stearns have 6, Benton and Cass have 1 case. Of the 87 counties, only 25 (including Morrison) do not have a positive test of COVID-19. No positive test, does not mean that the virus is not in the area as non tested may be carriers.
--As weather permits this week, Morrison County crews will continue to patch potholes, be out blading gravel roads and will be out sweeping streets and intersections on various roads around the county. Maintenance workers will continue to crack seal on CSAH 104 in Randall and on County Road 276 by Harding. Crews will work in one lane and control traffic with flaggers. Please use caution around workers. Morrison County Public Works would like to remind farmers that planting crops within road right of way is illegal. State law prohibits plowing, tilling and/or planting in the right of way. They want to prevent any situation where crops block motorists’ vision, create erosion concerns or other safety issues.
DEATH NOTICES
--Gratia Duchscher, age 88 of Onamia.
WEATHER
TODAY= morning rain and fog, afternoon sunshine, high 63.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy skies, low near 40.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and breezy, high 50, PM showers develop.
THURSDAY= sunny and colder, windy, high near 40, low near 20.
SPORTS
GOLF= The Open Championship (formerly known as the British Open in Golf) has been cancelled this July in England. The PGA also announced that the Masters is likely to be played in November.