NEWS
--The Morrison County Sheriff ‘s Office reported a two-vehicle accident with injuries Saturday just before 11:30am on 370th Avenue, north of Highway 27 in Richardson Township. 59-year old Steven Kelzenberg of Isanti was traveling south on 370th Avenue pulling a boat and trailer. 58-year old Gordon Gall pulled out of a private driveway and struck the boat and trailer that Kelzenberg was towing. Steven Kelzenberg and his passenger, 61-year old Tamera Kelzenberg of Isanti were transported by Onamia Ambulance to Onamia Hospital with unknown injuries. Gordon Gall was uninjured.
--A 57-year old Little Falls man was injured Friday around 5:00pm in Brockway Township of Stearns County. 57-year old Darryl Nilson of Little Falls was driving his motorcycle northbound on County Road 1. As he was turning onto County Road 1, he hit gravel on the roadway causing his motorcycle to slide out from underneath him. Nilson stayed with the bike as he entered the ditch and was thrown from the motorcycle. Nilson was wearing a helmet and taken to St. Cloud Hospital for possible injuries to be evaluated from the accident.
--Maintenance work is being conducted on Pier 3 of the Mississippi River Bridge this week by Morrison County Public Works for those that use the Soo Line Trail. Bikes will still be able to use the bridge but there may be delays. Anyone with questions may contact public works at 632-0121.
--A Brainerd-based pet food company is bringing jobs to Little Falls. Barrett Petfood Innovations has received funding from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to open a manufacturing center in Little Falls. The move is expected to create 85 jobs in the next three years with an average hourly wage of nearly $16, according to a news release from DEED. The expansion is supported with a $450,000 investment from the Minnesota Investment Fund, as well as a $175,000 investment from the Job Creation Fund. Barrett Petfood Innovations works with local farmers and growers to source ingredients for over 150 different types of pet food for dogs, cats and birds, as well as more exotic animals like turtles, fish and primates.
--A Motley man was injured Sunday in a dirt bike accident two miles east of Motley on Highway 210 Sunday around 5:30pm. 25-year old Erik Peters of Motley was on his dirt bike on Highway 210 when it struck a vehicle in a driveway approach. The owner of the vehicle was on it at the time but it was running. Peters was taken to the Staples Hospital for lacerations and possible cracked or bruised ribs.
--A 39-year-old from Pine River was injured on Highway 371 at Cass County Road 45 just after 1am Monday. 39-year-old Jeremy Johnson ran off the roadway and struck the ditch. He was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for reported serious injuries sustained.
--The 25-year-old Brooklyn Park woman killed Saturday night in Pequot Lakes has been identified. Marisa Lilley was killed when her vehicle left Highway 371 and struck a tree.
--Disabled Veterans of America Morrison County Chapter 12 is having their annual picnic on Wednesday at Swanville Lions Park building in Swanville. Social at 5:30 with meal to follow. If you know any individuals that have been given a VA medical card please invite them to the come and enjoy an evening, family members are also invited as our any others with service-connected disabilities. If you have questions contact DAV Commander Danny Noss at 232-9412.
--The Morrison County Department of Public Works will be conducting a culvert replacement on County Road 34 (93rd Street) that will require a detour of traffic today. County Road 34 (93rd Street) will be closed just to the east of its intersection with 170th Avenue. Traffic will be detoured while the project is being conducted. West bound traffic will be directed north and west onto County Road 35 (Iris Road), then south on 170th Avenue back to County Road 34 (93rd Street). East bound traffic on County Road 34 (93rd Street) will be directed north onto 170th Avenue, then east and south on County Road 35 (Iris Road) back to County Road 34 (93rd Street). The project is estimated to take one day. Please follow the detour and follow all traffic control devices through the construction area.
--A one vehicle fatal accident Monday morning at 6:11am killed a Sauk Centre man. A car driven by 25-year old Tranquilino Castillo Arache of Sauk Centre was southbound on Highway 71 at 405th Avenue in Getty Township of Stearns County where the road curves but the vehicle went straight into the ditch. Arache tried to correct and the vehicle vaulted over a field approach. Arache, who was not wearing a seat belt was ejected and died at the scene.
--Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced the appointment of Jodi Harpstead, President and CEO of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, as the incoming Commissioner of the Department of Human Services (DHS). Previously in senior leadership at Medtronic, Jodi Harpstead brings a depth of non-profit and private sector experience in service delivery and business administration. She is the first DHS Commissioner to have a Master of Business Administration since the Department’s restructuring from the Minnesota Department of Public Welfare in 1984.
--The Pine Grove Zoo is hosting a blood drive from 9:00am-3:00pm this coming Friday. For more information contact Vicki at 616-5595.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Derek and Amy Wettstein of Little Falls, a baby boy on August 11th
DEATH NOTICES
--Gary J. Beringer, age 71 of Little Falls.
--Larry “Perry” Benjamin, age 82 of Onamia.
WEATHER
TODAY= scattered showers and T-storms, cloudy, high near 70.
TONIGHT= showers & t-storms early, then clearing, low near 50.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 72, clear night low around 50.
THURSDAY= sunny early, high 77, storms by late in the day.
SPORTS
TWINS= The Twins are now a half game behind Cleveland in the central division, Twins were off Monday as Indians won with a walk off homerun last night over Boston. The Twins (71-47) are in Milwaukee tonight 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
CLASS C= The Class C State Amateur Baseball Tournament begins on Friday night, three of the four teams that qualified out of Region 8C play this weekend starting with Stewartville-Racine vs. Buckman Saturday at 4:30pm in Delano. Avon vs. Lake Henry Sunday at 11am in Maple Lake then Lake City vs. Ft. Ripley Sunday at 4:30pm in Delano. Nisswa for winning the Region Tournament is off this weekend and opens play on August 24th at 11am in Delano. Hear the three games for Region 8C teams this weekend on AM960 KLTF.