NEWS
--A Pierz man was airlifted to the hospital after crashing his motorcycle Sunday night. The incident happened just after 6:30pm on Highway 25, three miles south of Pierz. The Morrison County Sheriff's Office says 67-year old Martin Pelarske was heading south on Highway 25, when he entered the northbound lane, drove into the ditch and rolled. Pelarske was airlifted to St. Cloud with severe injuries. Authorities say he was not wearing a helmet. The case remains under investigation.
--As weather permits, maintenance employees will be working on the following activities this week: Shouldering work CSAH 36 southwest of Pierz, CSAH 43 west of Pierz, and County Road 282 north of Little Falls. Traffic will be controlled by flaggers. Crews will be cleaning up downed trees on CSAH 19, and on the Soo Line Trail south of Bowlus.
Please use caution around work crews and flashing lights.
--According to numerous sources, the final US troops have left Afghanistan. That would include the 1,100 Minnesota National Guard members who were stationed in Kuwait and relocated earlier this month to help American and Afghan evacuees.
--Last Thursday at 5:45am, Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a group of protesters at the Swatara Pump Station. Preliminary information received is that there was a person suspected in a tripod device with several people locked down to the device. Upon arrival, law enforcement personnel were advised that the protesters had been asked to leave and refused to do so. They were advised that they were trespassing on private property and they still refused to leave. Additional law enforcement units were summonsed along with a bucket truck and extrication teams. The tripod structure had three levels. At the base, four people were secured to the structure. On the middle level, two additional people were secured to a device that was part of the structure. Medics were on scene to address the well-being of the protesters and law enforcement. The four people at the base were advised they were under arrest. They refused to release themselves from locking mechanisms that secured them to the structure and each other. They were freed from the structure by the use of cutting tools. The arrested parties would scream that they were being injured. This would set off the people in the street who would then scream at law enforcement. No force was used against these individuals. The two actively refused to follow commands while they were being rescued from that height. Law enforcement professionals were able to get the two unsecured and placed in the bucket truck and lowered to safety. They were arrested. In all, six people were arrested and subsequently booked into the Aitkin County Adult Detention Center and held on probable cause holds. Two of the six were male with the remaining four were women. None of the arrested people live in Minnesota or Wisconsin. No force was used in the apprehension of any of the arrested parties.
--Pioneer Elementary School in Pierz wanted to personally thank the Hillman American Legion Auxiliary for supplying a large number of school supplies to their school and also to elementary schools in Onamia, Foley and Milaca. The Wojciak-Talberg American Legion Auxiliary Unit 602 of Hillman have been doing this for many years before the school year starts to help with supply needs in schools.
--The Pierz Pioneers game with Holdingford this Thursday will now be in Sauk Centre due to the field in Holdingford not yet ready for the game this Thursday night at 7pm, heard live on 94ROCKS KFML.
--The Minnesota State Fair's tenth Military Appreciation Day will take place today Tuesday, August 31, and provide an educational opportunity for all fairgoers to learn about Minnesota's military community. This year's theme is honoring the service of the past, present, and future. The Governor's official proclamation of Military Appreciation Day commences at 10am at the Minnesota State Fair’s Leinie Lodge Bandshell. The program will include remarks by senior leaders of Minnesota's military community and concludes at 10:25am with a flyover of C130 Hercules from the 934th Air Force Reserve. There will be nearly 50 educational booths located at Dan Patch Park, along with entertainment on the Dan Patch Park stage throughout the day. Programming includes a 9 a.m. performance by Johnny Holliday, 11:00 performance by country artist Sailor Jerri; live recordings of Minnesota Military Radio Hour, and a 3:30 p.m. performance by the Red Devil Rock Band. The Minnesota National Guard's 34th Infantry Division Red Bull Band will perform at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell at 10:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. The State Fair's 2 p.m. parade will include a formation of Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Companies. The State Fair offers discounted tickets ($11 rate) for military members, veterans, and their families on August 31st with documentation at the gate.
--A state investigation found that two providers at a Waite Park adult foster care facility neglected and emotionally abused vulnerable adults and failed to report maltreatment, according to public documents from the Department of Human Services. The providers, James Noske and Rose Brutger, will no longer be allowed to provide direct care in programs authorized by the state. The two held the license at Rose Ann Brutger and James L. Noske Adult Foster Care. James Noske and Rose Brutger lost their licenses and are barred from providing human services in Minnesota following a substantiated report that they neglected and emotionally abused vulnerable adults in their care. Police responded to the facility April 10 and found Noske intoxicated, despite being scheduled to work, according to the Maltreatment Investigation Memorandum that references police records and DHS interviews with four staff members. A preliminary breath test gave a reading of 0.21, according to the investigation.
--There is a classic car show and event tonight from 5-8pm at the Emblom Brenny Funeral Home on the south end of Little Falls. All are welcome to view the classic cars and check out their facility, enjoy food and beverages and register to win prizes at the event tonight.
DEATH NOTICES
--Ralph Kjeldergaard, age 69 of Long Prairie.
--Richard L. Winscher, age 75 of Little Falls.
--Irene Fussy, age 84 of Little Falls formerly Sobieski.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 77.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low around 53.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high near 80, storms overnight, low 58.
THURSDAY= showers and storms likely, high near 70, low near 55.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins hold off the Tigers 3-2 on Monday to get a winning record in August and their first winning month of the 2021 regular season. The Twins open a series tonight with the Chicago Cubs at Target Field, pregame at 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.