NEWS
--The St. Francis Convent hosts the Green Fair Folk Festival Wednesday from 4-8:00pm at the grounds of the convent in south Little Falls. Music to be performed from various acts, the U-Rock program and Levi Pelzer. Food, concessions, vendors, chance to win prizes, see a number of organizations, get horse drawn carriage rides, bring the kids for teddy bear clinic and adoption and face painting. The event itself is free to attend with the purchase of food items on site. That is this Wednesday at the St. Francis Convent.
--According to data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for non seasonally adjusted rates, Morrison County had a 3.6% unemployment rate in June 2019. Here is how our other area counties fared with June unemployment rates: Aitken 4.6%, Benton 3.3%, Cass 4.2%, Crow Wing 3.5%, Mille Lacs 4.1%, Sherburne 3.3%, Stearns 3.2%, Todd 3.6%, Wadena 4.9%. The city of Brainerd was at 4.6% and St. Cloud was 3.8%. The statewide average was 3.4% and the national average was 3.8%.
--A Cold Spring man was hurt in a crash in Mille Lacs County late Friday just after 11:00pm. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at the intersection of Highway 169 and 280th Street near Onamia. A car driven by 72-year old Thomas Mcmahon of Cold Spring was going north on the highway when it was struck by a pickup going east across the highway. Mcmahon was taken to Onamia Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Mcmahon's four passengers were not hurt. The 17-year old male driver of the pickup was not hurt either.
--A St. Cloud man has been sentenced to probation after being caught in an undercover child sex sting. Corey Wentz and Jacob Young, Stearns County Jail. 35-year-old Sory Sidime of St. Cloud pleaded guilty to a felony charge of engaging in electronic communication relating to or describing sexual conduct with a child. A charge of soliciting a child to engage in sex acts was dismissed as part of the plea agreement. According to the complaint, Sidime, 38-year-old Corey Wentz of St. Cloud, and 23-year-old Jacob Young of St. Cloud, all responded to an online profile set up by undercover officers acting as a 14-year-old girl. Wentz pleaded guilty to a felony count of soliciting a child through electronics to engage in sexual conduct and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison. Young will be sentenced in October.
--A motorcycle driver was hurt in a crash in Sherburne County. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at about 7:30pm Sunday on southbound Highway 169 in Elk River. A car was slowing down for traffic when it was rear-ended by a motorcycle. The motorcycle driver, 20-year old Parker Pellan of Maple Grove, was taken to Mercy Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the car, 44-year old Lori Parks of Albertville, was not hurt.
--A 26-year old from Menagha is dead after a two-vehicle accident in Hubbard County involving a Brainerd man Saturday night just after 9:30pm. Devlan Ingberg of Brainerd was on Highway 71 near Hidden Drive when he started to slow and a vehicle from behind at a high rate of speed struck his vehicle causing the 2nd vehicle to roll off the roadway, went airborne and struck a tree. Ingberg and his passenger were not injured. Over the weekend the State Patrol released the other drivers name was 26-year-old Taner Berttunen of Menagha who died at scene.
--Get Morrison County Fair info at fallsradio.com on home-page.
--The National Night Out in Brainerd is tonight from 5-7pm at Gregory Park. Free food, music and other festivities sponsored by many community organizations and businesses. You can meet members of the Brainerd Fire Department and Emergency services at the event.
--A 43-year old man was injured while racing at Brainerd International Raceway at 11:25 am Saturday, August 3rd after he lost control of his vehicle and crashed through a cement barrier. Coy Allen Christmas was taken to Brainerd Hospital treated and released. Christmas’ passenger, 40-year old Alfredo Santiago of Andover, was not injured. BIR hosted its Powercruise driving events last weekend.
--A Buffalo man suffered minor injuries after crashing a motorcycle in rural Stearns County. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says 50-year-old Fred Main was riding his motorcycle with a group along County Road 44 near Clearwater Lake on Saturday at about 3:15pm when the crash occurred. Main lost control of the motorcycle as he began to brake for a stop sign at 146th Street and started to skid, causing the bike to go down. He sustained minor injuries while sliding the bike. Main was not wearing a helmet.
--Thousands of farmers and agriculture industry leaders are set to make their way to Morgan this week for Farmfest, the three-day annual trade fair at the 50-acre site near Redwood Falls that starts today and runs through Thursday. More than 500 exhibitors are set to show their farm equipment and products and farmers can take in demonstrations on farming the up-and-coming crops of hemp and hops or meet with state and federal ag leaders and elected officials. Given the tough year many Minnesota farmers have experienced, Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said attendance should be up as people seek to learn more about federal policy or weigh in on trade policy or legislation. Farmers will get a chance to meet with state and federal elected officials, including U. S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, the majority of the state's congressional delegation and the governor. Congressman Collin Peterson, who chairs the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, is set to hold a listening session on Wednesday about the farm economy.
--Congratulations to the winners of awards and prizes Saturday at Platte River Day in Royalton including the $5,000 raffle winner-Lee Winscher. Also congratulations to the raffle winners at the St. Joseph's Church Bazaar in Pierz on Sunday including their grand prize winner Leon Flicker. Thanks to all who attended both of the events.
--The Morrison County Commissioners meet today at 9am at the Morrison County Government Center boardroom.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
--Nathan and Christine Golden of Little Falls, a girl born August 2nd.
--Christopher and Stacey Seviola of Royalton, a girl born August 2nd.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 83.
TONIGHT= increasing clouds, storms after 4am, low 62.
WEDNESDAY= storms in morning, then PM sun, high 77, low 51.
THURSDAY= sunny and pleasant, high 74, low around 50.
SPORTS
TWINS= Miguel Sano hits a pinch-hit 2 run walk-off homerun last night for the Twins to beat Atlanta 5-3 at Target Field. The Twins and Atlanta play game 2 tonight at 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= Vikings open the preseason Friday 7pm at New Orleans.