NEWS
--A COVID-19 relief package is headed to Governor Tim Walz's desk after the measure cleared both the Minnesota Senate and House Monday by overwhelming majorities. The package of coronavirus relief measures is aimed at businesses and workers who took the biggest hit from a four-week “pause” ordered by Gov. Walz last month. The Senate voted 62-4 to approve the bill and send it to the House, which then passed it later Monday night by a 117-13 vote. The bill now goes to the governor for his signature. The $216 million bill includes three "buckets" of grant money, and a 13-week extension on unemployment insurance for jobless workers. It will be distributed as follows, $100 million in direct aid to restaurants, bars, gyms and fitness centers. Grants will range from $10,000 to $35,000 depending on number of employees. $14 million in direct grants to movie theaters and convention centers. $102 million to counties to be given to small businesses, nonprofits and live theater operations. Also it was reported yesterday that the state did not see a large surge of numbers from the Thanksgiving weekend. The Goveror will speak tomorrow on if he will extend the restrictions or allow them to expire.
--The National Weather Service tweeted Sunday evening that snow from earlier in the day caused hundreds of serious crashes. State Patrol reported a total of 217 crashes Sunday on Minnesota roadways, 1 fatal in Eagan, another serious injury crash in Bloomington, another in Minneapolis. Locally a number of fender benders reported by local authorities and a string of spinouts and crashes between St. Cloud and Clearwater but none reported to be serious. The National Weather Service urges drivers to slow down.
--30-year old Paul Michael Nieman of Little Falls, was charged with a felony for violating a domestic abuse no contact order within 10 years of the first of two or more convictions. According to a statement by the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, a Morrison County District Judge allegedly issued a domestic abuse no contact order on October 29, 2019, which prohibited Nieman from contacting the victim. On December 1st a deputy from the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office allegedly received information that Nieman and the victim were living together at an address on 183rd Street in Morrison County. The deputy drove to that location and allegedly observed Nieman sitting on a couch inside the residence. The deputy asked Nieman where the protected person was located and he allegedly said they were in a back bedroom. The protected person then allegedly approached and identified themself to the deputy. The deputy allegedly advised Nieman that he was in violation of the no contact order and he was placed under arrest. Nieman’s criminal history allegedly shows that he was previously convicted of a felony violation of a no contact order from November 2015. He was also convicted of felony domestic assault by strangulation in November 2015. As a result of those prior convictions, the current offense is enhanced to a felony. If convicted, Nieman faces five years imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine.
--A 20-year-old from Onamia was killed last Wednesday after being hit by a vehicle on Virgo Road in Mille Lacs County. The Mille Lacs Tribal Police responded to the fatal crash at 1:19am. The pedestrian was identified as Chey Amos Garbow. Anyone with information on the hit-and-run is asked to contact tribal police at 320-532-3430.
--If you took tags from the trees for the Holiday Gift Giving Program in Morrison County please return them to the stores or Pine Country Bank by tomorrow at the latest. Questions call Judy 630-8497.
--As weather permits, maintenance employees will be working on the following activities this week: maintenance crews will be clearing brush around bridges and, trimming trees in various areas around the county. Brush cutting along roadside ditches will continue. Crews will be patching potholes in the northwest part of the county. Please continue to watch for road crews and slow down in work zones.
--The Morrison County website Monday showed 285 active cases and 150 hospitalized with COVID-19. Little Falls at 125 per their zip code, Pierz was at 50 cases, Royalton at 35 and Cushing was up to 18 cases. The rest of the county zip codes were under 15 cases each. The State Website had 3,206 new cases Monday and 18 new deaths. There were 31 new cases in Morrison County Monday.
--Morrison County United Way kicked off the 2020 fundraising campaign in mid-September and are planning to wrap up the campaign within the next couple of weeks. This is an annual event. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, courtesy calls were made to determine if businesses could be visited in person or if they preferred a virtual touchpoint. Approximately 200 local businesses and employers received informational packets about the organization. The campaign will wrap up just as applications are being received from local non-profits with funding requests for their programs. In January, allocations and available funds for the Imagination Library and Tools for School programs will be determined based on support of the 2020 campaign. If you would like to support Morrison County United Way and the 2020 campaign, please contact Boser at 320-632-5102.
--A teenager died after crashing a vehicle into the Mississippi River early Sunday morning. The incident happened shortly after 1:30am in Big Lake Township. The Sherburne County Sheriff's Office says 19-year-old Dashon Rodriguez was driving west on County Road 130 at a high rate of speed and missed a 90-degree curve. Authorities say his vehicle went down an embankment and crashed into the river. Rodriguez's passenger, 22-year-old Devin Moksnes, swam to shore and went to a nearby house for help. Deputies say when they arrived at the scene, the vehicle was in about 11 feet of water with Rodriguez still inside. He was declared dead at the scene. Moksnes suffered minor injuries. Authorities say alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the crash.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Cooper Grashorn and Jenna Saldana of Little Falls, a girl on 12-11.
DEATH NOTICES
--Ty Poppenhagen, age 16 of Upsala.
--Ryan John Schuett, age 50 of Pierz.
--Robert Kent Mayberry, age 80 of Motley.
WEATHER
TODAY= cloudy skies, high 23, cloudy tonight low around 13.
WEDNESDAY= partly cloudy, high near 30, snow late night, low 18.
THURSDAY= flurries early, then cloudy, high 33, low around 25.
SPORTS
MLB= One day after the Cleveland Indians announced a change in their name, the owner Monday ruled that the Indians name will stay through the 2021 season and then they will reevaulate the possibility of changing the name but that will not happen this coming season.
NFL= Baltimore outslugged Cleveland last night 47-42 on MNF.