NEWS
--The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office appreciates all the support regarding Deputy Brady Pundsack. After a short visit with him Monday, Sheriff Shawn Larsen stated they are able to tell you he is in good spirits and showing improvement. Surgery was performed on his neck, which was successful and thankfully he was able to take a few steps last night and this morning. He is currently in stable condition. The Sheriff’s Office, as well as Deputy Pundsack’s family, is grateful for the care that he received at the scene and at St. Cloud Hospital and appreciate the thoughts and prayers for Deputy Pundsack, his family and everyone involved in this incident.
--Morrison County Administrator Matt LeBlanc spoke on KLTF yesterday morning on county items. LeBlanc expressed his thoughts to Brady Pundsack the Deputy injured Saturday night south of Pierz and also expressed his gratitude to all serving our county, first responders and others who helped in the accident Saturday and continue to do all the work they do. He mentioned that the sheriff's office received the go ahead for the body scanner to the jail, he did not have a timeline when the scanner will be put in place. Road work continues some projects ending, others continuing like the 4th Street Project and culvert repairs and with no big storms in the forecast the projects should be completed on time by early to mid August. There are some projects still to start up in the weeks ahead and public works will keep us updated on the work. LeBlanc stated the goats they brought out to Belle Prairie Park have been really going at to help in the cleaning process and pictures are on the government center Facebook page. LeBlanc still says there are jobs available and you can contact him for more information on the jobs that are being sought in the county at 320-632-0296.
--Last Thursday at the Pillager Fire Hall, 14-year-old Tallen Hansen and 12-year-old Logan Hansen were recognized for their lifesaving actions after a 19-year-old man was injured that previous weekend when his vehicle went off the road and struck a set of trees on Upper Sylvan Road Southwest in Cass County. Logan and Tallen Hansen were staying at their grandfather’s house on Upper Sylvan Road in Sylvan Township when they heard the crash. “We just saw him speeding past our house and we heard him hit the trees,” Logan Hansen said. Both Tallen Hansen and Logan Hansen ran to the crash to find a badly crumpled truck with someone still inside. Calling 911, the dispatcher needed an address so the boys ran back to their grandpa’s house to get it and then Tallen ran back to the truck to render aid to the driver. Tallen said he got into the back of the badly mangled truck and found the man with his head leaning forward and gurgling blood. He took off his favorite shirt to stop the bleeding while holding the man’s head back, opening his airway, and keeping his neck still and supported. The sheriff's office stated that they guarantee that young man is still able to breathe today because of Logan and Tallen’s actions that night. Tallen Hansen and Logan Hansen receive recognition for helping to save a life Thursday, July 13th, 2023, at the Pillager Fire Department.
--A Milaca man was injured in an accident Thursday at 4:03pm on westbound Highway 23 in Milaca. 73-year-old Thomas Ziegler apparently had a medical condition that caused him to fail to negotiate the curve and went off the road striking a number of cable barriers. He was taken to the Princeton Hospital for treatment of what the State Patrol called minor injuries.
--A Bowlus woman is hurt after crashing her motorcycle on Saturday. The crash happened at around 5pm at the intersection of Nature Road and Great River Road about two miles east of Bowlus. The Morrison County Sheriff's Office says 28-year-old Meghan Bartkowicz was heading east on Nature Road when she lost control of the bike, went off the roadway, and hit a road approach. Bartkowicz was taken to St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls with unknown injuries.
--Maintenance employees will be working on the following activities this week: Culvert Work on County Road 256 and County Road 279, Painting Stop Ahead symbols on various roads around the county, Shouldering various county roads in the south east part of the county. Please use caution and slow down around work crews and flashing lights. Be aware that loose material may be present in driving lanes during some of the maintenance activities. Construction Update: CR 234/North Hawthorne in Royalton continue closure for road reconstruction CSAH 26 East of Royalton open to traffic, but expect delays for construction traffic, CSAH 1 North of Randall open to traffic, but expect delays for construction traffic, CSAH 47 East of TH 25 continued closure for box culvert installation CSAH 6 closed at CSAH 12 for bridge construction. 4th Street/CR 257 continued closure for road reconstruction Motorists are reminded to use caution in construction zones and obey construction signing and flaggers.
--Governor Tim Walz announced, the Minnesota Department of Transportation will allocate $380 million for eight infrastructure projects through the state’s Corridors of Commerce program, including the $58 million for the highways 371 and 210 intersection. The money will construct a grade separation at the intersection, meaning traffic will be separated, with plans for Highway 371 to become an overpass over the BNSF Railway tracks and Highway 210. Exactly what that will look like is yet to be determined. It will take environmental studies, soil borings, public feedback, business feedback, planning, design and may well change along the way. It’s likely to be three to four years before dirt will be moved for the project. But one thing is clear. A collaboration between multiple representatives is going to change a main intersection as a gateway to the lakes area with a goal of making it safer and more efficient.
--The Crow Wing County Fair is August 1st-5th today on the KLTF Community Program an update on events about the Fair.
DEATH NOTICES
--Kevin D. Johnson, age 66 of Cushing.
--Karleen K. Spalding, age 80 of Little Falls
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, some haze at times, high 81.
TONIGHT= showers and t-storms overnight, low 60.
WEDNESDAY= showers and t-storms before noon, then sunny and warmer, high 86, evening storms could be severe before midnight.
THURSDAY= sunny and breezy, cooler, high 76, low near 52.
SPORTS
TWINS= Even though Twins score 4 late runs it is not enough to beat the Mariners last night, Seattle wins 7-6. Twins play game 2 of their four game series in Seattle tonight at 8pm on Q92 WYRQ.
LF Radio= listen for updates on American Legion playoff baseball and Victory League playoffs on the morning sports on LF Radio.