NEWS
--An emergency water main repair will be taking place today in Little Falls on 3rd Street SE. Water will be shut off from approximately 8:00am-5:00pm on Tuesday weather permitting on 3rd Street SE from 5th Avenue to 7th Avenue. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
--Effective next Monday, July 27th Morrison County Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) will be servicing customers by walk-in and scheduled appointments. Motor Vehicle title transfers, tab renewals and DNR transactions will all be available for service by walk-in, drop box/mail or appointment. Standard Driver’s License renewals will be available for walk-in or appointment. Real ID and Enhanced Driver’s License will continue to be serviced by appointment only. Appointment calendar will now be available up to 4 weeks in advance. Minnesota law automatically extended the expiration of any driver’s license, ID card or permit that would have expired between March 12th through August 13th now to October 31st. Real ID deadline of October 1st, 2020 has been extended one year until October 1st, 2021. Starting October 1st, 2021, a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card or another acceptable form of identification will be required to board a domestic flight or enter a federal facility. Governor Walz signed a bill into law that waives the photo and vision screening requirement for Minnesotans renewing or replacing their standard driver’s license or identification card through June 30th, 2021. This change allows Minnesotans to renew or replace their standard driver’s license or ID card online at drive.mn.gov provided there is no name, address, signature or license number change.
--According to the latest report from the Minnesota Department of Health there were no new cases of COVID-19 in yesterdays report in Morrison County as we are at 73 cumulative positive tests. Statewide there were 922 positive tests and 4 new deaths on Monday. It was reported that a 9 month old died from COVID-19 making the first child under the age of 5 in Minnesota to die linked to the virus.
--There will be a Little Falls Community Bike Ride Tuesday, August 4th with the ride starting at 5:15pm at the Morrison County Government Center. This will be a family friendly bike ride as you will join local heroes and their families for a slow roll through town ending at Lindbergh State Park. All ages are welcome. You are asked to wear a helmet and practice social distancing. The heroes involved will include Health Workers and Medical Professionals, Food Providers and Vendors, Grocery Employees, Delivery Drivers and Riders and OTR Truck Drivers, Cleaners – Janitors and Garbage Collectors, Security Personnel – Military, Police, Fire fighters, EMT personnel and others who help safeguard your safety, Bank and Insurance Personnel, Government workers and you. Join in on August 4th.
--A Harley Motorcycle was traveling East on Highway 10 at 155th Street NW Halfway Crossing in Langola Township of Benton County around 4:45pm Saturday when a camper driving through the intersection East bound pulled out in front causing the motorcycle to crash into the motorhome. The motorcycle driver, 57-year old John Weiss of Lino Lakes was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non life threatening injuries. No one else involved in the accident were hurt.
--A two vehicle accident in Todd County sent two the hospital Monday afternoon around 1:22pm. 80-year-old Sharon Quale was turning from Highway 71 to South Street West and she was struck from behind by a van driven by 64-year-old Chad Larson of Eagle Bend. Both were taken to area hospitals for treatmente of their injuries.
--Weather permitting, Morrison County maintenance employees will be installing centerline culverts on CSAH 34 in the southeast part of the county. This will be a road closure with a detour in place. Crews will be cleaning up trees on CSAH 52, CSAH 3 and County Road 257. A Public Works Contractor will continue spray patching various roads around the county through the end of this month. Please use caution around work crews and be aware that loose material may be present in driving lanes in work zone areas.
--The coronavirus pandemic led to record-breaking fishing license sales this spring ahead of the Minnesota fishing opener, and while sales have mostly leveled-off, overall, sales are up 11% over last year. Youth licenses which cover 16-and-17-year olds is up 34% over last year and the highest sales since the state lowered the cost of youth licenses to $5 in 2013.
--Around 1:45pm, Stearns County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a motor vehicle crash with injuries near the intersection of County Road 75 and Franklin Road in Lynden Township outside Clearwater. 29-year old Michael Dale of St. Cloud, was driving south on County Road 75 when the vehicle left the roadway on the east side of the road, went down a steep ditch, and struck a large pine tree bringing the vehicle to an abrupt stop. Dale said he swerved to avoid striking a deer on the roadway. He was taken by ambulance to the St. Cloud Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Further investigation revealed Mr. Dale was possibly under the influence of a controlled substance. Dale was booked into the Stearns County Jail for 1st Degree DWI.
--Stearns County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to 47118 County Road 192 in Raymond Township for a one vehicle crash Thursday morning at 9:18am. 19-year-old Evan Messer of Sauk Centre, was driving a 1986 Kenworth grain truck for Vogt Dairy. Mr. Messer was traveling eastbound on County Road 192 when the front left tire blew out. He tried to maneuver the truck, but he was unable to keep it on the roadway. The truck crossed the center line and went into the north ditch. Messer was wearing his seat belt. He sustained minor injuries and was brought to a hospital by a private party.
--Stearns County Sheriff’s deputies responded to 23621 273rd Avenue in Zion Township for a building fire. At 3:08am Saturday Jody Thelen of Paynesville, indicated she awoke to a bright light coming from the outside southwest side of her home. When she looked out the window, she noticed their 18’ x 27’ shed was on fire. Firefighters responded to extinguish the fire. The shed sustained moderate damage. No one was injured. Lightning is the probable cause.
--The Little Falls Community High School Class of 1975 45th Reunion this year set for Saturday September 19th at Jerry Januschka’s farm has been postponed and will be rescheduled for 2021.
DEATH NOTICE
--Rose Marie Zetah, age 84 of Cushing.
WEATHER
TODAY= showers in morning, sun in the afternoon, high 74.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low around 54.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 75, clear night, low near 60.
THURSDAY= sunny and warmer, high 81, storms late night.
SPORTS
RACE= The Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway this year has been postponed it will not be August 13-16th.