NEWS
--At 1:53am Sunday the Morrison County Sheriff's Office received a report of an assault involving a knife at Frosty’s Bar in Pierz. Deputies arrived on scene to investigate and they learned that three people were assaulted with a knife. The suspect, 38-year old Bradley Koch of Hillman was taken into custody and transported to the Morrison County Jail where he is being held pending formal charges for Assault. One victim, 21-year old Hunter Lund of Hillman was transported by ambulance to St. Gabriel’s Hospital with unknown injuries. The other two victims, 42-year old Scott Funk of Pierz and 23-year old Dalton Brezinka of Hillman went to the hospital in their own vehicle. The Pierz Police Department was assisted by the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office, Little Falls Police Department and Mayo Clinic Ambulance. Pierz Police Chief Eric Hanneken and Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen advised that this is an isolated event and the community is not at risk. This incident is still under investigation.
--At 2:25pm Saturday the Little Falls Fire Department responded to Anderson Custom Processing at 121 Lindbergh Drive South on a report of a possible fire on the roof. Upon arrival firefighters were told by employees that they could hear electrical arcing up on the roof and could see smoke. Firefighters found that some electrical wires malfunctioned and started a small area of the roof on fire. The fire burned a small hole in the roof. MN Power responded and shut off the power to the affected area. Firefighters on scene for an hour.
--The two-week filing period for some local mayoral, city council and school board offices begins today. Candidates for state and county offices that have primaries have already filed with a primary election set for August 11th. Starting today the smaller cities, townships, city council seats, mayors, school boards and others with no primary election can apply and file starting today at 8:00am at local city halls. Those candidates have until the end of business on Tuesday August 11th. Their elections will then take place on Tuesday, November 3rd.
--Because of Governor Walz’ executive order requiring masks to be worn inside at public gathering places, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is providing, at no cost, masks to businesses to disburse to their customers if needed. This is an effort to encourage customers to stay in a business and shop if they do not have a mask with them. The masks are intended to be used only by businesses for their customers and not the general public. The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Pierz City Hall received disposable masks for disbursement to local businesses Monday morning. Local businesses should feel free to stop by Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Pierz City Hall to pick up masks for your business. There is a limit as to the number available.
--Morrison County Maintenance employees will be installing turn lanes at the intersection of CSAH 34 and County Road 237 east of Buckman. Flaggers will be present at the work site. Crews will also be installing entrance pipes on CSAH 1 north of Flensburg and County Road 219 north of Swanville. A Public Works Contractor will be finishing up spray patching various roads around Morrison County in the next couple of weeks. Use caution around work crews and be aware that loose material may be present in driving lanes during some of the maintenance activities.
--The Morrison County Commissioners meet today at 9am at the government center boardroom. Masks are required to attend.
--On Saturday the Benton County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man on charges of motor vehicle theft and burglary. Around 3:30pm deputies responded to a motor vehicle theft complaint in the 3900 block of Shaddowwood Drive NE in Minden Township. Responding deputies met the victim, Darrell Ervasti, and learned that a stranger had taken the keys to Ervasti’s 2018 Ford F-150 and drove away with the truck. At about 9:00 pm on July 25th, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office received the report of a burglary and attempted motor vehicle theft from Minnesota Truck Headquarters, 1805 Hwy 23 NE in Minden Township. Matthew Jordet, the manager at Minnesota Truck Headquarters, reported that a white male had just left the business in a newer Ford F-150 after illegally entered the business and attempting to steal a car. Deputies responding to the area and found a man driving Ervasti’s stolen truck at the intersection of Hwy 23 and 35th Ave NE. Deputies followed the truck to the intersection of Hwy 23 and Lincoln Ave NE where the vehicle was stopped. Deputies found the driver to be Steven Douglas Nelson, age 40 of Pine City. Nelson was arrested without incident. Nelson was found to be in possession of several sets of keys that were identified as the property of Minnesota Truck Headquarters.
--Stearns County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a fatal motorcycle accident on Friday at 3:47pm at the intersection of County Road 7 and County Road 44 in St Augusta. 16-year-old Emma Scherbing of Foley, was driving southbound on County Road 7 and made a left-hand turn to go onto County Road 44. She turned in front of Michael Brannan, 59, of Sauk Rapids, who was northbound on County Road 7 driving a motorcycle. Brannan applied his brakes but was unable to stop in time. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
--Lane closures are planned for Interstate 94 between Sauk Centre and Albany later this week. Starting Wednesday, work crews will begin repairing I-94 between Highway 71 in Sauk Centre and Highway 238 in Albany. Prepare for lane closures between 6am-9pm Mondays through Thursdays until September 3rd. The 16-mile project will mean slow traffic and delays while segments of the interstate are reduced to a single lane.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--Longtime TV host Regis Philbin died Friday at age 88. Philbin started on the television in the 1950s and continued to work for over 60+ years a a host, announcer or guest. Legendary actress Olivia de Havilland died over the weekend at age 104 she starred in Gone with the Wind and many films from 1935-1988. Actor John Saxon died last weekend at age 83 he starred in “Enter the Dragon”, “Nightmare on Elm Street” and many others from the 1950s to the 1990s. Also founding guitarist of Fleetwood Mac Peter Green died at age 73.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high near 80, clear night low 54.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high near 80, clear night, low 55.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, high 81, clear night, low near 60.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins have their home opener (with no fans but big heads of ex-Twins and celebrities made up in stands) tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals, pregame at 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
BAB= listen to a Class B game Saturday as Moorhead takes on Sobieski. Hear the action Saturday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.