NEWS
--At 3:50am Sunday the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a one vehicle accident near the intersection of Highway 25 and 123rd Street, approximately two miles south of Pierz. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 20-year old Mitchell Holtz of Little Falls was traveling north on Highway 25. Holtz’s vehicle left the roadway and hit a road approach launching the vehicle into the air causing it to roll. Holtz was transported to St. Gabriel’s Hospital with unknown injuries. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Pierz Fire Department and first responders.
--An update from a story from yesterday. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office reported they located the body of a man in Lake Carlos and they believe it is the man who was reported missing late Friday night which had a search effort going through the 4th of July weekend. The body was located late Sunday morning by a dive team called in to help search for the missing man. No name was released.
--Stearns County deputies responded to an accident with injuries Friday just after 12:30pm to the 40000 block of Apple Lane in Sauk Centre Township. 68-year-old David Anderson of Sauk Centre was mowing his lawn with a Cub Cadet riding lawn mower. As he made a right turn to go around a culvert on the northeast corner of his property, the right front wheel came too close to the culvert and sank into the soft ground. The lawn mower leaned to the right and forced Mr. Anderson from the seat. The lawn mower shut off and continued to roll to the right which pinned his legs underneath. An unidentified neighbor drove by and saw Mr. Anderson under the lawn mower. The neighbor stopped to help Mr. Anderson get out from underneath the lawn mower. Anderson was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
--The USDA has released the Minnesota Agricultural Statistics from July 1st on planting in the state. Corn planted in 2020 for all purposes by Minnesota producers is estimated at 8.10 million acres according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Acreage report. This is an increase of 4% from 2019. Soybean planted acreage is estimated at 7.40 million acres, an increase of 8% from the acres planted in 2019. Spring wheat planted in Minnesota is estimated at 1.30 million acres, 150,000 acres below last year and down 50,000 acres from the March intentions. Oats planted acreage is estimated at 210,000, down 30,000 acres from last year and 40,000 acres from the March intentions. Total dry hay expected to be harvested for 2020 is estimated at 1.10 million acres, unchanged from last year, but down 50,000 acres from the March intentions. Sugarbeet acreage is estimated at 432,000 planted acres, 8,000 acres above 2019 and 5,000 acres above the March intentions. An expected 420,000 acres of sugarbeets will be harvested. For more totals you can visit the USDA website or contact your local Farm Service Agency, in Morrison County the number is 632-5477.
--A federal judge has ordered the Dakota Access pipeline to shut down until more environmental review is done. The pipeline has been carrying oil for three years. On Monday, a judge wrote that even though the disruption will be significant, he had concluded the pipeline must be shut down. The Standing Rock tribe presses litigation against the pipeline even after it began carrying oil from North Dakota. The judge actually decided back in April, the pipe line out of Fargo was just highly controversial and had to be shut down.
--No new numbers of COVID-19 in Morrison County Monday, 59 cases with 1 death, there were 3 new deaths statewide on Monday.
--Little Falls City Administrator Jon Radermacher announced Monday that City Hall was officially reopening at 8:00am today, there were a few exceptions on Monday already, with modified safety protocols and limited access. The following protocols will be established for non-employees in the building: Entrance will only be through the East Door (the door from the parking lot). Please attempt to keep 6 feet between you and other citizens while in the building. Floor markings will indicate the distance. If there are multiple people in the building common area, please wait outside until a citizen leaves. Hand sanitizer will be available and is requested to be used before and after touching common surfaces like the credit card reader. The following areas of City Hall are not open to the public, the Engineering offices, Council Chambers, Admin Offices, Conference Rooms and hallways not designated as common areas. It is highly recommended that citizens coming into the building wear a mask. In accordance with the COVID-19 Preparedness Plans, water fountains will not be available. Staff while using the common area of the building are also recommended to wear masks. Council Meetings will still be remote, as the Council Chambers are not feasible to obtain social distancing and do not have the means to create additional airflow with no access to exterior windows or doors. Citizens are encouraged to continue to use alternative methods of payment. A plan for the reintroduction of penalties and disconnects will be instituted starting with August 20th billing cycle, with payments due September 5th. The Police Department lobby will also be open to the public. Similar to the City Hall, citizens are requested to wear a mask, hand sanitizer will be available, and 2 people can occupy the lobby at the same time and maintain 6 feet between, please wait outside until it is open. The Prescription Drop-off boxes will be available. Fire Hall will not be open to the public, but training for firefighters have returned to the Fire Hall. Radermacher said pay attention to the City’s website www.cityoflittlefalls.com and Facebook Page for further updates for the city of Little Falls.
--Back on Saturday at 7:19pm Stearns County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Ashley Township for a structure fire. Property owner, 42-year old Jerry Loxtercamp of Villard reported his open-ended shed had smoke billowing out from the round hay bales stacked inside. The shed was used for housing hay bales and farm equipment. Mr. Loxtercamp assisted the fire department by removing the bales as they sprayed water onto them. Approximately 10 bales were damaged. The structure was still standing and did not appear to sustain any damage. No one was injured.
--The Townships of Platte, Pulaski and Richardson will hold a clean up day for residents living outside the city limits but within the townships on July 18th from 8am to 10am at Pulaski Town Hall. For information contact Bonnie at 468-2987 or Judy at 468-2328.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 84.
TONIGHT= storms after midnight, low near 70.
WEDNESDAY= storms early and late day, hazy, humid, high 91.
WED NITE/THURS= storm early, then clearing, low 66, high 83.
SPORTS
TWINS= Major League Baseball announced the 60 game schedules for all teams, the Twins open at Chicago against the White Sox on Friday, July 24th, their home opener on the 28th against St. Louis.