NEWS
--At 8:18pm Saturday the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an accident with injuries on Woodchuck Trail, approximately four miles north of Randall in Cushing Township. 35-year-old Lora Murray of Little Falls was driving a Polaris Ranger side by side, north on Woodchuck Trail. Murray tried maneuvering around a tree branch in the roadway and the tires caught the edge of the road, causing the side by side to go into the east ditch and roll. The passenger, 28-year-old Jennifer Hauer of Randall sustained multiple injuries and was transported to Minneapolis by Life Link III. Alcohol is believed to be a factor and is still under investigation.
--At 12:20pm Saturday the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a business burglary at Gaffke’s Auto Repair, located on Sunwood Lane, in the city of Randall. According to the Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 2:30am Saturday, the suspect entered the business through the overhead door, located on the east side of the business. Several tools to include a Milwaukee Sawzall and impact driver were reported stolen. The suspect also stole a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer, black in color. The Trailblazer had a gold pin stripe down both sides of the vehicle and a Randall Fire Department sticker in the back window. The white male suspect has some type of marking, believed to be a tattoo behind his left ear. He also appears to have a tattoo on his left forearm. If you have information regarding this burglary or the possible identity of the suspect pictured on their facebook page, call the Sheriff’s Office at 320-632-9233.
--At 2:59pm Sunday Crow Wing County Deputies responded to the area 9228 Cimino Bay Drive in Pequot Lakes (Pelican Lake Public Access) for a report of a male that had been pulled from the water while swimming from a pontoon on the south part of Pelican Lake. It was reported that the male was not breathing and CPR was in progress. Deputies along with a Breezy Point Officer, Zone 3 First Responders, and North Ambulance met a pontoon at the access with the victim onboard and continued life-saving measures. The male, 49-year old Loren Michael Hinch of Merrifield was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is currently under investigation by the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office and the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Breezy Point Police, North, Ambulance, and Zone 3 First Responders.
--At 5:53am Thursday the Brainerd Police Department receiving a report of a deceased male in a wooded area west of Southeast 13th Street just south of Northern Pacific Road. Officers responded and found 41-year old Chad Michael Pierzinski dead inside of a makeshift structure that Pierzinski is believed to have been staying in. Acquaintances of Pierzinski reported going to this location to check on him after not seeing him for several days. Pierzinski was transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiners Office and this incident remains an active investigation pending autopsy results. Brainerd police did state that foul play is not suspected.
--Thursday is the first of the three Markets and Music on the Mississippi event at LeBourget Park in Little Falls. Markets open at 3pm with attractions and other items to enjoy, stuff for the kids and adults alike. There will be human foosball, face painting, Camp Ripley firetrucks and music starting at 6pm with Levi Pelzer Band. Also this year at all three events the Little Falls Radio Cash Cube will be there, register for a chance that night to get in the cash cube with three different age categories to win cash and items donated to the event. For more details call 320-616-4959 or littlefallsmn.com.
--The Little Falls Fire Department was dispatched at 4:28pm yesterday to 706 2nd St Northeast in Little Falls on a report of a deck on fire with the fire possibly spreading into the house. When the fire department arrived, a heavy fire on the back side of the residence was found. Firefighters extinguished the fire on the exterior and made entry into the residence to locate fire that had spread inside. The outside temperature at the time of the fire was 99 degrees with high humidity. Due to those conditions, firefighters had to rotate out frequently to rehab to prevent heat exhaustion. All the occupants were able to exit the residence before the fire department arrived. There were no injuries to residents or firefighters, however there was a cat found deceased. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the MN State Fire Marshal’s Office. The residents are being helped with temporary housing by Red Cross and Morrison County Chaplain.
--Rounds of heavy rains last night and strong winds led to some severe storms in the evening and overnight in the area. The Morrison County Airport reported just under 2 inches of total rainfall.
--Brainerd Lakes travelers can expect weekday lane closures with reduced speeds on both directions of Highway 371 as a $6.8 million access and safety improvement project started Monday from south of Gull Lake Dam Road (Crow Wing County Road 125) to north of Green Gables Road (County Road 126). The Minnesota Department of Transportation will reconstruct three intersections with a reduced conflict intersection design, also known as a J-turn, at Gull Lake Dam Road (County Road 125), Birchdale Road (Brainerd International Raceway main entrance) and Green Gables Road (County Road 126). The two-year project will also reconstruct and extend both frontage roads along Highway 371; replace underground pipes and repair ditch drainage; and resurface work areas, which includes shoulders and entrances. In reduced conflict intersections, drivers always make a right turn followed by a U-turn. Expect delays along the 371 project.
--Fire crews responded to a trailer fire Friday morning. The call came in just before 10am in the 3600 block of 1st Street North. The St. Cloud fire department says a flatbed trailer with several items load on it was on fire when crews arrived. The fire was contained to the trailer and cause roughly $500 in damage. No one was injured.
--A Friday kitchen fire caused $20,000 in damage to a home and displaced four people. According to the St. Cloud Fire Department about 12:31pm Friday, the fire department responded to a fire at a residence on the 1400 block of 12th Avenue North. Fire fighters extinguished a stovetop cooking fire that had extended to the over-the-range microwave and kitchen cabinets. No injuries were reported, but four people were displaced by the fire.
SUMMER NEWS
--Even though the hot weather was here the last 2 days, this morning at 4:14am is the official start of Summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 86, humidity levels drop during day.
TONIGHT= clear skies, comfortable night, low 57.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and pleasant, high 81, low near 60.
THURSDAY= sunny and hot, high 93, storms possible in PM hours.
SPORTS
TWINS= After a day off, Twins open a series at home against the Cleveland Guardians tonight, pregame at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
NHL= Lightning win 6-2 last night, but Colorado leads series 2-1.