NEWS
--The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office reports that at Saturday at approximately 10:36pm their office received a report of an ATV crash with injuries near a residence off 243rd Street, south of Harding in Pulaski Township. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 39-year-old Ryan Hoppe of Pierz was on an ATV traveling south along a snowmobile trail with passenger, 44-year-old Peggy Strack of Pierz. The ATV hit a frozen creek, rolled, and ejected both occupants off the ATV. Hoppe was transported by Life Link III to St. Cloud Hospital with serious injuries. Strack was transported by Mayo Clinic Ambulance to St. Gabriel’s Hospital and later transported to St. Cloud Hospital by Life Link III with serious injuries. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Minnesota State Patrol, Pierz Fire Department, Pierz First Response Team, Sullivan Lake First Response Team, Mayo Clinic Ambulance and Life Link III.
--An emergency team with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is coming to Minnesota to help the state respond to confirmed cases of avian flu. Over the weekend the Minnesota Board of Animal Health confirmed that H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was found in poultry flocks in Mower, Meeker and Stearns counties. In Meeker County, the virus was detected in a commercial turkey flock of 289,000 animals. In Stearns County, another commercial flock of 24,000 turkeys was infected, while in Mower County, the avian flu was detected in a backyard "mixed species" flock of 17 birds. The USDA emergency response team will aid the state's Agricultural Incident Management Team to help contain infected flocks, respond to infected sites, conduct disease surveillance and coordinate logistics and finances between state and federal agencies, according to Governor Tim Walz's office. “Armed with years of preparation for this incident, our state’s Agricultural Incident Management Team is working quickly and decisively to respond to the cases of H5N1 in Minnesota,” Walz said in a statement. “Within hours of the first confirmed cases, our Board of Animal Health requested emergency support from the USDA. These federal partners will bring targeted expertise to contain this virus and ensure that our state’s poultry industry remains the strongest in the nation.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), avian flu viruses don't usually infect people, although there have been some rare cases of human infection. The CDC says it's very rare for a person infected with bird flu viruses to spread it to a close contact, but when it has happened the cases only involve spread to a few people.
--St. Cloud Police is reporting a stolen vehicle on the 300 block of 32nd avenue north. The vehicle is a 2010 white Ford F150 with Minnesota license plate BRB 446. Also, a burglary happened on the 1900 block of Quarry Road in St. Cloud. A vehicle was taken from a garage. It is a 2008 black Dodge Caravan with Minnesota license plate HGJ 849. If you have information on any unsolved crimes in the Stearns, Benton or Sherburne County area please report information by calling Crimestoppers at 1-800-255-1301, online at tricountycrimestoppers.org and click on submit a tip or use the P3 mobile app and submit your information that way.
--St. Francis of Assisi Church south of Upsala is planning for “Journey with Jesus to Calvary” the performance of Jesus's week leading to this death and rising. April 6th at 7pm. April 8th and 9th at 7:30pm and April 10th at 1pm all at the church 4 miles south of Upsala on 238. The Performance is Free as Jesus already paid the price.
--The Morrison County Board of Commissioners on their April 5th meeting will approve the county redistricting lines for the 5 County Commissioner Seats starting at the November election. District 1 will be the Townships and Cities of Motley, Rosing, Scandia Valley, Cushing, Ripley, Platte, Darling and Green Prairie. District 2 will consist of Townships and Cities in Belle Prairie, and Wards 2 and 3 of Little Falls. District 3 will be Ward 1 of Little Falls and Bellevue Township including Royalton. District 4 will be all Townships and Cities for Pulaski, Richardson, Buh, Granite, Leigh, Agram, Pierz, Mt. Morris, Hillman, Buckman, Morrill and Lakin. District 5 will consist of Townships and Cities in Parker, Culdrum, Pike Creek, Swanville, Swan River, Elmdale and Two Rivers in western and southwest parts of the county. Again the new redistricting for Commissioners will begin with the November elections and this will include the new Ward redistricting of Little Falls for Wards 1, 2 and 3. Questions for Little Falls Wards call 320-616-5500, and for the County Redistricting reach out to County Administrator at 320-632-0293.
--The Great River Children's Museum in St. Cloud is one of a handful of children's museums across the state asking for state funding. The St. Cloud museum is asking for $7 million in fiscal year 2023 from the state's general fund. They say the money would be used to help design, build, renovate, furnish, and equip the museum. The museum is in the process of renovating and expanding a 25,000 square foot building in downtown St. Cloud. The bill in the State House is also asking for $10 million for the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota in Mankato, $3 million for the Judy Garland Children's Museum in Grand Rapids, $2 million for the Wondertrek Children's Museum in Brainerd-Baxter, $2 million for the Otter Cove Children's Museum in Fergus Falls, and $1 million for the Duluth Children's Museum. The bill will be heard in the House today.
--Jen Schultz, current MN House 7A Representative, announced her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District. She will be seeking endorsement from the district’s DFL Party this spring. Schultz currently serves as Chair of House Human Services Finance & Policy Committee where she has advanced measures to improve access to affordable healthcare and reduce prescription drug prices. She is also a Commissioner on the Great Lakes Commission where she has advocated for the protection of the Great Lakes, climate resilience, restoration of habitat, and sensible economic development. Republican Pete Stauber currently holds the seat for US 8th District Congressman. Due to the census and subsequent redistricting, Morrison County which had been in the 8th district for the past 10 years will now be in the 7th District. The 8th District will be represented geographically by counties to the north and to the east of Morrison County for the November election.
DEATH NOTICES
--Donald E. Nelson Sr. age 93 of Brooklyn Park & Brooklyn Center.
WEATHER
TODAY= AM sunshine, PM clouds with rain showers, high 43.
TONIGHT= rain to sleet to snow overnight, ½ inch slush, low 30.
WEDNESDAY= snow likely 1-2 inches, strong winds, high 35, low 26.
THURSDAY= AM flurries, then partial sun and windy, high 38, low 19.
SPORTS
NCAA= The NCAA Women's Final Four in basketball is this weekend at the Target Center in Minneapolis, April 1st through the 3rd.