NEWS
--The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office will hold a Level 3 Sex Offender Community Notification Meeting at St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Hillman at 6:00pm on Thursday, May 24th. The meeting will be hosted by the Minnesota Department of Corrections and the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office. Level 3 Sex Offender, Donald William Warren, will be moving into a residence in Hillman, located in Morrison County. This individual has been convicted of Criminal Sexual Conduct or another offense that requires registration with law enforcement. This offender is not wanted by the police at this time and has served the sentence imposed on him by the court. This notification is not intended to increase fear in the community, but rather to raise awareness. The Sheriff’s Office believes that an informed public is a safer public.
--Motorists should expect to encounter lane closures on Highway 210/Washington Street, as the City of Brainerd completes emergency water main repairs beneath the roadway today. Westbound Highway 210 will be reduced to a single lane of traffic between North Third Street and North Sixth Street, east of the Mississippi River bridge in Brainerd, beginning 8:30am this morning. The repairs are expected to take one day to complete. Please slow down, be patient and drive with caution through the work area. For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org or dial 5-1-1.
--Mother's Day weekend stayed mostly dry with cool mornings easing some fire concerns but this week the low relative humidity and high temperatures (not to mention the dry foliage) north-central Minnesota has all the right factors for widespread fires. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Morrison, Crow Wing and Cass counties are listed as mid-level, or "high," in terms of fire danger. This is still concerning and warrants some precautions such as burning restrictions by the DNR.
--The Morrison County Board of Commissioners last week voted on easements for the Highway 27 project in 2019 through Little Falls. Unlike temporary easements which can be granted by staff, an easement for a portion of the property the county’s parking lot sits on next to the Little Falls Carnegie Library required Board approval. A temporary easement, which would expire December 1st, 2024 at the latest, would be used for construction. In order to build a sidewalk compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) MnDOT needs to adjust a drainage structure on the property. The easement would extend 35 feet east of the intersection of Highway 27 and 3rd Street NE. The value of the easement is about $1,100.
--Shortly before 10:00pm Friday the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Department was notified of an ATV crash with injuries at 38455 State Highway 6 in Emily. A 16-year old male had been riding a three wheeler (ATV) on family property when the crash occurred. A family member became concerned after not hearing the ATV for approximately one hour. The family member and a neighbor checked the ATV trail on the property and discovered the victim and ATV in the woods. Evidence at the scene indicated the ATV was traveling on the trail, went out of control and struck a tree. The driver of the ATV was located sitting on the ATV trail near the crashed ATV. The victim appeared to have suffered a head injury as a result of the crash. The driver of the ATV was ultimately transported to Children’s Hospital by North Memorial Air Care due to injuries sustained in the crash. The driver of the ATV was not wearing a helmet. The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.
--On Saturday the Morrison County Sheriff's Office took a theft report of a 2012 Camp Lite 5.7 Series Camper. The theft took place at the Ereaux Wildlife Management area east of Little Falls. The camper is white and blue with a large sticker that says “Camp Lite” on the front of it. Also located on the back door is a skull sticker. If you have any information regarding this theft please call the sheriffs office.
--The St. Cloud Fire Department responded to two separate fires Saturday. One of those fires destroyed a limousine and the other a shed. The first call involved a limousine fire at 425 Lake Boulevard East, which is near Lake George. Nobody was injured in the fire, but the limo was a total loss. Damage was estimated at $90,000. The second call came around 4:30pm for a shed fire at 1107 Seventh Street North in St. Cloud. The report said the cause was a "recreational fire too close to the shed." The shed was also a total loss, with a $3,000 damage estimate. Nobody was hurt in the blaze.
--A former Children's Residential Treatment Center counselor admitted in court last week she had sexual contact with a 14-year old girl in Foley. 25-year old Alyson Michelle Baker pleaded guilty to a charge of third-degree criminal sexual conduct in Benton County Court Thursday. The maximum sentence for this felony is 15 years in jail and $30,000. Baker will be sentenced on July 26th.
--Live Better Live Longer presents the Rock 'N Run this Saturday at the Belle Prairie Atheltic Complex on Pine Avenue north of Little Falls. Registration is 3-7pm Friday and then 7-8am Saturday before the 10K, 5K, 3K and kids 1K runs beginning around 8:30am. For more on the event contact Kate at Live Better, Live Longer at 631-5675.
SUPREME COURT
--The Supreme Court struck down a federal law that prohibits sports gambling Monday in a landmark decision that gives states the go ahead to legalize betting on sports. The court ruled 6-3 to strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, a 1992 law that barred state authorized sports gambling with some exceptions. For nearly 26 years, Nevada has been the only state allowed to offer a full menu of sports betting options. A record $4.8 billion was wagered at Nevada sportsbooks in 2017. The U.S. joins other jurisdictions that allow legal sports betting, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and France. The American Gaming Association estimates that Americans illegally wager about $150 billion on sports each year.
DEATH NOTICES
--Frank J. Sinderman, age 96 of Little Falls
--Josephine Anne Wippler, age 91 of Randall area.
--John Held, age 55 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 75, clear night low 46.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and warm, high 84, low around 50.
THURSDAY= storms in afternoon, some sun early, high 76.
SPORTS
TWINS= after nearly a 2 hour rain delay, a pitchers duel last night as Mariners shut out Twins 1-0 at Target Field. Twins host St. Louis tonight at 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
VL= Nisswa at Ft. Ripley Sunday at 12:30pm on AM960 KLTF.