NEWS
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce announced their May Employee of the Month is Laurie Ochoa, who has worked at the Quick Save as a Manager- Clerk for the past 2 ½ years. Ray Dodin of Quick Save states about Laurie: “Laurie has a very strong work ethic, with a positive attitude creating a good work environment. Laurie is self-motivated, works effectively with our customers and strives to meet the needs of each every guest at Quick Save”.
--Congratulations to Bay Lake Lion Adolph Kukowski who has received the prestigious international Lion Hall of Fame Award by distinguishing himself through dedicated selfless service beyond the club. Recognizing the humanitarian endeavors of these Lions make the world a much better place to live. Adolph has been a member of the Bay Lake Area Lions since 1980 and has served in a number of leadership roles. He received the award earlier this year at the Mid-Winter Conference.
--An 11-year-old New London boy died Wednesday, after he sustained life-threatening injuries in a March crash east of Paynesville. Nathaniel Shumaker died at Hennepin County Medical Center. His death resulted from complications of multiple blunt force injuries caused by the crash, according to the Hennepin County Medial Examiner's Office in a report released Friday. The fifth-grader was one of five people injured in a crash on March 28th. A van collided with a semi on Minnesota Highway 23, 3 miles east of Paynesville, according to the patrol. His 16-year-old brother Josh Shumaker was driving, when he crossed the center lane and struck a semi driving toward them. Nate and Josh were on the left side of the vehicle, and suffered the most serious injuries.
--A Rockville truck driver was injured in a crash that killed another driver early Friday morning. The Minnesota State Patrol reported that 33-year-old Dean Hedburg was driving west on Interstate 94 at about 5:40am in Tumuli Township in Otter Tail County, south of Fergus Falls. Hedburg rear-ended a pickup truck, also driving west. Both vehicles left the road and entered the Hansel Lake rest area. The crash caused a fire, destroying the pickup truck. The driver's injuries were fatal. Officials declared the driver dead at the scene.
--The Initiative Foundation based in Little Falls recently awarded grants to local nonprofits. Included in the grants were $2,180 to Little Falls Community Schools for Supporting Young Musicians and another $5,400 for their district mentoring program. Others includes Region 5 Development for the downtown Brainerd revitalization project, given $5,000 for that and many other projects around Crow Wing, Cass, Wadena and Aitkin Counties to help nonprofit projects and groups.
--Fire crews from six area departments battled a grass fire in southeast St. Cloud Sunday. About 225 acres of state land burned near the St. Cloud Prison. The call came in at about 2:00pm and crews were on the scene until about 8:00pm. Faust says several buildings owned by the Department of Corrections were threatened, but the only building destroyed was one that had not been used for several years. Besides St. Cloud, fire departments from Waite Park, St. Augusta, Sauk Rapids, Sartell and the DNR helped fight the fire, including 50 firefighters. The cause of the fire has not been determined. A DNR Wildland fire investigator has been called in.
--Weekend events can be found at fallsradio.com.
--The Little Falls fire department responded to several grass fires Sunday. Fire chief Mike Nieman stated that one fire occurred on Hawthorne Road, one in Green Prairie township, and one in the Highway 10 ditch near the Highway 371 interchange. Nieman asks that if you don't need to burn please don't. Even with yesterday's rain, brush and grass remains dry and can easily catch fire. Pierz firefighters were called Sunday to two grass/brush fires, one near Harding and the other east of Buckman. The fires burned around 50 acres between the two. No structures damaged and no injuries.
--A Paynesville man was rescued after he fell through thin ice. The Todd County Sheriff's Office got the 911 call at about 12:15pm Sunday from Fairy Lake near County Road 95. 62-year-old Daniel Jaeger says he was fishing with his brother were going to leave the lake at noon when Jaeger fell through the ice as they were leaving. He was in the water, up to his chest, for about 20 minutes. He was taken to Sauk Centre Hospital and is in stable condition.
--The Pierz FFA Team competed last week at the State Convention. From that Samantha Winscher was awarded her MN FFA Degree, Luke Hennen was awarded 2nd place in Forage Production proficiency, Adam Kroll awarded 1st place statewide and advancing to nationals with his diversified crop production, and was also elected as Pierz's first FFA member to serve on the state officer team. Many others from Pierz also placed a the state FFA convention.
--Police are asking for your help as they search for a missing Princeton woman. Princeton police say 46-year-old Tanis Larson has not been seen since Saturday afternoon. Larson left on foot and did not take anything with her. Larson has a disability that may affect her balance and causes her to walk with a limp. She is extremely religious and may seek out a church for help. Larson is described as 5'7", 240 pounds, with green eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing a dark colored t-shirt with Bob Marley on it, and black sweatpants. She may not have been wearing shoes. If you think you know where she may be, call the Mille Lacs County Dispatch at 1-888-860-8250, the Princeton Police, or dial 911.
--Cleanup days are scheduled for Elmdale, Swanville, Swan River and Two Rivers townships Saturday 7-11:30am at Elmdale Town Hall, for more information call Jerry at 573-2516. Also there is a cleanup day for Little Falls Township Saturday 8-11:30am at the Little Falls Town Hall and Community Center. For more details call Chuck at 632-2627. There is also a Treasure Day Saturday in the city of Randall where items left out on the curbside can be collected by anyone free of charge. For more information on that contact Randall City Hall.
DEATH NOTICES
--Bernel 'Susie' Schmolke, age 77 of Foley.
WEATHER
TODAY= decreasing clouds, high 65.
TONIGHT= clear skies, cooler, low 37.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high near 65, clear night, low near 40.
THURSDAY= sunny and warmer, high near 70, clouds late, low 48.
SPORTS
TWINS= Toronto beats Twins 7-5 last night. Twins continues series with Toronto tonight, pregame begins at 6:30 on Q92 WYRQ.
WNBA= Minnesota Lynx open 2018 preseason this Sunday.