NEWS
--The Pierz School District 484 bond referendum vote Monday was voted down by district voters, 628 yes votes to 1012 no votes. Again the referendum failed in Pierz, 1012 NO to 628 YES.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's assistance in identifying the suspect(s) who are responsible for a boat motor theft that occurred at Staples Sports, located off 320th street in Scandia Valley Township. Sheriff Shawn Larsen states the suspect(s) cut through a chain linked fence between 3:24am and 4:13am on Saturday. They left the scene with a 1995 30 HP Yamaha short shaft outboard motor, which they took from a boat that was located outside of the business. It appears that they were picked up in an early 2000 model Chevy or GMC Yukon dark colored vehicle. The vehicle looks like it has large chrome rims. The suspect vehicle left northbound on Highway 10. If you have any information regarding this theft, please contact the office at 632-9233.
--On Thursday, the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force executed a search warrant at 1015 10th Avenue Southwest in Little Falls related on information of marijuana being sold from the residence. 19-year-old Cheyenne Hart of Little Falls was arrested on control substance crimes as 2 pounds of marijuana were found in the home along with other drug paraphernalia. The homeowner, 38-year-old Stephen Burke was not at the residence. Authorities stated that formal charges again Burke for the items in the home are pending through the Morrison County Attorney's Office. This was the second search warrant in the past year at the home, as another one was issued in October, 2016 and ont that occasion officers netted a larger quantity of controlled substances in the home.
--Morrison County Deputies responded to a vehicle fire Wednesday night around 10:45pm on Hawthorne Road and 163rd Street near Little Falls. Deputies attempted to put out the fire but the car was already engulfed. Little Falls firefighters arrived and put out the fire. No one was injured. The vehicle was considered a total loss.
--Morrison County aided Foley firefighters on Wednesday morning last week just before 5am, to a garage fire on Nature Road near Foley. An attached garage was fully engulfed when deputies and firefighters arrived on scene. An occupant of the home was woken up by a neighbor and got out. No other information on the fire was released.
--Morrison County responded to a call May 15th from Tri-City Paving of a dump truck in the ditch on Highway 10 and 270th Street in Cushing. When deputies arrived they found an unresponsive male in the truck. CPR was administered but the man died. He was transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner for an autopsy. The name of the subject found wast not released.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office received word of thefts in the area last week, including a solar panel and batteries on Beaver and Azure Roads in Cushing, the cost of items stolen were between 20-and 30,000 dollars. It appeared that a grinder was used to cut open the box holding the batteries. If you notice suspicious activity in your area, please contact the Sherrif's Office at 632-9233 to investigate.
--Still months away but the Minnesota State Fair announced the Great Big Wheel is one of the largest traveling ferris wheels in North America. The wheel has 36 enclosed gondolas taking riders over 150 feet in the air, will be placed in the middle of Machinery Hill. The Minnesota State Fair begins August 24th.
--The Yellow Ribbon Network of Morrison County is asking schools and businesses to participate in Red White and Blue for You event Thursday. The event is to raise awareness of the reason for Memorial Day and have a community event to honor those fallen heroes and their families, veterans and current military members. So wear Red White and Blue in support of thi s on Thursday.
--Today is voting day for residents in the Sauk Rapids-Rice school district. District residents will have two ballot questions to decide on. The first question is for over $56.9 million dollars to improve security at all buildings, build a new elementary school near the high school, add athletic facilities including a new football stadium, and add on to the Hillside Early Childhood Center and Rice elementary. The second question is for another $30 million replace the current Pleasantview elementary. Approval of the ballot questions would mean a tax increase beginning next year, and lasting for 20 years. Polls open from 7am-8pm at Mississippi Heights elementary, Pleasantview elementary, Rice elementary, and Sauk Rapids-Rice high school.
--After a three year long investigation, nine people have been charged for their alleged involvement in a drug-trafficking ring in central Minnesota. The following people have been charged in Stearns County District Court with multiple felony counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree controlled substance crimes, 38-year-old Mauricid Barragan, 20-year-old William Barragan, 45-year-old Jonathan Woods, 41-year-old David Tyson, 41-year-old Terry Glasgow, 45-year-old Lamont Tyson, 38-year-old Hernando Bambo-Salas, 40-year-old Scott Reiff and 34-year-old Francisco Nambo-Chacon. Over the course of the three year investigation law enforcement has recovered over 40 pounds of methamphetamine. Authorities say the arrests have hindered the ability to import meth into central Minnesota from several states. The investigation was led by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force and the FBI.
--Due to the recent rains, Minnesota Department of Transportation announced their overnight work on Highway 24 in Clearwater will not start this week until Thursday night into Friday morning.
--The Morrison County Commissioners meet this morning at 9am at the Morrison County Government Center boardroom.
DEATH NOTICES
--Leonard B. Doucette, age 87 of Little Falls.
--Ralph Emerson, age 64 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= showers likely, mostly cloudy, high 56.
TONIGHT= showers in evening, mostly cloudy, low 42.
WEDNESDAY= becoming sunny, high 63, clear night low 40.
THURSDAY= sunny and warmer, high 71, low around 48.
SPORTS
HS SB= Pierz vs. St. Cloud Cathedral 5pm today on FM94 KFML, win or lose Pierz would play again Thursday 5pm on FM94.
HS SB= Little Falls opens softball playoffs Thursday 6pm at Alexandria live on AM960 KLTF. Win or lose play again Monday.
TWINS= Twins make a big comeback last night down 5-0 early the Twins rebounded with 4 runs in 5th and 6 in the 6th to win 14-7 over Baltimore. Twins continue series at Baltimore tonight 5:30 on Q92.