Newsletter: Tuesday, May 3rd 2016
NEWS
–The Morrison County Sheriff ‘s Office responded to an ATV accident on 273rd Street in Platte Township northwest of Harding Saturday just before 5pm. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 16-year-old Austin Simon of Fort Ripley was driving an ATV westbound on 273rd Street when he applied the brakes to turn into his driveway he lost control of the ATV, causing it to roll, and landing on top of his leg. Simon sustained an injury to his leg and minor abrasions to his hands. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries.
–Stearns County Deputies along with fire departments from Avon and Albany were called to a bridge fire on the Wobegon Trail east of Albany Saturday just after 5:30pm. A bicyclist located the fire on the trail and called authorities. Deputies stated that the bridge was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. The bridge has been inspected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and will reopen as it has been determined safe to travel. The MN State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office and has determined that this fire was caused by Arson. The MN Arson Reward Project is offering up to a $5,000 reward on tips leading to convictions in this case. Tipsters may remain anonymous and should report them to the Arson Hot-Line at 1-800-723-2020. No one was injured in the fire.
–A North Branch man was injured Saturday in an ATV accident on Highway 6 near Crosby in Crow Wing County. The State Patrol said the ATV operator, 47-year-old John O’Connor lost control and hit a road approach around 6:30pm causing him to be thrown from the vehicle. He was taken to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale with reportedly serious but non-life threatening injuries.
–Two fire departments responded to the Golden Plump Co. in Cold Spring Friday night after 260 gallons of acid was spilled. St. Cloud and Cold Spring firefighters were called just after 6pm. The chemical that spilled was Inspexx 150, a sanitizing liquid used to treat chickens for salmonella. The acid spilled because of a faulty valve. Firefighters contained the spill and ventilated the building. No injuries were reported and though the firefighters were alerted that the chemical could have been explosive, no explosions from the acid occurred.
–Authorities say five people were rescued after their boat sank in Lake Carlos in near Alexandria. The Douglas County sheriff’s office got a 911 call early Sunday from a boater saying their boat sank near the mouth of the Long Prairie River. All five people aboard were accounted for, but they had to stand on a platform on the bow in about three feet of water. The 18-year-old who was operating the boat says the five were bow-fishing when he slowed the throttle, causing the bow to dip and take on water. The boat sank in about five feet of water. A sheriff’s deputy contacted a resident of the lake, and the resident and two deputies used a boat to rescue the boaters.
–Xcel Energy crews will be conducting a natural gas burn off at the intersection of Fifth Avenue SE and Seventh Street SE on Wednesday in St. Cloud. The St. Cloud City Engineer’s Office said the Xcel will monitor the area and no traffic will be affected during the burn off.
–The Friends of Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuse is hosting their annual spring bird walk on Saturday at 8am. You can look for spring migrants while you walk the Platte River Trail. The event is free and open to all. Bring your binoculars, otherwise loaners will be available at the refuge Saturday morning. For info call 632-1575.
–Warm and windy conditions today has the National Weather Service issuing fire watches and red flag warnings in some areas of the state. Recently Crow Wing County has continuously battled grass fires over the past three weeks and the most recent Sunday in Cross Lake and Emily. Most of western and southern Minnesota will see highs in the 70s and 80s today with wind gusts over 30 miles per hour that could easily spark wildfires across the state. Most burning restrictions in the state were lifted Saturday (April 30th) including central Minnesota counties such as Morrison, Crow Wing, Stearns and others but there is still a risk that outdoor burning could spark large wildfires.
–The Morrison County Sheriff’s office responded to a report of a one vehicle accident on 370th Avenue north of Quest Road in Richardson Township, north of Hillman Sunday around 2:15am. A vehicle driven by 55-year-old Douglas Sherwood of Brooklyn Park was traveling north bound on 370th Avenue when it went into the ditch and struck a tree. Sherwood and his passenger, 39-year-old Jason Flak of Ham Lake were taken to the hospital with unknown injuries.
–The classic combo of dwindling supply and increased demand is pushing gas prices up across Minnesota and the nation. The average retail price for a gallon of unleaded jumped over a dime a gallon in the past week reaching $2.11 on average by Monday. The national average is even higher, reaching $2.22 after an average increase of over 8-cents a gallon. Even though gas is up about 20 cents than April 1st, prices across Minnesota are actually nearly 40 cents lower than they were last year in May, 2015.
–Join Superintendent Stephen Jones of Little Falls Community Schools this Friday on Up Front on AM960 to take questions on the upcoming school referendum next Tuesday, May 10th in Little Falls. That is Friday at 9:05am on KLTF call in questions at 632-2306.
DEATH NOTICES
–Gerald “Jerry” John Schneider, age 81 of Swanville
–Lydia Hoheisel, age 85 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, breezy, high 73.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low 40.
WEDNESDAY= sunny, cooler, high 62, clear night low 35.
THURSDAY= sunny and warmer, high 76, low around 50.
FRIDAY= sunny and very warm, high 85- storms develop at night.
SPORTS
TWINS= Brian Dozier had 3 hits and Eduardo Nunez homered as the Twins beat Houston 6-2 to end their four game losing streak. The Twins are at Houston for game 2 tonight 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
VIKINGS= The Vikings after picking three wide receivers in the draft last week announced they will not be picking up the 2017 option for kick returner/receiver Cordarrelle Patterson. Patterson had a tremendous 2013 rookie season before faltering in the past two seasons. The Vikings did pickup 2017 options for Defensive Lineman Shariff Floyd and Defensive Back Xavier Rhodes for 2017 season.
A reminder that the 6th Annual Day of Caring is tomorrow from 8am-12pm in Little Falls and Randall. Motorists are asked to watch for the 1000+ volunteers and students out tomorrow morning heading to their assigned destinations.