NEWS
--The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office reports that on 11-23-2023 at approximately 10:18 am, their office received a report of a two-vehicle accident with injuries at the intersection of 153 rd Street and Sage Road, approximately two miles southeast of Hillman in Leigh Township. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 75-year-old Ronald Halverson of Pierz was traveling east on 153 rd Street and 33-year-old Duane Warzecha of Hillman was traveling south on 390 the Avenue. The vehicle driven by Warzecha failed to yield at the stop sign and was struck by Halverson’s vehicle in the intersection. Halverson was transported by ambulance to Onamia Hospital with unknown injuries. Halverson’s passenger, 85-year-old Joann Priller of Pierz was transported by North Air Care to North Memorial Hospital with unknown injuries. Two passengers in Warzecha’s vehicle, 32-year-old Vanessa Warzecha and a 6-year-old juvenile female both of Hillman were transported to Onamia Hospital with unknown injuries.
--Police are investigating after a body was found in an alley in Brooten in western Stearns County. Police say the body was found on Thursday around 1:20pm in an alley behind Western Avenue. The death remains under investigation. Police say there are no public safety concerns. The body was taken to the Midwest Medical Examiner's office for an autopsy. The cause of death has not been revealed. Their name has not been released pending notification of family members. No other information has been released yet.
--Police in Alexandria are still investigating the suspicious death of a man over the Thanksgiving weekend. Officers say the victim was found unresponsive Friday night and died at the scene. Investigators are treating the case as a homicide but say they don't believe there's any risk to the public. No word yet on the cause and manner of death or the victim's name.
--A plenty of accidents Thanksgiving weekend on Minnesota roadways as the Minnesota State Patrol reported 117 accidents with 19 of those with injuries between 4am Saturday and 5pm Sunday. including 35-year-old Travis Best of Brainerd injured Saturday in a one-vehicle accident near Nisswa, three people injured Saturday night when their vehicle struck the entrance of the Detroit Lakes Airport in Becker County. Three separate accidents sent five people to the hospital between Friday and Saturday in Mille Lacs County all happening in Kathio Township. The two on Saturday afternoon were blamed on slippery roads from light snow which led to many spinouts along Highway 169. Another 5 people from St. Joseph were injured in an accident near Zumbrota, a 17-year-old was injured Sunday near Bemidji and another two were injured in separate accidents Sunday in Cass County. In all none of the injuries sustained in the central Minnesota accidents were serious in nature.
--The C-D-C says two Minnesotans are dead from a salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupe. State health officials said last week that at least five people in the state became ill from eating cantaloupe under the Malichita brand in late October and early November. Thirteen cases of salmonella have now been confirmed in Minnesota. The C-D-C reports a total of 99 cases in 32 states and 45 hospitalizations. The recall has been expanded to include Rudy brand whole cantaloupes, Freshness Guaranteed brand and RaceTrac brand pre-cut cantaloupes, and ALDI whole cantaloupe and pre-cut fruit products. Remember that all purchased fruit should be washed.
--Another Ho Ho Dough $100 winner will be drawn today of LF Radio.
--Back on July 18th St. Edward's Catholic Church in Elmdale sustained a fire which caused significant damage. It was learned that a child is believed to have started that fire that burned most of the church. The church is still standing and since then the support of the community and the surrounding area has been overwhelming. Father Jimmy Joseph thanks all who have been helping and working to get the church back. Father Jimmy and Jeff Czech will be the guests on KLTF Party Line this Wednesday to discuss the church and the work being done. Also they will discuss a fundraiser this Friday where a free will offering Spaghetti Dinner will be held at St. Mary's Church in Upsala. The dinner is 4-7:30pm sponsored by the St. Gregory the Great Council of Knights. There will be a silent auction of baskets, the winners of the St. Edwards Fire Raffle will be announced. Both the Pierz Knights of Columbus and St. Isadore's Council of Knight are helping and matching grants for the event on Friday in Upsala. Please come and support the restoration of the church in Elmdale.
--The Friends of the Little Falls Carnegie Library will again host a holiday used book sale at the library next week December 6th-9th. Thousands of books in all genres, for all ages, as well as jigsaw puzzles, DVDs, CDs and other media, will be available. The Wednesday is for Friends of the Library members. For non-members, the sale will be Thursday through Saturday. Proceeds fund the Friends’ mission of supporting the Little Falls Carnegie Library and promoting literacy in the community. Donations of gently used books, puzzles, movies, music and other media can be dropped off at the Little Falls Carnegie Library before This Saturday.
--A man whose kayak overturned while he was hunting needed medical attention. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says the 911 call came in around 8am on Saturday near Kensington. Thirty-nine-year-old Shawn Reishus of Alexandria says he had overturned his kayak while duck hunting on Lake Oscar. He overturned his kayak in around five feet of water and then tried to flip it back over and paddle to shore. Eventually, due to the amount of water inside the kayak, it submerged around 100 yards from the shoreline. Reishus then swam towards shore where he was able to contact 911 from a personal cellphone. After first responders and deputies arrived, the caller was treated and transported from the scene by North Ambulance. His injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.
--Morrison County Chaplain Gregg Valentine wanted to thank all who donated clothing and food for their Pizza Party fundraiser on Sunday and they also raised $5,300 for the Chaplaincy program. Thank You.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny, high near 30, steady temps tonight around 25.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and warmer, high near 40, low near 26.
THURSDAY= increasing clouds, high near 36, low near 17.
SPORTS
NFL= a tough night for Josh Dobbs tossing 4 interceptions as the Bears kick a field goal late to win 12-10 over Vikings on MNF.
COL FB= The Gophers at 5-7 did get a bowl bid as the last of the teams in Division I on Sunday to receive one. Who they play will be decided by this weekend. It is likely to be a smaller bowl game either in Detroit or Las Vegas according to the early reports.
HS BHK= Little Falls at Alexandria tonight 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS GBB= Pierz at Swanville tonight at 7:15pm on 94ROCKS KFML