NEWS
--Today is Election Day 2021 however, most major elections like for U.S. Senate, Governor, U.S. Representative, State Representative and State Senator will not be up until next year. There are mayoral races and some city and municipal races in the state of Minnesota mostly in the Twin Cities Metro and over 100 schools have bond referendum votes today. According to the Secretary of States voting site the only voting item in Morrison County today is the Upsala School Bond Referendum voting 10am-8pm at Upsala City Hall.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office is looking to add body cameras for all their deputies. Sheriff Shawn Larsen says they've been reviewing various vendors for this type of system. The data from the body cameras would be stored and filed digitally and only accessible over a secured system that can be utilized with the discretion of the sheriff's office. Larsen says they want to have the support from the community and are asking residents to fill out a survey (available on their facebook page) regarding the body cameras. A public hearing will also be scheduled at a future Morrison County Board meeting. The Morrison County Sheriff's Office Patrol Division has three sergeants, twelve full-time deputies and seven part-time deputies.
--Monday morning at 10:10am, the Belgrade/Brooten Police Department received a requesting a welfare check at a residence in the 100 Block of Washburn Avenue in the City of Belgrade. The caller reported receiving a picture of a female that had been stabbed, who was inside the residence in the 100 block of Washburn Avenue. Belgrade/Brooten Police along with the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and set up a perimeter, contacted the occupants inside and began negotiations. As a result of negotiations, the female party was released from inside the residence. Medical treatment to the female who was ambulanced to Paynesville Hospital with non-life threating stab wounds. The Benton/Stearns SWAT Team has also been called to the scene. Negotiators continued their negotiation with the male party inside the residence. After several hours, the male party came outside and was taken into custody without incident at approximately 6 PM. Several agencies assisted at the scene, including the Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota DNR, Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office, Kandiyohi/Meeker County SWAT Team, Belgrade Fire & Rescue, and Life Link Air Ambulance. The investigation is active and no further information will be released at this time. Investigators will coordinate with the Stearns County Attorney’s Office regarding formal charges.
--This Saturday is the firearms deer hunting opener in Minnesota. Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen wishes all a safe and productive hunt and please avoid trespassing and respecting others property lines and property. Be aware of your target and what lies around or behind it when firing. Use extra caution in utilizing your tree stand, have a charged cell phone in case of emergency and let others know if your whereabouts in case you become in need of any assistance or when you are expected back from the hunt. Please refrain from drinking alochol during hunting and remember to never drink and drive. Let's make this deer hunting season the best yet.
--The Upsala High School Drama club will be performing "All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten." The shows wil be Friday & Saturday, November 12th and 13th at 7pm in the auditorium. BUT if the USA football team is still playing on the Friday than that show will be moved to Sunday at 2pm. Tickets will be sold at the door.
--Little Falls Community High School seniors Caleb Matros and Ethan Poser competed in Round 1 of the DECA Virtual Business Accounting Challenge in late October. The goal of this Accounting Challenge was for students to be forensic auditors and find accounting errors in business records. Students were scored and ranked based on finding all errors and completion time. Caleb and Ethan finished 1st in Minnesota, 1st in the central/midwest region out of 46 teams and 3rd nationally out of 156 teams. With their 1st place finish in the central region, Caleb and Ethan have qualified for the International Career Development Conference in Atlanta in April of 2022 to compete against the top 16 teams in the nation.
--As weather permits, maintenance employees will be working on the following activities this week. Continue mowing roadside ditches in various spots around the county. Cutting brush south of Bowlus on CSAH 24, and in Royalton on CSAH 27. Patching potholes in various spots around the county. Please use caution around work crews and flashing lights. Public Works employees continue to practice social distancing guidelines in their travels and on the various job sites as we continue to preserve and maintain Morrison County infrastructure.
--A former bookkeeper at Tech High School has pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft-by-swindle after stealing more than $100,000 from student activity accounts. 46-old Allison Tadych of St. Cloud pleaded guilty on October 22nd and was immediately sentenced. A Stearns County judge sentenced Tadych to a staggered jail sentence of 310 days where she'll serve the time in 30-day segments. She must also pay more than $137,000 in restitution. According to the charges, the year-end review of the account revealed "a significant discrepancy" in the account balances in both 2019 and 2018. An investigator with the St. Cloud Police Department said Tadych admitted she would take approximately $200 several times a week or whenever she needed cash. Tadych said she initially planned to pay the money back but resigned when she knew she wouldn't be able to come up with the money.
DEATH NOTICES
--Patricia A. Kurowski, age 65 of Pierz.
--Louis C. Nash, age 75 of St. Cloud formerly of Annandale.
WEATHER
TODAY= AM sun, clouds, sprinkles and flurries afternoon, high 38.
TONIGHT= clearing skies, cold temps, low near 20.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high near 40, low around 22.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, high 47, low around 30.
SPORTS
MLB= Game 6 tonight in the World Series after Houston won 9-5 Sunday over Atlanta, Braves lead 3-2, game 6 tonight in Houston.
HS FB= Upsala-Swanville vs. Belgrade Brooten Elrosa- Friday at the Fargodome at 12:30pm live on Q92 WYRQ and fallsradio.com.
HS FB= Royalton vs. Eden Valley Watkins, Friday night 7pm from St. John's University from Collegville on Q92 WYRQ & fallsradio.com.
HS FB= Pierz vs. New London Spicer will be Friday at 5pm from St. Cloud Tech High School on 94ROCKS and fallsradio.com.
**Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday at 2am, remember to turn the clocks back 1 hour before bed Saturday night or early Sunday, also check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.