NEWS
--Governor Tim Walz Monday authorized emergency assistance for five Minnesota counties that sustained damage from heavy rains and flooding from June 23 to July 3, 2020. A series of summer storms produced mudslides and significant damage to infrastructure in Kittson, Le Sueur, Morrison, Renville, and Washington counties. The excessive moisture caused significant damage to roadways, culverts, earthen berms, and drainage systems. In Morrison County, the city of Little Falls received over nine inches of rain in a short period of time. Among the major impacts from this storm were major shoreline erosion and damage to the Mississippi River banks at the Charles Lindbergh House and Museum Historic Site, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Morrison County Historical Society building also sustained flood damage. The State Disaster Assistance Contingency Account will cover 75 percent of eligible costs, or over $1.4 million for all five counties. The individual counties are responsible for the remaining 25 percent. The Department of Public Safety division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will work with Kittson, Le Sueur, Morrison, Renville, and Washington County officials to provide assistance by the Governor.
--Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge will be closed today and Wednesday. All lands and trails including the Platte River Trail will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday due to the scheduled hunt for those with disabilities being done on the trails at the National Wildlife Refuge. Again during the next 2 days Crane Meadows closed to the general public due to the hunt for those who are disabled.
--Minnesota Department of Health reported 1,178 new cases and 3 new deaths linked to COVID-19 Monday. Morrison County reported 6 new cases of the virus on Monday's report. The Morrison County Website Monday reported 442 overall cases in the county since testing began, 25 of those hospitalized. Of the 152 active cases in the past 14 days it wa reported that the Little Falls Zip Code had 78, Royalton 13, Pierz 12, Bowlus had 10 active cases.
--Heavy rains Sunday night broke rainfall records in some cities. St. Cloud reported between 1 and 1.25 inches of rain Sunday which broke the record for October 11th set back in 1973, Little Falls received around 1.1 inches of rain though there were reports of less than 1 inch and 1.5 inches in other areas Sunday night. Gusty winds also knocked down power poles in Canby and other parts of south-central Minnesota. A tornado warning was issued for portions of Pope and Stearns County which had investigators checking on Monday near Brooten in Stearns County on damage as it was a Doppler Radar indicated tornado but unclear if it touched down Sunday night. Cooler conditions now with temps only in the 40s and 50s rest of the week.
--The State Senate voted down on Governor Tim Walz extending his COVID-19 peacetime emergency in Minnesota. Walz signed his order to extend the peacetime emergency that gives the state flexibility in responding to rapidly evolving issues stemming from COVID-19. The Democrat controlled House should vote to extend the powers to the Governor that should continue until next month.
--According to the Morrison County Public Works weekly Maintenance Report Maintenance employees will be working on the following activities this week: Blading gravel roads in the eastern part of the county. Continue to mow roadside ditches and also patching roads in the southwest part of the county. Please use caution around work crews and flashing lights.
--Superintendent of Little Falls Schools Stephen Jones and Pierz Schools Superintendent George Weber will both be giving updates on the school district Wednesday between 8:30-9am on AM960 KLTF. Superintendent Jones stated Friday afternoon of another case of COVID-19 reported this time from the District Office at Little Falls Community Schools. Jones stated that all in contact with the individual has been notified by the school district.
--Quinn Nystrom, DFL candidate for Congress from the 8th District, will be part of a meet and greet in Morrison County on Saturday at Belle Prairie Park,19201 Haven Road, Little Falls from 8-9am. The event will be held outdoors and masks are required.
--A semi rollover has forced the closure of I-94 in Albertville Monday afternoon. The Interstate was closed for nearly 6 hours after the accident happened around 1:45pm. The driver of the sem-truck 52-year-old Patrick Pugsley of Isanti was taken to the hospital for injuries. The accident remains under investigation by state patrol.
--A message from Pierz Schools Superintendent George Weber Monday that in order to give your child a good meal on the days they are learning from home in the hybrid model.Please encourage your child to pick up the meals on the one day your students leaves school for the day they will not be in school. Our funding to pay for the food and kitchen staff is contingent upon students taking the meals as this is still part of the free meals through hopefully December. Every morning the 7-12 students in school fill out a survey about the meal they will pick up after school. Students have to fill it out and then must pick it up on their way home after school. More informatiton on the Pierz school facebook page.
--An Albany man was arrested following a crash in Waite Park early Wednesday morning. Around 2:30am an officer noticed a motorcycle driving erratically on 3rd Street North. Authorities say the driver of the motorcycle was observed speeding and running stoplights. An officer attempted to make a traffic stop when the motorcycle crashed at the intersection of County Road 138 and 34th Avenue South. The motorcycle driver 33-year-old Paul Heim, was arrested following the crash. During the arrest, authorities say they found a large quantity of methamphetamine. Heim was first taken to St. Cloud Hospital and then booked into Stearns County Jail. He faces charges of felony possession of narcotics and driving with a canceled-ips license.
--The Stearns County Sheriff's Office responded to an incident at the St. Mary's Help of Christians School in St. Augusta on Thursday. The Sheriiff says it ended up being more of a medical issue with the woman involved being diabetic. A caller mentioned that the woman's friend might have a weapon, but no weapon was ever found. During the incident, the woman did get into a physical altercation with the school principal. There could possibly be a citation for that.
DEATH NOTICES
--Gary Kruzel, age 54 of Maple Grove.
--Richard “Zeke” Zilka, age 72 of Hillman.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy skies, high 58, rain after midnight, low 43.
WEDNESDAY= rain likely AM and PM hours, high 50, low 29.
THURSDAY= sunny, breezy and colder, high 46, low near 25.
SPORTS
NFL= Buffalo at Tennessee Tuesday night game 6pm on KLTF.